Patriarch
reigned like a king
sending shivers down
the spines of his family members
the dictatorial trait
in him
his quick-temper
his authoritative tone
forced the members of
the family speak in
hushed tones.
His commanding power
stayed intact always
which made everyone
in the family obey
his ‘orders’.
Despite all these traits
each one in the family
as also those known to
him,
feared and respected him
till the very moment he
breathed his last.
Anyhow his death was
freedom to them
a sense of relief from fear
talks in hushed tones
whispers, the gentle dignified
silence
all melted away
like glaciers in summer.
But their respect towards
him stayed rock-like
as he remained still
the unseen patriarch.
Certain people are
like that,
no?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
UNTO HER HE WEEPS
Both of them
loved each other
intensely, passionately
right from their college
days.
Both ventured into
the mainstream politics
braved lathis, batons and teargas shells
and water canons jointly.
His pain was her’s
her pain his
both shared
each other’s pains
both’s blood the same colour
otherwise.
Like both exchanging
each other’s secrets
in whispers.
College to full time
politics
dedicated and devoted
both to politics
and both to each other.
Both had
to brave, defy
each other’s parents,
their betrothal
already solemnized
by their well-wishers.
Loved each other
shared each other
their privacies
not for others
to eavesdrop.
The nuptial knot
he tied around her
throbbing neck
gem of a life
to her
and his mind
jumped, jumped and jumped
with the pride of an owner
and he
always her pride
companion for life.
Their children
their pride possessions
pretty colourful flowers
in their garden of life
in their garden of their love
and both companions
for life.
Alas,
somewhere, somebody
sits ,decides and writes
how far stream
of harmony should flow
where to chalk out
two separate paths
for both of them
when to start walking
and choose
each’s path
where to put an end
to one’s walk
albeit the gnawing pain
unfathomable
from then onwards one will have to
live in other’s inner
chambers of heart
or carrying beloved’s
soul in one…..
nothing but destiny……..
loved each other
intensely, passionately
right from their college
days.
Both ventured into
the mainstream politics
braved lathis, batons and teargas shells
and water canons jointly.
His pain was her’s
her pain his
both shared
each other’s pains
both’s blood the same colour
otherwise.
Like both exchanging
each other’s secrets
in whispers.
College to full time
politics
dedicated and devoted
both to politics
and both to each other.
Both had
to brave, defy
each other’s parents,
their betrothal
already solemnized
by their well-wishers.
Loved each other
shared each other
their privacies
not for others
to eavesdrop.
The nuptial knot
he tied around her
throbbing neck
gem of a life
to her
and his mind
jumped, jumped and jumped
with the pride of an owner
and he
always her pride
companion for life.
Their children
their pride possessions
pretty colourful flowers
in their garden of life
in their garden of their love
and both companions
for life.
Alas,
somewhere, somebody
sits ,decides and writes
how far stream
of harmony should flow
where to chalk out
two separate paths
for both of them
when to start walking
and choose
each’s path
where to put an end
to one’s walk
albeit the gnawing pain
unfathomable
from then onwards one will have to
live in other’s inner
chambers of heart
or carrying beloved’s
soul in one…..
nothing but destiny……..
A.RAJA’S ARREST AND RELATED HAPPENINGS
Andi Muthu Raja, former Telecom Minister has been arrested by CBI sleuths. The talks of his impending arrest was very much around since M.Karunanidhi came visiting Delhi to meet with Prime Minister ManMohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and it is reported that both must have briefed him the possible arrest of A.Raja. Furthermore the case against A.Raja is likely to come up before Supreme Court where CBI will have to explain what all have been done on its part for the progress of the investigation.
It is unlikely that the relationship between Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is not poised to sour for reasons best known to many of us.
The opposition BJP spokesman Arun Jaitely reportedly talked in terms of casting aspersions over the arrest at a belated moment. He opined that it should have been done earlier and why was the three years delay for putting A.Raja behind bars who had allegedly embezzled a behemoth amount of 1.76 lakh crore rupees in the allocation of 2G Spectrum.
Immediately upon his remarks spread out, the Congress spokesman Manu Abhishek Singhvi jumped to the fore and made it clear law will have to take its course and therefore the delay is natural and no use blaming the delay. Both are eminent lawyers of Supreme Court. While Arun Jaitely besides being a spokesperson is a mainstream politician and leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Manu Abhishek Singhvi is a mainstream politician in the capacity of Congress spokesperson and whether he holds any other position other than that, perhaps he too must be a Rajya Sabha MP.
BJP leader, Arun Jaitely, Kumari Jayalalitha of AIADMK, Prakash Karat, CPI(M) all have come out into the open with their own views and demands.
While Arun Jaitely, BJP spokesman and opposition leader in Rajya Sabha is very much particular that the demand for holding a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) probe stands and that the matter should be taken up in Budget session of Parliament which is very much around the corner.
Kumari Jayalalitha, AIADMK leader has no doubt that the arrest of A.Raja was a ruse to hoodwink the opposition and the entire citizens and as a close follower of the movements of her bête noire M.Karunanidhi, she told the press persons about Karunanidhi’s visit to Delhi and meetings with ManMohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the matter of JPC probe she is quite adamant and to escape the probe UPA according to her is poised to find out a ‘convoluted reasoning’.
CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat is satisfied with nothing short of JPC probe on the 2G Spectrum issue and the Left Front has already girded up its loins ready to fight to the hilt.
The FIR on the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society scam has been ready and 13 persons including former Chief Minister of Maharashtra has been included in the list of indicted.
On the CWG scam 2010, V.K.Shunglu, former Comptroller and Auditor General is also ready with his report.
Thus UPA 2 govt is poised to display before us its earnestness in putting an end to corruption thereby coming out with a shining image. How far it is possible for it to succeed in this venture is anybody’s guess as corruption has already eaten into the vitals of the body politic thus depriving the masses at the lower strata of the society, their minimum needs to cope up with day to day subsistence. Eminent journalist Vidhya Subramaniam of The Hindu in an article has pointed towards the glaring fact that while huge tax exemptions have been extended to the corporates those at the lower pyramid of the society are still left in the lurch. As an example she has pointed towards the minimum wages of Rs 100 to the Mahatma National Rural Employees Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) formerly National Rural Employees Guarantee Act and the govt is not at all bothered about increasing the wages for the ones at the lower rung of the ladder. Yesterday with much pomp and pageantry the 5th year of NREGS was celebrated in the presence of Sardar ManMohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Vidhya Subramaniam points to a fact that the NREGS scheme with minimum wages of Rs 100 could catapult the UPA govt in 2009 elections to a second term that with a brighter image. If some more benefit could be extended to them UPA would surely have a more brighter image. But no, our Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson - not only them but many other political parties are after fattening the corporates. Actually we need to be ashamed of our so-called politicians.
Look at the State govt of Karnataka. The BJP Chief Minister B.S.Yedyurappa is shamelessly clutching to his post even after allegations of his real-estate deals have come to the fore. Defying the directives from the top he continues to be well entrenched in his seat and his leaders’ helplessness deserves contempt.
It is unlikely that the relationship between Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is not poised to sour for reasons best known to many of us.
The opposition BJP spokesman Arun Jaitely reportedly talked in terms of casting aspersions over the arrest at a belated moment. He opined that it should have been done earlier and why was the three years delay for putting A.Raja behind bars who had allegedly embezzled a behemoth amount of 1.76 lakh crore rupees in the allocation of 2G Spectrum.
Immediately upon his remarks spread out, the Congress spokesman Manu Abhishek Singhvi jumped to the fore and made it clear law will have to take its course and therefore the delay is natural and no use blaming the delay. Both are eminent lawyers of Supreme Court. While Arun Jaitely besides being a spokesperson is a mainstream politician and leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Manu Abhishek Singhvi is a mainstream politician in the capacity of Congress spokesperson and whether he holds any other position other than that, perhaps he too must be a Rajya Sabha MP.
BJP leader, Arun Jaitely, Kumari Jayalalitha of AIADMK, Prakash Karat, CPI(M) all have come out into the open with their own views and demands.
While Arun Jaitely, BJP spokesman and opposition leader in Rajya Sabha is very much particular that the demand for holding a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) probe stands and that the matter should be taken up in Budget session of Parliament which is very much around the corner.
Kumari Jayalalitha, AIADMK leader has no doubt that the arrest of A.Raja was a ruse to hoodwink the opposition and the entire citizens and as a close follower of the movements of her bête noire M.Karunanidhi, she told the press persons about Karunanidhi’s visit to Delhi and meetings with ManMohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the matter of JPC probe she is quite adamant and to escape the probe UPA according to her is poised to find out a ‘convoluted reasoning’.
CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat is satisfied with nothing short of JPC probe on the 2G Spectrum issue and the Left Front has already girded up its loins ready to fight to the hilt.
The FIR on the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society scam has been ready and 13 persons including former Chief Minister of Maharashtra has been included in the list of indicted.
On the CWG scam 2010, V.K.Shunglu, former Comptroller and Auditor General is also ready with his report.
Thus UPA 2 govt is poised to display before us its earnestness in putting an end to corruption thereby coming out with a shining image. How far it is possible for it to succeed in this venture is anybody’s guess as corruption has already eaten into the vitals of the body politic thus depriving the masses at the lower strata of the society, their minimum needs to cope up with day to day subsistence. Eminent journalist Vidhya Subramaniam of The Hindu in an article has pointed towards the glaring fact that while huge tax exemptions have been extended to the corporates those at the lower pyramid of the society are still left in the lurch. As an example she has pointed towards the minimum wages of Rs 100 to the Mahatma National Rural Employees Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) formerly National Rural Employees Guarantee Act and the govt is not at all bothered about increasing the wages for the ones at the lower rung of the ladder. Yesterday with much pomp and pageantry the 5th year of NREGS was celebrated in the presence of Sardar ManMohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Vidhya Subramaniam points to a fact that the NREGS scheme with minimum wages of Rs 100 could catapult the UPA govt in 2009 elections to a second term that with a brighter image. If some more benefit could be extended to them UPA would surely have a more brighter image. But no, our Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson - not only them but many other political parties are after fattening the corporates. Actually we need to be ashamed of our so-called politicians.
Look at the State govt of Karnataka. The BJP Chief Minister B.S.Yedyurappa is shamelessly clutching to his post even after allegations of his real-estate deals have come to the fore. Defying the directives from the top he continues to be well entrenched in his seat and his leaders’ helplessness deserves contempt.
DARK SUN
Sun is brighter than
before.
Freedom of speech
and expression
a quick flowing stream.
Neither do we feel
gagged nor blind-folded
still my friend,
why do we feel
like
we are under a blazing black sun
gagged, blind-folded
and suffocated?
Whether too much light
too
a curse upon us?
and a blessing upon
a miniscule?
I mean, the looters we watch
whose deeds we watch
through transparent
screens sitting helplessly?
before.
Freedom of speech
and expression
a quick flowing stream.
Neither do we feel
gagged nor blind-folded
still my friend,
why do we feel
like
we are under a blazing black sun
gagged, blind-folded
and suffocated?
Whether too much light
too
a curse upon us?
and a blessing upon
a miniscule?
I mean, the looters we watch
whose deeds we watch
through transparent
screens sitting helplessly?
THE CRAFTSMAN
White Pyjama, Kurta,
color ripe orange
Moti Babu as the
suggests reminding a bun
dashed to the home
far away from Kolkata
at least once a year
in the capacity of my
uncle’s close friend.
Moti Babu always pleasant
smiling, tongue-in-cheek
sent waves of joy
through the nerves
of all at home.
Moti Babu always talkative
knew my mother tongue
and spoke a like a
gurgling stream
flowing north to south
in front of our home.
Moti Babu, Uncle, I
we three
never rested at home
during day time
we went out
visiting nook and cranny
of the village
to the fascination of
my friends, uncle’s friends
seeing a walking, laughing
loud-speaker
in Pyjama,Kurta.
Moti Babu waved to
everyone, all amused
and enchanted on watching the
once in a year phenomenon.
During nights
Moti Babu and my Uncle
breathlessly spoke about
their Calcutta days
their pranks and mischiefs
and secrets best known to
them while I went for
my daily nap.
Moti Babu brought me fruits
sweets, colour pencils and
story books
and to my uncle,
Bengali classics, English fiction
and Bengali dishes, ready-made clothes
of various colours
all glittering to my Grandma, aunties, uncles
and myself.
Moti Babu spent joyous moments
with my Grandma
called her ‘Amma’
the way my uncle called her
ran his fingers through her
snow-white long flowing hairs
lied on her lap
like a child
but that was all once
upon a time.
Moti Babu too was
gradually ageing
my uncle too
river of time continues
to flow
time a craftsman
versatile in creating
handicrafts on all
no escape from his clutch
Moti Babu started not coming
asked I to my uncle one day
replied he sadly, tiredly
‘Moti Babu is too weak
he is ageing know?
Like me, your uncle?
Uncle’s answer satisfied me not
‘Am I not ageing’ asked I
‘No,no,no, you are growing
growing tall’ – Uncle smiled.
But I felt indescribable sadness…….
color ripe orange
Moti Babu as the
suggests reminding a bun
dashed to the home
far away from Kolkata
at least once a year
in the capacity of my
uncle’s close friend.
Moti Babu always pleasant
smiling, tongue-in-cheek
sent waves of joy
through the nerves
of all at home.
Moti Babu always talkative
knew my mother tongue
and spoke a like a
gurgling stream
flowing north to south
in front of our home.
Moti Babu, Uncle, I
we three
never rested at home
during day time
we went out
visiting nook and cranny
of the village
to the fascination of
my friends, uncle’s friends
seeing a walking, laughing
loud-speaker
in Pyjama,Kurta.
Moti Babu waved to
everyone, all amused
and enchanted on watching the
once in a year phenomenon.
During nights
Moti Babu and my Uncle
breathlessly spoke about
their Calcutta days
their pranks and mischiefs
and secrets best known to
them while I went for
my daily nap.
Moti Babu brought me fruits
sweets, colour pencils and
story books
and to my uncle,
Bengali classics, English fiction
and Bengali dishes, ready-made clothes
of various colours
all glittering to my Grandma, aunties, uncles
and myself.
Moti Babu spent joyous moments
with my Grandma
called her ‘Amma’
the way my uncle called her
ran his fingers through her
snow-white long flowing hairs
lied on her lap
like a child
but that was all once
upon a time.
Moti Babu too was
gradually ageing
my uncle too
river of time continues
to flow
time a craftsman
versatile in creating
handicrafts on all
no escape from his clutch
Moti Babu started not coming
asked I to my uncle one day
replied he sadly, tiredly
‘Moti Babu is too weak
he is ageing know?
Like me, your uncle?
Uncle’s answer satisfied me not
‘Am I not ageing’ asked I
‘No,no,no, you are growing
growing tall’ – Uncle smiled.
But I felt indescribable sadness…….
PLIGHT OF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
Dr.Binayak Sen, the much acclaimed medical practitioner and Vice-President, Peoples’ Union For Civil Liberties Activist (PUCL) was sentenced to life-long rigorous imprisonment along with Piyush Guha, a merchant and an alleged courier and an alleged Naxalite Narayan Sanyal on Dec 24 2010. Dr.Sen was freed on bail two years ago and other two didn’t have the luck of coming out of prison at least for a short span. While Piyush Guha was languishing in a Chattisgarh jail, his parents died and in spite of that no reprieve was extended to him to perform the last rites of his parents. Similarly Narayan Sanyal, an aged and ailing person who is reportedly suffering from a serious disease was not given medical treatment by the jail authorities.
Their trials and tribulations in jail forced the PUCL (Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties) to venture on behalf of a number of such persons harassed in jail since a prolonged period.
It is learnt that law of sedition came into practice during British rule to take action against freedom fighters and now it has already turned archive and applying it on persons like Dr.Sen are quite unheard of and it is high time such draconian acts applied on hard-core criminals.
Dr.Binayak Sen, a barefoot doctor served the middle-class and lower middle-class patients throwing away a lucrative profession and ever since he joined PUCL, he was looked with suspicion by the govt and the law and order authorities which ultimately landed him in prison.
Ilina Sen, Dr.Sen’s wife reportedly made it clear to the press persons in a press conference that even before the pronouncement of the verdict by Justice B.P.Verma of Chattisgarh Sessions Court about whom human rights activist and eminent lawyer Prashant Bhushan reportedly asked how a judge like Verma came to be appointed to the lower Judiciary - there was heavy police bandobust around Dr.Sen’s house. She reportedly pointed to her allegation that Chattisgarh govt had prior knowledge about the judgement that made her desperate and disillusioned.
Even Amnesty International took strong exception to the verdict and its observation goes on like this: “Many of the charges against Sen stem from laws that contravene international standards. Repeated delays in the conduct of his trial have cast doubts about its fairness. The life sentence handed down against him violates international fair trial standards and is likely to enflame tensions in the conflict-affected area”.
Ilina Sen’s desperation forced her to make it clear that she and her family did want to go out of India as she found the system here atrocious. If she still thinks on these lines it is not surprising that while a person of Dr.Sen’s stature is being harassed in a prison the corrupt elements in the citadels of power roam free in air-conditioned cars. The looters enjoy life while those who work for the downtrodden are being shadowed and jailed. When should we expect this lop-sided system to end in this so-called democracy? Whether the ruling mandarins think on the lines of whether those languishing in prisons if freed come to the limelight join the mainstream to be one with the looters.
These languishing ones after being sentenced to life-long rigorous imprisonment have no champions to advocate their causes among the mainstream political parties, it is alleged. They ought to fight for their freedom and should have of the audacity to demand imprisonment of the corrupt elements looting the country.
Power politics, muzzle politics, money politics and vote-bank politics should have to be done away with instead fight for those at the lower rung of the ladder is the need of the hour.
Poverty, corruption and unemployment on a large-scale have started instigating the masses in certain countries like Tunisia, Egypt and which next are eye-openers and we need not nurture a mistaken notion that our country is impervious to such mass uprising……
Their trials and tribulations in jail forced the PUCL (Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties) to venture on behalf of a number of such persons harassed in jail since a prolonged period.
It is learnt that law of sedition came into practice during British rule to take action against freedom fighters and now it has already turned archive and applying it on persons like Dr.Sen are quite unheard of and it is high time such draconian acts applied on hard-core criminals.
Dr.Binayak Sen, a barefoot doctor served the middle-class and lower middle-class patients throwing away a lucrative profession and ever since he joined PUCL, he was looked with suspicion by the govt and the law and order authorities which ultimately landed him in prison.
Ilina Sen, Dr.Sen’s wife reportedly made it clear to the press persons in a press conference that even before the pronouncement of the verdict by Justice B.P.Verma of Chattisgarh Sessions Court about whom human rights activist and eminent lawyer Prashant Bhushan reportedly asked how a judge like Verma came to be appointed to the lower Judiciary - there was heavy police bandobust around Dr.Sen’s house. She reportedly pointed to her allegation that Chattisgarh govt had prior knowledge about the judgement that made her desperate and disillusioned.
Even Amnesty International took strong exception to the verdict and its observation goes on like this: “Many of the charges against Sen stem from laws that contravene international standards. Repeated delays in the conduct of his trial have cast doubts about its fairness. The life sentence handed down against him violates international fair trial standards and is likely to enflame tensions in the conflict-affected area”.
Ilina Sen’s desperation forced her to make it clear that she and her family did want to go out of India as she found the system here atrocious. If she still thinks on these lines it is not surprising that while a person of Dr.Sen’s stature is being harassed in a prison the corrupt elements in the citadels of power roam free in air-conditioned cars. The looters enjoy life while those who work for the downtrodden are being shadowed and jailed. When should we expect this lop-sided system to end in this so-called democracy? Whether the ruling mandarins think on the lines of whether those languishing in prisons if freed come to the limelight join the mainstream to be one with the looters.
These languishing ones after being sentenced to life-long rigorous imprisonment have no champions to advocate their causes among the mainstream political parties, it is alleged. They ought to fight for their freedom and should have of the audacity to demand imprisonment of the corrupt elements looting the country.
Power politics, muzzle politics, money politics and vote-bank politics should have to be done away with instead fight for those at the lower rung of the ladder is the need of the hour.
Poverty, corruption and unemployment on a large-scale have started instigating the masses in certain countries like Tunisia, Egypt and which next are eye-openers and we need not nurture a mistaken notion that our country is impervious to such mass uprising……
THE SAINT
Sentenced for life
confined to a prison
he
a doctor by profession
his efficiency as a
widely acclaimed doctor
the world over
he whose heart
goes all out for the
welfare of the downtrodden
he who is
never after money
unlike the run-of-the-mill
ones
who swear by Hippocratic oath.
Before plunging into the
profession
they who mouth
with service, selfless service
as the motto
are after piling up
as much money as possible.
He, who is a world-renowned
human rights activist
for whose cause
we have taken up cudgels
but no,
the so-called apostles of law
while letting the hard-core
criminals roam free
find pleasure
in keeping the apostle of
rights, equality and fraternity
in solitary confinement
caring two hoots
for our demands.
confined to a prison
he
a doctor by profession
his efficiency as a
widely acclaimed doctor
the world over
he whose heart
goes all out for the
welfare of the downtrodden
he who is
never after money
unlike the run-of-the-mill
ones
who swear by Hippocratic oath.
Before plunging into the
profession
they who mouth
with service, selfless service
as the motto
are after piling up
as much money as possible.
He, who is a world-renowned
human rights activist
for whose cause
we have taken up cudgels
but no,
the so-called apostles of law
while letting the hard-core
criminals roam free
find pleasure
in keeping the apostle of
rights, equality and fraternity
in solitary confinement
caring two hoots
for our demands.
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