MAHARASHTRA DAY

 

As a Dombivlikar, I am always proud of my Marathi roots.  In fact, any person should be proud of his mother tongue and his local language.  I am a Tamilian and proud to speak Marathi.  These are the roots on which I have evolved myself as a proud Indian.  The world may be globalised and the talk about states may seem to be foolish talk for the people who paint themselves as civilized and modern.  However, the fact is that unless you meet the aspirations of the people of the land and its culture, you can never dream of true progress.  Development of a few cannot be at the cost of the vast majority who deserve their place in the sun.

The martyrs and textile workers contributed to making Mumbai what it is today. Of the 106 martyrs, most were mill workers and poor people.  Real details of the movement have not been conveyed through school texts and non-Maharashtrians make a simplistic and erroneous connection of the movement with the Shiv Sena.  It was about lakhs of workers losing their livelihood if a separate state was formed, while the middle class Marathi was concerned with linguistic and cultural issues.  The young generation does not know this.

It all may seem senseless now.  However, Maharashtra was given an unfair deal.  Long after the Centre had accepted the division of states on linguistic basis in the south, Maharashtrians had to fight for everything – a united state, a state with Mumbai as its capital, a state that could claim its place in the sun.  Bombay was to be carved out as a union territory in favor of the business community which was predominantly non-Maharashtrian and the workers stood in danger of losing out of their jobs.

It was during that time around 1955 when the then Chief Minister Morarji Desai and Mumbai Congress President S.I. Patil announced that Maharashtra would never get Mumbai for 5000 years.  The aspirations of the local people were not respected by those in power.  The workers with the support of the middle class later on, revolted against those in power for fulfilling their aspirations.

Girgaum saw the maximum victims of police atrocities during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.  Flora Fountain became the backdrop of a protest, which turned into a bloody confrontation that would forever be etched in the minds of those who actively took part in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and those who stood by the cause.  The Police opened fire on demonstrators of the movement at this very spot, leaving 15 dead.

The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement was visualized by Lokmanya Tilak and was advocated fiercely under the leadership of Shripad Amrit Dange, Acharya Atre, Prabhodhankar Thackeray, Senapati Bapat and many others.  Shahir Amar Sheikh inspired lakhs of people across Maharashtra through his poetry and songs. Even women were a major part of this movement.

A rally would be attended by 4 to 5 lakh people, yet they were thoroughly disciplined.  Those were not the age of Internet or Facebook or Twitter, yet instructions issued in Girgaum would spread across the city within minutes.

Jawaharlal Nehru and Babasaheb Ambedkar did not favor the formation of states on linguistic basis as they felt that the linguistic passions would grow and eventually become a threat to national unity.

Since most of the other linguistic groups in India got their own states, the decision on Gujarat and Maharashtra, too, needed to be taken.

It was Shripad Dange who suggested formation of a unified Maharashtra to be on May 1 as it was Labor Day and the workers of Mumbai had contributed the most towards the formation of the state.

The Union Government asked Maharashtra to submit Rs.56 crores and 300 villages to Gujarat in 1960 in return for Mumbai as the capital of Maharashtra.

Culture is integral to human civilization.  Maharashtra’s cultural diversity is a legacy handed down to it by reformer saints and poets of the early nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  It has a rich tradition of urban theatre.  My favorites are Lata Mangeshkar, Bhimsen Joshi, V.S. Khandekar, Vijay Tendulkar, Mama Warerkar, Ram Ganesh Gadkari, Vijaya Mehta, P.L. Deshpande, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Sayaji Shinde, Mahesh Manjrekar and Atul Kulkarni among many others.  Who else can forget the son of the soil Sachin Tendulkar, the toast of India and Maharashtra?

The varied flavors of Marathi food whether it is vada pav, usal pav or thalipeeth, it has not failed in seducing the most stubborn taste buds.  Varan Baath and masale bath with kadi, jilebi, papadi and bhajji are my favorites.  Misal is a very popular dish in Mumbai, Puneri Misal and Kolhapuri Misal have their own charm and taste.  Other Mumbaikar staples include kothimbir wadi, kanda pohe, pithale bhakri, naachni bhakri, dalimbi usal and usal pav.

While Dadar, Lalbaugh-Parel, Vile Parle and Old Girgaum changed flavors, Dombivli still manages to retain its old charm.  That is why, it is the second cultural capital of the state, after Pune.  The tradition of hosting New Year welcome rallies during Gudi Padwa in typical Maharashtra style started in Dombivli, which has spread across the state, and outside it as well.  At a time when food giants and restaurants have sprung up all over, the biggest crowd pullers here are poli-bhaji centres. 

Unfortunately, the real issues of the people were ignored.  The very mill workers and textile workers who had fought for Mumbai lost their jobs and livelihood.  The vision of Maharashtra has become like a political circus.  The movement has been hijacked by regional parties to prop the language issue.

Farmers are committing suicides in Vidharbha.  The clamor for a separate Vidharbha is slowly beginning to gain ground.

Unless the aspirations of the people are met by the government, there is no reason why yet another revolution cannot take place in this same state.

While the Maharashtra Day Celebrations have ended, my heart goes out for the victims of the Telangana agitation.  Had the political leaders of Andhra remained loyal to the aspirations of people cutting across all sections in Andhra Pradesh, there would have been no clamor for Telangana.  The critics of the formation of a separate state for Telangana are hypocrites.  While they kept silent when Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal were formed,  they lead us to a false notion that the formation of a separate Telangana would prove fatal to our country’s unity. 

[Information taken from various sources]

MY DOLL - A POEM

 

Waiting behind the closed doors

My dearest smiles at me

My tired soul lights up again

I hold my doll with glee

‘Dolls’ for kids’, teases this world

My Doll cries or laughs with me

With it, can I ever get old

Mind filled with guilt as

I keep My Doll homebound

My Doll never complains or cribs

For me, my Doll is always around

Friends or kin come and go

Down in the dumps, I find solace

in my Doll, makes me forget my woes

SATHYA SAI BABA, THE LIVING GOD

“Faith Moves Mountains. Sri Sathya Sai Baba passes away. Symbol of Love, compassion and humanity.”

This was the status message I wrote in Facebook yesterday after Sathya Sai Baba’s demise.  It was very much unlike me, a non-believer of blind faith.

P.C. Sorcar, magician and Sathya Sai Baba detractor commented “Whether Sai Baba was a god or fraud is immaterial now.  He is out of our physical world.  He is now in heaven.  And he is god for millions.”

Perhaps, he summed it up in the right perspective.

Everyone, cutting across political lines, sportsmen, film stars, business magnets, scientists, doctors, lawyers and people from all walks of life both inside and out of the country paid homage to their God Sai Baba.

The detractors of Sai Baba were always reminded of the philanthropic and public service activities of the Baba in a big way.

If you look at the trust of the Sathya Sai Baba, it is run by former IAS officers, former Chief Justice, Chartered Accountant and managing directors of leading private companies.

When such elite educated people believed in the Baba as their living God, it is no wonder that the poor hapless people sought solace in the Baba and are hopeful that Baba will take his next Avatar soon to alleviate their sufferings.

At least, no one will blame the poor for gullible Godmen.  After all, Sathya Sai Baba is a God for another Cricketing God Sachin Tendulkar.  What more divine sanctity do you need for this legendary Sai Baba.

There is a booming market for the Aastha and Sanskar channels and Godmen today.

Charity is not going to end with Sathya Sai Baba.  Sometimes, when systems don’t work, those who take it upon themselves are viewed as Gods.

I am not claiming to be intelligent by not being a believer of such faith.  Intelligence is a matter of perception.  I too get superstitious while watching cricket matches or whenever I get stuck in difficult situations.

You cannot bottle up your emotions and act like sane, wise people.  Only mad people can do so.

          What I felt miraculous in Sathya Sai Baba is the journey of a humble boy Sathyanarayana Raju in a village called Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh to becoming a living God for millions.

          Perhaps, it was in his destiny to become such a colossal figure to many.  Otherwise, how could a boy stung by a scorpion lost his consciousness only to proclaim himself as reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi and actually lived as one.  It was way back in 1944, that a temple for Sathya Sai Baba’s devotees was built near Puttapurthi.  It was a time when India was under British rule, there was no internet, no media, no Tatas, no corporates, no Tendulkars, no Page 3 circuits.  It could be the result of hallucinations on the part of the young Sai, which made people fall in devotion towards him.  Such cases are fit to be shown to psychiatrists or counselors, but people deem them as acts of God.   It can always be a case for debate whether many of the religions we follow today are a result of hallucinations by some mindless people and the blind faith of millions towards them.

          It is quite human to find solace in despair.  People are always in search of finding outlets for releasing their internal stress and attaining peace of mind.  There can be no ready answers for this turmoil in the lives of each human being.  We all believe in God, but have not seen him.  We perceive God in whatever forms that we like and feel at ease with it.  This gives rise to social order, each one moving towards the common goal of attaining God, attaining peace, but probably in different directions.  Then we get fixated with our beliefs and even defend our way of life as superior to the others.

          I wish, I had met the Baba personally to know more of him.  What must have that young innocent boy Sathyanarayana Raju felt when he proclaimed himself as Sai Baba of Shirdi and was led by his followers into believing himself to be one.  The temple premises kept on extending to accommodate his followers and his followers spread worldwide.  The religious trust went on to indulge in philanthropic activities.  With each benevolent mission of Sai Baba, his trust went on becoming richer and richer, with donations pouring in from the rich to the poor.

          I have a feeling that Sathya Sai Baba must have been trapped by his own charisma and the coterie around him which focused on the wealth of the Trust which was running in several crores.  The miracles were also to be kept going by the Baba to keep the faith intact in him.  The incident where some intruders were shot dead by the Police in Sai Baba’s bedroom have always given rise to this suspicion that Baba may have become a pawn of some in the later stages of his life.  They may not have been intruders at all and could also be the well wishers of Baba trying to alert him of the dangers lurking around him.  With follower’s right from lawyers to Policemen around him, it comes as no surprise that the case was buried and nothing came out of it.  This can all be a matter of speculation, as truth will never come out.  Sathya Sai Baba lived till the age of 85, and though, he wished to live till the year 2022, Baba may have realised that everything lies in the hands of the Supreme Power, and we are mere mortals.

          There may not be a possibility of a Baba of the stature of Sai Baba in an age where the actions of each individual is subject to intense scrutiny due to advanced communication and media.  But there will never be an erosion of faith.  Our perceptions of faith will differ from time to time.  When I was young, I was taught to believe that Sadhus and sanyasis are those who renounce all their worldly pleasures and walk barefoot all over the country soothing the lives of each and every individual.  Today, we get to read news of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur getting accused in bomb blast cases and creating Drama at Mumbai Central as she refused to board Awantika Express for Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.  She demanded a first class AC Compartment seat, while the police had booked her in a second class compartment.

          However, faith is such a thing that touches each one of our lives and is unavoidable.  We need someone to listen to our problems and lift the burden out of our minds.  A mere visit to a temple and a prayer to God works wonders to many.  The devotees all around us come with their own set of problems and pray towards the common goal of inner peace.  Such positive vibrations give us energy to think differently and do things even better than before.  Science can never give us solutions in the matter of faith as it is a far wider medium which no man has been able to comprehend with for centuries.  Baba may not be among us but the faith in him will endure forever.

STEPHEN HAWKING AND THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

(please take the name of Gods if you happen to read this or better ignore it)

If you happen to dig the earth in Kerala and insert a broad tube, it should come out in Medellin, Columbia, South America.  I read this in Google.

I also read that Stephen Hawking, British physicist saying “God is not needed”.  "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing,"  Modern physics "leaves no place for God in the creation of the universe,"

Now, I am not a scientist.  I dreaded the study of physics as if it was created by devils.  I can neither write books on God like many Babas nor can I write books on Science like Stephen Hawking as no one is going to publish them or read them.

No one can stop me from publishing a blog on my theory of physics and the Bottomless Pit.

The mythical Bottomless Pit will go deep down Kerala and come out in South America.  I use the word mythical because no scientist will ever dare to think of such a pit in reality.

The question, I want to ask Stephen Hawking is

“Whether digging of such pit is possible?”

“What will happen if I fall into that pit.  Will I come out in Columbia?”

I challenge that Stephen Hawking will start praying God but will not answer my question.

Coming to speak of gravity, whatever bookish knowledge I have gathered, my understanding goes that the centre of earth is a big magnet which pulls and acts as a gravitational force.

In case, I drop a pebble inside the mythical pit, the pebble will suspend in mid-air at the centre of the earth, if my guess is right.  It cannot fall and come out in Columbia.

Suppose, I jump inside the pit, I will go deep down within seconds and will be suspended in mid-air as the gravitational forces at the center of the earth will keep me suspended in the middle of the earth.  From this point, either I will have to climb towards Columbia or Kerala.

I swear before Physics that my theory is 100% correct.  I want Stephen Hawking to prove me wrong?

[Too many godmen and too many blogs on Gods, so I wanted to be scientific]

Stick - A Poem

Pawanputra - A Short Story

It was an hour past noon. A man was walking lazily past the deserted street in one of the Mumbai suburbs. Due to the scorching sun and the sapping humidity, even the shops were closed and the street dogs found themselves hiding in any sort of shelter they would find. He was a construction worker and was lost deep in his thoughts, as he was walking aimlessly. The crackling sound of a tiny tot broke the humdrum and enlivened the atmosphere.


He instantly looked up and got terribly scared. This young kid was dangling from the second floor open balcony of a flat and was waving its hands, innocently. He looked around and started shouting for help. He suddenly got scared that if the attention of the kid got diverted, it may get scared and the result can be fatal. He positioned himself below and was watching, aimlessly, as he had no clue what to do. A sizeable crowd gathered around him to watch the spectacle. The neighbors of the flat were alerted and they tried knocking the door to no avail. Due to the power cut, the bell button was not working, but it seemed that there was no one inside the house.


Each one had his own idea. Some called the Fire Brigade. Others called the Police. Some even brought a sack cloth to ensure that in case the child falls, it will land safely down. This man got drowned amidst the crowd. He noticed the pipeline adjacent to the balcony and quickly sprinted towards it and started climbing. The people started watching him in awe. The child who was dangling and enjoying himself, by now got pretty scared as its leg had got stuck between the railings of the open balcony. It started crying.


In no time, he touched the balcony of the second floor and jumped inside it. Before the child could take a nasty turn, he seized the moment and brought it in. The child got even more scared looking at him and began to cry louder. The balcony door was open. Hearing the shrill cries of the child, Pawan rushed from the bedroom and charged towards the balcony. He got the shock of his life when he saw a stranger lifting his child in his own house.


He started yelling, “Mere bachche ko chod do.” (Leave my kid alone).
The worker, who had just felt relieved after saving the child looked bemused at Pawan.


Looking at the crowd that had gathered below, Pawan was also at his wits end.
The worker calmly told him that this child was dangling over the open balcony and was about to fall.


Soon, Pawan heard the doorbell ring. The Power was by now restored in the area. He opened the door, only to find personnel from the fire brigade. The Police too followed suit.


Pawan was red-faced. He sheepishly admitted that he was sleeping in the bedroom of the house along with the child. He had no idea about how the child made itself to the balcony.


The Policeman looked at him deeply and broke into laughter looking at the comic side of the situation. The child too laughed and clapped its hands. This broke the weightiness around, and everyone cheered heartily. Pawan profusely thanked the man who saved his child. The real scare for Pawan was in store for him, when his wife would return home from work in the evening and everyone around had a story to tell her.

IS OPPOSING JAN LOK PAL BILL ANTI-NATIONAL

I liked the interview when Anna Hazare candidly replied that he won’t contest elections as he knew that he would lose his deposit.   Hazare said, "If I enter politics and become the Prime Minister tomorrow, I won't be able to do what I can do today."

"What you can do from outside, you cannot do being part of the system (government)...I never thought of joining politics. Even if I join and contest any election, I may lose deposit because I don't have huge money-power and also the public is now aware enough," he said.

"The voter is not aware. Many of them cast their votes for a Rs100 note or a bottle of liquor. Voter is yet to understand the value of his vote," he added.

The above words of Anna Hazare sum up the entire scenario of the state of affairs of our country in a nutshell, which is why I am not convinced of the effectiveness of a Jan Lok Pal.

This also sets a dangerous precedent which does not augur well for the future of our society.  Mahatma Gandhi would have taken the system head on and would have never uttered words in despair.  Anyway, Gandhiji was a shrewd leader of the masses and criss-crossed the length and breadth of the country.  He addressed a lot of issues ranging from untouchability to local self government.  There was no NDTV, Times Now, Facebook, Internet.  The supporters of Gandhiji were hapless people, the very class which the middle class looks down upon and accuses them of casting votes for Rs.100 note.  But then, there can be no Mahatma Gandhi again and Anna Hazare is no Gandhi, as he himself suggests.

Jan Lokpal, in Hazare’s words is power without responsibility.  Since we cannot do what we set out to do as PM, the easiest way is to exert power from outside and form a body, which will deliver law and justice.  When Hazare says that voter is not aware, I wonder how he feels confident that the poor will approach the Lokpal for justice, when he feels that they are not mature enough.

Degrading the poor is an insult to Indian Democracy.  The rural folk is much aware than their urban counterparts, and I can cite various instances when the Indian common man has overthrown the most powerful men from their offices by casting their vote.  I can cite various instances in which people have come in vast numbers despite threats from Naxalites and voted right persons to power.  Assam has registered nearly 70% voting percentage, but I cannot say the same of Mumbai and New Delhi.  Many of the educated middle class are in fact far more biased and hypocrites.  Just opposite my office, in a busy intersection, I see many intelligent educated ones in bikes and cars, who always flout rules and thrust bribes in the pocket of the traffic police, if caught.  These are the ones, who often complain about corruption and abuse the policemen who stand all day in broad sunlight, in case of any interference.

Look at the RTI Act.  The initiative ultimately has to come from the people to set the system in order.  They will have to seek justice by knocking the doors of the Chief Public Information Officer, Appellate Authority and if not, satisfied address their grievances before the Chief Information Commissioner.  That takes a little bit of effort and time from their side, which many are not prepared to undertake.  There are no free lunches in this world.  You cannot expect a Chief Information Commissioner of a Lok Ayukt to come to your house and address your problems.  The Jan Lok Pal does not explain how the interests of the complainants will be protected.  The Whistleblower Protection Act is yet to see the light of the day.  The Jan Lok Pal does not explain how it intends to expedite the trial of the accused in one year.  What about the backlog of the cases that are already pending in the Sessions Courts and Higher Courts?  What about the plight of the poor under trials who are battling for justice but languishing in jail?

When certain sections of people say that they do not have confidence in the functioning of our democracy, it is a matter of grave concern.  We cannot have short-cut solutions.  Tomorrow, many more may undertake a fast for some other demands, and this can land the government and the country in a soup.  We need a sustained political movement, wherein the right thinking people encourage youth to join politics and play a proactive role rather than shun it and avoid responsibility.  It is not right on the part of the NGOs that our government lacks able and educated leaders.  Aren’t the leaders of the ruling party or the opposition parties capable or educated enough?  It is a different matter, that, sometimes, the educated ministers are involved in the biggest of scams and get away unscathed.

The effectiveness of the CVC remained only as long as Vitthal was the Chief Vigilance Commissioner and everyone hailed the CVC as the crusader against corruption.  Same was the case of Election Commission which gained prominence after T.N. Seshan.  The onus of running the system rests on the individuals rather than the system prevailing over the individuals.  The NGOs claim that the Lok Pal will be effective as it will contain members from the civil society, especially those who have bagged Nobel and Magsaysay awards.  Why are we in search of a crusader against corruption for us when the reforms should come from within each and every citizen.  Today, the media can make or mar a person.  If popularity of any movement is to be gauged through the eyes of the media, Tamil comedy actor Vadivelu should be next Chief Minister going by the huge crowds shown during his rallies in SUN TV.

When I express dissent or speak against Lok Pal, it does not mean that I am in favor of the corrupt.  Expressing Dissent is the wonderful feature of Democracy.  The youth should be encouraged to appreciate differences of opinion and oppose any assault to freedom of expression.  It is easier said than done and calls for a high degree of tolerance.  The pioneers of the movement against corruption should take into account all these issues and bring awareness among all sections of the society.

The movement against corruption needs to be a sustained one and not restricted to 5-day drama.

CORRUPTION BENEFITS THOSE WHO PAY BRIBES

Do you know why corruption is rampant in our country? I have a rather different take on this topic. I think corruption is widespread in our country because it benefits those who pay bribes. Those who pay bribes are actually the beneficiaries rather than the victims. The reason behind this is very simple. For argument’s sake, in our country where 20% of the population can afford to pay bribe, 10% of the population sit on the fence and decide to pay bribe if it suits them while the rest 70% suffer as they have no alternative. Those who accept bribes are not concerned about the majority as long as there are people who are willing to pay bribes for getting their work done.


Nowadays, bribes are given for doing the right work at the right time. Those who paid bribes in the 2G Spectrum Scam were actually the beneficiaries. Those who paid bribes in the Adarsh Housing Society Scam for getting membership in the flats were actually the beneficiaries. Private companies pay bribes for evading duties and are ultimately the beneficiaries rather than the victims. Go to any Registrar’s office. I bet you can’t come out of it without paying any bribe. Even if you refuse to pay bribe, there will be people who are willing to pay bribes and you will be sidelined. So, after the Varna system, class system, this is the new pecking order for the Indian masses. Those who can pay bribes can cross the hurdles faster and get ahead while the others lag behind. Who cares about those poor who run from pillar to post for their daily pension or any small work to be done? Even the bureaucrats do not care for such people, as they do not really benefit from such paltry amount received as bribe from such hapless people. It is another matter that such small amount of bribe paid from the pocket of a poor man means a lot to him than those pumped in by the richer classes for their personal benefits.

So, corruption pays. It is just another case of the haves and have-nots. At the most, people can overthrow corrupt governments in elections, but the bureaucrats who work in government offices remain the same and enjoy the fruits of their tainted labor for their entire period of service. Sometimes, there is not even a choice in elections for the common man, who often has to choose between the devil and the deep sea. Take the case of Tamil Nadu elections. Each political party has fielded many candidates with criminal antecedents leaving the voters with no choice. The educated class takes the easy way out and boycott voting. They easily blame the poor illiterate class for all the ills in the society but never take the initiative. Somewhere, there needs to be a revolution of sorts wherein the youth are encouraged to join politics and strengthen the system rather than getting alienated.

The laws of the country are sound and the systems are in place. Remember, it is not the systems that have failed but the people who are currently in charge of the systems have not been able to deliver. Even the Jan Lok Bill needs the expertise of a CBI to investigate corruption cases. But then, the CBI is understaffed and many of its staff is working more than 12 hrs a day. Recent medical tests conducted on CBI personnel showed very disturbing results and reflected high level of stress among the staff of CBI. There cannot be a short cut method to curb corruption. It is a continuous process. Only in a society that is less materialistic and will not stand up to corruption in any case, you will be able to witness positive results, industry, integrity, impartiality, transparency and accountability.

Even the cynic in me was bowled over by the enthusiastic response given by the youth to the movement against corruption launched by Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Swami Agnivesh, Kiren Bedi and others. I only have a word of caution that the Jan Lokpal does not transform itself into an ultra-constitutional authority or impedes the working of honest government servants as I very well know that it is the honest government servants who commit mistakes whereas the corrupt government servants hide them. The Twitter and Facebook youth would rather not understand this.



கொடுப்பவருக்கு லஞ்சம்
வாங்குபவருக்கோ அது இன்பம்
கொடுக்கமுடியாதவர்களுக்கு
தான் துன்பம்

லஞ்சம் கொடுப்போர் சிலர்
நாட்டின் ஏழைகளோ பலர்
இதுதான் நாட்டின் துரதிர்ஷ்டம்
யோசித்துபாருங்கள் கொஞ்சம்