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LITERARY CORNER: WHY I AM A HINDU by Shashi Tharoor

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–Read India Initiative—

This is only an attempt to create interest in reading. We may not get the time to read all the books in our lifetime. But such reviews, talk and synopsis will at least convey what the book is all about.

WHY I AM A HINDU’

by Shashi Tharoor

Publisher Aleph

Year of publication: 2018

    The price of the book is Rs 699. It’s a 300 page book loaded with some palpable stuff—quite typical of Shashi Tharoor. The book has three main chapters divided into seven sub chapters.

    It starts off quite well with the author glossing over reasons as to why he decided to write this book. Where, he takes you through the essence of Hinduism, but not so much through the rituals but essentially through the religious-socio-cultural plank. He gets into meticulous detailing such as how a Sanskrit word ‘Jagannath’ came to be known as ‘Juggernaut.’ He takes you through the Bhakti movement. He talks about the Advaita Vedanta, the vedic learnings with lots of anecdotes—interesting ones. He describes in great detail the wisdom of Swami Vivekananda and Adi Shankracharya. Talks about his own childhood entangled in Hinduism. The ‘sanskars’ that he got from his parents. While Shashi loves Hinduism he admonishes Hindutva in his hot narration.

    The author, initially appears, quite as a baby faced admirer and a harmless volunteer of Hinduism till around page hundred and forty. But thereafter he changes gear and moves into the domain of political Hinduism.

    Where, he goes unsparingly after Savarkar, Golwalkar and Deen Dayal Upadhyay all stalwarts of the Sangh Parivar. And, as expected of Shashi Tharoor, he does make, a piercing commotion about the atrocities committed by the British Raj on Hinduism, but remains somewhat vague about the atrocities of the Muslim invaders, perhaps, offering them benefit of doubt. He feigns or genuinely believes Hindus are large hearted or even dodos, and will never react to the persecution that they were subjected to at the hands of the British Raj and the devious invaders, even in a millennium which is not quite clear. While he allows Deen Dayal Upadhyay to pass off as a more tolerable face of the Sangh Parivar. For Savarkar and Golwalkar, he projects unalloyed despise rising up to hate, but doesn’t really touch Hedgewar the founding Sangh Chalak even with a bargepole.  Shashi cannot imagine leave alone believing that RSS may have been an initial emotional reaction to the atrocities of the British Raj and the Islamization during Jinnah before and even after the partition. Just as Islamization could have been a reaction to American atrocities on the Muslims as believed by many and not some. And why forget the fascism of Europe that arose primarily because of Communism.

    Beyond page 140 the author shows his real face and that is his attack on Hindutva. The point that he makes is about the ancient Indian culture of hospitality where India has always been a great host to all communities. The population of India is 80% Hindus but they have always looked after the minority communities in terms of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and others. When you cruise through the book further what becomes more apparent is that Hindutva is the brain child of RSS. And till the time Congress was well in control of India the Indian society was an Utopia and now it has become a dystopia. The book is excellent in terms of narration and flow. And is action packed with all the appreciated fantasies of the Congress regime. Yet, I was left with the following gaps for which I did not find answers or were the answers held back. I really don’t know?

   The book has a good spread of Hinduism’s history but lacks in precipitating/ Hindu emotions because of obvious reasons. It churns out great details about Hinduism yet it does make you feel a depreciated Hindu. The author talks about large scale conversion of Hindus, at the hands of Muslims and even Christians but at the same time is short of saying that both Muslims and Christians are fanatics in that manner.

    Although, he goes after Hindutva with a gun yet he doesn’t give any plausible explanation as to why Hindutva flourished in the last 25-30 years. Was it a pent up emotional need of the Hindus or the failure of Congress party that ruled for so many years. All he does is to blame the Sangh and the BJP. The author having criticised the BJP and the Sangh so vehemently, should have suggested a socio-religious-cultural alternative to BJP which he hasn’t. Muslims have their mosque and Christians their Church but where do Hindus go barring their defining book Gita. And is BJP a reaction to 70 years of Congress rule is the question the author needs to answer to complete the book? BJP has come up through a democratic process. It started with just two seats in the parliament and now occupies almost a full house. If all was going so well for the Hindus in India why did Hindutva gain so much ground. For which there is no elaborate answer from the author barring the cliché of the divisive policy of the RSS and BJP.

    Book is a little too much to digest in one go for an average reader. It’s outright verbose—Shashi Tharoor style. And yes read it with a pinch of salt. The book leans towards Congress. In which he has mixed society, religion and politics. It has excellent flow and detailing. Author admits his erudite team has also helped him in this narration. A large part of the book is all about RSS and BJP bashing. Though India is projected well in the eyes of the world, which, Shashi always does. The first half and even all along, the book is all about the uniqueness of Hindu religion. It covers the Sikh riots in just about half a paragraph just because Congress was to blame for it. Whereas, he criticizes forcefully the doctrine of Hindutva. And mildly conveys about the invaders who came and plundered India from time to time. He sings the same old tune of secularism. He compares India with Pakistan. In Pakistan all non-Muslims have it written on their passports as non-Muslims, signifying they are second rate citizens.

    The book doesn’t reveal the dynamics of an evolving society. One will agree, Hindutva was not in the agenda of things when India got independence. But obviously, there have been factors that propagated the concept of Hindutva later on. Intermittently Shashi criticizes the caste system propagated by the Britishers and subsequently upheld by the Congress party.

    Author doesn’t accept Hindutva as a reaction to Muslim radicalisation. And even fails to say that if Muslim radicalisation continues there is a likelihood of Christian radicalisation too, maybe not in India but in various Christian majority states of the world.

    The book is excellent in terms of detailing and of course the content, language and the flow.

    But surprisingly, it nowhere deciphers between the temperaments of Hindus settled in south and the ones in the north who mostly took the wrath of these Muslim invaders.

    Towards the final chapters the author takes you through some iconic inventions in the realm of Hinduism and Science, especially the inventions of numerals in terms of Shunya or zero. At one point he also tries to justify the invaders and that includes the Mughals starting from Babar. He compares them with the Britishers only to say that Britishers took the loot to their own country whereas, the Muslim invaders spent it here in India. Then he goes on to talk about holy cows, changing the name of Aurangzeb road and even the independence movement.

    Overall it’s an excellent read if you don’t mind the politics that the book generates. I would give the book eight out of ten for the content, detailing, information, language flow and of course Shashi’s guts in being one-sided and the frankness.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

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AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

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REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

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TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

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RHYTHM … in poems

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WHAT IS GOOD FOR DEVELOPMENT OF INDIA—POLITICAL STABILITY OR POLITICAL COMPETITION?

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    It is said, competition is good for consumers, but how about competition in politics? Where, I am reminded of what Indira Gandhi had once said,

    ‘My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition there.’

    She indeed was one of the tallest leaders of the Congress party and even that of India. Who dared to dismember a neighbouring country. Therefore, if we superimpose her quote. On the tenets of Congress Party or for that matter, on any other political party. It will be an interesting churning of inferences.

    Before India attained freedom. There were thirteen political parties. That jointly fought the British Raj for independence, with Congress in the forefront. The focus then was not development, but to attain independence. Where, they competed and colluded in a smart manner and achieved it. Post independence. Some of these parties wound up, as their mission was over. Whereas, some dissolved into each other. Congress, then became the tallest party with practically no opposition. Muslim League, the other powerful party was more or less hived off to Pakistan upon partition. Congress, thereafter, was in power for around fifty six years. But in these years. They could have done much better. Than what they actually did. On the contrary. Post independence. They brought in the ‘License Raj.’ That only stifled the progress and development of the country. Where, only a few in power benefited. So can one say political stability attracts development? No is the answer.

    License Raj was finally dissolved. When P.V. Narasimha Rao took over as the Prime Minister, in 1991, with Dr Manmohan Singh as his Finance Minister in a Congress led Government. Thereon, things started looking up in India. But, by then the coalition politics had also come into play. No single party was ruling the roost. Competition had set in. Where, every political party had to perform on economic parameters too. Apart, from the usual, socialistic ones. And, where, the voter’s aspiration had also increased with the spread of literacy.

  •     If we go through India’s GDP in absolute numbers. We find in 1950-51 it was 2.79 lac crores. That reached 20 lac crores by 1991-92 (15% annual growth for 40 years). But, was that enough? Especially, when we were starting from a very low plank? This grew to 57.41 lac crores by 2013-14 (8.90% annual growth for 21 years). This was when the environment had become more challenging. These growths were also facilitated by growth in population.
  •     When we analyse the annual growth of India’s GDP at factor cost. We find. In 40 years, starting 1951-52 to 1991-92. Thrice, it showed negative growth, and in 79-80, after thirty years of independence, it even went down to -5.2%, which is shameful. In fact growth started steadying above 5% only after 91-92. When economy was set in to liberalize and when competition among political parties had increased and coalition governments had become the order of the day.
  •     In 1950-51 the food grain production was 50.83 million tonnes. In 1991-92 it reached 180 million tonnes. An increase of 129.47 million tonnes (an annual growth rate of 6.36%). This could have been much better. Had the economy been opened in the 70’s, which the Congress government didn’t bother to do. By the year 2013-14 production reached 263.2 million tonnes. An increase of 83.2 million tonnes since 1992 (a 2.20% annual growth rate). That goes to show political competition lost focus on agriculture.
  •     In the infrastructure sector. Construction of roads, (both surfaced and non-surfaced) picked up a steady pace only after 2008-09. After political competition started hotting up in India and the same goes for exports which too picked up post 2003.

    The US is the world’s largest economy. There are two main parties. The Republicans and the Democrats. They follow each other close on heels on various issues. Yet, in the last two decades. Like in the case of many developed nations. Its growth rate has been decreasing. If in the 50’s and 60’s. The average growth rate was above 4 percent. In the 70’s and 80’s it dropped to 3 percent. And in the last ten years. The average rate has been below 2 percent and since the second quarter of 2000. It has never reached the 5 percent level. So, has political stability in American politics helped the growth rate? Or is it. That the inertia of good sound policies of the government, is driving the growth, irrespective of which party rules. Or is it that there is no politics over growth?

    In India we have seven national parties. That include BJP, INC, CPI (Marxist), CPI India, BSP, TMC and the NSP. In addition we also have forty eight state parties. There is enough competition on the ground. But whether it is helping development is the big question. There is no firm paradigm of continuous fast track of development. That only goes to prove that political competition, may not mean development in India.

    So, sadly, India has seen both the extremes. One, when Congress was stable and virtually in a monopoly for 56 years. When, morosely, there was only a skeletal and self complimenting development. Nothing exponential. Which was what, was required. And even now when you have a number of political parties on the ground. The development is dismal and that too at the cost of integrity. That we saw in Congress UPA regime. Somehow, BJP has been able to reverse this trend. Because it is in full majority and politically stable, and its top leadership is averse to corruption. Needless, to say political parties are not competing for development. But for retention of power. This reflects glaringly in Uttar Pradesh.

    Uttar Pradesh is the political hot seat of India. It has BJP, SP, BSP and Congress as main parties on the ground. In the past there were five prime ministers from UP. Apart from Dr Manmohan, who, also, was under the command and control of the first family of Indian politics, supposedly from UP. Yet UP is where it was some forty years back. Despite, being the cradle of civilization, and the cynosure of every era. Today, UP is poor, hungry, unemployed, illiterate and is one of the most prominent members of the Bimaru states of India.

    In six and a half decades of independence. India has grown manifold in population, but sparsely in infrastructure. But some states have grown faster than the others, and that’s where UP has lagged behind. It is still way behind Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.

    So, then what went wrong in UP? Especially, after independence. And where did UP drop the ball? It was one of independent India’s most prosperous states. It kept growing till 1980s. From a steady growth in the beginning of the 1st five year plan in 1951 till the 1980s. UP has also seen frequent change of guard. Therefore, most certainly, it is a victim of political competition.

    AAP came with a lot of hope. That India will witness a different style of governance. But the situation with Delhi Government is atrocious as of now. On the contrary if we take Tamil Nadu. Governance and development is far better, between the two major parties that is the AIDMK and DMK.

    So then what is good for India? Political stability or political competition? There are no straight answers. But I found an appropriate quote that can act as a solution—‘stop competing with others, start competing with yourself.’

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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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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POEM: YEH KISKA BHARAT HAI JO INDIA LE UDA HAI?

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

 

 

 

Yeh kiska ‘Bharat’ hai jo ‘India’ le uda hai?

Yeh kiska ‘Gandhi’ hai jise India kho chukka hai?

Pehle toh Bharat mein Jai-Hind-Jai Hind ka nara tha,

Par aaj ke India mein sirf Jai-Hum-Jai-Hum ka bol bala hai,

Yeh kiska Bharat hai jo India le uda hai?

Yeh kiska ‘Gandhi’ hai jise India kho chukka hai?

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Kal tak ka Bharat, aur aaj ka India,

Ab jaise sat samundar ke antaraal mein aa khada hua hai,

Kuch samajh mein nahi aata,

Yeh kiska Bharat hai jo India le uda hai?

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Bharat ko dabochkar bana hai India,

Jahan corruption ka hai bol bala,

Aur sachai ka hai mooh kala,

Aur kuch pata nahi

Yeh kiska Bharat hai jo india le uda hai?

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Bharat ke damkhan ko parast kar,

Netaon ne vote bank ko apnaya hai,

Jahan Bharat wasiyon ko Indians banakar,

Aapas mein he ladwaiya hai,

Aur kya kahen,

Yeh kiska Bharat hai jo India le uda hai?

Yeh kiska ‘Gandhi’ hai jisse India kho chukka hai?

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Bharat toh ab siskiyan le raha hai,

Jab katleaam he ho gaya sanskaron ka,

Par netaon ko toh chahiya ek he sanskar,

Is India mein rahe gaddi hamari barkarar,

Aur kya batain,

Yeh kiska Bharat hai jo India le uda hai?

Yeh kiska ‘Gandhi hai jisse India kho chukka hai?

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Janta siskiyan lete hue kehti hai,

Yeh hamara Bharat Mahaan hai jo Neta le uda hai,

Yeh hum sabka India—jahaan hai jo Neta le uda hai,

Aur yeh ham sab ka hi ‘Gandhi’ hai jisse neta kho chukka hai.

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ARTICLE: THE CROWDED INDIAN POLITICAL SPACE

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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political party

Caution: 65% of Indian population is below 35 years of age and born after 1979. They want high performance delivered by political parties and not the usual rhetoric divide between –Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Isaai

Indian political space is currently going through a state of filthy transformation as the political space for each party in India is gradually reducing because of the increase in number of political parties. And this is only increasing the competition; and competition is always good they say, as it helps the consumer and brings out the best in the marketer, which in this case is the political party. And this mind-boggling competition is only going to intensify further, because of the literacy rate of India that now stands at 74%.

And, to explain what I want to say, let us compare the current political landscape of India, with that of the erstwhile auto industry of India, and that too before the MNCs walked in. There were then three car manufacturers that used to manufacture Ambassador, Fiat and Standard brand of cars that had defined markets across India where they used to sell a defined volume per annum and go home merrily. There were stray calisthenics about competing and showing aggression in some pockets but by and large these companies had their pockets and markets as vote banks in politics from where they met their targets and were having a ball of a time, as they never spent on product up-gradation, nor research and development and it is a fact that even without that some of these cars had as many as nine lives, just because there was no competition.

In the same fashion when India got Independence there was only Congress as the major political party in India that kept all other teeny-weeny parties at bay. They were in monopoly and that was one of the reasons why development in India took a back seat, because they kept winning election after election without much of a development. And in fact I hate to say but subtle reality is that had British Empire not ruled India; India would have had a late entry to railroad and many other infrastructure projects.

Congress had many inborn political advantages, such as low literacy rate and monopoly, so until 1991 when PV Narsimha Rao became the prime minister they never thought seriously about big reforms because their vote banks were safe in the hands of Muslim, Christian, schedule caste and schedule tribe pockets-and so also rural. The voting percentages those days were very low as compared to the total population and so with even the aggregate of minority, schedule caste, schedule tribe and rural votes they could grab power and so they were having a ball of time.

Jansangh, later on BJP was always considered a party—of, for and by the Upper class Hindus and had stemmed out of the RSS. And since upper caste Hindus were always a divided lot, BJP could never come to power till the nineties at the centre. And this further helped Congress, who kept ruling the country without any big development agenda but by providing lip service and subsidies to the minorities and also by Hindu bashing.

THE POLITICAL SPACE IN 80-90s

When the multinationals in the auto industry arrived in the nineties, even Indian auto companies improved in quality, new launches, CRM, customer interface and after-sales-service; and so also the markets expanded exponentially. In the same manner with some new political parties entering the fray in eighties and nineties the situation on the ground changed only marginally, as Congress still had the clout but BJP had started breathing formidability. But even with all this politicians of major parties were having a good time.

THE CURRENT POLITICAL SPACE IN INDIA

In the context of politics the MNCs of politics are the new political parties that are gaining grounds in India, thereby increasing competition in the plinth of the Indian political space. One such party at the national level is AAP which has scared BJP quite badly.

EXAMPLE OF AAM ADMI PARTY

When AAP started, political bigwigs of India felt it is just a hangover of Anna movement and it will die down but they finally won Delhi quite formidably. That goes to show people were not happy with the existing political dispensation and were looking for an alternative. Today LG of Delhi and Delhi Police try to disparage AAP at the drop of hat and as much as possible under the garb of rule book as if Indian political always moved as per rule book and this is further helping AAP and exposing the dictatorial mindset of BJP.

WHAT IS PLAGUING THE EXISTING PARTIES

Let me put it as pointers:

  • Indian voter is no longer happy with lollipops. They don’t like political arrogance and are clearly looking for talent and not family scions to run India, for the model has failed. Analyse Congress Party’s debacle in the last general elections.
  • You can continue to do caste and minority based politics like the way Congress favours Muslims but this space is getting too crowded as there are other parties like SP and MQM who also favour Muslims so the strategy will have to change and parties will have to deliver big-time to survive. As Muslims and other minorities also want jobs and security. Mind you Congress has already reached a pathetic 44 by not willing to change its strategy.
  • BJP should not remain as a Hindu mascot alone and should work for Indians in India if it wants to serve long term.
  • Parties and governments should desist from entering into privacy of people by quoting some religious idiotism for the public feels the party and the government is not performing and therefore trying to divert attention—a kind of a wag the dog syndrome.
  • Personal touch of leaders will play a big role. Leaders should be approachable and not surrounded by gun toting cops. I should be able to pick up the phone and speak to hitherto arrogant MLA or MP of my area. Currently such politicians are not there but with the burgeoning Indian population and unemployment rate jumping, more youngsters are free to become netas, and mind you they won’t be those unwieldy netas who can’t work without cars, bungalows, and staff. Some trend of this nature is already seen in politicians of AAP party.
  • In times to come political parties will have to move away from political sermons, to service providers role as 65% of your population is below 35 years of age who is not too much interested in your sermons but wants service, as the world has moved towards consumerism.
  • Like the present day auto industry most political parties need to have consumer centres—professionally managed where voters can visit/call/e-mail and lodge their protests.
  • Indian voter has matured and they look for talent and not family run shops.
  • There is need to run political establishments in India in a much more professional and transparent manner, with RTI, transparent accounting system just like large corporations. And, also they will have to perform and cover the nation in a much more professional way which will require a much more talented and professional team. And the party that starts first will get the early bird advantage. Enormous youth power is available for political deliverance in the country. And it will have to be cadre based. Something like RSS—but without religious linkages. And I soon see a great role for Management consultants to enter the political arena in converting political parties into political corporations that run the country. Defence of country from external forces and foreign policies will have to be dealt in special manner.
  • Voting in India should be allowed electronically and even by post for the masses to vote in large numbers and also to stop ballot-cheating as this will improve the variety of politicians.

MEDIA’S ROLE

  • Whosoever comes on a TV screen considers himself as a hero. So stop making heroes of radical leaders of any community. Instead focus on ordinary citizens who are doing great jobs for the country. This should be done across board and not by a particular TV channel to balance TRP ratings

INDIAN PUBLIC

  • Muslims and Christians often criticise BJP to be a Hindu party. If that is the case more Muslims and Christians should ask for membership of this party to tilt the balance, after all at the end of the day BJP is only an Indian political party—so catch the bull by its horns. And in the same manner if Hindus feel Samajwadi party or Congress are pro minority, more Hindus should join this party to tilt the balance and once this happens the agenda of political parties will move from religious and caste polarization to hard core performance and development.

The whole gamut looks difficult and impossible, but I guess the world carries on, only with the difficult and impossible as the easy is only left behind.

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THE VISION AND MISSION OF MOST POLITICAL PARTIES IN INDIA—to win elections

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WELL SUMMARIZED BY A TV ADVERTISEMENT

    Some TV advertisements become immortal. You just can’t forget them. They are so very interesting and relevant that they occupy your mind space forever. I too, remember one such advertisement quite vividly, and if I’m not mistaken it was from Nike where the script runs as follows:

    There were two guys walking in the jungle. Suddenly they hear a tiger’s roar and get frightened. The guy who is ahead makes a request to the guy behind him. To pass on his Nike shoes from the bag.

    The guy holding the bag says,

   ‘You think, by running with these shoes on. You’ll outrun a tiger?’

    ‘No,’ replied the other guy and smartly added, ‘I will not outrun the tiger. But I will definitely outrun you and that is enough to save me from the tiger.’

    Isn’t this the manner in which most political parties of India are run today? As their only mandate appears to be, to keep ahead of their nearest rival. Which is often witnessed in TV debates too. Where, they only remind each other of the final tally of wrongs the other party has done, as compared to them.

    Excellence will never flow out of this attitude. For excellence, political parties need to openly accept their mistakes and shortcomings if any. To forge ahead like a rocket, without trying to defend the indefensible.

    Remember. When a political party admits to their mistakes and shortcomings. The general public gets a positive feeling about their being honest.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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                                                   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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Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

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GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

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Satire: JagdishTytler’s divorced conscience in conversation with Jagdish Tytler

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00000conscience

    One day while Jagdish Tytler was taking a morning walk. He met his divorced conscience after many years, in the colony park behind his house. His conscience asked.

    ‘Hi Jagdish! How are you? And how is your legal battle of 1984—Sikh riot coming along? Have you been acquitted?’

    ‘Yes-yes, more or less.’ He replied in a cheerful tone.

    ‘More or less, what do you mean by more or less?’ 

    ‘Dear Conscience. I visited Dr Manmohan Singh some time ago when he was the Prime Minister and requested for a clean chit. He in turn instructed CBI to give me one. So I guess I am out of the rut. But by the way do you know who Dr Manmohan Singh is, as I’m meeting you after a long time?’

    ‘Arrey, Jagdish, so what if I left you in 1984, but who doesn’t know Dr Manmohan Singh. Isn’t he the same CEO of India, under whose nose all UPA scams were committed? And, I understand through reliable sources he is again getting a plum posting, as he is now being offered the hot chair of ‘CEO-Hell.’

    ‘CEO-Hell—what is that- Conscience?’

    ‘Arrey, the way he was ‘CEO-India’ he will now be ‘CEO-Hell,’ where you don’t even require a nomination through Rajya-Sabha as he will be a direct appointee of the President.’

    ‘But Conscience, he is a noble soul. So, do you think he will be able to handle the affairs of hell which are rather slimy and tricky, as a CEO?’

    ‘Let me tell you Jagdish. You can’t get a better candidate them him. Didn’t you notice how he turned India, which was heaven, into a ‘corrupt-hell-station’ in just about a decade. That to in connivance with the Congress High Command.  Boss you need to understand that appearances can be deceptive like Manmohan Singh. Who, otherwise appears as a meek and honest looking person, but he successfully masterminded, to make India one of the most ‘corrupt-hell station’ of the world. And don’t you worry about him as he is a smart operator, but yes, your case is indeed sad.’

    ‘But … how, Conscience?’

    ‘Just to please Gandhi parivar and show your allegiance to Congress Party you instigated a slaughter of 3000 Sikhs, in Delhi in 1984. Which was really stupid of you. What did you think you’ll go scot free after this ghastly crime? Kanoon ke haath bahut lambe hain Jagdish ji, perhaps you didn’t know that.’

    ‘But …. Conscience. If you will recall, it all started as a mob reaction and at the spur of the moment, when Mrs Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her own Sikh guards.’

    ‘I know everything as I lived in you then, and haven’t forgotten any bit. You may use all the legal tricks now to defend yourself in the court of law. But in my court you will always remain guilty of this heinous crime.’

    ‘But, Conscience, why are you holding me, solely responsible for it, as there were others too, involved in this.’

    ‘Because you were one of the main accomplice’s in getting the Sikhs massacred in the streets of Delhi. And, you made no efforts to stop the riots, even with all the power at your command. I left you soon, after this crime was committed. But did you ever introspect, as to why you did this and what you got out of it?’

    ‘I don’t deny I was a great friend of the Gandhis and maybe I too got emotional when Mrs Indira Gandhi was shot dead.’

    ‘Or was it your insecurity, that if you don’t react sternly you won’t remain the blue eyed guy of Gandhis? You see Jagdish we often commit the mistake of internalizing a feeling in ourselves, that we are permanently going to be part of this world. That makes us amass vulgar wealth, perpetrate heinous crimes such as this, and stoop to unethical levels and also various sorts of Chamchagiri, trying to be more loyal than the king.

    Analyse the difference between yourself and ManMohan. Who, after converting India into a ‘corrupt-hell-station’ is still roaming free. Whereas, you lost your complete political career. In 1984 when you committed the crime you were 40 and now past 70 and since then you have just been cooling your heels at home. You converted to Christianity under the influence of James Douglas Tytler a renowned educationist, who impressed you, but still went for this kind of a massacre. Oh what a bright future you had. But all down the drain.’

    ‘Oh Conscience what do I do now? Show me the way out.’

    ‘Well for such a genocide. One only needs to visit hell for penance. Where, you’ll probably meet your old friend Dr Manmohan Singh as—CEO-Hell who might suggest a way out. Anyways, take care, and be cautious. For God alone knows what  in you’ll become in your next birth.’

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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

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political party

    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.

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    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.

aobjp

    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.

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

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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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(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)

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SONI, SELJA DIG IN HEELS, WON’T VACATE BUNGALOWS- Such unwieldy politicians likely to fade away from the Indian political map

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By Kamlesh Tripathi

ambikaselja

Once upon a time American and European fuel guzzling cars were very popular all over the world because there was no other choice. Then came, the fuel efficient Japanese cars that took the car markets by storm where some of these companies faced the threat of closure and some actually closed. Finally, to survive every car manufacturer had to manufacture fuel efficient cars. They say global trends are more powerful than national and national trends are more powerful than the local.

Indian political market is somewhat heading in the same direction where the culture of VVIPISM is frustrating the Indian population as a whole. Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps harping about the strength of the young Indian population which happens to be under the age of 35 and is 60% of the Indian population. And this population will soon be up for grabs if they don’t find employment in other sectors, and they will turn into politicians and that will be only good for the Indian Political Market.

For this new breed of politicians will be lean, wieldy, needy and talented, and putting it more appropriately–fuel efficient. Like the Sonis and Seljas they won’t require Bungalows to reside in, vehicles and drivers to cart them, secretaries to communicate, peons to lift their baggage and security guards to protect them. They will be confident and self-sufficient.

And they will be ready to operate out of small residence, carry their own luggage, drive their own cars or move in public transport without security guards and operate their own laptops; pretty much, away from the hulky and unwieldy syndrome.

Looking in the manner the current generation of politicians is frustrating India through VVIPISM; the talented young India is seeing an opportunity in this. And this may happen quite soon. Arvind Kejriwal came quite close to this methodology but for some reasons moved away. But the younger generation is still contemplating the opportunity and it will require only 5-10 young crusaders to announce this new kind of politicking; and will become the new hero of new India—the lean Indian Politician.

Read the TOI column, Thursday, May 21, 2015

New Delhi: Former Union ministers and Rajya Sabha MPs from Congress Ambika Soni and Kumari Selja have slapped privilege notices on the urban development (UD) ministry for asking them to vacate their official bungalows.

The ministry served them eviction notice on the ground that they were no entitled to the ministerial bungalows. Both the MPs have contested the claim and have dubbed the notice as a breach of their privilege as parliamentarians. The UD ministry has been intimated by the Upper House.

“The two have given privilege notices to the urban development ministry in response to its eviction notice served on them for vacating their Type-VIII bungalows.” said an official.

Soni and Selja are staying in 22, Akbar Road and 7, Moti Lal Nehru Road, respectively, which are allotted to them when they were ministers in the previous UPA government. The UD ministry claimed they were entitled to accommodation meant for MPs as per their seniority but not ministerial bungalows.

This came even as all MPs staying in the Ashoka Hotel have vacated it. “Dushyant Chautala of INLD was the last to vacate the hotel.” an official said. At one point, 120 newly-elected MPs were staying at Ashoka Hotel.

#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

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Kamlesh Tripathi

tv8tv2

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

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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.

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    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.

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Share if you like it

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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

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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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