UNEXPLORED … NORTH EAST OF INDIA

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By Aolla Tripathi & A.K. Tripathi – #Guwahati

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An imaginary account of conversation between two alumnae of an elite college

(Int is merely short for interlocutor and is meant as notional identity)    

Int-1. Hi there! Sassily attired!  Where did you steal that diamante from? Quite chichi, I say.

Int-2   Have you nothing better to say to the girls from the north east? Well, as matter of fact it’s a gift from mom. You know what-you are so opinionated and so ill informed that it amazes me you seek college education at all.

Int-1. Strong words! Don’t get personal. I was sincerely complimenting you. Why that north east fixation? Why do you react so predictably?

Int-2.  I don’t know what to say. There was more of an undercurrent of sarcasm than true appreciation of the attire. And that’s North east fixation? – somewhat revolting. You seem to have a term or phrase ready for every human situation.   Contemporary text books teach you nothing about the history of the north east. With high cheek bones and an epicanthic fold we can be easily spotted, especially the girls- that word epicanthic -I got it from my uncle, an anthropologist.  Chinky is much simpler. There is also the question of an image of ‘an Indian.’ We don’t seem to fit that image. Even the epics have been unkind to us. The land of the ‘asuras’- that’s what the region has been dubbed as. Bhima ( Pandava ) married Hindimba after whom Dimapur has been named. Well,  Hidimba and her son Ghatotkatch were from the asura clan. The word asura rankles.

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Int-1.  There is much in what you say. Yours is an open society. I mean no inhibitions-much like the West. Why don’t you join the cultural mainstream and get rid of the tag. Why don’t you climb on to the bandwagon and discard the persecution complex.

Int-2.  Is that supposed to be a compliment? You think girls from the north east are good fun.  An intimate date perhaps! Or a quick roll in the hay. Open society-forsooth! Ours is a cultured society where communication in the family is very strong unlike most of the states elsewhere. And by the way, incest is something we don’t have to worry about. Our boys and girls know the facts of life and learn to respect social mores much early in life. The problem with you people is that you associate drinking and sex with the morality of a person. Not a very logical corollary.  There is this misplaced notion that girls from the NE eat, drink and make merry at the slightest pretext. You accuse us of being promiscuous. Imagine societies up north assuming this stance where polygamy and polyandry were once considered normal. The Pandavas are a good example. Marital infidelity is very high in your society.

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Int-1.  Are you trying to say that you are better off than the northerners or the rest of India? We shall have to see what the ethnographers feel. In fact we are streets ahead in terms of human development index.

Int-2.   Perhaps you’re right. We are small in numbers and that gives a misleading data as the denominator is small.  Having achieved so much you’re tolerance is abysmally low when it comes to accommodating smaller disparate cultures. A laden fruit tree bows down. The problem is you can’t see wood from the trees. We are smarter, faster and have an irresistible outlandish face. Above all we are less inhibited and therefore make friends easily. You can’t understand this. The mistake these so called social scientists make is to study the community from outside. To understand the real issues one must work from inside. You must live with them, sleep with them and eat their food as well to understand their guiding beliefs and ideals. I think I’ve spoken enough. Sorry, to be monopolizing the conversation.

Int-1. That’s not true. You have a herd mentality. You are not trail blazers. You live in clusters, afraid of the unknown and totally at sea in a new environment. You don’t assimilate easily. You have got to admit that one cannot live in isolation. To be accepted one must culture love for the local people, develop a liking for its ethos and its values. I’m merely rephrasing the arguments you were giving a while ago.

Int-2.  I don’t know where we have gone wrong. I think it’s something to do with your toffee-nosed attitude. In fact the girls from NE, particularly from Assam, Mizoram and Tripura are more resourceful, independent and have the capacity to look the devil in the eye. That can’t be said for the homesick and weak minded females that dot the Delhi firmament. The Mahatma had some lovely things to say about our ladies: “The women of Assam weave dreams of fairyland into textures of their clothes. Every woman in Assam is by nature an artist”.

Int-1. Don’t generalize. You are yet to make the mainstream. You are only a handful- how can you call the shots. If I remember my basics, the eight north eastern states constitute less the than four percent of the population of India. And how many of are you in the Parliament? Not even enough to make a whimper!

Int-2.   That is exactly my point- therein lies the rub my friend. We are a minority and the voice of minority is seldom heard without unsavory means. Democracy is a game of numbers and we realize that. All we are asking is think of us as ‘one of us ‘ and not ‘the other’. You no doubt have quantity but I’m not sure of the quality. We have about 25 MPs representing the entire North East. Yet, the only IIT and IIM educated MP is from Sikkim. Our people are acquiring property and flats in Delhi and other metropolis, sending their children out for higher studies and even agreeing to and arranging cross community alliances. Things are looking up. A niche bulletin like Cafe Chronicle carries an ad showing Mary Kom, Saina and Virat Kohli together. You get the drift my friend Watson.

Int-1.  I do and quit snowing or you will catch cold. But all said and done you don’t have much in the kitty. Look at the pantheon of Indian women!-Jhansi ki Rani.  Indira Gandhi, VIjay Laxmi Pandit, our last Prez, the list is endless.

Int-2.  No doubt, an illustrious cluster. We too have our galaxy of heroines. Assam was one of the earliest states to rise in revolt against the shackles of foreign rule and join the mainstream freedom struggle. But, even long, before that, the Assamese women were accustomed to value their freedom. We have had our fair share in the illustrious Gabhurus,  Joymati, and in the sacrifices of the young Rangili  and Padumi. The sad part is our heroics and exploits have not been well packaged or to put it in business parlance we don’t have a brand value.

Int-1. Well don’t be thankless. The Government has been pumping in a lot of money. The DONER has been doing a good job. It seems you feel yourself to be a victim of inferiority complex. Be in the race, don’t drop out or else you will find yourself doing the laps alone.

Int-2.   Donations, philanthropy and tranches of money are not the remedy. What you need is to make the people down here feel that they are a part of the nation building process. Regarding complexes, you may be right- if we have inferiority complex then you should be wearing superiority on your heart, loud and clear. What with your Khap panchayats, dowry deaths, female feticide and the traditional perception of girl being a burden, we are better off as we are. Girls, here are better educated and free to pursue their dreams. Alas! This cannot be said in your case where a woman becomes a child bearing machine; if male all the more better. All these negatives have put our country to shame.

Int-1.   Yes, there is some truth in what you say and feel. Why, you too have your quaint tribal and local customs far removed from the concept of civilized living.

Int-2. Thank God you have stooped to equate with our culture. Well, you are way off the mark. Historically, our region enjoys the reputation of being free from social evils like sati, dowry and female infanticide or feticide if one wants to be particular. There is a strong undercurrent of female hegemony in our social values. Look at our deities- Ma Kamakhya, Ma Kali and a host of revered Godesses. Women are widely respected here and are not the butt end of silly and moron jokes circulating in your community. In Meghalaya, the matriarchal system is being followed which underscores the fact that women are held in high esteem even in conservative tribal societies.

Int-1.  Don’t you think we started this conversation on rather not so serious a note? How does it all add up to the campus hum?

Int-2.  Here again you quickly resort to ethnic profiling for all the ills of the campus. The conventional didactics only emphasizes stereotypes and blunts the spirit of inquiry. The recent hullaballoo in one of the southern universities is a case in point. The VC had to recant. This is not an isolated case. The problem is that you tend to mix up morality with our lifestyles and social mores. The self- appointed Grand Panjandrum of moral values trying to wipe out Valentine’s Day and Pop music from our lives.

Int-1.   You sound so funny and pompous when you say all that. Well, whatever you have said gives me food for thought. I never knew things were like that.

Int-2. Never mind how I sound. As long as I can make you see my side of the story. It’s okay. In many of the movements the Manipuri women have been in the forefront. Look at Irom Sharmila. The Manipuri women had also launched a battle against alcoholism and drug addiction. No state has dominated women’s football like Manipur. Mary Kom of Manipur (boxing) is world’s number 1 in 46 kg category. Women back home are sharp, sturdy and strong and bring the same traits in their daily lives. Give the respect we deserve.

Don’t follow the ‘live and let die creed’ of James Bond. He is fiction. Start believing in live and let live and shed that smug holier than thou attitude.

Int-2.  Thanks for this rather rambling but delightful ‘Ru Barooh’ or tête á tête. Be our ambassador and our good luck charm. Our true identity stems from the goodness and gentleness of our heart and not from la-di- da homilies. Next time Hitchcock makes a movie I’ll tell him to call it ‘North by North East’ and not ‘North by North West.’ Well, friend I’m really touched and intend to join you on your next home trip –northeast ho- here we come.

                                                                  

SYMBOLIC LEGEND WHY HOLI IS CELEBRATED

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We all through our Dada, Dadi, Nana, Nani, Ma or Pa must have heard why Holi is celebrated as a colour festival. But in the hustle and bustle of life, at times, these mythological stories become hazy in our minds. So, let me remove the haze for you.

A symbolic legend is there to explain why holi is celebrated as a colour festival. The very word “Holi” originates from “Holika,” the evil sister of the iconic demon and king Hiranyakashipu. King Hiranyakashipu had earned a boon that made him virtually indestructible. The special powers of his had blinded him and he had grown very arrogant and thought he was God and demanded that everyone worship, only him.

Hiranyakashipu’s own son Prahlada however disagreed to this as he was a staunch devotee of Vishnu and this infuriated Hiranyakashipu. He subjected Prahalada to various kinds of cruel punishments, none of which affected the boy or his resolve, to do what he thought was right.

Finally, Holika – Prahalada’s evil aunt tricked him into sitting on a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloak (shawl) that made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. But as the flames went up the cloak flew away from Holika and encased Prahlada; and so Holika burned while Prahlada survived. Vishnu then appeared and killed Hiranyakashipu.

The bonfire is therefore a reminder of the symbolic victory of good over the evel, or Prahlada over Hiranyakashipu. The day after Holika bonfire is celebrated as Holi

Holi is an important festival of Hindus. It is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun (February/March), (Phalgun Purnima) which usually falls in March and sometimes in late February

THE DWINDLING OF GREAT EXPECTATIONS -THE SAD SAGA OF A SAMSUNG FRIDGE

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Fridge- go for a MNC brand; go for that attractive beast- the Samsung fridge was the coherent advice, from one all, and soon I was a proud owner of a product from the Samsung stable. But at times all that glitters is not gold, and all that is cheered, could bring you tears.

I had bought my fridge in the year 2004, a double door 300 litres. But soon after, and within 3 years the handle of the refrigerator broke. On calling the service engineer I was told the handle is not in stock, but somehow that helpful soul cannibalized one from another fridge and replaced the broken handle. But this gave me a somewhat eerie feeling about the product and more so about the company that had no parts even after three years of purchase, and I felt, from a proud owner I was reduced to an aggrieved owner.

Then again once in the recent past we found the refrigerator was not cooling when we reported the matter to their customer care department. This time the visiting technician gave us a rather crude advice, quite unbecoming of an MNC product: Switch off the refrigerator for about 24 hours, after which, tilt it in one direction for all the frozen water to drain out. We did exactly that and the cooling improved. However, the trust in both the product and the company reduced drastically; as the mental trauma continued.

And, recently just about a month back, the cooling of the fridge reduced is when we reported the matter to the customer care again. They sent their technician on a chargeable basis and after examining the fridge he told us the cooling has reduced because the gas has leaked from the compressor. Anyways he repaired the fridge by injecting gas into the compressor that took three hours, when my wife had to take leave. But the problem was still not over, I presumed.

And my hunch was not wrong when the fridge stopped cooling once again after a couple of days and this time the technician said, ‘Nothing is wrong with the fridge. It is just not cooling because the thermostat has been set at zero.’ I said, ‘It was set by your technician only who came last time.’ Anyhow, after setting the thermostat he left and the fridge started working again.

But as luck would have it just after a couple of days it stopped cooling again. And this time it was around 8 pm in the evening, and we were desperate and with little choice, so we called the local mechanic from the neighbourhood, who changed the timer and the sensor and soon after that it started working. But I am now keeping my fingers crossed.

But this brings us to a moot point about Samsung refrigerators:

  • What is the product life cycle of a Samsung refrigerator? They keep launching new products and variants but do not specify the life of an old refrigerator. In today’s time even Automobiles which are moving mechanical units and undergo a lot more stress and strain, specify engine and product life as compared to a Samsung refrigerator that is positioned at one place, and yet has so many product issues.
  • The skill levels of Samsung engineers who visited my place to check the refrigerators was found grossly casual and wanting for they could not even diagnose that the sensor and timer was not working- this is too easy to determine as separate units, that can be tested and just replaced and this goes to show how much emphasis Samsung is putting in training their team of engineers in the after-sales-and -service department.
  • The Samsung service technician says company keeps service parts only for a period of five years, but this is to less as many Indian families don’t change their fridge before ten years and some not before fifteen years. So is this some kind of a forced consumerism? And shouldn’t the company at the time of sale inform the customer as a sales policy they don’t supply spare parts after 5 years. As just to site and example, while shifting or even otherwise if the door of your refrigerator gets damaged and your unit is more than five years old, you cannot get a replacement even if the insurance company is ready to pay.
  • The company should know that many households in India are transferable where households are shifted every three to five years on account of transfers and so, can you afford to have this kind of after-sales-service-policy where you won’t supply parts after five years.
  • And while Samsung with the help of its industrious R&D, production and marketing aggression is launching attractive looking refrigerators and variants it should clearly specify its policy on nurturing the existing population of its refrigerators which looks to be a dark and unattended zone, and a callous approach towards its customer base.

VARIANTS OF BEAUTY

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    The trio of Akansha, Parnita and Sarita, was a glued group in our college. They were mostly together in the classroom, where they sat in the same row. Or the canteen where they hogged together, those stale microwaved snacks, or sipped that atrociously sweet chai, coffee, or the unhygienic nimbu-pani or even the chilled soft drinks from the college canteen. And, if nothing else, they were seen sauntering around the college lawns discussing what not. Where, we thought it was that reaaal whaaaat not.

    Even when the trio was mostly together in college. They appeared to be poles apart in terms of their personal habits and traits. Parnita appeared the bold, chirpy and articulate sort. Where, Akansha was fun loving, and Sarita somewhat frivolous. One day I found Akansha standing alone near the canteen is when I asked her.

    ‘Hi Akansha, where are the rest?’ She looked at me, even without a smile. I could make out something was upsetting her, is when she said.

    ‘Sarita hasn’t come today, and I had a tiff with Parnita.’

    ‘Tiff! but why?’ I asked eagerly.

    ‘Because, she is a bloody motor-mouth and just can’t shut up.’

    Seeing her upset, I asked her for a soft drink and she joined me. And, when I had just about had the first gulp I softly asked.

    ‘But, what has she said that has upset you so much?’ She looked at me somewhat dazed and started softly.

    ‘See Parnita, is a very average looking person and we all are aware of that fact. But she has an articulate tongue and a sexy singing voice, and that makes her talk excessively, which is highly irritating. She has this false notion that by talking excessively in her sexy voice she will be able to impress and hook boys or even the male faculty. My foot!’

    ‘But, isn’t a sexy singing voice, a beauty in itself, a much adored gift from God, and that she can articulate well enough, a bonus? I asked.

    ‘May be yes, but the takers are very few. And you just can’t compare Parnita with me and Sarita who are always eyed by men.’ And, with that our cold drink was over. We started walking towards the classroom for the next period. But Akansha’s mindset had got me thinking.

    Couple of days had passed when one morning in the assembly there was an announcement by the Principal after the prayers:

    ‘Dear students,

    The teacher’s council has selected Parnita for the inter-college debate contest, starting next week after a rigorous selection process and we wish her all the best. We are sure with her debating skills she will definitely bring laurels for the college.’

    The announcement was followed by some loud clapping, by students and the faculty members. Parnita, was suddenly surrounded by whole lot of students wanting to congratulate her. When in the far corner of the assembly, I saw Akansha standing, all alone and all by herself, .

    Surely, in talent lies the ultimate beauty that has many variants.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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‘ARROGANT INDIA’ INTIMIDATES THE ‘MEEK INDIA’ – THE CURSE OF LAL BATTI- VVIP CULTURE

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India belongs to we the VVIP and the rest can go to hell by drowning themselves in the sufficiently large Arabian sea or the Bay of Bengal, and for the rest who can’t reach there umpteen rivers are there or climb atop those lofty mountains or any sky-scraper and jump from there, for there is no place for NON-VIPS in India anymore. This is what the meek India is coaxed to feel by the arrogant India, shamelessly, personified by these VVIPs in flesh and blood. This VVIP class (Politicians-Bureaucrats-Judiciary) is not even 1% of the Indian population; but in the manner 1% of the world’s population controls 48% of the world’s wealth, these VVIP’s too control the entire India.

Perhaps, some of these VVIPs must also be feeling that Mahatma Gandhi, our father of the nation was perhaps an idiot, to have travelled third class and roamed in loin cloth, to live a life of simplicity; which we are not. And, so grab everything out, of the frail guts of this cattle class, of meek India.

And, for the meek India, Maharajas of the ancient India or Viceroys of the colonial British Raj, as if had never left but only got swapped by the arrogant India. Today, arrogant India very blatantly exploits the meek India by the sledgehammer of VVIP-ISM; by blocking roads for endless hours, taking their vehicles right up to the tarmac where their aircrafts are parked, by having separate lanes for themselves and also insulting senior citizens, differently abled persons and children who are made to stand in long queues while they walk in at the last moment by-passing security cordons, with their gun toting security guards. They delay lacs and lacs of workers going to office and factories by their stupid traffic movement and then talk of industrial output. They kill patients in ambulances by halting ambulances and then talk of health.

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In the British Raj, in many cities of India there were some roads and lanes, where Indians could not enter during certain hours (such as main roads and mall roads in many cities) and pitifully we find the same atrocious culture seeping back to haunt the meek India in a more aggressive manner, just to satisfy arrogant India’s egos.

Today, meek India is standing at a crowded crossroad, not knowing which way to go and whom to look at, as all look to be the same, and in the process is losing faith in the institution of democracy that comes through the windows of these elected representatives of political parties and their cahoots in bureaucracy and even the judiciary. For starting from Congress that invented the VVIP-ISM post British Raj; today even BJP sings the same tune after having promised to go the other way, and who knows, tomorrow AAP that started primarily on anti- corruption an anti- VIP culture too may get lured to VVIP-ISM.

And what is more mystifying is the posture in which ‘arrogant India’ approaches ‘meek India’ with folded hands with a promise to serve as a dutiful ‘Public Servant’ thereby exploiting the simplicity of the meek India and once they are elected they show their real ugly face and feudal mindset.

They do everything under the sun to justify the VVIP-ISM- the hateful Lal Batti culture. They operate like parasites on hard earned tax payer’s money and refuse to reform themselves. They inculcate venomous values in their children too and would never bury the skeleton of being called the lord and master.

So what did ‘meek India’ get post-independence? They got Bapu’s- third class, his loin cloth and above all his simplicity and values; and the arrogant class? Well they became the modern day Maharajas and didn’t let the Britishers leave India in the real sense.

BOOK QUOTES … INTERESTING LINES

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ULYSSESHARRY PORTERBENHUR

  • For as his brain developed—you cannot stop your brain developing, and it is one of the tragedies of the half-educated that they develop late, when they are already committed to some wrong way of life.
  •   “It’s all very well,” grumbled Ellis, with his forearms on the table, fidgeting with his glass. The dispute with Mr. Macgregor had made him restless again. “It’s all very well, but I stick to what I said. No natives in this Club! It’s by constantly giving way over small things like that that we’ve ruined the Empire. This country’s only rotten with sedition because we’ve been too soft with them. The only possible policy is to treat ‘em like the dirt they are. This is a critical moment, and we want every bit of prestige we can get. We’ve got to hang together and say, ‘We are the masters, and you beggars—‘ “ Ellis pressed his small thumb down as though flattening a grub—“ ‘you beggars keep your place!’”
  • He followed her into the bedroom. In a week–it was only a week–her appearance had degenerated extraordinarily. Her hair looked greasy. All her lockets were gone, and she was wearing a Manchester longyi of flowered cotton, costing two rupees eight annas. She had coated her face so thick with powder that it was like a clown’s mask, and at the roots of her hair, where the powder ended, there was a ribbon of natural-coloured brown skin. She looked a drab. Flory would not face her, but stood looking sullenly through the open doorway to the veranda.
  • “Thank you, Monsieur.” She spoke in English but her voice was foreign, a rich low voice very seductive in quality. As she was about to pass on, she hesitated and murmured: “Pardon, Monsieur, but I think you were recently at Grasse?”
  • At the same time, the Emperor had a great desire that I should see the magnificence of his palace; but this I was not able to do till three days after, which I spent in cutting down, with my knife, some of the largest trees in the royal park, about a hundred yards distance from the city. Of these trees I made two stools, each about three feet high, and strong enough to bear my weight.
  • Alas,” said Candide, “my dear Pangloss often proved to me that the goods of this world are common to all men, that everyone has an equal right to them. Acting on that principle, the Franciscan should have left us enough to finish our journey. So you have nothing left, fair Cunegonde?”
  • P.V. Narasimha Rao came from humble home. His intellectual centre was India; his roots were deep in its spiritual and religious soil. His knowledge of Sanskrit profound. He was a man of learning, a scholar, a linguist and a thinker of the first order.
  • Gogol has never heard the term ABCD. He eventually gathers that it stands for “American-born confused deshi.” In other words him. he learns that C could also stand for “conflicted.”
  • The Don said meekly, “Wait, I’ll get you your money.” Then he went out into the garden and said to Sonny, “Listen, there’s some men working on the furnace, I don’t understand what they want. Go in and take care of the matter.”
  • “The rudeness spread to one of the assistant directors,” said Moriarty. “Instead of calling Marilyn for a scene, he would stand there and glare at her, tapping his foot for as long as he could. There would eventually be a big blow up, when all the man had to do was say, ‘Excuse me, Miss Monroe, we’re ready for you.’ She was denied all the prerogatives of a star.”
  • Taken aback by this passionate eloquence, Ruru lowered his staff. He feared that the snake might be a sage in disguise. Seeking to appease the great soul, Ruru said, “You do not seem like an ordinary snake. I believe you must be some other being only temporarily occupying this form. Tell me then, how did you come to be a snake?’
  • The sun was now setting. It was about three in the afternoon when Alisande had begun to tell me who the cow-boys were; so she had made pretty good progress with it- for her. She would arrive some time or other, no doubt, but she was not a person who could be hurried- Sandy’s Tale- Mark Twain page 107
  • I honour your circumspection. A fortnight’s acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself.
  • FAY. Your son is a thorn in my flesh. The contents of his dressing-table are in indictment of his way of life. Not only firearms, but family-planning equipment. A Papal dispensation is needed to dust his room.
  • In a country as diverse as ours, there will always be passionate arguments about how we draw the line when it comes to government action. That is how our democracy works. But our democracy might work a bit better if we recognized that all of us possess values that are worthy of respect; if liberals at least acknowledged that the recreational hunter feels the same way about his gun as they feel about their library books, and if conservatives recognized that most women feel as protective of their right to reproductive freedom as evangelicals do of their right to worship.
  • The pigeon that stays at home is always in terror for the fate of the pigeon on the wing.
  • All this modern brag about women’s lib, male bashing appeared as poster signs for the erudite to read and jostle through this not-so-good world, as you still had the Ria’s of the world to be saved from the callous studs and the bitchy hens of the ‘scheming jungle’ called society.’
  • ‘Mar. Death is a penalty which a person can pay only once, and she has made that payment. What you wish to do has been done already for you. the last words she spoke were, “Anthony, most noble Anthony!” and in the midst of her speech, a rending groan came in the middle of “Anthony”; the word was split in two between, her heart and her lips. She gave up her life, and the half of your name was buried within her.’
  • “All is well so far. The lambardar reports regularly. No refugees have come through the village yet.I am sure no one in Mano Majra even knows that the British have left and the country is divided into Pakistan and Hindustan. Some of them know about Gandhi but I doubt if anyone has even heard about Jinnah.”
  • In the Mahabharata, Pandu has two wives but cannot have sex with them because of a curse. Pandu means pale and weak and could be related to the Sanskrit word panda meant for men unable to have sex with women for a variety of reasons.
  • ‘Mr Gilmer’s back stiffened a little, and I felt sorry for him. Perhaps I’d better explain something now. I’ve heard that lawyers’ children, on seeing their parents in court in the heat of argument, get the wrong idea: they think opposing counsel to be the personal enemies of their parents, they suffer agonies, and are surprised to see them often go out arm-in-arm with their tormentors during the first recess.’
  • ‘Well, there was once a tortoise, who was, of course, provided with a shell, and within this shell he used to hide for protection against the attacks of his enemies. One day, someone said to him, “You must find it very hot inside there in the summertime. Besides, when you are hidden, no one can admire your bodily perfections. Now, here is a serpent who will give you a million and a half for your shell.”’ ‘Good!’ said Monsieur Fouquet, laughing.       ‘So the tortoise sold his shell, and had to go about unprotected. He was discovered by a vulture, who, feeling hungry, broke his back with a blow of his beak, and had him for dinner.’
  • A little later, full into view swung a duplication of his dromedary, tall and white, and bearing a houdah, the travelling litter of Hindostan.’
  • Viswamitra, the greatest of the ascetic heroes of the Iliad of the East, had in him a perfect representative. He might have been called a Life drenched with the wisdom of Brahma- Devotion Incarnate.’
  • ‘He spoke bluffly, and only somebody like Sherlock Holmes or Monsieur Poirot could have divined that at the sound of her voice his soul had turned a double somersault, leaving him quivering with an almost Bill Rowcester-like intensity.’
  • Initially the losses ran to crores of rupees, Sir, but since we stopped production it has proved very economical !

NO PLACE FOR FAILURE, IN CHANGING INDIA: INDIAN MEDIA & SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES JOKE AND RIDICULE 44 YEAR OLD SON OF THE SOIL RAHUL GANDHI WHO COULDN’T MEET UP WITH SUCCESS

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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Ever since the stormy news of Rahul Gandhi’s sabbatical for ‘personal introspection’ during the ensuing budget session came in. Both the media and the social networking sites in India have hounded him to cruel smithereens. A parallel of which one cannot remember, at least in the recent past.

When, other, light and more decent ‘critical’ phrases could have been used to put him down. Double-meaning expressions like ‘missing in action’ (MIA) were continuously aired by certain TV channels, knowingly or unknowingly.

‘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 even deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave has been positively identified.’ And, so the usage of MIA was in bad taste and a clear case of media going overboard.

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And that brings us to the moot point. Is the youth of this country (as reflected in social networking sites) which is sixty five percent of the Indian population, getting intolerant to failures. That they won’t even spare a person around, their own age group. While this is a welcome sign and also an insignia of progress. It is also a double edge sword. For, in times to come Indian youth with lack of opportunities and explosion of population will surely witness failures in every family, and will every family then treat their loved ones in the manner they have treated Rahul Gandhi, over the last couple of days. For let us not forget he is still part of the great Indian family.

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Most blame Rahul Gandhi for ditching the Congress party at the crucial Budget session. There are other reports that say he is set to bid adieu to politics. Some say he is unable to have his way with the old guard and therefore beating a tactical retreat.

And we all know, with all the effort put in by him he could not win a single election for his party, in the near past. Many of his own party men are blaming him for the state in which Congress is today. When most of them are either, arm chair politicians, lawyers or inconsequential statesmen. But there are certain other points also to be considered before we rip this man completely.

Rahul Gandhi signals a new kind of India. Where, a politician may leave the turf and decide to do something else. Which may be worth his while and worth his salt, during his lifetime. And that should be taken in the stride; and not be indecently reported by the media. For one will see more politicians behaving in this fashion in times to come. So, give the loser his due.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says ‘I don’t dream for success in what I do. I only dream to do something worthwhile.’ This is a very powerful statement in today’s context and more so in Rahul Gandhi’s context. So whether you lose or win keep moving. As there is no intrinsic insult in moving away from politics. For politics is only heart burning and time consuming mistress for some. Perhaps, Narendra Modi could have nudged the media to be a little more relenting towards Rahul Gandhi this time, more so when the youth of India looks up to him.

Let us not forget in the emerging India there won’t be any fixed route to politics. For it won’t be necessary to remain a politician all your life. For one could also be a politician like Kiran Bedi who excels in one field and takes away Satish Upadhyay’s due. Or be a tornado like Arvind Kejriwal to take Delhi by storm.

But coming back to Rahul. At least he goes on leave all by himself. Whereas, some like LK Advani and MM Joshi are sent on leave. So which is better? And, India shouldn’t forget its great culture of being humane to all. Irrespective of a winner or a loser.

*****

MAKE #CRICKET AS POPULAR AS #SOCCER–START ANOTHER #WORLD #CUP AMONGST CRICKET PLAYING CONTINENTS

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

In the Cricket world cup 2015 only fourteen teams are playing. Which are divided into two pools that will play 49 matches in two countries, to decide the world cup title. International Cricket Council (ICC) recognizes more than 125 countries that play cricket. But many are not up to the mark to be included in the international circuit, such as the World Cup. ICC has 10 full members, 38 Associate Members and 59 Affiliate Members and that adds up to 107 countries. The West Indies cricket team does not represent a single country.

The world today has 196 countries and with that logic, cricket looks like an isolated game with only 14 countries, vying for the world cup which is far from a world phenomenon. Even when the cheer and clapping is getting louder each day as the tournament progresses in those 14 countries. And so, this magnificent pageant that is hosted every 4 years is only witnessed by a small section of the world. As the game is not as popular as soccer which is played in almost all the countries.

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In the same fashion we also have the shorter version of the game called the T-20 cricket world cup, every four years. And, in addition we keep having individual test matches, ODIs and T-20 series between countries which are generally followed by the supporters of their respective countries only. Recently, BCCI has also launched IPL series to promote, both domestic and international cricket. But, even with all of this, cricket is not getting sold exponentially beyond the 14 countries that participate in the world cup. So, there is a greater need to popularize cricket in less and non-cricket playing countries, by shedding traditional, autocratic and bureaucratic ways of thinking and dealing with cricket.

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The 14 countries that currently play in the international world cup circuit are- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangla Desh, Australia, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE, South Africa, Zimbabwe, West Indies, England, Ireland & Scotland.

This more or less promotes cricket in their respective countries only, and to a certain extent in their neighbouring countries. But if cricket needs to spread to other countries by leaps and bounds. Something out-of-the-box needs to be thought through. A better way of popularizing cricket would be to have another world class tournament. Where, we could bunch teams of 3-4 countries, continent wise, and have a world cup tournament amongst them, such as;

Team 1: India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh

Team 2: Australia, New Zealand

Team 3: Pakistan, Afghanistan and UAE

Team 4: South Africa, Zimbabwe

Team 5: West Indies, England, Ireland and Scotland

HOW WILL THIS HELP IN PROMOTING CRICKET?

Cricket was never played in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, since Adam was a lad. It only came along with the Britishers and became an endearing and formidable game, close to a religion. Which goes to show, if publicized, facilitated and marketed well. It has the potential to become a game as popular as soccer.

Individual countries, and more pointedly India, may have done well to promote cricket in their own country. But Cricket as such has not seen a deluge of popularity, breaking barriers of borders and continents. Rather, it cocooned in its ego and bureaucracy and never butterflied across the world as soccer or lawn tennis. To sight and example, for so many years Bangladesh had to wait to get Test status and same goes for countries like Ireland and Scotland, that are still waiting.

WHAT WILL CHANGE BY BUNCHING TEAMS AND HAVING A WORLD CUP AMONGST CONTINENTS?

Just citing an example. Increase the team members in the squad of Team 1, as referred above (India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) by 3-5 and include new talent from China, Nepal, Myanmar, Maldives or any other country close by and give them a chance in warm up matches, or even just let them be with the team or include them in practice sessions or as twelfth man to be viewed by spectators back home. As this also will popularize the game back in their countries in a big way. For, didn’t it suddenly make a world of difference when some of our athletes were seen on world stage, in various disciplines at the Olympics?

And, hold this world cup tournament among continents every two years. As this will help in good publicity and brand building because public memory is too short, and keep the venue in some non-playing country or countries that play, but are not world class like China, Nepal, Myanmar, Maldives, Kabul, Spain, or the US to name a few. Request their dignitaries or popular figures to inaugurate and play the game at these inaugural matches. ICC is rich and could allocate a budget for this. Also, give special incentives including discounted tickets to tourists who want to watch the game of cricket from non-cricket playing countries. And just before the tournament, legendary and star cricketers depending upon their popularity like Sachin Tendulkar, Imran Khan, Viv Richards, Ricky Ponting, Sanat Jaisurya, to name a few, could give cricketing lessons to youngsters who want to play cricket.

Give this world cup tournament a well thought through, heavy weight title, making it look like a competition among titans, continents, giants, bravo juggernauts or even ET. For, this will have a domino effect in popularizing the game by leaps and bounds. Especially, in non playing continents or even non-playing countries or countries where the game is not played to its full potential. For where is the continued rejoice if the game continues to hover and be competed around in the same surroundings. Perhaps, the present day cricket may give you a feeling. As if it has been discarded and rejected by rest of the world and only adopted by few countries, with world potential still to be realized; and all in the interest of cricket.

*****

YOU REALLY WON’T KNOW WHO ALL WILL BE THERE TO SEE YOU OFF WHEN YOUR MOMENT COMES

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We know nothing about our future, yet we all have a future.

As narrated by anonymous in Lucknow.

It was just the other day when I had gone for a cocktail dinner to one of my friend’s place, on the occasion of his daughter’s wedding somewhere in Gomti Nagar. I had really done a lot of planning to be there. Having come, all the way from Delhi. But for some reason my wife couldn’t accompany me on that particular day.

Considering it will be a late night. I had hired a cab for the evening; and was expecting to have some great recalling moments. Catching up with some very old friends.Whom I had not met for an eon now. Besides that, I also expected many unknown, yet distinguished guests on the occasion. Overall a formal flashy gathering, where I wasn’t wrong.

The party had just about begun in the first floor of a guest house that he had hired. The epicenter of the venue was quite well lit, with a festive ambience. Buoying with some lilting ghazals and appropriating the celebratory occasion to a rocking start.

I too saluted the moment by gulping down some whisky, as I waved out for some piping hot chicken-tikka-kabab, in the freezing, yet enjoyable ambient temperature. And, as I put a piece in my mouth, very strangely it went straight down my throat and into my food pipe before I could even chew it and started choking me. I felt a little alarmed and cussed to begin with.

First, I tried to gulp it down with some whisky and then some water. But to my shock both whisky and water started oozing out of my nose but the chicken remained where it was. I rushed to the toilet thinking I’m about to vomit but there too nothing great happened as the chicken piece or the chicken bone, still remained stuck.

In all of this some fifteen to twenty minutes must have passed. By now the party was in full blast, when I could hazily see, some unknown, yet smartly dressed up couples and their children around me. Just then, I felt I was close to a blackout. But there appeared not a single known face in the tangible surrounding. Whom I could have shouted for help. Moreover the music was too loud. And, by now I was beginning to feel a little embarrassed.

It was an unexpected and painful moment for me. When I could feel my present withering to a repulsive future. Coming my way on fast track; to grip me. I was now in deep agony now, for over twenty minutes. Breathing heavily through my nose and messy all over, is when I decided to leave. For I didn’t want the party to get spoilt. And by now my eyes had even blurred. All the fluid stuck in my throat was dripping out of my nose. My hanky was all wet and by now some people had also started noticing me.

Fortunately, I was able to locate my cabby in the car park. I waved at him. He appeared to be a smart guy. As he smelt something was wrong with me, just by observing my body language and drove the car right up to where I was standing, as if in divine sync. I slid in, and in panic, I asked him to take me home. And even though, he could make out, I was unwell, He did not say a word till he put the car in motion.

By now, another five minutes had passed. I called my wife at home and told her to be at the gate, to take me to a doctor forthwith. Briefly describing, what was stuck in my throat. She panicked upon hearing this. I was in deep agony by now. My eyes were closing and I was breathless.

Meanwhile, the driver, while he was driving, opened his water bottle and asked me to forcefully drink some water even if I couldn’t. Which I did, but nothing improved. On the contrary I became a little more uncomfortable. He then slowed the car and started patting me on my neck, but I remained uncomfortable. By now, I could make out we were crossing ‘Bhaisa Kund,’ the cremation ground at around 9.30 in the night. That was indeed scary. As, I found it quite still and dark, with I  so close to it. Will I be brought here tomorrow? Was the weird feel I got. And, will I survive this onslaught of chicken-tikka-kabab, I wondered, in surrendering emotion.

It was one of the most frightening moments of my life for obvious reasons. Since, no one from my family was there to hold me, except, the cabby who appeared as a family then. Who happened to be a young guy, and my only source of inspiration. Perhaps, the divine co-passenger sent from heaven, for the hallowed moment. I helplessly thought, will I make it from here? I pondered in pessimism, but by then my head had slumped forward, almost resting on the dashboard; perhaps the end was near, thought the cabby.

Is when I suddenly felt he had stepped up the vehicle. We were to turn right but he took to the left and in just about five minutes he stopped in front of a small hospital. He rushed inside and got a wheel chair and took me straight to the emergency ward with the help of a ward boy. By now, I was hardly able to converse, but the driver explained to the doctor, and the doctor with a minor procedure pulled out the chicken piece and advised me not to attempt it, ever again. And with that my trauma had subsided, but myriads of introspection arose.

Because, the last one hour had given me a feel of life’s biggest certainty, death. It also conveyed, you have very little control over your future. So enjoy every moment and create similar situations for others also. As anything can happen anytime. And all around you, you only have fellow passengers. For you don’t know who all will come to see you off. And, who all, you’ll see off, when the moment comes.

And, last but not the least, the incident took me close to an accident victim. Who suddenly dies away from his family and without any forewarning. He has no one to see him off. But my case was slightly different. Where, the fellow passenger, the driver in this case had come to see me off. For a moment I thought, the strong thread of family would have helped me go past that last flicker. From the feel of future to actually arriving at the future–death. But I guess the longing best wishes of my family and the presently departed souls at Bhaisa kund still wanted me alive and about, and so pulled me back with the lease of life. But then who knows when it will strike again.

*****