Why do some people deliberately shy away from security and comfort to think, speak and act for others' sake even at the cost of courting insecurity, poverty and unpopularity? What is that in the human body chemistry that propels people towards public causes at grave danger to themselves? How can one shun material wealth, comforts, social standing and security to chart unknown paths? How do their families react? Are they supportive or suffer the eccentricity?
Prakasam Pantulu had a monthly income of more than Rs,50,000 in thirties before he jumped into the freedom movement to die a pauper. Subhas Chandra Bose and Duggirala Gopalakrishnayya preferred freedom movement to coveted ICS. Recently personalities like Medha Patkar, Sandeep Pandey, take up causes at grave risk to their personal safety and welfare. There are ever so many people who have sacrificed budding careers, lucrative jobs, princely incomes, cushy lives to pursue causes in which they believe.
One such light of beacon that recently got extinguished is K. Balagopal. Without going into his differences with the establishment or those opposed to it, the causes he fought for were pro-poor, pro-justice and pro-nation. There can be no argument about the legitimacy of the causes though perceptions may differ on individual events or issues.
His untimely death is a loss to the spirit of justice, dissent and sacrifice. He will be forgotten - like many others before him - except by a few because Indian Heros have already been short-listed and there can be no additions for all times to come. Nothing will be named after him and no anniversaries.
That is the way he would have preferred. No use for routine mouthing of homilies. But as long as there is quest for saner solutions to problems, he will be thought of.
...ponder
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
God of American Visa
About 20 kms from the heart of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, a small village called Chilkur is located. Till about a decade ago this place was unknown even to the Hyderabadites. Suddenly this place acquired the aura of major pilgrimage centre especially for those aspiring Software Specialists intending to go to US. The reason is an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Venkateswara or popularly known as Visa Venkateswarulu.
As a temple, this is small in size and the main deity not more than 24" tall. A visit to this shrine and a prayer for grant of US visa is said to guarantee securing of that manna, US vias! You can see those whose passports have been stamped coming for for a thanks giving visit by way of circumbulating the shrine 108 times.
You can see jeans clad boys and girls occasionally accompanied by thier proud parents going round and marking on a matrix sheet the number of times they have gone round, concentrating on the correct scoring, oblivious of the God.
This temple has another feather to its credit. The Temple authorities have successfully warded off attempts by the Government to take over its administration. There is no collection box unlike other temples. If desired Visa Venkateswarulu can wallow in NRI Dollars. But He prefers austerity and freedom from Governmental control to wealth.
Though the temple proper is maintained well despite the crowds and its smallness, the adjacent shrines and surroundings are very shabby. The temple is beseeched by vendors and beggers. I dont know whether the Trust Board is legally capable of evicting the encroachers and beggers, beautify its surroundings and maintain its general upkeep given its status and deliberate shying away from funds.
By the Grace of Visa Venkateswarulu, people may earn mega bucks and live in secluded villas in gated communities with mith manicured lawns, but the Giver is ever content in His modest abode.
....ponder
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Beginning of the end?
I have not read the book written by Jaswant Singh. Nor have I read the one written by Advani. Both are supposed to have viewed Jinnah's role in a different percpective from that popularised by contrived historians/politicians. It is ironic that Jaswant Singh should be expelled from the party when the most visible and tallest leader is Advani of similar guilt
Is it not a fact that Jinnah was a suave and liberal Indian than most of the Congresswallahs till he was driven to the wall by power mongers. Is it also not a fact that the congress negotiated partition of the country behind Gandhiji's back and in the face of his total opposition.
Jaswant Singh says he was expelled by those who have not read the book. Appears true as the expulsion is indeed in indecent haste as the book has barely hit the stands. Was he served a show cause notice? Was he given a hearing? So much for internal democracy and right to dissent.
BJP cannot unshackle itself from the vice-like grip of knickerwallahs. Today the party is devoid of issues or direction and is drifting from one crisis to another. It had abandoned democracy long ago. Remember what happened to Madhok and Sondhi.Leaders of legislative party are supposed to be elected by MLAs. Overwhelming numbers are with Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Still she is being asked to quit. The disease of nomination culture has taken deep root in BJP.
BJP can do a service to the country by merging with Congress. Their ideologies are not very dissimilar except for occasional Hindutva noises from BJP and congress pursuing covert soft Hindutva. This will eliminate rump parties like DMK from arm twisting the government.
...ponder
Is it not a fact that Jinnah was a suave and liberal Indian than most of the Congresswallahs till he was driven to the wall by power mongers. Is it also not a fact that the congress negotiated partition of the country behind Gandhiji's back and in the face of his total opposition.
Jaswant Singh says he was expelled by those who have not read the book. Appears true as the expulsion is indeed in indecent haste as the book has barely hit the stands. Was he served a show cause notice? Was he given a hearing? So much for internal democracy and right to dissent.
BJP cannot unshackle itself from the vice-like grip of knickerwallahs. Today the party is devoid of issues or direction and is drifting from one crisis to another. It had abandoned democracy long ago. Remember what happened to Madhok and Sondhi.Leaders of legislative party are supposed to be elected by MLAs. Overwhelming numbers are with Vasundhara Raje Scindia. Still she is being asked to quit. The disease of nomination culture has taken deep root in BJP.
BJP can do a service to the country by merging with Congress. Their ideologies are not very dissimilar except for occasional Hindutva noises from BJP and congress pursuing covert soft Hindutva. This will eliminate rump parties like DMK from arm twisting the government.
...ponder
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Silence is not Golden
Those were days when public men quit posts as the slightest hint of any accusation of wrong doing. Along with the general slide in the moral fibre of the nation persons developed different perspectives.
Two incidents have recently been reported in press.
First, a Union Minister had allegedly instructed his staff (of educational institutions owned by him) to insist on a minimum capitation fee for admission to medical college in blatant violation of Hon'ble Supreme Court's orders. This isssue died a natural death with TOI, which broke the news, itself failing to follow it up. They should atleast publish a denial and apology.
Second and more recent, a Union Minister had allegedly tried to influence the Bench in the case of granting bail. The Hon'ble Judge had gone on record though he stopped short of naming the individual.
During the debate in the Parliament, there is no reaction it appears from the Treasury benches. Though it is the absolute right of a Minister or Member to speak or not on a particular subject, silence sends wrong signals.
Where there is a gap between Law and Justice, Justice should prevail. Morality should be higher than mere rules and regulations. Either there should be a flat denial and vindication of the character of the individual and the will to face consequences so that truth prevails or there should be exemplary action. No need for a cumbersome enquiry. The pleasure of the President on the recommendations of the PM should be sufficient.
Otherwise credibility of the system stands to ridicule.
...ponder
Two incidents have recently been reported in press.
First, a Union Minister had allegedly instructed his staff (of educational institutions owned by him) to insist on a minimum capitation fee for admission to medical college in blatant violation of Hon'ble Supreme Court's orders. This isssue died a natural death with TOI, which broke the news, itself failing to follow it up. They should atleast publish a denial and apology.
Second and more recent, a Union Minister had allegedly tried to influence the Bench in the case of granting bail. The Hon'ble Judge had gone on record though he stopped short of naming the individual.
During the debate in the Parliament, there is no reaction it appears from the Treasury benches. Though it is the absolute right of a Minister or Member to speak or not on a particular subject, silence sends wrong signals.
Where there is a gap between Law and Justice, Justice should prevail. Morality should be higher than mere rules and regulations. Either there should be a flat denial and vindication of the character of the individual and the will to face consequences so that truth prevails or there should be exemplary action. No need for a cumbersome enquiry. The pleasure of the President on the recommendations of the PM should be sufficient.
Otherwise credibility of the system stands to ridicule.
...ponder
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Are we secular?
Chidambaram goes to Kandhamal and apologises to those in refugee camps there. It is presumed that they are Christians. Why they are are still in refugee camps needs to be investigated. Are they still terrorised to go to their villages? Are they better off in these camps? or are they kept as show pieces of propoganda value? Naveen Patnaik should answer.
I hope Chidambaram will go to Jammu and apologise to the Hindu refugees there who have no hopes of going home even after decades.
What about victims of Congress sponsored and Rajiv Gandhi approved (when a tree falls earth shakes) anti-sikh pogrom?
Will our foreign minister apologise to the sikhs of Pakistan who pay tax to keep their hair for India's failure to protect them?
Will YSR apologise for the conversion activities going on in Gandhi Medical College?
Please read the report in today's Hindu.
...ponder
I hope Chidambaram will go to Jammu and apologise to the Hindu refugees there who have no hopes of going home even after decades.
What about victims of Congress sponsored and Rajiv Gandhi approved (when a tree falls earth shakes) anti-sikh pogrom?
Will our foreign minister apologise to the sikhs of Pakistan who pay tax to keep their hair for India's failure to protect them?
Will YSR apologise for the conversion activities going on in Gandhi Medical College?
Please read the report in today's Hindu.
...ponder
WILL SOMEONE CLARIFY MY DOUBT?
According to the Indian system of time division (calander) the bench marks are Year (samvatsaram), Ayanam (Uttarayanam/Dakshinayanam), Season (Rithu), Masam (Month), Paksham (Shukla Paksham/Krishna Paksham), Thithi (date - Padyami, Vidiya, Thadiya, etc). Exact time at a given point is fixed then according to the prevailing star (Nakshtram). It is significant to note that there is no day (Sunday/Monday, etc).
In our epics. where there is mention of a particular event like birth of Rama or Krishna, there is no mention of varam (day). In the ancient inscriptions also there is no mention of day.
It is my conjucture that this system of naming a day after celestal bodies is imported from west either through visitors are invaders. Will somebody clarify this? How come Indian names and English names exactly tally?
If it is a fact that there is no Sunday/Monday in Indian system, then what is this good day or bad day? Many people believe that certain things should be done only on certain days and certain things should notbe done. For example, a daughter is not sent from her maternal home to her married home on Fridays. How valid is this?
Also astronomy says sun is a star. Astrology is based on the presumption that sun is a planet. How can calculations based on such wrong premise go right? Will some knowledgable person throw some light on this too.
...ponder
In our epics. where there is mention of a particular event like birth of Rama or Krishna, there is no mention of varam (day). In the ancient inscriptions also there is no mention of day.
It is my conjucture that this system of naming a day after celestal bodies is imported from west either through visitors are invaders. Will somebody clarify this? How come Indian names and English names exactly tally?
If it is a fact that there is no Sunday/Monday in Indian system, then what is this good day or bad day? Many people believe that certain things should be done only on certain days and certain things should notbe done. For example, a daughter is not sent from her maternal home to her married home on Fridays. How valid is this?
Also astronomy says sun is a star. Astrology is based on the presumption that sun is a planet. How can calculations based on such wrong premise go right? Will some knowledgable person throw some light on this too.
...ponder
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Nothing National About it
Today's 'The Hindu' reports that Railways are planning to introduce "national" cuisine and Regional cuisine on their trains. I can understand a regional cuisine. But what is this "National Cuisine"?
Till Adishankaracharya united the whole sub-continent spiritually and the British united politically, this sub-continent was an amalgam of several nations. Even today there is the demand for recognition of different nationhoods. Karunanidhi will swear by Tamil nation which includes Tamil Srilankans. Ask Syed Sahabuddin, he will vehemently deny accepting physical boundaries for his Muslim nation. Kashmiris are de-facto separate nation what with thier separate constitution and other pharaphernalia not withstanding our professing soverignity and integrity. There is demand for separatism from different tribes in the North East.
We should not aggravate the sensitive situation either by stupid loose talk or ham handed attempt to lump together different cultures. We should accept the fact that we are a melenge of different cultures, habits, ethos, but still one Nation. We just dont have a National cuisine just like we dont have a National Language or a National Dress. Try imposing Tamil Nadu brand 'Veshti' on Nagaland or make Hindi the official language of Kashmir.
It is a manifestation of the mindset of some to try to impose one language, culture and habits on all which has played havoc with our country. Let people who matter be careful with their thinking and talking.
...ponder
Till Adishankaracharya united the whole sub-continent spiritually and the British united politically, this sub-continent was an amalgam of several nations. Even today there is the demand for recognition of different nationhoods. Karunanidhi will swear by Tamil nation which includes Tamil Srilankans. Ask Syed Sahabuddin, he will vehemently deny accepting physical boundaries for his Muslim nation. Kashmiris are de-facto separate nation what with thier separate constitution and other pharaphernalia not withstanding our professing soverignity and integrity. There is demand for separatism from different tribes in the North East.
We should not aggravate the sensitive situation either by stupid loose talk or ham handed attempt to lump together different cultures. We should accept the fact that we are a melenge of different cultures, habits, ethos, but still one Nation. We just dont have a National cuisine just like we dont have a National Language or a National Dress. Try imposing Tamil Nadu brand 'Veshti' on Nagaland or make Hindi the official language of Kashmir.
It is a manifestation of the mindset of some to try to impose one language, culture and habits on all which has played havoc with our country. Let people who matter be careful with their thinking and talking.
...ponder
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