Saturday, December 6, 2008

Politicians' Apathy Is Terrorism's Victory

On December 3, citizens in Mumbai came out on streets in huge numbers to show their solidarity as well as to vent their anger. The solidarity was for the brave who endured the 60-hour-long siege in Mumbai and who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation. The anger was, probably as usual, for the politicians. People were angry with the “political class” and the way it handled the drama that followed the Mumbai attacks. In hushed up tones, a war of words, passing the buck and mud slinging started among these so called “constituents of governments”. This degraded the importance of the unmatchable show of courage enacted by our soldiers who fought till their last breath.

The December 3 thronging of the “ground-zero” by people in Mumbai was not an ordinary protest. It was a mental “volcano” that erupted after a high pressure developed in peoples’ psyche. It was a movement against the incompetence of the government which has failed to protect its citizens. The young, men and women had gathered around Gateway of India and were holding placards that censured the “political class”. Many of them carried the candles for performing the candle light vigil. Ironically the word “vigil” is the pivotal point on which the sphere of the ongoing conflict is revolving.
Peoples’ movements break out due to step motherly treatment meted out to their grievances. Such unheard off complaints evoke a feeling of hatred among the masses. People feel being pushed to the corner. With a desire to reoccupy their lost space in the centre, they mobilize themselves to salvage their belongings; in this case their common cause. These endeavors produce results that tilt masses either to the right or to the left of the centre.

The worst scenario emerges when the overlooked grievances take ugly turn and undergo a deadly transition. It is the point where movements don the attire of rebellion. Rebellions occur as people feel that they are being denied their share of “space” or their grievances are not resolved in “time”. Time and space are not merely concepts; they are phenomena, which effect change; a transition.

During the extraordinary demonstration of December 3, people shouted anti-government and anti-Pakistan slogans; an act justifiable in its every aspect. The harshness of slogans determines the extent of peoples’ involvement in any given conflict. The degree of protestors’ anger can be judged by having an understanding of what they wanted to communicate through these slogans. They shouted against Pakistan. They vented their anger on governments’ apathy and inability to curb terrorism. Democratic process of election came at demonstrators’ receiving end. They hinted to boycott elections and threatened that they will abstain from voting and will not pay taxes.

The fallout of 26/11 did cost India’s home minister Shivraj Patil his chair and has opened a Pandora’ Box for the political class. As, the “ground zero” was the capital of Maharashtra, it affected the political equations in the state drastically. Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his deputy R R Patil were forced to resign from their posts. If anyone has followed the media coverage of 26/11 and the “political drama” that followed it, can without hesitation say how apathetic our political class has become.

People always embrace the shift in power with open arms provided it is done with the intention of benefiting the common man. The ouster of Vilasrao Deshmukh and R R Patil in Maharashtra has triggered a tug of war among the frontrunners for the “coveted” posts. It has kick-started another rat race in the political arena. The lust for chair has made them mute, blind and deaf. These politicians have forgotten what had happened only a few weeks ago.

Four shameful incidents occurred after the deadly 60-hour-long siege was over. These incidents have put a big question mark on the credibility of our politicians. Interestingly out of three, two did forc the “high commands” to strip Deshmukh and his deputy Patil from their portfolios.

1) After the siege was over, Deshmukh escorted by an entourage of officials visited the Taj. It would have been another ordinary official visit if his “touring” convoy did not have his actor son Ritesh Deshmukh and filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma.

It is not surprising that with what purpose a filmmaker like Ram Gopal Varma would visit a “ground zero”. The visuals showing Ram Gopal Varma and Ritesh Deshmukh and the manner they walked through the debris make their purpose crystal clear. The question that needs to be answered is why such extraneous people were allowed to visit the “ground zero” when even the elected representatives were barred from entering the Taj?

2) Deputy chief minister R R Patil did not lag behind from his political superior. In a press conference he went on to say about 26/11 that “such small things happen in big cities.” What followed is the history. People don’t need an explanation. The need of the hour is that our politicians had woken up to the reality and reformed themselves to reform the nation.

3) Ashok Chavan replaced Vilasrao Deshmukh as chief minister of Maharashtra. Congress high commnad’s decision of appointing Chavan as the state legislature party head did not go down well with a former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane who had earlier defected from Shiv Sena and joined Congress.

On December 5 he convened a press conference and used derogatory language against Ashok Chavan. Rane said, “Ashok Chavan mera spardhak hai kya?” Is Ashok Chavan my competitor? He went on to say that the only criterion he (Ashok Chavan) has is that he is “son” of fromer chief minister Shankarrao Chavan.

4) Kerala chief minister V S Achutanandan wanted to pay homage to the “martyr” major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who gave his life to save the nation during 26/11 operations. He visited Unnikrishnan’s family but was not allowed to enter his house. The incident outraged Achutanandan to such an extent that he said to a TV channel, “If Unnikirshnan not in the Army and did not sacrifice his life, even a dog would not have liked to visit his house.”

This is the mentality of our politicians who instead of running the state are threatening its existence by eroding its foundations through their unacceptable deeds. Isn’t it the time of indulging in constructive politics? When will our politicians play a uniting role to disunite the destructive powers? It does not seem possible in near future.

December 3 demonstrations may provoke peoples’ minds. The government should not take this unique development for granted. What was only an ordinary protest can distract peoples’ psyche. They may opt for retaliatory actions. The situation arising as a result of such retaliatory actions will not do any good for the nation. What is needed to be done is a thorough overhauling of our “political system”. Instead of finding scapegoats we should find the real causes behind our inability to tackle terrorism.

Tackling the outer enemy is much easier than the inner one. Incidents like December 3 demonstration can have huge repercussions; preventing that will be tantamount to bringing the Sun from the west. Only a sincere and concerted effort can be a solution to the menace. Those sitting at the power corridors should make it sure that December 3 does not turn into a rebellion.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Banish the 'Deshdrohi'


Finally ‘Deshdrohi’ has been banned. For another two months. Thanks heavens!! It is applicable only in Maharashtra. Those who are curious to watch it can migrate to other states. This ‘migration’ is the ‘crux’ of the film. And the crux of the current violence over ‘north Indian’ issue. No wonder it may become the poll plank in the upcoming general elections.

The ban comes after the Home department had a special hearing held on Thursday. The makers of the film, it seems, will again rush to the Bombay High Court.

So what is objectionable there in the film? Anyone who has watched the promos can make a good sense. In a scene the ‘protagonist’ is seen being pushed in a BEST bus by the conductor. Another scene has both protagonist and few local politicians; argue over his origins. Played by Kamal Khan, the young graduate has moved to Mumbai to make a living. Somehow he entangles himself in the brawl of regionalism.

Current ‘provocative’ atmosphere especially in Mumbai forced the authorities to stall its release. Maharashtra police under Bombay Cinema Regulation Act 1963 had recommended a ban on ‘Deshdrohi’.
And the Congress-NCP ruling combine grabbed the chance. It gave a green signal for the ban.

Reasons cited sound justified. ‘Deshdrohi’ can incite communal tensions. It may have added oil to the flame. Quite right! But who is responsible for the highly volatile situation? And who is ‘Deshdrohi’.

Past few years are witness to a new emerging trend. Throw away the ‘poor’ migrant workers who are ‘Bhayyas’ says the campaign. They don’t speak Marathi. It doesn’t sound a good reason to extern them. It’s an act of insanity perpetrated by the insane. It’s not astounding: A sane attacked weirdly by an insane.

Indian Constitution guarantees the Fundamental Right to Life under Article 21. Right to Livelihood is enshrined in it. Offensive against the north Indians is akin to stripping them of these Rights. It is tantamount to ‘contempt’ of Constitution.

Judiciaries act as the traditional ‘ombudsmen’ to upheld the Constitutional provisions. These are Constitutional institutions. One’s contempt may lead to the contempt of the other.

Thousands of north-Indians have preferred their lives to their livelihood. They have fled to their homes. Anti migrant violence has received more publicity than ire. People fed up with ‘Saas Bahu Serials’ were found glued to the TV. They had found a new entertainment. The cutting of a birthday cake with ‘Bhayya’ written on it added ‘spice’ to the newly arrived opera.

Raj Thackeray and his lumpen were at the forefront of the anti north Indian agitation. It saw large scale destruction of public and private properties. Months of uncertainty led to ideological marginalization. His subsequent arrest did not yield much.

So who is ‘Deshdrohi’? Should it be banned? The answer is simple. Yes. Recently Bombay High Court in its ruling had called Raj Thackeray as an “urban terrorist”. A terrorist is a parson who wages a war against the nation. He kills innocents and is the ‘Deshdrohi’. In history of Indian polity, a judiciary never pronounced such censures on a political leader.

The legacy of hatred has many manifestations. Anti-South Indian and anti-Gujarati movements were turned into an anti-Muslim one in late 80s. The ‘bow and arrow’ was pointed towards Muslims. Its fallouts were huge. The hatred reached its zenith during post-Babri riots and 1993 serial blasts. Gradually the derogatory remarks against Muslims became poll plank.

The idea of propelling these ‘Bhayyas’ is not new. Only a new breed of hate mongers is pushing it ahead. ‘Bhayya Haath Paaye Pasari’, is a Marathi play that is also at the receiving end. Those who find it derogatory and offensive have demanded a ban.

The fallout of the probe into the September 29 Malegaon blast has started a new debate. Can a Hindu ever be a terrorist? The right wing Hindu outfits have decried the notion vociferously. All saffron outfits have taken up the cudgels on behalf of the accused.

Unless proved guilty, an accused is innocent. After convicted he becomes a perpetrator, an accomplice in the crime. Accused in Malegaon blast have given a new dimension to the investigations in terror acts. It has shifted the focus.
The trial will determine their culpability. If proved guilty they will become terrorists. Like many who were held guilty under TADA in 1993 serial blasts case.
So whoever the ‘Deshdrohi’ are and whatever are their intensions, the governments need stringent acts and actions to deal with them.
For putting an end the turmoil, banning a film would not be sufficient. Government should banish the real ‘Deshdrohi.’

Monday, November 10, 2008

Terror Has No Religion, But Who Believes?

Terror has no religion. It is a face with no certain identity. A terrorist understands only one language, the language of hatred and bloodshed. Through out the world a terrorist is a terrorist and a criminal is a criminal. It is widely held notion, which is approved by majority of people. Judiciaries do not base the religion to pronounce their judgements. It is the degree of offence or the seriousness of act of "terror" that determie the culpability. But a few have moulded the term "terrorist" or "terrorism" for their own set targets. Be it a propaganda against a particular community or a trial by media, everybody almost starts believing in what is aired, printed or is talk of the town. It is a universal fact that people believe in what they are unstoppingly fed, no matter what is fed or shown to them is based on facts or hoax. Except a few, nobody sees a terrorist either as a Muslim, a Hindu, a Christian or as a Sikh. India is the only country where terrorists hail almost from every big religion. The 1980s Khalsa movement revolved mainly around the secessionist demands of Sikhs. They wanted a land of their own. In north eastern Indian states some Christians are allegedly found to be involved in anti national activities. The central provinces of the country are battling with the naxalite movement. This movement is infested with Left-tilting ideology of the Maoists or the Peoples' War Group. The insurgency in Kashmir has seen Muslim terrorists, who mainly come from across the LoC. Recently the role of a few alleged Hindu millitants in Malegaon blast is being probed. A sadhvi with her accomplices allegedly planned the September 29 Malegaon blast. Reams of papers will end but the debate will continue. But who believes in the notion that a terrorist has no religion? Before that we take a sneak peak into the entire episode. What is terrorism? When innocents civillians become target of a deviated few who believe in the doctrine of bloodletting, the resultant scenario that leads to death and destruction of civillian population is the act of "terrorism". Unfortunately only bomb explosions are seen as acts of terror. In India since Independence huge number of people have been butchered in the name of religion. Only the modus operandi was different, but the outcome was the same, annihilation of the targeted innocent people. The past few decades or so have seen Muslims being branded as "terrorists". How can the entire community be held responsible for deviations of a few. Similarly all the Hindus can not be held liable for the crimes of a few of their co-religionists. Despite that a large chunk of India's populace still upholds the secular values of her forefathers. Nobody comes for the rescue of the Muslim community when it is branded as the cultivator of outlaws. In contrast, the arrests in Malegaon blast has created unrest in pro-Hindutva groups. Indiviuals and organisations have openly supported the arrested accused. Two incidents changed peoples' perceptions to some extent. America, for the first time in history, elected an African-American as her first "black" president and Jamiat-ul-Ulema E Hind, in its 29 general session in Hyderabad on November 8-9, adopted a resolution that condemned terrorism. While the first changed the way people saw to America, the second is expected to revive hopes of Indian Muslims. The hopes that seek tranquility are reasons to to be optimistic. Jaimat-ul-Ulema-e-Hind and its general secretary, Maulana Mahmood Mdani, who happens to be a Rajya Sabha MP, will be remebered for their courageous initiatives. This time for the audacious effort they have put in passing a resolution at its 29 Hyderabad session. More than 6,000 delegates attended the conference. Mahmood Madani made a statement on November 8 on the organisation's opening session in Hyderabad. There is nothing new in his statement which we may celebrate. His speech echoed with what pepole usually opine after every terror strike. "We should not link terrorism to religion". This is what he meant. And this is what Jamiat adoptd in its resolution. He was speaking on the backdrop of the arrests made in September 9 Malegaon blasts. A few may find it only as an ordinary statement delivered from dais of a religious congregation, but those who seek solutions to problems, it has huge ramifications. No political leader did have the same courrage as Madani did. He condemned the current ongoing "campaign" that brands Pragnya Singh Thakur as a "Hindu" terrorist. The right wing outfits are exception to it. As, it is quite natural for them to defend Pragnya and her accomplices, they have scome in full support of her. These right wing outfits can never even imagine of doing what Jamiat and Mahmod Madani have done. Resolution apart, they would never say a word against the alleged imjustice. Recently L K Advani spoke of media sensationalism. He appealed to media not to sensationalise the news. The silence of other political parties is deafening. They should also have denounced the "campaign" that brands people on grounds of religion. We do not want either to take sides or point fingers at others. Neither is our intention to support any act of violence. The bone of contention is that people should avoid rhetoric. A conceretd effrot to tackle the menace is the need of the hour. Instead of delivering statements, we should deliver results. Jamiat and Madani wanted Pragnya not branded as a "Hindu" terrorsit. A very few aslo did the same. People say terror has no religion. Now, it is not hard to say who pratices it. But who believes in the notion? It does not need to be answered.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Mautam---A phenomenon that jeopardises existence

Resentment leads to discontent. Discontent transforms into rebellious endeavours when people feel neglected. Mizo National Front was formed to get the attention of indifferent regime that overlooked their apprehensions about Mautam. In this far flung north eastern Indian state of Mizoram, Mautam occurs every fifty years. Mautam is a natural cycle that accelerates the flowering of bamboo 'crops.' This means flowers blossom on 'bamboo' crops. During flowering, hordes of rats swoop on them to quench their natural desire of 'hunger'. These rats feed on them. Acres of this 'bamboo' farmlands are destroyed as a result of flowering. As collateral damage these rats leave behind them the most dreaded farm-crop diseases. Plague is one of them. Due to this unique phenomenon, deteriorated by plague of farmlands, acres of famcrop lands are destroyed. In Mizoram 'bamboo' and its resultant economic activities are the mainstay of the Mizos. People not only built their houses but they also indulge in handicrafts utilising the abundance of bamboo. Last time flowering happened in 1958. Owing to the government's failure to stop Mautam, the great famine engulfed larger section of population. The entire state came under the threat of starvation, displacement because of unavailability of food. The present day Mizo National Front occupies the central position in the state politics. Its ruling the state. Famines and natural disasters are national calamities. National calamities are not the domains of states governments only. In tandem with the Centre any state at the receiving end of the natural calamity tries to deal with the crisis. But in case of Mautam---a joint mechanism is the need of the hour. A joint venture of between the Centre and Mizoram could produce good results. Initially the apprehensions of the Mizos were mocked and the whole episode was downplayed. The fears were termed only as unreliable superstitions. A man from the region states that he saw eight hundred to one thousand rats. These rats swarm to feed on the blossomed bamboo farms, do not differentiate fields and houses. The measures taken to avert the crisis are not sophisticated. Manual capturing of rats is the only way to lessen the damage. A few of the farmers sprinkle poisons across farms. some paddy fields are also affected because of the peak season. In peak season paddy fields throw the produce out.  First Mautam occurred in 1911. Mautam tells two stories. One shows the ingenuity of the rodents. They attack the fields in groups of hundreds and thousands. The other exposes the indifference of the regimes that consist of homo sapiens. One time guerilla fighter the present chief minister may be occupying the powerful seat, but there exists no concrete effort to do away with the menace. A land of guerillas or millitary-men has failed to win the war against rats.  It is difficult to say that how the locals deal with the problems, but the need of the hour is to curb the phenomenon----that jeopardises the existence.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Advani Speaks Again.......


Pandemonium follows rhetoric. They go in tandem in a democratic set up. The whole idea is borrowed from the day to day proceedings in the legislatures. Here unanimity or absolute majority determine the fate of a 'bill' or a 'government'. Similarly a 'pandemonium' is seen as the only tool to express one's ability to raise a point. The more louder it is, the more are the chances to be recognised as a 'good' legislature. Rhetoric is nothing but an evolved method to spread the word, a 'microphone' exploited by the rabble-rousers. Advani, whose rallys pull huge crowds, has spoken again. This time he disowned Sadhvi Pragya Singh. She is alleged to have "masterminded" the September 29 Malegaon blast. He said that if any one from "Sangh outfit" found guilty of any crime that person should be brought to book. There is nothing to celebrate in his new statement. The country's ex-deputy prime minister's words echo with what a lay man can perceive of "trial procedures" in India. Any one who is under trial can not be branded as a convict. Honourable Courts determine the degree of complicity of the undertrial. Advani said the same things. But this time he do not have to relinquish any "office", as he has not commented on Jinnah and his level of secularism. It is very hard to evaluate one's level of secularism through interpretation of one's speech. Atal Bihari Vajpayee is said to have been gone back on his statements a number of times. That makes "evaluation" more complicated. Jinnah speech throwed Advani into the troubled waters. He was made to resign from the presidentship of BJP. It was him who had nurtured the party with his 'rath' yatras. Yatra "a pure religious concept" was modified to fit it into the political mould. Here the "rhetoric" in the form of 'yatra' misused the religion. End result increased the number of elected-BJP MPs and widened the chasm between communities. Everytime Advani speaks, it becomes hard to understand what he says. Same is the efficacy of most of our great crowd pullers in political arena. But when Advani speaks it has huge repercussions. And this time he speaks to bring the "terror accused" to book if found guilty.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

A youth, prejudice and inquiry!

Probe and prejudice are incompatible. An impartial probe is devoid of any influences. A prejudice is pure from all the secualr values. Take Rizwanur Rahman's case as an example. An impartial but "delayed" process of digging out the truth is underway. The recent police action tells a different story. What transpired in the run up to the alleged suicide of this computer graphic-techie needs to be uncovered. A trial expedited as a result of widespread protests across the City of Joy does not seem reaching its logical end. Recent raids on the house of undergarment-tycoon Ashok Todi have revived the hope of justice. A mere death of an individual snowballed into a controversy. Death and controversy are two different things. Deaths are mourned and controversies orchestrated, not in all cases. The resultant controversy over Rizwan's death did cost a police commissioner his post and a newly-wed woman her husband. State government had to clarify its stand. Youth contribute in upsurge of a nation. This youth cleared the decks himself to invite his own death. Why hate wins over the love is a riddle. Both Rizwan and Priyanka adored each other against all odds. The odds were the caste, not the religoon. On a show aired on NDTV hosted by Barkha Dut last year, a Marwari from Kolkata defended the actions taken by Ashok Todi. Reason-----the caste. "Any Marwari could have done the same what Ashok Todi did in Priyanka's case." Central Bureau of Investigation has so far put two officers of the rank of an SP under trial. It may take months to prove the charges and send the "convicted accused" behind bars. CBI is considred an impartial investigative agency. It does not practise prejudice, it is widely perceived. We hear that progress it has made in Rizwan's "mysterious suicide" is a ray of hope for his bereaved family. Both Rizwan and Priyanka were taken for a ride. With a promise to return her to Rizwan within a week, Priyanka's uncle escorted her to her parents house. This was the point people changed their faces and things became obscure. Within a month the "youth" was found dead under "mysterious circumstances". His corspe lying by a raliway track was enough to establish that it was a "suicide". So a fair inquiry would determine the culpability of the accused. And the judgement will mete out justice to the youth.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Seed of Hatred Grows Into A Tree

A north Indian, another Raj has added ‘spark’ to the violence over the presence of north Indians in Maharshtra. Rahul Raj's act has further complicated the issue. Nobody knows with what intentions he came to Mumbai with a gun. Media reports say he arrived in Mumbai to deliver a message to MNS chief Raj Thackeray. One thing is clear that alone he could not deliver a body blow either to MNS or to its chief. All the demonstrations over the North Indians find no popular base to support them. The MNS or its followers still grope in the dark. Their demands are confined only to their core circle which believes in hatred. Ironically these north Indians live on the morsel they earn by putting unmatchable labour. In terms of the daily wage earnings, they constitute the large chunk of the working labours in the city. The daily requirements of Mumbai's over 17 million people, are catered to by these north Indians. So does the word 'Raj', in English which means 'rule' or 'government' or 'Satta' in Hindi, is really attached to troubles or bloodletting? Obviously it is not. It means a 'Constitutional' way to preside over a government came after a democratic procedure, election. It does not mean paralysing the day-to-day life? Everyone knows that power in politics never comes through legitimate means, not in all cases. There are a very few examples that adhere to the Constitutional edicts. Right from the booth capturing to poll-rigging, almost all outlawed activities occupy the front seat in a show called as 'elections'. However many have turned this ‘show’ of democracy into a ‘show’ of strength. However mostly these 'shows' have received poor responses. It does not mean that only the poor exercises the right to vote. Nothing is new to the MNS chief's anti-north India campaign. Needless to say, it is a campaign started against Indians. A campaign by the so called "sons of the soil" started against the 'other'. It was the result of this hate campaign against the north Indians that a youth from Bihar took to the violence. It’s like a retaliatory attempt on the part of the people at the receiving end. The ‘other’ Raj could not implement his plans. The incidence must have given sleepless nights to officials. This is what we feel about the authorities. If it is not the case then nobody knows where it will lead us. Rahul sorry Rahul 'Raj' from Bihar who managed to acquire a gun almost hijacked a bus running on route no 332. The bus that runs between SAKINAKA and ANDHERI must have been transporting huge number of people. It is necessary to mention the huge crowd. They can be the witness to the incidence, to the hatred that has seeped into peoples' mind. However, it was not unexpectable. Rahul who held the conductor of the bus (route no 332) hostage on gun point was shot dead by the police in Bailbazaar. It is matter of concern for the governments, Centre, Right or Left, to sit over the problem. This way they can pinpoint the aching points. The pain of hatred is slowly creeping into the whole body. Recently Bihar saw some counter protests. A Few of the enraged by the incidence over the exams in Mumbai took to the streets. They demonstrated against the atrocities meted out to the north Indians in Maharashtra. They protested the vandalisation of an exam centre by the activists of MNS led by Raj Thackeray. A decent number of north Indians appeared for the exam which is what 'coerced' the MNS members to go on rampage. Obviously it can never be justified. Till the time of writing this article two things have already happened. It doesn't matter whether they will yield results or not. Raj Thackeray has finally been arrested from a remote location in Konkan. Many think that his popularity has soared, a notion which sounds quite much true. The other is that prime minister Manmohan Singh has talked to chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh over the volatile situation in Mumbai. The premier has demanded an assurance from the CM. Our CM has responded enthusiastically by announcing a high level inquiry. Chief Secretary Johny Joseph has been assigned with the task to look into the episode. What will come out is the matter of time. But the truth is that the seeds of hatred sown by MNS have grown into a tree and started shedding the fruits.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Another Crisis Averted

The Congress-led UPA survived the August 22 no trust vote brought by the Left. The whole drama was marred by three BJP MPs accusing the ruling coalition of some inducement using the MP, money power. Somehow the government managed to survive and a new chapter began. The Manmohan Singh was seen on television waving the Victory sign. Recently the government nearly faced nearly the same situation. This time the threat was not from Left, it was from South. DMK having a strong hold in Tamil Nadu s part of its solidarity towards Tamils in Sri Lanka had planned a mass resignation of its MPs from Tamil Nadu. In all party meet convened by Karunanidhi, all the present adopted a resolution to resign en masse if the government fails to deliver as per their demands. Three of DMK's MPs especially Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi submitted their resignation to the chief minister himself. After seeing thr heat, the government through the foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon voiced its concern. As a result Sri Lankan government reassured that human rights violation in their fight against LTTE would not happen. On October 26 defence minister Pranab Mukherjee called upon Karunanidhi with Centre's assurances. This was the point whereby assurances and reassurances could be seen. The DMK chief alleying the UPA's fears assured Pranab that he will not put a pressure on Centre by going ahead with his threats, if it were to be implemented the DMK MPs would have resigned. That would have created a crisis for the UPA. But with a concrete efffort on the part of UPA managed to save it from another complicated situation. And another crisis was averted.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Caste Based Census

Madras High Court in its recent ruling has directed the Centre to conduct a caste wise census. The honourable court must have ruled after seeing many discrepancies in the number of backward people spread across the country. The SCs, STs, or Other Backward Classes constitute the main structure of India's leading castes. What will be the end result of the ruling is only the matter of time. Now let's have a look over two incidences that had huge implications.
The Gujjar agitation early this year had a certain demands based on castes. They demanded that their status of OBC be "upgraded" to the SC as they are deprived of a number of government facilities, in simple terms. The months long agitation blocked a national highway and derailed the transport running through the affected regions. The Rajasthan government almost gave in to their demands and accepted their proposals. But what many feared about the developments was that the giving in of the state government could have opened a Pandora's Box. In India their are huge number of tribes, sub-tribes that come under myriad number of castes and sub-castes. So what if every community leader stands up with a new set  of demands.? If it happens then it would become a mammoth task for the governments, both the Central and the respective state ones, to melt the ice. So can the caste based census provide a solution if such situation arrises? The debate does and will continue

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Unholy Conflict Changes The Equations

Hundred acres of land, two warring-identities and one inept establishment, these were the constituents of the so-called ‘land transfer row’ in Jammu and Kashmir. What followed the demonstrations was death and destruction. Death knocks without a prior intimation. Similarly, burning of effigies and problem of refugees in India have similar characteristics. They have a number of things in common. One of them is that they occur without news. The former is a result of protests and the later is a consequence of ethnic cleansing. During recent violence in Kashmir, India lost its most precious abstract object, secularism. Secularism can not be seen and touched. It is a far cry from rhetoric. It is not communicated from venom-spewing mouths but through one’s deeds. Slogan-shouting is an integral part of a protest. In Jammu & Kashmir during the land transfer row and the violence that ensued, slogans determined one’s level of secularism and sedition. The entire land-controversy was turned into a between ‘They’ and ‘Us’ squabble. It was propagated as a battle between the nationalists and the separatists.

So what triggered the controversy that pitted men, women and children against each other? People from different age group took to the street and shouted both anti-and-pro-India slogans. Already existing demographic division has crept further deep into peoples’ minds. It has divided the already polarized Hindus and Muslims in the state.
So where did the problems lie? Was it between separatists and the nationalists or between ‘They’ and ‘Us’ indeed? By all means it wasn’t. The question ‘why the controversy broke out in first place?’ needs to be answered.

The whole chronology into the episode says that the matter could have been prevented from turning into a full-fledged flare up with timely action which requires sagacity. It has seen marginalization on both sides.
On May 26 the Jammu and Kashmir government passed an order that allotted hundred acres of forest land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). SASB takes care of the two-month long yatra every year. This year the Yatra lasted between 18 June and 16 August. The transfer, which instilled a feeling of alienation among Muslims, drew fierce protests from the separatists groups and Muslim community.

One thing which must have been aired and printed widely was hushed up in the pandemonium.
The first protest did not come either from Muslims or from the Hindus . An uninterested entity raised many points against the land transfer, an NGO.
Reportedly some environmental groups had objected to the land transfer in the Baltal forest region. Instead of jumping the guns the government should have initiated a scientific study to dig the truth behind the objection. That could have protected the dispensation from humiliation and the people from agony.
All the hell broke loose when Jammu and Kashmir retracted its earlier order of transfer. This time Hindus felt insecure in their ‘own motherland’. And the rest is the history.
Continuous tri-partite parleys among Centre, Hindus and Muslims yielded no results. Sri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS) adopted a tough stand and wanted hundred acres of land restored to SASB to construct makeshift amenities during Yatra. An eighteen-member all party committee under home minister Shiv Raj Patil was constituted that yielded no results.

The problem and its roots lie deep in the hearts of people. The tangible alienation on the part of Muslims and the feeling of being deprived of a ‘piece of land’ in their own motherland triggered the violence.

The extent of alienation can be judged by reaching to those who feel it.
Shakil Ahmad first protested in 1990 against Indian rule in Kashmir. At 35 he is a salaried worker who is back on the roads. Shakil was among many who believed that their land was being taken away from Kashmiris. He said to NDTV, “We are not against Yatra. We are heartily going to support them.” NDTV quoted him as saying, “They won’t allow this to happen even at the cost of their lives.”
{http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080054607 (June 26 2008)}

Hindus also feel some king of injustice meted out to them in their own motherland. The readers can see the degree of hatred by going through the following.
A blog on Kashmir says, "Secularism is a tool to wipe out Hindus from India." It continues to spew the venom by saying, "There is no word as 'secularism'. There is only one word 'nationalism'." These are the divisive forces that hamper the peace proceses. Such propagandist attitude can never generate results. To add to the woes, they add oil to the flame.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

A Scold

Never in my life I was so furious with myself when I failed to win the most venerated faculty, her trust. I thought that I was making an unsuccessful attempt to look intelligent. I thI wanted to be one. It was not the matter of losing on one assignment. Suddenly when I was called to her cabin I expected something good. As I left her cabin I was full of self pity and remorse and every other things that bring the self humiliation. But this time I have decided to take my faculties advice not for granted but for making best use of my potential. One thing which kept my soul alive was her encouraging criticism of my inability to live up to her expectations. She told me that I was very prominent in my interview then why I was deteriorating day by day. This was the point where the scold started. Being an obeying student I listened to her and at some point I wanted to ask her something. Words could not come out of my mouth decided. But to conclude I had experineced my scold.

Monday, October 20, 2008

An Evening To Celebrate

October 20 brought us a huge treat, a sort of assorted Punjabi dishes, among many things. It was a real experience. We were given a new life. After having our favourite dishes it turned the situation into a nostalgia. I missed my home in this four months first time. Reason. The good food. Siddhartha K G, with all his aspirations to be an administrator, threw us all a party tonight. A party that was full of camaraderie, mutual understanding because there were no heated exchanges this time. I had a horrible experience during one such gathering at our place, Jains Antariksa at Kodambakkam, when I, showing my friendliness, pulled down one of my friends half pant. Nothing would have happened if I had stopped after he warned me to stay away from such things. An aspirant, who could have made a best athlete or cricketer or could have done wonders had he adopted any sport as a profession chose to keep a low profile. Fruaght with the qualities of a good human being he did not demand to contribute to the enormous bill. It is important to tell those who visit this blog regularly why we went out this evening and had a feast. His sister gave birth to a lovely boy, who she thinks will do wonders like K G, at some point. I wonder some times what a child brings with him when he opens his eyes in this world. By no means unprecedented degree of happiness. no other height can match the altitude of the happiness due to a new arrival in any family. Series of rejoicing happens follwed by feasts. But for my friends it may have been only a chance to fill their stomach. I enjoyed it because K G's sister had a reason to rejoice. Our sister had a reason to be happy. But whatever my be the reason behind her happiness, our happiness, it was a time to party. An evening to celebrate.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Another Feather For Indian Literature

The Man Booker for 2007 went to the young and charming Arvind Adiga for his debut novel "The White Tiger." Till the announcement of the the highest citation in the literary world it was hardly inticipated that the writer in his early literary days would manage to bag the coveted 50 000 sterling and a recognition. Adiga who started his carrer as a Business Reporet broke his family norms which was dominated by the medical professinals. His uncle is a renowned medical professinal who runs his establishment in Bangalore. His father currently in Australia is also from the same medical world serving the cause of humanity. The writer who lost his mother at vey young age when he was in standard X was never perturbed by the tragic event. Emerging from the shamble he rised from the confines and went to study at Oxford to realise his dreams. After graduating in Economics and finishing other masterly educations he came back to India. As a media person he shifted his base to Mumabai. According to his uncle his mother was the main driving force that attracted the young author towards the glamour of success. When she died he decided to move on as the world around him moved on. His debu literary work has not only won him the prestigious Booker but at the same time some harsh crticism from the literary world. Those who always portary India in positive picture have criticised the authors fictional work. They believe that his book "The White Tiger" portrays India and its society badly and stereotypes the country. Many of them have put foraward how the BBC used to broadcast cows on India's streets when the channel could have highlighted other things. "The White Tiger" debates two India. One "the Dark" and the other "the Brighter one." Set on the backdrop of the class conflict, the rich and the poor divide, it talks about a character "Balram Halwa" a visionary who progresses to become an entrepreneur. To make his dreams come true Balram uses the illegitimate means. In an interview to the BBC Arivnda emphasised that there is no legitimate way to climb the ladder leading to the riches but the tool of crime. "In India people become rich eother through crime or through politics which is a variant of crime." The story of Balram Halwai is another of the rags to riches story, but it has the overtones of the crime, a tool utilised by him to reach the laddeer. The author says that the novel belongs to Delhi as he finds the city close to his heart. "The White tiger is from Delhi as the protagonist in the novel is based on a character, though fictitiously, from Delhi itself," he elaborates. Enshrining huge dreams in his mind, Balram Halwai lands a chauffeur's job. After winning the trust and seeing the glamour inriches he murders his employee and with the booty starts a business. The entrepreneurial skills which he got naturally makes him much more optimistic and helps realise his dream. howver the nothion that in India you can attain wealth either through politics or through crimes has not gone down well with the literary circle. They believe that the author should have avoided the conflicting notions as it is tantamount to a ceratin way of profling. Debates continue. The author also may be revelling. But one fact is that India has seen another of her literary genious, Arvind Adiga.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A town bleeds more by propaganda...


On September 29 the terror revisited the textile town of Malegaon in the Holy month of Ramadan. The outcome was unending chaotic developments that overpowered the restraint of the people. Many present on the post-blast site took to violence and attacked the police, as preliminarily, the cops reportedly declared that a cylinder had exploded.
But violence can never be the answer to any violent perpetration. People can’t justify it when they resort to it if they don’t find a solution to their problems.
Located in north Maharashtra in Nasik, the city is a distinct example of a ghetto.
Here a river, Mausam nadi, divides Hindus and Muslims into two separate ideological entities. Rivers are considered as uniting force as they flow into different cultures and demography. In India few of them have religious connectivity attached to them. They have no boundaries.
The five bridges over Mausam nadi act as frontiers when it comes to the communal conflagration. People from two sides are held back to cross over the bridge during religious strife.
It is a common phenomenon whenever a riot breaks out that the anti-violence government forces take a centre stage and occupy the entry and exit points at these bridges, on Mausam nadi.
In a city that has a population of more than seven lakh, the segregating forces somewhat have succeeded in poisoning young minds. These immature minds could have been fed with constructive ideas. The father of Indian nuke-bomb A P J Abdul Kalam, who likes to mingle with young minds, has written a book called Ignited Minds. But, being in oblivion, he might not be aware that there is a continuous campaign across the country that feeds these ignited minds with misinformation. Those who remember the pattern behind riot after riot don’t need any further explanation.
Even a small sparkle can snowball into a massive fire at any point of time.
Many believe that the blast that claimed at least six innocent lives and seriously injured as many as 80, was part of a larger conspiracy to polarize the pluralistic Indian social structure. The culprits wanted to trigger a communal flare up as they detonated it in the Holy month of Ramadan.
This is what Hindus and Muslims equally believe.
But hats off to the sagacity of Hindus and Muslims that, the tragedy did not turn into a gruesome wave of violence.
The majority of the Indian populace believes that the series of blasts in the country are nothing more than a gimmick to divide the society on communal lines. Earlier it used to be riot after riot, now the blast after blast. It has damaged the already frail social structure. It has left the bleeding country bandage-less and deprived it of the necessary treatment.
History tells us that the polarization of communities never happened overnight. People attacked each other. The savage, irrespective of the religion they believed in, chased men, women and children to their death only to vent their unfounded anger.
Communities especially the religious minorities live in ghettos. The most common quality of a living organism is to find a safer place to be in, even the ants rush to their havens before the onset of rains.
Previous studies suggest that religious minorities like Dalits, Sikhs or Parsis prefer to live in ghettos. Here their natural characteristic of self-protection and retaining their identities overpowers their desire to be in mainstream.
With a history of a series of communal confrontations Malegaon was always looked down upon, it was always branded as haven for the anti-socials. Many used derogatory languages against Muslims and called Malegaon as Mini-Pakistan.
Successive dispensations overlooked the town which fell further deep into the chaos. Many blame the people themselves for the poor state of the town.
The writer once happened to speak to a man probably in his seventies. When asked about the deplorable conditions under which Muslims live he replied immediately. To the writer’s shock the answer was quite unexpected.
“KHUDA NE AAJ TAK USS QAUM KI HAALAT NAHI BADLI
NA HO JIS KO KHAYAL AAP APNI HAALAT KE BADALNE KA”
He quoted a popular verse from Quran which was paraphrased into lines by the scholar-cum- poet Mohammed Iqbal that means, “The god never changes the (abysmal) state of any community (nation) until or unless the community (nation) itself contemplates to improve that (abysmal) state.”

Nothing exists in this world without a reason. Smoke does not billow out without a fire.
The poor standard of living because of lowest level of income deviated many to the world of crime. The crime once used to be at its height in Malegaon has died its own death. These ruthless anti-social elements wer once on the rampage and butchered each other mercilessly. The most unpopular murder was committed on the day of Eid. The writer who was not born at the time has heard the story many times since his childhood. After saying Eid prayers Bhoorya Dada as he was known cut the throat of his rival Moosa Dada when both of them confronted each other after EID Namaz. These horrible accounts are unending and would require reams of papers to write.
It is bitter fact that to end the menace no body came forward with a concrete formula. Everybody practiced the rhetoric.
The town once considered as the Manchester of Maharashtra has been neglected on many counts. Muslims depend upon their sole source of bread and butter, the powerlooms. They weave cotton and now polyester fabrics. Malegaon boasts more than one lakh sets of these cloth-weaving machines which are the mainstay of the community. Powerful rich Marwaris buy these weaved clothes from the Muslims in the common gathering place of Taanba Kaanta.
The city came into existence as a result of mass exodus of Muslims from now Uttar Pradesh. A caravan came at the banks of the river Mausam in the late nineteenth century. Most of who migrated where weaver or Julaha Muslims which is a caste granted OBC status by the government of India.
Change is the integral part of the world. Change happens everywhere. It happened in Malegaon. After the communal riots blasts brought change. This time it came in the form of people becoming alert about their rights.
After the blasts it was time to put the ointment to the wounds. Sonia Gandhi visited the textile town with an entourage of ministers and officials to hand out the compensation checks. To astonishment of many, the families of few of those who died in the blasts refused to accept them. They only wanted the acts of terror crushed. They demanded a thorough and fair probe into it.
Never in the history of communal violence or acts of terror, was witnessed that people refused the government aids.
There is nothing more dangerous than the powerful tool of propaganda. It has become quite tougher now to dig into the ground realities. People don’t bother about it. They are spoon-fed with biased information. They practice persecution.
Two blasts one on September 8 2006 and the other in the Holy month of Ramadan this year have failed to make Hindus and Muslims turn their backs towards each other. Hindus have donated their bloods to save the lives of Muslims. They have helped rush the wounded to hospitals in one way or the other.
For reasons unknown to many, Malegaon has witnessed many communal flare ups since independence. It is unnecessary to write “since independence” as it was the point where the mass polarization of communities happened. Millions ended homeless and hundreds were butchered in the name of religion as a result of partition. The legacy of the hatred continues. The blasts which have replaced the riots also continue. But the need of the hour is to stop propaganda. It divides the minds. And minds are the biggest building blocks of any country. It is up to those who are at the power corridors how to prevent the building blocks from turning into stumbling blocks. As someone said minds can easily be ignited. So why not ignite them for turning the century into ours, century of the people of India.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Second Term

The first semester at the Asian College of Journalism ended on septembe the 30. We were relived as there were no more assignments on the prowl to haunt and hunt us. After one week's vaccation all of us have come back now from our respective hometowns. A few of them have brought with them sweets prepared and sold countyr's most famous sweet makers, many of them after cutting down on theri travel expenses have brought confectioneries which are much more sweeter than the sweets. The sweets offered by one of my friends who happpens to be a girl created a warm feeling and increased the so called enmity among ourselves. This enmity only exists only during the time when we are unable to cater to each other demands like bringing a cup of coffe from the tea stall. It also reaches its hight when someone demands an ice cream and the fellow student refuses to fetch that. I remembeme one such occasion when there was a near war like situation when one of us became outrageous only because someone hooted while a girl was entering the gates of the coveted college. The matter was solved with a timely intervention of our beloved dean. These are the samll skirmishes that happen time and again. Humans nees oxygen. We at Asian College of Jouranlism need heated exchanges, skirmishes, quarrels and hate campaigns among ourselves to survive. Many say that all the above play a dividing role when it comes to humans living together. But in our case, note that the Asian College of Jurnalism is a microcosm of the pluralistic Indian society, it is mandatory for every one to indulge in at least a fight per month. This is an incredible phenomenon that no body would believe untill or unless he or she visits our college and witnesses it. I aometimes wonder why people fight in the name of religion, caste, creed or any other quality that identifies we humans. The more we fight the more is the vigour with which we hug each other. A torrent of affection comes crashing down on every waring individual from both the camps. I wonder why India faces riot after riot when Muslims donate bloods to save lives of Hindus whenever a catastrophe or an act of cowardice takes place. I wonder why people burn houses of their fellow humans and theri fellow human beings, men, women and children when Hindus offer shelter to the frightened Muslims who were chased after by the violent rioters. I wonder why Hindus and Muslims are at loggerheads when Hindus and Muslims rush to the circumstances of any apocalyptic event and work shoulder to shoulder to help the victims. the answer lies in our secular and sentimental values. Those hate mongers can never see that the majority of our people still believes in the secular values. The values that the architects of our country like Jawahar Lal Nehru and Maulan Abul Kalam Azad had instilled in us. The values which the aggressive freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and his companions instilled in us. I really can't even to think to forget the moments I am spending at Asian College of Juranlism. Only the earthly matters like the wall built with brick, cemnet and lime divideds our body when we are fast asleep. But our minds are always together. There's not a single manly force in the world that can damage our unity. We cry when ACJ cries. We laugh when ACJ laughs. And the ACJ cries or laughs when something bad and good happens to its students. The first term ended last month. the first week of second term passed like nothing. And the second term seems would end soon. Nothing in this fleeting world is permanent. There's nothins that is constant. People move. Their fate or destiny also shifts position. People reach their destination or point of earning his or her bread and butter. We also will move one day. o the unendeing journey. the journey of cultivating a good career. Life moves on. The first term moved. I pray the atmosphere at ACJ never moves. This is the symbol of secular and tolerent India. A ray of hope in the darkness of hatred, communal violence and killings in the name of religions. For a person like me the second term doesn't matter if it moves or not. But the secular values of ACJ matters the most. Lets pray the second tem ends happily and the culture at ACJ remains the same.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

The Wait Got Over

It's hardly belivable, but some people say that "to wait is much more harder experince than to taste death." Like many I also have to wait on a number of occasions. Be it waiting in a queue to get the carosene from the monthly quota or to acquire the railway reservation. Even I had to wait quite patiently for the vaccations to come. Those eagerly awaited holidays at last came with the end of our first semester. On the very same day on September 30, finally everything was going to be a fun. As most of us studying at the Asian College of Jurnalism embarked upon a journey that was poised to bring happiness. The happiness of being catching up with their friends and family. The happiness of being away from the daily bombardment of assignments. A few of them reached on the very same day and met up with their friends in theri hometowns. Thanks to the air traffic. Travelling by air is the most coveted and appreciable mode of transport as people can move from one point of the world to the other in hours and sometimes in minutes. But the journey that I took was trurning out to be a never ending travel that lasted for thirty hours. Thanks to the inconvenience of not being able to travel directly to Manmad junction because there is no direct train connecting Manmad to Chennai central or vice versa. Its a break journey, if my knowldge is right. I take a detour whenever I want to reach Malegaon via Manmad. Manmad is not more than a thirty minute road journey from Malegaon. But this time the thrity hours long travel was taking toll on me. It was getting on my nerve. I was craving to be with my friends and family. For those regular readers of this blog must be astonished why I was dying to get to my native plave this time. To discontinue the whodunit I must reveal the thing. It was Eid. nothing brings more happiness than celebrating the festivals one's family members. Whether it is Eid, Edi ul Adha, Dipawali, Dasehra or Holi or Christmas. I somehow managed to overcome the eagerness and reached to my place. Spent a happy adorable time with my friends and family. The one-week-long holiday ended without giving any prior intimation. unfortunnately this vaccation period was marred by uncertain circumstances. Only one week back a blast rocked the textile town killing at least six persons and injuring hundred others. to add to the woes after terror it was time to bear with the human sentimental attacks on humanity itself. the adjoining Dhule city witnessed a riot of worst of its kind. Till the time of writing this article the violent atmosphere has spill over to some interior parts of the district. While I was packing back for Chennai the surrounding was abuzz with baseless and unfounded rumours. The wind was lagging far behind and the rumour mills were churning the fastes travelling abstract thing unendingly. That also resulted in wrsening the situation. My holidays were over by then. Now i was very evry eager to get back to the Asain College of Jouranalism. My wait was over and I left Malegaon for Chennai in search of peace.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

On The Way Back To Chennai

In a charged situation it is hardly seen that the unwieldy shutters of rumour mills are down. Exactly like may othe shop owner who for the fear of a backlash down their shutters. Recently Malegaon and Dhule, twin cities in north Maharshtra confronted nearly a similar situation. The frmer was faced with another terror strike. Though later the mob went out of contrl and attacked police men, may be for a reason or two, the turbulence turned into a nightmare for those who seek peace and who want to live in harmony.
The later where tearing of a poster culiminate in a full fledged large scale communal frenzy, the mob attacked each others' economic, social and commercial establishments. Amidst these chrged stiuations I spent my vaccations with fear in my heart and soul. The fear of back to back attacks or backlash. To add to the woes the rumour mngers acted as oil to the flame. The rumours chnaged their colour and ingredents with the each number of mouths it passed. But thanks to the conscious citizens who prevented any further unfounded violence. So amids ths situation I embarked upon my 25 hur long journry to report back to the college in Chennai

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

A day after terror struck

The day that saw the worst attack on humnaity was marked by violence. The angry rather the panicked mob resorted to violence. the sign of violnce or outrage. So what prompted them to be so outrageous. if the media reports are anything to go by vehicle of a sub divisional officer was attacked. a number of police men were among the seriously injured. We are not here to defend or offend any individual, community, caste and creed. it is a different debate whether the panicked mob had any legitimte right to vend their anger by destrying public properties and annihilating a police sub post located feets away from the blast site. we would not discuss the morale of the acts perpetrated by the violent mob on the fateful day. One of the source told the writer that the recently concluded Hindu festival of ganapati was characterised by a huge police force. During ganapaty the force kept a tight vigil and risked where it was necessary. the same person who is a well informed dentist told this correspondent how the establishment practised double standard. During Ramzan and the evets leading up to the Monday's blast the security was not watertight. as it was before onlt three or fur weeks back. it reminded many the blasts of spetember 8 2006 on the day of the muslim day of celebration Shabe Barat, which falls two weeks ahead of Ramzan. Shabe Barat marks the beginning of all festivities. it turns the entire muslim community into the religious mode. the same day, september 29, another blast rocked the town of Modasa in Samarkantha district in Gujarat. According to media reports both the lasts were near synchronous. The blast in Malegaon occurred in between 9.15 / 9.30 in the night.
The one ingujarat also happened nearly the same time. there seems to be a pattern and an ideology working behind these acts of terro. if the religion becomes an illusion people beome beasts. they becme cannibals. they eat each other's flesh and drink their blood. the hukmnaity has been under a comstant siege. No one know where it will lead us Indians. But we can hope tha we can improve on certain fronts.

Terror Strikes Again

alas! the terror returns with its most ugliest face. this time in two neibouring states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. according to the news reports both places are muslim dominated and market areas where muslms were shopping for Idd which falls on Wednesday or thursday depending upon the sight of the moon. muslims follow their lunar calendar. the two places Malegaon and Modasa in Maharashtra and gujarat respectively are described by the media reports as communally sensitive. The sookha bazaar where a timer device was used as told by the district suprintendent of police R Brahmabhat, but preliminary reports of the explosion said it was a cylinder blast which was later ruled out by the Inspector general of Police Nasik Range, S P Gupta. Talking to CNN IBN he said that Improvised Explosive Device was used to trigger the vlast and terror. ATS official also confirmed later that it was not cylinder blast but a crude bomb that killed at least four people. The Chief Medical Officer , L N Chavan, at the Wadia govenemnt hospital in Malegaon said to CNN IBN that there were four bodies lying at the hospital.
The bone of contention is not the facts and figures. Our Intelligence Agencies have again failed to prevent another terror strike. The terrorist are now seeing into the eyes of these agencies and an eye ball to eye ball game is underway, it seems. What makes these terrorist to confront country's robust police forces? Are they have developed their own network to such an extent that they can strike at will? Or is there a lack of will on part of the governemnt to get deep into the networks and dismantle them. So far only conflicting reports are coming from the two epicentres. The IANS termed it a cylindrical explosion. News X said it was a cylide vlast. To the writer's astonishment the horrible incidence could not find a place, till the time of writing the article, in country's premium Press trust of India. The Teror of terror is so terrible that we drifted from the topic and went into the details of what happpened in these two muslim dominated areas. The victims are not muslims or hindus they are human beings in first place. And the Islam saya that killing one innocent human being is tantamount to killing the whole humanity. Similarly the terrorists are neither Hindus nor Muslims. Though their name smight suggest their affiliations to a particlular religion but they are not the followers of that religion. If they were one they would nevr have resorted to violence in first place. But nowadys there is a trend to stereotype these incidences. The Hinud terrorism and the Muslim terrorism which is not acceptable at least in the secular country of India. People should behave as mature persons instead of passing the bucks and indulging in a sliging game. That is detrimental to our pluralistic socialt structure. The neeed of the hour is that the law enforcers hudle up and remove the spectacle of bias and persecution and bring every community in its fold in the fold of fight against terrorism to overpower the imp. The probe as well as the remedial measures should be inclusive not exclusive other wise we can never lead the fight against terror to its logical conclusion.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Examining the Exam

The sptember 29 finally arrived with its fanfare. The most waited part of the day is over now. My keen eyes constantly looking for someone very special for me stoped working as the two natural telescopes, together they form a binocular, were tired. I was very curious to get up early in the morning. It dosen't matter though that I was unable to sleep the whole night Today I wrote a test on Media Law and Society. I find politics and the leagal beat very close to my heart. Its not because you get a slightly larger exposure in these two streams but because I find them very interesting to follow. It can be on a television set or on a radio or in a newspaper. I go by the convenient mode of grasping the news. There was a politics involved in distribution and handing out of the question papers and a legal aspect to the distribution of the answer sheet. The time he distributor started to hand out the papers there was a rucus inside the class. The students who did not prepare well were wary of their being failed as the previous week we all were inundated with assignments. The fears died down to soe extent with the two minuted deadline passing the deadline. These two minutes were given to keep silence and nobody bothered to obey it. Examination wa strated. All of us were happy because we had no invigilators doing a sentinel's job. Because there was no threat of desecration of any object that could have snowballed into a ful fledged violence. The examination ended with the same zeal with which we appeared for them. We did live up to the unexpected expetations. We did not fair well. It was a farewell from our colleg for us.

Deal

the much publicised indo us nuclear dela has got throught the house of representatives. the only hurdle now remains in the senate where the voting is expected to take place in the days to come. what follows in the run up to the deal geting the final touches is quite astonishing. many were pesimistic about the deal that has been marred by the controversies since it became the hot debate. as matter of factly the deal seems will get through the senate as well paving the way for civilian nuclear peaceful cooperartion betweeb world's largest democracy and the leading power america. the deal was since its inception a bone of contention between those who opposed it and those who favoured it. time will tel who was wrong and who was right in opposing and favouring the deal.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Terro of Terror

the recent terror strikes once again showes how the terrorists and their networks have become so robust that they are able to resurface gain and again. the dispensation with all its rhetoric and vows, takes oath to prevent such cowardly acts whenever these happen. Whether ongoing debate over the need of a stringent act or a distinct separate federal agency to curb the menace, the terrorist have defied all the measures taken by the governmnet. Though, as per the claims, the governemnt and the law enforcement agencies have said that they have succeeded in dismantling the sleeper cells and terror modules operating across the country but the recurrence of the acts say the reverse. After every terror strike, as we see and listen to the statements of the establishment assisted ny our law enforcers, we think that and hope that this will never happen. But for those especially the journalists like me it only turns out to be a mirage. The vested inteterests who always prowl for such atmnosphere leave no stone unturned to cash in on the charged situation. India is the biggest victim of terror. See what happened in the past six months or so? Blast after blast. Earlier, in the words of seasoned journalist and noted author, it used to be riot after riot. But now it seems that the vested interests have found a new tool of divide and rule. they always try and succeed to some extent to get a mileage fron these incidences. A while ago CNN IBN broadcated an opinion poll that has refuted the ongoing debate over the polarisdation of different communities especially Hindus and Muslims. As many as 66 per cent Hindus say that they find no reasons in refusing a house for a Muslim. A roughly 25 per cent said that are losing their trust on muslims. But still more than 50 per cent have trust in Muslims. 81 per cent of Muslims trust their Hinudu brothers. the similar poll tries to know the opinion of the people on who is better in tackling the terro? Whether its UPA, NDA or Both have failed? 26 per cent believed that UPA is better and it has curbed the menace while 28 per cent gave the erstwhile NDA an upper hand in tackling these acts of terror. Forget the figures. Lets find some solutions or at leastuggest some conctrete measures so that the terror of terro is routed out of the country.
1) Set up a fact finding team. First we need to find out who are behind these? What are their motives etc.
2) Who are the gainers and losers at the same times?
3) Why we face back to back terro attacks that has damaged our country and left it bleeding.?
4) Do we really need stringent anti terror laws or are the existing ones sufficeint for them?
5) What if there is not a single federal gency like that one in United States of America?
6) can such federal agency put an end to these terror of terror?
7) Or are we faulting somewhere. Quite lucidly have we not cracked down on the real culprits and only zeroing on the innocents? If this is no the case then why terro is resurfacing?
8) Can we ever overpower the enemies of our country without an inclusive fight against terrorism that will involve people from everu walk, caste, creed and religion? Isn't it posible?

Answering these questions is not as difficult as it may sound. But there are some lapses which we can not avoid, that will amount to another lapse. Our Prime Minsiter has also acknowledged that there are some lapses. But only acceding to the reality won't dismantle the terror and its network. We need to huddle together to end the terror of the teror.

Monday, August 11, 2008

The Belligerence

The conflict involving erstwhile USSR and Georgia has once again shows that the world, developed and the developing both, has not been able to douse the thirst of the one and the only ill intention that has plagued the peaceful world i.e. expansionism. The turn of events has shown that there are a number of countries who inspite of being at loggergheads with each other, have deloped quiet a sense of insecurity. It is because of the derogatory attempts made by the there counterparts to bring a kind of hegemony over each other has rsulted into a great many conflicts. The recent full scaled war is the best example of the act. The Unitees States, which leaves no stones unturned whin it comes to solving its own crises has turned almost an defa ear to the conflict. Instead of bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table the so called watch dog of the world, the world saviour has done little in terms of the crises management. To prevent the dispute fro truning into a most hazardous destructive warfare the world community really needs to sit together and come to a common acceptable formula, agreed by both sides. It is the high time that he heads of the developed world and the conscious states resolved the menace.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Fantastic Class

Today we had a fantabulous class of Mr V Krishna Ananth. Never in my life I ahve ever come to face to face to such an splendid way of delivering the lecture. Since the class started everyone was clung to what Mr Ananth had to put forward. For me it was really an unbelievable situation where I found myself amidst the twister of knowledge. Mr Krishna Ananth, our faculty, who I was afraid to speak with eliminated all my fears in that particular lecture. Not by applying any remedy, any physio-therapy or any other traditional methods to treat the patients. the history of Indian Nationalism was a cakewalk for him. He just ran through the events in chronological order in the manner as the people count something on their finger tips. All those pre independent political happenings meant nothing to him as far as remembering them was concerned. So I enjoyed the class a lot.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Lecture

Nowadays attending lectures in our college has become a new craze. More and more people are attending their classes, to show the non existing charm of being a disciplined chap. With the increase in the demand of attending classes, the faculties have also adapted themselves to the new trend. The trend, which is in its infant stages. they have a new role to play but to a certain extent they are unsuccessful so far. Dear friends today why I chose this topic is quiet astonishing. I am sure. But thing is that the time I started to attend the class I had not a tangible enthusiasm in doing so. It was upgraded only after I started to see towards my decent counterparts who sat in the class as a little school going child. To add to the woes of the people who find themselves at the forefront when it comes to bunking their lectures, it is turning out to be a very tough situation. A situation that is really giving them sleepless nights. So what they have decided to have heated debate and protest at the gates next morning, the feat they adopted earlier to get the attention of those who attend their lectures very regularly. These decent chaps took this unwanted and uncalled for protests seriously and they decided to form a union of students with all their evil ambitions. To conclude a new trend of college politics between those who bunk their classes and those who attend them like the municipal workers has erupted. those who want to be neutral should take every possible measures and be ware.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

SAARC Summit

The south asian association for regional cooperation summit began today in colombo. the member heads of the states are eying to come to terms and put forward a concrete formula to curb the menace of terrorism which, if going by the precvious conferences, seems a distant probability. Indian Prieme Minister Dr manmohan Singh in the innaugural address appealed to its members to bring peace and trabquilkity the sub continent. The sub continent which is marred by the endemic problem of terrorism could have developed on the lines of the European Union. But unfortunately the problems remain unresolved, huge chunk of our population falling prey to the long drawn out violence subsequently resulting in less regional cooperation in terms of free movement and free trade in the area. the need of the hour is that peole sat together and gave a point to it serioiusly, burried their hatchets to overcome the unrelenting situation.