They,
pavement dwellers,
always happy, satisfied lot.
Roofs of tarpaulin
sheets
torn, grimy
pieces of sarees
serving as walls,
pavement dwellers
always happy, satisfied lot.
Lashing rains and
thunderstorms heralding
the arrival of monsoons
shaking their ‘well-built-
apartments’
like earthquakes
striking and devastating vast areas
or
the blazing sun
as if coming down
and hitting hard
pointing to the arrival
of summer
they remian unshakable
immune to the vagaries of
climate.
With the arrival of
morning
each goes somewhere
and attends to call of nature
disperse they into various
directions,
come back in the
evenings ,
as the veil of black
gains thicker and thicker
with no time left
for relaxation
begin the routine chores
chappattis, cooked rice, curries,
all prepared
while children with running
noses, torn knickers, little ones
in birthday suits
watching, and awaiting
for the food to get ready
impatient with empty stomachs
all looking nasty, ugly
with ruffled hairs
in the light of
candles or kerosene lamps
and as nights hardens
kerosene lamps and candle lights
get snuffed out .
All go to sleep
some engage in procreation.
Whether
voyeuristic eyes
watch them or not
no matter, who cares?
and the population
keep on growing
in between all
these sound and fury
signifying nothing.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
CAMEROON, OBAMA AND NOW SARKOZY
Nicholas Sarkozy, French President arrives in India today for a four day visit. Like his counterpart, David Cameroon, British Prime Minister and Barack Obama, US President, his visit too is centered on Indian market ranging from defence, business, investment in various sectors as also bilateral relations and the world scenario as a whole .
His first visit to India was in 2008 as the Guest of Honour on the day India celebrated its 58th Republican day. The man came alone and as his model turned singer wife, Carla Bruni couldn’t accompany him as after his divorce of his first wife both he and Carla Bruni though were living together at the Elysee Palace had not formally tied the nuptial knot. He was alone and love-lorn but that not in anyway prevented him from visiting Taj Mahal, the monument of love. Anyhow to make up for it Sarkozy and Carla Bruni now formally man and wife are certain to visit Taj together as also Fathepur Sikri. In other words sort of replication of honeymoon.
He could very well expect a red-carpet welcome as he while our Prime Minister Dr.ManMohan Singh paid a visit to France in 2009 to take part in French day celebration extended a hearty welcome, that precious moment Dr.Singh must be relishing even now.
As already mentioned apart from exchange of pleasantries, the main agenda certainly are centered on business level talks as also bilateral as well as world political scenario. Incidentally Mr.Sarkozy is the incumbent Chariman of G-20, likely reforms to be introduced in the International financial institutions like IMF are poised to be discussed between Dr.Singh and Mr.Sarkozy. And in the ensuing talks on the issue of reforms in the International financial institutions like IMF, giving more importance and more powers to Asian nations would be sure to come up.
The other most important one being civil nuclear engagement and reportedly Mr.Sarkozy has laid special emphasis on India agreeing to Vienna Conventions to proceed along and that is a precondition for French industrialists, other foreign industrialists as well as Indian industrialists agreeing for the civil nuclear co-operation.
Similarly India’s long-cherished dream of becoming a permanent seat holder in United Nations Security Council of United Nations would come up for discussions and it is worth remembering that France was more eager in extending help to India than even USA over the issue. Better said than done. That is another matter as the neighbouring ‘friendly’ nation China and India’s traditional rival Pakistan still not coming to terms with the idea. Even while Obama gave a sweet assurance he must have been aware of the predilections and obfuscations involved for India achieving that goal.
On the defence sector, Sarkozy must be nursing dreams of signing various pacts which would enable France siphon away billions of dollars from India by selling antiquated as well as sophisticated weapons. Be it USA, Britain, France, even Germany all first-world nations are eyeing third-world countries like India as a potential dumping ground for the aforesaid big sharks. In a world where for the purpose of dumping even outdated countries the first-world countries create circumstances for wars thus entrapping the third-world nations. If we could better pause for sometime we could very well reach that conclusion.
On the other side as part of signing industrial and business deals encompassing various fields, massive investments are likely to be made, massive loans are likely to be extended ofcourse with strings attached. There are many instances of developing nations falling into permanent debt-traps from it no escape whatsoever.
While David Cameroon, British Prime Minister, Barack Obama, US President and now Nicholas Sarkozy all must be having their eyes on massive investement potentials, which come first and foremost, fostering bilateral relations, fight against the menace of terrorism which has now assumed epic proportions the world over more aptly termed a global phenomenon, a burning Afghanistan, the volatile peace in Iraq which sits on a ticking time-bomb likely to explode at any moment and the epicentre of terrorism Pakistan no doubt subjects will come up for serious discussions.
Even before Sarkozy reportedly pointed out on the eve of his visit to India, a stable, prosperous, democratic Pakistan is the need of the hour for not only India but all nations around the world. The neighbouring brother country , India had and still now nursing dreams of a Pakistan – stable, prosperous, democracy very much essentialfor the happiness and stability of both India and Pakistan. But an overbearing military unfortunately wields power inspite of a democratic government at the helm – a namesake government in short. Furthermore four main hard-core militant outfits with the overt and covert support of the military and its intelligence agency ISI are roaming free throughout Pakistan always posing a threat to not only the State of J&K but India as a whole.
Without any doubt we will be able to witness a Nicholaz Sarkozy leaving India in good humour canvassing massive contracts from India, more than what all India could benefit when the chips are down.
His first visit to India was in 2008 as the Guest of Honour on the day India celebrated its 58th Republican day. The man came alone and as his model turned singer wife, Carla Bruni couldn’t accompany him as after his divorce of his first wife both he and Carla Bruni though were living together at the Elysee Palace had not formally tied the nuptial knot. He was alone and love-lorn but that not in anyway prevented him from visiting Taj Mahal, the monument of love. Anyhow to make up for it Sarkozy and Carla Bruni now formally man and wife are certain to visit Taj together as also Fathepur Sikri. In other words sort of replication of honeymoon.
He could very well expect a red-carpet welcome as he while our Prime Minister Dr.ManMohan Singh paid a visit to France in 2009 to take part in French day celebration extended a hearty welcome, that precious moment Dr.Singh must be relishing even now.
As already mentioned apart from exchange of pleasantries, the main agenda certainly are centered on business level talks as also bilateral as well as world political scenario. Incidentally Mr.Sarkozy is the incumbent Chariman of G-20, likely reforms to be introduced in the International financial institutions like IMF are poised to be discussed between Dr.Singh and Mr.Sarkozy. And in the ensuing talks on the issue of reforms in the International financial institutions like IMF, giving more importance and more powers to Asian nations would be sure to come up.
The other most important one being civil nuclear engagement and reportedly Mr.Sarkozy has laid special emphasis on India agreeing to Vienna Conventions to proceed along and that is a precondition for French industrialists, other foreign industrialists as well as Indian industrialists agreeing for the civil nuclear co-operation.
Similarly India’s long-cherished dream of becoming a permanent seat holder in United Nations Security Council of United Nations would come up for discussions and it is worth remembering that France was more eager in extending help to India than even USA over the issue. Better said than done. That is another matter as the neighbouring ‘friendly’ nation China and India’s traditional rival Pakistan still not coming to terms with the idea. Even while Obama gave a sweet assurance he must have been aware of the predilections and obfuscations involved for India achieving that goal.
On the defence sector, Sarkozy must be nursing dreams of signing various pacts which would enable France siphon away billions of dollars from India by selling antiquated as well as sophisticated weapons. Be it USA, Britain, France, even Germany all first-world nations are eyeing third-world countries like India as a potential dumping ground for the aforesaid big sharks. In a world where for the purpose of dumping even outdated countries the first-world countries create circumstances for wars thus entrapping the third-world nations. If we could better pause for sometime we could very well reach that conclusion.
On the other side as part of signing industrial and business deals encompassing various fields, massive investments are likely to be made, massive loans are likely to be extended ofcourse with strings attached. There are many instances of developing nations falling into permanent debt-traps from it no escape whatsoever.
While David Cameroon, British Prime Minister, Barack Obama, US President and now Nicholas Sarkozy all must be having their eyes on massive investement potentials, which come first and foremost, fostering bilateral relations, fight against the menace of terrorism which has now assumed epic proportions the world over more aptly termed a global phenomenon, a burning Afghanistan, the volatile peace in Iraq which sits on a ticking time-bomb likely to explode at any moment and the epicentre of terrorism Pakistan no doubt subjects will come up for serious discussions.
Even before Sarkozy reportedly pointed out on the eve of his visit to India, a stable, prosperous, democratic Pakistan is the need of the hour for not only India but all nations around the world. The neighbouring brother country , India had and still now nursing dreams of a Pakistan – stable, prosperous, democracy very much essentialfor the happiness and stability of both India and Pakistan. But an overbearing military unfortunately wields power inspite of a democratic government at the helm – a namesake government in short. Furthermore four main hard-core militant outfits with the overt and covert support of the military and its intelligence agency ISI are roaming free throughout Pakistan always posing a threat to not only the State of J&K but India as a whole.
Without any doubt we will be able to witness a Nicholaz Sarkozy leaving India in good humour canvassing massive contracts from India, more than what all India could benefit when the chips are down.
THE NECTAR FROM GANGES
Father brought
a pot-full of water from Ganges
the sacred, revered river
upon returning home
after his pilgrimage.
He cupped his hands
and filled the water
which to my surprise
was glinting with stars
and moon.
‘Have it child, have it’
and I gulped it along
with the glittering stars
and moon.
Felt I elevated
upwards
gulped and gulped
each cup full
glinting with stars and moon
and felt myself lifted to
the sky up above.
a pot-full of water from Ganges
the sacred, revered river
upon returning home
after his pilgrimage.
He cupped his hands
and filled the water
which to my surprise
was glinting with stars
and moon.
‘Have it child, have it’
and I gulped it along
with the glittering stars
and moon.
Felt I elevated
upwards
gulped and gulped
each cup full
glinting with stars and moon
and felt myself lifted to
the sky up above.
CHESS-BOARD
Life,
to him is a game of chess
mastered he the game
from his father,
father from his
great grandfather.
Unlike a Bobby-
Fischer, Spasky, Kasparov
Or Viswanathan Anand
he, his father
and great grandfather,
foreseeing each
move of rivals
skillfuly played the
game
and got it translated
into real life
gave each movement
meanings galore
in practical life.
Thus, like his
forefathers he finds
himself
enconsced in the
throne of life
enjoying
all comforts, luxuries and leisure moments
always remaining grateful
to the great game of chess
which transformed him
to the position of grandmaster.
to him is a game of chess
mastered he the game
from his father,
father from his
great grandfather.
Unlike a Bobby-
Fischer, Spasky, Kasparov
Or Viswanathan Anand
he, his father
and great grandfather,
foreseeing each
move of rivals
skillfuly played the
game
and got it translated
into real life
gave each movement
meanings galore
in practical life.
Thus, like his
forefathers he finds
himself
enconsced in the
throne of life
enjoying
all comforts, luxuries and leisure moments
always remaining grateful
to the great game of chess
which transformed him
to the position of grandmaster.
CIRCUS TENT
Pleasurably, conveniently
seated in
the ring-side seats
we went on watching
the circus awashed with
neon lights.
Sometimes holding
breath, feeling our heartbeats
getting louder and louder
on watching the artists
performing adventures,
and
sometimes watching
the antics of the clowns,
dressed-up for such roles
we sat pretty
laughing aloud
which reverberated
around.
Hours lapsed
without we getting
aware of
immersed in the
surreal world of
adventures and pranks
combined
we got up, started
leaving one by one.
The faces and
features of the artists
adventures as well as
clowns
etched on the walls
of my mind.
On the way home
recalled me a
film on circus artists
risking lives
full of tension, laughs
and tears.
Behind the scenes,
after the day’s performance
was over
visualised I
circumstances that
drove them to a circus tent
their humble backgrounds
days of hunger
with fire in their bellies
blood, sweat and tears
and the never to be
attained dreams
each one shared
visited once again
the inner recesses of
my heart.
On second thoughts
like great
film directors holding
mirrors
to the society around
them
creating celluloid poems
I too held a mirror
to my surroundings
picturising in my mind
a circus tent
of which I am a part
better a particle
and felt like,
our society as a whole
inhabited by circus
artists
including myself.
seated in
the ring-side seats
we went on watching
the circus awashed with
neon lights.
Sometimes holding
breath, feeling our heartbeats
getting louder and louder
on watching the artists
performing adventures,
and
sometimes watching
the antics of the clowns,
dressed-up for such roles
we sat pretty
laughing aloud
which reverberated
around.
Hours lapsed
without we getting
aware of
immersed in the
surreal world of
adventures and pranks
combined
we got up, started
leaving one by one.
The faces and
features of the artists
adventures as well as
clowns
etched on the walls
of my mind.
On the way home
recalled me a
film on circus artists
risking lives
full of tension, laughs
and tears.
Behind the scenes,
after the day’s performance
was over
visualised I
circumstances that
drove them to a circus tent
their humble backgrounds
days of hunger
with fire in their bellies
blood, sweat and tears
and the never to be
attained dreams
each one shared
visited once again
the inner recesses of
my heart.
On second thoughts
like great
film directors holding
mirrors
to the society around
them
creating celluloid poems
I too held a mirror
to my surroundings
picturising in my mind
a circus tent
of which I am a part
better a particle
and felt like,
our society as a whole
inhabited by circus
artists
including myself.
“CANCUN CAN” – RESOLUTE OPTIMISM
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) summit on climate change commenced as scheduled at Cancun, Mexico, with hopes, cautions, optimism and also pessimism. Mexico, which was devastated by prolonged droughts and a chain of hurricanes hosting the Summit this year is quite appropriate as it has already learned and experienced bitter lessons from the natural calamities. Felip Calderon, Mexican President formally inaugurated the summit on 30th Monday of November 2010, which is about to last for ten days. Calderon in his opening speech called upon the representatives of about 200 countries and hundreds of delegates to set aside their differences and evolve a solution acceptable to all nations. In the course of his speech he reminded that economic growth and environment protection could go hand-in-hand for sustainable development thus enabling growth and eradication of poverty. The dark shadow of last year’s Global Climate Summit under UN auspices still hanging like a pall of gloom, the Summit at Cancun, Mexico is something prestigious for UN. Otherwise its very credibility is certain to arise as a question mark and at this juncture we still recall the face-saving formula arrived at CopenHagen and the concluding face-saving speech delivered by UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon. The unfortunate result was an aftermath of debates, arguments and verbal duels among the developed, developing and least developed nations assembled there.
The main stumbling block appeared in the form of developed nations, their reluctance to reduce carbon-emissions to a satisfactory level simultaneously prevailing upon developing countries for binding committments was not to the taste of developing and least developed countries. Ultimately, a face-saving device arrived at and unashamedly termed it a ‘success at last’. To keep America in good humour there were four developing nations to play the role of Judas – India, China, Brazil and South Africa which invited the wrath of least-developed nations. Then and now it is absolutely certain that if the ongoing summit is to scent success in the end the developed nations should have to make a climb-down.
A few measures are supposed to be taken and they are
1. To evolve a green fund so as to help the needy nations by developed countries.
2. Transfer of innovative technology to such nations by the well-to-do nations.
3. Aforestation on a massive scale to offset the deforestation and forest degradation.
4. To continue with Kyoto Protocol by developed nations which is a cardinal factor to reduce the green house emissions and a target of reducing global warming by 2 cm, otherwise it would result in rising sea-levels which would ultimately threaten a string of island nations below sea-level like Maldives getting submerged.
It is reported that India being an emerging economy US would like India to act as a bridge between developed nations and developing nations in moving ahead with International Consultation and Analysis (ICA) in the role of a deal-maker. And for India agree to such a suggestion a climate fund and transfer of technology to the needy nations are warranted. It is learnt that in such an eventuality in the future India is poised to agree for a binding agreement open to international inspection as also other developing nations.
US has already committed a fund of US $1.7bn dollars for the purpose.
As Danish Minister for Climate Change Lykke Friis pointed deliberations aside actions are the need of the hour, the sooner, the better.
The efforts on a war-footing to contain global warming and vagaries of climate in the opinion of experts especially environmental activists would not in anyway affect the economic growth and on the contrary sustainable economic growth would be the welcome result.
As decades go by global warming continue to mount alarmingly – the rate of warming in the 80’s itself was a pointer in the direction and in the next decade, ie. 90’s it increased much more alarmingly and in the ensuing decade – 2000-2010 – it has risen to dangerous levels and if things go on like these, the end result could very well be imagined. The rich bio-diversity – countless bio-organisms - flora and fauna are already on the verge of extinction and imagine rivers getting inundated, converting the land into sea, due to melting glaciers and untimely climate changes, soon followed by massive droughts converting the land into massive deserts destroying crops, leaving the farmers high and dry people getting starved to death due to famines engulfing the countries as a whole. I wonder how many among us have seriously pondered over the implications.
Last year while CopenHagen Summit was going on the one side another congregation organised anti-climate summit organised by the stooges of certain corporate honchos whose myopic mindset - who have no tomorrows - only on piling up massive wealth and on the other side and I am sure such a ‘congregation’ must be in its full swing for a few peanuts doled out by their masters nearby. Even in the run up to the Cancun summit these stooges have stooped to such low levels by spreading slanderous remarks about the summit.
Be that as it may.
Let’s hope for something positive to emerge and let Cancun not evolve into another CopenHagen. In case such an eventuality is resulted not only United Nations we the present generation would have to share the blame.
The main stumbling block appeared in the form of developed nations, their reluctance to reduce carbon-emissions to a satisfactory level simultaneously prevailing upon developing countries for binding committments was not to the taste of developing and least developed countries. Ultimately, a face-saving device arrived at and unashamedly termed it a ‘success at last’. To keep America in good humour there were four developing nations to play the role of Judas – India, China, Brazil and South Africa which invited the wrath of least-developed nations. Then and now it is absolutely certain that if the ongoing summit is to scent success in the end the developed nations should have to make a climb-down.
A few measures are supposed to be taken and they are
1. To evolve a green fund so as to help the needy nations by developed countries.
2. Transfer of innovative technology to such nations by the well-to-do nations.
3. Aforestation on a massive scale to offset the deforestation and forest degradation.
4. To continue with Kyoto Protocol by developed nations which is a cardinal factor to reduce the green house emissions and a target of reducing global warming by 2 cm, otherwise it would result in rising sea-levels which would ultimately threaten a string of island nations below sea-level like Maldives getting submerged.
It is reported that India being an emerging economy US would like India to act as a bridge between developed nations and developing nations in moving ahead with International Consultation and Analysis (ICA) in the role of a deal-maker. And for India agree to such a suggestion a climate fund and transfer of technology to the needy nations are warranted. It is learnt that in such an eventuality in the future India is poised to agree for a binding agreement open to international inspection as also other developing nations.
US has already committed a fund of US $1.7bn dollars for the purpose.
As Danish Minister for Climate Change Lykke Friis pointed deliberations aside actions are the need of the hour, the sooner, the better.
The efforts on a war-footing to contain global warming and vagaries of climate in the opinion of experts especially environmental activists would not in anyway affect the economic growth and on the contrary sustainable economic growth would be the welcome result.
As decades go by global warming continue to mount alarmingly – the rate of warming in the 80’s itself was a pointer in the direction and in the next decade, ie. 90’s it increased much more alarmingly and in the ensuing decade – 2000-2010 – it has risen to dangerous levels and if things go on like these, the end result could very well be imagined. The rich bio-diversity – countless bio-organisms - flora and fauna are already on the verge of extinction and imagine rivers getting inundated, converting the land into sea, due to melting glaciers and untimely climate changes, soon followed by massive droughts converting the land into massive deserts destroying crops, leaving the farmers high and dry people getting starved to death due to famines engulfing the countries as a whole. I wonder how many among us have seriously pondered over the implications.
Last year while CopenHagen Summit was going on the one side another congregation organised anti-climate summit organised by the stooges of certain corporate honchos whose myopic mindset - who have no tomorrows - only on piling up massive wealth and on the other side and I am sure such a ‘congregation’ must be in its full swing for a few peanuts doled out by their masters nearby. Even in the run up to the Cancun summit these stooges have stooped to such low levels by spreading slanderous remarks about the summit.
Be that as it may.
Let’s hope for something positive to emerge and let Cancun not evolve into another CopenHagen. In case such an eventuality is resulted not only United Nations we the present generation would have to share the blame.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
FLAMES OF IMAGINATION
He has remedy
for all maladies
loving and caring
sympathetic and
empathetic
to the core.
Just a warm touch
enough to send sparks
of good feel, well-being
through each cell of
the patient
such is his magical power
such is his magnetic touch.
Never a money-monger
never greedy or selfish
always at your service-attitude
and the patients
whoever they are
whatever be their diseases
just a look, just
a touch, just a smile,
no sophisticated
medical equipments
no prolonged procedures
forcing the patient feel
exhausted
makes he sure that
all the patients
allowed to go
totally cured and satisfied
by his
miracle cure.
All these my wishful
thinking
your wishful thinking
everyone’s wishful thinking
hopes and dreams
and we all know
such a
soul exists not on earth
knows we for sure
but
our imagination can
very well create
such a miraculous power
like one dreaming
about unattainable
goals.
Dreams,
thoughts,
actions,
success,
thus spake a great man
still living amidst
us.
Unattainable could be
attainable
one day,
imperfection could
turn out to be
perfection…
remember,
dreams,
thoughts,
actions,
success…
for all maladies
loving and caring
sympathetic and
empathetic
to the core.
Just a warm touch
enough to send sparks
of good feel, well-being
through each cell of
the patient
such is his magical power
such is his magnetic touch.
Never a money-monger
never greedy or selfish
always at your service-attitude
and the patients
whoever they are
whatever be their diseases
just a look, just
a touch, just a smile,
no sophisticated
medical equipments
no prolonged procedures
forcing the patient feel
exhausted
makes he sure that
all the patients
allowed to go
totally cured and satisfied
by his
miracle cure.
All these my wishful
thinking
your wishful thinking
everyone’s wishful thinking
hopes and dreams
and we all know
such a
soul exists not on earth
knows we for sure
but
our imagination can
very well create
such a miraculous power
like one dreaming
about unattainable
goals.
Dreams,
thoughts,
actions,
success,
thus spake a great man
still living amidst
us.
Unattainable could be
attainable
one day,
imperfection could
turn out to be
perfection…
remember,
dreams,
thoughts,
actions,
success…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)