India bleeds once again

Two events is a day. Though separated by hundreds of miles, each has the capacity to change history. And surely will History change but sadly for India, yet another arrow in the heart of Mother India.

NDT or ND Tewari has allegedly done what one could have never even imagined. An 86 year old man, with one step on the ground and the other on the pyre has the audacity of playing ras leela. At a time when the grand Pandit should be sunk deep into the chanting of the Vedas, he is delving deep into the forbidden lands. Whether this is a fact or just a malicious campaign to push ahead the Telangana issue, one would never know. The Congress high command saw wisdom in sacking Tewari in order to douse the flame of Telangana. The bloody flames will ensure that Tewari gets no chance to prove his innocence! And we suddenly hear cries of the hysteric masses demanding that Tewari be sanctioned for his misdemenour. We are hearing slogans of ethics and values. Let me leave this issue here..for the time being.

And on the other side we have the wily “Guru” of Jharkhand. He tramples ethics and values as one does the dead leaves in the jungles of Kharkhand. Let us take a quick look at the man who has been invited by the Governor to form the government. On 23 January 1975, he was allegedly part of a mob that attacked the Muslim-dominated Chirudih village in Jamtara Ten people including nine Muslims were killed in the attack. Along with sixty eight others, he was charged with murder. In 1986, an arrest warrant was issued against him. In 2002, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha with the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He became the Union Coal Minister in the Manmohan Singh government, but was asked to resign following an arrest warrant in his name in the thirty-year old Chirudih case. After the warrant was issued, he initially went underground. On 28 November 2006, Soren was found guilty of murder in the twelve year old case of the kidnapping and murder of his former personal secretary Shashinath Jha. Soren is the first and only case of a Union Minister of the Government of India being found guilty of involvement in a murder. On 5 December 2006, Shibu Soren was sentenced to life imprisonment; he still awaits trial in the Chirudih case.

Now, which of the two makes you cry more? An 86 year old veteran putting Khajuraho to shame or a convicted criminal playing hoola hoop with Law and Order?

And yes, the BJP. What ethics are portrayed here by the party which shouted the meek and mild Manhohan into a corner when Soren was a Minister in the UPA government, is the one propping up the convicted criminal to don the mantle of the Chief Minister? Atalji, we sure are glad that you are not around to see where the Judges would be hiding in Jharkhand.

Switzerland- The Fall Guy??

Switzerland- The Fall Guy!!

So the Swiss Govt. thought that four minarets were enough to adorn the skyline of the country. Four is company, five is crowd? It is very much within their rights , after all , it is their country. I would not have read much into this decision if this was taken prior to 9/11 and dismissed it as a non happening. However, with all the brouhaha and chest beating in the recent past, this decision does draw attention. After all, what purpose does this ban serve? And frankly, I see no benefit accruing to the Swiss. I am perplexed not by the decision but by the lack of any significant purpose being served. Mosques have not been banned, Islam has not been shackled or stifled, Muslims have not been isolated. Islam will still be practiced much as it was earlier. Swiss people are as warm and accommodating with or without the Minaret. Some opined that there is a fear of Islam being perceived as militant and perhaps this ban serves the purpose of sending a notice to the fundamentalists!!? I would not subscribe to this as nothing untoward has ever been reported in Switzerland. So why this fear? But this sudden phobia for minarets did get me curious and it got me studying the relations between Muslims and Switzerland. I discovered that although Islam dates back to the 10^th Century, it has been only fifty years or so that Islam has grown. I believe that of the 150 mosques in Switzerland, only 4 have minarets, and only 2 more minarets are planned. None conduct the call to prayer over an open mike which might be upsetting the locals. There are about 350-400,000 Muslims in a population of some 7.5 million people. Close to 90 percent of Muslims in Switzerland are from Kosovo and Turkey and they practice their religion with utter humble discreet and respect. All has been peaceful so where is the question of the “rise of fundamentalism” in Switzerland?? There is no angst amongst the locals vis-à-vis Islam or Muslims per say. On the contrary, the Muslims gel well amongst the Swiss and form an integral part of the nation. Muslims in Switzerland abide by all Swiss laws and regulations. In general, no Swiss laws exist that directly interfere with any Islamic duty. For example, no Swiss laws forbid Muslims from exercising their religious beliefs or practices, such as praying or fasting. To date, no Islamic or Muslim political parties exist in Switzerland. Only a few Swiss Muslims are involved politically and the few Muslims elected to office have not made Islam their battle. To the contrary, their religious belonging usually remains silent and unobtrusive. Similarly, no Swiss political party has directed its political views against Islam. Though there are various Muslim associations in Switzerland, there are no Islamic schools. But there is increasing awareness about Islam and this is a positive sign.

Ulrich Schlüer, a member of Parliament from the S.V.P., said minarets were a symbol of “the political will to take power” and establish Sharia, or religious law. Preposterous. Unbelievable. Nothing more than ranting of a guy suffering from delusion of persecution. Imagine a few Minarets enabling a minuscule, infinitesimal 5% Muslims to conquer Switzerland and impose Sharia!! India with around 18-20% Muslims and thousands of towering minarets still remains a throbbing democracy with freedom of religion to one and all!! Wild accusations by indiscreet politicians who speak the words of those who suffer from a fear of Islam. They cause great disservice to the society and world peace. Minarets or no Minarets, Muslims will continue to patronize Switzerland- a cradle of warm and genuine people who welcome with an open heart, a warm smile and a hospitality par excellence.

Is there a more sinister design lurking somewhere in yonder lands? Some people far away from the honest and warm Swiss are looking in the hourglass and using the Swiss as the fall guy? This being just the precursor to greater happenings in the days to come?

"Weak" Creates History whilst the strong is consigned to "History"

Singh is King .

As the dust settles, we see the 200 mark up for Congress. None would have believed this just 24 hours back! The 15th Lok Sabha has certainly stirred the voter. And also the political parties. Suddenly we find the word introspection flowing from every tongue! BJP and the Left need to introspect their disaster whilst the Congress needs to understand why this windfall!! Dr.Singh goes in the annals of history as only the second Prime Minister to get re-elected for consecutive terms after a full first term. So much for a weak Prime Minister!
16th of May goes down in Indian History as the day when the Indian Politics has been rewritten. The Indian voter has woken up to the realities of today. He braved the harsh climate only to usher in a clinical revolution. And he did this silently and efficiently. It had to happen this way. The last five years saw the main party struggling for effective governance due to the heavy baggage of the allies. Each pulling it tangent to the other thus giving little room for proper movement. It was more like "One step forward...one step backward...one step sideways. The Left played the role of a belligerent bully though they did some good too. But in a nutshell, they did more harm than good. They also became arrogant and boisterous and took the nation for granted. Today they stand decimated loosing more than half their seats, but Prakash Karat shows little signs of regret, remorse and shame.
I have always maintained that the regional parties have a different agenda and normally collides with the larger national agenda. I believe that the two must be kept separate in order to maximize effective management at both the levels. I have advocated that the voter needs to be more mature. I wrote in my blog on the 10th of March, “ And yes, do look at the role at the centre played by the regional parties in the past. Have they been an asset or a hurdle? Each demanding their own pound of flesh at just the wrong time. Would it be better to have a single large party in the center or a coalition of just two or three…a badly fractured mandate normally ushers instability. Let us avoid this at all costs. We all know if multiple parties are involved in government formation, then decision making is hampered and is of poor quality. We should have distinct benchmarks for legislative and parliament elections. We should not be averse to vote for one party at the centre and another in the state…” I stand vindicated today as the tally of almost ALL the regional parties ahs taken a beating.
The voter has rejected the smaller parties and has actually voted for Congress and the BJP-the two national parties. The sign is good as policies and programs can be planned better. Regional parties need to concentrate in their specific areas and focus on development. I had written about Mayawati also and predicted what struck her on the 16th! Her arrogance and over confidence of her own so called social engineering left her fumbling as even the Congress breezed past her.
The voter has given the benefit of doubt and felt the Congress could not deliver due to the heavily fractured mandate of 2004. The verdict now is a confirmation that India wants stability - the resurgence of Congress in Uttar Pradesh confirms this. The voter has given the mandate to the Congress and will also hold it accountable. The onus now lies squarely on the door of Congress. Indian voter has given a low priority of other issues like the price rise, terrorism and so on. The mandate is for Dr Man Mohan Singh to finish the unfinished agenda. The voter has decided that Dr Singh is a strong leader who is capable of delivering.
And yes, the voter will also demand results-the price for the faith placed. Make no mistake, this is a mandate for finishing the unfinished agenda. People say it reflects secularism. I do not agree. BJP has lost some seats but has also shown Varun Gandhi and Menaka Gandhi winning.

Nitish...kya mamoo banaya!!

Nitish plays all aces!!

Quite sometime back I saw a film called Mask starring Jim Carey. Recently I saw the Indian version of the Mask, starring Nitish Kumar! If Jim Carey was amazing then Nitish has rewritten Indian Politics with a mind boggling act!! He played the soothest of ragas to the easily gullible Muslims of Bihar! His wonderful melody of “naa naa naa ray Modi” struck deep into the hearts of the secularists. And when the floored voter reached the ballot machine, his ears were still ringing with the “naa naa” and he pressed the button for Nitish. And he was a happy and content man. He had voted for the most secular man on the horizon…preferred over Laloo and Paswan.
Nitish must have chuckled in private! What prized fools these voters are! My mask was so well fitting that they could see not what I had hidden!! With the setting of the sun he prepared himself for the next agenda. Nitish must have sat in front of the mirror and smiled and then made an inter state call, “When shall we meet again, brother Modi”!! Surely on the Dias in Punjab! Came the reply from the butcher of Gujarat! Modi looked at the mirror once again and burst into an unstoppable laughter! I went to the dargahs, the masjids with a cap. And they fell for me !! Kya Topi peha dee!! Mamoo bana diya Bihar kee public ko!!
And then what we saw in the NDA rally made me suggest that Nitish should be nominated for the Oscars. What an incredible performance! The meeting with Modi showed the real happiness felt by Nitish. He had played his role to perfection. Now the time to come to real life….and this he did with a huge grin on his face as he held Modi’s hand aloft. It was a new kind of a High Five! And the two together made a perfect couple…one bluntly against secularism and the other the soft spoken Bihari who butchered secularism with the same sadistic approach albeit under the garb of a Sufi!!
I am appalled by the perversity of a man who professed equal treatment. I am saddened not by his deeds but the route he took to achieve his agenda. He has trampled innocence and honesty ruthlessly. He has hit the aam aadmi where it hurts. If he wanted to appease the butcher of Gujarat, then fine, he has the right to do so. Many are doing. Why take the route of playing with the emotions of the entire society? Sharing the dais with Modi was not a crime. He could have done so. But why mislead and tell utter lies to those who trusted you????
Nitish, now you are as bare as you are in the bathroom. The fooled public can see through you, though a wee bit late. You played your cards well but now everyone knows the real Nitish who wholly endorses the Modi Genocide. Nitish… Modi… bhai bhai!
This is all about the double speak so prevalent in our society. There are many Nitish Kumars masquerading in our society with the façade of innocence oozing from all over!!What needs to be done is that such double crossers should be given a strong dose of their own medicine. Yes, the “awam” got fooled this time. As a responsible citizen of India, we should not have a short public memory. Elections will come again. Teach them a lesson that will be a lesson to the chameleons of Indian politics.
And elections are round the corner…not too far, says my crystal ball!!

Mayawati's leap to Delhi- myth or a reality?

Mayawati is in the news these days. People are talking about the role that she might play in the days to come, post 16th May. And this did set me thinking. I became Wordsworth in spirit. I imagined myself lying “upon a couch” (not with Koyel, of course!) and the images floating by. Maya, the ruler of UP, acquiring the crown to rule India. Wow! The very first picture was that of Maya in faded Wrangler Jeans. Wondering why? Ha-ha…ehm. Well, if you would go back in history and see the Mayawati when Kanshi Ram was still his own master….the curly chute and an insecure smile which needed the approval of her mentor, you would notice the sea change in per persona. Close cropped hair and a dupatta that curls around the neck and not to forget the hurried swagger that goes with her, is the fourth time CM Maya! Gone is the insecure Maya of the 90’s! So, when the PM, then surely the Jeans will slide in!! Natural progression?
UP today is black and blue all over. No, it is not the bashing that has resulted in the state being black and blue. Or maybe it is? Lucknow has scores of statues peering at every passer by. Soon Lucknow will change from the city of Nawabs to the city of murtis. Nawabs are extinct but the murtis are very much visible and on the rise- in elephantine proportion!
Let us see the progress that the state has made since she took charge….it is a task as tedious as hunting a needle in a haystack! Where is the needle? Hunt…hunt…hunt. Maya’s forte has been the caste equation, not governance. Nitiesh Kumar in neighboring Bihar is a much better administrator and provides competent governance. Sheila Dixit is miles ahead of even Nitiesh.
Honestly speaking, a PM needs to be an ideal kind of a person. Someone who is above board, who inspires the nation, who provides confidence, who can take sound decisions at just the right time. Some one with a vision. And yes, he should be far from being vindictive. Let me confess that there is none on the horizon who fits the above!! Be it Dr Singh, Mr. Advani or anyone else. We lack genuine PM material.
But let us come back to Maya Memsaheb. I am still in a world of fantasy visualizing Maya sitting amidst Obama’s and Browns and Sarkozy’s in a G20 summit. And then Sarkozy and Carla inviting Maya to France…Carla and Maya exchanging notes on fashion and make up!! My fantasy is shattered by a call from Shoaib. Not Akhtar but Qureshi. And he kind of dampened everything by suggesting that the Queen may still not wear the crown..and probably not at all. Maya may not get the mandate that the TV channels along with their self proclaimed expert panels are predicting. Here goes another PM in waiting! The reality is that India does not need a Zardari. Right? Do we? And the voters are keen to prove the psephologists and the other pundits wrong.
Maya the politician is skillful and competent. Period. Maya the PM is a fantasy in a midsummer night’s dream. Alice in wonderland was a great story but never a reality. But then, Indian Politics is more unpredictable than an Alice in a Midsummer night’s dream!
Who knows?

Obama is capable?

Obama is capable?
Obama’s 100 days in office is like an all rounder in a cricket team! A bits and pieces man, capable of putting up his hand when required but not really one who has expertise in a particular area. At least as on date.Obama is not like Mathew Hayden or a Brett Lee but more like Symonds.
We saw Obama reaching out to the Europeans( including Turks) and the Arabs/Israelis. He had a tough swagger and a drawl when addressing the Pakistani and the Taliban. His tone was warm and affectionate when shaking hands with the master economist Dr Man Mohan Singh.
Obama has done his homework well
All rounders can come in very handy but in the long run, they cannot be effective for specific tasks. 100 days have been handled well but his tryst with destiny seeks a longer period…60 to a 120 months. And that is a long period. That is why I feel that he should don the mantle of a specialist at the earliest.
Middle East and Pakistan are two huge problems. The Arab Israel conflict needs a man who knows what he wants and also what he can deliver. The past has seen promises which could never be delivered. It was loathsome and dishonest. The need of the hour is to set the parameters for peace talks. This is a vital issue and will reflect the intentions and capabilities of the white house in general and Obama in particular. The recent posturing by him has given hopes to the genocide struck Palestinians. The two nation theory needs to be worked upon. There can never be peace in the world unless there is peace in the Middle East. There can be no peace unless there is a stable country of the Palestinians. Isreal and Palestine need to coexist as two nations. And Obama has to understand and execute that. He can do it if he follows the advise of the wise. Middle East beckons Obama.
Pakistan is passing through a very turbulent time. Partially self generated and partially by the forces that seek to rock Pakistan. And Obama knows the facts and should see through the crocodile tears that seem to flow from all corners! A stable and progressive Pakistan is a must for the regions growth. But will this be allowed to happen? Obama should ensure the holding back of the boat rockers.
And that brings me to the last issue. The G20 meeting. All was not sweet and neat. The Europeans did not appreciate the Anglo Saxon proposals, though this was not said overtly. But the French/German bonhomie did blow the top. Obama probably understands the same and knows that the G20 was not as big a hit as the media made it out to be. One needs to only look into the British media to see the skeptism and distrust. Obama has handled the economic crises fairly well and he probably knows that he cannot rely on the outcome of the G20 summit. He needs to be cautious and conservative

Give teeth to the Election Commission !

So much for the huge TV advertising exhorting people to go and exercise their franchise! Although a damp squib at the end of the day, it was not unexpected. Probably it tells a story in itself. Briefly, the audience does not hold the filmy sitarey in any high esteem. They lacked credibility. Audience felt that they did it as yet another commercial advertisement. Yes. That is what I look at it. And they did not feel the need to respond to commercials. Lesson learnt is that the next time, we wish to bring about any change in the aam aadmi, then let it be though people who are loaded with credibility. A Dr.Zakir Naik, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar or a swami Ramdev would bring better results.
Voting percentage being nominal speaks volumes about the apathy that has crept in our society. People could not see any change coming in even if they had gone and voted. Hence, the less than warm response. I believe that the Election Commission has a bigger role to play than what it does today. From a mere admonishing or an advisory role, the commission needs to be given plenty of teeth. They need to be seen as those who can bite..not just bark. The bite needs to be strong and potent. The Politician has a skin of a Hippopotamus and average teeth will elicit no response. Hence, the need for Dracula type incisors and canines. Give the EC more powers. Powers to stop one from contesting. Powers to ensure discipline throughout the election period. Perhaps even later.
The aam aadmi has lost faith in the politician. And this leads to loss of faith in the electoral system. I read in Hindu newspaper that names of minority community voters were missing in various parts of Bengaluru. Hundreds of voters could not vote since their names were not there. This inspite of the fact that they had legitimate identification papers to prove. Quite a pity that when such incidents happen, the faith in the electoral process takes a dive. And such acts of omissions and commissions are spread all over the nation.
The future of the nation appears hazy. I feel that our democracy can be really vibrant only if the processes are reviewed. A clarity in our national future can be achieved only if objectivity is practiced without any fear. EC needs to formulate rules and regulations that ensures weeding out of the unwanted, criminal from entering the public system. Crafty hate spreaders , slimy business sharks, double faced slithery politicians should be knocked down with a swift and a powerful blow.
How about introducing the concept of community service for the contenders? One can be eligible for elections only if one has put in a minimum period in community service. Like when one joins an elite business group, one starts as a trainee. Our politicians should serve as trainees during which they do community service. Five years and then being eligible for elections. For contesting the Parliamentary elections, one has to be at least a graduate. Then, ministers should have excellent academic records to prove ones potential. One cannot be considered for the post of a minister unless he averages 70% overall. Management Institutes have a minimum cut off marks for candidates. Follow the same for appointing ministers . Why not? Managers run a company; these politicians run the entire nation. We need the best who can manage the nation effectively. And yes, total transparency should be maintained.

Let's create Voting Circles -for enlightened voting

Look for the Hidden agenda!!

What a scene in India as we prepare for the hustings! Maneka blasts Maya…Maya return fire with more fire! ManMohan Singh replies coolly to the allegations by Advani on his being a “bakri’ PM…then a take off by Advani for a duel which was turned down as none were Knights in ( or sans)Armour…Modi adds to the fuel of calling ManMohan Singh a weakling….Sibal launches into a heavy verbal assault on Advani being anything but a “Lohpurush”… the Three Musketeers from UP/Bihar adding the final icing on the hustings cake, and Arun Shourie voicing that the fake degree holder from UK, Varun Gandhi is well versed whilst Rahul Gandhi is an “innocent Kid”!! and who can set aside a visibly lost Sanjay Dutt at the beck and call of His Master-the one and only Amar Singh!!
And now a look at the manifesto. By the way, a manifesto means a public written declaration of Principles, policies, objectives. I am stating these because I want you all to note that it is a matter of Principles and Policies. Now, what is the general policy of the politicians and the parties on the manifesto itself? We all know that a manifesto is probably concealing more than it is revealing!! The main “agenda” is always the hidden agenda!! No manifesto reveals the hidden agenda and this is the main agenda. As a matter of fact, I am of the belief that the manifesto is designed to conceal the hidden agenda!! It is doctored in such a way so that it may appear as a declaration of policies to compete the others and at the same time reveal nothing of what will actually be done. But when parties spring promises like foodstuff at Rs 2.00/Kg, then we know for sure that the national economy is going for a toss!! Such sops should make the voter more alert. From where will the money come? At what cost will this be subsidized? But the manifesto of the BJP did reveal a lot than they normally do. Firstly, we now know that the Congress was correct in not tying up with the other parties for a pre poll tie up. The more candidates one fields, the more the chances of getting a higher tally in the final analysis. And this is what will give one the clout. That, probably was the reason why Congress allowed Laloo and co to go their way and they are free to contest all the seats in Bihar and UP. BJP has followed suit. Hence, a separate manifesto for the BJP after two elections sans a party manifesto. So, at the end of the day, NO party has any REAL prepoll alliance even if they pretend to have one!! Sharad Pawar proving my point.
I appreciate Amir Khan who has been promoting the idea that one MUST vote. Indeed, yes. This is a very crucial election for modern India. If in this elections we see an unprecedented voting % , we would know that the citizens have understood their responsibility. And this will bode,augur,portend well for modern India. Yes, we must vote intelligently and honestly. We must make it a point to give our best shot. In my earlier posting I had mentioned the need for a deep discussion before voting. I am also aware that money will be splashed all around to “buy” the voter. Many will succumb.But some will not. I am only hoping that those who stand by their Principles and honesty and vote intelligently and purposefully will be higher than ever before.
I would read all the manifestos. After that, delete those promises that look empty and dishonest. The see what is left. Now, I would add my wisdom gathered from past experience. Will this candidate/party work for national unity and progress ? What past does he carry? What potential does does he/she show? What “hidden” agenda could be carried by the candidate/party ?
It is time we vote by our conscience. Let us put a value to our vote. Not in terms on money but in terms of importance, in terms of how it can affect our future directions. This is vital for our future. Indeed, the rural voter may be misled as he is considered gullible and vulnerable. But I get the hunch that the rural voter has just about woken up. And along with the more enlightened urban voter, he will help to turn the tables. Let us ensure that we create a sort of a “voting circle” where we make a group of friends. Each individual takes the responsibility of taking another 10-20 people to vote. If for example we create 100 voting circles in an area and each circle ahs at least 50 members, the we are looking 5,000 members. Each ensuring at least 15 voters then we are talking of about 45,000 voters! See the power of the Voting Circle? And as a bye product, we ensure higher awareness and scrutiny of the candidates
We might just about see many Meera Sanyals, Captain Gopinaths, Mallika Sarabhais in the parliament.

We the People-We the Indians have to rise!

It is not nice to break a promise and I hate to be the one doing so! I had thought of keeping mum on the shortcut politician-Varun G. But I am driven to despair. I am distraught at the turn of events as I see a gloating galaxy of the saffron brigade throttle the essence of democracy and ethics . And Ravi Shankar has the audacity to call this as the “noise of democracy”! Indeed, when we slit the jugular vein of democracy, there has to be at least the noise! Give me a break! What we see on the 28th of March is a blatant throat slitting of our very fabric of existence-undiluted and pure democracy. And who is to blame??
It is pathetic to see how sectarian hatred is being cradled by the crass politicians. Senior politicians were rushed to Pilibhit to ensure a huge crowd prior to the arrival of the Prince of Hindutva. Efforts were made to ensure that the whole scenario is like the home coming of the chivalrous son! The son who has conquered the demon that threatened the entire humanity.
Political parties that indulge in such ventures should be damned by the voter. We live in the Modern era of progress and development. We nurture dreams of being a super power. We challenge others to debates like the US. Our new generation aspires to conquer the world. But nothing of this is going to happen till as long as politicians continue to thrive on human divide based on caste, religion,region or language. Honestly speaking, our dreams will remain a dream because we are not in charge of our own destiny. We have given it in the hands of those who live for themselves. We are naïve to think that we can scale the Mount Everst when we cannot even cross the road for ourselves. We the People, are incompetent, incapable and devoid of zest and spirit to achieve. We the people, are in our Child stage and show no signs of going into the Adult stage. We allow thugs to prosper and then cry , “Bachao..Bachao”. what an Irony!! So near and yet so far! India has the potential but the one billion strong people of India have been made to grovel by a few!! Not a single Obama amongst the Billion??Search…my dear..search yourself.
Ah! Let me dry my tears and come back to the reality of the day. I read somewhere that Varun G says, “ I will not compromise on my principles” Bally ho! The world today has changed no doubt and so has the dictionary. Principles…what does it mean today? Certainly not Morality, ideology, ethics, values, integrity, virtue or honour!!
And coming back to the young politician in a hurry, if my memory serves me right, I remember that the young hate spewing fella has earlier denied that the voice was his. Correct me if my memory fails me for I think he said on various platforms that the CD was doctored? Right? Well, now, please tell me what is his stand? Does he claim that what were being shown on the CD are not his thoughts and words? If that is true, then why all this drama about principles? Utter rubbish! If what he said in the CD is said by him and he accepts it, then yes, we could say that the fella has stuck to his guns!! The irony is that on one hand he DENIES any hate speech and at the same time wants the poor, ignorant, gullible Indian voter to believe that he ACTUALLY said it! Double game…Double dealing and looking for a Double Whammy!! Got me?
The Party and the fellow are both cahoots in this nefarious game that could spell disaster and innocent lives will be sacrificed. We need to contain before the rot sets in. The hydra headed monster of communal divide is capable of latching on like a leech. It will suck and gnaw at the vitals of our thriving secular ideals. We the Indians, shall hang our heads in shame as nations will speed past us in the race for a super power. The monster should be contained by We the people- We the Indians. If blood spills over in the streets of Pilibhit or elsewhere…WHO will be responsible?? If even a single innocent life is sacrificed…whose conscience will we appeal to? And all for what? To get one guy into the parliament?
We the people need to rise. We the Indians need to Act. Today. Tomorrow may be too late. And yes, this is not about any single individual or a single party. This is against those , regardless of caste, colour, creed or religion, region, who attempt to trample our nation- Mera Bharat Mahaan.
I wonder if Mayawati , Mulayam and Sonia Gandhi could reverse the dice? Le them field a SINGLE candidate against Varun. And then let him have it!!

Nip the monster in the bud!

It runs in the blood. It is the upbringing. Deadly combo of genetics and environment.
Seems easy to sum it up when it comes to describe the recent hate spitting attitude of Varun Gandhi. I would say unequivocally that the problem lies in the mother. Yes, Menaka Gandhi probably lost out when the little fellow was still in his short pants.
Dad Sanjay was no saint. On the contrary, he was seen closer to the devil than to Mother Teresa. And his escapades are all too well documented and preserved. The lad has probably inherited some of the genes-some visible now…more at a later stage!!. Rest added by the environment.
The speech delivered by Varun reflects poorly not only on the guy but his family. One learns the basic lessons of etiquette from the family. The public picture is a reflection of ones personal basics. Ma Baker…oops sorry..Ma Menaka should have drilled some fundamental truths in the young man before he started venturing outside his house. Once outside, the Satan took over. Varun needs to be told clearly that that is not expected of the great grandson of Jawahar Lal Nehru. His rich heritage has taken a bashing today.
Varun is a spoilt brat, we all knew that. But when his Mama(uncle) confirmed it, it was sad. According to the Mama, the guy has been targeting not only the Muslims but the Sikhs also!! And why when his mother is one?? He feels that since his grandma was shot by the Sikhs , all Sikhs need to be hated and picked upon. Indeed a pity.
And look at the damage one irresponsible speech of his has done? The nation could face a situation where lines could be drawn on communal lines. An immature 29 year old foolish and impetuous character could be opening another box of hate and venom. And for what? What does he gain? A possible seat in the parliament? He needs to be told that the route he is opting for is treacherous and risky and could even lead him into political wilderness rather than the parliament. As he said, “ I am a Gandhi, a Hindu and an Indian- in equal measure”. Why the need to stress the triangle? Saying that I am an Indian would have been good enough. But his inclusion of Gandhi and a Hindu first belies that he is Indian the last!! So much for patriotism!! By including Hindu in his statement he proved that he is on the hindutva agenda. Normally, I would not even notice the tilak on the forehead- it a sign of sagacity . But after hearing his poisonous, venomous, malicious and noxious outburst, suddenly the screaming tilak became a very integral part of the whole scheme. Aggressive , no holds barred Hindutva.
And the Election Commission needs to act. Not just bark. But bite too. Send a clear message to one and all. India does not tolerate those who sow the seeds of hatred and division. Yes, irrespective of lineage and/or party. Even the political parties should set their own moral and ethical codes. No party should allow politics of hate, division. Nation comes first. Candidates can spar with their opponents, their parties. Expose their incompetence. But we stop when national honour comes in. Nation division not allowed at all.
The citizens of India need to dump such characters without any emotions. And the press and TV channels need to do the same. No footage at all. Blank out such people who dare to split and maul our Mother India. They feel like national personalities….all over the headlines!! This brings pleasure to them. Let us stop giving them satisfaction.
The voters should trample all those who fight the ugly way. The lava of hatred should be returned back to the sender. Let him burn in his own doings. Indian voter needs to wake up to those creepy characters who are bereft of values, principles and values. The voter should punish such people by exposing them in totality. They should not only ensure their defeat at the hustings but the margin of defeat should make them bow their heads in shame.
And yes, God willing, this will be my first and the last piece on the son of Sanjay and Menaka Gandhi

Jago bharat waseeyon-Vote intelligently and honestly

Jago bharat waseeyon

The elections bugle has been blown. General elections will be the focus in almost all walks of life…from the politician to the common man in a dhaba…all will be airing their expert opinions as what shall be the post elections scenario!! That, my dear, is typically India.
It is time that the voter gives a serious thought to the elections. It should not be considered just an exercise of a right to vote. We should go well beyond that and look at it as a responsibility to elect our representatives who will not behave like ruffians in the parliament, but like those who will be gifted with some integrity and honesty with and dash of competence.
What we must be fully aware of is that each political party is there to scavenge any advantage that they can. Ruthless are they-All. They are with a single agenda and that is self fulfillment. Today we are loaded with the stark reality that politicians and their parties are very fickle minded and are prepared to select partners as selectively as a sex worker-usher in one who pays…..
Be it the big political parties or the smaller regional parties, they are all devoid of principles and values. They have no compunctions in dropping or picking alliances. All the while, the interest of the nation is placed on the back burner. You and me, the voters, have to wake up. We have to become mature and discerning. We should convert the whole game into a game where the voter actually decides. Get me? We must stop behaving like puppets who go and vote for whomsoever we are told. And we should also not be sold. Petty amounts have bought our right of responsibility.
And yes, do look at the role at the centre played by the regional parties in the past. Have they been an asset or a hurdle? Each demanding their own pound of flesh at just the wrong time. Would it be better to have a single large party in the center or a coalition of just two or three…a badly fractured mandate normally ushers instability. Let us avoid this at all costs. We all know if multiple parties are involved in government formation, then decision making is hampered and is of poor quality. We should have distinct benchmarks for legislative and parliament elections. We should not be averse to vote for one party at the centre and another in the state.

Jago bharat waseeyon. Do not waste your franchise. Be judicious. Spend time with your friends, family and deliberate. Le there be a calculated decision when you vote. Judge the party, judge the candidate, judge his past and project his future. Refuse to be carried away by emotions and airy fairy promises. When one goes to marry his daughter, he looks at so many aspects before a decision is made. Afterall, the daughter’s future is at stake. Our nation demands the same attitude when we vote.
Remember, the Parliament is a sacred institution. Send only those who deserve. They will build our India of tomorrow.
You, will be responsible for a what befalls upon us in the days to come.
Let us follow the following:
• Study the candidate
• Study the Party
• Evaluate
• Decide
• Vote

Indian Business Colleges dig deep

Indian Business Colleges dig deep

Recently I had the experience of running from college to college. Literally, yes, in the big bad world of the humongous Delhi! The alluring Business colleges. And this because my daughter worked hard and secured a rather handsome score in her CAT exam. Believe me, after the harrowing experience that I went through, I asked my daughter as to why did she score so high!!
Let me zero in to the basic issue. Most Management Colleges require the latest CAT score for admission. So, one has to appear in the exam. So far so good. But, the issue that burns though the pockets of the students is the filling of the forms. Again, two issue here. One is the high fee( Rs 1000-1500) of the forms and second is that each college has a last date for form collection and a last date for submission. If one does not collect or submit before their stated deadline, then kaput, finish. The student is not eligible. Even till here things are acceptable. And who can object to ones rights of last dates?
Well, the problem stems when you notice that almost ALL the colleges have last date for submission well before the CAT results are announced!! Why, pray, should this be?
Would it not be reasonable to presume that the last dates should be AFTER the CAT results? What do you think? Before or after?
I say AFTER. It stands to logic that the last dates should be only after the results. But then, there is the commercial angle. The colleges capitalize on the element of uncertainty. Yes. Uncertainty. The student is not sure of what score he/she will get. So, the child goes and fills as many forms!! Much more than he would do if the choice was to fill forms after the CAT results!
Wherever I called enquiring about forms, I was greeted with a combo of arrogance and a cold attitude. Probably suggesting that this fellow has the audacity to ask about forms at this of the year! The time when they are counting the moolah raked off the poor students!
Let us look at this whole issue from a macro angle. Each good college, I am told, gets around 10,000 forms. Each form costs around 1500. Each college thereby generates Rs 15000000!!!! Mind boggling??!! Now you understand the reason why this racket of forms to be filled in advance!!! Preposterous! And the Govt. of Man Mohan Singh stands and twiddles its fat thumbs! The old worn our thumbs of Arjun Singh do not creak and groan for they may be well oiled!! Let us go further. There were around 2.74 lac students who appeared in the CAT. Let us say that half of them applied in 10 colleges. This generates Rs 206250000. Look at the way the government is allowing the colleges to suck crores of money from the UNEMPLOYED YOUTH!!
In a nutshell, each student forks out over Rs 15,000 ONLY for forms( other expenses like coaching etc are already a drain on the poor parents). The student community is milked of Rs 206250000. And all this even before he has paid the college fee which runs in lacs!!!
And finally, the SAT/GMAT scored that ones achieves in the US are valid for admissions for a substantial period. No forms dates…not hassles…no money sucking. You get a good score, then you apply to whichever university suits you.
Hope the grand old men of the government can hear this. The AICTE and the AIMA should stop cuddling up with the businessmen and address the issue honestly and immediately. The student, armed with his CAT score, should be allowed to approach the college he/she desires. The forms collection and submission dates should be well after the CAT results are declared. Please spare the students of frustration,agony and a financial drain.
But perhaps, I am asking for too much?

What’s in a name ?

Well, Shakespeare had no inkling about Raju’s Satyam. Or for that matter about our B Ramalinga Raju. But, if he had known Raju and his very rather scheming grey matter, he would have thought twice before coming out with, “What’s in a name”!!
Satyam means the truth. And indeed, behind the façade of Satyam, the most heinous “asatya” has been in operation! That kind of Asatya that has left thousands of investors wondering what has hit them. The bolt from the blue has taken the wind out their sails..both literally and figuratively. Investors were sailing high on the Satyam waves when all of a sudden a tsunami sucked them in and left them in deep despair. This scam has caught us with our “pants down”!! How? Not so long ago we had Chidambaram shouting from the roof top that our “fundamentals are strong” and here we see how “strong” they actually are!! The timing of the scam has added to the misery of both the ordinary man and the man known as Dr.Man Mohan Singh. I am reminded of a saying in Hindi,” Ghareebi mein anta geela”!! As if we did not have enough turbulence!!
Scams have happened before and shall happen again. That is the beauty of the human mind. It is fertile and easily corruptible. It is malleable and bends more easily than a fresh young sapling. And Ramalinga Raju was one more who succumbed to the glittering world of wealth. The head which once rode high knows not where to hide today. The man whose company(pun intended) was sought by one and all has to live by himself in a cell for convicts and criminals. Such is the twist of fate.
What bothers me is not the scam or its scale. But what really bothers me is that there was a systemic failure- fooling the Auditors, the Banks, the SEBI, the other watchdogs of the Stock exchange. And this is serious because in my opinion there will be many more Rajus lurking in the dark world of corporate corruption. Some will never be brought to book. Some will never be known to the world, having breached the systemic lines with such ease and dexterity. It is obvious that this scam is similar to the Mumbai massacre in terms of systemic failure. And like the sudden awakening after Mumbai, we need heads to roll and a new enthusiasm injected to ensure that Rajus of the future are either buried even before they are born or castrated to ensure impotency in corruption.
So many so called safe guards, so many procedures, so many checks and balances..where were they when Raju swung into action? How they collapsed at his feet as if they never existed!!! Let me not sound like Laloo, but allow me to borrow his style and language,’ Raju ka narco karaeeye”! Indeed, let us not sweep the matter under the carpet. It would be prudent to get to those who connived, in any manner. Dig out the other unscrupulous brains who are hand in glove in this scam. As some one wrote, “The father of all scams” should not be left to those who parrot, Law will take its course”. We have learnt by now, Law has no flow and takes no course. Law is as capable of taking the course of those who implement it.
So, let us not be idyllic in perspective but be proactive and aggressive and fish out the big and small fishes that swam along with Raju. Let us give “life” to the otherwise dead “andha qanoon”. A small question before I sign off, “ In your opinion, how many such scams are already gnawing our economy and we are blissfully unaware of them??

The Arabs need to approach the Trio –Sino Indo Soviet.

The Arabs need to approach the Trio –Sino Indo Soviet.

Palestinians in Gaza are being Bombed, Blasted, Battered and then Buried. But, Barrack Obama is silent. The shrieks of the dying Palestinian children elicit no response. No cognizance of the bloody blood bath. In his silence is a story of what would unfold in the future. He carries the baton passed on by Bush. Expect nothing from the man who famously said, ‘Yes, we can”. For the Middle East, it should be read as, “ Yes, we can. But we will not”. The writing was always there. Now the global impotent community can also see that. But their impotence prevents any action. Hungry, malnutritioned, weakened moving skeletons are battered with powerful bombs! Even the US made bombs and bullets would be shamed when confronting the falling and fragile Palestinian ! But not the world leaders as they twiddle with their thumbs while the blood bath ravages, battering humanity as never before in the annals of modern history. Though Obama is tight lipped, I do remember that the US official spokesman said something like Hamas needs to stop shelling the Israel territories. The spokesman looked ill at ease as he faced the camera. He knew he was talking utter rubbish or should we say, the Mother of all Lies!?. For those who may not know, Israel violated the truce on 5th of November when it fired inside Gaza. The Hamas returned the fire. Period. Let me quote Sara Roy who teaches at Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, “ Israel's siege of Gaza began on 5 November, the day after an Israeli attack inside the strip, no doubt designed finally to undermine the truce between Israel and Hamas established last June. Although both sides had violated the agreement before, this incursion was on a different scale. Hamas responded by firing rockets into Israel and the violence has not abated since then.”. The idea that Hamas has broken the truce is total hogwash aimed at only fooling the already fooled world. Israel’s offensive, the most brutal since 60 years, is designed as a preemptive kill. Having learnt the lesson from the battering they got at the hands of Hezbollah, the Israelis are taking no chances and this massacre is aimed at breaking the back of Hamas lest they develop into any threat. They instigated Hamas as they never wanted the truce to be extended. And it should not be forgotten that Hamas is a legally and democratically elected government in Palestine.
Gaza is a small tract of land, just about 42 Kms length and the width not exceeding 7-8 Kms at any place. And within this small land, there are 1.5 million people making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world. And then one remembers the US spokesman once again saying, “ We urge Israel to be precise and restrict civilian killings”! It’s like when spraying insecticide you wish the fruits are unaffected! The people in Gaza are trapped and Israel uses this to their advantage. One side there is the Sea, the other two sides is the border with the traditional Palestine and the last side has Egypt , who has conveniently closed the border. The battered Palestinian cannot escape the wrath of Israeli fire. He is in a huge Ghetto, cordoned off from all sides.
The New Year dawns…wonder what kind of a message the poor battered Palestinian would want to give to the world-“You danced all night to usher the New Year whilst we sat up all night in a corner waiting for the next bomb? Or for that matter, what New Year wishes would Obama/ Bush want to send to the dying? Happy Dying? We wish you quick and painless death? New Year awaits only those who fall at the feet of Pharon Ehud Barrack!
The Arabs need to review and sift the facts from dreams. For the last half a century the Arabs waited for the Americans to deliver. Let’s be fair, they tried, but could not. Some tried honestly but ran headlong into the “wailing wall” sympathizers and then seeing the risks involved, gave up. Today, the Arabs are at the crossroads. They know not where to go. Their own have also deserted them. Or rather “sold out” on them.
But there is hope. And I see the rising sun from the East bring the possibilities of a fair and just solution. But for this, the Arabs need to tighten the waist and be a little more pragmatic. America failed to provide succor. Europe had it’s own interest in ensuring that the Jews do not spill back to them, Hence half hearted efforts in providing just about some lip service and financial aid to the hungry battered Palestinian so that he continues to fight their war…and the poor Palestinian never knew that!!
America is on the wane. Gradually but surely, the internal problems will suffocate this once great nation- a pity that a nation of great people will be choked by the myopic and inefficient policy makers. The recent financial meltdown has shown their own vulnerability. India and China are the new emerging superpowers. Perhaps Russia may also rediscover some of its past glory and clout. And India has good and meaningful relations with Israel. The Arabs need to approach the Trio –Sino Indo Soviet. This has the most realistic chances of reaching to a solution which would be fair and just.
The Arabs should thank the Americans and the Europeans and then move over to the new Trio. And yes, since now the Green Buck is loosing it’s sheen and colour, oil should be sold in the currencies of those who are willing to play an honest and efficient peace broker. Again, why not look east for all the needs? I suppose it is fair to believe in, You scratch my back, I scratch yours”. If the Trio is going to be the honest big brother, then why not shift your purchase paradigms towards them? Look for all the needs from them. This ways, even they will be suitably motivated and reciprocate accordingly. Imagine Indian cars all over the Arab World? As a matter of fact, they already are, though in small numbers. Chinese and Russians can take a bigger share of the construction and other development segments. We can have all the consumer products from the Trio. And once in the region, then nations like Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan can also pitch in with their expertise. And all this will be great from the point of view of the Balance of Trade also. Greater self sufficiency in trade within the region. This requires steps at the Macro and the Micro levels. Micro means, you and me. Does it give you ideas? A step taken today is a step closer to destination.
The Arabs need to regroup and stop speaking in individual voices. They need to be one single roar..the great Arabian Roar…the roar of Salahuddin Ayuibi. The world order is fast changing. New paradigms are being forged and new visions are in the process of being made. Age adds maturity. Time ushers new equations. New equations bring new friends. Some old ones fall by the wayside. Some continue. Arabs should be more open to the East. The GCC and the others need to pick up the gauntlet. Take the first stride forward. Rest will follow. But the great question looming is “ Who will bell the cat”? Which enlightened nation will put up its hand and deliver? Which leader stiffens his sinews and gives the call? In my opinion, a win- win situation emerges as soon as the first step is taken.
For those who are keen to celebrate the New Year, the picture of Ahmed should make you think otherwise. Ahmed, once a man full two metres, was blown up in innumerable pieces in Gaza, and it took a long time to put him together before being put into the grave. Ahmed’s mother sits still. She has had the courage to be one of those who gathered her son together. She has stopped crying. Her eyes neither close not weep. But she has courage writ large on her face. She has not wailed or battered herself. She has vowed not to be cowed down as she looks as Ahmed’s younger brother- Mohammad, who is still to see puberty. She still nurtures a dream for Mohammad.
One Palestinian confided to me, “ We will never give up our land” and like the Martyred Rayyan, there is a great desire for martyrdom amongst the locals. It is rumoured that Rayyan was advised to leave his house and hide as the enemy was sure to target him, but he declined. He prayed for martyrdom for himself and his family. He got it.
I wonder when the Israelis and the Americans will realize-How do you fight a nation that loves martyrdom?