An inconvenient truth

Whenever I start writing on any serious topic, there is a voice in my head that says, "There are so many beautiful things to write about, why I am writing on serious political issues?" I listen to that voice many times but some events leave me overwhelmingly outraged, vilified and suffocated. Agreed, politics is not my forte but as a citizen of this great country I am compelled to write about issues that can be no more ignored conveniently, no matter how inconvenient the truth sounds.  

Last week in Mumbai, Raza Academy (an organization working for promotion of Islamic culture) organized a protest to condemn the alleged attacks on Muslim in Assam and Myanmar. Sunni Jamaitul Ulma, Jamat-e-Raza-e-Mustafa, Avami Vikas Party and several other Muslim organizations also supported the protest. Interestingly, within minutes of the protests, people from media and police were attacked and public property was damaged by rowdy protesters. With such lunatics at large, security of people became a challenge leaving many seriously injured and two people dead. I wonder where the so called "secular" leaders  who have always thrived on appeasement politics, were when these fundamentalist hooligans were threatening law and order. 

Frankly, I am always jittery over anyone/group/ that claims to be a voice of community/group/nation, articulating well-crafted rhetoric! I am yet to understand if such protests lead to any alternate suggestions/answers in constructive ways. Wearing black badges and converging to Azad Maidan, the Muslim protesters expressed concern over alleged massacre of people from their community. I am curious to know their stand on issues of Kashmiri Pandits being massacred and thrown out of Kashmir from their legal, legitimate homes. 

Nothing can justify violence and human rights violation. Ironically, we are not perturbed by rampant abuse of human rights as nation but our "sentiments" are easily ruffled by non-issues that stir up to the extent of creating civil unrest to meet political agendas!

The significant human rights violation in Assam over the decades is compelling evidence of violence emerging from suppressed anger, injustice, mindless greed, filthy power games, administrative lethargy and all that resulting in deeply ingrained hatred, suspicion and hostility. The tragic predicament of Bodo community is mainly caused by illegal immigration of Bangladeshi Muslims who not only snatched their lands but have become very dominant in past few years threatening the very survival and also diluting cultural and social identity of Bodo community. Sad, the ruling parties in the state have not seen underlying threat these immigrants have posed to political, economic, cultural and social well-being of our country. 

Why does our past and present always have to remain in conflict? How many more decades  are we going to still choose to be imprisoned by useless rage and damnation? It is time for reconciliation on our blunders of epic proportion that made our country suffer dearly. I know, the ethos of such framework is never a simple black and white solution. Compassion and re-conciliation can be our guiding lessons to move forward but before we think on that line, we need to quell the disruptive forces in mediation of who we truly wish to be as country. Unless we do this exercise with utmost honesty and conviction, the rhetoric of a "great democracy" is "in deep s**t"!

This 15th August, when we buy those tiny Indian flags from the kids at traffic signal and feel great about being patriotic enough, let us not forget that many lives are being lost in silent desperation and somewhere down the line we have knowingly or unknowingly contributed to the mess by being comfortably silent! 

Let there be light lord, please!

What an eventful week! A series of events that happened last week made me search for some touchstones to preserve my optimism and keep my faith in goodness and hope, intact! Pardon me for not focusing on only one issue in this article. These are matters of great concern for any responsible citizen of India, hence this post.

Let there be light!

What shocked nation last week was our historic National Grid failure! Millions of Indians were in complete darkness and powerless due to failure in National Grid. Not once but twice almost half the nation was coerced into obscure isolation. It is almost one week but the concerned ministry has been too busy in blame game to apologize for its blunder. The irony is, the minister for energy Mr. Sushilkumar Shinde was promoted to home ministry on the same day! 

A nation that is raring to be a super power, a nation that is fuelled by world class ability and ambition of its enterprising young generation that consist more than half of its population, a nation with global recognition for being a powerful country to watch for from emerging markets, fails to provide basic utility like electricity to its people! Sounds bizarre, doesn't it? That happens only in India! 

Unless we have political will to take serious measures to bridge the yawning gap between ever increasing demand and supply of energy, there is no ray of hope for finding solution to this issue. There is a lesson to be learnt from state of Gujarat that changed the scene of entire state thanks to its very efficient energy production and management. It is indeed a great example of how good governance can make great difference. (I don't have any political affiliations).

Yet another blunder by Mr. Anna Hazare and his team  

At Jantar Mantar in Delhi, in yet another drama Mr.Anna Hazare and his team's conflicting ideologies were exposed. I have always had doubts about this "movement" against corruption and have expressed them in my previous articles. At Jantar Mantar, Anna Hazare's team came out with its deeply cherished ambition of entering politics. Sadly, most Indians failed to see the motive behind all the melodrama created by this team under the disguise of "movement" right from the day of its inception. The HUGE divide is emerging with the announcement of Anna's team entering politics. 

I don't nurse any personal grouse against Mr. Anna Hazare but have always questioned his methods. Fighting for corruption is great cause but that does not mean one holds entire nation ransom and stalls governance. With individual ambitions becoming more prominent in Anna's team and number of supporters deserting him it remains to be seen how Mr. Anna Hazare's team and his "movement" fares. I am done with his circus long back!

Resurgence of Violence in Assam 

Past few days, country has witnessed violence in Assam that has claimed many innocent lives and looking at the heart wrenching pictures one wonders if there would ever be end to these mindless killings. Would the government ever pay attention to North Eastern states and resolve its issues?

Inhumanly cruel parents 

In one of the most shocking news, heinous acts of cruelty by parents towards their own child were brought to light! I just can't comprehend such unforgivable crime caused by "educated" parent. Reading details about torture on Shaurya, I felt NUMB. What are we becoming as society?

Ray of hope

Only great news last week that brought smile was the medals that were won at the Olympics at London. I hope those victories encourage our cricket obsessed nation to consider other sports and respect them equally. 

A lot can happen over coffee!

Sometimes, things just don't go as planned, transpiring some unforeseen events. Last week provided one such occasion when I got to witness something very interesting! 

It was one of my regular sojourns to art exhibitions at Kala Ghoda, where I usually spend entire day visiting every possible art gallery in the vicinity. It looked as if it was going to drizzle but despite having umbrella, I was caught unprepared by heavy rains drenching me completely. The down-pour made it difficult to continue walking towards the gallery amidst the chaos of traffic and loud noises. I rushed to the nearby coffee shop hoping to get some warmth in its cozy environs. Fortunately, I had entered the coffee shop just in time as soon, it started to get crowded.

Being little shy when it comes to going alone to coffee shops and restaurants, I bury my head in a book that helps me divert my mind. Once I am in comfort zone, it is fun observing life around me. So, there I was, silently witnessing scenes that unfolded around me.

A teenage girl at the adjoining table was busy over phone arguing about something and not a single sentence was complete without swear words. She had such lovely eyes that looked honest. 

A lady in her fifties was with a young girl, vehemently trying to persuade her against getting into any relationship. There was something about her energy that conveyed she had experienced some bitterness in life.

At the far end corner was a very old Parsi couple, enjoying coffee and being engrossed in conversation. They were so completely lost in each other and their beautiful aura was a proof of a life lived very well. Looking at their divine bond of companionship, I reminded myself "that is how I would like to age with hubby."

On other table, a handsome man with salt and pepper head, wearing classy white linen and jeans (what a heady concoction! D) was busy with a formal meeting. He looked very serious and I was so tempted to approach him and say "it is okay to smile!"

There entered a couple holding hands and cooing softly. Once they were seated, their public display of affection started attracting some attention and laughter. The woman received a call but she had problem with the network so she left the table and got busy over phone. The man quickly made a call and said, “I miss you too baby! You know how crazy my work is. I promise, I will make it up to you next time we meet. Love you sweetheart.“

On the table next to mine, an obese woman with two kids tugging along had landed triumphantly. Her hands were full with lot shopping bags, cell phone and a bulky bag. There was something very sweet about her face. Interestingly, the moment she received her coffee and snacks she transformed into completely different person. Her two kids seized to exist for her and so did the entire universe. Once she was done with her food, she looked around and called her boys and asked, "We are getting late. What do you want to eat?"

Wherever there are people, there are stories! Each person has a tale to tell. A few moments can sometimes open up myriad tales. Some stories have interesting beginning middle and end while some stories have lost the main plot. Some stories are in fragments, some are utterly happy from beginning to end and some completely hopeless. Stories full of love, laughter, pain, banality of daily grind, pressures of survival and endless human emotions unfold around us all the time in very interesting manners. It nice to see people, read them (WITHOUT intruding their personal space) watch them and sometimes see our own reflection in them! The experiences are strange, painful and yet so beautiful. No matter how temporary the encounters may last, they leave me overwhelmed.

Sometimes, stumbling upon a fragment of a completely unknown person can be eye opener. Albeit, there is a thin divide between assumptions and reality and the truth is evident only when one has known all the facets of the story. Nevertheless, such interludes at various places like airport, coffee shops, hotels, offices have always helped me understand life with different perspectives. No wonder, I am not much familiar with boredom! 

If only appearances were true!

I got an alarming chill when I received a call from Trishna*, my neighbour/friend from the building where we stayed before shifting to the current house. She was sounding miserable and wished to meet me. I was surprised to see Trishna in such pensive mood as she is always very cheerful, content with life. She happens to be one of those few fortunate ones who have everything one would wish from life. 


I was wondering what could have happened that she was in such a terrible state. I reached her house with little apprehension and there she was, shaky, having lost some weight, with sullen face, looking much older than her actual age. I panicked and inquired about her husband but with the very mention of her hubby's name she seemed agitated and glowered. Within minutes it became clear that her marriage had reached a shuddering end.


It was difficult to comprehend what a sudden, tragic turn Trishna's life had taken! I have always seen Trishna and her husband as a couple deeply in love and it has always been evident in every aspect of their life! Lovely memories of witnessing some beautiful moments with Trishna and her hubby started to torture me with the question what could have caused end to their relationship? 
  
Perhaps, my presence tapped the surface of Trishna's pain and her places of brokenness, sorrow, the places where her grief was haunting her and all the aches she was going through found way through her tears. It was for the first time I was witnessing her private hidden spaces of pain and to see her bereft of any guard with all her emotions completely bared was deeply excruciating. My heart became heavy after listening to ugly truth about her marriage that was carefully concealed from the outside world.


While returning from Trishna's home I was thinking about how life had changed for her and the impressions of her "happy life" had shattered in a few moments of her candid confessions! I was thinking about if I had been blind to have never seen the cracks in her marriage. My mind was surging with endless thoughts about life and relationships in general. 

In most of the homes around me, life is very pleasant. Some homes are also deeply fragile and in some homes there is barely a wall between the real and the one projected to the outside world hence barely able to hide all it can. Some homes are silently screaming, some holding on despite the obvious devastation. In some homes, love has vanished long back while in some it has grown beautifully. Some nests are completely empty while in some, despite having all the riches of the world it is lonely and much emptier than the rest. Some of the best homes have deep turmoil. Some homes are visibly brewing underneath the facade while some are always full of laughter and joy.


In some homes, when the day is over and people lock themselves behind the walls, the mask worn for the world is taken out as if the act on the stage is over. Perhaps, there is a quiet relief for some moments, a silent refuge!  

“Society is a masked ball, where everyone hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

* (name changed)

Where is our conscience?

I was at the food court of a mall when I noticed sudden commotion near the television screens. Horrific news of molestation of a teenage girl in Guwahati, in front of a bar was being telecast with chilling visuals. The news displayed how the nightmare for the girl continued for half an hour during which she was stripped, molested and abused, in public. The gruesome act was recorded on camera and nobody seemed to intervene during her tragic ordeal for a long time! While I am writing this article, the incident has already taken many murky turns and the episode appears to be lethal combination of filthy politics, greedy media and hooliganism at its worst. In this incident, the nation witnessed yet another death of basic humanness that connects us all. 

I was shocked not just by the incident but the reactions of the people watching it at the mall.  A man in his thirties called people saying, "tv par news dekh, mast story dikha rahe hain" (watch news on television, some interesting story going on) with lecherous smile. Some people remarked, "Are kuch nahi, woh ladkine kuch galat kiya hoga." (Perhaps, that girl must have done something wrong) smiling perversely as if aroused by some titillation and indicating licentious character of the girl. On the table just across mine, two ladies in their fifties screwed their noses saying "ye aajkal ki ladakiya! Sharm aati hain ye sab dekh kar. Pata nahi inke maa baap inhe kaise palte hain" (one feels ashamed looking at such girls these days! Wonder how their parents raise them)! 

The only people who appeared upset were a group of teenage boys and girls sitting at the next table who started discussing angrily how the guilty should be HANGED in public. I became numb with disbelief after watching the tragic plight of that helpless girl on news and appallingly insensitive remarks of most of the people around me. It made me think what would be their reaction if God forbid, their own daughter/sister/wife/mother or a member of their own family was subjected to such horrible predicament?

This is what we have become as society. Nothing affects us! With every passing day, learning about new crimes that should shame us as human beings, makes me wonder what is happening to our collective intelligence and conscience? In the times when the most gruesome crimes are covered by media in salacious manner to cater the insatiable need for TRPs, what can one expect? If the television channel has allegedly 'scripted' this whole episode, the license of the channel should be terminated. The political angle in this shocking incident makes me puke. Perhaps, this case would disappear in oblivion and the victim will be silenced or will continue to suffer in process of getting justice for years.

As nation, we are not ashamed. Not even by some of the most heinous crimes of inhuman sexual perversion or oppression of women. Crime has become such an integral part of our life that we have started getting voyeuristic pleasure out of it! 

I bemoan lack of will and vigilance that any civilized society should display and be accountable for. It is deeply saddening that we still lack the basic education in humanity. But let us not forget that the first few steps towards that basic education start from home.

We claim to honour and worship Goddess "shakti" and respect her personification in women. Our true face is unmasked in female infanticides being devoured by sewages from rural as well as global metro cities. Our true face is exposed in charred bodies in dowry and tandoor deaths. Our true face is completely bared in hanged bodies of "honour killings" and painfully disturbing cases of inhuman abuse. Should a nation that does not respect dignity of its women have moral right to worship Goddesses in puja rooms and temples? Let us stop being hypocrites!

For any democracy, people losing faith in its government and suspect credibility of media, is dangerous. I am afraid, we, as nation are already on the brink!