Rahul Writes

(Photography) (Mumbai)

Last Sunday my camera and I went on a walk around Mumbai.

Saw these cute little angels sitting quietly on a gate of a public park in Fort area.

In my hometown, there are many Gulmohar trees. Every year they paint our world red. Just observed that even Mumbai has these beautiful trees! Never noticed them before, for years! Happens in city life :)

This tree looked curious! Is it on a slimming course or it had a fight with a woodcutter and lost some flesh here and there? Anyways, nature is nice and interesting…  

In Fort area, there are lots of heritage buildings. Just observed this tiny face in a sculpture on the walls of one building. Loved the ex-pression on his face - there is something in it which attracts us. Hope they maintain these buildings well.

The building belongs to department of Posts. There are pigeons in the sky. In the middle of the road there is a banner with picture of Balasaheb Thackeray. And then there are boys playing street-cricket on a Sunday. Complete picture of a vibrant life you will not get anywhere else :)

I wanted to see this building since long - made it now. State Central Library - or The Asiatic Society building. White and Grand.

This bull was sitting quiet and alone. Seems he is bored a bit, and the day is dull. Do you think he is one of those abandoned bulls which wander on the streets? See his nose, there is a rope and he is tied - indicating there is someone who takes care of him. Still, the poor animal has to find his own food on the streets. Long way to go towards animal rights… 

These are Mahakali Caves in Andheri East. These used to house Buddhist Monks, some 2000 years ago. But these are in very poor state now, with almost everything inside gone. I couldn’t find even a single sculpture inside. I have created this album on the Mahakali Caves:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rahulbemba/MahakaliCaves?feat=directlink

Mahakali Caves

Note: If you are on rediff iland and want to paste multiple pictures in a single post, then there are many ways to do that. I upload all my snaps in an album on www.picasaweb.com (registering through my google/gmail ID) and then along with each loaded picture I get one “embed link”. I use this link to paste it in the window option of “Embed widget code from various sites” which comes at the right most option in an “Add a post” window of iland. When I paste the embed link in this window and click on “Submit”, the picture appears in the “Add a post” window. We can post as many pictures as we want in this manner.

 

(Rahul)

(India V2)

In the name of Equality

During recent general elections, a number of issues became 'election-issues', while some others couldn’t. Prominent amongst the non-issues was one which had made the youth of India agitated for last 5 years. Many of us observed that very curiously, the Congress party (INC) was not mentioning any of its divisive caste and religion based policies as achievements. During last 5 years in power, the ruling government had made much advancement in dividing India on the caste and communal lines: OBC Quota, caste based reservations in institutes of excellence like IITs / IIMs, increasing creamy layer income limit to Rs 4.5 LPA, PM saying religious minorities have 'first rights' over national resources, making ground for caste based reservations in private sector, were all such achievements which could be claimed to belong to the Congress party.

Now that the elections are over, the government and a new set of ‘champion’ ministers have started their job again. So we have our senior Minister of 'Law and Justice' Mr. Veerappa Moily saying this about his governments plans of installing caste-based quota in private sector: ^(Ref)

"Government favors affirmative action on reservation in the private sector. It will be across the country and for everyone. Industries in both rural and urban areas will have to introduce quota. There is a concept called corporate social responsibility. Corporates must identify the importance of equal opportunity. They must recognise talent and reward it and also encourage others to come forward."

On the other hand, now the government has set a higher target for public sector banks to lend loans to Indians looking at their religions first: ^(Ref)

Under the government's plan to help underprivileged, public sector banks have targets for loans to be given to minorities. The government had set the target for at 13 per cent of the total priority sector advances and last year total outstanding loans to minority communities stood at Rs 82,865 crore - 12.4% of the total priority sector advances. This target has been raised to 15% for the current year. The lending to Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Zoroastrians and Buddhists - notified as minorities for lending purposes - figures in the performance appraisals of public sector bank chiefs. The UPA government directed banks to enhance financial assistance to minority communities in 2007.

Within weeks of getting our new government, it is clear to see that the old race has restarted. While there is no doubt that our government should ensure proper development of every section of society, this systematic segregation of people on the basis of castes and religions, is like injecting disease-carrying viruses in the veins of our nation.

When the honorable UPA minister says he wants to enforce caste based quota in private sector companies and yet claims that this is towards ensuring “equal opportunity” in private companies, basically he is acting like a hypocrite. Asking companies to hire based on one’s caste and the concept of “equal opportunity” are mutually exclusive. On the other hand, asking banks to “disburse loans to non-Hindus on priority” (note that in the fold of “minority, our government has picked up almost the entire list of non-Hindus except Jains: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Zoroastrians and Buddhists), the government is legitimating communalism and a form of religious-discrimination in government institutions! Still, they would say this is being done in the name of “equal opportunity”!

Also note the clever signs of “vote bank policies”. In case of OBCs, they have increased the “creamy layer” income level to Rs 4.5 lakhs per annum, making sure that these relatively stronger families will grab all opportunities out of the hands of the really poor. The poor amongst reserved castes will always remain poor, and vote-bank remains intact. In case they installed reservations in jobs or education with only “economic status” as the criteria, there won’t be any problem - but then there won’t be any “vote banks” too! And what is the need of giving loans to Muslims and Christians on the basis of their religions? We should know that under 'priority sector lending', public sector banks are required to disburse 10 % of loans to weaker sections, which included scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, small and marginal farmers, artisans and distressed urban poor indebted to non-institutional lenders. Our secular (UPA) govt. included religious minorities (Muslims, Christians, etc) under the same sector. Even earlier, they had kept some specific castes under this sector. If they kept only the later secular categories like "small and marginal farmers, artisans and distressed urban poor indebted to non-institutional lenders", most needy among these specific castes and religions would also get the benefits of the loans! But this won't allow our government to make vote banks out of them! It is clear how this 'vote bank politics' is getting passed like 'championing' the minority cause

Now why do I blame the Congress party for these corrupt caste/religion based politics, when almost all political parties do it anyway? I hope you understand that all the examples I presented in this article found their genesis in the minds of a Congress-member. And those who 'sow the seed' are more responsible than those who merely 'follow the lines'.

Such policies which are unfair, discriminatory, corrupt and which divide Indians on the basis of castes and religions should be done away with. High time the Indian electorate opens his eyes to see how cleverly the Indian National Congress and its governments are doing it to us what the British used to do - divide and rule.

(Rahul)

18 June 2009

Mumbai

Dear Mr. Obama,

Past is always so easy to understand. It's only the present that we don't get hold of, in order to shape up our future. Still, many of us are obsessed with the future. You would definitely be one of these ' after all, future was all that you promised in your election campaigns in order to buy the present! But I see a big problem in the way you are going about it, and hence this letter.

The Great American Blackmailers

Think of the way your predecessor George W. Bush managed to get his second term in the office. It's an easy guess! Yes, it was nothing but blackmailing Blackmailing the Americans that if they didn't support him, those evil leaders with weapons of mass destruction would dig their graves, oppps, mass graves If they didn't support him, the Afghans would keep bringing down all the Twin Towers, and each Iraqi boy, a born Saddam, will come back to hit at the US So the scared (and fooled) Americans put their faith behind him, and enjoyed all his fairy-tales with a coke and a ham burger. And they gave him enough time on the chair to make himself an unforgettable world leader. What followed is history Can he be called a benchmark on blackmailing? Not yet; he has got a serious contender! Who better than yourself Mr. President?

Your message to America

Last week, you addressed a town hall speech in Green Bay, Wisconsin. You delivered a message to your countrymen. I will present the sequence in which you said things, to bring better clarity. You said: ^{(Ref1, Ref2)}

“Our kids are falling behind when it comes to science. We have kind of settled into mediocrity when we compare ourselves to other advanced countries and wealthy countries That’s a problem because the reason that America over the last hundred years has consistently been the wealthiest nation is because we’ve also been the most educated nation It used to be by a pretty sizable factor we had the highest high school graduation rates, we had the highest college graduation rates, we had the highest number of PhDs, the highest number of engineers and scientists Though the Americans used to be head and shoulders above the people of other countries, especially in the field of education, they are fast loosing that position

So even with the good schools, we have got to pick up the pace, because the world has gotten competitive. The Chinese, the Indians, they are coming at us and they’re coming at us hard, and they’re hungry, and they’re really buckling down."

Is not this is what is called blackmailing? In your statements, you first express envy: "We have kind of settled into mediocrity when we compare ourselves to other advanced countries and wealthy countries." I note that here you are comparing the position of US vis-à-vis 'other advanced and wealthy countries'. Do India and China come here? No. You should be talking about countries like Germany, France or may be exclusively ' Japan. But you have a job in your hand ' to inspire people, 24X7. Envying the Europeans and Japanese is passé. What a better way to inspire the kids than to prepare a soup, opps, curry, made from a little hatred and lots of insecurity? I will explain how this is exactly what you did

Teaching them whom to hate

While addressing the students of US, you brought in India and China. India! And China! The dreaded job-snatchers from American Silicon valleys ' the Bangalorean savages who eat, drink and think software ' the manufacturing mavericks who produce computers cheaper than American cell phones ' are not these the real 'circle of evil' that Americans in Obama Raj should worry about? I love your spirit of teaching. Earlier, you were teaching them how to eat, what to watch on TV, or even how to dream. And now you are teaching them whom to hate! I remember the last time George W Bush used a hard-power to teach Americans whom to hate. Why hard power? Because beards are hard ' caps and black veils are hard ' nukes and chemical weapons are hard and even oil is hard in some ways. Now you Mr. Obama are using soft power. It's not difficult to write a book like 'A hundred reasons to hate Indians and Chinese'. This is a soft way to do the same - blackmail people to do things. (I wonder why Mr. Bush failed to use this type of soft-manipulation ' after all he remains one and only MBA President of the USA in entire history!) Indian students are good at software, they are good in space research, even getting better in nuclear and cutting edge technologies, and they have Bangalores. China has Shanghai while Detroit and Manhattan are in the news more because of bankruptcies than anything else! So your problem was how to let Americans realize and come back till they achieve what it seemed they were destined to lose! And through your speeches, you made use of the uncertainly and vulnerability that a US citizen is going through these days, to blackmail them into studies and hard work!

Declining US Growth rates

Your dilemma is how to sustain the supremacy of the US. US growth rates are witnessing saturation: GDP growth in recent years are 3.2% in 2006, 3.2% in 2007, 2 % in 2008, and (-).57% in 2009. The problem is that many things in life are like the bell curve. You have to come down after a point. How you come down and how you prolong your growth phase is in your hands. I will tell where I think you are making mistakes.

How America can still grow

I think you are wrong when you emphasizes that US was supreme because of its "highest education". Education as an end in itself won't achieve much. What will the US do when the entire world becomes "higher educated"? It happens so many times in our life too ' when we see things as ends in themselves. Is not it the reason why the US firms are losing out? And they are still not learning lessons! Was not this the very reason why US auto giants lost to Japanese and then protected themselves, but again failing now? I think when the entire US growth model is based on a 'superiority feeling', it leaves only one direction for movement ' downwards

Recently, I came to know that Google had to buy present day Orkut from a Turkish guy. He worked for the US firm Google! Doesn't it tell you how much those non-native Americans contribute to your growth? Long before, US firm Microsoft had to buy Hotmail from Sabeer Bhatia. I think the US firms are best at making commercial gains out of ideas. But you should have your own ideas too! Though so many American firms have thrived because of innovation, I see something lacking in your vision. Let us come to the fundamental question ' how can US still grow? I think there is only one way ' and that is your basic job also. The word is ''creativity'.

I think the US can still grow only by making 'creative' ways into areas where others have not plunged yet Making the best use of creativity to create niche sectors, to use creativity to come out with lifestyle changing offerings ' this is the way forward Let the Chinese manufacture your designs at the cheapest costs. Let the Indians write software codes for your companies. You should aim at the intellect! But alas, you are fighting with Chinese to continue making tractor components. You are snubbing the Indians for 'stealing' your back-office jobs! And then you are blackmailing your people into competing against these very Chinese and Indians? I think this may grant you more years in power in the US, but will take your country downwards

Please stop blackmailing into future

I think your approach of showing threats to young children to get them to study, and using blackmailing to bring people in the right direction won't take you far. In fact your approach will kill the very hope that is still remaining in the Great American Dream. Americans like to have fun in doing whatever they have to. The days when the US saw a threat in the USSR and hence made a Space march are over. US now is not an underdog, and those tactics won't work any longer. The faster you understand this, the quicker you will get back.

In a way, your tactics of threatening and blackmailing will breed a generation of jealous Americans. This would never have happened in history of the US. When a generation of Islam-hating America grew up, we saw the Guantanamo happening. Take care to see if you are not watering a 'hate-India' generation to come up Because, the repercussions would be a loss to the entire world.

From India with love,

(Kr. Rahul)

(Story)

पोखर और प्रकृति

पहाड़ों के पास एक छोटा सा गाँव था. गाँव मे एक पोखर था. सुबह स्नान करने से ले कर पीने के पानी की जरूरत हो या गायों को नहलाना, सारी ज़रूरतें वही पोखर पूरी करता था. एक छोटी बच्ची हर रोज अपनी गुड़िया ले कर पोखर आती. खुद नहाती, उसे भी नहलाती. फिर उसके बाल बनती, उससे बातें करती, गाने गुनगुनाती. ऐसा करते जब समय गुजर जाता, फिर एक तेज दौड़ लगा कर घर वापस चली जाती. पोखर हर रोज उसे देखता, और उसके आनंद की कोई सीमा नही होती.

एक सुबह एक बड़े साधु उधर से गुजरे. उन्होने गाँव वालों की दिनचर्या देखी. खेत देखे, पोखर भी देखा. शाम को जब सब उनकी शरण मे आए, तो साधु महाराज ने अपने मन की बात रखी. “ये गाँव सच मे आदर्श है. लेकिन एक कमी है जो दिल को कचोटती है.” सब लोग चिंतित हो गये. जब कारण पूछा गया तो साधु बाबा ने कहा, “गाँव मे जल देवता का उचित सम्मान नही है. आप सब उस से इतना काम लेते हैं, बदले मे उसे क्या देते हैं? जल देवता अगर नाराज जुए तो प्रलय आ जाता है.” सब गंभीर हो कर उनकी बात सुन रहे थे. “जल देवता की पूजा होनी चाहिए!”

उनका यह कथन जल्द ही सत्य हो गया. गाँव वालों ने पोखर के पास एक मंदिर बनाया. बड़ी धूम मची, बड़ा मेला लगा. लेकिन छोटी बच्ची जब अपनी गुड़िया ले कर आती, तो शोर और भीड़ देख डर जाती. दूर खड़ी पानी को देखती, फिर वापस चली जाती. पोखर सबसे ज्यादा परेशान हुआ. उसकी दोस्ती उसे प्यारी थी. पूजा से भी ज्यादा… पूजा के कारण एक और समस्या थी. पूजा के बाद बचे फूल और बाकी समान सब उसी तालाब मे फेकने लगे थे. और लोगों की भीड़ के कारण भी प्रदूषण बढ़ गया था.

एक सुबह जब लोग सो कर उठे, तो सब बदला हुआ था. पोखर का पानी गाँव तक आ गया था. पोखर ने अपने दोस्त के पास पहुचने की कोशिश जो की थी! मगर इस कारण पूरे गाँव मे पानी भर गया. लोग फिर से साधु बाबा के पास गये. लोगों ने सोचा कि शायद पूजा पद्धति मे कोई गलती हुई है इसी लिए देवता नाराज हुए हैं.

मगर साधु बाबा सारी बात समझ गये. उन्होने फिर लोगों से कहा, “प्रकृति भगवान की देन है, और हमे इसकी रक्षा करनी चाहिए. पर हमसे गलती हुई. हमने रक्षा के बदले उसकी स्वतंत्रता छीन ली. ऐसा हमारे साथ कई बार होता है. हम जिसे अच्छा देखना चाहते हैं, उसकी सहायता करने के बदले हम उसे ही नुकसान पहुचाते हैं. प्रकृति स्वभाव से स्वतंत्र होती है… आज से हम पूजा तो करेंगे पर ये भी ध्यान रखेंगे कि नदी या तालाब को हम किसी तरह नुकसान नही पहुचाएं. सबने ये बातें सुनी और अच्छे आचरण का वचन दिया.

छोटी बच्ची भी बड़े ध्यान से ये सब बातें सुन रही थी. लोगों के वहाँ से उठने से पहले वो बड़ी तेजी से घर की ओर भागी. अभी पोखर का पानी वही था. उसने पोखर को बड़े खुश हो कर ये अच्छी सूचना दी. पोखर भी बहुत खुश हुआ. अब से उसे ना तो अपने दोस्तों को खोना होगा, ना ही उसे प्रदूषण का डर रहेगा!

फिर सब पहले जैसा अच्छा हो गया. हमे भी ध्यान देना चाहिए. प्रकृति और सारी प्राकृतिक चीजें सबसे सुंदर तब दिखती हैं जब वो स्वतंत्र और शुद्ध रहती हैं. हम कई बार जाने अनजाने अपने ही हाथों अपनी पसंद की चीजों को नुकसान पहुचा बैठते हैं.

(Rahul)

बारिश हुई

फिर से महकी मिट्टी
खेतों की ओर से एक हवा आई
उड़ा ले गयी कुछ
कुछ…

धरती भीगी
पत्ते धुल गये
प्रकृति नहाई
सब हरा हरा सा
सब…

मौसम बदला
ठंढ है अब
बदन सिहर गया
अब सब बदला बदला सा है
अब…

अगर कुछ ना बदला
अभी भी
कुछ भी
तो वो हैं हम तुम
हम…

खोया क्या है
क्या था हमारा
जो था सब
था भी नही
नही…

रात हुई
आसमां देखा है
काले बादलों से ढका
शांत अविचल
अविचल…

जाने कल क्या हो
सुबह हो या नही
चलो रो लें
आंशु हों ना हो
आंशु…

धुल जाने दो
सारी तस्वीरें
खो जाने दो सारे रंग
रो लेने दो
आज…

कल हो ना हो

~*~

(Rahul)

(Hinduism / Sanatan Dharma)

स्थितप्रज्ञ

Mother tells a story from when she was a young bahu. We used to stay in our grandfather's professor's quarters, as a joint family. Every morning, he would do a puja which would run for more than an hour, and then leave for college. He used to take lunch at home. One of the bahus had to prepare meals for him. One fine morning, mother forgot to add salt in daal/pulses. He sat for lunch, finished it like any other day and went back. An hour later, mother got to know that there was no salt in dal! Why didn't he speak then? Did he hide his anger? Did he forcefully choose not to speak? Knowing him, I would say no

I got reminded of this incident, when I read this legend behind Grishneshwar Temple in Maharastra: ^(Ref).

The legend comes in Shivapuran. A Brahman called Brahmavetta Sudharm used to live on a mountain called Devagiri in Southern India along with his wife Sudeha. They didn't have a child. When all prayers and remedies failed, Sudeha got her own sister Ghushma married to her husband. Ghushma prayed to Lord Shiva for a child. She used to make 101 shivalingas and after worship she used to discharge them in the lake. Her prayers were answered and she gave birth to a baby boy. With turn of fate, now her sister Sudeha became jealous of her. One night she killed Ghushma's son and threw him in the same lake. Next morning, everyone started doing the daily prayers and ablutions. While Ghushma was absorbed in worshiping Shiva, she and her husband got the news, as blood drenched clothes and parts of body were found on her son's bed. Ghushma did not deter. Even her husband Sudharma did not move an inch. Even when Ghushma saw the bed drenched in blood she did not break down and said he who had given her this child shall protect him and started reciting 'Shiva-Shiva'. Later, when she went to discharge the Shivalingas after prayers she saw her son coming. Seeing her son Ghushma was neither happy nor sad. At that time Lord Shiva appeared before her and said that he was pleased with her devotion. Ghushma asked the Lord to forgive Sudeha and emancipate her. Pleased with her generosity, Lord Shiva asked her another boon. Ghushma asked that He should reside there eternally for the benefit of the multitudes in the form of a Jyotirling and may He be known by her name. On her request, Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Jyotirling and assumed the name Ghushmeshwar and the lake was named as Shivalaya thereafter

It makes me wonder why seeing her son; Ghushma was neither happy nor sad! What is this stage in our life or devotion when we become like that? When we trust God so much, that we are neither happy nor sad, and His miracles look mundane to us? It seems that when we really connect with Him, we get disconnected with other things in life, and other things become trivial in comparison

In Geeta, Lord Krishna explains about a Sthit Pragya (or Sthitprajna) person to Arjuna:

When one is completely free from all desires of the mind and is satisfied with the Eternal Being (Brahma) by the joy of Eternal Being, then one is called an enlightened (Sthita-prajna) person, O Arjuna. (2.55) A person whose mind is unperturbed by sorrow, who does not crave pleasures, and who is completely free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called Sthita-prajna ¾ a sage of steady intellect. (2.56) Those who are not attached to anything, who are neither elated by get­ting desired results nor troubled by undesired results, their intellect is considered steady. (2.57) When one can completely withdraw the senses from sense objects, as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into the shell for protection, then the intellect of such a person is considered steady. (2.58) The desire for sensual pleasures fades away if one abstains from sense enjoyment, but the craving for sense enjoyment remains. The crav­ing also disappears from one who has known the Supreme Being. (2.59) Delusion or wild ideas arise from anger. The mind is bewildered by delusion. Reasoning is destroyed when the mind is bewildered. One falls from the right path when reasoning is destroyed. (2.63) A disciplined person, enjoying sense objects with senses that are under control and free from likes and dislikes, attains tranquillity. (2.64) All sorrows are destroyed upon attainment of tranquillity. The intel­lect of such a tranquil person soon becomes completely steady and united with the Eternal Being (Brahma). (2.65) There is neither Self-knowledge nor Self-perception to those who are not united with the Eternal Being (Brahma). Without Self-perception there is no peace, and without peace there can be no happiness. (2.66)

Gandhiji also writes in his discourse on Gita: ^(Ref)

He whose understanding is secure, who is undeluded, who knows Brahman and who rests in Brahman, will neither be glad to get what is pleasant, nor sad to get what is unpleasant. He who finds happiness only within, rest only within, light only within,?that yogi, having become one with nature, attains to oneness with Brahman.

Looking at the direction in which we are going and the way we are doing things, I think we are going away from what was found to be best for us by our ancestors Western civilisations are totally based on the consciousness of body. Material gains and adventures are the endless pursuits they consume their life in. Are not we going on the same path: making their ideals as our goals, and taking their thinking as our way of life? One ideal of Hinduism ' in the form of a Sthit Pragya person still reminds us that the journey has to be inwards When there is so much turbulence outside, we can't grow spiritually without peace inside And our mind should be so clear that we shouldn't say, "I believe", but we should say, "I know". Personally, without doubt, I am earning more than what my grandfather used to at my age. But am I as wise and learned as he was? If not, then where are we heading to?

At least reading the above verses and explanation, now I know for sure why my grandfather didn't speak when there was no salt in his food

(Rahul)

(iLand)

Second Inning ' Closing it to remain open

I had started blogging when I was in my job after engineering. I went through all phases of blogging experience, from the days when I craved for comments, to the nights I slogged to read all your blogs and thereby improved my typing speed writing comments for you :). I ate, drank and lived blogging. I kept myself consoled saying that blogging was a passion in my life, and there was no harm in a little indulgence. I had left my job to do full time MBA by that time, but the passion had no full stops. In between classes and on days when there was no class, iLand was happening in my already happening life. On personal front, I actually grew up with you all, and the gratitude is immense. I have been away from home since I passed my 12^th, so there was always a void. I am an extremely homely person, and here I found so many father-figures, saw mother in so many of you and loved many friends, brothers and younger sisters. (I left 'elder sister' because I grew up fighting and competing with my own and I never thought she was elder to me. So I take time to accept it as a relation and normally I simply jump to mother) At that time I had noticed that blogging was eating up my time which I could have used in academics. But iland was real life, books looked virtual

Some time back when I was to pass out from my b-school, I thought if I should discontinue blogging Because of the 'open heart' person I am, I get into many iland controversies; and am happy to have cooked many of them myself. At this point, I also saw my life changing on personal front: my parents were looking for a suitable match for me, (btw they are still looking and I am waiting for the search to end :), and I thought when she comes how will she feel seeing her husband fighting on behalf of BJP on the iland :), just for example. The only way out was that she should come soon and help me in the decision. But that had not to happen. (Mother has always been against my blogging, asking me to use the time invested for resting or even sleeping, and not to write anything personal :) Then the second dilemma: what will happen if my boss finds out my political inclination, though I don't think I am so radical yet :) One way was to write only nice-nice writings and not to touch political and religious matters. But that kills the fun. It was a difficult decision, and hence I gave time to myself. In between, a new problem came up. Now I hardly had time! 12 hours a day would go consumed in my new job. So the frequency of blogging reduced. As if this was not enough, my over-concern for things came up as a big hindrance. If you read all my blogs and I don't get to read you, I feel bad. If I read some among you and don't get to read someone else, I again feel bad. This was a lose-lose condition and I had to come out of it.

Some time back I noticed that there is an option in iland by which I could make the comment page vanish! Blogging without comments? At one time, comments were life-blood for me too; blogging without anyone visibly reading seemed not worth it. Again, I gave myself time. Or may be an excuse to hang on And now I really think that I won't have much time to visit and read all of you regularly. I had started accessing blogs from office too and wanted to stop this bad habit. Then one day I will get married and I thought I should not be spending time on iland rather than with family. Even after all this I didn't want to stop writing. I write on many topics which are useful for all, and many times I have myself reached to my blog while searching for something on Google. I love reading, and when thoughts come out from different angles, writing is a great way of clearing the thought process. Also, I simply love writing and I don't want to lose it anyways. One of my dreams is to author many books, and till it becomes a reality, blogging is a good platform. (By this time you would have observed a millionth time that I think too much :)

So all said and done, the decision is that I am closing my comment page for ever. I will keep writing as and when I get time and if you find them interesting do keep visiting my blog. Guestbook will remain open and you are welcome to write in there, or you can always email me. Normally I don't change things so fast, and naturally I am loyal to everyone and to all that I do. I will also keep reading you, may be dropping in to read many of your latest posts on a single day. The change will break the excessive attachment that we bloggers tend to have for our blog and posts. From now on, I don't expect many comments on my blog, so my attachment with my blog and my posts will vanish. Secondly, I won't feel that much obliged to read all of you all the time with that much sincerity. It is needed for my happy personal life.

If you read me, it is not necessary to post a comment. But feel free to talk to me whatever you like. I will respond whenever I am here I will also read you all whenever I get time

I won't say thanks to you for what you all have been to me, because I trust you know my feelings very well

I will remember you, always

Stay in touch

(Kr. Rahul Tiwary)

Picture taken today, using self-timer of my own camera :)

(Books V3)

Gandhi Ji for Children

A book for children in the name of 'Bahuroopi Gandhi' (meaning: multi faceted Gandhi) is getting published in Pakistan. It will be the Sindhi translation of Ms. Anu Bandyopadhyaya’s book in English. The original book was forwarded by none other than Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1964. RK Laxman made the illustrations, and it was published by NCERT.

Now it is interesting to see that they have made the whole book available free on the net. You can access it here: http://mkgandhi.org/bahurupi/bahurupi.htm

The basic idea of the book is to present Gandhi ji to the young. It has collection of stories from the life of Mahatma Gandhi. The format of the book is reflected in its name: 'Bahuroopi' Gandhi: meaning multi-faceted Gandhi. It describes how Gandhi ji was a barrister, tailor, washer man, barber, cobbler, cook, doctor, teacher, farmer, servant, beggar, author, journalist, and even looter! Every face of Gandhiji is described in a new chapter, citing stories related to the theme. It's a wonderful compilation.

But somewhere, I am not sure if young children would be able to grasp all that is written about Gandhiji. Take for instance a section where bahurupi Gandhiji is presented as a 'looter'. This description takes him close to a 'real' looter:

Once there was a failure of crops in the country. Peasants were in the distress. But the government demanded full payment of taxes. Helpless ryots were terrorized to pay the dues. Gandhi asked them to rob the Government of the taxes. The ryots launched a no-tax campaign. Under Gandhi’s lead, a batch of satyagrahi declare that we shall not of our own accord pay to the Government the full or the remaining revenue for the year. We shall rather let our lands be forfeited. The Government confiscated the peasants’ lands with standing crops. Gandhi convinced the peasants that they had a right to enjoy the fruit of their labour and directed them to loot a confiscated onion field. Accordingly a batch of volunteers removed the crop. Mohanlal Pandya, the leader of the looting squad, was arrested. After his release, he was given a royal reception and won the title “Onion-thief” Gandhi presided over the meeting and put a mark of victory on his forehead.

On the surface, it would seem that Gandhiji was not a law-abiding citizen and he promoted anarchy. But when I think twice, I see the reason why Gandhiji had asked the peasants to “loot” (if we can call it so) the field of its crop. He was a lawyer after all. Since the law gave the govt the right to confiscate a land if taxes are not paid, Gandhiji allowed the govt to do so. But the law didn’t say that even the crop would be possessed by the government, right? So, very smartly and while breaking no law, Gandhiji asked the farmers to take away their own crops from the confiscated land. Nothing wrong in this! Will children and young people understand this finer point? I am not sure…

Take another instance in the same page. It describes how Gandhiji asked Indian women to donate their ornaments for the national cause. The page says, “Even tender aged children were not spared. When a small girl came to present flowers to him, his eyes fell on the tiny ring on her finger. He coaxed her to donate it.” It looks too harsh on his part to do so. Another instance, “At the news of his sudden illness, a doctor friend rushed to him. Gandhi twitted him saying: “What fee will you give me, if I allow you to examine me?” In stead of getting any fees the doctor had to empty his pocket by offering him whatever he had previously received from another patient.” It seems as if Gandhi ji was an over-jealous and envying person. As such the book mentions at one place: “He never accepted any ornaments from children without their guardian’s consent.” and even explains “Gandhi gained notoriety as an expert looter and yet was ever welcome and trusted by those who were robbed.” But somewhere, since the book is written specifically for children, I expected it to be more elaborate and simple. May be this didn't happen due to translation constraints.

The chapter on “Priest” describes how Gandhiji wanted Indians not to believe in un-touchability, and promoted them to marry outside their castes, religion and geography too. He had asked Indians not to indulge in any splurging wedding functions and the ideal way of shraddh for him was to follow the good principles of the deceased. Gandhiji termed the dowry system 'evil' and even said, “If I had a girl under my charge. I would rather keep her a maiden all her life than give her away to one who expected a single paisa for taking her for his wife.” The chapter on 'Servant' tells how Gandhiji swept the floor by himself. In 'Cobbler' we come to know how at the age of 63 in a jail, he had asked for some leather to make shoes; he had learnt the art in South Africa. Such instances not only show how multi-faceted he was, but also shows how he practiced every word he preached.

I have read Gandhiji’s autobiography too and hence could connect and recall many instances. This book is a great one for children. Though I found the language suitable for slightly elder children, and there were frequent spelling mistakes and grammatical errors which I hope are not there in the print version. As we know that half information is dangerous and knowledge without wisdom where to apply it is destructive, I would like all grownup people to read his autobiography “My experiments with truth” too, in order to understand him better. It is normally available on all book-stalls in India. You can also download the e-book from here, free of cost: http://www.forget-me.net/en/Gandhi/autobiography.pdf

I think if we allow young children to ask questions during reading this book and then we help them interpret where they are not clear, we would not only help them know 'father of our nation' better, but would also help them grow into better human beings. Gandhiji’s character traits are contagious

Resources:

Download E-book of Gandhiji's autobiography [Link]

Buy Gandhiji's autobiography on Rediff Books [Link]

Book for Children - Website - Bahurupi Gandhi [Link]

(Rahul)

Due to some technical problem on iland, comment page doesn’t get displayed properly. I am putting the comments on moderation to check if it helps. You can write on my GB if you like, or copy the same comment on GB too

(Politics II) (India)

Won some, lost us

General Elections 2009 have proven to be baffling to almost all observers. No one had guessed the results as they came in on May 16^th. While everyone was waiting for a hung parliament and the outgoing government prepared for a graceful exit, Indian electorates threw up a surprise.  

A quick thinking on what issues helped Congress/UPA retain power, and what issues harmed BJP's chances of a breakthrough. On the backdrop are these other posts: In the name of Gandhi, An exceptional economist, and the Last five years and some political myths.

Some issues which proved to be non-issues:

1.    Manmohan Singh as a weak Prime Minister.

Some people believe that BJP's strategy to brand Manmohan Singh as the 'weakest PM ever' backfired and harmed the goodwill among the electorates. I don't agree. Even the strongest supporters of Congress would accept that Dr. Singh is merely engaging the chair till the dynastic successor Rahul Gandhi takes it over, and is given full support by the party because he is toothless. But the BJP's campaign pinched the Congress supporters hard, who in turn took a violent resolve to oppose the BJP all out. As we know, negativity is more immediate and influential on surface than positivism.

2.    Congress too old to lead us into future.

Frankly, how many of common Indian electorates really know what could be done to take us into future? Many But how many care about it? Almost none In any case, Congress strategy of keeping Rahul Gandhi as the Youth face of the party succeeded. The electorate didn't care for the old, older, and oldest ministers who actually run the government while the young Congressi faces would only be on the TV. Whether BJP accepts it or not, India sees Congress as a young party.

3.    Congress too corrupt to give us a good governance. (Issues like Govt's manipulation of CBI to get Quattrochi free)

It is sad that the Indian electorate see corruption as a non-issue. The credit goes to Congress of course. While growing up in the license-quota raaj of Nehru days, and then facing day-to-day corruption in all public offices, Indian masses have stopped seeing corruption as an issue. A large proportion of our MPs have criminal backgrounds. People don't care about what they do for their selfish interests. They would even support a gangster get elect if he builds a public road or clears some pending municipal projects. Harsh reality of great Indian democracy as seeded and cultivated by Congress governments.

4.    Congress is communal. (Congress deciding to give tickets to party sponsored anti-Sikh riot accused, and then after a shoe-throwing drama, deciding to take the decision back.)

It seems the Congress hype is working. People have started believing that communalism means pro-Hinduism, and secularism is synonym of minority-appeasement. Since Hindus are so called 'majority' in India, they have the luxury not to care much about their future. They don't care if some Hindu god is insulted, but they will protest if some Christian is not treated well. Some values have gone deep, and some habits formed so rigid

5.    BJP's support to Varun Gandhi

Well, at the height of the controversy, even the most liberal Hindus used to accept that Varun Gandhi was paying the price for boldly speaking on behalf of Hindus, his comment was not that communal, and most importantly he paid for carrying the same surname as that of the self-certified 'Gandhis'. No wonder why Varun Gandhi won by about 2.88 Lakh votes! But, the issue was tricky. I believe Varun won because he went from home to home in his constituency and convinced people that he was right and asked for their support. BJP workers didn't do enough ground work in other parts of India. They watched while our pseudo-secular media went on ranting anti-Varun slogans and demonizing BJP and all pro-Hindu groups. All that the Varun controversy did was to make the Muslims and other minorities unite and vote for Congress. This was not the lone case. In Orissa assembly elections, the prime accused of anti-Chuch riots has won the elections on BJP's ticket in Kandharmal constituency. The point is clear: doing right doesn't result in votes if you can't convince the public that you have done right. But after the elections, the real Congress game plan becomes clear: it wanted to provoke BJP to come to its Hindutva stand ' and in turn lose the mass support. People said that the BJP didn't have any other issue than Hindutva, and moved on. Though this was never the case. The BJP manifesto and poll issues were very apt and good for our nation. If only Congress had allowed us to read and listen to those.

6.    Congress is soft on Terrorism.

Terrorism proved to be a non-issue. One, Indians were convinced that terrorism was because of Pakistan and not because of incapable Indian government. There was a sense of pessimism. And then after the Mumbai attacks, Pranab Mukherjee was on a high drive on a verbal confrontation with Pakistan. People said it was enough and so nice thing to do. It is said, all is lost when "hope" is lost. Honestly, some times I suspect the patriotism of our Indian masses, though I am not yet convinced. It was Congress' decision to divide India falling pray to hard-core Muslim demands, and getting an eternal disease. It was Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru's imprudent decision to take Kashmir to UNO which is still bleeding us in front of the international community. It was again Nehru's blind love and trust for China which made us near-mortal in 1962 war. It was Rajiv Gandhi's imprudent decision to send 'peace-keeping' forces to Srilanka which resulted in a permanent souring of neighborhood relations. And it is present Prime Minister's gentle smiley reactions on terror acts which are still bleeding us here and there. Congress has proven again and again that it has no clear international policy. And combating terrorism is not their cup of tea. But Indian masses didn't accept this as a poll issue. Is this because India has a only 66% of literacy? No, it is because we have become numb on certain political issues.

7.    Rahul Gandhi's strategy of contesting alone in Bihar and UP

I would say: lucky by chance. The strategy to contest alone was primarily to make sure that the Congress wins more number of seats individually, when compared to BJP, so that it gets the first right to make a government in a hung parliament. Secondly, and more visually, the decision was to break the ego of Lalu Yadav and Paswan. If it was so, then it was a wrong and ego-driven decision. As expected, Congress lost in Bihar, while making sure that its own coalition partners RJD/LJP lose too. In UP, it so happened that people were fed up with the clattered politics of SP and BSP and thought to give Congress better chance. Also, Rahul and his family members had made extensive trips to the state, had touched the humble people and got their votes as a gift. With a loss in Bihar, a victory in UP doesn't justify the decision as good.

Some issues which actually helped Congress win:

1.    Farm loan waivers

Do you know what % of our population depends on agriculture? At least 60%! And you know how much agriculture contributes towards our GDP? Maximum 16%! No doubts, farmers are poor. And it pays for politicians to keep the farmers poor. It is a game: you prosper and educate them and they may get out of your hold. Its best to keep them sick and then send them medicines. The obligation and gratitude keeps the dynasty strong ' only BJP wallas call it exploitation. Huge farm-loan waivers made sure that the poor farmers of India and those who have interests in agriculture sector, making about 70% of India, keep supporting Congress. They don't have an alternative anyway. Do we remember BJP for any great work done for farmers?

2.    Very high support prices of farm procurements

In the last year of UPA rule, the government increased the prices at which it buys wheat and rice from the farmers. This sealed the fate of the elections. The decision was unethical because the govt purchased excess grains which would rot in the warehouses, the high prices paid was coming from tax-payer's money, the decision was uneconomical and a poll-gimmick, and these high prices made sure that the food prices remain high even at the time of recession! But, it did benefit the farmers, even if unfairly, and they paid the govt back, in the form of their votes. You can read this editorial to know more about gravity of the problem: [Link: In the larder, not on the plate] 

3.    Muslim Votes

This time, some traditional political parties which used to get large share of Muslim votes were weak. Samajwadi Party, BSP, or Laloo's RJD, and Paswan's LJP, these smaller parties had lost their goodwill from Muslims due to taking-for-granted attitude. And then BJP's projecting Narendra Modi as future-PM, and Varun Gandhi's case made the Muslim votes unite under safer hands of Congress.

4.    A month-long election process

It contributed towards Congress goals. Since the Congress has presence in all parts of India, it gained as it could relocate its resources well and focus on every part one by one. Since the BJP is not strongly present in all parts of India, it didn't gain much from this prolonged election process. The initial low voting were responded well, and Congress did better in places where elections happened in later rounds.

5.    Election Commission on Congress' terms

The appointment of tainted Navin Chawla as the Chief Election Commissioner in between the election process generates a natural suspicion. Then the government could make lots of reshuffles and settings, keeping Congress interests in mind. In Mumbai for example, there were two Police Chiefs working; since the original one was not allowed to take up the election duty on corruption charges.

6.    Regional parties on the downward trend

These elections saw the reduction in the clout of regional parties. It happened because these parties are family managed, and like all family managed business, they would loose focus in second generation. Public too tend to lose their interests in such parties after a period. Congress did very well in grabbing these opportunistic votes. Normally, when a voter shifts his loyalty, one would first go vote for the time-tested party and then look for alternatives. The grand old Congress was the newly shifted voters' first choice.

7.    Internal conflict within opposition

These elections started with a bad note: there was a conflict between Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh. Then the communists were at their worst these days. So were SP/BSP. DMK got through with its blind support to Srilankan Tamils and love towards LTTE, while AIADMK lost due to loss of focus. Shiv Sena was troubled by complacency and rift with MNS and BJP. BJD had broken off from BJP in Orissa. In fact, almost all political parties were in their worst shape during these elections. The outgoing govt benefited from this.

8.    Economic Recession

A single very important factor was the global recession. The outgoing government had taken lots of wrong decisions in the last 5 years which had impacted our industry and economy (failure to combat inflation for example). But due to global recession, the Indian electorates were ready to pardon our own government from any charges. Recession and poor financial planning had done us much harm. People were scared of what lied in the future. In such condition, Indians thought to keep the government and economy in the safe hands of Congress: they still remember Dr. Manmohan Singh and P. Chidambaram when they think of economic reforms.

Did BJP do badly?

Well, these elections were not at all gloomy for BJP. The party did extremely well in states where it had a strong base and government. For example, sample this:

·        BJP won 10 out of 11 parliament seats in Chhattisgarh. The lone seat went to Congress in a newly created constituency.

·        BJP won 19 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, increasing its count by 1 seat. 

·        BJP-JDU won 27 out of 40 seats in Bihar, completely routing others. Congress won only 1 seat.

·        BJP won 8 out of 14 seats in Jharkhand. Congress could win only 1; it had 6 seats in the last parliament.

·        BJP won 15 out of 26 seats in Gujarat, increasing its seat count by one.  

·        BJP won 3 out of 4 seats in Himachal Pradesh.

·        BJP doubled its seat count in Assam and won 4 seats.

The message is: the places where BJP is governing strongly have shown good faith in the party. The party can still see light at the end of the tunnel. Congress too has won surely at places where it has done good development works; e.g. Delhi and AP. The mantra for BJP's success would be: go on rapid development in states where it is in power, and set these states as shining examples. Gradually, and at one point in future for sure, Indians will realize that there is a strong alternative to Congress in the form of nationalistic and progressive Bhartiya Janta Party.

What lies ahead for India?

After the election results, we hailed the Indian democracy. But isn't it ironical that India has a Prime Minister who has never fought a public election? Happens in democracy? :)

Even 12 days after Dr. Manmohan Singh became the new Prime Minister, there was no government in place! Congress was taking its time, relaxing, and in no hurry to make the ministers take oath and start the governance. This is the peril of having served the throne on the platters.

We can only wish that the Congress government understands that the strong faith that the public has bestowed on them has not come for free. We can only wish, because it seems actually have come to them for free. I can see that the government would go on their relaxed attitude towards everything. It is ironical that most of the issues which couldn't make it to be poll-issues will affect us more than those which made it to be real poll issues. In all senses, elections 2009 proved to be largely a futile exercise. With a single political party enjoying power for so long, and a single family still holding the reigns of the party, we are definitely not living in a healthy matured democracy. We could see a good functional democracy in the US when Obama came in from nowhere to become the President. To become President in India, Pratibha Patil had to be a loyal to Nehru-Gandhi family and be a Marathi first to gain support from Shiv Sena. All said and done, it seems we still have to go a long way to become a mature democracy. A democracy without awareness and education is a demi-democracy. Will wait for the next elections :)

(Rahul)