Forbidden Fruit

Here is my creation on a touchscreen mobile. Actually began with just the leaves, became a tree, then to give a meaning made a snake..At last an apple fell on the floor and now everyone says Adam and Eve has bitten it….

Western Influence or Indianisation of the West?

Political Animal

Why it is wrong to expect Dr Manmohan Singh to try to become one SANKARSHAN THAKUR IT IS something LK Advani needed to be a shade embarrassed about, but then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh bailed him out in a rare moment of cleverness — Advaniji was too nervous about what’s going to happen in Gujarat, he’s hurried to get himself enthroned, the PM told the press in Ahmedabad. He had, of course, meant it as a barb at Advani’s insecurities on the leadership question, but in effect the PM had stung his own party hard in the heat of campaign. To mock Advani for being in an unseemly rush to get himself anointed prime ministerial candidate before the Gujarat results were out was surely also to admit fatal midcampaign concessions in Gujarat, it was to admit that Narendra Modi was riding back to power. Irrespective of whatever happens next week in Gujarat, the PM has already given the plate over to the adversary. And sure enough, Advani was quick to pounce on it and begin to preen when he should have been sheepish about the timing of his anointment. There could not have been a worse time for the PM to put his political naivete on display. But it is nothing to mock or laugh at. Manmohan Singh is not a political creature and it is foolish now to expect him to turn into one. He just does not possess that gene. And it is for the lack of that political gene that he was made PM in the first place. Sonia Gandhi would not trust anyone who can play the game. She has an embarrassment of political talent in her stables — Arjun Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Digvijay Singh, ND Tiwari to name just a few of the lead horses. But does any of them stand a chance to be picked for the top job as long as Sonia Gandhi is doing the picking? Chance would be a fine thing. And should Manmohan Singh actually spring a political gene suddenly and begin to behave like a mover-shaker, he will begin to lose trust where it matters. It could well be that the PM was trying to answer demands from within the party to turn “more political”, especially as general elections approach, but then that is an unfair demand to make on him. Here’s a man whose essential talents lie in governance. Here’s a man put there because in Sonia Gandhi’s scheme of things, there should exist a diarchy — administration with the PM, politics with the party. Whatever the merits of such a scheme, that’s where Manmohan Singh has been lodged. Can’t suddenly expect a square peg to fit into a round hole.

From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 4, Issue 50, Dated Dec 29, 2007

The Truth – Gujarat Riots

A true story of cruelty and unprecedented vengeance unveiled before the nation when Ashish Khetan presented his extra-ordinary piece of investigative journalism. It gave clear evidence that the riot following the Godhra carnage was well planned and everything went ahead with the remarks and backing of the one man force Narendra Modi. Without wasting lines a direct dive into the Gujarat riots.

It all began with the Godhra train carnage. It is found that, as the train reached the Godhra station in the early hours, the karsevaks in the train started some feud with some Muslim hawkers. The sevaks are alleged to have kidnapped a Muslim girl from the platform. Just as the train began to roll on, there was immense stone-pelting from the platform. These are from the eye-witness accounts of an army man on board. Many of the passengers had to leave their seats due to threats from sevaks. Just as the train was outside the station someone grabbed the chains and the train halted.

At that time there were people following the train shouting to release the girl. After correcting the fault as the engine began to move on the chain was pulled one more time and it was then that the carnage took place. There was immense stone pelting, but there is no neutral account that anyone in the mob was having fire or fuel jars in hands. The Gujarat forensic lab reports also claims that none could pour any fuel into the train from the ground due to the height, and all the doors were tightly locked. Just as the flames began to get high only the doors were opened and passengers could get out. And the lab has certified that the fire could have originated from some internal elements only.

The true story was heard from the mouths of the perpetrators itself. These were not confessions, but claims of some extra ordinary divine deeds. One of the senior leaders of the VHP himself claims that he has torn open the abdomen of a pregnant woman and roasted the foetus inside. Yet another claim of a person in front of his wife is that he had tasted some grapes, since fruits were available in plenty. All of them say in one voice that they had the support of the administration, police as well as the judiciary.

The fateful events that followed the carnage had its inspiration from the flaring remarks of the Chief Minister Narendra Modi. It has to be believed that he was the mastermind behind all the succeeding incidents. The party members have told that they had been given three days for the completion of the massacre before army enters the scene. And the worse thing is that he used the same as the trump card for his election victory and is still using it for glory. There was no action from the higher levels of the party to suspend or at least warn the person who had done such a crime which had brought just shame to the country.

It is clear from the tapes and official accounts that the BJP, Bajrang Dal and VHP are involved in the riots. The members of the organization had done the head hunt with such haste and vengeance that there is no precedent for it in history. Even the Congress president didn’t visit the house of murdered congress-man and former MP Ehsaan Jaffris house being afraid it would take them back in the elections.

The police too were inactive, no so active that they themselves shot at the running victims. And there were warnings to police men that their Hindu:Muslim casualty ratio were reversing at some places. Post mortem examination was not done on hundreds of bodies and they were even redistributed so that the figures at some places do not become too high.

The judiciary had their duty too. They had too give bail to the culprits. And the lawyers who represented the convict side were later seen in the clothes of public prosecutor. It is extremely shameful that the highest court in the country which usually takes suo motu files against almost all incidents had not uttered a word against the riots after the Tehelka expose. It’s the only way forward since the spy cam shoots cannot be taken as evidence in any court.

The Ahmedabad district collector wasted no time in banning the broadcasting of these tapes. The basic right of information was denied to the common man. All these incidents make us ‘rise’ to the status of Hitler and Nazis. But they would not have done this to their own people, who are just separated by a thin line of faith.

And in the next issue there was a tsunami of replies from various parts of the nation and abroad. Many have asked to ban the parties involved in the incidents. But much of these were submerged in the rate hiking news in the media. The morality of this country is almost lost. There was a basic question which still haunts my mind “Why had the Indian government asked the Muslims to stay back in the country in 1947, promising that they would be treated in par with Hindus?”

Junta Rules with India

Indian reactions to the recent events in the neighbouring countries and the world are truly deplorable. The best example is the indifference to the suppression of the protests in Myanmar by the ruling military junta. India who previously supported the freedom movements in various countries and gave full fledged support to the third world countries is changing its colour. Now perhaps she thinks more of her military and economic benefits than anything else, even the minimal humanitarian concerns. And India joined one of the few countries who actively supported the junta.

India is fast emerging as a superpower but she is not using her opportunities in controlling the world matters. She always escapes from the world matters by quoting that she doesn’t like to involve in the internal matters of another country. And even when the whole world has reacted she remains neutral, no passive.

In the neighbouring Myanmar the conditions had worsened recently. The people especially the Buddhist monks thronged to the roads protesting against the anti-people policies and the fuel price hike of the junta. The conditions had reached to such an extent that the military had been unable to actively suppress the protest without blocking the media. They inducted a curfew in the region and banned all non governmental media from being circulated and the only means of communication for the people remained the internet. And there was an overflow of news from the country; and more importantly the videos of military cruelty in the You-tube. This has happened only once before in 1988 when the junta had to apply its swords on the common people. Aung San Suu Kyi called as the Myanmar Gandhi has truly been a firm Indian supporter and hopes for Indian intervention.

Suu Kyi had been hoping Indian intervention since she had long term contacts with India, being were she did her studies etc. She was not even given permission to see her dying husband. But her love for the people and will to see her country free again which slipped from her father’s hands made her cling to the nation.

But India is showing her indifferent face to the freedom thirsty neighbour. For India, Myanmar is a country which is a potential importer of her goods especially military weapons. The Indian government fears of losing a strategic partner. In a recent report of the human rights violators in Burma, two Indian companies one being the public ONGC have been listed. These show that India is changing into a superpower. Not like Japan or even USA, but like the pre world war Germany. India even voted against a declaration by UN warning Myanmar to return to democracy.

But the fact is that the Burmese people gives full fledged support to India and believes that only India can change their gruel condition. India has befriended the junta and is in a position to bow to their demands and give them free entry to the country when almost all other countries have denied it.

And another aspect is that India thinks China (another junta friend) will utilize this situation and sell their war equipments. India wants to reiterate her supremacy in the subcontinent at least.
But India is going to suffer in the future because this resistance and suppression of democracy wont last long and Burma would be reborn. And at that time why should the peoples’ government support a nation which has given support to a dictatorial rule. Something unsaid in all these issues is that Indian people are truly with the Burmese people and supports their fight for freedom and justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y43rIrcoTMY

Course Extends; Life Doesnot

The new Indian government’s actually, Health Minister’s decision to extend the internship of medical course by one year including a rural service is highly deplorable. The Union Minister Anbumoni Ramdoss’ decision is just for the sake of vote bank politics and on the notion that medical students wouldnot protest at all. Why not this hurry in implementing in IIT’s, IIM’s etc. Let me explain

The internship which is a part of the course is to be extended by one year with rural posting. The posting include posting in district, taluk and primary health centre. There would be no registration.

The students who are in the midst of the course is now told that they are to be here for one more year. And its equal to cheating the students who were given the false promise of finishing the course in 51/2 years. After the course lag caused be university exams and their delay in results the course already extends by 1 year.
Since registration is not given, the people wont have anybody to sue, for any problems ensued. And no one is responsible for any of the acts of medical students. Its actually like cheating the rural and common man while giving registered doctors to urban areas.

Another point the minister implies is that the skills of Indian doctors are poor. Is this why Indian doctors are in high demand throughout the world? Now they are having the longest degree course in the world. Or if he is meaning the private medical colleges, then they could have considered it while giving affiliation.

In states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and W.Bengal there is already one year rural posting by the state government. Now they are to have an added year. This means they will be able to earn only after they have grey hair and children. Will anyone join this course taking into these consideration now?

They governments are maximally utilizing the students now through the internship when they have to work day and night throughout the year. And the engineering or management students doesnot even have to do that. There is an additional 3 year PG course too and there would be no time to prepare for its entrance exam.

Please stop such fraudulent actions to get hold of votes and support. And with this the Health Minister would have got famous, but its by presenting misery to the students of 262 medical colleges in India. We have done no harm to anybody. Is it why you take us to be non-reacting and anything could be imposed upon us?

The minister have said to the students of Tamil Nadu that students of othere states are senting him bouquets and congrats. Its total absurd and the whole medical community, both students and doctors join hands against his ideas to divide us.

If it is implented, the already present rural posting should be cancelled. Registration should be given so that we can write the PGentrance exam. If selected we should be able to continue the posting later. And the stipent should be increased since in the district and taluk hospitals there would be night posting in addition to 12 hour duty. Please dont treat us as Bonded Labourers and donot hinder our rights for some selfish reasons.

Handcuffing serving Hands

Educated and non-partisan group had always been a plank in the eye of the communists. In communist Kerala the one who has suffered this wrath most were the doctors especially government doctors. The recent protests by the government doctors for a judicious rise in the wages have been termed as an anti-government and anti-people protest.

If doctors strike, it’s going to affect the people directly. So they had been quenching this bitter juice for some time. But the limit has reached as the many promises by the government had not bear fruits. Even if the strike does not affect the common people directly it is termed as a non-humanitarian act against the most humanitarian government.

The salary hike was recommended by the revision committee and promised by the government many a times. But since the doctors could not go in to the extreme stance, the govt. thought it can be well delayed. The present wages of government doctors does not even stand with those of teachers, secretariat or KSEB employees considering the service. After 5 ½ (actually 6) years of study, 1 year hospital service and 1 year rural service with minimum stipend, they are labelling doctors not service minded.

These wages are one of the lowest in the country, and during the study time itself they are treated as bonded labourers due to lack of people joining government services because of this non attractive salary regime. If the doctors are not protesting now, there would be no revision and the condition of government hospitals would be pathetic without even one doctor for thousand patients. The way out is not compelling the students to perform service but to act with minimum humanitarian concern.

The doctors are ready to stop the private practice, if the government is ready to revise the salary moderately. At present few hundred doctors have given their resignation and voluntary retirement requests. If it is accepted the government would go into a crisis situation.
The teachers and secretariat employees union ridiculing the protests is extremely shameful. The same people were having a 1 month long strike even weighing the future of students by delaying the board exams. No one actually has the right to ridicule the protests.
The work load in the hospital is taking a great toll on the life of doctors who have lower life expectancy in the state. And in order to lead a life like the fellow doctors in private hospitals they have to extra work at home even till late night. They have to work in the pathetic conditions of the government hospitals and report to extra duties like escorting VIP’s and immunisation centres frequently. Still there was no complaint from them which the government took as granted.

The situation has to change and juggling the life of doctors is derogatory. The reason that others will also ask for salary revision is irony, when they are giving hike for those employees having partisan unions and political framework.

The Giant Hoax

National Geographic has the details on the hoax behind the picture above. It was first created for a Photoshop contest, and then quickly became the subject of various rumours. Here’s one:

An often cited March 2007 article in India’s Hindu Voice monthly, for example, claimed that a National Geographic Society team, in collaboration with the Indian Army, had dug up a giant human skeleton in India.

“Recent exploration activity in the northern region of India uncovered a skeletal remains of a human of phenomenal size,” the report read.

The story went on to say the discovery was made by a “National Geographic Team (India Division) with support from the Indian Army since the area comes under jurisdiction of the Army.”

The account added that the team also found tablets with inscriptions that suggest the giant belonged to a race of superhumans that are mentioned in the Mahabharata, a Hindu epic poem from about 200 BC.

“They were very tall, big and very powerful, such that they could put their arms around a tree trunk and uproot it,” the report said, repeating claims that initially appeared in 2004.

If such giants actually existed, and were alive today, I have absolutely no doubt about the industry in which they’d be most gainfully employed: Porn. So instead of shuddering at the sight of nine-inch thingies, we average males would be fighting despair at the sight of nine-foot thingies. Horrors.

Ragging Rage

Ragging took its beginning in about 300 B.C in Greece when the senior athletes started to tease the newly admitted ones. It remained as an art form and is even continued now providing ample opportunities to freshers for their overall development. But it is to fast becoming extinct now by the action of the Supreme Court and successive governments by banning it and the crackdown by the police. Even the juniors are not showing interest these days. The days when we got ragged by our seniors were the most thrilling and entertaining ones, though fear was also there in between.

Our hostel warden gave us a brief introduction that ragging is strictly banned and for any complaints we had to consult the hostel secretary. Secretary who nodded his head for every word after some time came to every room and threatened each of us that no complaints should be heard. And that was how we got to know our hostel and situations better.

And these were the days when we learnt the meaning of the word ragging (since we had to by-heart the dictionary meaning as it was written all over the hostel as a warning to seniors). Day after day every evening when we returned to the hostel there were the series of entertainment. Our first job was to throw our under-wears on to the electric tube and blow it from the floor to make it fall down. Meanwhile the next person would have already took hold of us and make us shave whatever we have left over our face. In the midst there would be blue-film shootings and speeches, action songs, mimicry etc.

It was during these days that we learnt the MH anthem and prayer songs. The prayer song was later sung as a carol during Christmas time by all of us, visiting all the senior’s rooms. An action song with the Santa Claus wearing the lab coat and all of us our under-wear over our head (so that we don’t get by the rain which is actually imaginary)

And on yet another day we were all herded to the college union meeting which was actually that of Students Federation of India, the communist students’ party. And we were late to the hostel and missed the juniors only bus to hostel. When we reached there was everyone waiting for us. We were prone to ragging if we just stepped out of the steps of hostel (doesn’t mean it was that safe inside). And I became a victim for them. I had to collect coconut from all the trees which were actually the windows around the hostel. And the usual imaginary cricket where I was the bowler, batsman and even the fielder and umpire as well as the commentator.

And later I found a way to get rid of some of these acts. In the evening one could go to some spiritual or religious meetings where there was no ragging at all. And exhibiting the gag reflex which we had just learnt in the mess hall when one was overloaded with food. But what we could not get over with was the money escaping our pockets for the food items, cigarettes and all sort of things (and for one among us even sanitary napkins)

Saffronazis

Cries of nationalistic sentiments are on a rise all across this great nation. Most of them being narrow-minded pseudo nationalists who promise to give salvation to this developing nation with millions of problems at hand. They preach what they don’t practice, and practice that which none with straight mind would intend to. These wolves in goat skin are emerging all over the country mainly by getting hold of popular (meaning religious or spiritual if it concerns India) sentiments.

The cruel blood hungry picture of these men was seen in the Gujarat riots in 2001. The perpetrators of this headhunt, who occupied the highest seats of administration and the doers claim that they have done the greatest deed for the Hindu community.

In the recent Tehelka expose they have claimed (not confess) that they themselves did the cruelties. And one can understand the mental derangement of these minds when one says he had torn open the abdomen of a pregnant woman and toasted the foetus. Another man claims in front of his wife that he had tasted some grapes, since fruits were available in plenty. An elaborate account of these would be dealt in yet another blog.

But the sad thing is that the then PM Vajpayee who is believed to have some minimum humanitarian concerns, not even talked against Modi, but supported his moves. It was shameful to let free the event managers of a man-slaughter of such an extent. And the real shame came when other countries began to reject entry for Modi on their soils. And the manager became wordless when asked in a TV interview about the riots and went out of the show. And he believes he can repeat the performance after the next elections and also spread this to other parts of the country, even to the south.

It all began to get popular when the karsevaks stripped down the Babri-masjid in Ayodhya. And another national leader had flagged off the karsevak march to Ayodhya, but ultimately became the innocent lamb. Another blot to the pride of the country, which boasts to entertain a vast number of castes and religion with a slogan of unity and integrity in each ones’ lips.

RSS and VHP karsevaks (having their logo itself as the trident or thrishul) had been given weapon training to build a Hindu nation by force. In front of the educated ones this Hindu nation means a nation with many traditional and spiritual values, but when it comes before the illiterates it’s a nation devoid of other religious groups who are said to be anti-Indian. And when something bad happens its all the problem of illiteracy and minority friendly attitude of the governments.

Shivsena too began to march into the arena by destroying cricket pitches of India-Pakistan cricket matches, pulling down internet cafes for not banning orkut for its anti-national contents. But the ultimate ‘victory’ of the Sena is claimed to be the Bombay riots. Killing and mutilating hundreds and making the life of minorities unsafe was the immediate result. They had even resorted to violence when a book said to have derogatory remarks on Chatrapati Sivaji was published.

Are all these happening because Hinduism as a faith originated when the kingdoms were on the war front? Or the Gods were all warrior-Kshatriyas? But there was a difference. The God’s had been waging wars for the victory of the Good over the Evil. And never had they fought against weapon less opponents. When is the true Hinduism going to get into their heads? As everything else ends, these are all the faults of corrupted politicians who can’t think beyond the margin of vote bank politics. And literacy, social security and balanced development would mar their dreams completely. There would be no end to this problem unless the responsible citizens start another movement, another freedom struggle or a youth government with novel thoughts and dreams come forward. As it is said it never ends, it just goes on everyday, everywhere.