Date: 23-08-09
I had always believed in the existence of these non-existent creatures called ghosts particularly, when some dada or bhaiya used to narrate stories about white saree clad women with long hair sitting on the back seat of their scooters, chuckling frequently and disappearing in air. But, the influence a ghost can have is surely evident in the recent episode of expulsion of Jaswant Singh from BJP. The way a lamp flickers before going off, the party is gasping for air before drowning. It has been almost a week; the editorials are almost flooded with views and reviews concerning the book, the author, his expulsion and his revelation. Now, I guess it’s time the newspapers must also switch over to something new.
After reading all authors and critics…. there’s only one word I would like to say….. farce!!! I feel the thing with which our country is most obsessed with, is “history”. Ask any third person in the country or outside the country, what’s so great about your nation? He would answer, “our glorious past”. We are more interested in digging up the earth than conquer the sky and even if we do so, we never mention until it becomes a part of the golden history.
Why can’t we learn living in the present? Who would ever believe the party, at present, behaving like a captain-less, aim-less, direction-less amidst a sea-storm where the stupid boarders are throwing away fellow passengers instead of bulky, age-old loads of orthodox ideas and beliefs (that too in the most distorted manner); was once the ruling party of the country. Why this craving for connection with past?
What glorious past does America hold? A country won out of a civil war, with poverty and chaos as its primary residents- now, is the ruling nation of the world. So, why cooking up or digging out all these stupid stories about Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabbhai Patel? They performed their duties when they had to and now, they are resting in peace. Let them enjoy their peaceful slumber; they are not the horses pulling the current government, neither can they comment in front of media, “We actually never told what the truth was now, we want to do so.”
The whole affair is like a Priyadarshan movie, one confusion leading to another and all the circumstances finally pooled into a complete mess- It’s confusing, and hilarious. Confusion,… is in the air and climax… lets wait and watch.
Arpita
Des Rangeela….. ;) (Post 4)
(based on an article in Outlook, August 24 issue)
Date: 23-08-09
India is a land of celebrations. We have a myriad of opportunities for holidays, eating more and shopping without need. If asked to describe the positive side of it, I would say, it gives a number of reasons for a family to meet and celebrate together. While our country is in the process of westernization where the value of family, culture, tradition, etc. is slowly fading away; thanks to the retail and advertising world who is renovating these festivals into the new brand India image. Now, even small family puja like akshayatritiya is incomplete without special discount offers by jewelers and car dealers.
“You have a reason to celebrate, we give you the means to celebrate”- says each and every shopping complex. They celebrate with us coz this is what makes them earn the most. The same Archies shop sells heart shaped pillows for Valentines day, “U r d best teacher” card for teachers day, and cards with rakhi on Raksha Bandhan and what not. The numbers of festivals just don’t reduce; the list is getting populated more and more. The glamour added to the Indian festivals and ceremonies by television and movies has globalized these occasions and the events that were localized earlier can be found in every part of India now.
The nice thing about it is that it has minimized the feel of regionalism. If one sees his neighbours celebrating, how can one stop oneself from rejoicing. Personally, I feel great to celebrate festivals of both Orissa (to where I belong) and Bihar (where I am born and brought up). The negative side to it is that it burns a hole in the pocket ;) After all, we need to look special and feel special on such hundreds or two hundreds of special occasions in a year. ;D
Arpita
Date: 23-08-09
India is a land of celebrations. We have a myriad of opportunities for holidays, eating more and shopping without need. If asked to describe the positive side of it, I would say, it gives a number of reasons for a family to meet and celebrate together. While our country is in the process of westernization where the value of family, culture, tradition, etc. is slowly fading away; thanks to the retail and advertising world who is renovating these festivals into the new brand India image. Now, even small family puja like akshayatritiya is incomplete without special discount offers by jewelers and car dealers.
“You have a reason to celebrate, we give you the means to celebrate”- says each and every shopping complex. They celebrate with us coz this is what makes them earn the most. The same Archies shop sells heart shaped pillows for Valentines day, “U r d best teacher” card for teachers day, and cards with rakhi on Raksha Bandhan and what not. The numbers of festivals just don’t reduce; the list is getting populated more and more. The glamour added to the Indian festivals and ceremonies by television and movies has globalized these occasions and the events that were localized earlier can be found in every part of India now.
The nice thing about it is that it has minimized the feel of regionalism. If one sees his neighbours celebrating, how can one stop oneself from rejoicing. Personally, I feel great to celebrate festivals of both Orissa (to where I belong) and Bihar (where I am born and brought up). The negative side to it is that it burns a hole in the pocket ;) After all, we need to look special and feel special on such hundreds or two hundreds of special occasions in a year. ;D
Arpita
The country of "No"
"India is the country of No. That 'no' is your test. You have to get past it. It is India's great wall; it keeps out foreign invaders. Pursuing it energetically and vanquishing it is your challenge."- excerpts from Maximum city - Suketu Mehta.
To pursue the challenge and start living with a little more enthusiasm in a country where every 'no' seems easier than 'yes', it is very essential to analyze everything minutely.
Consider a hypothetical yet a typical day in a grown up person's life residing in any city of India. Early morning he wakes up-alarmed and disgusted, yet another day to start with!!!!Prepares himself to face the world ahead. He puts up a mask on his face which would protect and hide his real true self from the world. He wears a plastic smile-in accordance with the concrete surrounding around him. People will recognize him, socialize with him, if he has some material wealth stuffed in his pocket or bank, try to be good for him. Otherwise they will ignore! ignore him for being too modest in spending, a miser -till the time he is considered a bankrupt, and then left to live on other's benevolence. Rather, even if we avoid such extreme hypothesis, he dresses up elegantly-he knows that he has some shortcomings that cannot be hidden under wraps of power dressing, yet he does that because the confidence fostered due to this is sufficient to keep him alive and rocking! He ties up his shoe laces and has an inner wish to keep all world tied onto it.
For a simple telephone/mobile connection ,he knows he will have to encounter innumerable 'no' before he is actually granted one. Everywhere he is faced with a long queue, whether he goes for a Gas cylinder, milk, grocery, or the water from Kuwait," Petroleum” ! Sometimes, his pocket size doesn't allows him to do things at the first instant, and some other times the wide mouthed giant of price hikes.
Whatever the case may be he goes on putting up that mask, To the whole world he seems to be a perfect gentleman with a nice home-be it built on a high interest bank loan, a high salaried job-be it nominal with loads of debts to pay, nice lifestyle- to support which, he will one day sell himself, and a happy family-who can never remain at peace with their half fulfilled dreams and aspirations.
But the question is what is that ,without having which his life is as incomplete as a flower without a bee to hover upon it. Is it money? No, something like that is out of question since money is so deliquescent in nature that it can never remain static in a single place, it flows and flows on. Then is it ignorance? No, even that can be got rid of by being in constant contact with the outside social world, then what is it?
May be it is the ambition or the ever prosperous desires that were or rather would be never hit by any type of recession. It increases, day after day, moment after moment, it makes the man awe and gasp for the un-achieved! This awed reverence results in creation of further more dreams and aspirations along with unavailability of resources to suffice the needs.
So, here comes the urge, the necessity to wear a mask, to have a deception point, wherein his simple being is underneath layers of social pretentiousness. He needs to show off and flaunt something that he doesn't actually have.
Consequently, a vigor to live originates, although the whole building is built on a null and void base yet, the building starts taking shape, and the person is considered fit to survive in forest of social dogmas. He has successfully created his niche place ,who knows how wide a hiatus has he created between his natural soul and the outward appearance.
Now he can breathe in the free air which replenishes his nostrils every time with fresh air of rights to continue living in a country like ours!
-Shivi
To pursue the challenge and start living with a little more enthusiasm in a country where every 'no' seems easier than 'yes', it is very essential to analyze everything minutely.
Consider a hypothetical yet a typical day in a grown up person's life residing in any city of India. Early morning he wakes up-alarmed and disgusted, yet another day to start with!!!!Prepares himself to face the world ahead. He puts up a mask on his face which would protect and hide his real true self from the world. He wears a plastic smile-in accordance with the concrete surrounding around him. People will recognize him, socialize with him, if he has some material wealth stuffed in his pocket or bank, try to be good for him. Otherwise they will ignore! ignore him for being too modest in spending, a miser -till the time he is considered a bankrupt, and then left to live on other's benevolence. Rather, even if we avoid such extreme hypothesis, he dresses up elegantly-he knows that he has some shortcomings that cannot be hidden under wraps of power dressing, yet he does that because the confidence fostered due to this is sufficient to keep him alive and rocking! He ties up his shoe laces and has an inner wish to keep all world tied onto it.
For a simple telephone/mobile connection ,he knows he will have to encounter innumerable 'no' before he is actually granted one. Everywhere he is faced with a long queue, whether he goes for a Gas cylinder, milk, grocery, or the water from Kuwait," Petroleum” ! Sometimes, his pocket size doesn't allows him to do things at the first instant, and some other times the wide mouthed giant of price hikes.
Whatever the case may be he goes on putting up that mask, To the whole world he seems to be a perfect gentleman with a nice home-be it built on a high interest bank loan, a high salaried job-be it nominal with loads of debts to pay, nice lifestyle- to support which, he will one day sell himself, and a happy family-who can never remain at peace with their half fulfilled dreams and aspirations.
But the question is what is that ,without having which his life is as incomplete as a flower without a bee to hover upon it. Is it money? No, something like that is out of question since money is so deliquescent in nature that it can never remain static in a single place, it flows and flows on. Then is it ignorance? No, even that can be got rid of by being in constant contact with the outside social world, then what is it?
May be it is the ambition or the ever prosperous desires that were or rather would be never hit by any type of recession. It increases, day after day, moment after moment, it makes the man awe and gasp for the un-achieved! This awed reverence results in creation of further more dreams and aspirations along with unavailability of resources to suffice the needs.
So, here comes the urge, the necessity to wear a mask, to have a deception point, wherein his simple being is underneath layers of social pretentiousness. He needs to show off and flaunt something that he doesn't actually have.
Consequently, a vigor to live originates, although the whole building is built on a null and void base yet, the building starts taking shape, and the person is considered fit to survive in forest of social dogmas. He has successfully created his niche place ,who knows how wide a hiatus has he created between his natural soul and the outward appearance.
Now he can breathe in the free air which replenishes his nostrils every time with fresh air of rights to continue living in a country like ours!
-Shivi
A cup of strong coffee
From Arpi’s syaahi…… (Post 3)
Date: 18th August, 2009
hmmm..... its 2:30 am and i am wide awake. the application i was developing took another of it's snail step and i decided to treat myself with a cup of hot coffee. I wanted to keep working all night so i decided to make a strong one. While juggling with 3 milk powder and 2 coffee powder sachets, i searched for my long forgotten saucepan and prepared the strongest coffee i ever had. I just couldnt sip it. So, i just called my angel, sugar to help me out. it worked and i had a delightful strong but sweet coffee.The same must have happened with delhi on this independence day when Ms Sheila Dixit, H'ble Chief Minister of Delhi promised to make Delhi a slum free state. Now, the way i couldn’t reduce the strong bitter taste of my coffee but hid it under the sweetness of sugar, the same is being done here. Just to make the city beautiful and give a feel good factor to the citizens of Delhi, the CM of Delhi has promised the city that within few years, there would be no slums in Delhi- hmm…. a feel good factor indeed… a treat for the eyes atleast.
However, a question still arises… what about the people dwelling within the poor walls of tin, polythene, paper etc.? What is going to happen with them? We think, the government must have thought of something but the truth unfolds when we see more and more people sleeping on the footpath, beneath the flyovers, beside the ATMs. Slums can vanish; slum dwellers can’t vanish in a blink unless and until there’s no substantial plan for their settlement. They only shift their homes like nomads in a civilized jungle. It takes months of savings and a lot of courage and compromise to erect a new hut for those under BPL but it takes merely an order and a bulldozer to ground it.
Of course, it is not a good picture to see little kids who have hardly seen 4-5 Independence days in their life, selling flags made of paper, plastic or clothes. They might know what things diwali and holi mean but I don’t think they know what Independence Day and Republic Day means. They still live in a before-independence India, under the foreign rule- of the Indians, for the Indians and by the Indians. They do not have the rights to live where they want and are left on the mercy of government.
Another question- is contesting an election and winning in India a day dreaming competition? How high can you build a hawai mahal assuming that there’s nothing like an earthquake? It’s so easy to set targets, shout them out and forget later. Do you remember the Bollywood movie Nayak? Not taking into account the overly done things, I liked one thing in the movie…. the interview part. The protagonist had the perfect questions to ask each and every Indian politician. Why can’t we have all the candidates sharing the same stage, debating and chalking out a plan for a better future? Why is only government and not the opposition responsible for the country’s development? It doesn’t have power but it does have opinion. Why does it have to use its vote against the government and not in the support of development? It takes years to assemble experts and make them work together to device a perfect plan to implement something new. How can we trust some leader with a bag of dreams and no vision?
During the course of internship, we had to prepare a two page document to propose some projects with a brief about the projects, methodology, benefits and observations. These are the stuffs that make you believe the feasibility of a project. Now, who has the time and seriousness to shape those big promises into great plans? And, why should we believe what we are asked to believe without any SOP or plan? An old saying says : “Beggars can’t be choosers.” This is what we are undergoing, we are being offered coins of 1 paisa, 2 paisa, 3 paisa, 4 paisa and 5 paisa – different in magnitudes but all useless.
Now, my coffee is cold and I almost forgot it. The sweetness and bitterness still co-exist.
Arpita
Date: 18th August, 2009
hmmm..... its 2:30 am and i am wide awake. the application i was developing took another of it's snail step and i decided to treat myself with a cup of hot coffee. I wanted to keep working all night so i decided to make a strong one. While juggling with 3 milk powder and 2 coffee powder sachets, i searched for my long forgotten saucepan and prepared the strongest coffee i ever had. I just couldnt sip it. So, i just called my angel, sugar to help me out. it worked and i had a delightful strong but sweet coffee.The same must have happened with delhi on this independence day when Ms Sheila Dixit, H'ble Chief Minister of Delhi promised to make Delhi a slum free state. Now, the way i couldn’t reduce the strong bitter taste of my coffee but hid it under the sweetness of sugar, the same is being done here. Just to make the city beautiful and give a feel good factor to the citizens of Delhi, the CM of Delhi has promised the city that within few years, there would be no slums in Delhi- hmm…. a feel good factor indeed… a treat for the eyes atleast.
However, a question still arises… what about the people dwelling within the poor walls of tin, polythene, paper etc.? What is going to happen with them? We think, the government must have thought of something but the truth unfolds when we see more and more people sleeping on the footpath, beneath the flyovers, beside the ATMs. Slums can vanish; slum dwellers can’t vanish in a blink unless and until there’s no substantial plan for their settlement. They only shift their homes like nomads in a civilized jungle. It takes months of savings and a lot of courage and compromise to erect a new hut for those under BPL but it takes merely an order and a bulldozer to ground it.
Of course, it is not a good picture to see little kids who have hardly seen 4-5 Independence days in their life, selling flags made of paper, plastic or clothes. They might know what things diwali and holi mean but I don’t think they know what Independence Day and Republic Day means. They still live in a before-independence India, under the foreign rule- of the Indians, for the Indians and by the Indians. They do not have the rights to live where they want and are left on the mercy of government.
Another question- is contesting an election and winning in India a day dreaming competition? How high can you build a hawai mahal assuming that there’s nothing like an earthquake? It’s so easy to set targets, shout them out and forget later. Do you remember the Bollywood movie Nayak? Not taking into account the overly done things, I liked one thing in the movie…. the interview part. The protagonist had the perfect questions to ask each and every Indian politician. Why can’t we have all the candidates sharing the same stage, debating and chalking out a plan for a better future? Why is only government and not the opposition responsible for the country’s development? It doesn’t have power but it does have opinion. Why does it have to use its vote against the government and not in the support of development? It takes years to assemble experts and make them work together to device a perfect plan to implement something new. How can we trust some leader with a bag of dreams and no vision?
During the course of internship, we had to prepare a two page document to propose some projects with a brief about the projects, methodology, benefits and observations. These are the stuffs that make you believe the feasibility of a project. Now, who has the time and seriousness to shape those big promises into great plans? And, why should we believe what we are asked to believe without any SOP or plan? An old saying says : “Beggars can’t be choosers.” This is what we are undergoing, we are being offered coins of 1 paisa, 2 paisa, 3 paisa, 4 paisa and 5 paisa – different in magnitudes but all useless.
Now, my coffee is cold and I almost forgot it. The sweetness and bitterness still co-exist.
Arpita
Does PM’s attention cost 21 lives?
From Arpi’s syaahi………. (Post 2)
Date: 16th August, 2009
There had been 21 suicides in Andhra Pradesh. I, being a casual reader of newspaper, have often overlooked such news but today, I couldn’t. Few days ago, one of my friends asked some of the questions from his talk show. One of them was: You are a person from metropolitan. Can you connect yourself with the poor farmers of Andhra Pradesh who had committed suicide? I thought for a while, it was very mean and heartless to say no but I really couldn’t feel the pang. Finally, I tried to give a diplomatic answer, “ Well, the effect of drought can be seen on the aate daal ka bhaav . It affects every household. Although, we are on the other side of the world but we are also on the other side of the supply chain. So, we are affected.” Thank God, he changed the question.
Now, this is unbelievable. I belong to a farmer family. My grandfather is a farmer. Every year, when I visit my village back in Orissa, I watch my ba (I call my grandpa ba) wake up at 5, clean the cow shed and set for the fields (though we are not left with much). However, the thing is, belonging to a village with 35 small and big iron and steel plants, part of a developing colony Kalinganagr, a village with 24X7 electricity, airtel and reliance towers and Tata Sky cable connection in televisions; I can’t imagine farmers suiciding here. Most of the farming activities have ceased as industries are setting up. My chachu is a contractor and is doing well in his business. We also faced drought and scarcity of water in past but we were luckier, no one ever died or committed suicide.
Sorry, I just got deviated but wanted you to know that there are prosperous villages in India too. Coming back to the topic of 21 suicides, the first line in the Times of India article is……Its official. So, what’s non official? Lives come so cheap in India. I remember the book, The Holy Cow in which author Sarah McDonald mentions an earthquake toll as quoted by some newspapers…. only 110 deaths, a small casualty. But, there’s no prevention, no cure. Government is only trying to apply a balm on the dead. 21 farmers had to lose their lives to get 1.5 lakh rupees as compensation and relief on loans. Is this a price a man should pay for his family to afford two meals a day? I think, there should be something more than relief and compensation. May be, employment generation but, it would lead the farmers to move away from the farming activities that is so uncertain and risky nowadays. I guess, there must be some temporary methods to earn money while one is out of work though this idea is pretty vague. What’s your say?
Arpita
Date: 16th August, 2009
There had been 21 suicides in Andhra Pradesh. I, being a casual reader of newspaper, have often overlooked such news but today, I couldn’t. Few days ago, one of my friends asked some of the questions from his talk show. One of them was: You are a person from metropolitan. Can you connect yourself with the poor farmers of Andhra Pradesh who had committed suicide? I thought for a while, it was very mean and heartless to say no but I really couldn’t feel the pang. Finally, I tried to give a diplomatic answer, “ Well, the effect of drought can be seen on the aate daal ka bhaav . It affects every household. Although, we are on the other side of the world but we are also on the other side of the supply chain. So, we are affected.” Thank God, he changed the question.
Now, this is unbelievable. I belong to a farmer family. My grandfather is a farmer. Every year, when I visit my village back in Orissa, I watch my ba (I call my grandpa ba) wake up at 5, clean the cow shed and set for the fields (though we are not left with much). However, the thing is, belonging to a village with 35 small and big iron and steel plants, part of a developing colony Kalinganagr, a village with 24X7 electricity, airtel and reliance towers and Tata Sky cable connection in televisions; I can’t imagine farmers suiciding here. Most of the farming activities have ceased as industries are setting up. My chachu is a contractor and is doing well in his business. We also faced drought and scarcity of water in past but we were luckier, no one ever died or committed suicide.
Sorry, I just got deviated but wanted you to know that there are prosperous villages in India too. Coming back to the topic of 21 suicides, the first line in the Times of India article is……Its official. So, what’s non official? Lives come so cheap in India. I remember the book, The Holy Cow in which author Sarah McDonald mentions an earthquake toll as quoted by some newspapers…. only 110 deaths, a small casualty. But, there’s no prevention, no cure. Government is only trying to apply a balm on the dead. 21 farmers had to lose their lives to get 1.5 lakh rupees as compensation and relief on loans. Is this a price a man should pay for his family to afford two meals a day? I think, there should be something more than relief and compensation. May be, employment generation but, it would lead the farmers to move away from the farming activities that is so uncertain and risky nowadays. I guess, there must be some temporary methods to earn money while one is out of work though this idea is pretty vague. What’s your say?
Arpita
Time Machine
From Arpi’s syaahi…… (Post-1)
Date: 14th August,2009
“We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they are called memories. Some take us forward, they are called dreams. – Jeromy Irons
Just fell in love with these lines. Time is the greatest healer, people say. I find time the best story teller. Seriously, today becomes yesterday and tomorrow becomes today. It is lovely though I hate the grammer part of it i.e., tenses. Jokes apart, just rotate your eyeballs and choose the saddest person around you. He might be broken, disheartened at this time but you won’t find him the same way after one year. Somewhere, time has a major role to play.
Now, after a nap of one year (its not such a long time, is it? J), I am back, kicking my busy schedule hard (busy for nothing J) to manage few posts a week. On this Independence Day, I am just using my freedom to imagine right. Now, while writing this, I feel like a much awaited columnist back from a long period of hibernation. Here, I am with my stupid thoughts and ideas, weird style of writing and poor English (the best combination to pull more and more comments J). Keep reading, keep commenting and watch out for more……… God bless!!!!!
And, one more thing…….. I don’t know if it’s the right place but I would like to thank Shivi (my alter ego J) for motivating me to write again. Thanks a lot Shivi…. luv u….
Arpita
Tied Up In Knots
Islam and Polygamy................
The editorial peeps into the matters of the pious teachings of the religion and the rules which are applicable over the society through it.The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 enforced monogamy over almost ever other sect except Islam.And as the passage seemed to be clear,cases of sham conversion to the religion,for the sake of a second bi-gamous marriage happened.
Take for example,an Indian army physician serving in Afganistan temporarily converts to marry a girl there,and a few years later ,returned to his family in India ,leaving the Afgan girl in lurch.
Everyone of us is able to see the injustice,except the laws who govern us.
All of this makes us think of the true Islamic rules that govern polygamy.
Going back to the 7th century Arab society,when unrestriced polygamy was rampant,Islam subjected the precondition that the man should be capable of treating his co-wives absolutely equally in every respect.Throwing away the first wife without divorce for a new one was not what quran had envisaged.Quran talks "Monogamy would keep you away from doing injustice".
Prophet also added a deterrent warning "A bigamist failing to treat his wives equally will be torn apart on the day of judgement." Sounds like an attempt to gradually route out the practice in talk from the society. Does'nt it??
Talking back to the times now,even the commission governing over marriage,being conscious of the religious sensitivity of the Muslim society in respect of personal law has been acting ignorant.The belief of the circles that despite being the clear distortion and misuse of the personal law is outside the power and function of constitutional organs of the state seems naive.
The Islamic law in India has been dealt with all due respect and best has been done to accomodate with the religious sensitivity of the community,yet the situation remains vague still and it seems no one is willing enough to even think of a solution.
Polygamy simply does'nt sound just 'coz i can't imagine it being a one way affair,in today's scenario.Be the best of the polygamists man,satisfy all your wags but think of the the day you spot your girl with some other, and you yourself 'll not be liking your holy buisness being practiced .
Also if a particular community is allowed to practice it ans others not,the basic law of equality of all the citizens of the state is threatened.
And if the need of change is felt this much about a thing,which is incorrect in all senses,Why NOT CHANGE IT??
History Humour: Lemme tell you the story of one the crowned head kings of all times.Raja Dashrath had the capabilty of driving ten rathas at a time.Mighty to the extent that single handedly defeated the army of "Asuras".
Lemme tell you he landed up quite screwed in his last days,'coz of the idea called"polygamy".
So,if can't do anything,let history teach you.
Pranav
16th Aug '09
Scared swines....
Swine flu fear is encapsulating every human move into a masked, cautious one . Like an epidemic it is spreading and infecting more on Psyche of the masses. More than 1,100 people worldwide have died from swine flu since it emerged in Mexico and the U.S. in April, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization.
Somewhere , sometimes ago I read a prediction by an ancient man[like Nostradamus-I cant recall the name now] He prophesied:
"When blacks rule, Pigs will fly"
Obama and Swine flu hoax happened in the same decade as predicted, now who is responsible for this?...the racial comment on blacks made centuries ago, the powerful black himself,the petty swines or we-the commoners who can never know what form will the next catastrophe will come wrapped in.
- Shivangi
Somewhere , sometimes ago I read a prediction by an ancient man[like Nostradamus-I cant recall the name now] He prophesied:
"When blacks rule, Pigs will fly"
Obama and Swine flu hoax happened in the same decade as predicted, now who is responsible for this?...the racial comment on blacks made centuries ago, the powerful black himself,the petty swines or we-the commoners who can never know what form will the next catastrophe will come wrapped in.
- Shivangi
मैं अकेला ही चला था जनीबे मंजिल की तरफ़, लोग आते गए और कारवां बनता गया....
A text message yesterday revealed that we're gonna have two new members in our review contributing team now. The more, the merrier, indeed. (Waitin' for them to join us.)
I have been a great fan of Arpita's poems and short stories. Let's see what this thoughtful girl has to offer, after a year long writing hiatus.
And as for Shivangi, well, hers is one of the very few blogs that I constantly follow. Check her blog out... http://shivi-shivangi.blogspot.com Its quite interesting.
Welcome to this Arbit speculations thingy, girls. The objective, you know. We are reviewing news dailies for sheer fun as well as enhancing our general knowledge. No need to follow strict review writing norms, coz' we don't follow any. No restrictions on using fuckin' unconstitutional words, coz' tht ain't a big deal.
Write what you feel like. It's your blog.
Alok.
I have been a great fan of Arpita's poems and short stories. Let's see what this thoughtful girl has to offer, after a year long writing hiatus.
And as for Shivangi, well, hers is one of the very few blogs that I constantly follow. Check her blog out... http://shivi-shivangi.blogspot.com Its quite interesting.
Welcome to this Arbit speculations thingy, girls. The objective, you know. We are reviewing news dailies for sheer fun as well as enhancing our general knowledge. No need to follow strict review writing norms, coz' we don't follow any. No restrictions on using fuckin' unconstitutional words, coz' tht ain't a big deal.
Write what you feel like. It's your blog.
Alok.
Of droughts and floods in the Indian economics...
'Drought of Justice, flood of funds' - The Hindu, august 15th, 2009
Hindu normally doesn't use a mocking language in its leading editorials of the day, but this one clearly was an exception. P. Sainath talks about the NREGS (National rural employment Guarantee scheme), the recent historical hikes in Tur dal, Tata Nano, the fiscally imprudent farm load waiver and the generous revenue foregone in indirect taxes to the Indian corporate mob in one go.
And never once in the article the reader feels out of sync.
He's right. The Indian government is very quick when it comes to blaming the drought for the price hikes. But as one must have noticed, the prices had begun to hike since 2004 elections, and not all of these years we had bad monsoons. We again saw quite a price hike just before 2009 elections. The recent unprecedented hike since the last three months is just a natural progression of the sequence, and it has got very little to do with the oncoming drought, if any. Its all about planned speculation.
The writer also talks about monsoon management. Sure, its no where to be seen in Indian agriculture right now. Months receiving more rainfall do not provide proportional increase in the buffer stock, and the govt. doesn't care much as long as the production is crossing the bare essentials for tht year. And it cries along with us when the droughts come. Development of a pond on every farm is also a nice idea, but i doubt the feasibility of it, given the economical status of our farmers and the extremely small farmland divisions we have back in the fields.
But yes, having ponds on a co-operative basis can help. It would definitely reduce the dependence on rain.
Sainath also talks about the immense share of concessions received by the Indian corporate giants, and mocks the hue and cry over the government's right step of farm loan waivers.
Penny wise, Pound foolish. Are we not?
Anyways, I'm impressed by the writer's ability to relate things. In his words, " We celebrated the delivery of the cheapest car in the world and the costliest Tur dal in the Indian history, within the same 31 days.".
How ironical.
Alok.
August 15th, 2009.
p.s. let me take this opportunity to thank every freedom fighter and every soul that got burnt for achieving the Indian Independence. Had it not been for you people's sweat and blood, I might not have been writing this blog right now. This post is dedicated to you all.
Dividing the multiples.
'To divide is to multiply in northeast.' (The Hindu, august 12, 2009).
Well, logically speaking, dividing something actually creates multiples. That way, you are actually multiplying (increasing) the number of the sub products. So the inherent semantic irony is itself universal, and not local to any particular domain. Never the less, it sounds cool.
But let's not talk maths here. Let's talk north east.
The problem -: Rising number of pro action military outfits in the north east.
Govt's solution -: Banning the rebel outfits.
The backlash -: Disintegration of one outfit into two or more smaller groups with slightly
different ideologies, which within no time, become as big and as active as the
parent one.
The effect -: Two rebel outfits in place of one; more militant activities, more headache for the
government.
The writer has rightly pointed that self determination, sovereignty, independence, autonomy, territoriality, language and culture are the buzzwords that animate such militant struggles, and there is no end to them. In my view, Banning a rebel outfit might give an air of legal dominance of the government over the area, but it actually does two things. Instead of logically talking to the militants, or at least raising a strong public opinion against them, it single handedly tries to suppress the people, acting exactly as the militant organizations think it does... the suppressors. And the militants start considering themselves to be anti government revolutionaries.
Two, it makes the outfit more popular and controversial. The same popularity hunger that makes outfits like al kayda to accept the responsibility of some devastating bomb blast.
Solution: Not touched upon in the article. May be generating a strong public opinion against the militant outfits, and showing how the government is working for the public while the militant outfits are destroying the resources can help. But it definitely would need far more ground work and dedicated planning than sheer issuing of a ban notice from the air conditioned government offices.
Alok.
Aug 12, 2009
Well, logically speaking, dividing something actually creates multiples. That way, you are actually multiplying (increasing) the number of the sub products. So the inherent semantic irony is itself universal, and not local to any particular domain. Never the less, it sounds cool.
But let's not talk maths here. Let's talk north east.
The problem -: Rising number of pro action military outfits in the north east.
Govt's solution -: Banning the rebel outfits.
The backlash -: Disintegration of one outfit into two or more smaller groups with slightly
different ideologies, which within no time, become as big and as active as the
parent one.
The effect -: Two rebel outfits in place of one; more militant activities, more headache for the
government.
The writer has rightly pointed that self determination, sovereignty, independence, autonomy, territoriality, language and culture are the buzzwords that animate such militant struggles, and there is no end to them. In my view, Banning a rebel outfit might give an air of legal dominance of the government over the area, but it actually does two things. Instead of logically talking to the militants, or at least raising a strong public opinion against them, it single handedly tries to suppress the people, acting exactly as the militant organizations think it does... the suppressors. And the militants start considering themselves to be anti government revolutionaries.
Two, it makes the outfit more popular and controversial. The same popularity hunger that makes outfits like al kayda to accept the responsibility of some devastating bomb blast.
Solution: Not touched upon in the article. May be generating a strong public opinion against the militant outfits, and showing how the government is working for the public while the militant outfits are destroying the resources can help. But it definitely would need far more ground work and dedicated planning than sheer issuing of a ban notice from the air conditioned government offices.
Alok.
Aug 12, 2009
मेरा भारत महान....
बचपन से ही पढ़ते चले आए... भारत अनेकता में एकता का देश है.
पर जब पिछले दो साल के अन्दर पांडिचेरी के समुद्र तट के किनारे बनी गाँधी की विशाल मूर्ति, बिहार सचिवालय के शिखर पर लहराता तिरंगा , दमन के एक अनजान ट्रक के पीछे लिखा 'मेरा भारत महान', दिल्ली की ऑटो पर लिखा ' I love my India', अहमदाबाद में स्थित अतिव्यस्त नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस उपरी पुल, बंगलोर यह धड़कन महात्मा गाँधी सड़क, और दादरा नगर हवेली की दमन 'गंगा' नदी को देखा तो विश्वास हुआ।
भारत वास्तव में अनेकता में एकता का देश है। हम सब भले ही अत्यधिक भिन्न हों एक दूसरे से, पर भारतीयता सबमें उतनी ही है। ये बातें पढ़ने में बहुत सामान्य लगें, पर अनुभव करने पर रोमांचित करती हैं।
आलोक.
पर जब पिछले दो साल के अन्दर पांडिचेरी के समुद्र तट के किनारे बनी गाँधी की विशाल मूर्ति, बिहार सचिवालय के शिखर पर लहराता तिरंगा , दमन के एक अनजान ट्रक के पीछे लिखा 'मेरा भारत महान', दिल्ली की ऑटो पर लिखा ' I love my India', अहमदाबाद में स्थित अतिव्यस्त नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस उपरी पुल, बंगलोर यह धड़कन महात्मा गाँधी सड़क, और दादरा नगर हवेली की दमन 'गंगा' नदी को देखा तो विश्वास हुआ।
भारत वास्तव में अनेकता में एकता का देश है। हम सब भले ही अत्यधिक भिन्न हों एक दूसरे से, पर भारतीयता सबमें उतनी ही है। ये बातें पढ़ने में बहुत सामान्य लगें, पर अनुभव करने पर रोमांचित करती हैं।
आलोक.
Joint ventures Inc.
I normally prefer to work alone. Managing a team is a different issue; working side by side with team mates is a different one. Its quite frustrating at times.
Unless you have some really good understanding between the team mates. And thats precisely why I accepted this offer of starting a joint blog with Pranav. This guy is my alter ego. My thoughts progress into his writings and his thoughts influence mine. So this blog is just an electronic representation of the interaction that keeps on happening all the time.
And then, reviewing the newspaper editorials is a win win situation for me. One, I get to rediscover my lost lust of reading newspaper articles. Seriously man, otherwise I dont find enough time to browse through the Hindu, which keeps on piling on my side table all unread. Two, I get a hang of what's happening outside this egg shell called iit. We normally don't discuss the world affairs out here... coz' we already have a lot of local affairs to deal with. ;). And three, I get new topics for blogging. Writing is a following a chain. Once you get the starting then it can go on and on. So, this reviewing editorials things would help me to overcome the dearth of topics worth blogging. (Frankly speaking, I am a little sick of posting routine emotional stuff on my other regular blog.)
Ah, I missed on another benefit. i also get to regularly read the parallel thoughts of Pranav, who I actually think, writes better than me.
Okay. Enough of prologues. Let's get going dude.
Unless you have some really good understanding between the team mates. And thats precisely why I accepted this offer of starting a joint blog with Pranav. This guy is my alter ego. My thoughts progress into his writings and his thoughts influence mine. So this blog is just an electronic representation of the interaction that keeps on happening all the time.
And then, reviewing the newspaper editorials is a win win situation for me. One, I get to rediscover my lost lust of reading newspaper articles. Seriously man, otherwise I dont find enough time to browse through the Hindu, which keeps on piling on my side table all unread. Two, I get a hang of what's happening outside this egg shell called iit. We normally don't discuss the world affairs out here... coz' we already have a lot of local affairs to deal with. ;). And three, I get new topics for blogging. Writing is a following a chain. Once you get the starting then it can go on and on. So, this reviewing editorials things would help me to overcome the dearth of topics worth blogging. (Frankly speaking, I am a little sick of posting routine emotional stuff on my other regular blog.)
Ah, I missed on another benefit. i also get to regularly read the parallel thoughts of Pranav, who I actually think, writes better than me.
Okay. Enough of prologues. Let's get going dude.
Pilot
I always wondered ,what it feels to think of a great idea.Well no shortge of the stuff called "idea" in this crappy brain or whatever God filled the top 6 inches of me with(I consantly wonder,whats inside there,that makes me live this kind of crap..). Okey ,so leave me n my wondering there only,but the idea of coming up with a blog with Alok seemed hell of a great idea.
Talking about writing,its sort of involuntary .We feel zero,we write,we feel one we write.That too is sort of a celebrated quality indeed.You see,not many people I know ,realise the importance of scribbling a high or low moment over paper.Blogging provided us a huge amount of world to share our moments with.With Alok's reflectionsalec over blogger and mine the curve of thoughts over tumblr going on,we had our spaces of sharing.And suddenly there comes an idea to start a new blog together..
So,why a new blog??
Have'nt you put up enough of shit out ur head over this holy place called internet??
Well yup,though we had our spaces,lately we realised there's a bit or two about our blogging that need some correction .
Let me just drift away for a moment to make my point.Say these days ,I like a girl ,who on the luckiest days of mine wears purple and passes me a smile or two.And when she does,I try to get away from the crowd,imagine things about her and pen down some real melodramatic stuff.
Do you see my point now??
Yes....No.....Whatever??!!
Dunno if U are seeing it or not ,from my side I can say,I see no way how you can see it.
And that's simply b'coz ,there is no point in all of this.Like my "purple girl" is nobody to everyone else out there, its clearly defined,there are ideas that do matter and there are ideas that don't .
So last time,when me and Alok conversed over phone we discussed about the GD /PI's that we will need to clear for assuring that we are having our management studies at some real good place.(Spoiler Alert :We want to do it at IIM-A and nowhereelse in the world!!!) We discussed the need of talking to the world and in order to do so,we realised we must talk over things that are more related to the world.The need of growing up,the need to get involved in the worldy affairs is pretty obvious now as, its not much time left,when we people will be getting off this simulation thing at our colleges and will be exposed to the real working world. And surely be a narcissist or hell of a self critic,it does'nt really matter ,in order to do the talking you have to have some thought about the things happening around you.
The idea with which we are starting this blog is that ,we will be covering the editorials of the two dailies that we get,with me taking over the "Times of India" and Alok will be dealing with "The Hindu" editorials.Covering the editorials means we will be giving our views what we think of the subject that these dailies are discussing and if not anything else,it will surely provide us topics more relevent to the happening world.
So,I guess I talked enough about the talks that we will be talking here.The pilot ends here with the message to those who read it to feel free to develop an opinion about this webspace and feel free to comment .We give you the right to correctly spell the word "FUCK" when you feel like it.We don't really appreciate if you care to misspell.
Let there be some posts!!
PS. :- And even after talking in this much of a committed tone towards this blog,I promise to respond to the Pablo Naruda ping that you give me purple girl,every time you pass me a smile ,that's how the other blog is gonna continue ;)
Pranav
15th Aug '09