LIFE AND DEATH

Like a tree sheds

its leaves quite often

and new leaves sprout

which is an ongoing 

process, a never-ending

one

like Sunrise and Sunset.

Tree of life

continuously sheds

the leaves of lives

due to old age, diseases

violence, cold-blooded murder, revolts, rebellion,

accidents, revolution, wars, suicides etal

and new leaves of

life sprout 

that too a never

ending phenomenon.

In short, Tree of

Life continues to play

a frequent game

of Life and Death

which is the sum total of

existence on earth    

which is a cyclical process.

NOTHING REMAINS STATIC

The same old congested city

the same old long-winding street

with crowds like ants pulling

along to and fro

keeping no pattern.

Vehicles roaring past

blaring horns in opposite directions.

Dilapidated, multi-storeyed

buildings on both sides of the street

with broken, grimy walls.

Whenever I had walked

down the street 

(sorry, I have lost count of

the numbers of years

since I last passed along

this street) 

I had experienced the sense of a

pristine city emerged before my mind.

I stopped in front of a

double-storeyed building

old, dilapidated with broken

grimy walls or

stained with dirt

muddy, yellowish tinge.

Climbing up the ladder

I could listen the wooden steps

making a creaking sound.

The steps were always

like that, I reflected.

There were times on

climbing up the wooden ladder

made me feel frightened with its

creaky sound,

my heart-beats pounding incessantly.

I always feared, the ladder

would collapse anytime.

The wooden steps too

were old and ugly,

but the feelings of

fear and heart-beats

like drum beats

vanished gradually.

Now that

after a gap of several years

(sorry I have lost count

of the number of years)

here  I am once again.

I entered the corridor

engulfed in solid thick darkness

and walked cautiously, slowly

to the dinghy room

where both of them

Rahul and Eva lived.

To my surprise and astonishment 

the room which was

always kept alight

with a slice of light spread

outside through the half-closed door

during day time.  

To my shock and astonishment

the door was kept locked

with no light spreading outside.

Still I

dared to knock on

the door two to three times.

On hearing my footsteps

a stranger in the

adjacent room

came out and inquired:

‘Looking for Rahul and Eva’?

‘Yeah, yeah’ – with a

smile I shook my head.

‘Both left the room

two years back.

They’re somewhere in Andheri now.

Don’t know the exact location’ –

I hid my shock and pain behind a veil 

of smile.

Neither did I inquired him

anything nor did I

bid him goodbye.

Through the solidified darkness

I walked cautiously, slowly and walked down

the wooden steps of the ladder

shaking frequently

my mind was quite empty      

 and didn’t think or recall anything

about my friendship with Rahul and Eva

who were close to my heart

for several years

while living in the city.

                      

IMRPOVING INDO-FRENCH AND INO-BRITISH RELATIONS

Close on the heels of French President Francois Hollande’s visit India, it was the turn of David Cameroon, Prime Minister of Britain with a team of English businessmen to India with the intention of improving business and trade relations with India and also for improving bilateral relations and to discuss happenings across the international arena. 

In the case of French President’s visit, it was the first visit with a purpose of bettering bilateral relations between the two nations, besides to give a fresh momentum to the development of Civil-Nuclear relations especially the controversial nuclear plant at Jaitapur at Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

It is interesting to note here that the very mentioning of ‘Civil-Nuclear operation’ is something which our Prime Minister Sardar Man Mohan Singh holds closer to heart. While former Pakistan Prseident (Retd.) General Pervez Musharraf was in power in sleep and while awake used to harp on the subject of ‘core issue’ of Kashmir. Musharraf had to step down making a way for a Democratic govt with his dream of the ‘core issue’ without being fulfilled or materialized. Our Prime Minister while asleep and awake is obsessed with the issue of ‘Civil Nuclear Co-operation’ right from the days of George W Bush, former President of US who cajoled him into signing the Civil-Nuclear Agreement. Much water flowed down the Ganges since then but the ‘core issue of Civil-Nuclear Co-operation’ opens its eyes whenever a President or Prime Minister of a developed nation pays a visit to India or whenever Dr.Singh embarking on his foreign jaunts, be it to Russia, US, France or Britain and for that matter any developed countries.

Though several matters concerning both nations as well as matters like the Afghanistan or the ongoing Civil war in Syria, which within a span of two years, has claimed the about eighty thousand lives with no solution in sight. The Arab Spring turning sour, the perennial issue of Israel-Palestine conflict and cardinal issue of global down turn of European and US economics etal.

The burning problem of the installation Jaitapur Nuclear plant has hit a road block with the civilians in the area especially the fishermen community strongly protesting and with the local men already determined to stop the work of the proposed plant at any cost since they are very well aware of the dire consequences in case the nuclear power plant turns to another Fukushima or Chernobyl in future as they know the tragedies awaiting them and the gen-next for a prolonged period. The untiring efforts of both Maharashtra govt and the Central govt to lure the poor citizens with huge compensation running into lakhs of rupees for the peaceful installation of nuclear power plant haven’t succeeded yet. The local community especially the fishermen community who constitute majority of settlers in Ratnagiri and adjacent areas have made it amply clear that they won’t fall for lakhs and crores as compensation and what is most important as far as they are concerned are their land nothing but their land.

It seems the Jaitapur nuclear plant is poised to have a peaceful death with the local community standing firm. And if the govts of both State and Centre are thinking in terms applying force to grab the peoples’ land and try to evacuate them forcibly, entire Ratnagiri will turn red with the blood of local inhabitants.

Writing about the visit French President and the core dream of Jaitapur nuclear plant the visit off David Cameroon, Prime Minister of Britain has been relegated to the back ground.

Mr.Cameroon and his entourage flew into India as already mentioned- the improvement of business and trade-relations. It is his second visit to India as Prime Minister of Britain. Besides improving business and trade relations, bilateral relations and developments in the international arena naturally became hot topics. India’s apprehensions after the withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan was brought to his attention by Prime Minister ManMohan Singh. Cameroon gave an assurance to Dr.Singh that India need not be concerned in the event of withdrawal of coalition forces by 2014. A minority of coalition forces will be there to extend training to Afghan forces and that both would provide security to the Indian nationals settling in Afghanistan who are enagaged in the infrastructure development of the war-ravaged country.

Britain’s not so warm relations with Pakistan is looked upon with satisfaction by the Indian rulers. Further more, Britain’s stand of not interfering on the ‘core-issue’ of Kashmir, as the latter is an issue which needs to be settled by both India and Pakistan holding talks ie. no third party intervention is warranted on the controversial issue. Besides Cameroon demanded Pakistan to rein in the terrorist elements who have become a pain in the neck of India and he noted the internal security in Pakistan being endangered by the militant elements resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians in that country frequently.

Britain, as we are aware is not in good term with European Union, due to the consistent pressures EU exert on Britain especially matters related to economy. That must have prompted him to look towards Asian countries by improving relations with Asian countries.

Immigration policies across Europe being a hot subject recently with protectionist policies coming to the fore and as a consequence many immigrants from various countries in developed European nations are forced to return to their native countries. Indian diaspora too have been made to suffer due to the immigration policies getting harsher.

In the course of his talks our Prime Minister reportedly apprised of the concern of the Indian immigrants facing the strict migration policies and in response Mr.Cameroon tried to mollify Dr.Singh’s concern by making it clear that Indian immigrants especially students are always welcome to Britain and if, upon completion of their studies are free to take up assignments in his country. His assurances were music to the ears of Dr.Singh. There were reports that about 24 percentage of shortage of Indian students and that Cameroon had raised concerns over this problem.

The visit of two celebrities Francois Hollande and David Cameroon have held out promises of bettering relations with France and England, to put it mildly.

STREAM OF HARMONY

Witnessing a thaw in 

the bitter relations between the two neigbhbours,

witnessing the boundary lines demarcating

them getting blurred,

witnessing the fences from one

end to the other end being removed,

with great enthusiasms after a long spell

witnessing the swift flow of rivers of citizens

-          among them, relatives, friends, students, children

siblings, celebrities,  sports men and artists

to be precise

witnessing a swift and smooth flow of

peace-loving ones 

mingling with one another

each one embracing each

without any hindrances

otherwise

a never-ending flow,

without any dark clouds

looming in the horizon.

He saw

a clear, cloudless, blue sky up above

for the first time since

the rivalry and fissures

developed between both

decades before.

The ambience of

love, camaraderie and harmony

engulfing everyone

both getting

dissolved and evolving in to a single river.

Everything he witnessed with

excitement, pleasure and

ecstasy

sitting on the sidelines.

The stream of pleasure

excitement and ecstasy came

to an abrupt end

with his wife awakening him

with a cup of black-tea

early in the morning.

The realization that

what all he witnessed was

a dream, a long-cherished dream

remaining

unfulfilled without bearing

fruits and cute, colourful flowers in this sprawling garden of

love and bonhomie……

He could hear a chain of ear-splitting explosions reverberating

across the land.

  

  

INSIDE THE GREEN ROOM

Like Gods or Godesses

adorned with beautiful garlands

and gold ornaments with

halos around them

kings or queens attired

in exquisite scintillating

and twinkling costumes

with crowns of gold studded

with sparkling gems

police officers in

khaki or thieves,

robbers or thugs

billionaires leading pompous lives

in palatial buildings

or beggars clad in torn

and grimy dresses with

begging bowls in hands

beseeching the unfamiliar

pedestrians or

commuters in the compartments

of long distance trains,

or locals or buses 

in front of temples, churches and mosques

and for that matter any

roles under the sun

sometimes even beyond the sun

ranging from heros, heroines,

villains or comedians

leading the audience

to worship, respect, fear, laugh

and even hate

everything depends

upon the roles we enact

as per the directions of directors.

Still we hate to believe

in the theory that

we are being controlled by

others

like slaves being

controlled and treated with punishment by kings or dictators

like whip-lashes, hanging

or being stoned to death.

It is our choice to

take up roles we like

none dares to slap his/her commands

or force us to do

something we don’t like.

Like every human being.

we too are human beings

choosing a career

or profession we like

to earn a living.

In the reel life

each could be anyone but

in the real life we

too are ordinary

mortals like any other

human beings

we are sometimes Gods or Godesses

kings or queens and their

worshippers or subjects

billionaires or beggars

thieves, thugs or robbers

and sometimes as villains

simultaneously.   

SOME POSSIBILITES IN LIFE

During my leisure moments

reclining comfortably  in my chair 

I happen

listening to the trains blowing -

the conch shells far-away

it is sort of mild musical

waves flowing to me from afar

that much distance there between the

trains and me

which chugging along

either to the South or to the north

either to the east or to the west.

During those moments

it is my pleasure to

think about some possibilities in life

like

among the travellers

at least  one or two familiar faces

might be there in any of the compartments

sometimes singular

sometimes plural.

My imagination develops wings

and  like a bird flapping wings 

my memories fly back to the 

happier days,  

when I too was a regular commuter

in my younger days.

Those were times

when I had

several friends

and relatives

commuting with me.

Now that 

I am far, far away from

them a feeling of being

left alone haunts me.

Like the frequently changing scenes

in a poem portrayed in celluloid

those faces appear

before my mind

renew the camaraderie

I once had with them.

Sometimes, while

travelling through my land

those familiar faces

might be, must be recalling me

sometimes, yes sometimes

thus I wish, thus I hope

it is after all a pleasure and pain

at the same time.   

RIVER OF TIME

It was drizzling

but the sky was not

cloudy…

Moon was peeping through

the window curtains.

Listening to the music

of the drizzle  

with her heart thumping with 

joy and excitement

impatience overpowered her to go

out and get a bit drenched by the  rain drops.

“Look, it is drizzling,

let’s go out and

enjoy the rain drops

touch us after a long  

spell of summer’ –  she whispered

in his ear sweetly.

‘Gone mad?

To get out of the room and

dance  in the

drizzle at these late hours?’-

he frowned upon her

muttering something

in a rough mood

she fell silent and sad.

She was

recollecting the

spring season in their

life when they were

two love - birds.

During those days

with the approach of evenings

both love-birds

after their office times

met at Wheelers’

at Church gate station

-          their evening rendezvous.

After sharing tea at

hotel Salkar

they used to catch taxis

and after getting down

both walking hand in hand

moved to the city’s

beautiful circular garden

their everyday resting point

and spent time

till darkness envelopes the city

and with the sodium vapour lamps

spreading their yellow lights.  

Sitting on the grass carpet in the garden

under a gulmohar with

thousands of bright and pretty red flowers

resembling shining jewels.

They did have many things

to talk about. Laugh about, think about the

future days with him resting

his head on her lap

oblivious of the vehicles

and crowd circumbulating

the circular garden.

Sometimes in the course

of whispering sweet nothings

it drizzled and both with excitement

and exhilaration

got drenched.

Embracing eachother

planting kisses on

each others cheeks

she recalled

what all he said

when he noticed

rain drops falling

on her forehead

and rosy cheeks.

‘The rain-drops makes

you more pretty,

prettier than a reality,

an angel – rain drops,

looking like diamonds.’

She used to get

embarrassed while he

showered praises on

her beauty and experienced  

immense delight beyond words.

Later with he

tying the nuptial knot

around her

and they undertook

tours to tourist resorts

as part of their honeymoon

both got drunk with the beautiful sights of

well-known monuments and pretty landscapes.

It took long to

come down to reality

with both of them

beginning to learn the

art of living and

with the flow of the

river of time

the love and

harmony between them

began to  lose its rhythm

slowly very slowly

and the distance between

them got wider and wider.

They became two parallel lines

in the course of

flowing river of time.

Listening to the music of drizzling

she got up and

walked towards the

window

parted the curtains

and glanced at the rain drops

touching the earth

in the moon-light. 

Meanwhile

he had started

snoring…

She felt kind of

hatred towards the

man who once had

all love and praises for her.

Like the rain drops

drops of tears

filled both corners of her eyes.           

ARAB SPRING TURNS TO ARAB SUMMER

Arab spring had its genesis in Tunisia, the North African Country in the year 2010. The widely acclaimed ‘jasmine revolution’ by which name the revolution is widely known across the world brought cheers to not only the Tunisians but the entire democracy loving nations across the world. Jasmine revolution which was a revolt against the autocratic government under the leadership of Zine-Al-Abidine-Ben Ali which lasted for a few months was made possible by the moral support extended by democratic nations across the world and the wide-spread publicity through social networking sites but the ultimate credit goes to the determination and courage shown by majority of Tunisians themselves.

As a result of the revolution the then autocratic Tunisian President Zine-Al-Abidin-Ben Ali’s, government was overthrown and a new dispensation had taken over. Soon as promised by the new dispensation a general election was declared and contrary to the expectations of many, the Islamic Alliance snatched power. Yet the hopes of majority remained high and they dreamt of new dawn and their discontents and disillusionments over the large-scale unemployment, widespread poverty, massive corruption, sky- rocketing prices of essential food items etc etc would be resolved soon. Their hopes and dreams were short-lived as the Islamist government in power was lukewarm in their approach towards burning problems staring at the masses.  With the ire and anger brewing again among the masses another rebellion was about to break out. In the meanwhile, the Tunisian Communist Party leader Shokri Belaid was assassinated supposedly by the allies of Islamist Government. The assassinated Communist leader was in the forefront of the jasmine revolution and was widely loved and respected by the Tunisians. The Islamist govt of Tunisia must have seen him as a potential threat to its irresponsible governance and that reason alone must have been the reason behind his assassination. Now that as a consequence of the Communist leader’s assassination it is reported that the Tunisian cities are once again on the war path. 

The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia served as a catalyst in other autocratic nations like Egypt, Libya, Yemen and even the gulf countries where autocracy prevail.

If in Tunisia it was almost a bloody revolution in Egypt where Hosni Mubarak was ruling like a dictator since more than three decades with an iron-fist suppressing all the movements against his government and was leading an ostentatious life along with his family. Drawing inspiration from Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia about which the Egyptians learnt thru media and social networking sites, the majority of Egyptians seething with anger and raging fury against the large-scale poverty, widespread unemployment, women enslavement, alarming corruption and bribery and suppression of freedom movements decided to gird up their loins and fight against the authoritarian President who had by their time amassed billions  of dollars and deposited in foreign Banks till they scent victory. It was a fight against decades, long dictatorship of an arrogant ruler and their one and only goal was establishing a democratic govt which could take care of their needs favorably.

At the Tahrir Square, lakhs of Egyptians gathered and shouted slogans against Mubarak govt and demanded his immediate abdication of power. An arrogant Mubarak defied their demands and took the decision to suppress the rebellion with the help of his police and military. The more the suppression which turned a bloody rebellion with hundreds and hundreds of rebels gunned down by the authoritarian forces, the more determined were they to fight against the govt till Mubarak was ousted from power. At last the rebellion which lasted for months with thousands and thousands fell to the bullets, grenades and even bombs. At last the dictator had to flee from the scene and but was caught and incarcerated. The man was until recently facing trial for the misdeeds and it is foregone conclusion that Hosni Mubarak is doomed forever.

Celebrations by the Egyptians went on for days and it took a long time for the dust of euphoria to settle down.

A temporary government was installed in the saddle to pave the way for a free and fair general election in order to form a democratic Egypt.

Accordingly, a general election was held under the supervision of the govt led by the army and with the connivance of army controlled govt, Muslim Brotherhood under Mohammed Morsi came to power.

Thought the army was supportive of Mohammed Morsi govt, his first step was clip the wings of the army.

From the very outset Mohammed Morsi, the incumbent President displayed dictatorial tendencies which was/is not to the liking of the Egyptian citizens. If Morsi , to follow in the footsteps of Hosni Mubarak his fate also will not be different. 

In Egypt too the Arab Spring has turned to Arab Summer.

Libya where the strong leader Muammar Qaddafi was for ruling since four decades along with his family members were ruling the roost with an iron-hand too fell a prey to the Jasmine Revolution. The frustrated and indignant Libyans who drew inspiration from Jasmine revolution rose in revolt against the dictatorial govt of the Muammar Qaddafi which the so-called Libyan strong man took lightly. He was that much confident that with the loyal military by his side, the revolt of the rebels would fizzle out in the end. His over confidence and complacency led to his ouster in the end.

Military with all its might armed with sophisticated weapons gunned down the civilians in thousands yet they didn’t lose hope but with more optimism were determined to oust Qaddafi at any cost. While thousands and thousands were cold-bloodedly massacred, UN passed a resolution authorizing NATO forces to intervene in Libya to put an end to the large-scale massacre of civilians. With NATO forces emerging on the scene the rebels with much more confidence, courage and determination faced enemy forces and NATO forces too played their roles and joined the rebels in fighting against the Libyan forces.

The emergence of NATO forces and their active participation shook the throne of Muammar Qaddafi violently and his loyal Ministers and military leaders deserted him one by one and sought asylum abroad. Qaddafi’s fall was imminent, his wives fled to Niger and two sons murdered and one of his sons while fleeing for life was nabbed by the rebels.

Qaddafi ran for life and tried to hide at several places and at last fished out from a tunnel by the rebels dragged him down the streets, tortured and at last gunned down.

Libyans too celebrated the fall of the infamous dictator for days and the euphoria lasted for weeks.

A new dispensation occupied power but it couldn’t fulfil the hopes and dreams of Libyans as terrorist forces had sneaked into Libya in large numbers who rampaged the nation leading the country into anarchy. US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and his two or three sub-ordinates had to face the wrath of the militants and consequently Mr.Evans and his sub-ordinates had to fall prey to their wicked attacks which literally shocked the Americans. Libya is a nation with more than three hundred ethnic communities among them there were dissensions and they came about in the open later and played havoc across the country.

Arab Spring had to clear the way for an Arab Summer in Libya too.

In Yemen too the fragrance of jasmine reached and Yemenese too came out into the open and rebelled against the dictator Ali-Abdullah Saleh. The rebellion lasted for months and at last Saleh had to abdicate the power clearing way for a new govt. Nothing new has come out from Yemen so far. Whether Arab Spring would turn to Arab Summer there too? No idea.

Syria, since 2 years is in the throes of a bloody revolution with Bashar Al Assad govt on the one side and rebels, on the other side. Even at this time of writing this a bloody revolution is going on with more than 80,000 people already dead.    

THE SHADE

There were moments galore

in her life

whenever he was by her side.

Like a protective covering

she used to recall a

giant banyan tree

in front of her street-side house

on the other side of the street.

The banyan tree,

a large green umbrella

provided shade to

lots of pedestrians and villagers alike

who in the course of a tedious journey

used to take rest in the shade of the umbrella

to escape from the searing sun raining fire from above.

It was her hobby, watching them

through the window sills

right from her childhood, teens

and a part of her youth

thinking over the great relief

provided to them

by the mammoth umbrella.

Lying by his side in the thick of nights

she lay sleepless, while he got drowned

in deep slumber, recalling the picture of the

giant green umbrella

far away in her native village

did reflect in the mirror of her mind frequently

which is a museum of

bountiful memories.

The feelings of love, care

and protection provided

by him overwhelmed her

with joy and like a dancing

enchantress enthralling a large audience

she lay rejoiced with her hand around him.  

Now that he is

far, far away from her

she feels like a

lady left alone in a desert

under the burning sun.

And though the giant

umbrella - the banyan

tree which stood with its head held high

with pride and delight

already disappeared

from in front of her street-side home

which was uprooted

in the name of infrastructure development in later years

which she happened to

learn from the letters reaching

her from her siblings

once in a while.

The picture of the banyan

tree still appears before her

like an uninvited guest

making her weep like a baby

in her moments of solitude.

He, the banyan tree

of her life once

who provided her love,

care and protective covering

often appears in her dreams

and consoles her

with a beaming smile:

‘I am with

you. Don’t worry ,dear’.

The dreams always makes her

cry with tears pouring

down her cheeks….      

   

BOLT FROM THE BLUE

Night.

Time – ten minutes to 11 pm

city, slowly lapsing into 

drowsiness

but for the occasional

hooting and tooting of

vehicles speeding down the street.

Basking in the glory of starry, moonlit light

bathing in the street lights

the street lay like an elongated snake.

Shops by the

sides of the street,

had started downing shutters.

A few already shut

after hectic business

throughout the day.

The fruit juice vendor

too was about to close

his shop for the day.

Suddenly as if like

a bolt from the blue

a girl driving a kinetic Honda

appeared on the scene.

The Honda

screeched to a halt

 in front of the shop.

Clad in a dark -  blue suit

parked the vehicle on

the street side

stepped down

walked to the shop

ordered a fruit juice and

looked around.

She espied

the presence of four to

five youths in jeans and T-shirts resembling

cowboys watching her

in the premises of the shop.

She could overhear them

passing lewed comments.

Cool and calm she was

like a lake.

She pretended to be

oblivious of their obscene comments

and heard earful of their obscene comments

yet, she cared not

and enjoyed the fruit juice

without any sign of

fear or apprehension.

Cool and calm

she stood non-chalantly

sipping the sweet juice.

Mistaking her silence

for fear and submission  

they moved closer to her

and enquired her whereabouts.

Silence was her response.

In the meanwhile

one among them dared

to touch her shoulder and

each of them began stalking her.

They mistook

her silence for consent

and each one

started pressing her body with force.

With the hepless vendor

looking on aghast

like  a mute spectator.

He couldn’t ask the youths to leave her alone .

In split-seconds

losing her cool

she evolved into a

ferocious tigress

clenching her teeth,

clenching her fists

hit, kicked, punctured

and reduced each one into

a heap of pulp and

forced them to flee from

the scene for cover.

With a cool and calm face

like the calm and cool lake

she returned to the shop

made the payment

bid bye to the vendor

gifting him a smile.

The vendor was

virtually speechless and

like a statue he stood.

She walked towards her Kinetic Honda

and turned the ignition key

sped along the street

humming a tune….  

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS – LOYALTY ALWAYS PAYS…

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul Gandhi who was recently consecrated as the Vice-President of the Party, whenever they get a chance to speak about Prime Minister Sardar ManMohan Singh they do have thousand tongues and the enthusiasm to extoll his virtues as one of the best Prime Minister of India. Both Sonia and Rahul despite being the top of leaders of the Grand Old Party, ie the so- called Indian National Congress are reluctant to take up any ministerial post including Prime Ministership since both are aware of their limitations. In order to camoflague their limitations they have discovered a short-cu ie.t, by canvassing the most loyal ones to take up various prestigious positions in the party. Knowing this psychology of the Nehru-Gandhi clan, a number of sycophants have flocked around them each one competing with the other in drawing the attention of Sonia and her family members Rahul, Priyanka and even Robert Vadra, Priyanka’s better-half. These sycophants even go to the extent of prostrating before them t please them and thus to grab plump posts in the party and the Government.

Soon after the 2004 general elections to the pleasant surprise of party emerging as the single largest party in Parliament, President following the precedence invited the Supreme leader of Congress Party. Mrs Sonia Gandhi whether her party was interested in forming a Government. A delighted but confuse,d Sonia with an aim to to stop the emergence of NDA alliance to come to the front, on a war-footing cobbled together an alliance with the active support of many anti-BJP parties including the Left front which also had cornered almost 61 members, in the history of the Left Front it was a massive total. With the then Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Comrade Harkishen Singh Surjit who played the kingmaker to help the Congress and its allies to form a government. The alliance was named UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and the Left Front decided to extend support from outside. .

Due to the large-scale protests by BJP leaders against Sonia Gandhi occupying Prime Ministerial post, the reason being she is a foreign product and she being already reluctant to hold the prestigious post, Sonia had to face a herculean task of finding a loyal personality, the face of Sardar ManMohan Singh appeared before her who was more loyal than the King. She entrusted him to take up the mantle. Dr.ManMohan Singh an Oxford product and also was the Finance Minister of the P.V.Narasimha Rao government to be the apt person to hold the post of Prime Minister.

Under the Narasimha Rao govt, ManMohan Singh, in his capacity as the finance Minister in the Rao govt had stolen the limelight as the one who did away with the socialist economic policies followed by the previous governments and initiated liberal economic reforms with the intention of attracting Foreign Direct Investment, most of them Multinationals to open shops across India by deregulating the economy. In the capacity of Finance Minister and with the total support of P.V.Narasimha Rao (some are of the opinion that the credit (discredit?) goes to Mr.Rao for initiating neo-liberal reforms by providing  a favourable climate to foreign investors to put up shops in the country.  License Raj was abolished and govt controsl were brought to the minimum.

Sensing the enormous potential of large-scale investments in India, the multinationals were in a hurry to invest in the country.

In this connection it is worthwhile to recall the speech of ManMohan Singh just before presenting  his first budget before the members of Parliament in1991, the need to initiate neo-liberal economic measures doing away with economic policies followed by the former govts, he spoke passionately about the plight of the lower strata of the society including the farmers who constitute 60% of population and millions and millions of poor and lower middle class. Large-scale poverty, malnutrition, lack f better health care facilities, women’s plight, large-scale unemployment, lack of sanitation facilities  lack of education facilities and the sad plight of those millions who don’t have roofs over their heads.

The erudite scholar and economist in him saw neo-liberal measures as the panacea for the overall betterment of Indian society. Through neo-liberal reforms he dreamt of a high growth trajectory which would improve our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and with the GDP at its highest foresaw vast improvement of the economy which would lead to a trickle down effect that could naturally raise the standard of living of the poor. In other words ‘inclusive growth’ which he still continues to harp on.

Now that eight years have elapsed and the result we witnessed and still witnessing is a the corporates growing exponentially cornering a huge chunk of benefits with the blessings of the govt and about 70% still suffering from poverty, large-scale unemployment, malnutrition, women enslavement, lack of sanitation facilities, lack of education facilities, lack of pure drinking water, the gigantic problem of millions without covers of their heads. Whither went his ‘inclusive growth’? Whither went his ‘trickle down’ effect? He won’t have answer.

After all,  what all India witnessed and still witnessing are scams and scandals, corruption at its peak involving lakhs of crores of rupees draining the exchequer.Sky-rocketing price rise of essential commodities. The 2G Spectrum scandal involving Rs. 1.76 lakh crores of rupees, coal-gate scam involving 1.85 lakh crores, Common Wealth Games, scam involving Rs.70000 crores, Adarsh Housing Scam -amount involved is alarming and several other scams and scandals. Besides these, the law and order problems at its worst, women and girls always under the threat of gang-rape especially in the capital city where rapes are occurring day by day (the rape Capital in the world). With about 10 percent billionaires and remaining 90%  struggling against odds finding it difficult to make both their ends meet.

Still Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi harping on the ‘enormous growth the nation has achieved and eulogizes the Prime Minister - the weakest PM India has witnessed. Loyalty always pays…..

CITY MAN’S EXISTENTIAL ANGST

In this fast-paced world

patience is not a virtue

instead a burden to

city dwellers like us.

Instead, impatience is the hallmark of our times.  

In order to catch up

with the speeding local

train of life

one his to be impatient and ruthless.

Like fire-flies, citizens are getting attracted to

getting attracted to huge fire flames

and in the process

dedicate their lives to

the fire-god.

In a mad hurry to

rush into the over-crowded

local trains

forgetting the trials and

tribulations of other ones

struggling to throw

themselves into the train

within seconds of it

leaving to the station

we must be faceless, heartless

and soulless to find our space

in the congested

trains of the city.

In a dehumanized

world like this

we can’t make way for others

we can’t  becompassionate and humane.

Each for himself, or herself

is the philosophy ruling each 

is the philosophy of our time.

To have a taste of leisure

we do have to   

reach our little dinghy nests

elsewhere in the suburbs.

After a hectic and

tiresome journey in a

crowded local train

we reach our nests

in the thick of night.

Witnessing on a daily basis

the commuters as well

as the ones who cross

the tracks in a mad hurry

to reach the other side

being caught between

the rails or run over

by speeding trains. 

We are immune to

the tragic scene e of mangled bodies

and get along with our

lives with frozen minds.

We the ones who providentially

escape the tragic fate,

with uncertainties of  life

not even bothering us, 

to be frank, we don’t even

get the time to ponder over our

tomorrows….

Life in this cosmopolitan

city to us is colourless,

meaningless, odourless, brittle and

ductile ..

and we have learnt to

live with it….    

                      

SUBJECT SAME, BUT THOUGHTS DIFFERENT

Moments aplenty in

her life when she mulls

differently about the

same subject at different

moments.

The moment the glass house of her love-affair

collapsed into smtihreens

when her beloved lover

left her in the lurch

the needling pain of

unrequited love made her bleed.

She thought of her fate, her destiny

shaped already by

an unknown force

and sought solace by whispering to herself with a deep sigh:

‘this is my fate, this is my lot’.  

She decided not to have

any affair with anyone

in future.

The moment a newcomer entered her life

who was all love and care for her

she began to think 

every happening in everyone’s

life is quite accidental

and lost faith in destiny

being shaped already by an unknown power.

Moments there were

when she was left

alone in her shell and

whenever she reflected on  

the definition of life

she found it a jig-saw puzzle

otherwise, a mystery and a Gordian knot.

Her memories being ephemeral

she could and can think differently

about the same subject

at different times.

It is a blessing bestowed

upon her by the unknown power

which she hated once, but loves and believes in it  now.

AN ETHEREAL EXPERIENCE?

With the approach of

the twilight of sun in the western horizon

 in his ochre robe taking a

dip in the sea.  

Marine Drive

the Necklace of Mumbai

was turning to a glowing beauty

enchanting and enthralling.

A lover gone mad with joy

at the sight of her lover

-          the blue-starry sky above

she was in a

delightful, inebriating mood

with the waves flowing

in  a hurry embracing

and caressing the seashore

playing hide and seek games.

Witnessing the enchantress rejoicing

at the sight of her lover

the star-lit, moon-lit azure sky

we the regular evening visitors

at Marine Drive

were enjoying the

love scenes of the  scintillating

glowing sky and the sparkling enchantress,

we felt like he was beckoning his

eternal lover to him.

Sitting on the sea-shore

with the sparkling waves frequently kissing our feet

many of us were on the sea-shore.

Love-birds, couples

men and women alike

were in a joyous mood.

All of a sudden

a sensation overwhelmed us.

The enchanting beauty and

the sparkling city around us

were going up, up and up

like the men and women

in an elevator

being lifted up, up and up above.

Embarrassed, amazed and 

aghast we did have a feeling like

moving up, up, and up above

along with the dancing,

rejoicing, enchantress

being lifted up, up and

up towards the

glowing stars and shining moon.

We shed our fear,  

 Amazement, astonishment

and replaced with enthusiasm

delight and curiosity

were moving closer to

the scintillating heaven up above.

All in a fit of 

delight and exhilaration

touched the stars and

exchanged thousand kisses

and sweet whispers

in the blinding light.

Now, after that

immemorable experience

touching and kissing the sky

we asked ourselves

whether we were being elevated to the sky

or whether the sky

was coming towards us

us to exchange warm

kisses and sweet whispers

we are still in a wonderland feeling.  

Everything seemed

like an enigma,

enigma, enigma…………………….         

“INHERITANCE OF LOSS”

Before plunging into

the quagmire of politics

the Supremo demanded

his invaluable

and long-cherished jewels

of truth, virtues, principles

and integrity to be pawned.

After much hesitation

he shed his

invaluable jewels

one by one and offered them

before the Supremo.

In return a pleased Supremo

gifted him a book

of lies, corruption, loyalty,

hypocrisy and the

most expensive 

jewel of  a mask  and taught him

art of hotly presenting and driving home

his arguments to the media personnel.

Being a pastmaster in the art of

speaking fluently like a swiftly flowing river,

being blessed with

a baritone voice,

Supremo was all

praises for him.

He spent a fixed period

as a probationer

and got the

order of permanent

appointment in the

party in which

he had to perform

his roles to the satisfaction of

the Supremo and other leaders

as and when required

So what?

In return for his

valuable jewels

of truth, principles

integrity and honesty

he is not at all

a non-entity

unknown to others

till recently.

But an entity

respected and worshipped

by lakhs of followers.

Having attained all

the materialistic pleasures

a life of pomp and pageantry

an ostentatious living

endowed with the power

to take on anyone

he is a pleased man now.

But

in his lonely moments

a vacuum engulfs him

sort ‘Inheritance of Loss’

so what?                        

ABOUT THE RELEVANCE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE MODERN TIMES

While witnessing a hot debate on the hot topic of Capital Punishment participated by celebrities from various walks of life on a national TV channel about one or two months back in the back drop of the hanging of Ajmal Kasab, one of the ten assassins who alone was caught alive by the security personnel in connection with the 26/11 massacre in Mumbai there were divergent opinions from the participants for and against awarding of Capital Punishment. The subject of debate itself was – whether Capital Punishment be abolished or not. While a few vigorously advocated for the practice of Capital Punishment to stay, a few others strongly argued that capital punishment be done away with once and for all from the statute book. Even certain Congress leaders like former Minister, seasoned diplomat and Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Mani Sankar Iyer spoke against the barbarian practice of capital punishment and he took the opportunity to point out the fact that around 150 nations across the world have already done away with the practice of capital punishment deeming it as a despicable and deplorable practice in modern times. More and more nations are mulling the pros and cons of withdrawing capital punishment from their statue books in the changed circumstances, he noted.

While human rights activists and a few politicians vehemently opposed the application of this uncivilized barbarian practice of taking away a convict’s life and instead argued for commuting the death sentence to life-long imprisonment depending upon the intensity of the crime he or she is charged with.

It was something unbearable and intolerable for a few who vigorously demanded that the practice of capital punishment should stay in our constitution. A lady who is the leader of rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party, who is incidentally a Supreme Court lawyer, insisted for the perpetuation of death sentence in true letter and spirit. In this connection she didn’t hesitate to point out that USA which is the most developed and civilized country in the world still maintains the practice of awarding death sentences to the convicts.

Ina sharp rejoineder one of the participants in a mocking tome contested the lady’s contention that the most developed country in the world that is USA is still an uncivilized nation. He charged US with bombarding to death millions and millions of innocent people and pointed out instances like Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. The lady didn’t have any weapon in her arsenal to take on him, she stuck to her stand that death penalty should not be taken away from our statute book. The name of Afzal Guru who has since been hanged came up during the debate and there was a ‘big fight’ for and against Afzal Guru’s death penalty. Afzal Guru, the alleged conspirator in December 13, 2001 Parliament attack has since been led to his gallows after the President rejected his mercy plea. Those who argued for commuting his death sentence citing benefit of doubt recalled that he was allegedly not given an efficient legal representation. Be that as it may, the man is no more, but the relevant question of whether the death penalty be abolished or not in our country.

Former President of India Mrs Prathibha Patil was learnt to have commuted 35 death sentences to life-imprisonment . She didn’t reject any mercy petition that came her way while enconsced in the chair of President of India. For her kind gesture towards the convicts I think she will be remembered with respect by the ones who escaped gallows.   Her term is already over and new person has taken charge and he has within a span of three months rejected the mercy petitions of two convicts and both sent to gallows in utter secrecy by the govt of India, it is alleged.  Afzal  Guru who hailed from Kashmir was not  even given a last minute opportunity to meet his wife Tabassum and their two children by the govt of India, it is reported by the media.. And there was no claimant from Pakistan for the last remains of Ajmal Kasab whose funeral was held in the Yerwada jail premises where was led to his gallows.

On asking why Afzal Guru’s body was buried in the jail premises in utter secrecy, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde reportedly responded to the media that the govt apprehended threats to the law and order situation in Kashmir valley. Anyhow the gentleman’s Ministry had the generosity to intimate the matter to his family through speed post which his family received after everything was over.

It is high time we deeply pondered over the relevance of death penalty in our country in the first half of 21^st century, the country which gave birth to Shri Buddha, Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi.

HATS OFF TO ‘ONE BILLION RISING’

I often wonder, if there were no pro-active media and social network sites what would have been the outcome of the (infamous) the brutal gang - rape of a 23 year old physiotherapy student by a gang of six persons on a running bus in capital which we call New Delhi. The budget session of the parliament was going on with the members of the ruling UPA alliance and the Opposition engaging in a political jamboree, to be more apt political circuses as usual. Even before the political leaders stealing the show, infuriated, agitated Delhites, flocked the streets of Delhi demanding harsh punishment be meted out to the six thugs involved in the tragic episode. Men, women, youth, students and even children raised their angry protestations at the top of their voices. The entire Delhites came out voluntarily irrespective of any caste, creed or religion and demanded the immediate arrest and incarceration of the gang of six. With the rulers in the corridors of power and other sundry politicians ventured to take up the issue but the entire politicians had to face the wrath of the protesting Delhites. They booed and jeered at the leaders forcing them to depart from the scene.

With each day passing by, our peoples’ faith in politicians is quickly dwindling. Each dawn brings with the reports of scams and scandals – no political party an exception – indulged in by the so-called law makers, so-called protectors of our coveted democratic traditions, values and ethics. The masses losing faith in the political party leaders and even in our cherished democracy and getting cynical is a sad commentary of the state of affairs prevailing in our country.

First came Anna Hazaare with his India Against Corruption movement, then appeared the ‘Godman’ Ramdev demanding immediate confiscation of crores of rupee of money allegedly stashed abroad by the Indian VVIPs including politicians and industrialists and the underworld. Ramdev and Hazaare had to retreat midway pushing the citizens into despair and disillusionment.

Delhi, since  decades are not at all safe for women, incidents of rape and murder breaking out everyday with politicians and law and order machinery allegedly caring two hoots towards the occasional protests and agitations by the disillusioned citizens.  With their patience touching their nadir they turned fretting and fuming volcanoes since years.

The volcanoes broke out one day which was inevitable with reports of the heinous crime of the gang- rape flashing through electronic, print media and social networking sites. The red hot lava of their anger and fury shook the ones who are in the saddle and frightened them and were forced to initiate immediate measures to put an end to the ongoing criminal activities of the anti-social elements who are a minority in any society.

The rulers after facing the heat of the entire Delhites and citizens across the nation are a shaken lot and they will continue to shake with fear and apprehension and are forced to shed complacency. Hats off to those who took part in the One Billion Rising across the world.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

It’s a long, straight lane

resembling a black scale.

Tarred, not so wide

not so narrow.

Each side is lined

with residential buildings

adjacent are they

each carrying nuclear families .

Nuclear families occupy

each residence.

Father , mother, two

children - the list ends.

Early in the morning

they leave their residences

driving their cars

with their children

with school bags over their shoulders.

Down the bustling streets

to various places in the city

after dropping their children

in front of their schools.

Employed are the parents

and all return with their

children by late evening

when the twilight sun spreading yellow

shining blankets

covering the lane as a whole.

Neighbours though they are

none cares

the other, exchanges not

even gifting a smile to each other.

Strangers they are

strangers they remain throughout

in the true sense of that term.

All are like nomads

living in their rented houses.

Most surprising and embarrassing

are no house remains vacant even

for a single day.

With one family

vacating the rented building

another occupies it the next moment.

All nuclear families

as usual.

None bids farewell to none

not even the

residence one occupied for

months, a year or two.

With the fall of

darkness

silence pervades along

the lane.

But the televisions in all houses

open their eyes

and channel surfing in full

swing going on.

News, music, serials,

infotainment

all according to the

wishes of the occupiers.

One interesting sight

though is the  name of the lane

-          ‘FRIENDS  LANE’

How come it is

christened ‘FRIENDS LANE’

the name in

white with blue background

 etched on

a short board?

fastened on both sides of the lane.

After all what’s in a name?

LOVE NEVER DIES

Everyday

she brought

a fragrant rose flower

and gifted it to me.

In return I held her close to me

locked in an embrace

I felt her honeyed lips

exchanged kisses galore

her wide smiling shining eyes

her radiant looks

chubby cheeks

cherry lips

felt like she was prettier than

the soft petelled

fragrant rose flower.

While returning to my shell

with her invaluable gift

-          the pretty rose flower

it seemed like I was

taking her to my shell.

Love is eternal, I believe.

Hence after a gap of

umpteen years

since our agonizing separation

for  me and also for her

everyday is a Valentine’s day.

  

                         

FADING JASMINES

After a prolonged

scorching summer of

discontent, disillusionment,

raging fury,

After a prolonged

wait for a new dawn.

After prolonged prayers

to the Rain God.

At last He heeded our prayers.

It rained heavily

it was a heavy down pour

lasting for days

across the land

washing out

the last drops of

blood stains

of innocents and guilty alike

from the whole body of the land

the earth rejoiced  

like a peacock

spreading its wings.

Spring arrived at last

with our jasmine gardens

giving birth to

jasmine flowers

with smiling eyes

the smiling fragrant

jasmine flowers

seemed like the

heralding of a

new dawn, a new spring.

Overwhelmed, overjoyed

we danced around

in circles

for days, for weeks

for months.

Smell of jasmine

flowers transcended the

boundaries of our land

the fragrance

spread with a message 

of the impending Spring season

to our neighbours

intoxicating them

,inebriating, exhilarating them

they all hurried to

the streets and

danced around in circles.

Drawing inspiration, energy

vigour and courage

they fought against the forces of evil.

Forces of evil

had to flee for life or got incarcerated

wherever the fragrance reached.

………………The new Missihas

who were enthroned

contrary to our

hopes expectations and  dreams

appeared in their 

true colours after the euphoria subsided.

They, like the

Frankenstein Monsters

turned against

the masses who

fought along with them

dashing all our

hopes, expectations

and dreams to the ground

like the collapse of a

pack of cards

or breaking 

the castle  of dreams

built of decorated glasses.

Now that

the scorching summer

has returned again

our jasmine flowers

have faded

and are about to wither away soon.

Restless we are

we want our

jasmine flowers back

we want our dreams

come to fruition

till then we won’t

rest and sit idle

like mute spectators.

Fight to the hilt, we will   

Till we scent VICTORY……….

HIS LAST SUPPER

Resigned to his fate

he lay.

His mind was a

calm, serene, tranquil sea that night

within seconds

he got drowned into a sound slumber.

No thoughts, no dreams

no hope of miracles about to come to his rescue

in the last moment

he was a calm, serene

tranquil sea 

without a single ripple

disturbing that tranquility.

The demon of uncertainty

was staring at him

since the last eight years

He was a violent sea.

The Tsunami of thoughtwaves

rose to the sky and lashed against the rocks and tall structures .

Uncertainty like a python was whirling around him

squeezing him, suffocating him to death .

Each day he pondered

over his kith and kin.

That glorious days of

yester years

in his native land

blessed with magnificent landscape

that nostalgic feelings

drove him mad

often he hit his

head on the walls of

the cell

restlessly walking around the room

his hair disheveled

resembling a lunatic.

Cursing his fate

he wept, laughed

and roared.

With tears

flowing down his cheeks.

He wanted an answer,

‘Yes’ or ‘No’?

No one was there to

answer his queries

his queries, cries

laughs , all left unanswered.

          

……………….. After a lapse of

eight years

that evening, he got

the answer,

‘a big No. No.No

no let up’.

The noose was about to tighten

around his neck

the next morning.

At last his gnawing

pains slowly, slowly

slowly subsided

like waves of the

violent sea returning

slowly, slowly, slowly.

Finally  

the sea turned calm

serene and tranquil.

After a sumptuous last supper

after offering his

prayers to God almighty.

He lay on the floor

with a smile sans pain.

He thought nothing, he

dreamt nothing

drowned in a sound

sleep, like a baby sleeping in the cradle

he lay resigned to his fate.