Corrup-tion or Corrupt-kaun?

Disclaimer : The writer has not read much about the Lokpal Bill, for which the whole ‘revolution’ is on. These are just views about what the writer has been wondering past few days, looking at number of invitations he got from different people, either through sms or on facebook.

So yes. It’s been what, some 3-4 days since Anna Hazare has been on every newspaper’s headlines, every news channel’s Breaking News, many’s facebook profile wall and updates, not to forget about sms asking to give a miss call on a particular number to support the cause.

I have no issues with the man who has started his fast, and I suppose it’s still on (am not keeping me updated on this news). The only issue I have is with the kind of people who’re supporting it. I think of going anywhere around VT and then people say it’ll be all jammed ‘coz of the rallies happening, supporting the cause. Last night while cycling at Marine Drive I noticed these youth, bunch of some 50-70 in all, donning the Nehru-topi on their heads with placards in their hands and screaming something, which I failed to understand.

From what little I’ve read in the newspaper, this ‘revolution’ is for the Lokpal Bill, to fight against corruption in the government. Fair enough. Awesome, rather. Someone is fighting for it at least. But the way people have been taking it up, portraying it, giving support to it, this blog is for all them.

You’re supporting the cause to remove corruption in the government. And you’re joining the cause only ‘coz it’s on someone else, the government in this case. I totally agree, we need to do that. But before all this, I want to know who’ll have not been corrupt themselves? My only point is, before you point the finger to someone else; at least make sure you yourself are clean.

I’ll take this example. How many of you have driving licences? Ok, I assume around 80-90% of the people reading this have it. So, how many of you have acquired the licence by giving a driving test? Ah! I see hardly peanuts who said yes to my second question. Why is that so? You got your licence without appearing for driving test? Got it done through an agent? I’ve heard of friends who’ve got done with their licence without being physically present.
Ok, I’ll take another example. You jumped a signal and a traffic cop catches you. How many of you have paid him Rs 50 to put in his pocket, so that he doesn’t register your licence with the offence? I see quite many of you agreeing to have done this. How many of you have given donations to get admission in a college? Quite a few, again.

The point I want to make is, yes, corruption exist in the government. But it does outside as well. That corruption happens between you and me, or between each one of us. Why don’t you fight against this? First have a conscience of not being a corrupt yourself, then try to put the blame on the government, ‘coz if the government has been corrupt it’s because there’ve been people like you and me who’ve always fulfilled their wishes by proving with little favours of money.

Well, that’s the little I wanted to say. Again I’ll say, have not read about the crusade happening around, which I will soon, and also that I have absolutely no issues with what is going on. The critic in me has only come out looking at people who’re supporting it.

That’s all.

When the cheers are loud, the whole world will take note.

...and a lot about it has been written, clicked, said and discussed about. Few small things I too had in my mind and wanted to share with the world. It’s what have noticed around, on two accounts. Something that has been in front of our eyes in the recent past, but without any connections for many.

Next morning had my board exam, but still something crazy caught my head and I was at Marine Drive at 11:30-12. Most of the 3 km stretch had people, from young to old, holding the tricolour in their hand or painted on their face, having the country’s name on their tongue (...and in some cases, the neighbouring country’s name too, for obvious reasons.) It took me around 45 mins to cover the distance which usually happens in 10 mins.

Then it was yesterday again. A chronicle moment. Cheers, jumps, hugs, dance. Ah, and the claps with whistles. Did I forget the fire-crackers? Then yes, that too. Unaware of what to do after the big screen + projector went off, six of us decided to do a dandi-march to Marine Drive, again. And with the quarter of mumbai’s population to be expected there, we were better prepared. Didn’t take any kind of vehicle and walking was the best mode of transport.

The scene wasn’t any different than what had seen few days ago. People from all sorts of background were there. None of them knew the other, or in many cases, everyone was a stranger. But every single soul had one single emotional feeling common with every single stranger over there. And if one known face among the throng of unknown people, then the happiness moment was cherry on top!

We had just about to reach the Air-India building and noticed these few bikers honking. Man! The tune of the honking was the very same thing that was in everyone’s mind. It was like they were providing the background music to our cheers. * people taking part in Polaris’s Junkapella, please make a note! :P * The bikers got a compliment right away from all six of us, and must’ve been by many on the road at that moment.

Once at the Marine Drive, we got busy in observing different people’s creative expressions to make a distinct mark on the happiness among others. A biker carrying huge replica of the cup to people having mad face paints, a sardar uncle in tricolour turban to around ten people sitting on a car’s roof while it’s in motion. It sure was a party with the theme of Light Blue, if the tricolour was not an option. And it was on the road. For the first time vehicles were planning to opt the footpath instead of the roads. They couldn’t help missing all the empty space on the roads. And strangers were talking to each other. Laughing, hugging, cheering, shouting, screaming all in unison. One of those few moments where the internal clashes were the least priority on their mind. The only priority they had was the other person was from the same nation. It is this moment which all the patriotic songs wishes to witness. And also, looking at all this, a close friend KaMa said, “Looking at the atmosphere, I wonder if the amount of tricolour and togetherness among the country people that we’re witnessing now comes to reality on any of other patriotic days!!!”

People were trying to break all possible records. Of the civic sense. A two-wheeler carrying 3 people, and in some cases, 5 or 6, a four-wheeler carrying double their capacity, stuffed in like it’s a pick-up truck. Stopped their vehicle wherever they felt like. Played music at the top of the speakers and all the strangers joined in to dance. Oh, don’t worry, the police were right over there. Right from normal police to traffic police, rapid action force to the commando’s. No one seemed to mind the act, unless it created a huge ruckus. For the first time all the illegal civic sense made some sense to me at that moment. The moment was historic, and temporary too. So as long as it didn’t cause any serious harm to anyone, it wasn’t taken as an illegal act. You had to be there to understand why. Just a passing thought, I shared with my troupe, “If a foreigner lands up here who has no clue of the sport, will wonder if the situation like Libya and Iran has come down to the sub-continent.”

From one who’s who to other who’s who, it really didn’t matter. Everyone over there were waiting for this one bus carrying those 16 fortunate a game’s soldiers, who bled Light Blue on the battle-field, and helped the nation bleed too. Everyone else’s bus passed by. The soldiers on the opposing side’s too. Looking at the situation outside the perimeter of their bus, they didn’t know what emotion to be in, whether to feel the joy around or distress for not able to live upto their countrymen’s expectation. But many of them had smiles on their face, appreciating the host’s efforts. A sportsman spirit. Well appreciated.

Time passed by, and everyone wondered where are the most awaited people’s bus. And none of us was bothered about anything else. That’s when, an interaction with one of the security personnel, we come to know that that one bus which we’ve been wanting to see had taken another route and reached their destination long ago, to avoid the large crowd gathering for a smooth ride. And as soon as we heard this, we realized that it’s way too late in the night (it was 2 o’clock), realized that each one of us had terrible pain in legs, realized haven’t had dinner (or anything else for that matter) the whole night till then and that every situation from now on will be tough. No vehicle to carry us back home, so had to walk with the pain. Everyone had informed to their folks that will have dinner at home once back. So all of us were wondering, the food will be on the dining table, all cold and it’s a terrible point to reheat it and consume it. Thought this case was with me only, but my troupe were in similar situations too!

Somehow crossed all the hurdles and silently welcomed the dream world with only one thing in mind, tomorrow’s morning will definitely be skipped without experiencing it. And once awake, this one word was still replaying in my head...

INDIAAAAA....INDIA!!!

PS: For those who are still in a fix wondering to what context this blog is about, here’s a little update. The chronicle moment was that India won the cricket world cup 2011 tournament against Sri-Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The second one, after 1983. Now read the whole blog again to understand emotionally!

Cheers!

What kind of question is that in the first place???

Hello!

Most of you have already read this post on my facebook notes. Wanted this to appear here in the first place, but coz of some problem with the blog site, couldn't do so. Finally it's back into action and here's the same post, coming on my blog, for the records! For those who've not gone through this, it all goes on from here....

It’s been ages I wrote a blog, and while watching the live telecast of Barack Obama’s interaction with the college students at St. Xaviers College, there’s something which struck me and have been thinking on it for quite sometime.

I’ll come to the point directly. While interaction, a girl by the name Aashi Jain (if am not wrong) from HR College questioned the President as to why Pakistan is not tagged as terrorists country by the US Govt. And basically this blog-post is for this young lady with the specs (as the President called her) and to everyone else who wants to call Pakistan a terrorist state. And so, I’ll be glad if you can help me pass on this blog to the said girl from HR.

Also, before I begin, just a disclaimer, that I was so engrossed in my own thoughts to what to write in this blog the moment heard the question, am sorry didn’t pay attention to what the President replied. And yeah, whatever my views are on the topic, are my own views, few of them personal experiences, and that do not take these as the facts as I maybe right or wrong, they’re my personal views. Everyone out there reading this have all the rights to oppose or support them.

The simple thing to understand is, why do you want to tag a country as terrorist state in the first place? Just ‘coz its Pakistan, the country with whom India has chattis-ka-aakra? There are few people in the political arena over there who wants to cast as many wounds to India, as they can. Reason? Something they heard about India which was hard for them to buy it. Alas! They created few terrorists group which can be used to create punctures in India. I guess, Jihad is what they call to this thrill in them. But it is only by the little, handful of the ruling class. The common man over there is, is as common as you and me here in India. What they know is to wake up in the morning, work the whole day to earn some bread for the family and sleep in the night, soundly. The only opposition comes when there’s India-Pakistan cricket match. Call these simple people terrorists and then imagine what their condition will turn into.

Rather, will just turn the table for a moment. Who are terrorists? A dictionary meaning for the word terrorists describe it like this : A radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities
Get to the two son of the soil political parties residing in the state of Maharashtra. They use violence as a method, to harm innocent individuals from other states of the country. Why ain’t these political parties be tagged as terrorists organization? They fit the bill of a terrorist completely? The idea is, it’s only few ruling people who have political interest to create a fortress out of nothing. The common man here as well, in spite of these odds, wakes up in the morning, works the whole day to earn some bread and sleeps in the night, soundly. And similar to this condition in Maharashtra, am sure there are different versions of the same story in every state. The govt around have lot of corrupt individuals. The recent Adarsh Building scam is one of those countless examples for this statement.
With this thing in our mind, how will you feel when a Pakistani stands up in front of the world as asks, “Why isn’t India called a house of terrorist organizations?”

The point am trying to make here is, you can’t simply blame someone, for something. Let me give you an example which can make my point clearer. Few months ago, I visited the valley. Valley, in general as a word, is a direct point of access to Jammu & Kashmir. I had heard a lot about the valley under constant terrorist threat. It isn’t safe to be in the valley as is constant threat to one’s life. Terrorists inhibit there and blah blah. When you hear such news, what kind of perception do you tend to form for the native of J&K. That everyone over there are suspected terrorists? If yes, I beg to differ. When I visited the valley, I surely got the biggest shock. Have expected them to be rude and arrogant and all that. But in reality, Kashmiris were absolute hospitable, humble in personality. Expected the place to be full of army and police personnel, as the news said, but felt it was like any other Indian city where people throng around the market-place, screaming, enjoying. The only difference was the presence of army people at a distance of every 100 mts. The shopkeepers tried to help us find the perfect souvenir with keen interest to know what is going on outside their state, how do we live, etc. Imagine how do they feel when it is said that terrorists inhabit the state of J&K? But in spite, they were humble.

Am from media background and in our curriculum, in one of the subjects (don’t remember which one duh :P ) there’s a debate on whether Media can shape mass’s perspective. And a lot of votes go for the motion which says it does. The mass believes what the media tells you about. Whether it’s a fact or no is another question. And that is what happened with the case of J&K. I believed it to be completely different than what I saw over there. Also, my opinions can be counter-questioned for the amount of time I spent over there to realize what is reality. Whatever the case may be, I will still think J&K to be something what I’ve seen with my eyes than what I hear from the media.

Coming back to the main topic, whether Pakistan should be tagged as a terrorist state, I feel there’s a lot n lot to ponder about before that.

Again I’ll say whatever said, may not be the fact, but are my personal opinion. Thank You for wasting your precious time behind this blog! I appreciate it.

And also, ponder on what Obama said, and so does our very own Prof. Sudhakar SolomonRaj after every peace talks, “How can you make this world a better place to live?”

ta

Assume this. There’s a bowl, filled with water. Still. And then a water droplet falls in it. It created a sensation in the whole bowl. And then another came. And another. And another. And so on...

Looks good.

The sensation, the ripple effect in the still water. It surely is better than the still water. Compare this to the day’s position. I am the water in the bowl. Your wishes are the water droplets. They came. One after the other.

Looks good. Better, rather.

Who can tell that you step out of bathroom, drying your hair, some 4-5 hrs before your Birthday’s 12 o’clock, and then a loud “SURPRISE!” bazooka is fired on you.

Shocked? Aghast? Balled over?

It’s not even 12 now man! It’s still a day before! Don’t cheat the time! And then a huge gift is handed over to you, probably the bearer was already tired of carrying it and wanted to take the load off as soon as possible.

A gift is a gift, none the less, treasure it.

And then I could see my little world treasured in that big gift. I said, treasure what you get. Wasn’t a bad idea, after all, with all the surprise people eagerly waiting for my reaction. Am not sure what they assumed, but I was mesmerized. With happiness. With glad. With honour.
And then second set of surprise people started pouring in my living room. { Dude! My B’day’s tomm!!! } Food time! Aah! And then I realize am the host. Gotta take care of the guests before I myself even look at the food. Had to obstinate. No choice. Mafia rounds fired. One set of surprise people surprised the other set. And then the clock struck 12. And then that moment appears where you curse to have your B’day that day, for all the love these surprise people have for one, is poured in. Anything part of leg is the weapon to pour in the love, warmth.

Cut.

The one to feel the love is same. Atmosphere changes from the living room to a micro pond of murky water. Surprise people changes to expected ones. Time is 10 hrs since the last love potion was poured in. The rules are understood in zip-zap-zoom moment and the affection process begin, drowning & pulling out one in that water. 22 times. Last one was a splash.

Cut.

2 hrs prior to love bath. Expectedly unexpected moment happened. 40 people. More than half, unidentified. 1 icing structure on my left hand, knife on the other. Rain drops falling all around and one umbrella to support the food of everyone’s thought. And this sugar-coated baked flour helped me identify each of the unidentified figures around.

Cut.

11:30 P.M. of prev day. Chocolate covered baked flour is slaughtered for the prying eyes whose only motto to sing the melody was to welcome the moment of choco consumption moment.

Whatever was the cause or the reason, moments will always be cherished throughout one’s lifetime. Appreciation, is beyond the bounds of one’s help.

To begin with, first in queue is one’s sibling. They say, siblings are god’s gift. I say, mine’s a miracle. Then is one’s parents, who supported the sibling’s cause.

After this, one would like to thank, err, THANK each one of you who, in one way or other, physically present or mentally present, played part in one’s own day. The day filled with joy. The day filled with delight. The day filled with emotions.

And here I end this with William Shakespeare’s quote “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.”

Take loads of care.

With Lots of Love.

Enjoy!