Category Archives: politics

SHORT STORY: ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE, ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE

July 5, 2015article, articles, column, political article, politics, SATTIRE, short article, short article on politics, short article- politics, short political article, short srticle, short story, snippet, spiritual, spiritual article, storyanyone, anything, anytime, anywhere, arrogance, bureaucrat, common man, goi, helpless, home minister, kiran rijiju, officer, politician, short story, spiritual, story, vvipracismshravancharitymission

SO DON’T JUST BASK UNDER THE GLORY THAT YOU’RE ALL TOO POWERFUL

On 24^th of June 2015. Kiran Rijijiu the all powerful minister of state for home, Government of India, was returning from Leh to Delhi, along with his assistant Nirmal Singh. To accommodate him. Three members of a benign family of an IFS officer including a child, were disallowed from boarding flight AI-446. According to media reports this unpleasant episode, delayed the flight and brought Kiran Rijiju under an avoidable, but virulent controversy called #VVIPRACISM.

In this world, often the rich and mighty feel they are all too powerful, and nothing can hit them, even when, they are at large after a heinous crime. But, I guess, this is not how God works. In this case also, when Kiran left for Leh he couldn’t have imagined in his dream that he will be caught up in such a odd controversy. Considering the fact that he is the all powerful minister of state for home in Government of India. But he forgot about the Supreme Power who has his own ways of tracking such devious stories—where this time it was through the media.

This brings us to the moot point that anything can happen to anyone, anytime and anywhere no matter how powerful he or she is. And, this is what Rijiju’s controversy conveys to the society.

Take for instance, had Kiran Rijiju known that by gate crashing into flight AI-446 he will become a clumsy news item. Even when, he is going for an official visit and will enter the zone of controversy where the matter will escalate right up to the PMO. He would have shunned the flight. But God had not passed on any such vibes to him and therefore he had no such inkling of such a happening. For Kiran, retaining the prestigious job, as minister of state for home in Government of India, any day is much more important than getting mired in such stupid controversies. Which he had not done deliberately.

But I presume, he never anticipated the ruckus. Perhaps, he thought I’m the all mighty minister for state, and that too for home, so who can question me. So, he got on to the flight. But this arrogant mistake of his hit him like the bolt from the blue.

This gives us a lesson of life that no matter how powerful you are. You wouldn’t know what will come and hit you now or even later. Especially, if you try to be devious with the hapless.

For God has his own arrows in his quivers that the notoriously rich and mighty can’t see. Such episodes keep happening at regular intervals. Only to remind us of this stark reality. Where, this time Kiran Rijiju was the chief protagonist. He will remember this episode throughout his life. But more important is the need for the message to spread across to the society.

This is only a spiritual lesson and no aspersions on any one.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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CROSSTALK: WHO HELPS WHOM … the X-factors of politics

May 31, 2015article, articles, casual causerie, column, political article, politics, SATTIRE, short article on politics, short article- politics, short political article, snippet, Uncategorizedakhilesh yadav, amit shah, Asaduddin Owaisi, bihar, bjp, bsp, congress, elections, manmohan singh, mayawati, mim, narendra modi, neta, PMO, POLITICS, Rahul Gandhi, sp, u.p., up polls, x-factorshravancharitymission

Mohd Asaduddin Owaisi, is a bitter rival of BJP. But now his party is fighting Bihar elections and this is surely good news for BJP. As this will help in dividing Muslim votes further. That will only help BJP. So in real life you don’t really know whose helping whom.

Dr Manmohan Singh after bitterly criticizing BJP in the morning. Calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the afternoon. Many TV channels speculate as to why this meeting took place. There are rumours galore. That he went to tutor the PM on how to run Indian economy. Some said he called on the Prime Minister for asylum. Owing to the various scams committed during UPA regime. Where, BJP won the general elections, primarily because of the scams. So, in some ways thanks to Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh.

Well on the face of it. BJP and Congress might be bitter rivals but the moral of the story is even a bitter rivals can give their opponents a lifetime of an opportunity. Perhaps, PM Narendra Modi didn’t forget this gesture of Dr Manmohan Singh. So, in politics who helps whom is often not in the hands of politicians alone.

Mohd Asaduddin Owaisi, is a bitter rival of BJP. But what happens. If his party MIM decides to contest UP elections. Muslim votes will further get divided, amongst Congress, SP, MIM, BSP and BJP. And who will it benefit–obviously BJP? So in politics no one knows, who’s helping whom.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

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#VVIPS: IF YOU COULD ONLY SPARE DAINTY FLOWERS- IN YOUR THANKLESS BOUQUETS

May 28, 2015article, causerie, column, political article, politics, short article, short article on agriculture, short article on politics, short article- politics, story#yeswecan, bouquet, bouquets, bureaucrats, chief ministers, florist, flowers, gardens, governors, heads of states, leaders, make in india, managers, ministers, narendra modi, netas, pm, politicians, president, vip, vvip, vvipismshravancharitymission

‘Earth laughs in flowers’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Each flower is the heart throb of the garden where it is grows, and so also the emblem of ‘earth’s laughter’—as Emerson puts it.

But it is sad to see on TV these days. How people in droves, mindlessly present flower bouquets to VVIPs and Heads of States who mechanically pass it on to their personal security staff, standing next to them. And you get a disgusting feeling seeing these lovely flowers being insulted.

Perhaps, callous VVIPS do not have the time and mind to visualise and feel about the labour pains ‘Mother Earth’ undertakes to deliver each flower. And the blood and sweat of the gardener in bringing about this exquisite beauty.

Therefore, won’t it be wonderful to leave them in the garden alone, than to give them premature death in thankless bouquets. So I would plead to our PM Sri Narendra Modi to stop this culture of bouquets.

And, for tokenism one could think of plastic or paper flowers. That too under—‘make in India’ scheme.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

#DIGITAL #INDIA-INCLUDE CLASSIC ‘MOVIES’ IN SCHOOL-COLLEGE SYLLABUS

May 13, 2015article, article on bollywood, articles, cinema, column, political article, politics, short article, short article on film, short article on politics, short article- politics, snippet, story, Uncategorized#yeswecan, amitabh bachchan, Bollwood, classics, Cromwell, digital India, education, film actors, films, Gandhi, Mother India, movies, narendra modi, PMO, Ravishanker Prasad, schools, sholayshravancharitymission

Copyright@shravancharitymission

… like ‘Mother India, Gandhi, Cromwell, to name a few; just like plays and dramas of Shakespeare

It is said and believed that old books and movies take you back in times. It is also the true mirror of any country or civilization. Yesterday, on the occasion of mother’s day while I was remembering my Mom, and surfing channels. I came across the famous evergreen classic ‘Mother India’ being broadcasted in one of the channels. Although, I had seen the flick several times earlier. I was tempted to see it yet again, as my old time buddy Sajid Khan had worked in it as a child star.

But this time when I was watching the movie. I was getting a very different feel. A feel as if I was not watching ‘Mother India.’ But watching the ‘Real India’ of 1957. It is the story of a poverty-stricken village woman Radha (Nargis) who in the absence of her husband, struggles to raise her sons and survive from the clutches of a cunning money lender Sukhi Lala amidst troubles. And, despite all the hardships. She creates a goddess like example. An example of an ideal Indian woman, and that too way back in 1957. The movie in many ways, gives you, a vivid picture of what our ancestors may have undergone, during those times and with what intensity.

This brings me to the moot point that in the archives of Bollywood and other regional movie hubs like Kolkata and Chennai. There lies a huge treasure of cinema like ‘Mother India and Dosti.’ These can become the mirror of ‘Indian times.’ The Government must form a panel that can decide to include these great Indian classics in school and college syllabus, just like any other play or drama of Shakespeare.

Today, we talk of digital India. Where, people don’t have time to read and where 65% of our burgeoning population is below the age of 35 years. Many surveys have revealed, the attention span especially of youngsters has gone down drastically, and people don’t prefer reading beyond five hundred words in one go. So, in such a paradigm we should select exclusive movies that can showcase India to the younger generation and even the outer world and include them in the school/college syllabus.

Extending the point further. Historical and classic movies of Hollywood or any other country that can be useful for our migrating young population. Could also be thought of, as an extra curriculum in our professional and business schools. This will give our students that extra thrust of historically knowing a place where they intend to work.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

#PRIME #TIME #TV #DEBATES-Keep hearing the #speaker but watch the eye-movements, facial expressions of others in the #panel to get a better sense

April 28, 2015articles, column, political article, politics, SATTIRE, short article, short article on tv debates, short article- politics, short political article, snippetarnab goswami, barkha dutt, bjp, bsp, channels, cnn, congress, electronic media, gaurav bhatia, journalists, media, narsimha rao, ndtv, political parties, POLITICS, sambit patra, sanjay jha, somnath bharti, sp, times now, tv, TV debatesshravancharitymission

Kamlesh Tripathi

Of late participants in prime time TV debates have increased. All put together they go right up to eight on the screen, and some more join for special effects either at the studio, or any other location. Anticipating the hot intensity of the ensuing debate. I often find participants with parched throats. Some sipping water, which I wouldn’t dare to call it Vodka. In many ways Prime Time TV debates have replaced entertainment channels. As every individual is now eager to understand what is going on in the country. Also, news for many has become entertainment. Where, these debates are better understood both by literates and even the illiterates, unlike newspapers and magazines.

In the recent, prime time TV debates have become more cut throat, because many political parties are competing in the same political space, and have therefore become a multiparty affair. In any debate we now find time 3-4 party spokespersons. Most prime time debates start around 9 pm when office goers return from office after a hectic day’s of work, is when they want to analyse and know what all has gone right and what all has gone wrong in the country.

And, how cleverly or daringly their elected representatives from Karnataka and Telangana are hoodwinking the voters by going on a foreign junket. To how shrewdly BJP government is keeping the TRAI discussion paper alive, because Modi has to return election favours to Corporates. Or how Congress’s Anand Sharma in his own arrogant manner is spiking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, because he said something awkward in Canada about the country, but preferred to remain quiet when the scams were being committed by Congress under his own UPA regime. As if that didn’t spoil the country’s reputation. Or how PDP is kowtowing with separatists and how deeply is Mamta Banerjee involved in Sarada Chit scam and how J Jayalalita’s case on disproportionate asset is progressing. Or how Srinivasan is fighting his BCCI battle. The list goes on and on and on.

But the debate becomes daggers drawn when one spokesperson of a party criticizes the party supremo of another party, such as Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mulayam Singh, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamta Banerjee or for that matter any party’s top boss. The defending spokesperson as if goes into a tizzy and loses his cool as if they are about to lose their jobs and are being monitored by party bosses, debate to debate and channel to channel.

So, in all of this. There is but another way of viewing these TV debates, which I find is more gauging, engaging, absorbing, interesting and even revealing on a lighter note. And, that is when the anchor or a panel participant, like a party spokesperson or a journalist or even a lawyer or anyone else is making a point, don’t concentrate on that person visually. Just keep hearing him and look in the eye of the person he or she is attacking, and also take a quick glance at others in the panel, and you’ll find the debate to be much more interesting and revealing. For example, let’s take one prime TV channel ‘Timesnow.’

Where, when, Arnab Goswami anchor of ‘Timesnow’ taunts on, Azam Khan’s buffaloes getting lost and police personnel being suspended. One should notice the taut and staring expression of Gaurav Bhatia, spokesperson of Samajwadi Party. As if wanting to say, ‘if stares could kill Arnab you would have been dead by now.’ And in the adjacent box Sanjay Jha of Congress with a smug on his face and in extreme silence and patience as if is willfully intending to say, ‘That’s a good one Arnab.’ And Sambit Patra in a fizz and gulping down, ’Arrey maza aa gaya.’

Yesterday, when Narsimha Rao, the BJP spokesperson was being cornered by Arnab for likely six fold increase in mobile NET tariff by corporates. I was watching AAP spokesperson Somnath Bharti whose expression, as if said, ‘Dear Arnab you have made AAPs job easier.’

And, in several land bill debates. The expression and eye movements of many Congress spokespersons only said, ‘Thank you Modi ji, you have once again made us relevant and greater thanks to Arnab for getting us to limelight.’

But, there is a converse also. With Nepal tragedy, did AAP get off the hook on the tragic death of Gajendra Singh. Perhaps, Arnab will have to invite Kejriwal or Ashutosh or Raghav of AAP along with spokespersons of other parties and some journalists and lawyers for the viewers to gauge and find it out.

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“MISSING IN ACTION”- THE UNCOUTH TV-CHANNEL RANT –TO DESCRIBE “RaGa” … And the sleepy Rahul brigade

April 18, 2015article, articles, casual causerie, causerie, column, political article, politics, SATTIRE, short article, short article on politics, short article- politics, short political article, short srticle, short story, snippet, Uncategorizedbjp, cnn, congress. news channels, electronic media, india today, political parties, POLITICS, print media, raga, Rahul Gandhi, times now, tv, tv channelsshravancharitymission

Let’s call a spade a spade. We all know. TV-channels, more often than not, run on the fetish of TRPs. Nothing more and nothing less. Even if a cock and bull story, has the girth to sell and bring TRPs. TV channels will broadcast it—period. For important may not be interesting and interesting may not be important, for viewers.

Rahul Gandhi is one such case in point. Ever since he lost UP polls. He became that non-charismatic politician, and after Lok Sabha debacle- useless, and after his 56 day spiritual-sabbatical at Myanmar, a gone case. As glaringly drummed by TV- channels.

But this time TV-channels went berserk. When they used an impudent idiom like ‘missing in action’ to describe ‘RaGa’s absence from the Indian political space, during his sabbatical and thought they’ll be able to justify it by giving it a semantic hue, if asked. And, I even heard some senior journalists of repute, using this silly idiom while covering ‘Raga.’

But that apart. I was quite surprised when Congress Party and more so. The young Rahul Brigade did not take umbrage to such a dubious and debatable term of expression. That on one end hinges on–‘as presumed dead’ being used for their young leader. When I’m sure the likes of dictionaries or thesauruses could have offered a much more dignified and decent set of words to describe ‘Raga.’ Or, is it that the TV-channels slipped up this time on simple English, which looks quite unlikely, or is it daggers drawn with Raga. Only they can explain.

And, let us for once analyse how close ‘missing in action’ is ‘to presumed dead.’

As per the Oxford ADVANCED LEARNER’S Dictionary

Meaning of ‘missing’

That cannot be found or that is not in its usual place, or at home SYNONYM- LOST: I never found the missing piece. * My gloves have been missing for ages * Two files have gone missing * They still hoped to find their missing son * (especially brE) Our cat’s gone missing 2 that has been removed, lost or destroyed and has not been replaced: The book has two pages missing/missing pages * He didn’t notice there was anything missing from his room until later on. 3 (of a person) not present after an accident, battle, etc. but not known to have been killed: He was reported missing, presumed dead. *Many soldiers were listed as missing in action. 4 not included, often when it should have been.
Google

Missing in action (MIA) is a casualty classification assigned to armed services personnel and other combatants who are reported missing during wartime. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave has been positively identified.

Missing in action

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the military term. For other uses, see Missing in action (disambiguation).

The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (July 2011)

Grave of an unknown British soldier, killed in 1943 during theBattle of Leros. Because his identity is unknown, he is missing in action.

On a dismal note. one can only hope the nation’s conscience keeper- the fourth estate and more specifically the English TV channels will introspect the real meaning of “missing in action” within themselves by rewinding their sound bites; when RaGa is back safe and sound.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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NEHRU SNOOP ON FAMILY MEMBERS OF SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE. DID HE SURVIVE THE AIRCRASH?

April 11, 2015article, article on foreign affairs, articles, column, interesting facts, politics, short article, short article on politics, short article- politics, short political article, short story, snippet, storyair crash, ayodhya, bjp, bose, congress, faizabad, gumnami baba, indian national army, japan, Jawaharlal Nehru, kolkatta, modi, nehru, nehru vs subhash, sardar patel, snooping, subhash, subhashchandrabose, United Kingdomshravancharitymission

Mystery deepens today on Subhash Chandra Bose. For who was Gumnami Baba? Read the full column till the end and the two newspaper clippings appended.

Everything needn’t be proved. The world can as well live, with unproven stuff. For there is no scientific proof that God exists. Yet the majority on planet earth, believes in some form of God. Arising, purely out of faith. And ‘faith moves mountains’ as the saying goes. Post Subhash Chandra Bose’s air crash some believed he was dead, and some felt he was alive. In Lucknow there was a strong buzz, that Subhash Chandra Bose is alive and in solitary confinement near Ayodhya, and this how the story goes.

‘When I was young and in a school in Lucknow. There were rumours galore that an old ‘Baba’ stays near Ayodhya in a secluded ‘mutt’ and that he is Subhash Chandra Bose in hiding. And that many senior political leaders and government officials often come to see him but no civilian is allowed to meet him. So, then, who was he, if not Subhash Chandra Bose? This was a common hearsay in Lucknow, Faizabad and even Ayodhya around late sixties and early seventies. The veracity of this story can be traced back to some intelligence archives of the UP Government. But the moot question remained, why was Subhash Chandra Bose in hiding?

And, to that we were told that Government of India had an unwritten understanding with the British, after independence. That ever in future. If Subhash Chandra Bose was found alive post the air crash on 18^th August 1945. He would be handed over to the British Government for his secessionist acts. Where, the only punishment would be ‘capital punishment.’ But Government of India could not have handed over, its worthy son of the soil to the Britishers, even if clandestinely committed. So, when Subhash Chandra Bose was found alive, after the air crash he was kept under house arrest, and in hiding at a secret location in Ayodhya. And, later after some years there were rumours that the baba had died.

Whether proven or unproven. There is no smoke without fire and such issues where the masses are not at rest keep simmering off and on.

Read the article by M.J. Akbar on Nehru snooping titled. “Some Fire Smouldering Within Smoke.” Appended above.

And below is another interesting article titled–“Mystery lives on: Did Netaji Subhas Bose really die in that plane crash.”

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share it if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share it if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be its undying characteristic. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10^th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha

(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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THE MENACE OF #LAL-BATTI #CULTURE … THE WAY OUT

March 31, 2015article, articles, column, political article, politics, SATTIRE, short article, short article on politics, short article- politics, short political article, snippet, snippet #lalbatticultureautomobile, bureaucrats, common man, gangsters, goi, government, government misuse, gundas, high court, industry, lalbatti, ministers, netas, officials, politicians, supreme court of india, tax payer, tv channels, vip, vipcultureshravancharitymission

A lot is being discussed about the menace of Lal-Batti (Red-Beacon) culture in India. I hear and see many suggestions on TV and newspapers. But largely those suggestions are of routine nature and may not be helpful. For now, only a paradigm shift will make the difference. Therefore, to get rid of this menace we require some out-of-the-box thinking, and to that effect my suggestions are as follows:

Stop manufacture of Lal-Battis for general market forthwith. These red-beacons should be manufactured only against specific orders, emanating from the Government of India, for constitutional posts, and as approved by GOI or the honourable Supreme Court of India. Treat it, as a dangerous commodity, such as sale of acid or even live cartridges.
Honourable Supreme Court has approved of certain constitutional posts, where Lal-Batti can be used. Barring these no one else should be allowed to use Lal-Battis, and if anyone is found breaking the law he or she should be fined for a minimum of Re 1 lac, plus additional amounts for misdemeanor and dishonour of the honourable Supreme Court orders.
Dismantle the entire fleet of government vehicles with red-beacons, which are only misused by Netas and Bureaucrats, barring few pool vehicles and vehicles for top dignitaries. For the rest, provide them with car loans, basis their salaries and entitlements. Also, provide them with fuel and maintenance allowance and even driver allowance like in private sector. This will save crores of hard earned tax payers money as Capex. It will help in eradicating corruption and will also root out the unnecessary evil of lal-Battis.

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“#Arrey … PUBLIC BEWAKOOF HAI” – THE MENTALITY OF MANY #PARTY ‘SPOKES PERSONS’ WHO COME ON #PRIME TIME #TV #DEBATES

March 30, 2015article, articles, column, political article, politics, SATTIRE, short article, short article on politics, short article on tv debates, short article- politics, short political article, snippetaap, aidmk, akali dal, bjp, bsp, congress, CPI, cpm, debates, dmk, electronic media, janata dal, janata dal united, jdu, journalist, media, nc, party spokes persons, pdp, political lies, political parties, preeti menon, primetime, public, sp, tmc, tv, tv channelsshravancharitymission

A majority of party spokes persons, still don’t believe in this age old but popular Hindi song– “Yeh jo public hai, woh sab janti hai.”

Most party spokes persons who appear in prime time TV debates of various reputed channels need to realise that the Indian viewer has matured far beyond their imagination. And heart to heart they hate this growing wisdom of the Indian public. As it makes their job even more difficult. Which is quite apparent if you attentively watch these programmes.

Today’s mature TV viewer can clearly make out when the party spokesperson is lying or trying to defend the indefensible, by blindly following the party whip. And that, he or she has walked in, with the solemn pledge to defend the party at all costs. Where, one can glaringly make out from the screen. Whenever, they try to abide by those intermittent instructions that keep trickling into their mobiles in staccato rhythms. Basis, the intensity of the debate resulting in who is losing and who is winning through these frequent text messages or Whats-App. When, each time their eyes dip below, to read those crisp instructions.

The debates on TV have become more issue based than mere political pragmatism. Generally, trying to open each other’s ‘dhoti’ to score a brownie point. Just to stay ahead. This is what competition teaches you. Where, politics is no different, even when it has strange bedfellows. One can possibly consider the stale political rhetoric emanating out of TV screens coming all the way from the studios as mere gap fillers something like a comma or even a full stop. Often the panel comprises of spokes persons from BJP, Congress, AAP, SP, BSP, Akali- Dal, Janata Dal, Janata Dal United, TMC, NC, PDP, NCP, CPI, CPM, AIDMK and the DMK, to name a few. They all jostle to capture sound bites. The competition is mostly between political parties on one end, and journalists, lawyers, individuals- in-question or any other luminary from any other field, on the other end. All, trying to score a point over the other.

Most spokes persons are, boastfully well-to-do. Apparently affluent, refreshingly articulate, and from the front ranks of political India. Who, while performing in these vibrant debates, quite often amalgamate a concoction of lies just to defend their party, come what may. But they cannot hide the disconnect between their pumping hearts, agitating minds, guilty eyes and tethering tongues and at times even their wavering hands and fingers, while confronting the camera. For, in a heated and not ready to give-in debate when the tongue tells a lie your eyes naturally look down, is when the heart sags, the throat chokes, the mind beeps and the hands and fingers balance between the heart and the mind. In all of this I guess the conscience is left behind, quite intentionally at a place where you can’t readily find. This irritates the viewers which the party should realise. In fact the party would gain more by accepting its mistakes if any. Than by stupidly arguing about it, as it is only human to err. One must not forget you have a new generation viewership now, that likes transparency.

So, then why is it that no spokesperson can ever accept his party’s mistake openly on a TV debate? Perhaps, because, you require guts to do that. But then one must realise, by accepting mistakes you raise the bar of integrity. Recently, a new phenomenon has come alive. That is, to block co-panelists in debates from talking, by talking over them. I have seen this happening quite often in recent times. The latest was, what I saw the other day in Timesnow. When Arnab Goswami was debating the AAP debacle. The official party spokesperson of AAP, Preeti Menon was not allowing her own party M.P. to speak. Preeti Menon must have thought. She is doing a great job for her party, by not letting her own colleague to speak, just because he was critical about the establishment. But in such a case. The viewpoint of the viewers is quite different, where, she looked and sounded quite shallow and frivolous. As truth crosses all human boundaries. For make no mistake you can’t scuttle the truth by merely talking over it or by blocking it on a TV debate. Because, truth is much closer to the viewer’s heart than one can even imagine.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

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GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

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IS LITERACY RATE OF INDIA BEGINNING TO DRIVE INDIAN POLITICS?

March 7, 2015article, article, skill development, national wealth, PMO, Rajiv Pratap rudy, BJP, HRD, Human resources, Smriti Irani, USA, billion dollars, usa, japan, china, france, germany, india, russia,, articles, column, political article, politics, short article, short article on politics, short article- politics, snippetasia, common man, election commission, elections, independant india, india, job market, literacy, literacy rate, literacy rates, literate, POLITICS, Politics India Literacy, population, public, rural, urban, votershravancharitymission

The working definition of literacy in the Indian census since 1991 is as follows: Literacy rate: The total percentage of the population of an area at a particular time aged seven years or above who can read and write with understanding. Here the denominator is the population aged seven years or more.

At the time of independence in 1947. India had a population of approximately 390 million. This got divided as follows after partition: 330 million people remained in India, 30 million in remained in West Pakistan and another 30 million in East Pakistan.

The literacy rate of independent India in 1947 was 12%. By around 1950-1951 it had increased to around 18.33% with a population of 35 crore as you can see in the (literacy and population) table below. As compared to 1947 the current average literacy rate of India as per 2011 census, is 74% when the world average is 84%. Of the big states of India some laggard states are below 8% and some above by 20% as compared to the national average of 74%.

LITERACY RATE OF INDIA				POPULATION
YEAR	PERSON	MALE	FEMALE	YEAR	CRORE
1951	18.33	27.16	8.86	1950	35
1961	20.3	40.4	15.35	1960	43
1971	34.45	45.96	21.97	1970	54
1981	43.57	56.38	29.76	1980	69
1991	52.21	64.13	39.29	1990	83
2001	64.83	75.26	63.67	2000	101
2011	74.04	82.14	65.46	2000	117
				2015	124

In the early stages of independent India. Nothing else mattered than the sweet hangover of the freedom struggle and the newly formed Bharat Mata. That wheeled Pandit Nehru to rule for almost 17 years, as the longest serving Prime Minister (15.8.47 to May 1964). During his tenure the literacy rate rose from 12% to around 25%. The major event that shook India then was the Chinese aggression in the year 1962.

India was an unquestioning country then. Just rising from the dust of the long colonial rule. And during that period, there was little or no political resistance to the Indian National Congress. That had spearheaded the freedom movement, and most iconic political leaders that mattered then were from this party.

After Pandit Nehru expired post India-China aggression in 1964 the vacancy was filled in by another firebrand Congress leader Lal Bahadur Shastri. Who, served the country only for around 19 months and expired in Tashkent, part of the erstwhile USSR and today’s Uzbekistan.

After Shastri’s sad demise. The mantel was adorned by Nehru’s daughter Indira Gandhi. Who, ruled for eleven years from 1966-1977. The three major events during her tenure, happened to be the liberation of East Pakistan and creation of Bangla Desh in 1971 followed by a full blown battle with Pakistan in the same year and declaration of emergency for the third time in India, and this time for internal reasons. Indira Gandhi started at an average literacy rate of around 32% in 1966 but in 1977 when Congress lost, the literacy rate had crept up to around 40%. It was for the first time Congress had gone out of power since independence. And in a manner it took literacy rate to jump by 28% (12% to 40%) to throw out a long standing ruling party at the centre. This goes to prove that literacy rate one way or the other increases the political appetite of the citizenry.

In the Indian scenario increase in literacy rate has made voters change their minds. That has demanded for a dispensation of a different nature to govern the country. Indira Gandhi had imposed ‘emergency’ in the year 1975 when the average literacy rate was around 40%. This made her lose the general elections and gave entry to the first non-Congress government headed by Morarji Desai in 1977.

When the average literacy rate of India was around 30%. India could see. In some states, certain state and regional parties gaining ground such as the Dravidian parties that have dominated since 1967. DMK routed Congress in 1967 and in 1972 MGR split DMK into AIDMK. Such incidents clearly dawned an era of new politics.

Some states of India, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu have always been ahead of the average Indian literacy rate. In the 2011 census as against the average literacy rate of 74%, Kerala was at 94, Tamilnadu at 80%, Maharastra at 82% and the big laggard states were Bihar at 62%, Jharkhand 66%, AP 67% Rajasthan 66% and UP 68%

Bihar witnessed JP movement when the literary rate was between 35-40% and Lalu became the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1984 when the literary rate of Bihar was > 45%. In U.P. Mulayam Singh became the chief minister in 1991 and Mayawati in 1995 when the state literacy rate had crossed 45%. Signalling, the thinking minds wanted a change from two national parties, Congress and the BJP. In West Bengal too Congress ruled till 1977 but when the Bengal literacy rate rose to around 40% it was taken over by the Communist rule. And when literacy rate went passed 52% the voters even rejected Communist Party that was getting irrelevant and pulled out Trinamul Congress from the stable of Congress.

The literacy rate map below shows how certain states maintain their lead in literacy rates. Where, one would find a distinct differentiation within the political set ups of states such as Kerala and Maharastra with that of Bihar and Jharkhand.

INDIA WHEN ABOVE 64% AVERAGE LITERACY RATE

India decided to open up when the literacy rate had gone past 52% in the year 1991 when wide spread reforms were announced. And, as the literacy rate went up, ethics in politics came down. Perhaps, thinking minds made politics much more competitive- resting on the theory of ‘survival of the fittest.’

Beyond 2001 when the average literacy rate had just crossed 64%. India saw a sea change in terms of, all the four estates. To begin with the first estate (clergy) now tampers with politics without fear. Second estate (Bureaucracy) has become irresponsible, subservient, corrupt and even callous towards the general public. Third estate (Commoners) is perennially pained but have become more knowledgeable and demanding. And the fourth estate (Press and Media) have become all powerful. Yet they remain the saving grace of modern India

INDIAN POLITICS AT 74% LITERACY RATE

At 74%, politics of India doesn’t remain the same and is deluged by the heft of thinking minds. For in the recent past it attracted grandstanding of agitations, like ‘India against Corruption’ where revered activist like Anna Hazare had to take the centre stage.

Besides, even the mind space of an Indian voter has got more and more complex. Because of which we could see for the first time. A political leader of the stature of Narendra Modi, to create space in voters mind traveled 3 lac km across 25 states, addressed 473 big public rallies with 5827 public interfaces, including Chai pe charcha and 3D broadcasts. More so. BJP fought more under the banner of Narendra Modi than BJP, like presidential election. In Delhi elections we saw AAP party following the new ‘volunteer’ cult to create tailor made space in voter’s mind that wiped out BJP and Congress. In J&K also it was a star struck and out-of-the-box variety of a political campaign. It was an expensive opportunity that forced BJP to abandon relevant political-IZMS just to form the government.

As we move towards 100% literacy. The route to State Assembly and Parliament will become more and more arduous. Political Parties will have to change their tone and tenor to address 100% literacy in all their political communication and behaviour. Where, corruption, scams and VVIPSM will have no place. What will simply matter is performance. This indeed will effect hoodwinkers under the garb of individual politicians.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Share if you like it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

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Our NGO works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer: We cover our blog with short stories, children's stories, articles, book reviews, vignettes, spiritual, episodes, poetry, analysis, news report, general knowledge, quotes for the benefit of our readers.

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IS LITERACY RATE OF INDIA BEGINNING TO DRIVE INDIAN POLITICS?