Politics of suicide

Ours is a strange society or is it only the politicians who can resort to any means to achieve their ends, I often wonder how can suicides be eulogised and venerated when it is a criminal offence . I am aware I will be branded insensitive upper caste bigot who doesn't understand the psyche of the dalits. Be that as it may even the so called sympathisers of their cause are all 'to the manor born ' themselves so the reason for their flocking around at such junctures is akin to vultures on the caracass. Pardon me as it may sound offensive but in reality that is exactly how it appears .

Deaths are tragic, suicides more so, a young promising life snuffed out whatever may be the reasons, it is sad and the need of the hour is to provide succour to the family and friends and not to politicise the issue . For a moment leave aside our political leanings aside and think dispassionately will this politicking help any one specially from the immediate family . Obviously no, they will be forgotten the moment media latches on to something else which will earn them their TRPs. Deja vu haven't we seen it all , enacted a thousand times.
So is media the culprit more specifically the electronic media or the politicians or are we to blame for allowing them to take us for a ride . I am sure we are all more than adequately informed of the facts of the case though in some cases these would be distorted and twisted to suit their respective interests . Could the university administration have taken a more benign and lenient view of the transgressions by these students can be debated ad nauseum . Whether these activities actually were transgressions or not should be left to the university authorities but prey aren't these institutions government funded . They are and the scholarships fellowships are all being provided by the government . Within such an institution should we permit a student body to openly espouse the cause of a terrorist who had been convicted by our own highest judicial body . Well we all are free to express our views but not when we are dependent on the largesse of the government itself . When we decide to take on the authorities then we ought to be prepared to face the consequences .
Imagine for a minute you are working for one of  the same media houses which are blowing these issues up and you go against the stated policies of the organisation , do you think they will spare you , you will be sacked then and there .
While there may be merits in Late Mr Rohit's arguments but to take the extreme step of committing suicide can not be condoned .
I am not sure if such acts are treated with kid gloves any where else in the world . Yes we are different as a people and consequently our societal values too are not akin to liberal democracies of the world.  Narrow minded caste driven voting patterns have systematically destroyed our democracy . I know very many of you will cringe at this statement of mine . But search your hearts and be honest to yourself and then look around our elected representatives very many of whom will not qualify for a peon's job in our own government what to talk of corporate . I am not so sure if Rohit belonged to one of the so called upper caste there would have been any reaction whatsoever . I believe that angle is also being investigated to establish the veracity of his dalit credentials.
I am digressing we were talking about our society which brings me to a very interesting observation , we have a tradition of "paryushan" amongst the Jain community where their elderly and saints voluntarily give up food and water intake and gradually pass away . In the ancient times we had the "sati" and "johar" both of which were essentially suicides . None of these acts bore any stigma instead they were hailed as courageous and sacrificial thus bestowing a moral ascendancy on such acts . I am not debating the merits or demerits of these acts but merely trying to study the impact of our psyche on our reactions in today's environment .
Euthanasia is still anathema  committing or abetting suicides is also a crime , do we need to introspect and address the root cause or wait on for another Rohit or even the  beleaguered farmers who have had to resort to this extreme measure due to extreme penury or the apathy of the government officials .

You asked for it Mr Chetan Bhagat

You asked for it Mr Chetan Bhagat I know you have been inundated by trolls, hate and abusive mails but did you honestly expect that the veteran community will be overjoyed at your rather immature take on this grave issue ? I am sure with your superior IIT IIM intellect and your calculating investment banker brain you knew better than that . Let us get into a rational logical you know the "use your head " debate . By now all your arguments have been smashed
to smithereens.   Do you realise that by this one act you have hurt and demeaned the one organisation which is your last resort ,your pillar to bail you out of all the morasses that men of  superior intellect, your ilk the  babus have got the nation into .
The only disciplined organisation which as an institution is revered by the countrymen for their acts of sacrifice and selflessness . So after these acts what do you expect from them to behave like the rest ..resort to strikes acts of vandalism . It is unfortunate that
our nation doesn't value its freedom ..you slight the soldiers today and expect and be prepared for debacles like 62 and worse ...

Maha Kumbh

We are typical middle class Indians, kumbh conjures an image of unimaginable crowds, mismanagement, filthy ghats , the jostling pandas and stupid fools participating in this chaos where naga sadhus and cattle rule the roost. That is precisely how I felt till a friend decided to take his mother for this holy dip. Initially even my reaction was the same predictable one and summing it up as even dangerous, why venture at such a place after all we aren't that religious either and our faith is also bound by our so called rational boundaries. When he returned triumphant, he was a different person, no it was not that he transformed as an individual, just a sense of fulfillment at having been part of an experience called the kumbh. So that was the motivation which spurred me into action. An event which the world awaits with baited breath , where India always proves its detractors wrong. We can't organise a commonwealth games but kumbh we do in our quietly efficient manner. Yes the occasional stampedes do occur but by and large we manage.
So here we were, parents and self; very bravely decided to embark on this  holy pilgrimage ...not sure of what awaited us . The first impression when we got off the train was itself such a sight .. a sea of mankind .. With great difficulty we managed to avoid stepping on the hundreds of people sleeping on the platform .
But we were yet to witness the ocean of humanity ..oh i have no words to describe it has to be seen to be believed ...and then the mighty Ganges herself beckoning us at the "Triveni Sangam" and then the holy dip with parents ..yes it gave a sense of fulfilment .
Once in a lifetime experience ..It needs to be a must do ..part of your bucket list .
Guess what we middle class  Indians are so scared but it is the firangis who are an inspiration for us . They not only visit but actually become a part of the kumbh in the real sense of the word ..a cosmos of its own

Train travail again

Train journeys are nostalgic , they invariably bring back memories of days of yore when this was the only means of long distance public transport which was affordable for the masses .  The long never ending travails when one was bound for the hostel in the initial days or the joyous ones when we were headed back home . Somehow over the years even the back to school became very cool . At certain intermediate stations friends joining up with lots to exchange not restricted to the delicacies cooked by our moms but also the other more interesting adolescents gossip girls movies parties etc .
Since trains had become an essential part of our lives the migration to air travel though very welcome but somewhere deep down one longed for those moments spent sitting at the stairs with wind gushing and occasional coal bits also smearing you with ash . A feeling which is unmatched as the  train is speeding away and you can silently just enjoy the sun set or watch the avian friends return to their nests or the sound of the  cattle bells in perfect harmony with nature .
This time after quite a while I was once again by myself in a train journey . Frankly i was not really quite enamored by the thought . The reasons are many firstly one has got used to flying which conserves time secondly over the years we have not been frequenting the railway stations and hence the crowded spaces andthe filth too have been avoided . Although that is where real Bharat is even at the cost of being a cliché .
The best part of the train journey is the interaction with the co passengers something which we  garrulous Indians really miss in the air travel where one has to be a snob because everyone else is . The exchange of seats / berths lower with upper or the highly avoidable side lower neat the entrance or exit of the coach all are typical phenomenon associated with these travels . Mind you train travels are not voyages they simply can't be so no bon voyages here , simply best of journey because that is what it is akin to life where each of us is undertaking  our individual journey .
So first we had to resort to an exchange of berths , a family had one berth alloted in another coach so naturally i was expected to move out which i dutifully did but landing up in that dreaded place right at  the exit . That was not all here there was another couple who had two seats on either side of the divide and once again i was expected to unite them on one side . Again i was the good samaritan. After the exchange of pleasantries the co passenger turned out to be an Army JCO's son presently working with FICCI. On further enquiries it emerged that he was an alumni of AMU and a Moslem. Sine FICCI is the nerve centre of the latest Make in India campaign  i was naturally curious to know whether there were any real changes or was it like business as usual . He explained that though they have not looked at any short term goals long term policies seem to be preparing the ground work for long term sustained growth . Coming from a FICCI person it was reassuring .
Yes why did i specifically mention his religion , it is so good to see and meet normal people else they are rather badly stereo typed.  His wife too was working with a US based MNC together they made an amiable couple . Yes they also had a domestic help traveling with them . She was apparently from their village . It was  heartening to see them treat her with lot of dignity and affection . In fact they shared a berth but she had a single one to herself .
Interesting ... In betweeni i managed to step out and stand at the gate enjoying the gush of warm wind though no coal ash any longer ........

Crossroads

Should we as a nation be scared of the future which appears gloomy right now or is there light at the end of the tunnel? That is a moot question, which majority of middle class India seems to be occupied with. We have had our fill of the “bak bak brigade” of Arnab, Rajdeep and Barkha and their ilk, their endless pointless and meaningless discussions do not interest us any longer. We are staring insolvency in the face a nation but our leaders(?) continue to squander our hard earned money and freedom on issues which even a no brainer can fathom as recipes for disaster. But politics is all about power at any and every cost, so if the nation goes bankrupt so be it, in fact suits the politicians even better to return to the “mai baap” days handing out doles.

The fourth estate and the so called pillar of democracy never cease to amaze me by their deliberate distortion of facts, pandering to their masters and in cahoots with their brethren. Gujarat 2002 is a pogrom but Delhi 84 is a riot, how does one define a pogrom, may I ask, where one community or the govt resorts to annihilation of another community, but wasn’t that the case in 84 when there was not a single case of retaliation by any Sikh, where as in Gujarat we all know there were killings of both communities although majority was Muslims. But then even if is known, it is a case of my riot is better than yours. But how long shall we harp on the same issue, and if we have to do that why not go back to 69 Ahmadabad or even further back at the time of partition. So let the ghosts be buried, I know the secular brigade will again be up in arms, but it is for the media to inform the public about facts and not what lies these politicians spread around. In fact, it is the single biggest failure of our media, where there are no informed debates. We have the same lot of spokespersons from political parties and also from the military brass as also former bureaucrats who are on their regular pay roll for typical sound bites. No wonder even the TRPs are nose diving and advertising drying up. So please innovate, we have almost 8-10 months to go for elections I am sure UPA won’t risk calling for an early election as they would like to milk even the last drop while they can, who knows, what circa 2014 will bring, especially with this Modi fellow, the outsider, a pretender, who might just romp home....

Frankly I wouldn’t mind even a Mayawati as the PM, but there should be a change we can’t have another five years of disaster in the form of our worthy incumbent and his puppeteers.

I know we have sinned and thus the suffering of this last decade but now the time has come for deliverance, our penance must bring fruits. I only hope so.......

Symptoms or the Disease

Symptoms or the Disease

Ram Singh, one of the five main accused in the infamous Delhi Gang Rape case committed suicide as reported in the electronic media today. While many of us would have felt a sort of satisfaction at this gory end of such a heartless individual, there are many who would feel, he actually deserved to be hanged and he should not have succeeded in his attempt. Knowing our judicial system there would be a few who may feel, he may have even finally avoided the noose, so good that we have got rid of such a monster. The issue has again brought to fore, the “bak bak” brigades on the idiot box, who would wax eloquent on the issue and go on and on with all the rehearsed dramatics to go with it. They all miss the core issue though, treating the symptom rather than the disease itself. Have fool proof laws, scrupulously implement them, police reforms, awareness campaigns like “Dilli meri hai” and so on, yes all these are measures which will help but will our mindset change. That is the core issue, the objectification of women in every walk of life is what needs to be addressed.

The mindset of most common Indians suffers from the same medieval beliefs where women were subjugated and dominated. Even today we have not evolved from that stage, women empowerment is only being paid lip service. While middle class India is justifiably horrified at such unfortunate incidents, merely being horrified will not help. We each one of us must introspect, look within, how do we treat the women in our own sphere. Merely decking them up with jewellery or permitting (mind you it is permission!) them to dress up in a trendy fashion is not being liberated.

Remember these crimes are committed everywhere in the world, even in the so called first world countries, where women enjoy a much better status than here in India.

So how do we clean the stables, is the moot question. The answer lies in the right education and value system. Please recall the movie “Damini”, the 90s movie where the whole family of the accused was trying to save him, even at the cost of declaring their daughter-in-law insane. Her husband also permitted himself to be coerced into being a party to their evil design. More recently, “No one killed Jessica” also followed the same pattern. It is not fiction, these stem from our very strong family values, good thing otherwise, but in these circumstances, it is the major weakness. “My family right or wrong” is the age old dictum we swear by. Bitti Mohanty case where the ex DGP Odisha himself has been accused of helping his son jump parole and live under a false identity. The lawmakers and the bigwigs are not affected, most of them enjoy Z class security or have their own bodyguards. So we will continue to feel remorse when we hear of such cases, hoping and praying that our family members do not end up as victims.

Treat the disease, we must inculcate the right value system in our children. But how do we spread this awareness in those households where they are still convinced that women are actually second class citizens and need to be kept under the thumb. This has to be a revolution not the bra burning women’s lib variety but home grown with spiritual and moral education through schools colleges, NGOs, electronic and print media all have to play a stellar role to eradicate this monstrosity from our lives. 

Why are we so emotional by nature?

Why are we so emotional by nature? Is it because our “EQ”, as it is referred to these days, is genetically in the lower strata or is it something else? God only knows! But every time we go for a movie and especially when it happens to be “Tare Zamin Par”, it is a rarity to find a single dry eyed person. Ladies of course take the cake here with unashamed tears rolling down; very often you can hear them sobbing even. In the sixties and seventies, a tear jerker was a surefire formula to get the ladies trooping in, especially in the matinee shows. Thankfully those days are long past! But we Indians are governed by the heart, more than the mind; this is a universally accepted fact. Normally it is the feminine gender which is associated with sentimentality and the “the species from Mars” is supposed to be pragmatists with the mind ruling over the softer heart. But here these emotions can actually have rather exaggerated and disproportionate reactions, as was recently on display in the controversy “down under”. Yes we probably ended up on the wrong side of the stick; in fact some of it was quite blatant, but nationwide protests calling for the heads of all and sundry. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, people cutting across political, regional, language divides were competing with one another in proving their brand of patriotism. Yes isn’t it a treat to see the likes of Arun Jaitley, Farooq Abdullah, Lalu Yadav and Sharad Pawar singing in the same breath, how I wish , the same could be true for something more meaningful such as the Nuclear Deal or may be even the reservation imbroglio. But we haven’t really looked into our unreasonable emotional responses. There could be a number of issues, one of course comes from our colonial hangover, any discrimination brings out the satygrahi in each one of us. We feel victimized, sometime genuine sometimes just conjured up. Or it could be the stage of development of the society, the developing world perceived to be the underdogs and thus the charged environ. But then we have always been proud of our rather rich spiritual legacy and we lose no opportunity to flaunt it in the face of the decadent and debauched west. If we are the true inheritors of that legacy, shouldn’t we be concentrating on larger issues rather than precipitating a crisis which was about to acquire diplomatic overtones. Protest yes, taking a stand by all means, but here the focus of the team should on its performance, the resolve should be to give it to them on the field in equal measure, which on paper we have always been capable. Or maybe, we have suddenly become aware of our newly acquired financial muscle, we know can arm twist, brow beat the ICC into submission, secure in the knowledge that financial capital of world cricket is Mumbai. I will leave the readers to guess and make up their minds, because obviously there are no right answers here!!