Are We Really Celebrating???

We people are proud of our heritage… our culture… our zing-y festivals. We just need an excuse to celebrate… and boy we celebrate it with a bang!  That’s our guilty pleasure. Guilty … ‘coz just after all the celebration… there is a flood of news items… articles… blogs… opinions… telling us how wrong/immature/shallow/toxic our way of celebration was. We feel guilty… we promise ourselves to be more concerned next year… but then… these promises follow the trend of our diet resolutions… we can’t stick to it.

Diwali, for example… is supposed to be festival of lights… not sound & smoke. The idea of celebrating Diwali is to dispel the darkness… within us and around us… and not deafen the ears … or blurring the eyes… or suffocating the lungs… or burning the fingers. And it definitely is not about sending the dogs howling & birds scurrying to safety. We have images from NASA of how Diwali celebrations look like from outer space (And man it’s amazing!)… But then… the street view speaks (read screams) otherwise. It makes me wonder if there is any positive connection between the crackers you burst/burn to the satisfaction of Goddess Lakshmi-Goddess of Wealth.  I mean… think about it… one moment you pray to Her to bless you & your family with abundant wealth... and next moment you burn most of it by igniting the Lakhsmi bombs!  Is it an investment scheme where your money (wealth) gets doubled just by setting it on fire? ‘Coz if it’s so… the whole world should try… our economy woes shall shoo away… and that too with a bang!

Our last guilt trip before Diwali was probably during Ganesh Chaturthi… We prayed… we spread joy… we danced… we immersed the not so eco-friendly Lord Ganesh idols (only to be washed away to the shores and polluting the water & beaches). We saw it on TV and newspapers… we felt guilty… we promised ourselves to go green next year (let’s see how that goes). The festivity drugs us so much so that even Lord Ganesha pokes fun at us.... Remember the once upon a time trending SMS where a devotee cries for help during a water disaster and Lord Ganesha dances in glee… the devotee questions Him… to which He replies… “Hey! You started it… you danced like crazy while you drowned me...!”  

Holi if you ask me… has turned into festival of revenge (in a sweet-chilli way though). Nobody remembers or bothers to know the significance of Holi festival. It’s not festival of colours anymore for Holi is not played with just water & colours but anything & everything that can be slathered/ splashed upon your opponent. The “balam pichkari” of Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani is way too clean version of holi is all I can say.

The list of our drugged guilt trips is endless. Now we have a few more added… thanks to globalization & movie-Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Every year at every festival… there is this trend… Activists try creating awareness & request for greener celebrations… We celebrate the way we always have (plus or minus here and there)….  Reports come in post celebration on how green or mean it was… We bow our head down or pretend we did not know about it…

Agreed that we come have a long way… there are a few who have changed the way they celebrate these festivals… they now do it with a greener zing… schools have also now taken the responsibility… We have so called eco-friendly non-toxic colours… less smoky crackers… Lord Ganesha idols… nd blah blah… But then like my friend points out… Are they (we) really celebrating??? Think about it… Do we need all this preaching of toxicity at every festival? Doesn’t that actually dampen the very spirit of celebration? Haven’t our way of celebration become less of a sparkle more of a bang with zilch devotion & spiritualization??   

BOL: When words aren't enough

The suppressed cries; the boiling anger; the aggregation of frustration are no unknown variables in the lives of a Homo sapien. And if you belong to that economically and socially challenged class, these variables are like a parasitic leech that won't leave you nor would do any good. 

When I saw the movie Bol, I did not know how to react. I was speechless. On one hand I knew the "dark matter" like everybody else. On the other hand, I was completely shell shocked and wondered how rotten if it was true and happened to me. But again it was the dirty stark truth. It (well almost) was "Kahani Ghar Ghar ki" (Story of every household). There was nothing new about the story. Everybody knows and practices "racial and sexual discrimination" (on scale of 1-10) just like they know and sing "Twinkle twinkle little star". 

The protagonist at the end leaves the "audience" with a set of questions and mainly why isn't it a crime to give birth to a child when you can't afford to raise the child economically and socially. A very valid point. Why do people not understand that getting extra help on wages (Child labour is criminal act by the way) also means extra expenses? And if its not for wages but wait for male child (sex determination and abortion is against law, supposedly) like in the movie, then you are extremely atrocious.People out of their desperation to make it to the top of Maslow's pyramid of a developing entity or sheer madness are strangely blinded of the impeding disaster to themselves, their family and to the society at large. They fail to understand the basic law of nature, the basic law of life-its all loopedy -loop. In western countries especially the US, if it is found that parents are unable to keep their children in a happy and stable environment, the children are taken away from them and are sent for open adoption or foster care! 

I ask...How many laws and law keepers, reforms and reformists, civic lessons and social workers, articles and journalists, poems-songs and lyricists, movies and movie-makers et.al does it take to ring in the change? Are we those who simply applaud a certain someone for showing the ugly truth on paper and screen? Or are we those who in ourselves truly believe in flushing away the crap we and our homo sapien ancestors have been extruding till date? 

If all these were one thing, then fight against terrorism is another disgusting pie. Though this is not part of the movie BOL; terrorism in every sense is linked to discrimination by discrimination itself. The recent terror attacks in the country again point out the same issue .... Are we too easy a target? Why are we a target in the first place? Did we knowingly or unknowingly leave the wood and grass to dry and start an unwanted forest fire? Are we ready for a Phoenix act? And if yes, are we willing to volunteer and implement the solution ?

PS: I have purposely omitted the story of the movie, though you could find it anywhere on the net. However, I recommend you see the movie at least once. If you are one of those who are an adherent fan of Golmaal like movies and nothing else, you may feel a sprint of Emotional torture but again as I said it is the Ugly truth. 

Aarakshan::Reservation- I rest my Case

Ok... caught in my own Life's Aarakshan and of course the hue and cry of bill sent to Govt of India by Anna Hazare et.al, I somehow couldn't write my final post on the age old issue. Not that anyone really cares (Blogger is not really showing any stats on my previous 2 posts on the issue) but as a blogger, my apologies if anyone was in fact looking forward for the final read on the issue even for a brief moment. 

So where were we??? Oh yeah... we heard both sides of the story and were stuck at crossroads....

              

If we support reservation, it means that we still enjoy caste-ism and favoritism in the name of welfare. Also implying that we still are confident that without reservation welfare isn't even remotely plausible. And unfortunately, any unchecked system would act as a reactant to an impending collapse of the bigger system-the society.

If we do not support reservation, it means that we are Hippocrates demanding "equality" in opportunity when the precursor to opportunity is definitely not equal. Also it implies that we fail to apply two principles of Science. (Following TV series "The Big Bang Theory" these days)

1. Archimedes principle: If a farmer's son at level 1 has used reservation to become a banker at level 2, then someone from level 2 has to come to level 1. So why the hell do you cry saying "If they (SC/ST/OBC) have taken our (High class) jobs we'll have to do theirs" (A dialogue in the movie Aarakshan).... If one has  a problem with shifting classes then he/she should not dream of shifting to a higher class (if there is) either. 
2. Law of Limitation: We are only as strong as our weakest class of society. So, If one doesn't bother about the weakest class of society (no matter what caste they belong) don't dream of living in "!ncredible" India but just India.

If like in the movie Aarakshan (yeah i saw the movie finally) you put up coaching classes so that the under privileged challenge a higher cut off, then again the "high class" people are doomed and won't like it as the Law of Reservation says "If a student of reservation class clears a General class cut off then he/she shall be accommodated in General class and not reservation class." Its like a double edged sword for I can say. 

The problem lies in having a nonsensical categorization of people in the first place. (as if the classification done by zoologists for Homo sapiens is not enough!). Ok lets agree for a moment that categorization brings in the ease of planning and making things better in an efficient manner. But the major problems comes when we stick to ancient classes(castes) , which are based on our ancestral way of earning livelihood and not our current class or status (the way our parents earn livelihood). 

If we reserve reservation only to a certain extent and not make it almost ubiquitous; club reservation to parent's income and ways of generating income and completely remove the nonsensical and passe classes and castes, wouldn't it be beneficial for all?? It will also keep a check on Income Tax payment (if applicable), as Income Tax papers would be one of the certificates required during admission process rather than a caste certificate.

Surely any amendment to the Reservation bill will be met with stronger actions and reactions (Newton's Law) with the pro reservation at Ramlila and anti reservation at Jantar Mantar... it might need clones of Anna and might even outweigh the TRP of the JanLokpal Bill... but in the end what matters is a logical , practical and foresighted "Aarakshan" and thus I rest my case.

Aarakshan: Reservation:: Reserve or Reverse Part-II

In my last post I shared with you part-I of my view point on this debatable issue of reservation. In this post I wanna open with a question of reality. 

After 64 years of Independence where does India stand? Advancement in technology and infrastructure is one thing, advancement in its people's mindset is another. As an Indian I would like to brag about the former (even if certain stuff is only gas) but, as the same Indian am I proud of the latter? 

Lets go back to our history lesson to "try" answering the above.. 

When the reservations were introduced, naturally all the lower class people drank in jubilation for their "freedom" and most of the upper class drank in dejection for loosing out on privileges. They failed to notice that  they have enjoyed 100% of these privileges for so long and its time they learnt to share these privileges. This caused the pro reservation and anti reservation groups to emerge. However, the country wasn't deprived of saints back then. There were some high class people who were pro-reservation and wanted India, their country to evolve like the other countries of the world. 

As time passed by, these privileges could no longer be categorized as privileges. The access to and supply of ways to improve lifestyle boomed and there was enough room for everybody. And by law of nature, the Anti- reservation-ists mellowed down. Thanks to reservation, today class/caste can't be defined by the present "occupation".It simply denotes what our fore fathers and families did for their living. People of one class have now crossed over to another class by occupation. Everybody has learnt everything and is doing everything. Everybody SEEMS to be happy. 

So WHAT'S the problem now??? 

1. The population of the country exploded at twice the amoebic rate. Even one for two is a danger! 
2. The supply and demand for better lifestyle went for a toss with the former falling short and the equilibrium seems to reach its destination only tomorrow (for which we all are waiting). 
3. The people who are fortunate enough to get rights of reservation seem to have lost track down the lane and seem to become negligent of utilizing their opportunity (there are always reasons). 
4. There are still many people who are eligible for the reservation rights and yet don't utilize them due to lack of funding and knowledge of raising funds for the same or due to simple ignorance. 
5. To keep up the constitutional law of reservation, the institutions providing the opportunities for betterment are forced to put up a low cut off. (Law of economics). Thus diluting the input,output and the very essence of the opportunities.
6. People have moved onto different classes WITHOUT leaving behind their actual class/caste tags.  

All these factors have put a sense of insecurity and deprivation of rights to those so called high class people. They made the anti reservation groups to re-emerge and thus Class-ism and caste-ism  back into the country reversing all the advancements. 

What's the solution?? What am I - Pro or anti reservation??? KEEP WATCHING THIS SPACE.

Aarakshan-Reservation::Reserve or Reverse - Part I

For today's generation, "Reservation" seems to be an overrated and overtly abused and misused term. All the age old controversial and debatable dialogues and emotions sure have spurt up from the volcanic tubes like lava (yet again) when dear Prakash Jha announced his movie AARAKSHAN. I haven't seen the movie yet, but from the news (items); movie reviews and its trailers with strong dialogues on TV.. I have somehow gathered some knowledge of the film and its story.. Anyhow not restricting myself with the film, here is what I as an Indian feel about the issue....

If you go back to into the history of the forgotten, the divide of high class and low class seems to have been arbitrarily designated with the kind of "occupation" a class/family was into... Back then, most people focused on doing what their Dad's did for a living... 'coz that is how a prince became a King...(always). Once a sort of categorization began to be quite evident, vertical hierarchy which we today call as castes/class came into strong existence...and the people seemed to agree not to cross over each other in profession. (Except for those who had a futuristic mindset, exceptionally). 

For centuries together this went on and on and "reservation" ran in the background with the people without the people noticing it. Slowly the background became so strong, (with the help of rulers who believed in Divide and Rule way before the English, unconsciously) that it gave rise to a black era of "untouchability". With little access to and supply of better lifestyle which includes education, recreation, worship etc; came the ubiquitous and  absurd law of "100% reservation" for higher class people. The lower class/caste people were barred even for entering the premises of these "holy and high class" places, leave alone acquiring/utilizing the opportunity for better lifestyle. Ironically the Harijans are also called "Children of God" and yet treated as out-castes!!!

The English who then ruled India at this point , identified  this weakness of the country and used it as a weapon against Indian Freedom struggle, further widening the gap and scaring the country and its people. It was only at the last stages of the freedom struggle that the English thought they need to re-call this weapon together with the help of Indian leaders with futuristic view points. They thought that if they did not re-call it, there might be a catastrophe waiting to happen. They did not want to scar its history and dignity and let the world say "look what you have done to this lovely country". This brought in the idea of reservation for lower and  neglected class of the society, and help them find the lost glory of LIFE. Please note this is not 100% reservation..it is thus not a REVENGE like many anti reservation people quote it as....................

This is just one side of the story, watch this space for the other side of the story. COMING SOON...

The Dying Society

Morning:

1.         Report of Afghan Prez’s Half Brother being Shot dead by bodyguard

2.         Report of Honour Killing: Dad kills Daughter for going to the malls with boys

3.         Report of kidnapping by former neighbours

4.         Report of “Codes” used by Docs in Hospitals for sex determination nd female foeticide

5.         Report of Fake encounter killing a teen in Chandigarh.

Afternoon

6.     Broad day light murder streamed on TV via Traffic camera in Coimbatore…. As people at the signal simply “follow” the traffic signal rules nd watch the “show”…. [the video captured shows how a man is brutally murdered with big stone smashed twice on his head]

Evening:

7.         “Serial Blasts” in Mumbai …. Yet again……! With more than 10 + ppl being killed and more than a hundred hospitalised… exact numbers now unknown.

These are “just” 7 tragedies that were reported and caught my attention today….. Imagine how many I might have missed nd how many might have gone unreported…… and how many over the year……

Every time a politician or his/her family is murdered,

It raises the question “Is this….what is called the National Security???? “.......

Every time family kills family for honour….

It raises the question “Is this…. what is called honour???? “…….

Every time a child is kidnapped for ransom…

It raises the question “Is this…. What is called FREEDOM????”…….

Every time a girl child is “nipped in the bud”…

 It raises the question “Is this a way of making polygamy legal????"

Every time an encounter for good/bad takes place….

It raises a question “Is this the way it should have happened????"

Every time a person is brutally killed publically......

It raises the question of “Is it that people just love “live” shows????”

Every time a city is rocked with series of bombs….

                It raises the question “Is it what we call the communal harmony of world????”

The questions have been raised again nd again…. But where does the answer lie????? Where does the solution to this disturbing problem lie?????? How do we implement those solutions?????? Finally will we ever implement them?????

If we don’t change this quickly and if we don’t give a damn care… If we simply say… “We will get on with it…” not actually fight back nd dare…. Then my friends….. We won’t SURVIVE ‘coz….

The so called “Society” is dying……………. 

SURVIVAL: A Shady Business

“Ek peti ni…do peti dunga…kaam ho jana chahiye…bas!” (I’ll pay you not one but twice the price…but the work SHOULD be done..!) That’s the reigning attitude of every person at every level at every other instance!! If a log of such instances was to be created from the very moment a soul made his/her presence on the earth… (like the new Google Ad).. It would quite be a read …..

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Dear Child,

Your Mom observed that she might be pregnant! Went to the doctor today… Don’t want to be a spoiler here but my God it was a loot… just to confirm your mom’s observation. Anyhow we want the best for you so “gifted” the Doctor a cash box in advance.

Love, your Parents

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Dear Son,

We did not know if you are a girl or a boy at first. Today went to hospital to confirm. Though that is not allowed as per law, we did some “community work” and they just obliged. J We are so happy you are a boy!!

Love, your Parents

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Dear Alex,

Congratulations!! You arrived. To make sure you have the brightest future, we got a highly renowned numerologist to name you in the hospital. He was happy that we “arranged” everything according to what he demanded. And we are happy!! J

Love, your Parents

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Dear Alex,

Admitted you in a play school today. It is the best in the city. It was a cake walk admission once we “shared our identity” with the Principal.

Love, your Parents

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Do observe what all mails have in common… it’s the habit of bribing… it’s the habit of soaking in malpractices and ignoring the guilt… it’s the sprouting of more corrupt practices…

Returning to the story….. This goes on and on… for 3 decades and one day….

 Alexander is asked by his friend…. “Where did you get all that money from?”

“Umm… Dad had a lot of money (my grandfather gave him some)... he also had a position… he paid in until I got a hang of making money… and then onwards I took care of myself and now my son too” replied Alex.

“But still how do you manage to earn so much money???”  Asked the perplexed friend…

“By the same way we spend them!”… Spat came the answer!!!

You now realize that the whole system has got rotten… the whole system now doesn’t even have the faintest idea that something is wrong and is going circles!! The very few who realize it and voice it are either shunned or gunned down… Why the hell is this happening??  Have we taken ‘Survival of the fittest’ a bit too seriously, that every generation… at every stage of their life is tempted to use false practices? I guess the answer to this baffling question is YES!!!

So, what we need today to stop all the non-sense chaos…. all the “overboard’ favours… all the dips in economy… all the widening of Rich and Poor divide… all the absurd and alarming sex ratio… all the snag in developmental sectors…. Is NOT merely a Lokpal bill or any other bill for that matter… is NOT merely a highly influential politicos… is NOT merely an establishment of “Clean-up the dirty act” institutions or stringent “patrols”… but something more important than all these…. The PEOPLE…

… The soul CLEANSING of the people… the impregnation of CIVIC SENSE in the people… the idea of self-discipline in ALL aspects of life and work in the minds of the people… and by people I mean ALL people… no exceptions… In fact, No person should be entitled to use his/her fundamental rights if he is found guilty of breaking other’s rights or non-fulfilment of his/her fundamental duties!!

It’s truly said… beauty is skin deep…. Unless your heart mind and soul are beautiful…. No matter what cosmetics you use…. You will still look drab!! And when everyone is drab… the country itself will look drab!!!

The Institution of Prostitution or the Shoe story????

Every day I would stand in the most seductive way I could be…

And every day many would come near and glance at me.

Some sure did admire my curves, my looks and took me up…

And some hunks would caress me and some would feel me up!

They would test my firmness beneath and bend me over…

And very analytically compare my flexibility to another.

On one bright shiny day I saw this gorgeous hunk at the door…

And one look at his charismatic smile; I was over the moor.

Alas! He followed the same routine, felt me nice and tossed me…

But just before leaving, he stopped at the door and glanced back at me!

He went over to the lady who was in charge around here…

And he paid in some money to the lady to take me elsewhere.

As he held me in his hands, I realized… This is not the end…

Slowly I started smiling and said goodbye to all my friends

He rode on me every morning evening and every day since…

Until one day he felt I was all torn n so he began to wince!

He showcased me to his servant who looked at me with gleam

Surprised and broken to the core, all I wanted to do is scream.

The servant took me to his home, which by the way was very shoddy

I was so depressed and felt humiliated that I talked to nobody.

When it dawned next, the servant took me to a cheap clinic at the fair

The doctor there glued n stitched me up tight so that I make a good pair!

Every day since, to my surprize again…the servant took a very good care

And made sure nobody… I mean nobody would came near me n dare

Years have passed by and my memory of the hunk now faded

I realize that the servant loves me so much even though m not jaded

The hunk now old was in shock to see me still young and with a glow

Filled with jealousy and curiosity he asked the servant “how”???

The servant replied…. “I tend to take care of everybody no matter who...”

The hunk retorted “C’mon it’s just an old shoe, next week I’ll get you a new Shoe”!

                                                                                                      Divya Boddu

This a twin story of a shoe and a prostitute. Now tell me... Who is to blame???? what should we do to stop such stories to become a reality and stop the shamelessness of millions around the world !!