A few friends marched on streets of Delhi in remembrance of the State of Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975. Victims and supporters of Bhopal gas tragedy are sitting on indefinite hunger strike for 15 days. The most celebrated activist of contemporary India is in the look out of a new issue to protest upon. Some are trying to debate on parliamentary left and left-by-itself. Media is still crazy behind Aarushi Talwar; by the way, Jaipur blast and Aarushi murder took place in the same month, yet no one followed the blast. Aarushi continues to be the hot-babe. (We have every little detail of the murdered teen, of how she wrote her name or how lovable she was!)
Meanwhile, a tragedy struck me; I am branded as communal, because I call myself a Hindu:) Because I asked why shouldn’t there be Uniform Civil Code? Because I called some communist – tailor-made, like a coat made of khadi but two pockets are stitched with textiles from Latin America (Che) and China (Mao) and dipped in Russian Vodka. My friend and I asked why didn’t the great Historians told us about Maharaja Jai Singh – who may have built the splendid monument, Taj Mahal, as Shahjahannama (Shah Jahan’s biography) didn’t have any mention of building the Taj. Nor about the last king of Chauhan dynasty – Prithviraj, who is said to have built the foundations of the Qutb Minar.
The TV behind me is making me even crazier, so much has been happening around, from inflation to marginal slip of sensex, job cuts and price rise. The channel is constantly showing this story tagging Kalyug Ka Krishna.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
More to reservations...
Post by Ankit Khanna
Last week she asked me whether I support reservations or not? I simply said, Yes I do but not in the current format. Then we went on discussing further, followed by her post on reservations. In her post, she nicely presented the case but refrained from passing any views or judgements. Definitely, I am not the expert or the right person to comment on this critical issue, still would like to touch sensitive areas around this issue.
In ancient India, division of labour was done on the basis of castes. The society was divided primarily into four castes, Brahmins occupying the 'Raja' status and Harijans at the lower end. Brahmins were considered to be the people with brains and knowledgeable. Harijans did all the 'shit' work. This led to the greater division of the society in terms of opportunities and standard living. Not much attention was paid to this issue till the time of Independence. After Independence, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhim Rao Ambedkar (a Harijan) tried to address the problem and presented solution in the Constitution in the form of reservations. The underlined philosophy is
''..some sections of the society (SC/ST) were deprived of equal social, economic and educational opportunities, so they are socially and economically backward now. In order to bring equality in society, reservations are introduced to bring the weaker sections to the forefront by providing deprived opportunities across:
a. Educational institutions: schools, colleges.
Reason: Education is the foundation
b. Governemnt jobs
Reason: To bring equality in the society
c. Concessions in fees, fares etc
Reason: They are economically weak''
All sounds good here and then. But what essentially went wrong:
a. At the time of introduction, no deadline was kept when these reservations would end. They can't be perpetual.
b. If one generation has availed the benefit of reservation, it can't be considered socially backward. Agree?
c. Are economically well-off sections of SC/ST eligible?
d. How can these steps ensure change in mentality of so-called socially forward sections of the society?
e. If the college has 100 seats andd 27 are reserved. But the students competing for these 27 seats are less, resulting in lower passing marks causing inequality in the level of standards of education. How to deal with it?
f. If I know I have a reserved seat and i can get it by studying/working less, why would I study more?
g. Now more groups: OBCs, Gujjars etc demand reservation for themselves.
h. Reservations are used by political parties to attract vote banks.
i. In some regions, reservations are now on the basis of religon.
These are few. But the list is long. But i am still clueless on the solution. Any suggestions?
Last week she asked me whether I support reservations or not? I simply said, Yes I do but not in the current format. Then we went on discussing further, followed by her post on reservations. In her post, she nicely presented the case but refrained from passing any views or judgements. Definitely, I am not the expert or the right person to comment on this critical issue, still would like to touch sensitive areas around this issue.
In ancient India, division of labour was done on the basis of castes. The society was divided primarily into four castes, Brahmins occupying the 'Raja' status and Harijans at the lower end. Brahmins were considered to be the people with brains and knowledgeable. Harijans did all the 'shit' work. This led to the greater division of the society in terms of opportunities and standard living. Not much attention was paid to this issue till the time of Independence. After Independence, leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Bhim Rao Ambedkar (a Harijan) tried to address the problem and presented solution in the Constitution in the form of reservations. The underlined philosophy is
''..some sections of the society (SC/ST) were deprived of equal social, economic and educational opportunities, so they are socially and economically backward now. In order to bring equality in society, reservations are introduced to bring the weaker sections to the forefront by providing deprived opportunities across:
a. Educational institutions: schools, colleges.
Reason: Education is the foundation
b. Governemnt jobs
Reason: To bring equality in the society
c. Concessions in fees, fares etc
Reason: They are economically weak''
All sounds good here and then. But what essentially went wrong:
a. At the time of introduction, no deadline was kept when these reservations would end. They can't be perpetual.
b. If one generation has availed the benefit of reservation, it can't be considered socially backward. Agree?
c. Are economically well-off sections of SC/ST eligible?
d. How can these steps ensure change in mentality of so-called socially forward sections of the society?
e. If the college has 100 seats andd 27 are reserved. But the students competing for these 27 seats are less, resulting in lower passing marks causing inequality in the level of standards of education. How to deal with it?
f. If I know I have a reserved seat and i can get it by studying/working less, why would I study more?
g. Now more groups: OBCs, Gujjars etc demand reservation for themselves.
h. Reservations are used by political parties to attract vote banks.
i. In some regions, reservations are now on the basis of religon.
These are few. But the list is long. But i am still clueless on the solution. Any suggestions?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
You negotiate. We don't
"You haven't learnt anything from your ex-roomie. Look at her, she spotted the 'right man', grabbed him and got married before he slipped off," (Her hand? Good job!) says my age-old friend, who also taught me Vedic history like a fairy-tale and taught me to take chances in life, "For worst, you would die."
His suggestion on me being 'not-secured', ie not married (Akeli Ladki Khuli Tizori- to spice it up) annoyed me, but others got a shock! I replied to my friend, "I would rather much happily carry the khuli tizori throughout my life, than to forcefully adopt a false-sense of security – by spotting, grabbing and making the 'right man' legally mine." And quickly quoted my cousin who had updated me my ex-roommate’s relationship status, "she is a successful housewife (home-maker to be politically correct) at X." (say 'X' is a low-lying, down-market area in the capital city).
Recently, the Mint carried an amazing column about 'Sex and the City,' which, I believe, have rightly written: "'Sex and the City' is supposed to be the movie that celebrates the independence of today's women." The movie portrayed such a hunky-dory picture as if there's nothing existed beyond 'color' (that's how they idetify sex), shoes and men - for four professionally successful women. And the only answer I have for my dear friend who is worried about my 'security' is as the Mint columnist further writes: "Get married, girls! It's the whole purpose of your existence…" But my purpose of existence is to guard my khuli Tizori:)
Just when we were worried about this sex’s security, many of the same sex are being killed before they could even feel the insecurity. Forget the rest India, cases of female foeticide in posh South Delhi itself can outnumber places that are traditionally accused of killing women.
I know that you are
Hurt Today
In your heart you feel
A pang
I know in the day
Arrive many storms
You can think nothing
There’s just the sand
What you guarded
Really well
Against your bosom
Very close
What was yesterday
A lucky necklace
Is today a noose
Around the neck
O Ballo! O Ballo!
Why the sadness
This is all cause
And effect
See it, feel it
Chin up
In time
We shall all be Together
I know you buried
Many memories
That you couldn’t
Throw Away
They climb you walls
When you close your eyes
Or when you listen to my
Empty counsel
Everyday you Litigate
Everyday a sharp Debate
Sometimes its guilty
Sometimes you set yourself free
But never a Resolution
You must turn the pages Yourself
You must travel Yourself
You must shape your own script ~~~~~~~~~~ the English rendition of song ‘Ballo’ in Rabbi Shergill’s album ‘Avegi ja nahi’
His suggestion on me being 'not-secured', ie not married (Akeli Ladki Khuli Tizori- to spice it up) annoyed me, but others got a shock! I replied to my friend, "I would rather much happily carry the khuli tizori throughout my life, than to forcefully adopt a false-sense of security – by spotting, grabbing and making the 'right man' legally mine." And quickly quoted my cousin who had updated me my ex-roommate’s relationship status, "she is a successful housewife (home-maker to be politically correct) at X." (say 'X' is a low-lying, down-market area in the capital city).
Recently, the Mint carried an amazing column about 'Sex and the City,' which, I believe, have rightly written: "'Sex and the City' is supposed to be the movie that celebrates the independence of today's women." The movie portrayed such a hunky-dory picture as if there's nothing existed beyond 'color' (that's how they idetify sex), shoes and men - for four professionally successful women. And the only answer I have for my dear friend who is worried about my 'security' is as the Mint columnist further writes: "Get married, girls! It's the whole purpose of your existence…" But my purpose of existence is to guard my khuli Tizori:)
Just when we were worried about this sex’s security, many of the same sex are being killed before they could even feel the insecurity. Forget the rest India, cases of female foeticide in posh South Delhi itself can outnumber places that are traditionally accused of killing women.
I know that you are
Hurt Today
In your heart you feel
A pang
I know in the day
Arrive many storms
You can think nothing
There’s just the sand
What you guarded
Really well
Against your bosom
Very close
What was yesterday
A lucky necklace
Is today a noose
Around the neck
O Ballo! O Ballo!
Why the sadness
This is all cause
And effect
See it, feel it
Chin up
In time
We shall all be Together
I know you buried
Many memories
That you couldn’t
Throw Away
They climb you walls
When you close your eyes
Or when you listen to my
Empty counsel
Everyday you Litigate
Everyday a sharp Debate
Sometimes its guilty
Sometimes you set yourself free
But never a Resolution
You must turn the pages Yourself
You must travel Yourself
You must shape your own script ~~~~~~~~~~ the English rendition of song ‘Ballo’ in Rabbi Shergill’s album ‘Avegi ja nahi’
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Quota Inc. - Powered by ArjunSingh.com AdSense: Sonia & Manmohan
An SMS joke says: The examination patterns have changed in India. Now, Forward Castes will have to attempt all the questions, OBCs (Other Backward Castes) may just write one. SCs (Schedule Castes) will only have to read the question paper, while the examination authority welcomes and thankful to ST (Schedule Castes) for their presence.
Recently, Gujjars are granted five percent reservations. And 50 percent of the seats in St Stephen's College in Delhi University will be reserved for Christian students as against the earlier 32 percent. 25 percent of these will be kept aside for Dalit Christians. Ten percent of the total 400 seats will now be effectively reserved for Dalit Christians as per the new reservation formula that will be implemented from the coming academic session. The college, that has around 400 seats, will also have 15 per cent reservation for the students of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, disabled and children of defence personnel killed in war, while five per cent seats will be meant for the sportspersons. If you are a General Category student, go to heaven and ask ‘your’ God ‘why’. If your God fails to answer, change your God. Jesus!
I am not the right person to talk about reservations; my own understanding is very little. All I understand is things that I have been hearing about it. So, I leave this for an open discussion, for my benefit. But I would love to share those words, which helped me build my perception regarding reservations in India.
When I was in final year of my Graduation, I had a group of rich friends – bureaucrat kids, is what we called them. As most of us were confused of what to study further, some opted for MBA. Once, the richest and hunk in the group shockingly said: “I don’t need wreck my ass like you guys… I have reservations anyways.” He was writing his CAT. That was the first time I ever believed we needed economic based reservations.
Last year, a friend and I were generally talking of Caste-systems, and he said: "ek cheez mainey IIT mein notice kiya, yeh quota wale kabhi time pe pass nahi karta, do-tin saal toh aaram se extra laga deta hei." I asked why? He said for whatever reason it is. Yesterday, I had cross-checked this fact with a friend from IIT-Delhi. He said… "Not all, but 90% of them." :)
It’s really a complex issue. Let me be more candid and share more. I don’t have many friends from "reserved categories", but I have one question for those I know. When you people hate to be identified as "reserved" then why not speak against reservations and voluntarily give up your share of "quota"? Be a part of the larger fray!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Cast(e) Away: Vegetarian, teetotaler, famous and private citizens of India
Thankfully NYT’s Mumbai correspondent only wrote "In the last century, Mahatma Gandhi was the most famous and powerful private citizen in India. Today, Ambani is widely regarded as playing that role, though in a very different way.” And didn’t say the Senior Ambani is being reincarnated as Mahatma Gandhi of this century.
I’m grappling to understand in which different ways that Mr. NYT correspondent has compared Ambani to Gandhi, though I understood the “famous” part of it, but why private citizens? The “private” Gandhi himself stayed in an ashram, which he started as a project for people from different religion to live together. The Ambani is building a 27-storey house at an estimated cost of $2 billion with a helipad in it. The “private” Ambani also wants an airport for his private jets. Privatization of public properties is being private?
Perhaps, his regular NYT readers can understand why Mukesh Ambani is “widely regarded as playing that (Gandhi’s, I assume) role.” I grew up reading national newspapers, and with due respect to Ambani, the only comparison I could make between the two is they both have a Gujarati lineage.
The silly differences that I find between them are: Mukesh Ambani didn’t make peace with brother (Anil Ambani) and vice versa after their father’s death, while Mahatma Gandhi always preached peace. Mukesh Ambani gifted his wife with an Airbus 319; and Gandhi, forget gifting a jet, had always traveled by Janta-class of Indian railways.
The correspondent further writes: "Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Ambani belongs to a merchant caste known as the modh banias, is a vegetarian and a teetotaler and is a revolutionary thinker with bold ideas for what India ought to become." Is he then comparing Mukesh Ambani with Mahatma Gandhi on basis of their caste, baniya?
I’m grappling to understand in which different ways that Mr. NYT correspondent has compared Ambani to Gandhi, though I understood the “famous” part of it, but why private citizens? The “private” Gandhi himself stayed in an ashram, which he started as a project for people from different religion to live together. The Ambani is building a 27-storey house at an estimated cost of $2 billion with a helipad in it. The “private” Ambani also wants an airport for his private jets. Privatization of public properties is being private?
Perhaps, his regular NYT readers can understand why Mukesh Ambani is “widely regarded as playing that (Gandhi’s, I assume) role.” I grew up reading national newspapers, and with due respect to Ambani, the only comparison I could make between the two is they both have a Gujarati lineage.
The silly differences that I find between them are: Mukesh Ambani didn’t make peace with brother (Anil Ambani) and vice versa after their father’s death, while Mahatma Gandhi always preached peace. Mukesh Ambani gifted his wife with an Airbus 319; and Gandhi, forget gifting a jet, had always traveled by Janta-class of Indian railways.
The correspondent further writes: "Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Ambani belongs to a merchant caste known as the modh banias, is a vegetarian and a teetotaler and is a revolutionary thinker with bold ideas for what India ought to become." Is he then comparing Mukesh Ambani with Mahatma Gandhi on basis of their caste, baniya?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
No-response Prime Minister
It’s not really a blue moon stay for Chhote Khan and his family living behind the abandoned Union Carbide factory in a colony called Blue Moon in Bhopal. So are over five lakh people who got exposed to deadly poisonous gases from a pesticide factory in Bhopal on December 2-3, 1984. In the last 23 years, more than 23,000 people died painful deaths and those survived suffer from chronic illness.
Union carbide corp., the American multinational that operated the factory in Bhopal absconding from the criminal case on the death and injury caused by the disaster. The corporation was taken over by another American multinational; the Dow Chemical Company. Dow chemical refuses to pay for the clean up of the abandoned factory or produce subsidiary Union Carbide in court.
Manmohan-Sonia govt had set up committee for gas victims two years back, which didn’t deliver a single promise… forget legal actions against Union Carbide or Dow Chemical.
On 20th February this year, 50 Bhopalis have traveled to Delhi from Bhopal on foot. They reached here on 28th March, after 38 days of padyatra and staying on the pavements of Jantar Mantar till the PM gets time to hear their grievances. The PM seems too busy to meet them, though he finds time to meet Dow Chemical only on a two-day-notice.
For the economist Prime Minister, profits of American multinationals is dearer than basic human rights of Indians. Why couldn’t the UPA govt. respond to the Bhopal gas victims in the last three months? Because Manmohan Singh, the top-notch economist, thinks that by giving rehabilitation to country’s victims, he might go against economic prosperity of the country. Whose prosperity?
If you want to support the struggle… You can write/call or fax to the Prime Minister Office. 7, Race Course Road. New Delhi. Fax: 011-23015470. Phone: 011-23011156
Union carbide corp., the American multinational that operated the factory in Bhopal absconding from the criminal case on the death and injury caused by the disaster. The corporation was taken over by another American multinational; the Dow Chemical Company. Dow chemical refuses to pay for the clean up of the abandoned factory or produce subsidiary Union Carbide in court.
Manmohan-Sonia govt had set up committee for gas victims two years back, which didn’t deliver a single promise… forget legal actions against Union Carbide or Dow Chemical.
On 20th February this year, 50 Bhopalis have traveled to Delhi from Bhopal on foot. They reached here on 28th March, after 38 days of padyatra and staying on the pavements of Jantar Mantar till the PM gets time to hear their grievances. The PM seems too busy to meet them, though he finds time to meet Dow Chemical only on a two-day-notice.
For the economist Prime Minister, profits of American multinationals is dearer than basic human rights of Indians. Why couldn’t the UPA govt. respond to the Bhopal gas victims in the last three months? Because Manmohan Singh, the top-notch economist, thinks that by giving rehabilitation to country’s victims, he might go against economic prosperity of the country. Whose prosperity?
If you want to support the struggle… You can write/call or fax to the Prime Minister Office. 7, Race Course Road. New Delhi. Fax: 011-23015470. Phone: 011-23011156
Friday, June 13, 2008
Just Kidding
The World Day against Child Labour… heard of this new ‘thing’? A part of the world celebrated this day just two days back, with or without those children delivering labour.
Two parts of the world have certainly celebrated it: the NGOs and the government. For government, it’s a default celebration. Why NGOs? I always spoke against it, personally or professionally, justified or illogical because the attitude of NGOs (at least 95% of them) puts me off.
A Delhi based organisation has apparently freed more than 75,000 bonded and child labour since 1980. Though we don’t know where the so-called rescued kids go after being rescued, we all know why statistics (International or local), good quotes and big promises fail when it comes to hunger. They all look good in books, reports, air conditioned discussion halls etc, but when the hunger bells rings… then only a few can go on a hunger-strike while sipping quick energy drinks!
The problem is not rescuing, the problem begins after it. Like the quick energy drinks, with rescue of such kids, many organizations get a quick exposure… while the kids get exposed to hunger again. The prospect of earning Rs. 10-15 a day is gone, because we know that the child labour is banned in the first world countries. We know laws, been/spoke in international conferences and all this while smoking cigarettes worth Rs.40 a pack or more a day. Smoke for thought.
Two parts of the world have certainly celebrated it: the NGOs and the government. For government, it’s a default celebration. Why NGOs? I always spoke against it, personally or professionally, justified or illogical because the attitude of NGOs (at least 95% of them) puts me off.
A Delhi based organisation has apparently freed more than 75,000 bonded and child labour since 1980. Though we don’t know where the so-called rescued kids go after being rescued, we all know why statistics (International or local), good quotes and big promises fail when it comes to hunger. They all look good in books, reports, air conditioned discussion halls etc, but when the hunger bells rings… then only a few can go on a hunger-strike while sipping quick energy drinks!
The problem is not rescuing, the problem begins after it. Like the quick energy drinks, with rescue of such kids, many organizations get a quick exposure… while the kids get exposed to hunger again. The prospect of earning Rs. 10-15 a day is gone, because we know that the child labour is banned in the first world countries. We know laws, been/spoke in international conferences and all this while smoking cigarettes worth Rs.40 a pack or more a day. Smoke for thought.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Maar hi daloge!
Tulsi, Baa-Bahu, Mihir are passé. Sadly, a murdered teenager, Aarushi Talwar might become the new household name. Something might become more popular than Tulsi’s saree or one of the K-serial women’s earrings. You might find some secret soap-keeper selling it secretly and eventually some famous ones selling it openly – Honour Killing.
Honour Killing is Ekta Kapoor’s next new tele-serial concept in the name of creativity and Ms Kapoor has already given the the-end to yet-unsolved Aarushi murder case - that her father had killed his daughter for trying to bring ‘dishounour’ to the family by having an affair with their homehelper.
BBI, yes BBI’s (Balaji Bureau of Investigation) creative cop (head) Nivedita Basu, went on record to say Aarushi’s mother can only wait and watch till the ‘honourable product’ is out.
Because it’s a fictional based show… And Balaji Telefilms won’t be responsible for any co-incidental event... Perhaps, a similar looking statutory line can help Balaji’s to go on air. But who will take the responsibility for populating Honour Killing in India? Jitendra?
Honour Killing is Ekta Kapoor’s next new tele-serial concept in the name of creativity and Ms Kapoor has already given the the-end to yet-unsolved Aarushi murder case - that her father had killed his daughter for trying to bring ‘dishounour’ to the family by having an affair with their homehelper.
BBI, yes BBI’s (Balaji Bureau of Investigation) creative cop (head) Nivedita Basu, went on record to say Aarushi’s mother can only wait and watch till the ‘honourable product’ is out.
Because it’s a fictional based show… And Balaji Telefilms won’t be responsible for any co-incidental event... Perhaps, a similar looking statutory line can help Balaji’s to go on air. But who will take the responsibility for populating Honour Killing in India? Jitendra?
Sunday, June 8, 2008
This and that
Q/A
I have never understood or could see the lines between many things, such as ecstasy and happiness; autonomy and independence or communism and “don’t practice what you preach.” The title of the Spanish film Mi Vida Sin Mi and my answer to myself.
Buddha of Tibet:
Dalai Lama’s middle approach towards Tibetan problem is for happiness or ecstasy or his failure to reconnect to people in the forgotten Buddha way? But why compromise with China, if it can let go off Hong Kong? The debate is not why China freed Hong Kong; it is why China isn’t freeing Tibet? Dalai Lama’s approach is as confusing as ecstasy and happiness is - an autonomous Tibet or an independent Tibet.
Che of Nepal:
Is the worst over in Nepal or the beginning of a new kingdom in the name of democracy? As the 240 years old Shah dynasty falls and dethroned King Gyanendra, along with his family is asked to leave the royal palace, the Maoist chief Prachanda is now the most powerful person in Nepal. A magazine named him the Rado Maoist, for sporting a Rado watch of worth Rs. 2 lakh, driving a Pajero and wearing designer shades etc. The just-republic Nepal is certainly happy but can learn a lot from Gandhi-Nehru series of undisputed monarchs in India.
Happy hour:
A few days back, a worried friend pings in the midnight to say “you are looking bad, plz see a doc tomorrow.” I smiled. I knew I was not going to see any doc. I thought, this time, let the time heal it (my foot, the left one). Yep, it's healing... just like many things in my head. I'm calling this time 'every hour is happy hour'!! Yet, the title of the Spaish film is questioning me Mi Vida Sin Mi (My Life Without Me).
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