Flag hoisting : panacea?

The Indian national flag which represents courage, sacrifice, peace, truth, faith and chivalry is the symbol of pride for every citizen of India. There will surface a sense of patriotic feeling by just looking at the flag and an immense amount of joy, when the symbol of pride is held firm in your palms. The entire struggle and courage of our freedom fighters is recognized every time the flag is hoisted.

Being an Indian, The constitution guarantees rights to every Individual to freely roam around to any corner of the country and equal rights to hoist a flag on the nation’s important days like the Republic day or Independence Day Etc.

The hoisting of a flag in our nation’s land is indeed a pride and representation of patriotism.
The hoisting of the flag when-India achieved Independence, on 15^th August 1947, was a mark of achievement and end of struggle. The Indian flag hoisted on the highest mountain peak of the world, Mount Everest on 29th May 1953, this is mark of an achievement of mountaineers. . . . Many similar occasions make us all bounce in joy and pride.

Now,

The BJP, a national political party and a majority-opposition of the house of representatives of India, wants to hoist the national tricolor flag in order to show the country’s presence in the constant curfew hit state and prove something to the nation.

Now I call this an utter-baseless, meaningless and senseless act-based on the timing of the act.

It is not wrong in deciding to hoist the flag to mark a great day but creating a controversy over it-isn’t nice enough. Running around media-shouting slogans- calling for hunger strikes? - bandhs? - creating hype-to hoist a flag in a state that has witnessed nothing other than riots and curfews over a long period of time is surely not chauvinism but a display of political strategy.

At the time when the country is in chaos, stuck deep in to the issues over insurgencies and separatist movements in the state of Jammu Kashmir, The growing Tribal problems and consequent rise in Maoist movements, price rises and scams in various departments across the country . . . .
The duty, of a politician or a leader is not marked “complete”, by hoisting of a flag, but, is to keep an effort in marching towards solutions towards these problems.

In similar lines of problems of India, the parliament is being put off, over the 2G Scam row, since a condemnable duration to disrupt the progress of the nation and there have been a lot of issues going around India simultaneously, like the ever growing rate of Inflation. Now, I really don’t understand the motto behind hoisting a flag right up in the northern state of the country at this point of a time.

“Hoisting” a flag or “not hosting” doesn’t solve even one of the problems that are persisting in the nation. In fact this may lead to aggravate the situation. Well, does this come under sedition? ‘’Potential threat to peace’’? Or violation of Flag code of India – which says the flag, may not be used for purpose of Business, Trade or Profession. I may have sounded like the colonial era government for once.

It should be clearly understood that-diverting public attention from the ongoing problems using situations like these, doesn’t solve the problems of the common man. In fact it is the tax money of the common man which is being spent on such notorious acts.

If any politician wanted to prove his love for the nation, I would urge him/her to concentrate on working through the problems, rather than creating new ones.

The CommonMan

In Today’s India,

The society's population is divided into few categories. The poor-The rich and The middle class. India is the largest holder of the later. He is often combined with the poor and known around as “the common man”. A very high frequent word from a politician’s lexicon.

So the poor-common man does his work or at least tries to do his best to earn his daily bread. He screens his surroundings, weighs the ups and lows in society around him, springs up a random discussion about the commonly corrupt politician with a co common man and satiates himself by reassuring himself that this is India and goes on with whatever is happening.

The common man- once in a while comes in contact with the Constitution of India.i.e. Once in 5 years (If I am being an optimist ), the feeling of being an Indian Citizen revives , the patriot reincarnates- either under influence of quack politicians soothing speeches or the endless packages these ones offer to the common man. Well, be it whatever, they vote! They exercise their right to participate in the seemingly- free & so called- fare elections---The universal adult franchise---This is a big occasion for the poor who get their daily wage for voting and for the middle class personnel, most of whom try their luck by voting –one more time- for a hope to see a working politician or to their favorite.

Now, this is the only time when the people and the politicians actually come into direct contact in a big way. The people expect something nice from these politicians and the politicians expect them to be voted for.

Now when I see around on what’s happening in our country, at this moment, it doesn’t make me, a common man, feel nice at all, in fact it makes me feel worried like every other citizen of our country.

a) There is Food inflation of 18%, a record high and sending the common man into nightmares for surviving

b) Added to this the interest rates in the bank loans go high and

c) The fuel rates take a step change every now and then on a frequent periodic basis.

d) The money we pay through taxes gets looted-in a mammoth-comes into light through a constitutional body-a government minister comes out and rules out the scam saying there is nothing of that sort ever existed. Now for this high drama to even actually be played, the public has to be considered fools, but in turn they have become ones

And many more . . . .

But, instead of serving and trying to reduce the woes of the never agitated-never frustrated-never vote denying common man, the politicians play around

a) The government and opposition leaders sit in front of the cameras and abuse each other-call each other corrupt. Their measure of being good is- being low on corrupt scale, which is a bad thing for the nation as a whole.

b) Down south, two power greed –highly rich-so called leaders, (in fact two of the many in the country) go on hunger strikes – call for disruption of social lives and so on.

c) The reporters who seemed gentle turned to be wolves in sheep’s clothing- and wanted to power head in the decisions-supposedly to be driven by people in a democratic country ,but instead , tried to make them driven by money makers of the society

Politicians disrupt the social life. They call for bandhs & protests. They stop trains and buses, or even break them down often and many more . . .

Now I call this – a turmoil.

The truth is,

The common man doesn’t care for what you 'politicians' think of the opposition or the governing official. We want work from you-and that’s why we voted for you. In a hope that you will work.

The common man shouldn’t suffer due to your egos and crave for power and blame games.

The common man shouldn’t go hungry for not being able to afford food because you didn’t do your duty for which you were voted to power.

The common man shouldn’t suffer tension due to frequent disruptions of social life because of your unwanted protests and hypes on the roads.

At the end of the day, what a common man asks for is just 2 meals per day and a peaceful sleep at the end of the night and a good society where they are offered all the basic human rights for a proper living.

I am no economist or an expert to produce suggestions for the price reductions or improving economic conditions. But I am aware enough to point out that ---- When there is money in the country-for allowing 1.78 lakh crores to be looted – then there is definitely money available – to make common man’s common commodities available at an affordable price. It just takes the intentions to work on the problems to do so.

The oppressed state is a very temporary state -the transition will only be to a revolution - and never happens with a warning or a transitory intermediate stage in between these two. So before the common man turns himself into a spear against the corrupt- you shall amend and make lives of a common man-back to normal.

So Before it gets too late . . . set your act right & Give the common man his Bread!

"HANDS OF LAW" :: GREASE RIDDEN ? ? ?

I feel happy and secure when I learn through media about the arrests and alleged raids over personnel who commit crimes or may have been indulged in one, but I am equally outraged when I see the state- failing to bring to justice the obvious perpetrators of crime against prosperity India.

Few thoughts struck me and compelled me to express them in this article when I read about the arrest of human rights activist,Binayak Sen, recipient of two international awards for his service (to humanity) since 1978 to the tribes and poor, as a doctor in the area of Chhattisgarh, India.

Sen is convicted under sedition.

(Sedition: any action, esp. in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion.) //According to web dictionary//

Sen is accused of helping (colluding with) the Maoists in the area he was actively doing community service.

Maoism in India is to be condemned for their actions of violence but the reasons behind their birth and continued success amongst the tribal areas is something to be taken note of. The support of local tribes to the rebel groups is a reflection of the government’s inaction towards the upliftment of the backwards. The government has to work upon the problems instead of fighting against their own subjects.

According to the recent reports, under Indian penal code, Sen was found to be guilty and hence arrested.

According to the right to equality before law, “The state shall not deny any person equality before law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India” and this statement according to my understanding states, everyone is equally treated in front of law, be it for awarding or punishing.

But in India, when it comes to the execution of laws, the big players always have a safe escape but the little ones get the big punishment.

Well for now, let’s consider, the open-daylight- loot of public funds by the crooked public servants like A.RAAJA in the spectrum 2G scam. The fraud of 1.76 Lakh crore rupees of public money and in result leading to disturbance of parliament which in result blocked various bills from being framed and in result caused chaos in the country.

I call this sedition or a bigger crime.

And ask you to tell me how big or small this crime is when compared to the (accused) sedition by a ‘human right activist serving poor since more than 30 yrs’???

Or let me ask you, how punishable is Sen’s sedition when compared to the shame caused to India in front of entire world due to the mishandling of work and looting of public money in the CWG games by Mr. Kalmadi?

Well I can continue with many more instances of power prone crooks of government and ruling class going wild and getting loose. (Like for example in recent times, the Adarsh society scam. The land scams of Karnataka chief minister and etc etc.)

I call these, open sedition or even a bigger crime term if such a thing exists.

I fail to understand how such open culprits could go free in the society after committing such bizarre shameless crimes? And whereas, instances where government inaction is the root cause for problems, the Innocent people get punished so frequently??

I always believed that the hands of the law were big enough to bring any crime doers under justice but never realized until recent happenings that the grease of power & money glued to these individuals make the hands of law slip over them and fail to bring them to justice.

My sincere request is, I want these big shots to be prosecuted for their crimes just as these smalls fishes are being trapped for their share of wrongdoings in the society.

People should be punished for crimes. So everyone who commits crime should be punished. “Equally” And especially those who feel they can get rid of the law using their power –influence and wealth should be punished in such a way that no one else would dare to play with public money or sentiments.

Government should work to make its subjects happy. Riots and Extremism are the results of indiscriminate behavior towards the common man. Government should keep the Subjects happy and grow together-for PEACE.

**Life imprisonment of Human Rights activist Dr. Binayak sen , Similar charges on Authors/Artists for expressing views and various other similar incidents happening these days lead us to question : Is India slowly transforming into a dictator/Fascist governments of the likes of "some countries" around us for whose people we feel pity about ? ? ?

I hope not !!! **

References: 1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binayak_Sen

2) http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/chhattisgarh/Binayak-Sen-2-others-get-life-term-for-sedition/Article1-642218.aspx

3) http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sedition

Right to freedom of speech ? ? ?

“The Booker prize-winning novelist and human rights campaigner Arundhati Roy is facing the threat of arrest after claiming that the disputed territory of Kashmir was not an integral part of India”, as quoted by British national daily news paper The Guardian, last month over the controversy raised by Roy’s remarks on Kashmir.

According to news reports, recently, Roy was charged under sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of peace) and 505(false statement, rumor circulated with intent to cause mutiny or offense against public peace).

The current proceedings compel me to raise two questions about the current situation in India.

The first is, how feasible is the constitution’s Right to expression of speech? The constitution provides rights to every Indian, to express his/her views but with certain clauses tagged to it. The main clause is that the expression should not be a hate speech or it shouldn’t initiate riots. Now how do we define a hate speech? Roy’s comment about Kashmir is the voice of over thousands in the Kashmir, who either due to dissatisfaction or some other unknown cause call for independence. The action of the government should be to check in the problems and controversies over Kashmir and bring the turbulent situation in Kashmir under control and satiate the people there and make them realize the importance of united growth, instead of calling for action against those who voice over the current situation in Kashmir.

I am in no position to comment the over Roy’s statements because I am not fully-completely aware of the situations in Kashmir, as I personally haven’t been to Kashmir or in those situations the people are currently facing there, except to read about them in daily newspapers.

Yes, I agree that right to expression should not be misused to the extent of propagating hate over communities or religions but expressing views on the state of the nation is legitimate. The statement (speech) by Roy has not caused any good or bad to the current situation in Kashmir, where there have been regular day to day protests since long time.

The second question that comes to my mind, which is in fact a ’fear’ more than a question regarding how the world would view our state of democracy from hence.

We already have negative remarks about artists leaving India to take asylum at another country fearing their right to expressions and few other instances of banning works of other writers and artists. Now there has already been news in and around the world quoted similar to above about author Roy.I now fear, about our country and its largest democracy, which boasts for its freedom of expression , doesn’t end up being quoted in the same lines of ” Burma jailing Aung San Suu” or“China jailing Liu Xiaobo” by the world. The unnecessary hype that got attached to the issue in India around Roy’s statement, which should have been worked upon or ignored like any other political-view, might actually demean India’s stature as a country that prides over its democracy and freedom of speech.

Finally,I end the article condemning the arrest and raising questions about the government’s ability to tackle criticism over the state of the nation. In general, views on both sides of the political-situation should be welcomed so there will be awareness about the great range of views and sentiments of the people of the nation.The check on speeches might get even heavier after this which is not good for democracy. The response answers by the government to the statements made by people of the country should come in terms of positive action on the situations but not on the people themselves.

Its only when the nation and is ’united’, we can take our country forward towards progress.

References : 1) http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/Arundhati-Roy-Syed-Ali-Shah-Geelani-charged-with-sedition/Article1-632402.aspx

2) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/26/arundhati-roy-kashmir-india

The RoTTen Minds : : Oppression

The Rotten Minds::Burden on Women

India, since its independence in 1947,has been following a path of immense growth in all fields. Education, agriculture ,Trade ,Infrastructure or be it any given field. We have shown positive progress . We have grown to be so influential globally through our progress that India is being recognized by the super powers of the world as an emerging super power. Yes an odd void here and there are always present but such gaps in the nation are always inevitable.

But there is one thing that has still remained the same , The attitude towards women.

Yes, Our nation’s most powerful person Sonia Gandhi, is a woman. Our president of India, Pratiba patil, is a woman, Our House of Representatives Speaker-Meira Kumar, is a woman, our foreign secretary of India, Nirupama rao, is a woman, our minister of railways, Mamta benerjee, is a woman and we have 33% of reservation for women in various fields. But we are still pretty narrow minded in our approach towards social equality for women and this is a result of the social misbehavior by the rotten minds in our society.

India is a country where the nation is regarded as the Mother-a woman and respect to women is regarded as the culture of the people of India.

Sadly, this is just a false scenario in daily life. The respect which women deserve isn’t fulfilled. Every day, we hear stories in the paper and daily day-2-day life, about either abuse of women or some story about harassment for dowry and some other offense against the women of the country. Even in this highly advanced society, there still exist problems of domestic violence against women, the dowry system even though it’s against the law and also cases of verbal offense against women and also of the eve teasing in everyday life.

Why on earth, a nation whose land is regarded as their mother, there be so many cases of misbehavior against the women? Is this yet another social problem where education might show a ray of hope to solve the problem?

Sadly, the answer is a NO.

It is a question of attitude. Even the highly educated personnel too take chances of misbehaving or teasing other women in an attempt to prove they are somehow super humorous but instead shows they are just lunatic-narrow minded-old fashioned-nut case-animals who have somehow mistimed their birth into this era. In fact they are a curse to the society in any era.

Anyone who doesn’t respect a woman is an animal. Be it an uneducated person or a highly educated professional. They are in fact crooked Professional animals. I fear how our nation will advance in the hands of such barbarians.

Now, Where is the problem?

Why doesn't anyone ever care about the feelings of the other person? Why does anyone take the other person for granted to be on the taking side?

I have observed in many cases, and it pains me so much is that, the ones who play pranks with other women and try offending them get offended when something of the same happens to their close friends (girls) or sisters. Which is being a hypocrite and the biggest numb-skull of the society. These people should realize that the emotions are universal and every one, be it their known ones or those whom they tease but both will undergo the same hard feelings when subjected to such horror.

The main one to blamed for the problems of women here will be the women themselves.

I have seen many cases where, a mother/ a woman, gets immensely happy when her son (even as a kid)/friend, wins over a battle with a woman/girl. She gets proud that her son/Friend, said something catchy to someone and gets happy by his courage for hurting them and for being oppressive. This is bad. The mother, The sister, The girl friend or friend who is a girl, had (they) she slapped her(their) man as and when he says something offensive to other females, He would not be a barbarian anymore who will always be cynical towards women and behaves rudely and become proud of his lame ways to score points against women. One slap at the right time would have changed him for his life to a normal person.

In fact it is the responsibility of the Mother to install in their sons the feeling to respect other women right from the childhood. The lessons should be taught from the time he is a kid, even in school and the mother and teacher should also advice their children about going against the dowry system too.

Hence if a person is out of path, It is highly legitimate and sensible to make the women close to them responsible.

So let’s take the case where the person hasn’t had much of mother care or a proper teacher or hasn't listened to his mother very effectively. Then what is to be done? The girl who takes the hearings or offenses from these people has to act on them. A tight slap right across their face will do the trick and make them straight. But in many cases this isn’t possible due to many social obligations.

Legally , there are numerous laws that heavily punish the culprits involved in misbehaving with women and in many cases the mere law doesn’t apply to the situations. But Until and unless the sense reaches into the minds of the people, Until they for themselves realize how barbaric they are behaving, There can’t be a permanent peace and a full time end to the woos of the women . No law or women’s rights groups can bring any solution to the problem, which is entangled to the thought process of the human being. The thought process should change to welcome the solution.

One time offense is forgiven-Repeated offense is to be greeted with one tight slap-for all those who missed the tight slap-this piece of article should serve as the missed slap-and help straighten your dented minds.

Always Remember, that it's only when everyone is together, we can bring a change.

Educate to Eradicate Poverty : Educate to Eradicate social injustice.

A video(named-SHE) made by my friend- A collection of pics (of oppression ) of social injustice.

Culture Corruption

A nation's stature is determined more from its people & cultures than its treasures . The people are the measure of its greatness and in a democracy the elected leaders are the definitions of the country.

India, a nation with, great personalities, great virtues like its culture , the fact of being the world’s largest democracy ,Its heritage , the abode of thousands of languages and various religions makes everybody spellbound by its wide spectrum of people and culture and also the fact that it is a country where every individual is free to practice his own religion, and to express his views, define India as one of the best places to live around the world.

But one more string that’s tagged to India is Corruption.

The very infection of Corruption has spread like an everlasting pandemic to the roots of our nation. At, every place-stage of the proceedings-every level-every angle ,money plays the driving force for getting works done and corruption phenomenon is one the leading cause for the downfall of all of us as a nation.

There is corruption in Political arena, in public services, in taxes and licenses and literally everywhere in India.

It has become a known secret to all and is most commonly spoken topic in every random conversation, that one can get any work done (quick-without delays-even though illegal) in a government office through payment of money to any concerned officer .This is shockingly true but a very bizarre act and even though we know that we don’t have to pay them for doing their duty, we end up paying the minimum sum with respect to the nature of work, saying, This is India, This is how it works ?

So is this how it all works in India ?

where has the infection sparked up? How on earth a country known for its honesty and sincerity of the people ended up being known for their corrupt works? And also managed to earn itself a proud 84^th place out of 180 listed countries in Corruption Perceptions Index ?

Lets first see some general day2day cases of India,

Everyone who gets their passport from Government of India, pays a sum of Rs. 200 to 500 to the officer who comes home as a part of police verification process.

But, why should we do that? We need not actually pay any money to the verification officer for doing his duty, but we do end up paying.

And in illegal terms, any who gets caught for parking at wrong place or for speeding on the roads or for triple riding, gets away from punishment by paying some money to the on duty police officer.

And if I mention various other locations and situations we the people pay money to the concerned people, the list amounts to more than a thousand or more instances.

Here in above instances, people often pay even though their work is legitimate and for other cases, people pay for escaping legal punishments. Paying money for over coming punishments for illegal acts is a very incorrect practice.

This not only takes our nation in a wrong direction but also becomes a breeding grounds for the corrupt officials. This allows everyone a freedom to commit mistakes and there by making our country corrupt and a true unsafe place.

According to India law, Not only those who take money/gifts as part of corruption are entitled for punishment but also those who pay the money are also entitled for same extent of punishment.

So Are we , the people are the ones to blamed for making our country so corrupt ? I say, Yes, we are equally responsible for the condition of our nation but who is to be blamed in this vicious circle ? If it were solved, our nation would have been corruption free

Somewhere, the tradition has begun and is continuing till date . So according to me, It is high time that we put an end to this practice everyone together should march towards a corruption free India.

But , let’s not worry too much about how it all started but let’s get down to the business of dealing with the problems that we face in facing the problem of corruption

From the Government point of view

The anti corruption bureau in India, is in charge of keeping a check on the corruption using Prevention of Corruption At, 1988 which falls under Central vigilance Commission and doesn’t fall into any ministry and is headed by the Central vigilance commissioner, the CVC is supposedly an autonomous independent body but with only powers to advice but not take action against any one which is indeed a backdrop of the system.

Various individuals and officers that are searched and investigated in a daily basis by the ACB of whom many are innocent and most of them are guilty, but I haven’t ever witnessed even a single politician getting prosecuted for their corruption.

Everyone is fully aware that politicians eat up all our tax money and they keep growing richer everyday but no one ever dared to investigate into their funds.

This implies that, somewhere in the independent functioning of CVC, there is a string attached with the politicians which prevents ACB from intruding into the corrupt practices of politicians and hence politicians fall safe all the time.

So this makes me think the prosecution and hype over innocents being nailed under corruption scam is just an affirmation to their inability to actually counter the real culprits.

This has to change. A real force or power has to awarded to the ACB which allows it to search or arrest any random politician at their own will and scan his properties and then take necessary action against them.

Also, earlier , gifts attained by anyone, no matter how expensive they were, were never checked upon and never had any taxes on them. This allowed corruption prone to receive money inform of gifs. Now the new law of levying heavy taxes on gifts that are not from close relatives should help in curbing corruption.

The legal actions taken on the guilty proven should be so heavy in nature that , it should be a warning to the others who even think of getting involved into corruption. And also the process of investigation should be made quick which in turn requires input money and man power which can be afforded for a dream that we all care about, after all, it’s all our tax money.

Now from the public point of view,

The first step that is to be taken is to avoid payment to any official or officers for getting your legitimate work done.

And then the most important part is , awareness.

Spreading of awareness about the harmful effects of corruption on the growth of our nation to one and all should be done in a huge manner.

Well, the most important part of the corruption fight is corruption is Education. Education for all helps people to know their rights and ways to counter the infection. It helps them know that they don’t have to pay for getting certain public service done.

Educating the children of this generation about the effects of corruption, will eventually erase corruption from the map of India in years to come.

We may not be seeing a change immediately, but certainly in some years time, I wish to see the change happening.

The topic of corruption is so huge and is spread in various direction that I could give only an overview of my opinions with minimum examples.

Always remember, It’s you and me together , who can bring a change.

Educate- to eradicate poverty.

References

http://www.cvc.nic.in/

http://apvc.ap.nic.in/js/vol1/c3t1s5.html

http://www.simpletaxindia.org/2010/03/gift-tax-tax-on-gift-budget-2010.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

http://www.u4.no/helpdesk/helpdesk/query.cfm?id=188

Political Diaries !!!

The Indian political system, with its flexibility to accommodate any number of contestants in an election, is one of the most amazing systems when compared with other leading systems all over the world. It redefines the meaning of democracy by providing an opportunity to the voter-public-to choose their best from the lot to represent them.

Politics, The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs (obtained from Dictionary.com), was supposedly derived from the word Politic meaning Artful, Wise, Sagacious etc is received by the public of India and almost all students as an occupation that is due to all negative impression.

Sadly, these days the term Politics is widely used these days between common public as a means to offend someone or used as a remark to identify petty tricks or back biting employed by someone.

What about the politics or politicians of India that makes us all draw conclusions which are always against the very system of it?

Some days ago, I was in a discussion with my friends regarding their opinions on politics and the discussion spurred up various sensible points which I want to mention in this article. Also, some valid Inputs from some of the recent articles that I read about our Indian political system along with few questionnaires I shot at people around me along with above mentioned situations, all of which led me to some viewpoints which I would want to mention in this article.

During the era of Independence, India possessed leaders or politicians, who took up the arena with the solo motto to serve the mother nation and stood as an example for the coming generations to look ahead into the prospects of serving the nation by taking up politics. Be it leaders like Nehru, who was our first prime minister who was known for his charismatic abilities to project India as one of the important nations of the world or his team’s ability to keep India away from signing treaties with any of the two super power blocks that were at cold war during that time, or be it Sardar Patel who was instrumental in unifying India as it stands now. The list could go on and on and it comes as no exaggeration if I quote them as the inspirations even now for the future aspirant politicians of India.

But at these days, We hardly notice anyone who actually works for people or anyone who took up politics for the very purpose of serving the public but yes, few exceptions are very visible, well that is how the nature works. No condition is ideal or 100% to its definition be it in a negative or positive sense.

First, starting with the current politicians, what would have led them to take up politics? The easy money that could be taken, so their families and generations to come live comfortable life? Or the power that comes as an attachment of respect and do-whatever-you like privileges? Or the dream of establishing their own statues all over their region of ruling? Or the freedom to propagate their religion? What is their driving force towards the scene? Well, except a few here and there, for others who are around, I don’t see any other reasons than stated above, for taking up politics.

The article which I read recently mentioned something regarding the expulsion of Shashi tharoor, a successful professional from the Indian politics and how a common employee-turned politician Rajiv Gandhi faced strict opposition in the field of politics when he entered into the arena. I began to wonder, why on earth isn’t there room for normal people in the politics. We all know about the party set up by the alumni of IIT’s that stood nowhere in the scenario of the political system. Also the failure of Loksatta party (Andhrapradesh, India) , led by an ex-IAS officer Jayaprakash Narayana and few other examples here and there everywhere, are all solidifying the argument that there isn’t any room for normal people into the field of politics. And for that matter, the movies always portray politicians as villains who chase the hero and in return get beaten black and blue. Well, Movies are stories picked up from reality and the daily blame-games played by politicians and their unruly debates and discussions in the decision making houses and their ever growing properties- do force any common man to take up this views.

The politicians, not all but, those who are spreading the wrong impression, should clean up their acts and keep them intact as they are the living examples for coming generations to encourage them to take up politics. The advent of new clean politicians will only help clean the system by driving out the corrupt and unwanted politicians.

The politics should be for those people or leaders who want to serve the people and benefit people and for those ambitious people who dream for a nation that is uniform all across the society in economic and social growth.

So what went into our system that makes us conclude in such an arrogant way about our leaders? And it is highly shocking to note that even after knowing about what is happening around us like what I stated till now, we end up choosing the same leaders again and again with our voting power. In a democracy, the existence of tainted leaders in the political system should be credited or blamed on the public.i.e.we, you and me. But the fact that a huge percentage of voters are uneducated and they always fall prey to the lucrative speeches these politicians make just before the elections.

So at the end, it all zero’s down to education. Education of the people,the common man. Education leads to increase in the awareness of what is going around the country and the system and also makes one realize his/her own rights provided by the constitution and would alert all voters and citizens and in turn make them become choosy about selecting their leaders whom they would want to be governing them and this entire process would also keep politicians on a check.

Educate to Eradicate Poverty-Educate to clean up Politics.

Always remember, it’s you and me-together-can bring a change.

Bharat Bandh !!! :: Worth it ? ? ?

Wow BHARAT BANDH! ! !. . . . . @again? ? ?

Bandh: A boon or a bane for the common man?

This article is with reference to the recent ’’ bharat bandh’’ that took place on the 5th of July 2010 in protest to the hike of petrol and diesel fuel prices. The poster reasons for the bandh were obviously the poor and middle class citizens but let’s analyze how beneficial it actually was to them and how successful it was at the end of the day.

According to me, the so-called projected benefiters were the actual sufferers during the bandh day. This conclusion will also reflect to the numerous bandhs that have taken place and to those infinity bandhs that are on their way to the people.

Briefly, A bandh ,is supposedly ,an united protest by the people all over the country in which people them self cease all their works in order to raise voice and throw a say that they aren’t willingly liking the action taken by the government or that they intend a change for the easy progress of the nation.

To start with during the bandh day, 5th of July 2010, in Visakhapatnam, The rain was pouring all through the day and with the given conditions of the tempered roads, the mobility across the city was becoming all too difficult and added to it all the public transport was stranded and there weren't any auto rickshaws or even local buses that commute people from one place to any desired location as per bandh protocol. Also added to it were the The Activists : The so-called, pro people-pro-Bandh-Pro People well wishers and anti-price hike, dawned in their political party colours, were flourishing all over the city roads , waving their flags and shouting all their way-for reduction of the prices of petrol. Added to this, They were also forcing people and others, who were commuting between their destinations and running their own private business as per their own fundamental rights, to shut down their works and head back home, Which is against democracy and the fundamental rights provided by the constitution to the people and I am sure there isn’t any so called- bandh protocol-that can overcome these rights but everyone keeps succumbs to the bandh protocol which is very interesting to note.

As I was wandering across the city along with my friends Alex and Vamsi, in an attempt to fetch some cash from the ATM and convert it to a Demand Draft, so the later friend can acquire his long awaited admission into his dream B school. Thanks to his luck, He is currently pursuing his studies in the very B school to which we were supposed to post the Demand Draft the same day, though all the attempts went futile for that day, thanks to the activists who managed to sneak into the bank just as he was about to transform his cash into Demand draft and would have managed to get it done, had he been at the bank with the money fifteen minutes earlier but again, Thanks to our own activists, as they managed to get my friend along with few other public stuck in an ATM booth for quite some time while he was attempting to with draw money from there. We went around the city for not less than 5 hours –from one bank to-almost all the banks –all across the city, calling it a day only after we were assured that the activists have managed to shut down the city and country to a pause.

Indeed a great Job, Ain’t it? They almost got a well deserved-future-earning citizen of the country from losing his path towards his dream and at this point it insists me to wonder, How many other students all across India were put into trouble this way and how many have the activists managed to axe down in life quest and in turn turning them to frustrated anti social elements? Well this very thought assures great kudos to the great activists and their Bandh. Likewise, how many sick people must have been prevented from reaching hospitals and service centres due to stoppage of public transport and fears of vehicles being thrashed by the activists. How many lives must have the bandh taken toll of? All across the nation, the bandh could have successfully managed to cut down the population in some minute percentage at least.

As we move on from one department to another, I can only see more of harm caused to the average middle class rather than good that was actually intended to be done. We, while moving across banks, witnessed so many people standing-getting drenched-in rain, waiting for any damn transport to reach home and escape from the bandh chaos.

Needless to mention, the loss of crores of rupees that was caused to various departments like for example the state road transport services due to null operations and also infrastructure loss from the busses that got burnt to ashes-probably -as a style statement by the bandh activists, But these departments have their own ways to recover their losses, by levying extra charge on tickets which again mount on the pressures already on the average middle class families. And the heavy infrastructure loss that is gained by our activists by damaging whatever they see on the roads and again, who is going to pay for all these loses? The public taxes, i.e. we the common middle class people again. I wonder what motivates them to take violent paths causing trouble to common man-fighting for the common man, while quoting Gandhi as their role model for one and all purposes.

The common middle class man becomes a toy between the political parties, who is played and fiddled with by both ruling and opposition for their benefit and greed to acquire power. The activists, The tools they employ in these games , only few of them realise that they too fall in to the middle class family and at the end of the day, they are the ones who are doing extra work and payments to recover the loses they causes. The politicians forget that they are working for people-if they weren’t working for money-if only they aren’t-but I am sure as much as you are- they are all-except for a few they are working for that –only-only and only for money.

Now we see, after months had gone by after the protest, We see that the common man has moved ahead with the price hikes and the government is moving ahead in thinking of levying extra charges but the bandh hasn’t caused any good rather than only harm and harm from all over

I Wonder what the upper and lower houses of representatives if for-if the issues pertaining to public life are to be debated and decided by means of bandhs which are even more harmful than the cause of bandhs.
Only way out is to SAY NO TO USELESS BANDHS called on by political leaders - and instead follow powerful & peaceful protests if the issue is indeed demanding and needs to be fought for protecting our lives and our rights provided by the constitution of India.

Educate to Eradicate Poverty: it’s only when you and me are ‘together’ –we can bring a change