Marathi Asmita! (Marathi Pride)

November 16th, 2009

The recent spate of incidences has once again forced me to write about Marathi and Marathi viewpoint. Once again the issue of Marathis and their points of view are at gunpoint. Marathis are asked for proofs of their love for nation. Once again Marathi pride (Asmita) is under siege.

Its very easy terming Marathi sentiments as anti-nationalist and separatist and what not! Raj Thackerey and Bal Thackerey are ridiculed everywhere outside Maharashtra and are forcefully made the representative of Marathi Pride (Asmita). Congress and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Marathi leaders alike are happy licking their national bosses’ shoes, but the actual Marathi Asmita doesn’t get mention anywhere. Everyone very conveniently forgets that there is whole lot of Marathi beyond Thackereys and Congress and BJP and that Marathi lives in hearts of everyone who loves it. And ask them, they will swear by it instead of their mothers first. Its one of those Indian Languages which has huge literature right from most ancient periods. The Maratha Empire (Named by its ruling dynasty) whose language was Marathi was the sole Indigenous and sovereign empire during Mughal Agression. Marathis have a special pride, right from those times. When Delhi was to be freed of Mughals, it was Peshwas who rallied there. When China Attacked India in 1962, Yashwantrao Chavan (The then Chief Minister of Maharashtra) quit his post of CM to go to Delhi as Defense Minister of India. Maharashtra has a long association with the concept of India as one nation. One can take a look at large number of Marathi Freedom Fighters. It was Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar who strongly advocated the use of Hindi as National Language, despite his huge differences with Jawaharlal Nehru on other issues. Doubting Marathi people’s sense of Nationality and their love for Nation is a huge insult to them. One may now raise the topic of “Samyukta Maharashtra Andolan”(Joint Maharashtra Movement) and ask why did Maharashtra demanded a different state? Let me clear, I know very little about the social and political situation of that time so I cannot exactly state, but one simple question I have, if all the other states were arranged linguistically, then why was Maharashtra and Gujarat made an exception? I have never delved deep in this question though. But another question, why were peaceful protesters fired at, by Police such ruthlessly? 105 casualties! What was that? How was that even justified?

Anyways, moving forward with the question; What is exactly the normal (Non Thackerey and non political) Marathi Sentiment? It was an interesting situation, when one of my friends living in Mumbai for last 20 years (Obviously oblivious to Marathi) asked me, what is my definition of Marathi Manoos? Albeit, with a sarcastic tone. I simply smiled and said, its whatever you feel. Seriously, how can you define this. If even after living in Maharashtra for 20 years you can’t understand it, then maybe you are at fault. This increased sarcasm for Marathi people and their sentiments is a serious Media Hype. English and Hindi Media are constantly bombarding Thackerey statements and Lalu-Amar-Nitish Statements. Everyone is getting what they exactly want. Media get their sensation, Thackereys and Lalu and company get into public gaze for all wrong reasons. No one questions their commitments to development of their states. No one asks them their contribution towards upliftment of the people they claim to be fighting for. Almost all the Prime Ministers of the country, barring a few have been from North India, but still North India, despite claiming to be “Heartland” of India, continues to be underdeveloped even after more than 60 years of Independence. Why all the Southern states show remarkable progress and intelligentsia and lead the Corporate and IT progress.

Further, another one asks me to segregate the terms Mumbai and Maharashtra, since according to him except Mumbai there are no or negligible migrations to other parts of Maharashtra. This again is the result of drawing conclusions from Media reports. If you go into Maharashtra there are many developed pockets and all are experiencing the inrush of Migrants. And the problem isn’t limited to only Mumbai or Maharashtra, it is a “Pan-national” problem and has to be addressed on more serious terms. Its pan-nationality can be understood by considering murders of Biharis in Assam, or skirmishes between Bengalis and Biharis in Bengal, or by recent uproar in state of Madhya Pradesh.

The one nation chants seem all very poetic and laden with nationalistic fervour, but there is a limit to the cooperative upliftment of regions. Cooperative upliftment shall not be one sided for long period. If this “Nationalistic” practise leads to downfall of developing regions then there is something inherently wrong in the basic concept. 60 years is a huge period. Southern states, though always given a secondary treatments have managed so much developments and Northern states despite enjoying all the benefits that come through leadership have only excelled in corruption and gundaraj. Wake up dudes, its time you put in efforts and try to achieve what others have. When Raj or Bal Thackerey shout for Marathi cause, they take up a very sensitive matter in a very shallow way. But, the propagandistic answer-shouts from Lalu and company are worse than that. Because, they shamelessly shy away from their own deeds. The Northern outbound flow of people is because of these shameless leaders reaping the benefits of all the resources of their states. And now they are being made hero by Media. Abu Azmi, the most ridiculous fanatic is touted as Hero of national language. I want to ask Nitish and Lalu and others, that if they claim that Mumbai is what Mumbai is because of North Indians, then why can’t you now start and make one Mumbai inside the so called “Heartland” of India? Who has stopped you? And sane, literate people are calling Marathis names just through the information, they are presented by Media. And worse, “Rational” and “Liberal” Marathis are also touting the same little things to ridicule their own. The irony of the situation is these people are living in Maharashtra for last so many years and are enjoying the very “Pan-National” behaviour of Marathi People, by still neither learning Marathi nor showing any interest towards doing so and now those very people are ridiculing the Marathis for their Anti-National behaviour. Marathis are being insulted without a reason as far as I think. I do not expect anything from outside Maharashtra to understand, since the only source of info for them is over sensationalised media; but I feel sad for those who have lived in Maharashtra or are still living, and more so I pity at those who being Marathi themselves, do not understand the actual issue.

The issue remains of centralised development and political inefficiency to decentralise the development. Leaders need to be asked the questions. Ways like, shouting “Freedom of settling anywhere” and “Pan-Nationalist” sentiments are nothing but unrealistic and poetic ways of running away from problems. “Mumbai” is national property! Here ends the duty of leadership. Now, poor displaced from Northern states and unemployed from Maharashtra would fight it out. Add to that MNS (Maharashtra Navanirmaan Sena) and ShivSena.

Ever imagined why ShivSena and MNS were born in first place? Such things happen when countries are developing. The pie is attacked by everyone in the house. But, this fight over pie has to end someday. Everyone in the house should grow up and become able to earn their own bread. Cooperative upliftment is a wonderful concept if employed systematically and not by declaring “Mumbai Sabki hai!” (Mumbai belongs to everyone)

Asking questions such as are you Marathi first or Indian first is stupid and idiotic! There is no definite answer to every question. Its as if you love your mother more or father more. Some people may have their definite answers. Further, answering such questions in presence of Media when you are a noted celebrity is priceless! Sachin Tendulkar did exactly the same and has now become an instrument for Thackereys, Congress, Media and North Indian dudes.

Get the perspectives clear before you doubt Marathi People’s national commitment. Maharashtra is probably only state, where slogan goes “Jai Hind! Jai Maharashtra!” (Glory to India! Glory to Maharashtra!); country’s name figures before state’s name.

Jai Hind! Jai Maharashtra!

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One tight slap!

November 10th, 2009

MNS-Maharashtra Navanirmaan Sena

MLA-Member of Legislative Assembly

RSS-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

BJP-Bharatiya Janata Party

Abu Asim Azmi- Leader of a party called Samajwadi Party

LK Advani – BJP Leader

When MNS MLAs slapped Abu Asim Azmi in Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra. I was more than thrilled. Frankly speaking, Abu Asim Azmi deserved a slap, but not this way. Actually, in this incident Abu Asim Azmi got what he wanted. Loads of cheap publicity and tales to tell about his heroism. I was suspicious as soon as Abu Azmi declared his intentions to swear in Hindi instead of Marathi. He cited the reason being, he needs time to learn the language. I don’t understand how many hundred years he wants before he learns the language, because from the past many years, as long as my memory goes, he is living in Mumbai. He has fought many an elections from here and surely enough, Official Language of the city is Marathi.

Anyway, from the time he declared, I understood his intentions to unnecessary heat up the atmosphere. And MNS readily obliged. A war of words and warnings ensued and the end result was nothing short of spectacular. Abu mustn’t have expected a slap though. He very well deserved a slap for his undeterred venomous speeches from long time heating up the religious sentiments. And as far as I remember, once his son was detained for drugs possessions along with some other rich sons, including Dilip Chhabria’s son. He himself doesn’t particularly enjoy a clean track record, going by his lavish properties. But, the only problem is this slap is hit at wrong place and at wrong time. Though, MNS did achieve what they wanted, going by some of the reactions that I received from acquaintances, rational thinkers would differ. For me, an ultra cynic, Abu was gifted with the cheap publicity, just at the cost of a slap. Cheap Deal indeed!

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Now, I want to turn to a complex issue. As now-a-days, I am obsessed with Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, I am reading anything that I can find about him. Two days back while reading some of his quotes, I found this piece of quote interesting and I tweeted it, “A ruler who needs a religion is a weakling and weaklings should not rule.” While I posted it, I attached “…so true” as my opinion to this. As soon as I posted it with a clean mind and admiration for the man, I realized what I had done. As those who know me know, I am generally a BJP supporter and used to be devout some time back, I understood that some bites would follow and there it came. Sensing this, I had started to figure out how exactly I will answer this.

The answer is BJP as we it today is confused and directionless. If you look at the agenda that BJP had in its heydays, it consisted of an important term – Common Civil Code. RSS, the parent organization of BJP still advocates it. Now, as for explaining the sudden rise of BJP on national scene, I always hear that BJP started it with demolition of Babari Mosque. I want to ask them, can I say that Congress started it by allowing the division of the nation? Can I say, that Congress started it, first with Operation Blue Star (interestingly is the symbol of Judaism) and then with mishandling of situation in Kashmir? No, I cannot say that, because that would make me Communal. The basic definition of Communal is at fault, because it actually doesn’t have a definition. RSS since its birth has always been a reaction. Its very birth was a reaction to Muslim League. The demolition of Babari Mosque was a result of many factors, such as LK Advani’s oratory skills, mob fury but most importantly, Hindu Insecurity. Everybody asks questions, but no one has found the answer as to why, on such a large scale, did the majority community became insecure? And the reaction to demolition of a mosque was? Serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. What else you expect to follow? Blindly all the exasperated voters turned to saffron labeled outfit. Of course, there were and there are opportunistic and hot headed leaders, but terming BJP as a whole as religious affair is injustice to the very purpose of its formation.

Right from its birth BJP has fought for Common Civil Code. And what is Congress doing for all these years? All I want to ask is when you say, “A ruler who needs a religion”; do you only mean he advocates a certain religion? Can’t it also mean he uses the weapon of religion? Like Marx said, Religion is opium. Tell me when did BJP say it wants to create a Hindu Rashtra? (Except for it iterates to reinstate Ram Mandir, which is an entirely different and complex issue and needs hours of writing) Instead, it was actually BJP regime, when strained relations in Indo-Pak started to loosen. But Nawaz Sharif was toppled and all the efforts went waste. Further, BJP never enjoyed complete majority in Parliament, thus could not apply its Agenda to the fullest. Further, those who claim they came to power because of religious sentiments, then just tell me, the Babari Mosque was demolished in 1992, and the reaction bomb blasts occurred in 1993 followed by riots and BJP came to power in 1995. How could the religious sentiments sustain for this long. I agree religious sentiments did play some part, but it had a lot to do. The violence had resulted in anti-incumbency sentiments and further, the religious tagging was long before Babari was demolished. Terming, BJP’s rise to power as solely the result of Babari demolition and religious outburst, is like self deceit. Actually it was Congress, which before independence played the Religion Card, in Khilafat Movement and after independence it used the minority concessions to actually deceive Muslims. Otherwise can you explain how a community, which was the ruler in Moghul empire and favoured in British Raj is still poor according to much touted Sachchar Commission Report? And BJP’s fall was a result of amateur behaviour of its front leaders and nothing to do with suddenly matured voters.

So, people that’s my answer to the question.

Moreover, it is entirely amateur to equate the statement of great man so squarely. He made the statement in context of Ottoman ruler and his statement did have deeper meaning. But if it is being thrown around, just for the sake of argument, it indeed shows the gross immaturity. Because, Indian Polity is far more complex than people usually are made to believe.

For any further brickbats I am always available.

P.S. – Today is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s 71st Death Anniversary! My salute to his memory!

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Travelling back in time

November 3rd, 2009

Entire world seems to be travelling back in time. Yes. You heard it right, really we are doing that. According to Einstein, we need to travel faster than light to achieve that, but thanks to some “Glorious Bastards” we are managing it anyway. Yes, we are fast moving towards middle age again and the day won’t be far, when our future generations will be in stone age again and finally we will achieve to bring about yet another big bang and hmmm….what next?

I will just give examples.

  1. A Muslim organisation in India, issues a fatwah against “Vande Mataram” (Same patriotic song that has become A.R. Rehman’s signature tune for long) terming it anti islamic. And this all occurs on the same day of honourable attendance by Home Minister of “Secular” Republic of India.

  2. Somewhere in Indonesia, I read that they are about to bring out a law that will prevent women wearing tight clothes.

  3. A Saudi Man is convicted by a Saudi court for flaunting his sex life on a Lebanese Talk show.

  4. A Saudi woman who was the representative for the production house of same Lebanese show in Saudi Arabia is convicted for same offence i.e. Offending Islam. Later she is pardoned by Saudi King on mercy (Though, many smell international pressure here, since this case was highly publicised in Western world)

  5. A Pakistani Muslim girl, who has tattoed “Alham Dulillah” (Praise to God) on her back is spotted in one of Mumbai’s biggest mall by one Indian Muslim and he calls his mother, who then rallies some more women to the place and physically assaults and verbally abuses the girl in the mall itself for insulting Islam. When I ask how did it offend Islam to one of my educated Muslim colleague, I get an answer that tattoing on back is offensive. I somehow controlled my urge to ask about frontside. The girl quickly flies off to her native “Islamic” Republic of Pakistan from the “Secular” Republic of India.

  6. Some girls who are in a pub in southern India are attacked by a bunch of hooligans claiming to be a Hindu Right wing outfit. Their claim – the girls are offending Indian and Hindu culture by drinking with boys and wearing skimpy outfits.

Well I just realised that I am also spiraling down back into the time. This account may just feature India and the Middle east but actually there are a lot many Christian Conservatives too in Europe and Americas, whose tales do not get much publicity. They are called cults sometimes. But Europe and Americas have a far larger population who is progressive and thus these cults remain cults and fail to make it to mainstream.

That underlines the fact that if sanity has to prevail, insanity has to be outnumbered overwhelmingly. For that, mass education is a mandatory requirement. And to achieve that kind of mass education, we in India and such developing and regressive societies, need Educational Reforms. I understood what educational reforms can do when I read about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It was his achievements, alongwith some disturbing and disgusting news prompted me to write this post. If we really want to stop the journey back into time and we want to move forward. We have to follow the path shown by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He partly succeded in his ventures only because of Educational Reforms. Whatever was left unachieved is being achieved slowly by Turkey. I am highly impressed by whatever meagre information I read about him and now I am waiting to get my hands on one of his authentic Biographies.

I only read in our textbooks that M.K. Gandhi supported Muslims on Khilafat (Caliphate) Andolan (Movement) to bring Muslims into mainstream Independence movements, but our textbooks don’t mention that the cause M.K. Gandhi fought against at nation’s expense was actually something to stop the contemporary Muslims from going back in time and put them on way to progress in Modern World. Further M.K. Gandhi’s steps didn’t only backfire but also lead to an unnecessary tagging of different Hindu and Muslim causes, which in turn lead to the problems that we historically are facing till date. The Caliphate (Khilafat) was abolished by Ataturk for the greater good of Muslims and the Modern post World War I world. And he proved it with his revolutionary reforms and guidance to take Turkey long way ahead of other Muslim Nations. And yes, importantly it is the only Muslim Majority nation to be Constitutionally Secular and actually practises it in Education and Law.

What a stark contrast between M.K. Gandhi and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. One more interesting fact. We, all know M.K. Gandhi is lovingly(!) called Rashtrapita (Father of the nation – though I am not sure) also Ataturk means Father of the Turks.

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Aba

October 27th, 2009

My maternal Grandfather – whom I call Aba – expired on Friday, 23rd. October,2009. He was 88. I was informed by my father in the morning. I was just into office and was settling at my seat, when Father’s call came. I was suspicious. Aba was unwell for last couple of weeks. Especially his last week was very bad. Doctor had already told us that it was just a matter of time. Two days before this, mother had told me how he was becoming weaker by the day. I was in hope that I would be able to see him, when I go to India next month. But, it wasn’t to be. I felt heavy when I heard the news. I didn’t feel like bursting into a cry, but yeah, my eyes became moist. I remembered every moment I had spent with him. I was just lost in thoughts for some time. I didn’t cry because, I knew the news would come some day sooner or later. Actually, he was relieved of all his pains, that he suffered in some of his last days. And sometimes, biggest of sorrows generate least of tears. Moreover, as they poetically say, he was now devoid of all the sorrows of material world.

My paternal grandparents expired when I was about 12-13 years old and so did my maternal grandmother. I had seen only the loving and caring grandparents in them as that was the only facet that I could experience till that age. But Aba’s was a different case. As I was growing up and understanding more, I could understand him more as a human being. He was a very loving grandfather indeed. I still remember I must’ve been about 8-9 years old, when I was walking with him on road of Pune. My mother and father were ahead and I was with Aba, when suddenly I saw a green plastic toy guitar in one of the toy shops by the road and I felt like I wanted it. I usually wasn’t that of a demanding boy (since mother would simply beat me up if I would be that), but that moment I don’t know, maybe because I trusted my loving grandfather- I wasn’t ready to give up. He tried to dissuade me at first, but I was stubborn, I refused to move from my position. I just stayed there, right in front of the toy shop. All that he had to do was call my mother, it would’ve taken only one glare to get me out of there, but instead he gave up and walked me inside. I don’t remember the price, since I wasn’t interested, but I know it must’ve been expensive. When we reached home, mother was very annoyed at me, but Aba was so satisfied with my glowing face. I never felt anything about that incident, but when I grew up I understood the deep love of my grandfather in it. I strangely remember this incident very vividly, not many of that age though.

Further to being this loving grandfather, I knew him as a strong-willed and hard-working person. He started his own business after the age of 50. That fact is enough to know about the man’s will power and readiness to work hard. He worked till almost age of 82-83. He was visiting his workshop till almost two years back. He wasn’t engineer by education, but by experience. He had seen days of poverty. My mother still tells me stories of their meagre expenditures. Today, my Maternal uncle is retired from a big MNC on big post. My mother is a professor in a reputed college and my maternal aunt is well settled in her own. And Aba, who worked as a meagre technician for different companies, owns a big property in Pune, all on his own. He aptly named his residence in Pune as “Jidda” (Determination). He was indeed a very determined man. He never wanted to be dependent. Not even on his own children. After my grandmother’s death, he chose to live alone with a housekeeper. He lived in his own house till death. Never depended on anyone. When during his last few days, he started needing help to get up from bed, I guess he himself must’ve decided to stop. I heard his stories from my mother a lot of times, but I saw him do the work and deal with people also. He wasn’t a particularly sweet talking person, instead he was anything but that. But still, he made that up with his sincerity and hard work. My mother always says, if I take even 5% of his good virtues, I would go long way ahead in life. And I know how true it is for not only me, but for everyone.

I am not saying all this because he was my grandfather, but because, I knew him well. He used to play chess with me when I was in junior college. But, as I grew up, I had other important things to do. He understood it. He never tried to teach me anything, but instead I learnt from his actions. His cleanliness, his tidiness. The way he always dressed well and kept himself neat and tidy. The way he kept his things organized. I am so different than him in these things (mom says I took my habits from father). Anyone who knew him personally would tell you this. 

He wasn’t perfect. He was human. He had his share of enemies. He was a very straightforward person. If you are in his good books, he would do anything for you. But, you do something that he disapproves, you are his enemy forever. He was very eccentric in this respect. But, he wasn’t a person who would go to any level in enmity. He did everything royally. 

I am writing this after 5 days after he left. But, I just couldn’t gather words before. He deserved a lot than this meagre blogpost of mine. He was an institution. I didn’t call him for last month or so, the only solace for me is just about a month and half ago, he was at my Mumbai home for few days and I had seen and chatted with him on Video Chat. That was my last conversation with him. Everytime when I flew to India for vacations, I would visit him at least once. I would touch his feet on reaching there and leaving from there and everytime when I left he would hug me with moist eyes. Everytime, I felt he did that as if it would be last time. I can still remember his weak but firm embrace. Moist and proud eyes. I still feel if I could just touch his feet again, one last time.

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Diving down the depths of human mind!

October 20th, 2009

The vastly mysterious thing – the human mind. Thousands and thousands or should I say billions of people from the start of human race have tried to explore the length, width and depth of the human mind. The human mind is a something like an elephant in the story of “the elephant and five blind men”. Everyone who tries discovers a new dimensions of it. One of the most interesting and historically most influential part of human mind and its working is the human relationships. This single element has caused the rise of entire civilizations and destruction of those same civilizations. It was ought to be explored by artists from all ages of time. Everybody tried to explore different threads of it and whenever someone thought he had found something, an entirely new thing would crop up. Everyone is right and yet ironically, everyone is wrong. Cinema is one of the mediums of art of the modern world for expressions. It is used as a tool of entertainment as well as education, but base of Cinema lies in characters and their interrelations. Basically, cinema is a medium that is most dependent on human relationships. Historically, it is being used to explore the vast variety of human relationships, from Akira Kurosawa, Kryzstof Kieslowski/Piesciwicz, Alfred Hitchcock to Satyajit Ray and from Woody Allen to Sumitra Bhave / Anurag Kashyap; every director had his own story to tell. Everyone of these had a different thread to show. Not only these, there are several masters whom I am not quite remembering on the tip of my tongue.

The reason why I am talking all this is my sudden realization of how difficult it is to understand life and human relationships. How narrowly we think while labeling human relationships. After watching a few good films over the last two weekends, my already stirred up psyche reached new levels of oscillations. I have been heavily influenced my many films before as I try to delve deep into everyone of them. If I do not understand the movie, I read about it from famous critics and Cine-Experts and try to get it into perspective. I actually like almost every film (unless it is made purely for showing the loss to evade tax) for something in it. I try to gather something from each film. That’s why I can never write a review for any film. I tried in vain some time back, but its just not my field. Thus I have decided that I would only write in brief about films that I like and that will be it.

The movies that I saw last week were Anuranan (A Bengali film) and Christmas in August (A Korean Film). They both explore the tenderest of human relationships.

Anuranan meaning resonance in Bengali, is a well executed film set in Urban area. Due to this its appeal may reach a shorter audience, but the way it depicts the understanding of human relationships by its protagonist (Played by Rahul Bose) is out of this world. Especially the monologue recorded by his character in the penultimate scene is well written. Actually, I saw the movie dubbed in Hindi, I guess the original Bengali dialogues must be really superb and a treat for those who understand Bengali. The film shows us the futility of labelling relationships and the horrific effects it may have on other important parts of life.

Christmas in August is a wonderfully simple film set in some small town in South Korea. It is a story of a man in his mid thirties, who knows he has a terminal illness and he will die anytime soon. Its the story of how he deals with the illness and his relationships (family, friends, ex-crush and love). The tender story can make any tough person shed some tears in the end, in the process teaching an important lesson. Relationships are the real treasure that we can have in our life as a human.

There are lot many films that have influenced me as much or more than these two films (like Devrai [Marathi film by Sumitra Bhave/Sunil Sukathankar] ), but since these two I saw in a short span of time, one after the other; the impact was deeper and I had to write the experience down. I have tried to avoid the details of the plot in both the films. I strongly recommend them both.

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Some Random Thoughts!

October 12th, 2009

The week was kind of uneventful (for me) and I could not think linearly. Some news left me numb and some were better to forget. M.K. Gandhi’s Jayanti (birthday) passed in last week. I am not a great fan of the man, but I do admire some of his qualities. But, I sometimes seriously wonder what kind of remembrance should we do of people whom we revere so much?

What can be the most fitting way? Observing a nationwide dry day on paper and organizing noise polluting programs in his remembrance? Or National telecasts of corrupt and inefficient politicians paying visits to great people’s Samadhis? We actually do not understand the real thing.

We are becoming like that. We believe in show and we simply ignore the actual thing. We like to do rituals publicly and put up a public show of it, but hardly anyone cares for the human beings. Amitabh Bachchan and some others like him visit different famous temples day in and day out (sometimes I feel like asking-how come he gets easy access to these hugely crowded temples, where common man has to stand for hours in line), these bigwigs, marry their to be daughter-in-law to a banana tree, before marrying her to their son; just to remove Mangal from her Patrika, but the same family wouldn’t pay much heed to paying taxes, or environmental issues. We all do that, why blame them, they just set an example, and since we have evolved from monkeys, we copy. We love to keep it simple; we always want to avoid complications. We would simply walk barefooted to the temple to show our dignity and devotion, but we won’t help an old woman to cross the road. Why bother? We won’t throw the garbage in dustbin, but instead on footpath but we will even go to courts to seek rights for Namaz on same streets. We all will complain for noise pollution when it comes to our doorstep, but we will devotedly listen to the prayers played out on loud speakers at odd hours.

I don’t know where I am coming from nor where I am headed to it’s just what came to my mind. It’s a flow and I am unable to put it in organized way.

Then there is one more thing that comes to my mind. People say we must respect the person who is on his/her own principles. The one who holds on to his own principles in whatever adversity. I agree. But at this point I find a conflict. Imagine this person being the leader of a huge community of people. The decisions he/she takes are the ones that can shape the future of entire community. This person has his set of principles and he adheres to them in all situations. Now, imagine his/her principles are actually at conflict with the apparent well-being of the community. That is, if he goes against his principles for this one time, he/she can actually save many lives and probably he/she may himself/herself feel defeated. But, what shall he/she do? What shall he/she choose? The lives of thousands of people that depend on him or his principles? His internal peace?

I am a man of very small stature probably I won’t ever be in these shoes, but still I feel if I were, I would go against my principles for this one time. I may break in the process, but my principles or my inner self aren’t important than thousands of lives. And I do not have a right to play with them for my whims.

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion. Many of you may have different opinions. I would love to know. But for the above reference, many of you must have made out, about whom I was talking. M.K.Gandhi. Yes, “Mahatma” M.K.Gandhi. You are free to draw conclusions. For me, he is not a Mahatma, he is a great human being. The stress is on human being. The problem with us is that we get emotional and start hero worship. We simply deny to understand that all these great people were indeed human beings. They did great things and mistakes as well. We must accept them as they were and not hide anything. They would actually be proud of us if we do that.

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Marathi at WAR!

October 4th, 2009

Note : The post is very long. The post is about the Local Politics in the State of Maharashtra and would require many references for persons unknown to it. Thus I give a short list of some of entities I would mention.

MNS – Maharashtra Navanirmaan Sena – A local Political Party

Raj Thackerey – MNS chief.

ShivSena – A local political party.

BJP – Bharatiya Janata Party – A National Political Party.

Balasaheb Thackerey – ShivSena Chief.

Uddhav Thackerey – Balasaheb’s son and now working president of ShivSena.

Congress – A National Political Party.

Rashtrawadi – Nationalist Congress – A Local Political Party.

Vidarbha – Part of Maharashtra which is famished for long and is infamous for Farmer’s large number of suicides reeling under debts.

Elections in Maharashtra State are beckoning and the war of words between rival leaders and parties is heating up. But, sad part is the great language -Marathi- which is used as an instrument for hauling people, is suffering at the hands of politics. Emotions overpower my thought process when anything regarding my mothertongue Marathi crops up. I love and respect India’s national language Hindi and respect all the other languages spoken in India, but I love, love and only love Marathi. Perhaps, this becomes a barrier for me to impartially analyze any situation regarding Marathi language or Marathi people. Still, because this issue is rapidly turning into a farce and People of Maharashtra will decide their own fate in Assembly Elections in coming weeks, I want to put forward my observations and PoV (Pont of View). I will try to be as objective as possible, but please bear with me if I derail a bit.

From last year, Raj Thackerey’s emergence in the Maharashtra state politics has been the hottest topic of debate. Let it be his demeanour or suaveness or maybe his immaculate public speaking abilities or simply his management skills, he has just been the centre of attraction. You can love him or hate him, you certainly can’t ignore him. Some say, he is Congress’ instrument to break up the support base of rival ShivSena-BJP alliance, some say he is a victim of monarchist policies of ShivSena, some say he just wants to prove his own worth and some take him as the only saviour who can get back the old Maratha Empire glory to Marathi people. While most of the points seem to lose their grounds in different cases, the important point remains that he is certainly proving to be pain in the neck for ShivSena-BJP alliance and also causing a lot of disrespect for Marathis across the nation due to improper ways of handling the situations.

When he started off, I being a staunch Marathi, like any other youth got attracted towards his thoughts. Some of his thoughts are completely true, such as partiality by the Bihari Rail Ministers in Railway Recruitment and these are proven facts that, the advertisements for national recruitments for a certain state are printed widely in Bihar and in mere one or two papers in the concerned states. The entire system of recruitment has come under scrutiny many a times but has been set aside in some way or the other. Sometimes the leader who takes up the issue is silenced or bought and sometimes some different disasters divert the attentions. The issue remains the same and stands at the same place. From the very start of my understanding for politics, I always thought that Raj was the rightful successor for the ShivSena throne, because he has been on the field and worked with grassroots of the organisation, but unfortunately Balasaheb preferred his own son before nephew and the fight of the egos which in turn made the Common Marathi person feel ashamed started.  The media was extremely irresponsible in covering the events and it only sensationalised the entire issue which resulted in an overreaction from across the country. When Rajs Anti North Indian call came, as I said earlier I agreed and still agree on certain points that he raised, only the thing was I always thought his method of solving it was wrong. The violence was not needed, there was a constitutional way to work with things. But considering he had no members of his party in neither State Assembly nor Parliament, he needed to something dramatic to hog attention and thus he followed that way. Here I and many like me parted ways with his philosophy, and turned back to ShivSena just because BJP(whose supporter I have been on majority of the issues) still partnered it and the alliance could have given a stable and sensible option.

At this point of time, Raj was on a rampage. He was fast becoming a legend killer, with his take on Amitabh Bachchan and his frequent show of affection for his home state and the showman Amar Singh. Jaya Bachchan(Amitabh’s wife) proved Raj right by this unnecessary provocation and insult to Marathis with whom she has shared home for last so many years. Consequently Raj was given an opportunity to show some muscle by demanding an apology and consequent apology by Amitabh Bachchan himself. Bachchan and Junior Bachchan’s films were on the verge of release (The Last Lear and Drona respectively, which both successively bombed at Box Office nationwide) and there could have been no better time to make Bachchans kneel.

Raj was gathering bigger support base and Loksabha (Parliament) elections showed it as majority of women and youth(the most easily influenced group and substantial in number) voted for Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS – Raj’s Party) in turn splitting ShivSena-BJP’s traditional votes resulting in limping victory for Congress in all Six Parliamentary constituencies in Mumbai. Raj was now a force to reckon with, though he did not win a single seat. His points and issues still remained same, his language never changed. Even though, his party was elevated from a newbie to potential kingmakers in Vidhansabha (Assembly) elections, he seldom mentioned any robust plan for economic and educational reforms or any solid understanding of Vidarbha’s Farmers’ worsening situation. This is worth noticing. He has gained his ground, he should have started to be more assertive on major issues, instead he and his cousin are still fighting a war of words over Marathi concerns. “Marathi Concerns” I mean who is really concerned about what? Marathi people? Are they some cattle who you guys are trying to win over? Congress-Rasthrawadi is the worst government and the most spineless government of the History of Maharashtra, but you two by putting up this show of Marathi concerns, in turn are humiliating us Marathi people and pushing us further into distress by in turn helping Congress and Rashtrawadi. Those Congress and Rashtrawadi, who kept mum even when an unintellectual leader like Sanjay Nirupam (Writer of “Return of Jewel Theif” and inmate in Big Boss 2 and previously in ShivSena and now a Congress Leader) publicly demanded reserving 10% of seats for North Indians in Maharashtra. I mean how dare he?

I can see a pattern in Raj Thackerey’s recent achievements. When Jaya Bachchan had made that outrageous remark on Marathi’s She was promoting her son’s To-be-Flop Film Drona. She was accompanied by the directors wife Sonali Bendre, who shamefully(because she denied the comments with bizarre explanations) originally hails from a Marathi family. And interestingly, She is known to be very close to Raj Thackerey himself. Can you see a pattern. Two films on the verge of release, Jaya makes a notorious remark in one of the film’s promotional events, Wife of the Director of one of the films is close to Raj Thackerey who picks up the point and declares a self proclaimed ban on both films, quickly Amitabh apologizes the next day on behalf of his wives and consequently Raj clears way for films. Did you notice, how many times the names of Drona and The Last Lear flashed in so many newspapers, on the front page. Without any special effort films gained widespread publicity. Unfortunately for them, films still didn’t work. You don’t believe me, here is the latest one. Allegedly (So I say because, I haven’t seen the film) Wake up Sid, the latest offering from the den of India’s biggest overhyped director’s production house contains a conversation between two of its protagonists, which uses the word “Bombay” instead of changed “Mumbai”. Raj picks up the point. Demands for an apology and threatens yet another of those self proclaimed ban on film. The very next day, the overhyped director (This time a producer) runs to him and quickly apologizes, with a promise to re-dub the dialogue. The ban is lifted. Film is publicized outrageously as I have already said, you can love or hate Raj but can’t ignore him, his mere name has lifted the publicity of the film. So they say in the industry – “If you can’t be famous, be infamous.”

I am with Raj’s basic argument that, it is Maharashtra Government’s law that in every language, the word “Bombay” or any other name should be replaced as Mumbai with immediate effect and the law has been in effect from last 10-odd years. So, basically everyone should avoid the old colonial usage or any other name.  Noteworthy, is all the international and national maps are updated accordingly and also, the global News network categorically menion the city by the name of “Mumbai”. Still, people knowingly or unknowingly make the mistake. OK, they have made the mistake, ask the court to decide, make them pay. Get it clear for the people. But, disgusting was the episode that followed, ShivSena jumped into the picture with saying that, it was them who put up the Marathi issue first (which is indeed true) and thus do not heed to anyone else and the apology should be directed to People of Maharashtra and not to some Tom, Dick and Harry (which is also true), but why jump into it just for the sake of Raj-bashing. Going further the Chief Minister of the State of Maharashtra goes on to say that, if the filmmaker was having any problem with security he should have come to police to ask for it, there was no need to create a scene. Wonderful! I mean the Chief Minister is offering protection to someone who is in trouble for breaking(knowingly or unknowingly) the law of the state.

In this sense for me the film Kaminey was most subtly offensive of the lot to Marathi people. There are lot of subtle snubs to Raj Thackerey, but some go haywire and snub Marathis as a whole (I may be a little extra sensitive saying this). But some like a dialogue involving the words, “Mumbai” and “Bambai”-North Indian version of “Bombay”-between protagonist(North Indian – born in Mumbai but not knowing Marathi and antagonist (Marathi), which is very insensitive on Marathi people’s belief in Mumbadevi as the Parent Goddess of Mumbai(the word is derived from Goddess’ name). Still, there was not a word of opposition from Raj. Why these double standards? Remember some time back Aamir Khan also used this trick of publicity, when before release of Fanaa he suddenly felt like criticizing some Chief Ministers of state on behalf of Narmada Bachao Andolan, which landed him in a controversy with self-administered ban from majority of People in Gujarat gave his film the perfect boost.

My point is in every situation I have mentioned above, the ultimate humiliation is to the Great Language Marathi and Marathi people only. Raj gained his popularity, Uddhav his cousin gained his self satisfaction of humiliating Raj in public, the films got their share of publicity and incumbent government got what they wanted, the split in opposition’s support base, but the farmers in Vidarbha are still reeling under debts from Savkars (Money Lenders), the security situation is still vulnerable, the Congress regime is still living in its Nehru-Gandhi Family grandeur and completely ignoring the local problems. The loss is only to Marathis, Mumbai and ultimately Maharashtra. Everybody should understand this. Vote for stability and not in emotion.

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The UN General Assembly

September 30th, 2009

For the first time in my life, I got the chance to watch some world leaders delivering speeches in UN General Assembly. It was an opportunity that I cherished. It was a wonderful experience listening to Benjamin Netanyahu especially. Other speeches also like Hugo Chavez, Mahmoud Abbas, Muammar Gaddafi were very informative.

The world at the moment is reeling under tense times. The Economic Downturn is still around in some measures. Afghanistan and Iraq still remain far from stable. US and China interdependence is leading to increase in China’s illegitimate influence in African Oil rich nations and in turn strengthening China and increasing headache for India. The perennial headache of Pakistan still poses a grave threat to national security of India like 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and unstable governments in Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar contribute to the rapidly deteriorating stability of the region. Africa as usual is reeling under its heap of dictators and Europe is entangled with USA in Afghan-Iraq wars and Economic Downturn. Russia is still struggling with economy and instablity of the Caucasian region. Australia is dogged by racism and economic downturn as well as mining company dispute with China. South America has its share of problems with some Communist leaders always at conflict with USA and Swine Flue along with the Narcotic wars. Middle east remains the point of attraction though, with USA at war in two major countries, Israel-Palestine conflict and Iranian rebel heroics with Nuclear Energy, with a ripple of instability after elections in Iran has made the entire situation worse. This all made sure that the UN General Assembly was going to be one interesting meet and it fulfilled its promises.

Hugo Chavez in his characteristic speeches spilled venom about US policies. Maahmoud Ahmedinejad went full on with claiming the Holocaust as a lie and stressing that Iran will do what it wants to do. Then came the real interesting bit, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi broke all the speech records with 96-minutes speech while breaching the protocol and exposing his inability to understand the Global Questions. His funny suggestions included Independence to Kashmir and making it as a buffer region between India and Pakistan. One of his amazing inventions was that India is in some way responsible for deteriorating situation in Somalia.

But, Benjamin Netanyahu stole the show with his awesomely well drafted and astonishingly well punctuated and executed speech in English. He simply rocked with his composed stature. I personally do not agree to many of his views and for that matter many of Israel’s policies. But, if I were to select the best speech of the General Assembly it would be of Netanyahu (Though I didn’t listen to many speeches, I don’t think any other could beat this). He refuted Ahmadinejad’s claims of Holocaust denial with Paper proofs that he brought from Germany. He dismissed Iranian government by calling them Iranian Tyrants. He simply called the speech as shameless and also termed those who gave it a hearing as shameless. He slowly established Israel’s achievements and sufferings and how Israel was always mistreated by Arabs and then defended Israeli offensive against Palestinians. He refuted United Nations Human Rights Council’s report and called it biased. He compared the Gaza rockets to German bombings of World war. He was all over the place. He touched every point regarding Israel. It doesn’t matter he was right or wrong, he stood there in complete support of Israel’s policies, it didn’t matter if some policies were of the Government before him. Even the Palestinian bench gave his speech a hearing for almost 70% of the time then they walked off in protest.

In contrary Mahmoud Abbas’s speech though very informative and sounding truthful, lacked the fervour and it only showed the helplessness of the West Bank Palestinians without the support from their Extremist Gaza brothers.

I couldn’t hear Pakistani Speech, but no major news channel gave it any importance and thus probably it didn’t matter much. Also, no international media gave any big mention to S.M Krishna’s speech for India, but I happened to read its excerpts online. I read that he urged the World Community to help bring the 26/11 perpetrators to justice. If this is what he said, I must say this is ridiculous.

India calls itself emerging superpower and it couldn’t even stand up for itself on World Stage. There was one attack on USA and Afghanistan and Iraq are still burning. I am not comparing USA and India, but just look at the responses. USA didn’t have any proof, neither were they needed to show it to the World, they just did what they had to, to bring the perpetrators to justice. Here, we have for the first time in Mujahideen history, caught a Mujahideen alive, we have his testimony(though we have made a National Sensation out of him). We have all the call records, proofs that even FBI acknowledges, we have FBI giving a deposition in our court and still, we urge the International Community to help us. Why I mean, why can’t we be firm, since we have some strings of World economy moving on our terms. It just shows our inherent low self esteem. This would cost us dear in near future. Look at Israel, being such a small country in such a hostile neighbourhood, they still manage to hold their own. Though, some may claim they are protected by US, but even Pakistan is protected by US. Like Israel, Pakistan also has nuclear weapons (which it has proliferated to other hostile countries for money{Read more here}). Everyone can see, where is Pakistan and look where is Israel. That proves it doesn’t matter what you have, what matters is what you do with it. India has everything to make it big, it just falls short of doing.

P.S. : World’s 20 biggest Economic Powers met at G20 Pittsburgh summit, which had a lot of importance for India and it overall went well as India did well with holding its own. Bu, amusing was the next similar style event hosted by eternal rebel Hugo Chavez. He held a summit of important African and South American nations to discuss their prospects. Interestingly, Brasil attended also the G20. Though, I am all praises for Chavez for his this kind of initiative.

I Also saw Robert Mugabe’s interview with Chritiane Amanpour and was amused by his constant answer of “because of US Sanctions”, this made me remember Pakistan’s perennial answer of “because of India”.

Note : I saw all the speeches on TV. I am clarifying this just because, I read the post and it doesnt mention where I saw the Gen. Assembly. Though, I saw the Gen. Assembly for the first time in my life.

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A.Q. Khan, Pakistan and Lies

September 25th, 2009

The day before yesterday, in a sensational revelation, Mr. Simon Henderson, a journalist revealed a secret letter from A.Q. Khan, the infamous Pakistani Scientist cum Nuke agent, written to his wife. The letter reveals some sensational yet predictable facts about Pakistani Nuclear Proliferation Nexus. Pakistan’s lies are out in open.
The letter though written to his wife was made to reach Henderson by Mr. Khan himself, then fearing that someday he will be made a scapegoat; which he is eventually been made. The letter reveals how Pakistan bartered Uranium Enrichment secrets for Nuclear Bomb Blueprints with China. How it sold the Nuclear secrets to N.Korea and Iran on directions from several Pakistani leaders holding office at respective times, including the “Martyr”ed “Peace Ambassador” Benazir Bhutto and The man “In the line of Fire” Pervez Musharraf. The letter even has many entertaining details about A.Q. Khan’s conversations with Chinese scientists and others.
It also hoaxes the claims of Six Nuke tests by Pakistan, which was declared to gain upper hand on India as India had made five tests. World agencies have been long claiming to have recorded only two signals.
Thought the credibility of the letter will be denied by Pakistan and the support for that is also stated by Mr. Henderson, which is the agreement signed by A.Q. Khan with the Pakistani court before acquitting him of charges. (The details can be read in the link here.)
But all said and done, is this going to anyway lead to punishment of the guilty parties? The answer is an overwhelming No. USA cannot sacrifice its “War on Terror(Against US ONLY)” by punishing Pakistan. It also cannot hurt China, since it is China who is holding the US economy. And no other nation can excluding Russia would take on China and consequently Pakistan gets immunity. Russia will not interfere since it usually doesn’t interfere unless the calamity has a potential to reach its boundaries and moreover, Russian economy is hurt and needs support both from USA and China to rebuild it. The entire system of interlocks results into a dangerous stalemate, which does nothing but encourage Pakistan to continue its fraudulent activities, with pretending to fight Taliban and extorting money from hapless USA and spending it on Military strengthening for Holy War against India.
The biggest sufferer has been and will be India. India gets No or Zero support on its pleas for terror in India. Pakistanis and Pakistan bound terrorists have been clever enough to keep the distance between militant outfits working globally and their India bound franchise. That way, the India bound franchise does not face problems from USA and Global outfits have immunity from Pakistan government with fake wars here and there. The everyday claims of success are nothing but a hoax, since every accomplishment is accompanied by an announcement of requirement of funds for further “Fight against terror(Against USA ONLY)”.
India has to strengthen its inner power. We need to be united for that. That needs development and development in turn needs widespread education and political awareness. In a country where a candidate gets a vote because he or she is a fourth generation of some great leader, this seems a distant and an almost impossible dream. But, you know what, impossible is spelled – I m possible!

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Liberties and Duties!

September 20th, 2009

Once again, there is a news which has compelled me to write. This news states IB(Intelligence Bureau) warning. Interestingly enough, this news was not given much of vehemence anywhere. IB has warned the government of usage of VoIP services in India by terrorists and thus have advised the government to place a tracking system. But since it is not possible to place a tracking system overnight. They have advised to temporarily shut the services down. This kind of tracking is existent in many countries and thus it seems completely practicable (some tech people I know do think otherwise).

But the major argument that began was, why to target the internet, while there are so many loopholes elsewhere? This question is wonderfully silly in itself. It is like asking why my passport is verified at the airport, while actual terrorists do pass by? Or why my address verification is necessary for passport, when Abu Salem gets so many fake passports?

The logic behind this is to seal as many loopholes as possible. There is no point in creating hullabaloo about personal freedom and freedom of internet(like one of my techie friend pointed out, that this is killing the very purpose of internet). I don’t know why, but nowadays by listening to Westerners and reading their books and watching their films, news etc. there is a new breed of liberals in India. This breed of liberals has their value systems borrowed from West. They are poetic in their views. Fair enough. You can have your own values. But dudes, value systems whatsoever they can be, should not be an hurdle in National Interests.

The basic problem with these liberals is they are lost in transition. They have convinced themselves of certain things. And they yell and shout at everything that they have been programmed themselves for. For instance, they would shout for freedom of expression when there is any talk of censorship, even in case of mindless coverage of 26/11. They would call Aamir Khan’s cheap publicity stunts at the time of “Fanaa” as his Social Sensitivity. And the list would go on. OK, I have nothing against asking for freedom or neither am I leftist (I mean Communist – not “Left-Liberal”). But guys, have you read our constitution? Out constitution not only states rights, but also our national duties. It is the combination of both that makes you an ideal citizen. Shouting day and night for freedoms but not being ready for any sacrifices isn’t the way forward. The Westerners whom you try to copy fulfill almost all their duties for their country and then they shout for their freedoms. They follow their basic civic roles before calling for silly freedoms such as freedom of being topless for women.

Arguing just for the sake of arguing isn’t a symbol of proactive citizen. Understand and then debate over it. Shutting down of services doesn’t mean loss of connectivity forever. Shouting in the name of Red Tapism is very easy, but understanding the grave threat is even easier. Dubbing IB as dumb, citing previous incidences isn’t going to reduce the threats. We have no right to put hundreds of lives at stake for our definitions of freedom. Saying that the internet is a thing that can be used by good as well as bad is poetic and not practical. By this logic, we should open our airports and allow anyone to go and come. Its sounds very close to Ganghiji’s logic that even present day democracies are mild form of Fascism because all the people do not support Government. These all are Utopian. We live in an almost dystopian world.

Wake up guys, no need to create a fuss. Let us do our duty and let the government do theirs. Anyhow, its too early for me to say anything. As after this news, I haven’t heard of any development. This can be realized or not, also cannot be stated. But I am with IB on this, even though, I would personally be affected. And one thing, if you do not do anything, please don’t teach or evaluate others. IB must have some reason to propose such a measure. Try to understand and for Nation’s sake be ready to adjust if such a measure is indeed taken.

Note : No offenses meant for any of the Left-Liberal or just Liberal guys. All the points stated are just my viewpoints. India indeed gives you freedom to be whatever you want to be. But remember, freedom can be enjoyed, only if India stands.

P.S. : A change in the title of the blog. My name is incomplete without my Father’s name.

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