An angry sahensha...

Note - views expressed here are personal and in no way does the writer envisage this to be taken as a critically proclaimed debate. The writer also otherwise, expresses high respect for the people mentioned directly or indirectly in this post.


To equate popularity with quality always borders on the contempt about the gross negligence meted out to genius creativity. And with due respect to everybody, some recent remarks about the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” falls in that category.

It is of no wonder that Bollywood continues to be ignored at almost all major awards ceremony and yet they keep crying hoarse about such behavior without looking into the merit of such actions. It also smacks of childish nonsense to invoke national pride for such ignorance. To make such allegations without taking into account the reasons could only mislead the huge followers.

To be very honest, any true follower of world cinema would agree that around the globe, this medium speaks only one language – and that is about creative brilliance which is not only original in its presentation but also exceptional in all creative forms associated with the movie making. And in that sense, without falling prey to jingoistic nationalism, Bollywood movies pale out as a distant “also ran”. It is not that we do not have momentary brilliance, but we lack cinematic culture and nuances to understand such a language.

A great movie could always be popular, but the argument is not always true in other way.

Some unwanted comments about Ray’s movies being given better recognition only showcase complete ignorance. A master story writer himself, Ray not only engineered the art of movie making, but brought a complete package of complex emotional, musically superior and vividly refreshing collage. In fact, to counter the point about reality, movies which were made out of fantasies by him turned out to be even better in terms of cinematic jurisprudence. To claim an escapist colorful massala equivalent to a creatively made biriyani does not speak highly about the speaker’s intelligence.

A good movie (not a preconceived mass entertainer) would definitely contain an excellent script, wonderful soothing music (not song, unless it is absolutely necessary) and creative cinematography. Alas, barring a few ones, Bollywood is yet to understand such logic. It requires a literary mind and a knowledgeable head to understand the length and depth of any movie to be made.

A movie keeping everyone in mind could only be a commercial hit, but it would be wrong to expect favorable critic review for the same.

With all its positives and negatives, Bollywood has its own market and target segment and which unfortunately does not determine the prestigious awards. Till such times when they understand the language of the world cinema or money power forces nominations (which, to an extent, could might as well be true now), Bollywood has to be contend with off the track retrospectives or television coverage catering the NRI audiences.

But, to accuse others about their high handedness in not recognizing some pot boiling massala entertainer as a narration of cinematic language only opens up the Pandora’s box. It smacks a case of grapes being too sour.

For you Mr.Ambasta...Post MBA syndrome

For the past few months time has been flying away and mind finds it extremely difficult to concentrate on any single entity, be it spiritually motivating or sensually intoxicating. However boring that sounds I could guarantee that some part of it was really called for. After 2 years of may-be may-not-be grinding that we went through this break was greeted with a vigor that went for a toss for the best part of the past years. Having said that we are again back to routine office-work-no work-time pass-TV-sleep cycle of eternity. Only now could we value of what we have left in Mumbai.

Some of my extraordinarily talented friends have already started to utilize their free or not so free time by posting extremely enjoyable yet provocative blogs on matters covering from head to toe yet beyond comprehensive ability of mere mortals. However I, as usual, being a left liberal, could not miss a chance to hog media light ("media" - in our own space) and reasoning about what are my stakes in the matters waving across the Indian subcontinent.

The most heartening as well as subjudice matter has been the so called "hyper active" judiciary. This 3rd and possibly the most independent arm of Indian democracy has taken upon itself to cleanse whatever debris has been deposited in the political and legal space of modern India. However, this has come along with the suspicion of eventual high ground that judiciary holds. Even if the general public has welcomed this, the political class predictably has started defending their turf vigorously. The question remains for the long run. I know for sure, at this juncture, an independent and transparent judiciary remains our only savior - but for how long? In a democracy, the role of courts are bounded by the constitution itself and even the most ardent friend would vouch for its supremacy. I guess, the solution remains within us. To know ourselves , to organize ourselves better and to equip ourselves better for a tougher tomorrow is what I ask for. Irrespective of all the independence that we got, we are yet to fathom the enormous responsibility that our democracy puts on us. The canvass is dirty but erasable only if we could produce a forceful eraser.

The next big thing is unrest across India about religion as well as caste. India is clearly divided on these things along predictable lines. The danger is, as I have already commented is the lack of responsible shoulder who is educated enough to remain rational. With every incremental independence comes added responsibility which we conveniently bypass for our own convenience causing irreparable damage to the society at large. Be it a common man breaking law or a celebrity doing certain things for whatsoever intentional or unintentional cause - the result is the same. For the celebrity, only the affected horizon of landscape gets broadened. Hence, exercising restraint is important. Especially in a country like ours with half a billion illiterates and equally numbered educated lampoons the role of a celebrity becomes that much important. It’s the difference between a fault done by a follower or a leader. However, having said that, the idea is to try and distance ourselves from such religious inebriates in the long run. I know some of my friends might not agree with this, but as long as we are not able to put a wall between private religion and practising virtues, we remain vulnerable to political maneuvers. From Punjab to Rajasthan, from TN to Maharashtra everywhere I see the same story repeated time and time again to my horror. This only shows the importance of believing the fact that "religion is for human and not the other way round".

The sooner we succeed in this the better for us.

The last point remains a very personal observation which we have always ignored. Last weekend, out for a SP get together, I came across a girl child selling flowers. This is a common scene across our motherland and the contrast she brought to those lighting's and bright canvass threw up some uncomfortable questions. If GDP is surging ahead, if we all are earning probably 10 times more than an average income, how is it that we fear to face these little angels. I thought of buying some flowers she was selling only to realize that I am a bit hesitant in reaction. For me, everything else about India and its shining armoury are baseless till we could bring a perpetual smile on such faces. Religion or no religion, caste or no caste my crusade remains the same.

Only and only if my countrymen could face this naked mirror. Amen!!!

Racism - here,there and everywhere...

These days my reading habits are on the wane. Its been a long time since I have given a considerable amount of day time to any book and had rather confined myself to unproductive, selfish but refreshing sleep. Technology, namely Internet, has been the sole companion to make me worthless (not in terms of information though) abuser of time. During these testing periods I came across so many wonderful creations (read writings) of my fellow friends (believe me they have extraordinary power of writing, god knows when they will write a book !!) that sometimes I gave a miss to a heartbeat. How I wish I could express myself so freely. The delight has been purely individual and the writer doesn't take any guarantee of wholesome entertainment.

One such post, deals with certain certainties in our lives and ends on a perfect note of questioning. Are we a racist? I am only trying to take a cue by exploding the term from its literary meaning.

What is race ? - "People who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock". If we leave out the term genetic and then replace it with something else (say age or mindset) then how much does the meaning change? A debatable question I guess. So, lets debate.

The person, who is not a racist is either a Satan or medically frantic. Only these two races, I guess would not fall in the said category, rest everybody does. Why so? Why it is that I am hell bent on criticising and sledging the whole mankind? Because I am totally mad and insane.

A child, before he/she is born, spends almost 9 months in mother's womb. After growing up, the umbilical chord starts to weaken - in the name of modernization, in the pursuit of independence or for that matter under the pressure of career. We have globalized families but localized mindsets. So, if parents are a race (and I believe they are and that too an endangered one) we all are a racist. We are a racist of the highest order who have no time for their own genes.

A husband, an educated person with a successful career, leaves his family in the lurch or in the mid sea because they are incompatible with his lifestyle. If he is famous and celebrity then media runs a business on the scoop, if he is ordinary like you and me nobody cares. Either way, the family is neither benefited nor saved. Legal processes only prolongs the death or strangles the darkness. So, if family is a race, these people are racist. A racist of god knows what order - doesn't even spare his - you know what.

A modern society - a great lifestyle and independent mind. It has no time for losers, no humanity for "also ran" communities. The gap between the winner and the contestants is like black hole - It can only absorb and absorb. Infinite input and no output.Those who are left behind are bound to fall in the well. If they start screaming for help - shoot them down, scandalize them or laugh at them by saying they are incompetent for the competition. The best publicity comes if you pity them. You hold seminars, you organize charities and say hundred good things but do nothing. Even if you couldn't manage hell you will surely manage a Nobel peace prize. So, every individual in a society is a racist - a racist who doesn't want to be in a crowd but wants to be alone at the top.

A girl, in her teens, eloped with her boyfriend and it became an instant news. The family hits back - criticizes her, yells at her and even curses their beloved daughter - but could do nothing. The neighbours, till unnoticed and unknown jumps into act. They do everything possible to make life hell, create mountains out of nothing and starts pronouncing judgements. The verdict is out - the sinner girl must die. The girl is unrelenting for saving her love (even though she says she cares for her parents too) - so parents pay the price. Eventually all die or commit suicide - society makes sure of that.So, all such neighbours in the society are - you know what.

God is great - god is always right. God only helps those who are just and in the quest of truth. If the intention is correct and you are on the right side of god - doesn't matter what you do - you would be saved. Such are the sayings in the epics, such are the sayings in the religions. Whatever god does to save right has to be right even if it is apparently not - we are not enlightened enough to understand what he does. So, god, who only favors his protege can do anything to save him/her. The losers may fight it out in the highest court but the verdict could change hardly in favor of them.

So, all said and done - we all are racist. You are so, your neighbours are so, your husband is so, your wife is so, society is so, I am so and above all HE is also so. Racism is omnipresent, omnipotent albeit ambivalent. A Brahman is a racist as well as a Sudra. Then where do we go from here? Do we revolt or should we continue the process of dialogue? Should we kill or get killed?

For me there is only one answer - either we change or perish, because a winning Satan might not be as graceful as Shilpa.

Happy Republic Day...

Good morning my dear fellow readers..Happy Republic day to all.

Today is 26th of January, Republic day, as it is known or called all over this beautiful country, India. Long before or not so long before (as one would like to view time and history) in 1950 India became a sovereign, democratic,secular and republic country on this particular day through the constitution and stepped on the journey of becoming a nation.

Almost 56 years have passed till date and we are still a developing country. I don't know the starting point of our journey and to minimize our combined embarrassment would love to believe that we have really progressed in these years. There are questions unanswered, problems galore and remarkable aplomb in the political and academic fraternity of our motherland. Rape, riot, resurgence of divisive power, child mortality and sponsored or unintentional social clash are daily dosage dished out of all news makers (be it news channel, newspaper or intellectual discussion), good enough to force citizens think about their future more than living in the present. With the help of technology (in this we are called the backbone or back end processing center of the world) the world has shrunk into our drawing rooms and sensitized souls start agitation even at the disturbing news out of bedroom of some foreign celebrity. We now live in a globalized, wireless ,ruthless and professional world where even every step of an innocent child can lead to death.

As we are stepping more into the uncertain future and enjoying neglecting past,we are pushing our social and emotional boundary to the hilt. Retaliation, as and when it comes would not be a pleasing battle. As my immature and slightest brain (if I have any) suggests - education, social thread, political maturity and cultural vibrancy are the four pillars on which progression of a nation lies. Economics, as most of us would suggest, could be the greatest force iffy politics allows it a level playing field. Alas ! like most of the other cases, theory and application differ widely and economics remain a drunkard servant of national and international politics.Enough paper had been wasted about the horrendous state of our national and regional politics and its impact on our country. Hence, I wouldn't repeat those. Instead I would focus on the other three which remain in the realm of common citizen of India.

Education, as of today is a mockery of what it was envisioned by our great forefathers and anybody trying to extract anything other than money out of this would face a doom's day. Such brutal and inhuman has been the battle for earning money,sometimes I think RBI could fall short while printing them. An education devoid of character, without connection to the root of the society is churning out efficient money making intellectuals to compound the already disturbed country. But, as most of us would say, its happening worldwide and in a globalized era how can we shield ourselves? If with a history of more than 3000 years and independence of more than 50 years we are not able to defend our backbone then are we strong enough to survive?

The other two pillars are interconnected and hence could be discussed in a single span.In a wirelessly connected village, the urge of reaching out has narrowed down and technology has ensured our paralysis - both physically and mentally. Since we are technologically advanced we require less of human touch and more of money to have exclusive access to better technology. We have annual riots and monthly anniversary of mass killings (we have devised innovative ways in this - starting from stampede in a fair to recent example of Nithari), we concentrate more on fashion and celebrities than suicide of farmers and we take pride in the fact that we have a colourful and ethnic "Bollywood" combined with a national alcohol called cricket. Its a debate that if the money power is taken out of these professions then would India die out of starvation or innovate itself to some other national past time. We know our competitors better than our friends, spend more time in devising strategy to outperform our neighbor on materialistic scale and if unsuccessful, blame everybody else to conspire a defeat of a just and meritorious human being. We fear riot only if it happens in our city and discuss about famine and poverty till we enjoy the luxury to watch a massala at the nearest multiplex. Not knowing the latest chart hits on MTV is a shame and discussing old hindi or regional songs are hallmark of a backdated, narrow minded person. It's not a problem if we don't know the details of our literature but would be a catastrophe if we can't keep our self updated with "current affairs". We strongly believe that we are the best as long as the theory is not challenged and at the slightest suspicion board an outbound flight for better future.

May be, this is what they call "Better than the best".

Am I a cynic who always hides in the negatives and fears that even slight optimism could wash away all of the theories and beliefs of our great past? Am I being too idealistic and nonsensical in my demand of a reflective society?

I am weak in both mathematics and accounting to understand the cost-benefit analysis of progression vis-a-vis respect for humanity, both in theory and practice.

I hope, the next Republic Day ushers a foundation for a better and poised India.

Multiplier effect**

In the economics when we discuss about spending and savings an interesting effect of these comes out - namely "multiplier effect". This ensures that the effect of spending or saving gets multiplied many times so that its good and bad effects are also multiplied thereby ensuring progression of an economy. As we come to the end of 2006 and look back at the past probably this multiplier effect (henceforth designated as MF) is present everywhere in the society and like money multiplier, gets spread over the whole humanity.

As through the evolutions and revolutions we have progressed to a more modern and liberal society we have gained immense knowledge. This weapon, as gets spread has its own MF. It has multiplied the weight of educated society, the boisterous views on traditionalism, the division between the educated and the uneducated, the economy and above all the character and mind of the people living on earth.
Education, in most cases, brings money (there are exception, like India) and money brings contempt. The contempt multiplies in the society with the multiplication of money and education and helps in the division of humanity. Again this division has its own MF. Depending on which side of the battlefield you are fighting, your power of MF varies and also brings out its own characteristics as well as "moments of truth".
Liberalization has always been accompanied by its twin called democratic progression (India again was an exception till some time before, not now) and carried its own MF. With democracy came the power of majority, with majority came the scathing knowledge of deciding "in larger interest of humanity" and with this knowledge came the absolute adjudicating power of proclaiming who are "with us or against us". Like all other rules, this MF also has some exceptions but again that exception has its MF. The exception multiplied in numbers, in geography (as majority had to have a presence all over the globe) and widened its base to carry forward this tradition.
Religion, the biggest glue humanity has ever discovered, has its MF which is pronounced in every activity and belief worldwide.Every religion has its own pace of multiplying, multiplying the emergence of hard and soft liners, multiplying its presence in geography and thereby multiplying invasion. Invasion outclassed the natives, displaced and forced them to become invaders - thus creating a never ending circle of MF. This had an effect on history - invaders writing the history of the invaded land and producing only garbage for the future generation. This garbage of knowledge written by outsiders multiplied in creating numerous uprooted races who later created havoc by propagating the beneficial effects of their own society (which in first place was not theirs) which really speaking, never existed.
Law, the biggest messiah for the oppressed and distressed soul created the definition of lawful and unlawful cases. As time progressed, its MF was more pronounced in creating more unlawful society and once these people became majority then there was no stopping for them. Every flaw in the law created uproar in the enlightened society and multiplied it's effect in delivering innumerable historic judgements even before proofs were discussed in the court of law.Every thief created many more after being criticised by law, every scandal and scam became more popular after they came under scathing attack of law and one flawed law created many more - an extraordinary example of MF.
Last but not the least is the MF of a liberalised mind and soul. Every such soul gives rise to innumerable such others and a force to sustain this brute marching. As souls became more liberated they lacked humanity and power of rationality (quite natural as these poor souls have limited space for all these qualities and no wonder that liberty and education has taken the maximum leaving little for others) and one such fertile soul created many more. These mindless souls enjoy brutal deaths as well as holy wars, they conceptualize the downfall of someone and later desert them multiplying the number of such soul. Liberalized mind lacked tolerance and showed its MF in fragmented society (more known as nuclear family), a fragmented society created callous citizens and a self conscious social animal with an immense power of fertility.
Hence, the effect of those are what we are today and what we will create tommorrow.
In physics, we were taught that all matter always tries to be at its lowest state of energy and sociology later showed that the only exception of that rule is known as "Homo sapiens sapiens". Economics taught that multiplier effect is omnipresent and money market is probably the slowest example of that.However, there is only one fear lurking in the corner - called "conservation of mass". When the so called torch bearers of the MF crosses the critical mass, the atom bomb might explode any time, anywhere - wiping out the rest and spare a moment to think what lies ahead if conservation of mass" holds true.
Once more should physics lose to economics, but this time for the benefit of humanity and with a higher MF.

** The writer acknowledges the inspiration of this piece to a recent post in ibnlive blog.

Opportunism, Hypocrisy and Obiter dictum...

Once my mom asked me - "What do you think you enjoy by creating controversies and being on the other side when you know that majority is a force to be reckoned?"
I, like so many other times, to be very honest, was speechless and dumb enough to find no answer. Even after so many years I cannot fathom what my mom later told me - that it was only an "obiter dictum" and not something to be worried about. I was clueless at that time too.
As a child, like most of others in our motherland, I was taught to be rightful, justified and rational as well as humanatarian in all my actions which I perform consciously or unconsciously. But, as I grew and tried to balance the rope with finnesse I found it impossible to maintain a balance without rocking my own conscious mind. Even today, reasons and justifications come instantly from within even before I fathom what I have actually meant. That means anti establishment again and as my mom told me once - I take all these as an "obiter dictum".
My views, in most of the popular cases has been weird to say the least (that's what most of the people, who know me, say) and difficult to digest. My friends told me long back to shut my mouth up or face consequences which could be rather disturbing or unnerving to this pour soul. So I do practice that. I practice speaking less and not to speak unless forced to do so, I try not to pass any judgement consciously (though in the heat of the moment I do comment and face consequences) on any subject under the sun and have least knowledge about things which are publicly discussed. I try to act smart (remember, try to act) even though I look horrible on the face.Even after so many testing years I try to remain an "obiter dictum".
So what if I find that I cannot justify each and everything that Rama did against ravana but people call ravana a demon and Rama a god so easily. So what if I find that under no circumstances I could justify the death of Karna just because he fought for his friend, so what my conscience priks me when I feel utter pain at the death of Indrajit under abnormal circumstances. Majority says all is fair in the war and in the name of dharma.
As my mom told, majority is a force to reckon with grace, so do I.
I still cannot understand how indian history conveniently forgot eastern part of India (infact it has forgotten everyone except a few luckier souls who successively ruled India from back or front), how successive central governments found it difficult to handle the refugee problems in Bengal (mind you that the same problem was faced by Punjab) and how citizens of India got divided into east, west, south and north (I, for sure, know that people would brand me as a moribund,regional,anti-national dead intellectual and I think they are partially right, but so be it. If 99% of India could be regionalistic and believe in hegemony what's the problem with a minority like me ?).
It is difficult for me to crack the majority logic that because our economy is growing at 8%, we are a major force to reckon with and even though we have more than 40% of our people living in abject and unfathomable conditions we should be proud of what we have achieved after independence.There has to be an immense prudence in the majority to change logic at the least opposition so that they remain a majority to conveniently change everything (from constitution to social and logical followings) to suit them.
They are not opportunistic even if they support Bivhisana but hate Mirzafar (my head is surely up for grabs as I compare Bivhisana with Mirzafar), they are absolutely right when they justify the death of Karna and Duryodhon but show their muscle when we speak about Abhimunya. They cry for those who died at the concentration camps in Germany but ignores Hirosima/Nagasaki in public forum.
I was told that winners only get the chance to create history and hence they are absolutely right in judging what is right and what is wrong. Hence, I am not surprised that majority was, is and will always remain the winner.
And, I, as my mom told, still struggling to remain an "obiter dictum" for all practical purposes in whatever I see and talk about.

Refreshing breaks and...

It was destined to be two tuff months brushing with corporate offices and doing something for which all of us toiled hard for the past one and a half years. Instead it turned out to be two beautiful months of hard work and wonderful breaks.The first one came during the Dussherra and the next one during grand Diwali. Both these breaks were refreshing to the core and I was thrilled to be wavering in the lap of mother nature.

The climax of the first tour had to be the rafting from shivpuri to ramjhula through Ganges. It is unexplainable to say the least and the only way to explain it should be to ask to take that trip. Never knew that ganges is so beautiful (people like me, who are used to see ganges at Kolkata can only dream about such clean water) and could be so exciting. Each and every rapids, the slogans, the unique way of sitting and the fun of jumping in the river were just icing on the cake.
The second break was during diwali and a sudden plan to visit dharamsala somehow materialized at the last moment. We had a deadly combo of an Indica crusing at 90-100 kmph with a sleepy man behind the wheel while cruising through national highway. Never in my life have I thanked Indian government so much. Just because of the dividers we managed to be back safely to delhi. So many times our car had kissed the back of a 32 feet huge truck with whispering wind between death and us. The best thing we did in this trip was not to take a camera. Fortunately we had enough memory space to fill our soul and eyes.
On both this fun and thrill filled trip I had come across incidents which I am afraid, should not have happened. The first one was when we were coming back from our first trip and the second one during our visit to Amritsar.How could one explain a national highway being blocked and the entire traffic being diverted just because some wealthy person is getting married? Such people who are insensitive to the core and put humanity to utter shame should be banned.
If this was not enough then the scene in amritsar had given a rude shock. Thanks to our wonderful public and tourists, the famous (or infamous?) Jalianwalabug place has been turned into a virtual picnic spot. People are enjoying their evening at a place which was bathed with bloods of their innocent countrymen few years ago. An incident which compelled Tagore to give up his knighthood, an incident which shook the entire India, now only gives way to evening walk and entertainment. Never before I have hated commercialization so much as I have during my visit to Amritsar. If we cannot respect our hsitory the least we could do is not to defame it.

My wonderful country !!! How on earth could we be so insensitive to its needs and glorious past. I fear to dream of an India where probably battlefields could be made a tourist spot and roads could be put on rent for social functions. And my biggest fear is that I am not too far fetched from truth.
May thy god save all of us...

India and Indians...

I was really confused and questioned myself before starting off this blog. But I appreciate those who asked me to touch few finer points on the reservation issue. Hence I have decided that I will write about a broader perspective and try to fit in the reservation issue in that context without trivializing its importance.
I start off with asking some basic and fundamental question that is staring our generation for quite some time. Its time that we start introspection and stop avoiding our responsibilities. We should ask ourselves – are we sincere enough to contribute in building our country? Are we concerned about anything other than our own career and life? Are we so much a confused generation that we dare not ever put a mirror in front of us so that we don’t have to face our selves?
I guess all the above answers are known to us. It’s a syndrome which is visible across India. We are ready to curse everybody, we are ready to support from the wings, we are even ready to sponsor the crusade against reservation but we cannot be a part of the protest. We want all facilities at our doorstep but don’t want to bear the responsibility. We want latest knowledge, latest technology and what not!! But never ever we have realized that we also have some responsibility towards the society, something to be given in return for our country and society. We are vehemently opposing any cut in the existing seats in higher education as it would cut into our privileges. But never had we looked back at our country and society where we live in. Never have we questioned ourselves, never have we fulfilled our responsibilities.
It’s said that learned and literate citizens are the backbone of any country. Are we so? Responsibility does not end at paying taxes on time, it only starts there. We need to contribute in every possible ways to develop our nation. India is not only about IT and ITES; it is not only about IITs, IIMs or AIIMS, it is not only about 3 or 4 metros, it does not start or end with one Mumbai or Bangalore. India is also a country where 35% people are below poverty line, where more than 50% population are illiterate and where even an IAS or IPS officer never shies away from asking for bribe or dowry and where qualified doctors take money to kill children (read girls) in mother’s womb.
Are we dedicated to our nation? There is still division within our country; we still believe economic strength determines the respect and where money decides social status. Is this what educated India should be? We prefer corporate jobs than teaching as it is a less paid job; we hate research as it is not glorified; doctors are more interested in private hospitals and private practice rather than actual service as that pays off more. We are all running behind money knowing very well that “money can buy everything” in our country. If this is true that what difference is there between us and the bunch of politicians who have passed the bill for reservation?
No doubt political system in India has lost its respect and glamour. Indian political parties never prefer any authority which can curb their power. They are power mongers and they therefore clash with the SC, the EC and even with the president to safeguard their vested interests. But are we also not doing the same?
Have we ever seen any protest against rapes (which by now have become like daily news bulletin), have we ever protested against female fetocide, have we ever vehemently opposed them who take and give dowry even after being so called elite and educated? We have not because we don’t believe in introspection, we don’t believe in correcting ourselves. We are much better off criticizing others but never take the pain to clean up the mess for our own country. We love our country but would die to go onsite (and if possible get a green card). Media does not cover these as they are neither money spinner nor attractive massala news. We love India but not the Indians.
As it is told in the famous Rang De Basanti film: “Koi desh mahan nehi hota hain, usse mahan banana parta hain”.
We need to change. We need an India where everyone has access to better education, where social respect is not determined by money or bank balance, where youth is ready to contribute to the building of the society. Same is the case with reservation. Let’s accept we have a problem in hand. Let’s realize that we need to do something for some sections of the society. They may be OBC or other castes. But they are Indians who are being denied the basic infrastructure. Let’s not play into the hands of politics. Let’s take our vote seriously. We need more primary schools, less child labour and an equitable and justified society to remove hatred amongst ourselves. Let’s unite to build an inclusive society and an India where the caste becomes irrelevant and where one fine day even the reservation would be inconsequential.
Probably on that day we would be able to justify our glorious past and the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers at the border to save us.

Dividedly united !!!!

For the last few days India has been witnessing a nationwide furor over the reservation issue in all central (and consequently state) aided or governed educational institutions. Other than serious difference in whether to promote merit or social equity the larger issue has been the division that it has created within the society. Our political fraternity has been of the opinion that caste system has created a social divide in India for the past numerous years and hence social upliftment of these sections through reservation is a necessary process. As expected, the supporters of merit are opposing it.

Up to now whatever I have written is not a precursor to my subject. I am not going to debate on this issue as I am neither competent nor neutral enough for that job. There could be an element of biasness in case I dwell upon this and hence natural justice doesn't allow me to do that. But my main concern is to look at how much as a society we are divided and what conflict of interest could do. I would try to paint a picture which many of us might not agree with as I am not the best person to write about these. Yet, I am penning them down as they came to my mind.

If we look back through indian history (of which, I am a follower but not an expert), then it is quite clear that almost from the time of starting of history, the division within the society was present in India. Even during the gupta periods or at the time of mughals this division was clear and visible. Precisely because of this reason the anti Hindu movements and propagation of Buddhism or Jainism has come into our history. The idea of "exclusively inclusive" society made the habitat segregated based on cast, if not religion. Later during the Muslim era this phenomena gathered more strength even under tremendous religious pressure. These were possible because there were no conflict of interests as Lord Buddha or mahavir or Tansen was never judged on the basis of percentage of population they represented. Neither were they given concessions.

IF we flip through the 18th-20th century period under British raj the division was quite clear. The British made a concerted effort to fuel this and more so, on the basis of religion than probably caste. Even today, at the beginning of 21st century we are yet to conceptualize the concept of inclusive society. This might sound bad but then truth has always been bitter. Let’s face it squarely.

Now that I have hopefully succeeded in implanting some ideas about existence of division within society from long past let's face the other side of the coin. I would divert the attention in judging how much this has hampered the progress of the backward caste or society as a whole.

I will start with the presumption that we believe indian civilization or history is better than most of the others. I will dwell upon some of my views and thoughts (which I think are similar situations, "not same") to arrive at a more confused state so that people who read this have something to think.

I believe the division between north and south, between dravids and aryans, between foreign attackers and son of the soils has contributed to our richness. Both these cultures, as they were totally opposed to each other, developed on their own indigenous ways and flourished to our advantage. We should keep in mind that even though they lived in the same country and aryans initially had a superior social status or power, neither of them ever encroached upon each others (though political invasion was always there) social territory. Precisely because of this we are fortunate enough to have great gupta or magadh dynasty sharing the limelight with the cholas, chalukays or Vijaynagar kingdoms. Same is the case with anti hindu reformist movements. These religions as well as hindus have lived and prospered enough to come to today's state in india. History has showered equal praise on these vastly opposing and different cultures and has not measured their impact on how much percent of a society they represented.

If we look at the British period, which in my view, showed tremendous bonding across religious lines because of national sentiments had its share of divisions within society. Hindus and muslims became nearest and dearest even though social difference and tension was there. Dalits and other backward people contributed as much as the upper castes in freedom movement and never was caste an issue in independence struggle. In fact, reservations for different caste and religions were the reason behind the split up of the social fabric and weakening of the freedom struggle. People respected merits and excellence and never measured contribution in percentage terms. Probably this was the reason why we had fewer riots during those days than we have today even though now on paper we have a better system in place.

There is bound to be a division when people of different socio economic background exist in the same horizon. Even within a family people having different earnings do not live the same way. But these things never contribute to the lesser person being handicap or in his/her progress.

What my contention is that we cannot erase division neither should we try to put everyone on the same path, because that is not for us to direct or decide. What we need to do is to form an inclusive society where hatred is excluded. Variations and divisions have contributed to richness in terms of language, literature and history. We have different dialects and habits because we are different.

Government representing India should not propagate hatred by favouring some caste over the others in the name of social justice as history has proved this to be counter productive. What we need is a broad based society where people are not judged by the mass of the population he/she is representing. If we believe that our divided past has not produced any results in terms of social upliftment then we are dangerously disrespecting a huge contribution of rural India. We are presuming that economic upliftment would erase social tension, which I am sorry to say is a proven wrong, because otherwise more than half of India by this time would have been living in a social heaven. Our history and society is all about contradictions, divisions and confrontations. These have added to our richness and aptly represented all sections irrespective of caste and religion. We need to remove the hatred not the caste.

We have seen that having a common vision makes the strongest division irrelevant. But at the same time partition of India has shown what conflict of interest could do to us, and I fear, that is the path we are treading ahead.

That would probably not be the India where even the backward classes would like to stay.