THE PUPPETEER

We are puppets
under the control of
somebody
who this ‘somebody’
is anybody’s guess
but speculations
abound.
‘Somebody who is the
puppeteer
sit somewhere behind
the scenes
works the remote
make us sit, stand
move to and fro, dance
and performing somersaults.
Pity, we who are in
control of ourselves
since we remain puppets
all through.
That is our fate
our destiny.

ART OF SPYING

His masters
mistook me for a
mine of secrets
and deputed him
with a fountain of funds
to approach me
to canvas me
and extract secrets
one by one
by befriending me.
He tried his best
to understand my weaknesses
offered funds, bottle or blondes
but when he learnt
that nothing could be
squeezed out of me
he mistook me for
an ignoramus
ended his
contact with me
deserted my company
and went seeking
greener pastures.

FADED ROSES

Iron gate rusted
nameplate removed
path laden with
thick bushes and grass
so was the courtyard
her garden of love
deserted
walls, dark -
yellowish,
doors and windows
turned old and grimy
window glasses stained and broken
window curtains darkened over years
not a single soul
could be sighted
eerie silence hung
like a question mark
in the air.
Her papa, mama
sisters and brothers all
gone somewhere
no idea where, when.
My memory glided backwards
the olden days
the golden days
where life throbbed
in that palatial mansion
where celebrations and rejoice
rent the air
her garden of love
where thousand flowers bloomed
to everyone’s envy
the days on which she handed me
red roses stealthily
its fragrance still
I sense
all gone forever
tears filled my eyes
I still feel her lips touching mine
her fragrant smell
still in my nostrils.

WINDS OF CHANGE IN MYANMAR

Going by the turn of events atlast winds of change are visible in Myanmar with Nobel laureate and opposition leader Aung Saan Syu Ki finally freed from two decades of house arrest by the military regime there. The new civilian govt under Thein Sein supported by the erstwhile General Than Shwe deciding to free her from house arrest has its own reasons.
First and foremost is incessant international pressure on Myanmar govt to free the democratic icon from prolonged house arrest.
Secondly, the pressure exerted by the Myanmarese majority who since decades leave been on a warpath demanding restoration of democracy and in the ensuing rebellion thousands have been incarcerated as many suppressed and killed still the undying spirit of the masses at large fighting for a new dawn of democracy had its salutory effects.
While Mrs Syuu Ki was freed by the military she was warned by the govt not to undertake journey into the interiors of the country to meet the people which she heeded not and undertook her journey and mingled with thousands.
Finally the govt gave into her decisions.
She sought appointment with the new regime recently and they heeded her requests and both Thein Sein govt and she discussed various issues of concern to the country in a cordial atmosphere and the bonhomie continues at present.
The mellowing of the govt has some reasons and the cardinal one is its aspiration to chair the ASEAN when its turn comes around. Association of South East Asian Nations could exert pressure on the Myanmarese regime to restore democracy after decades of military rule.
The friendly advices by the neighbouring countries like India, please note, govt of India keeps a cordial relation with Myanmarese govt as also Aung Saan Syuu Ki from the very outset maintaining a warm relationship with that govt has its own reasons and the most important one is nothing but India is a big trading partner of Myanmar. For keeping Aung Saan Syuuki in good humour India govt is not willing to forefeit its relations with fourth largest trading partner. Hence an equidistant policy has been adopted by India govt. Myanmar’s rich mineral wealth India eyes dearly like another neighbouring country China. Therefore interference in internal affairs of that nation is unthinkable on the part of India. Self-interest always reigns supreme in the minds of each nation. It is not surprising in a world where self-interest plays a prominent role.

AFTER QUADDAFI, WHO?

The Quaddafi era in Libya has almost ended. Till the last moment the dictator and his sons stood ground wreaking maximum destruction. Whether he is in Libya itself or has fled to somewhere is a big question mark confronting the world as a whole. On thinking about the dictator of Libya naturally the picture of Saddam Hussein comes to the mind. Even after Iraq’s destruction by the US and allied forces the whereabouts of Saddam remained a mystery for a relatively long time but at last nabbed by the US forces from his home town of Tikrit from an underground haven. The difference ends there. Saddam Hussein’s capture and consequent hanging was uncalled for and unwarranted but Quaddafi’s case is quite different. His ouster was the need of the hour as he following his notorious Green Book in letter and spirit slaughtered his own people and held the country to ransom for a comparatively long period of 42 years. He fought to the hilt even called his own people ‘rats’ and he the ‘mad dog’ ordered nabbing of children, youth, women, men from each house and massacre them ruthlessly till the last moment. Thousands have been killed and innumerable of them even without a honorable funeral lay in a decaying condition even in hospitals as the doctors, nurses and other staff ran for their life fearing reprisals.
After the Tunisian revolution famously termed the Jasmine Revolution the quest for democracy spread like wildfire, first came Egypt where Hosni Mubarak the dictator who ruled for more than three decades ousted, then spread to Syria where massive blood bath is even now going on by the Bashar-Al-Assad government, even to Bahrain and other Arab nations. ‘Arab Spring’ as it is called has shaken the world as a whole especially where dictatorship rule the roost.
Let us come back to Libya. Even while the massive fight of the rebels under one umbrella was going on against the ruthless dictator a big question mark is lurking in the air. After the ouster of the dictator who will come next to hold the reins of power?
The National Transition Council (NTC) under the leadership of Mustaffa Abdul Jaleel consists of almost 140 tribes with varied views. They share a common platform only in their fight against Qaddafi regime. Now that he is gone whether they would stand unitedly is the billion dollar question staring in everyone’s face. The infighting among the tribes provided grist to Quaddafi to head the country within his iron grip for 42 years. After the disintegration of the Quaddafi regime whether they would stand unitedly or go back to the old ways leading to civil war? If so it will be a pity.
Foreseeing such an eventuality it would be advisable for United Nations to interfere by financial assistance and also by sending peace keeping forces to halt the eruption of tribes fighting tribes.
Now is the time for each country especially US and European nations to come forward to the rescue of Libya by extending financial assistance and moral support.

THE REVOLUTION

Masses
urban or rural
wherever they hail from
are equally affected
by
poverty and unemployment
scams and scandals
child abuses and slavery
an endless train of evil practices
so to say and
when the summer of
discontent
turns against those
at the helm of affairs
the collective anger
of masses
roots out them from
citadels of power
often paving for a
regime change
sometimes for good
sometimes for bad to worse
plunging head long into anarchy
or power landing in the hands
of military or other wrong hands
the chain of suppression
and repression
leads to violence, deaths, bloodshed
and mayhem
but ultimately
after a prolonged churning
power reaches the right hands
that is the only solace
as might of the people
always remains supreme.

THAT WHICH ALWAYS PILES UP

Throwing out the baggage
of arrogance
stubbornness
and stupidity
into the drain
is not that difficult
given a will.
But throwing out
the bundle of ignorance
is not that easy
the more ignorance
we wipe out
the more pile up
as no one is
totally above ignorance
and not perfect or omnipotent.