THE CAPITAL CITY

The capital city is abuzz with

stories of shady deals

of ruling Samaritans these days.

The capital city is abuzz

with news reports of

people falling sick in the

incessant rains lashing the city

with hospitals getting

jammed with patients

fighting for a fresh lease of life.

The capital city as usual is abuzz with

crowds and vehicles  racing

past time to make both ends meet.

The capital city begins drowsing

with the fall of night and

the children of darkness

make their appearance from their dens seeking victims

to make a living.

The capital city’s citadel, however,

stands tall like an

impenetrable fortress

with silence ruling

the roost, thanks to the

round the clock security vigil.

The capital city’s

common citizens give

vent to their impotent rage on a

regular basis

through protest marches,

slogan shouting, stone-throwing

and all sorts of

weapons in their arsenal.

The capital city, being capital city

has got a name of its own….

and we are proud to be

a part of it.

FASCINATING STENCH

Lined upon both sides

of the street are concrete jungles.

Street is littered with

garbages dumped by

the residents of concrete jungles.

Stench emanating from

the garbages were nauseating and mind-blowing  once.

To reach the bus station

its only five minutes walk.

Holding our noses tightly

we walk the path to

the bus station both during

day and night.

In the meantime 

garbages pile up along the path

and the whole exercise

being our undoing

we are accustomed with

walking over the garbage collection,

since we don’t believe in clearing the path

keeping in mind our false prestige.

And there is no other way

left to reach the station.

Nowadays we have learnt to enjoy the stench

hence we don’t believe in

holding our noses

in other words,

stench is perfume for us….

EMBERS OF HOPES

Like a pile of embers,

remains aglow,

each day,

our hearts and soul,

remain aglow,

with the hopes of,

a bright morrow,

devoid of,

lugubrious thoughts,

and dark dreams.

Each day,

we move ahead,

along the dark tunnel of

agonizing existence expecting

light at the end of it.

Embers keep on glowing,

hopes remain bright,

and life moves ahead,

in the midst of disturbing, cacophonic days.

Still the glimmering hopes,

hold a torch to the future,

showing us the way forward,

to a shining world……

FLOOD FURY IN UTTARKHAND, STATE OF INDIA - THOUSANDS PERISHED

With the onset of monsoon fury, yes, this time it was fury, no doubt, Uttarkhand, the State carved out of Uttar Pradesh falling victim, Indian citizens as a whole are mourning the deaths of thousands of lives swept away (please don't go by official figures, it needs only commonsense to realize the gravity of the situation) along with tourist resorts, temples, factories, illegally constructed along the river banks and cattles even while the rescue operations are in full swing. Thousands are still stranded, thousands displaced, thousands thought to be alive gone missing - all provide a grim picture of the situation prevailing there. 

Why such a destruction of intense magnitude have taken place is question staring in the face of everyone, each time the nature turns its fury.

Environmentalists are of the view that with hundreds of resorts - pilgrim centres nowadays are tourist resorts - built on the fragile soil along the hilly areas facing sacred rivers and number of factories built along the banks of sacred rivers following no environmental standards couldn’t withstand the fury of the torrential rains, cloudbursts, frequent landslips all came down resulting in a crumbling disaster of this magnitude.

Ministers, be it by Prime Minister, or for the same reason Chief Ministers undertaking aerial flights are not a panacea for the disaster-stricken people. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) should have forseen such an eventuality not only on the matters of climate changes and aftermaths but almost in every field like infrastructure facilities like transportation, irrigation, electrification etc. Sadly, we Indians are always a bit too late or notorious for acting on the spur of the moments. As long as this mindset stays put Indian citizens are left to the whims and fancies of Nature and God. These are times when Indian Godmen and Godwomen are appearing on facebooks sitting in faraway nations enjoying all materialistic benefits and undertaking meditations or teaching meditation to worshippers. Let us meditate with them. All will be fine, no doubt.                  

EDWARD SNOWDEN STILL REMAINS ELUSIVE TO THE HEADACHE OF US

US demand to extradite Edward Snowden from the Russian soil has been rejected by Vladimir Putin, Russian President, echoing an absolute ‘NO’.

Julian Assange, the international whistle-blower of Wikileaks cocooned in the Equadorian Embassy in Britain and whose security is taken for granted is certain about Edward Snowden’s whereabouts and that Snowden is very much safe wherever he is but the safe haven of Mr.Snowden and one of the assistants of Mr.Assange are secrets which he keeps close to his chest. Poor Bradly Mannings. While revealing the secret cables, which US thought with audacity that they couldn’t be divulged to anybody by anyone, experienced a shock when millions of secret cables collections and classified documents relating to various countries fell into the hands of the International whistle blower Wiki Leaks founded by Julian Assange might not have had the nightmare awaiting him at the hands of FBI sleuths stretching upto date and after.

But Mr.Snowden is of a different stuff and before emplaning to Hong Kong, he kept all secrets to himself, very much aware of the punishment which would have caught up with him.

All secrets, which the US’s Secret Intelligent Establishments seized from the internet agencies were made public inviting the wrath of US. The Big Brother must have felt naked before the entire world. An infuriated China whose secrets constituted a huge chunk reacted angrily to the demand of US to force Hong Kong to extradite Mr.Snowden by refusing the demand outright.

The hubris with which US moved ahead in keeping all its secrets and the same hubris with which it moved ahead on the question of a more secure US, than other nations got a rude shock thru Brad Mannings, Edward Snowden and the 9/11 World Trade Centre attack leading to its demolition. 

Where could be Snowden. Whether he has already flown to Cuba, on his way to Equador where he is supposed to seek asylum, where he is supposed to be granted asylum, none knows for sure now. Anyhow US ‘s efforts to get him extradited could fall on deaf ears.

HIS MANIFESTATIONS

God is a sumptuous feast

to a man/woman

starving for food for days together.

God is an oasis for a

man/woman trapped in a desert

melting under the burning sun

God is a beaming smile of

fragrant red rose to a forlorn lover

craving for the proximity

of his/her beloved.

God is love and care

sympathy and empathy

and a savior for a patient struggling for life.

God appears as a helicopter

to the hilly areas ravaged by

floods, cloudbursts and landslides

to lift up and rescue all

got stranded, be them

the Godmen or Godwomen.

Umpteen are his manifestations

Boundless is the love and care of

that omnipotent, omnipresent power.

ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

Inside the air-conditioned restaurant

in the dim privacy of the cabin  

sitting across a table

over a cup of hot tea

she was lamenting about

the thin line dividing us

getting thicker and thicker

wider and wider

with the fall of each day

at a moment we dream about

a world where thin lines get blurred  

be it relationship between man and man

man and woman

nation and nation

instead of them turning thicker and thicker

wider and wider

for which I couldn’t give

her a satisfying answer and kept mum

for minutes.

later deflecting the issue…..

which made her eyes tearful

and face falling under a pall of gloom

like a flower turning pale

with the fall of darkness……   

FLOWERS OF FREEDOM

Like wild elephants

entering a sugar-cane plantation

and making a mess of everything

the forces of darkness

sneaked into the vast, sprawling garden

of flowers of freedom

in the solid darkness

from across the other side of fence

plucking and uprooting the pretty blooms and thick

growth of plants

leaving all of us in tears and agony.

In a world  

where the forces of evil run rampant

upsetting the very fabric

of a harmonious existence

no amount of better counsel,

appeals and appeasement

would suffice to

keep the forces of darkness

from the very World Map.

A PARABLE

It is a treat to watch

a child crying for the

moon and twinkling stars

up above in the sky.

It is a treat to watch

a child playing pranks on

his/her parents, friends or

siblings.

It is a treat to watch

a child falling in love

with a child of the opposite

sex and planting soft kisses 

on his/her cheeks.

The scenario undergoes vast

and inexplicable changes

when a youth, a middle-aged or an aged cries for

the moon and twinkling

stars up above the sky

or playing cruel jokes

on his/her parents, siblings

or friends and for that matter

anyone, anywhere, anytime.

It is a treat to watch

a young man falling in love

with a blonde or

vice-versa and sharing

their future dreams while walking along the sea-shore

enjoying the sea breeze or spending their intimate moments in a park

but it turns to be something

rash when he/she slaps

his/her forced love over the other.

It makes one feel sad,

sorry or exasperated

when undrawn boundaries

are crossed caring  two hoots

for them be he/she, a king/queen

and for that matter anybody.

NEWS FROM THE NORTH

News from the North

are disquieting and disconcerting

mind-boggling and blood-chilling.

Torrential rains, floods, landslips,

cloudbursts,  

two weeks in a row.

Communication lines snapped,

electric lines cut,

North is literally in the dark.

News from the North

disquieting and disconcerting,

mind-boggling and blood-chilling

people being washed away,

lands, monuments and temples

and pilgrims too washed away,

heavy downpours continue

unabated.

Thousands stranded with

no help forthcoming in

the torrential rains

and frequent landslides none knows for sure

how many waiting to be lost

how many left starving,

how many are diseased

without proper care available, no idea.

It is ‘Tsunami’ – somebody calls

it is ‘apocalypse’ some others name it

 ‘deluge’ some call.

Be that as it may

news from the North are

disquieting and disconcerting

discomfortable and disheartening

mind-boggling and blood-chilling

with no hopes left……………………..  

OUR DESTINY

Generations to generations

like in a relay race

we’ve entrusted ourselves

with the task of

piling up the fallen leaves of this

giant umbrella like tree called life

and setting them

ablaze each morning.

The more we pile up and burn them

the more fall by the next  morning

and we continue with

the self-entrusted task 

of piling them up and burning them.

We expect no rewards

no remuneration, no thanks

and despite all those

this task has become

a part of our life or destiny.

The leaves go on sprouting

it is a non-stop process

like the job entrusted

to us by ourselves.

The ashes of yesterday

never appear today 

since they fly past lands to lands

that too a never-ending cycle.   

THE REVOLT BY THE BRAZILIANS AND KARZAI’S BACKING OUT OF DOHA TALKS

The reports of millions of Brazilians spilling over to the streets to protest against the decision to spend billions of dollars to build a giant stadium for the upcoming World Cup Football 2014 and 2016 Olympics at a time the country can’t afford to look after the immediate needs of common citizens makes disturbing reading. At present Confederation Soccer Cup tournament is going on in full steam amidst protests by the Brazilians. Last week’s bus price hike is the immediate trigger for the protests to break out. The news is surprising  as well as embarrasing. On Friday the news of this Latin American country witnessing one million protestors rising in revolt against the govt ruled by the former revolutionary turned President Dilma Rousuff makes disturbing reading. Ms.Rousuff, whose popularity took a steep dip on account of the recent hike in  bus charges triggered the rebellion. The Brazilians poured into the streets in various cities in revolt. These reports are music to the ears of Brazilian Opposition and pro-US nations. Ms.Rousuff, the chosen successor of Lula De Silva, in whose period Brazil was ahead on the economic front and pro-poor measures. And owing to the same reasons Brazilians were basking in glory savouring peace and progress on various fronts.

His faith in Ms.Dilma Rousuff was solid –rock and due to the same reason, Ms.Rousuff was chosen his successor to lead the nation from the front. In the beginning and until recently, Brazilians were tasting calm and peace.

And that satisfaction has cleared the way for the majority of Brazilians turning against the alleged anti-poor ostentatious policies of the Brazilian govt.

The immediate spark which led to the conflagration was the recent steep-hike in bus prices which is unbearable to millions of Brazilians on account of the govt spending huge funds to Confederation soccer  cup matches and the 2014 World Cup football tournament and 2016 Olympics which was mentioned earlier.. Though Brazilians are crazy football lovers  squeezing the common man by imposing heavy taxes are not to their liking.

Ms.Rousuff’s govt at the outset took the large-scale protests silly and didn’t heed the demands of the protesters later had to cow down as millions are pouring to the streets against the govt’s obstinate decision to stick by its policy. Ms.Rousuff has herself taken the initiative to invite the leaders of the protesters to chalk out a solution to mollify the seemingly fuming protesters. Perhaps, Lula De Silva himself might intervene to find out a durable solution who is looked upon with love and respect by majority of Brazilians.

A FRETTING AND FUMING HAMID KARZAI

With the 2014 drawing closer and closer and with the D-Day for the last American military personal to leave Afghanistan, US, as a first step in the right direction has handed over the whole responsibility to Afghan Military personnel.

But US’s initiative to hold a trilateral meet with Taliban forces which have opened an office in the Qatari Capital  of Doha naming it the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and unfurling of Taliban flag, Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s ire turned against US and has backed out of the trilateral talks.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was the former Afghan govt before Afghanistan govt under Hamid Karzai was formed. An angry Mr.Karzai has made it clear that his dispensation is not at all willing to accept the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since his govt do not want his nation to be mentioned an Islamic nation.

It is amusing as well as interesting that in the 9/11 bombardment of the twin towers of World Trade Centre, allegedly by the Al-Quaeda elements which was nurtured and nourished by the Taliban Afghanistan govt was named Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The American wrath fell on the then govt of Taliban which resulted in the bombardment and total destruction of Afghanistan killing millions and millions, displacing as many citizens and missing as many. In the mean time the Taliban govt was overthrown by US and NATO-led forces paving the way for Hamid Karzai to take over power in the capacity of President. Now after 12 years, US along with NATO forces are in a hurry to leave Afghanistan and before that entire exercise is to be completed, it wants a trilateral meeting at the Doha office of Taliban with Mr.Karzai as the third partner. An angry Mr.,Karzai is not at all willing to hold talks with an organization which has shown the audacity  to name the office at Doha, The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with a Taliban flag..

With Mr.Karzai backing out of the talks at Doha, US leaders may not sit idle and is possible that it is poised to veering around Mr.Karzai to the negotiating table which is unlikely to succeed. In the meanwhile Russia seems to have plunged into the issue.    

FATHER AND DAUGHTER

Looking happy and composed,

he sat in the chair,

looking sad and depressed,

she sat in the adjacent chair.

Well-attired he was,

clumsily dressed she was,

he was in his early fifties,

and grey haired,

and she was in her teens.

She was drowsing all along,

he was looking around,

the drawing room packed to capacity.

He saw others,

throwing their glances at his daughter,

with eyes full of compassion and sorrow. 

He felt a lump in his throat,

yet he tried his best,

to look composed and happy,

as if nothing serious had happened.

His efforts to,

cheer her up went in vein,

yet she tried to gift,

him a pale sleepy smile before,

lapsing into her depressing thoughts.

Waiting for their turn,

both sat silent and moody.

Any moment they would,

be called to meet the Doctor,

what must be her problem,,

the traumatic looks of the girl in her teens,

each one must have been,

asking to himself/herself.

In these horrendous times ,

in a city where safe existence has no guarantee,

where anything could happen to anyone anytime,

only he and she knew,

the gravity of the situation in her life till ,

her pains are presented,

before the Doctor sitting inside.

A CRUSHED EXISTENCE

Foot-steps make her shudder

Each foot-step forces her eyes go wide

driving her to look around in panic

after that fateful

incident of that night on which

she was ripped apart by

that red-eyed beast with long sharp nails.

Under the heavy weight of the burly beast

she resisted with all her strength

left in her

which made him

burst into a maniac’s laughter.

She was like a

flower with soft petals

which could be crushed easily.

Her feeble cries

for help got sunk deep for a while

with the rushing vehicles blaring

horns to and fro down the road.

Some passersby who spotted

her lying writhing in pain, calling feebly for help

rushed her to a hospital immediately

and got her treated.  

But the deep scar left by

that fateful incident

still refuses to fade away.

Foot-steps continue to shudder her

each foot-step

forces her eyes go wide

with fear and panic

driving her to look

around like a girl gone out of her sense.  

                 

THE MONSOON FEVER AND THE IMPENDING ELECTIONS FEVER GRIP THE COUNTRY

While, on the one hand Monsoon has let loose a torrent of destruction causing loss of lives and property across the nation from its very outset mostly in North India especially Uttarkhand, on the other hand, a political churning is in full swing on the national political scenario as a prelude to the upcoming 16^th General Elections which is less than a year away.

Emerging political equations will reveal the shape of things to come and like spectators sitting in the ringside-seats watching a circus ,we the citizens undergo a variety of emotions.

The political churning of sorts is not a sudden or unexpected development, as we are fairly aware of the fact that with the approaching General Elections, the political scenario is poised for a change. And that time has come, that is even while the whole nation is shivering with fever on the one hand, election- fever has gripped the nation with the political barometer showing signs of upswing of the mercury level.

The churning gathered momentum with the holding of National Executive meeting of the main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Panaji, Goa mainly to elect its Election Committee Manger or Chairman. The meeting was just a formality as Mr.Narendra Modi of Gujarat fame was already deemed to be the appropriate person to lead from the forefront in the coming General Elections mkuch to the chagrin of Lal Kishan Advani who was sidelined in the entire exercise, which was unbecoming of the top-rung as well as second-rung leaders, Narendra Modi was catapulted to the post of election committee chairman. It was not surprising that Mr.Advani would not remain a mute spectator before the entire exercise and let loose his protest by resigning from the posts of BJP’s Parlimentary party leader and two other equally important posts.

With him tendering his resignation from three important posts, the entire party couldn’t laugh away the issue because of Advani’s potential as the architect of the party. The entire top brass went into a huddle and decided to mollify a fuming Advani. Though unrelenting for a while with the stern direction of Mohan Bhagawat, Sar Sangha Chalak of the Sangh Parivar to withdraw forthwith his resignation from the three key posts Advani evolved into a obedient boy and withdrew his resignation albeit reluctantly. Sangh Parivar’s hold on BJP is a well-known fact and whenever the leaders of BJP deviated from its directions, the whole wrath fell over them. Advani too was once an RSS man and even in his mid-eighties he has not dared to throw away that Khaki knicker and white shirt, like his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was a clever but cunning politician like late P.V.Narasimha Rao, though he was Congress man. Mr.Rao’s allegedly covert support to the demolition of Babri Masjid in December 6, 1992 was not a top secret. No amount of explanations would suffice to label him a clean Congress man with secular credentials.

With Advani’s fate sealed, Janata Dal (U), a key partner in the NDA rose in revolt which had turned a sulking partner from the very day rumours about Narendra Modi taking up the mantle of BJP election committee Chairman. Close on the heels of Narendra Modi getting appointed as the mascot of BJP, Janata Dal(U) held a hurriedly summoned meeting in which it formally declared its disassociation from NDA.

With Janata Dal(U) leaving NDA, the leftists and regional parties plunged seriously into forming a third front to take on both United Progressive Alliance and the now limping ‘NDA’. 

The emergence of Mamata Banerji, Chief Minister of West Bengal calling for a Federal Front of regional parties are not to the liking of certain parties even otherwise it is unlikely to be materialized.

With Left Front talking to the leaders of JD(U), Biju Janata Dal(BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik, Telugu Desom Party of Chandra Babu Naidu, Janata Dal(S) of Dev Gowda and like-minded parties could form a cohesive force to take on both UPA (United Progressive Alliance) which is neck-deep in corruption, scams and scandals and National  Defence Alliance (NDA) which too is the other side of the coin – I mean, the UPA and the so-called NDA - a hung parliament is a possibility if not a probability. If things go well on the expected lines this is a God-send opportunity for the Third Front to play a prominent role in the forming of a new-look govt with entirely different policy approaches at the Centre. And if the Indian citizen has not been able to learn any lesson even now he/she is not at all going to learn anything in future too.

Apart from rampant corruption, scams and scandals, life of an average Indian citizen has fallen into a quagmire of extreme poverty, rampant unemployment, snowballing of prices of essential commodities helpless women and children (majority of Indian women are a disempowered lot), a new breed of rich –crorepatis, millionaires and billionaires is emerging on the other side with free flow of funds exclusively flowing to their coffers it is time we need to introspect and act accordingly.

LIVELY AND LOVELY

Once,

her Alma-Mater,

later a teacher, in the end its Supremo,

it is a sweet pain and indescribable pleasure,

for her to visit that school on Sundays,

spending sometime there,

recalling her days as a student, then as a teacher,

later as its Head

walking along the verandahs, corridors and classrooms

heaving deep sighs intermittently.

Memories of those yesteryears,

caress and embrace her,

chokes her with the inexplicable emotions forcing her

to burst into laughters and occasional cries of joy.

Walking along the verandahs,

corridors and classes,  simultaneously she would evolve

into a student, teacher and Supremo,

and now a nobody or everybody,

spending lonely moments in her home,

just outside the four tall compound walls of the school.

On walking down the sprawling stadium 

just in front of the school

the memories of the days she played,

different games with her colleagues,

flash past her eyes brimming with tears, 

coursing down her face.

With the Sunday bidding,

bye with the promise of,

staging a comeback after six  days,

the school awakes from ‘her’ sleep,

and evolves into a hive of activities of,

students and teachers which reaches her ears,

like the joyous waves of the sea lashing

the shores non-stop.

Even in the sunset of her life

these waves of joy make her a student

a teacher and the Supremo simultaneously.

‘Happy to be in the

neighbourhood of my

Alma Mater’ 

‘Happy to be in the

neighbourhood of a good part of my life’

 – she would whisper to herself.

‘Lively and Lovely simultaneously

to be my Alma-Mater’.    

ALL ENCOMPOSING

Thinking of the all encomposing

love and fury of Nature and God,

I lay, both alarmed and relieved simultaneously.

Thinking of these strange times

with the bottom level of

patience and love getting

dried up among mankind

it seems God and Nature too

have shed their all encomposing approach

of blessing and punishing

for which they are worshipped by the entire mankind now.

Thinking of the drying up of the qualities of virtues

expected of this species called mankind

Nature and God too have evolved into

all encomposing fury

in the forms of massive floods and rains of Sun….

turning the life a hell on earth…..

A COLLAGE

When memories, painful, piercing and gnawing

continue to haunt us

giving us sleepless nights

and chains of nightmares

we wish,

if memories were like

leaves or faded petals of flowers

falling on earth

which in due course of time

turn one with the soil

bestowing us with hopes of a new dawn.

But,

when memories are

cheerful, delightful and rejoicing

our wishful thinking

of fallen leaves

and faded petals

turning one with soil

melt into thin air

bestowing us with 

enlightenment of our life

as a collage of

haunting, painful and piercing memories

cheerful, rejoicing, delightful memories

and not so sad, not so happy yesterdays.

Hence,

erasing the past events

on the whole is unthinkable.

Let haunting and gnawing

memories exist in harmony with

cheerful, delightful, rejoicing memories…….

LONGING FOR………..

Longing for his glimpse

she went there again and again

throwing here wide eyes around

she stood rooted there for sometime

ignoring the inquiring eyes

of  odd men and women she moved out

stepping down the crowded streets of the city

she walked along

throwing herself into the

bed and tried in vain to have a deep sleep.

Finding no solace

she turned around and

around in the bed

for hours on end throwing

up her hands  in despair

dreaming for the unending, ultimate sleep..

he was nobody to her

she was nobody to him

still….?

IRAN AFTER AHMEDI NEJAD - WILL THE NEW COMER WOULD COME TO TERMS WITH US?

Iran went to polls amidst unprecedented security covers for the election of new President in the place of Ahmedi Nejad, the outgoing President after four years of rule, ie from 2009, is bowing out of office paving the way for the incoming President. Mr. Nejad was in the saddle for the second time. His relationship with Iranian Religious Supremo Ayatollah Ali Khomeni, though rosy in the beginning later turned sour on a slew of issues. His nominee and close relative must have been disqualified from contesting the elections by the Guardian Council which comes under the direct control of Ayatollah Ali Khomeni, the religious Supremo could be linked with this bitter relationship.

In the elections held on Friday a huge chunk of electorate marched to the polling booths to elect the new President. Almost 50 million exercised their franchise which is reported by media agencies. In an election contested by six candidate except one, who is a centrist and who does have the generous support of reformists like Muhammad Khatamei and Ali Akbar Rafsanjani. The other five candidates are conservative owing allegiance to the religious Supremo especially Ali Akbar  Velayati and Sayed Jalili who was incidentally Iran’s top nuclear negotiator with the P5 + 1 nations.

US is maintaining a close watch on the situation developing in the backdrop of elections for a new President in Iran. Iran which remained defiant on the issue of nuclear enrichment during Ahmedi Nejad’s rule is unlikely to soften its stance on the latter issue, despite biting sanctions slapped upon it by the US led P5 + 1 nations.

US’s apprehension of Iran manufacturing nuclear weapons may not die down or disappear after Ahmedi Nejad. Decades of enmity, to be specific, since 1979 revolution Iran is likely to continue unabated as long as a pro-Western dispensation is poised to rule the country. With the coming to an end of Sha Muhammed Reza Pahlavi who was a dictator as well as a US lackey, Iran is unlikely to be under a pro-US regime.

So be it. If any of the contestants on Friday’s elections fail to win 50 percent margin in the first round of counting a second round will have to be held on June 21, 2013. Of late the Reformist backed centric Hassan Raouhani has been decalred the winner thus avoiding a run-off on June 21.

TURKISH TURMOIL

While this is election time in Iran, Turkey witnesses another grim scenario. Recep Tayyip Erdogan who came to power on a popular wave is struggling hard to suppress a turmoil raging across the country ever since he emerged as the third President in a row, turned to Islamisation of Turkey.

The man who since 2003 after winning three consecutive wins, of late, has bared out dictatorial tendencies. In the beginning his economic reforms gave the country a face-lift which brought him laurels from across the masses and nations the world over showed signs of decline with him turning to be an incorrigible Islamist which includes banning of alcohol, citizens kissing in public and curtailing the rights of women confining them to the four walls of their homes.

His measures opened a can of worms resulting in months long rebellion which the people term Turkish Spring.

Their claim of Turkish Spring has been castigated by Mr.Erdogan by declaring that spring had already bloomed and what Turkey witnesses is nothing but a rebellion to oust him from power or to force him mend his ways.

As Lord Acton said, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

Turkey now bears testimony to this dictum.     

THE STRUGGLE

We always try to tear away

the thick envelope of darkness

trying to swallow this

beautiful, magnificent world

only to find the next moment this envelope

of darkness like a whale  

trying to swallow this

beautiful, magnificent world.

The more we try, the quicker it approaches us

but we keep ourselves ever vigilant

and tear away

this dark thick envelope

so as to enable all of us to remain under

‘one thousand, splendid suns’ 

Forces of evil are here to stay

so are forces of light,

both engaged in relentless

round-the-clock struggle showing no

signs of end of the story.

THE CITY

City flourishes, city nourishes

both simultaneously

city ascends, city descends

both simultaneously.

Be it in summer,

Be it in winter

Be it in monsoon

Be it in autumn

city flourishing, city ascending.

City’s incarnations abound

city’s manifestations abound 

even while flourishing and nourishing

even while ascending and descending

city remains sick

wraps itself around with thick woollen blanket

seeks refuge from the severity of trembling fever.

Clinics  mushroom, hospitals mushroom,

multi-specialty hospitals mushroom

diagnostic centres mushroom

drug houses mushroom

and all reap a rich harvest

thanks to the sick

thanks to the environs.

Doctors go on minting money

that too thanks to the

sick, thanks to the agents of

diseases circulating through the veins of sick.

But city continues to flourish,

city continues to nourish tasting the fruits of

diseases of suffering thousands.  

MEMORIES FADE NOT

Whenever someone close to me

shares his/her dreams about

developing wings

shivers run down my spine

and you might be wondering

why.

I had a friend who was a

colleague of mine

many years senior to me

while working together in an institution.

Beings, colleagues and intimate friends

it was our pleasure to share

our feelings, some agonizing, some rejoicing.

He being  tongue in cheek

it was a pleasurable, joyous

experience to spend time

with him as many time as I could.

In the course of time

he being far senior to me

had to bid farewell to all colleagues

on reaching superannuation.

He being my intimate friend

even after the painful farewell

continued the friendship

thru frequent calls over phone

either by him or by me…

Days passed, weeks passed

months passed, years passed

and river of time  continued to flow  

through unknown lands

our frequent calls

turned rare

the warmth but remained intact.

One day, after a long pause,

I made a call to him

he was his usual self

in a cheerful, merry mood,

shared with me thoughts

past and present.

Memories never fade away

you know

at least in our case it was quite true.

Before switching off the mobile

he told apparently

with no emotions

about him developing wings.

I couldn’t make head or tail of it

still not inquired what

he meant by it.

On a pleasant note

the our talks came to

an end that day.

Now after a long spell

when I saw him

in the obituary column

in the inner page of a newspaper

a shudder went down my body

and I remained spell bound

for a long time

unable to move or talk.

Memories never fade away.

Memories never fade away

at least in our

prolong friendship….

   

ADVANI’S RESIGNATION AND HIS SUBSEQUENT RETRACTION

It was quiet unexpected. It was a bomb-shell. Or so it seemed. None had expected such a move from the part of a leader of national stature like Lal Kishan Advani. But for Mr.Advani at present there is not a single leader of national stature in BJP(Bharatiya Janata Party). One Jaswant Singh, One Yashwant Sinha, one Sushma Swaraj albeit very much in the party. Even Jaswant Singh, who donned the prestigious roles of Finance Minister first and External Affairs later, won’t go to the extent of claiming to be a national leader of repute. But Mr.Singh, Mr.Sinha and Ms.Swaraj all three are with the 85 year old patriarch, who after weighing all pros and cons of or so it seemed, quit his posts of BJP parliamentary board, National Executive and Election Committee Chairman had nursed the ambitions of standing as a Prime Ministerial candidate in the ensuing General Elections in 2014.

Sensing that it is the appropriate moment to galvanize all forces against a corruption-ridden scam, scam-ridden, scandal-ridden, UPA 2 with its arrogant manners for which it needs to be ‘appreciated’, BJP’s incumbent President Rajnath Singh along with second-rung leaders of the party were on a hot pursuit of building a cohesive force to fight out in the upcoming elections so as to enable it to be catapulted to power in 2014 after a spell of 10 years. While busy immersed in seeking a suitable person to lead from the front certain leaders at last found a person in the form of Narendra Modi, who seemed to be emerging a potential force to majority of BJP leaders or so it seemed an obliging Modi, who sees himself as the deserving fellow jumped to the front with enormous enthusiasm and delight at the thought of keeping himself in the saddle.

BJP leadership except senior leaders like L.K.Advani, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Sushma Swaraj were unanimous in projecting Mr.Narendra Modi as the new Chairman Election Committee of BJP.In the National Defence Alliance (NDA) for which there is up until now no congruous of opinions in NDA. A sulking JD(U) leader and Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar had already made his position clear his strong reservations against projecting Mr.Modi as the Prime Ministerial Candidate.

Notwithstanding Janata Dal (United)’s fierce opposition, certain Bharatiya Janata Party went ahead with determination out of hubris and arrogance come what may, Advani and his colleagues sat mute spectators enjoying the circus about which they had a premonition.

Modi’s tainted past is not yet forgiven by a minority community which witnessed and underwent mind-boggling, blood-chilling sufferings in the 2002 pogrom condemned the world over.

His political chicanery brought him laurels which he deserves not, but three consecutive election victories to the State Assembly made him feel himself as a larger than life figure. And this exalted feeling prompted him and his admirers to think that he is capable of leading country of diversity sitting in the South Block at Lutyeri’s Delhi.

But he should have remembered that Gujarat is only a part of India and India is a vast country of diversities at that and regional leader like him aiming to be the Prime Minister is like a child crying for the moon. Nursing ambitions is anybody’s right.

Lal Kishan Advani, who donned the role Deputy Prime Minister of India in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet is seeming to be the fit person to contest as Prime Ministeral candidate, though he is running in his mid 80’s. Though not a person following the Hindutva ideology, in the capacity as a citizen of India, this writer is of the opinion that projecting Advani is good for NDA as also Narendra Modi. He has still, miles to go before aspiring for the prestigious post and the formost thing expected of him shed the larger than life feeling. But within 24 hours of his resignation BJP leaders huddled together to force Mr.Advani not to resign from the post of Election Committee Chairman, Leader of the Parliamentary board, and National Executive. An unrelenting Advani stuck to his position and all thought it was enough for him, or so it seemed. But this leader of national stature meekly surrendered before the diktats of Sangh Parivar Head, Mohan Bhagavat and took back his resignation from three bodies only to see the NDA beginning to crack on the question of Narendra Modi heading the NDA alliance from the front in the future.

AS SIMPLE AS THAT

It’s as simple as that.

Seize the day for what it is.

Days of hare and tortoise are over

slow and steady never wins a race.

It’s as simple as that.

No obfuscations, No convolutions,

no mysteries

It’s as simple as that.

Seize the day for what it is

speed past the fastest trains

fly past the fastest space-crafts 

travel past the light years

rush ahead through the

surging crowds

and seize the day for it is.

This is not the age of

hare and tortoise stories.

Slow and steady never wins the race.

Race ahead, surge ahead, forge ahead

and grab the opportunity.

It’s as simple as that

never get tired, never, ever……….

ZEST FOR LIFE

Flowers bloom in abundance here

green fields spread green carpets here

hills and mountains like caparisoned

elephants stand tall here

rivers flow transparently and smoothly here

streams, lakes and ponds ornament here

life is always calm, tranquil and serene here

shady trees lined on

both sides of tarred streets provide

shades to the passersby  here.

In the sylvan environs each co-exists with

the other peacefully, harmoniously

and in perfect camaraderie here

all here

believe me, here, not anywhere else

here in my dreams

dreams, dreams only in my dreams

the flame of zest for life never flickers down.

In this topsy-turvy world everything

outside the boundary lines of my dreams

is in disarray…

I hope, none would

deny me the freedom to

dream about a better morn.

No, never, no one can….

You know dreams don’t have boundaries…..

  

THE LUST

Question marks and

exclamation marks

fly past me

on pondering over

a dictator in his labyrinth

who undergoes sleepless

nights and nightmares

who refuses to step down

or decides not to

throw up his hands  

in the face of mounting

pressure and onslaughts launched against him

by his countrymen

with sophisticated arms

and ammunition closing in on him

and his fortress.

Even while shudders

run down his body by the constant pounding

and deafening explanations rock the palace

from near and afar

which factor in him forces to stick to

his post by hook or by crook

even while aware of

the tragic fate awaiting him.

Is this lust for power

‘written’ in his  genes 

or a false pride draws

him to the ultimate tragedy?

Most malevolent dictators

are leeches sucking

the blood of their own subjects

and they continue to go on

with the wily ruthless game

until the nemesis catches up with them.

While remaining

cowards they never

forget to put up brave defiant faces in public….

History bears testimony to it……   

THE FRAMEWORK

This is a framework

resembling a cage

in which are embedded

some dos and don’ts

or many dos and many don’ts

constituted by the mankind,

for the mankind and of the mankind.

Never dare to break open

this framework

the birds of do’s and don’ts might fly away

leaving the framework empty

and all hell would break loose

and fall on us like

ear-splitting lightnings

followed by thunder - showers.

This framework is

a magic lantern

guiding us mankind

down the smooth paths

towards universal harmony.

Our penchant  

to break open it 

is the root cause of  all the

curses and evils befalling this society.  

BELATED HOPES

Somewhere along the way

we met

somewhere along the way

we parted

in between our meeting

and departure

much water flowed down the Ganges

sometimes quietly, smoothly and sometimes ferociously.

Now sitting at two corners

of the globe

we long for the proximity of each other

knowing fairly well

the insurmountable obstacles separating both 

and we know

this is life

this is the bitter truth .

Let’s nurse dreams

of a passionate reunion

at least in our next life

if there is a life after death….        

WILL NAWAZ SHERIF BE ABLE TO TIDE OVER THE CRISIS CONFRONTING PAKISTAN?

Nawaz Sherif, 63, was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan on Wednesday. President Asif Ali Sardari administered the oath of office at a ceremony which was boycotted by Pakistan Peoples’ Party leaders and Tehreek-e-Insaf led by Imran Khan, the cricketer turned politician. This is the third time Nawaz Sherif is sworn in as Prime Minister, first in 1993, then in 1997 and now 2013. It is a history of sorts.

A mountain of tasks awaits Nawaz Sherif and in the capacity as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Will he be able to overcome the seemingly insurmountable tasks one by one is the billion dollar question staring on the face of Mr.Nawaz Sherif.

First and formost task awaiting his interference is the threat posed by the hard-core extremists which are determined to go hammer and tongs going for the jugular of a country already reeling under multiple threats. This bane of militancy has not only upset the social and political equilibrium of the nation which is spilling over to the neighbouring countries of India and Afghanistan, the latter already reeling under this menace, to be precise, for the last 12 years, have not tasted the fruit of peace and harmony thanks to the war launched against the country by US after the historic bombardment of the twin towers of World Trade Centre allegedly by Al-Quaeda elements headed by the late Osama Bin Laden and Aymen Al-Zawahiri. Millions perished, properties and historical monuments destroyed - even before US unleashed the ten year old consistent onslaught by the then ruling regime of Taliban. Millions displaced, too many of them went missing. Now that Tehreek-E-Taliban, the dreaded terror-outfit operating from the soil of Pakistan have made it a hobby of sorts to effect maximum destruction, one by one with their declared objective of forcing the foreign countries, here America, India and allies of US.

Nawaz Sherif in order to wipe out the menace of terror outfits in other words to uproot these poisonous trees will have to launch a sustained battle which is easier said than done. If he is determined to fight this fissiparous elements come what may, a gradual elimination of the terrorist hydra tightening its grip around the country would be possible, no doubt.

Another crisis which badly invites his care and attention is the blackouts widespread across the nation. Reports of 20 hours black outs mean the nation is ‘groping’ in the dark and we wonder whether Pakistan citizens do have regular peaceful sleeps. True, in the midst of thunderous bomb explosions across the streets of the country perpetrated by terror elements – who are the friends of darkness – even otherwise Pakistanis might not be experiencing sound sleeps. And their quest for a dispensation which could bring about power, peace and jobs, if taken care of has landed in the lap of Nawaz Sherif the third time though not consecutively. The disheartening, disappointing and disillusioning fact is that some of the militant outfits are hand-in-gloves with the army and its intelligence wings Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI). Army’s grip over the nation dates back to decades, put it mildly, from the very outset the country attained freedom in 1947, August 14.

Unemployment is at its peak and Nawaz Sherif has already come to grips with the mounting menace and let’s hope he would plunge into taking care of the problems of youth right from the outset.

Pakistan’s women, lakhs of them are still confined like caged birds are pulling on under miserable conditions. Women empowerment is a need awaiting the incumbent Prime Minister’s immediate attention.

On the external front what Prime Minister‘s attention has centered is the occasional drone attacks launched by US across the Khyber Pakhtoon Khwa Province where anti-US an ‘anti-everything’ elements have made safe havens. It is not surprising that while allocating portfolios Sherif has kept with himself the Foreign and Defence Portfolios.

Baluchistan issue is going to be a hot potato in the hands of Nawaz Sherif and the earlier he attended the issue, the better.

India awaits with handful hopes to establish a warm friendly relationship with the incumbent Prime Minister and the desire was already conveyed to him on phone by Dr.ManMohan Singh, Indian Prime Minister. The closer these two countries work together towards settling a slew of problems between each nations, the warmer the relationship would emerge. And if Nawaz Sherif too goes into the footsteps of the regimes which were voted out and ousted from power, here I mean the military situation will turn out to be one of occasional confrontions, if not ongoing skirmishes along the line of actual control.

MISTY NIGHT OF DECEMBER

Enlivened by the elixir of

 love she poured forth,

Enchanted by the rhythmic

steps of the blessed danseuse

her ‘anklets’(chilankas)

jingling, jingling, jingling

Enthralled by the melody of

the singing nightingales and ‘gandharvas’ on the stage

Enthused by the moonwalks of

the junior Michael Jacksons

Engrossed in the scintillating

performance of orchestra

rising from a low key to crescendo

both of us sat among the audience 

for hours on end

and

with the curtain descending down

marking the end of the show

and with a drunken, elevated feeling

that much intoxicated we were

wobbled along the tarred road

each’s hands covering the other’s

to our destination…

with moon and stars

lighting our way ahead

in the misty night of December…

WHAT I AM MADE OUT TO BE?

Though keeping a diary is not my forte

I do keep a diary detailing

every minute detail

in the inner pages of my mind.

Though not keeping a driving license

I am confident of

driving home my vehicle of argument

to its ultimate destination

jumping all obstructions on the way.

Though keeping a stony face always

in the face of love, anger, agony and sadness.

I do undergo all

tender emotions albeit keeping a stony face.

Though not given to taking stock of my

experiences and calculations

I do keep stock of all experiences

and calculations every now and then.

All said and done

I am not that what I am made out to be…

My mind is a mystery even

to myself….

What about yours’?….   

   

DREAMS OF SPROUTING PLANTS

Let me be a sprouting plant

in any of the gardens

growing on the terraces

of the concrete jungles in

this sprawling metropolis.

Let me rewind my memories

to look around

the thick verdant greenery

elevating me to a plain

of ecstasy while resting under the shade  

of the giant umbrella of the banyan tree 

of my village.

Let me heave deep sighs of nostalgia

on moving fast forward to

witness the grim reality of

the concrete structures

in the place of natural

greenery which ornamented

this vast area  once upon a time.

Instead sitting in the

present tense,

I witness a few

donning green clothes

to display solidarity with a Green Earth.

In these strange times

we need to diarise

namesake dates to

celebrate rather than

formally come to grips with

the menace of certain

abhorrent things staring at our faces….

  

16TH GENERAL ELECTIONS TO INDIAN PARLIAMENT – WHAT THE REALITIES PORTEND?

With the general elections due in less than a year mainstream political parties are busy engaged in cobbling together alliances and fronts to come face to face with for the formation of the next govt at Centre. Political parties, Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are on the look out for allies forgetting or trying to forget the enmities at least till the General Elections are over. UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and NDA (National Defence Alliance) the two main contending alliances are the main contending alliances, this time too. On the periphery sit Left Front consisting of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), Forward Block and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) which constitute the Left Front are not nursing any ambitions of capturing power at the Centre as these are still not  a  force to reckon with in the great race for power. Still they do keep dreams of forming a third front with the aim of hurting UPA and NDA at the hustings if possible cobble together a force bringing all splinter parties under one umbrella and emerge a potential force to armtwist the coming UPA govt or NDA govt - each finds possibilities of emerging winners when the chips are down.

While Indian National Congress has not so far made its stand clear as to who is set to be its Prime Ministerial candidate  Dr.ManMohan Singh, the incumbent PM or Rahul Gandhi, Vice President, Indian National Congress or another one who might be sitting in the wings - to be more apt, a dark horse, Bharatiya Janata Party, the largest party in the NDA alliance has almost made  its position clear by holding aloft its trump card Narendra Modi as the future Prime Minister in case NDA returns to power. Easier said than done.

NDA’s main constituent Janata Dal (United) has made its position amply clear that there is no question of recognizing Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister of India pointing towards the Gujarat pogrom of 2002 in which approximately three thousand citizens of a minority community were brutally slaughtered allegedly at the instance of Narendra Modi who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat then. Furthermore, Nitish Kumar himself finds himself a suitable candidate to be the next PM. A piquant situation has developed in NDA with the prospect of JD(U) walking out of National Defence Alliance. Though Bharatiya Janata Party holds out a brave face, a confident face., the undercurrents developing in the party cannot be ignored. 

Day before yesterday Lal Kishan Advani while addressing a large gathering in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh minced no words in praising the incumbent Chief Minister Shivaraj Singh Chauhan for converting the latter’s State into a ‘heaven on earth’ albeit lauding Narendra Modi for the administrative skills the latter displayed in changing the face of Gujarat for the better.

Advani, who is the architect of Bharatiya Janata Party which no one in his party would contest had fondled a dream of entering the ‘driving seat’ of an NDA govt. Even in his 80’s, he still secretly fondles that dream and his ‘grudge’ against Modi is not a secret. In the event of Advani emerging the front runner for Prime Ministership – mind you all hypothetical – Janata Dal (United) won’t have much of a problem.

But Modi’s kingsize ambition of becoming the Prime Minister has many takers in Bharatiya Janata Party’s National leadership.

They prefer selectively – forget the architect  of the party – whose ‘Rata Yathra’ across length and breadth of India could bring laurel’s to party and his sincere efforts to rejuvenate it from a meager strength of two members in Parliament enabled it to be the largest single party later. That is an old story. So be it.

Close on the heels of Advani’s hideous preference for Shivraj Singh Chauhan to be the more suitable national leader than Narendra Modi, BJP’s National President Rajnath Sing in a meeting at Hyderabad took the opportunity to paint Mr.Modi as the ‘most popular leader of India’. Whether the gentleman made that statement in a lighter vein? Otherwise how come he declare Modi as the ‘most popular leader of India’? The gentleman is really funny. No doubt. In fact, Modi’s sway in other States except in Gujarat is virtually negligible and the recently held elections to the Assembly in Karnataka where Congress could emerge with a comfortable majority, though many in the party had felt that Modi could create miracles there too.

Even Mr.Modi might have wondered as well elevated at the audacity displayed by Rajnath Singh.

All said and done, one shouldn’t forget the fact that both INC and BJP are unanimous in summoning an early session of Parliament to get Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bill passed at the earliest, our mainstream parties hearts go out for the suffering millions at the lower and lowest stratas of society with elections round the corner….Very kind of them. They have awakened from their ‘selective amnesia’. Let God Almighty shower his choices blessings as also (choicest epithets)……………..          

LEFT TO THE BEASTS………..

One day a stranger,

tall, hairy and burly he was,

made a frightening,

appearance before her,

from nowhere.

Upon glancing his,

commanding eyes,

left her speechless, numb-

and dumb-founded,

held her tender hand,

within his iron-fist,

gestured to walk along with him.

Like a lamb,

accompanying the abattoir,

resisting her,

earnest desire to raise a hue and cry,

thus inviting her neighbours’ attention,

with her throats gone dry,

eyes gone wide without drops of-

tears springing forth,

she was left with no-

option, but to walk along with the tall, hairy,

burly man with commanding

eyes holding her soft hand tightly

within his iron-fist.

The journey which began,

in the morning along the ,

roads and bridges, deserts,

steep hills, towns and,

cities, entered a dark thick forest,

with the descending of the night,

over the thick forest.

The tall, burly stranger,  

let loose his hand,

bestowing her a slight relief,

which was otherwise crushed,

thrust his commanding eyes at her,

which were shining and fearsome.

Fearless and dare-devil he was

seemed like

the dusky, thick forest was his

permanent abode,

without uttering anything to her,

melted into thick darkness,

of the forest,

leaving her rooted there,

like an orphan.

She could hear the

roars of wild beasts,

lions, leopards, tigers ,

elephants, wolves,

foxes howling,

blood-hounds barking,

owls hooting,

unending chirping of,

the crickets

the footsteps of unknown being,s

trampling down the,

leaves, branches, fruits,

which lay strewn all around,

all drove her mad with fear,

she fell down with a thud,

leaving herself to-

be trampled upon ,

and be a prey to the wild beasts….

which would certainly

prey on her……..

THE TRUTHS

Truths often come out

in trickles

like skeletons tumbling 

out of the cupboard one by one.

Trickling down of truths

often ends up in floods

like a dam breaching

inundating vast areas

converting them into an infinite sea.

Once the truths gush forth

building dams to obstruct

its paths is simply not possible,

like the outburst of

pent-up emotions of a humanbeing.