Tribute to a brilliant soldier

Field Marshal Manekshaw was a great soldier and a compassionate human being. I start hearing about him right from my early childhood in discussions around. Every one had great respect from him. He was the Chief of Army during Bangladesh liberation and considered main architect behind the Operation. He had to in the early days of Operation take on the politicians and armchair strategists as they hustled him for early Military action that would have been a blunder.

When I was in my teens there was a Documentary in DD Channel about Manekshaw, he had a small statue of soldier in his home that he saluted every day. That is when I started liking him. Army libraries has more than enough material on war and warfare, I read whatever I could about Manekshaw (those days I also used see Gen. Vaidya quite often). He was a great man and an inspiration, world’s oldest living Field Marshal till yesterday. Great soldiers don’t die they just go back home.

Post Script: Don’t know whether my trivialities should be included when writing tribute to a great man. It is embarrassing but then Bloggers have the right to do anything!!. So I continue with my inanities….. I have mixed feeling about Army, ideally the world shouldn’t have Armies but then world is not an ideal place!!. Some time back I had a dislike for Army recently though it has turned to nostalgia. When I was a teen i used to watch war movies at friends video later I got addicted to war comics particularly about fighter pilots. I recall this fellow in Chennai who used to sell second hand books next to LIC building at Anna Salai who regularly supplied me these comics, those days i was absolutely into Aircrafts so more than story i was trying to identify the type of aircrafts!!. Seeing those turbo props was immense.

I also recall when I was in my early teen we spend ten days or so at Wellington, the place had buzz about Manekshaw. Wellington is a place I really liked, I recall going for long walks, watching soldiers practicing shooting (also punished!!) and eating hot food at aesthetically done Officer’s Mess. It is a charming little town.

How to put value on human life ?!

Few blogs back this blogger expressed shock over callousness of some people in Media. As an unfortunate man gasped for his last breathes the scoundrels were busy shooting his dying moments for their audience. What kind of awareness it has created among the channel surfing coach potatoes is not very clear but yes we have come one step closer to competence, I am told it did cause a blip in TRP. Kevin Carter was a man whose conscience he couldn’t shrug off but human species have become sturdier since, particularly the saviors in Indian Media.

This happening has kept me thinking for sometime, it has definitely shocked me, innate goodness of people is what one banks on. Death can happen anytime that means we all live on the fringe and someone like me lives a step closer. A wrong move and its over, even a broken bone or illness is severe setback- it puts significant pressure on day to day living and earning. One is always aware of this reality (also I have seen many people around me vanishing; it nearly consumed me at one point). Last 15 odd years I seemed to have had a terrific streak of luck, and did put myself in all kinds of situation (in earlier days quite reckless too), many a times escaped by a whisker or few scratches. It does allow a perspective on life that is very stark. As it gets into your system I guess it gives more clarity (it might surprise people but stress actually slows down situations one face!!). It also makes one understand how precious life is and sheer beauty of surrounding despite problems and squalor one sees. Emily Dickinson had these lines:

Death sets a thing significant
The eye has hurried by

She remains my most favorite poet, long back I used to carry her book of poems while traveling. These lines from another poem of her

Because I could not stop for Death—
He kindly stopped for me—
The Carriage held but just Ourselves—
And Immortality.

We slowly drove—He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility—

Amazing lines these.

With market gaining predominance in last few years everything seems to be having commercial-monetary value. So let’s assume if the man was saved by the people in Media, now that is a big assumption since cost-benefit analysis doesn’t really favor such a decision….it is a TRP busting breaking story with a terrific visual. So I guess we have to take another example: let us assume any one of you blogger’s life was saved by someone, how will you repay back??

How can you put value on your own life??. Or will you think in terms of person who saved you and decide the price keeping his socio-economic conditions in mind, that is an easier option since it takes the focus away from oneself!!. And suppose the person refuse to accept the rewards which is what happens in most cases in India, what will you do??. I recall many years back I was stuck in a cheap hotel and bandh was called, shutters were down and I was stranded with half a bottle of water. Not that I cannot go without food for a day or so, I have done that few times, people who were staying in the next room offered some food and my insistence on giving money was resisted. How will you deal with such situation?.

There is a Short Story by British writer E.M. Forster “The Rock” that I read few years back that deals with such a situation. The protagonist was saved from drowning by three people…. “…He kept saying ‘I don’t know what to do. I can’t think. I shall come to you again’. And they replied, ‘oh that’ll be all right sir.’ You can imagine the scene, and it was not till the evening that I realized his difficulty. How much will you give for your life?”. The next few days our man spends in thinking how much to give, later how much they want! Finally he comes with a decision “For a time he was merely interested. He was amused at the problem, and the sensations it aroused in him. But at last he only cared for the solution. He found it one evening in this little room, when the sunset more glorious than today’s was flaming under the wych-elm. He asked me, as I asked you, what such things are worth, and gave the answer: ‘Nothing; and nothing is the reward to the man who saved me.’…. ‘…for the gift of nothing shall be that I have in the world’. The story though takes a turn from this lofty thinking and our man sold everything he had and gives the money to his rescuers. Then he does the unexpected he “… went down to that village penniless and asked for charity from his rescuers”. What happened next is what bloggers will have to read and find out!!. It is an amazing Short Story.

Trivia: E.M. Forster’s famous work is Passage to India that was made into a movie (David Lean), Naipaul though don’t have nice words. The title Passage to India is taken from Walt Whitman’s poem on the occasion of opening up of Suez canal!!. Though Forster had written some brilliant work of fiction his focus in his later days were essays: "Most of life is so dull that there is nothing to be said about it and the books and talk that would describe it as interesting are obliged to exaggerate, in the hope of justifying their own existence. Inside its cocoon of work or social obligation, the human spirit slumbers for the most part, registering the distinction between pleasure and pain, but not nearly as alert as we pretend."

More we watch the ecstatic media more we tend to agree with the above thoughts of Forster. It is theater of absurd, 'not nearly as alert as they pretend'.

Mugabe kush hua !!…inside story on how to create a civil war (with corrections and some additions)

Robert Mugabe is the President of a small South African country since its independence from Britain. In 80s he was one of the respected leaders around, this blogger recalls him participating in NAM summit in Delhi (frankly one recalls only Mugabe, Castro and Arafat with Indira Gandhi!!). The problems faced by Zimbabwe are similar to India of 50s and 60s, the land is held by few (white) people so acute that even now 1% white people hold 70% arable land!!. Land distribution was high on agenda, majority of black people live in abject poverty so this is one step that should have been taken quite early. Mugabe though lost his chance in his narrow worldview, recently-since 2000 he has brought this issue up more as a political exigency, it is used to consolidate his power. The land has been distributed to his loyals. Further, forced evictions and vandalism led to acute refugee crisis since 2005. The chaotic and lawless distribution of lands saw fall in productivity, and severe impact on its economy. Zimbabwe is now facing a serious humanitarian and economic crisis (the inflation is around 5000% highest in the world). It has the lowest life expectancy in the world, 37 for males and 34 for females….now that is really low.

Robert Mugabe has in last few decades morphed into megalomaniac. In last few years senility has set in but still he cannot have a good sleep without clutching on to his power. He has stoop to an extend of common thug (such is infatuation of power dear!!). Wily politicians like him can delay his departure with lives and misery of common people. In the neighborhood Sani Abacha brutally silenced democratic voices for many years. It was not international community that put this repression to an end but fate. God said enough is enough and Sani boy had an heart attack, Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief. African subcontinent unfortunately had many debilitating problems, from colonialism-slavery to drought to AIDS epidemics the potential of some very spectacular people has been suppressed for quite long time by unfortunate circumstances and now corrupt -self serving leaders.

There was some glimmer of hope earlier this year in Zimbabwe when elections were held, Opposition party MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) headed by Morgan Tsvangirai got the majority, this was announced after much vacillation later it was manipulated as too close to call and so one more round proposed, in the meant time Mugabe and his thugs started a reign of terror and intimidation on hapless people. Few weeks back Mr. Tendai Biti (the Secretary general of MDC) was arrested and charged with sedition that carries death sentence. As Zimbabwe slips into misery and possible civil war, the people of the country call for help from international community. It is a very precarious situation. It seems that despite the fact that neighbors of Zimbabwe have called for Mugabe to quit (with exception of Mbeki…what a disgrace for Mandela’s South Africa…it really saddens me) it is quite unlikely to happen.

As things seems spinning out of hand people of Zimbabwe have no one to turn to except the international community specifically UN. Unfortunately UN has failed to deliver when it comes to concrete action on matters like these. We have seen that in tragedy of Burma (or Myanmar as junta calls it), recently the military dictators even had the audacity to conduct referendum as millions of people were dying from the effect of cyclone Nargis. Who will bring this scoundrels to book?.

This blogger as a common person who could be located any where in the world sees the events unfolding in Zimbabwe as a litmus test on how UN deals with crisis. If UN or any effort on part of African union fails then what is the solution other than unilateral actions like US on Afghanistan. Governments have responsibilities towards its citizens, if dictators and regime turn on its own people then international community-UN, has to respond. The mechanism asserting multilateralism need to be effective.

This blogger is keenly following the events in Harare, and expects UN to respond to this unfortunate country that is perilously close to civil war.

Post Script: the latest is MDC has decided to withdraw from elections due to widespread violence and intimidation, that means Mugabe will be elected unopposed. The Dictator was quoted as saying 'only God can remove him'...that is what megalomania means i guess!. The problem seems to be (as i gather from one of the TV program) lack of post colonial restructuring, now this is something that is true to a large extend in Indian subcontinent.

(apologies for mistaking Morgan Tsvangirai for Tendai Biti , who was arrested and charged with treason)

Matter of ethics and dignity for dying

Recently there was report of police firing on farmers protesting against non availability of fertilizers. One person was killed and his last moments were captured by camera and shown in TV channels. The unfortunate man gasped for breath for many precious minutes but the scoundrels posing as media didn’t find it necessary to save him they probably were busy to get the ‘story’, the ‘bite’. Not only th

at from the camera position it is clear that they were actually on top of him to get the best angle. This is gruesome. It is inhuman and unethical. This blogger doesn’t really see any difference in this ‘reporting’ and abetting death (don’t know how many bloggers will recall decades back when there was famine in Sudan a western photographer-Kevin Carter snapped a dying child-who eventually died, that went on to win international awards later the man suicided since he could not shrug off his guilt).

Conscience is part of humanness. Media cannot trample it in the name of freedom. A society increasingly loosing compassion while asserting its choice is eating into itself is cannibalistic. This blogger strongly reiterates nothing to be more sacrosanct than dignity of individual. The government is duty bound to protect its citizen’s privacy and dignity.

Further taking dying out of context by depicting and wallowing in the gruesome is a well thought out commercial strategy. Also it posits media to be the savior against thoughtless or much clichéd ‘corrupt government’. A study conducted by Doris Graber (1979 in Chicago- this blogger understand that American study may not be generalized

but the result does fall into our understanding, so taken) showed that although the crime rate in the city was 0.2%, the proportion of media crime report was 26%. Johan Galtung and Marie Holmboe Ruge (Journal of Peace research) examined “how an event becomes news” and found “the more negative the event in its consequences, the more likely it is to become a news item”. They give reasons like easiness of negative news, non ambiguity, corresponds to predominant world view, suddenness-unexpectedness compared to positive events…later Jurgen Wilke (in Berlin) adds that “negative news creates need for immediate action..” thus riveting, the media therefore becomes a conduit for action for people (which can be positive but then in the context of sensationalism and saleability it is economics, also helps hide its shortcomings). Clearly there is more to gain from negative events. Dying in front of camera is no doubt an event to be savored (ever wondered what goes with the family and friends?...the scene would of course be different if the victim was upper class in say Delhi or Mumbai). Also crime news is now main news if not breaking. There are thousands of murders committed around the country why something happening in Delhi or Mumbai are ‘high profile’ is beyond me. This blogger strongly protest Union Ministers or central agencies asking how the media or police

should behave or whether a Channel can make serial out of this ‘high profile’ murder. Firstly this is a UP State subject matter, secondly this is misuse of power, you cannot ask media/police to do what in this particular case, wherein there are millions of cases over the decades around the country where people’s privacy is grievously violated and exploited . Either you have a law that is applicable to all or just keep shut. Union Ministers and Central agencies represent the nation and not the neighborhood or ‘people like us’, lest they forget (quite possible since most of them have never really spent time outside Delhi!!). Media can have their drawing room discussions and other concerns, responsible people should know were to draw the line.

Not denying that some politicians are corrupt and incompetent. Pointing out them and their misdemeanor is an important function of media but that doesn’t make media competent or trustworthy. Most people in this country have pessimistic view, in many case cynical about media (media tho kuch be deeka sakti hai), some spectacular work of media and some committed media persons cannot be denied though. But then some is definitely not whole. A significant number of media person are goons with mob mindset, they round in on their prey like pack of hyenas and squeeze them till the last drop. There are not many laws or awareness protecting the victims or common people, more than that there is question of ethics that should be reflected in laws.

There have been drastic technological changes in the last decade or so. It is putting lots of stress on India’s social system and emulating West is no solution-socio cultural context is quite varied nor is west a ideal model, theoretical construct though is acceptable. In a country of disparities like India with millions of vulnerable people, the elected government and vigilant media ha

ve a very significant role to play. It is now increasingly clear that commercial reasons are dictating the decision making. Not denying that profit from a venture is important but if that is the dictating criterion then they cannot claim the rights that come with responsibility. Power given to media without responsibility is unacceptable, it is dangerous (not to forget corruption…India ranks quite high in that. Recall also how senior journalist and editor of Asian Age Mr. M.J.Akbar was removed. If media is a business then it should be treated as one they shouldn’t be taking high moral grounds and claim rights that most citizens don’t have. Having a mike and camera is no criteria to barge in to people’s privacy). Therefore it is important for the government to put in guidelines. It is about time to put media into serious scrutiny.

Also, the belligerence of ‘we can decide’ or self regulation is hogwash. They are too self centered and money minded to even sit together, mostly egoist (which is expected with untrammeled power for decades, in most cases passed hereditary). In Indian context this also need to be seen with traditional connotations. Having dominated for centuries under the guile of religion-ritual, later this section took to mostly sycophancy of colonizers (with this mindset came servility to English and unfortunate rise of English saw them claim instant competence!!), recently with government getting increasingly representative with political parties from lower strata getting vocal the power equation is changing. Realizing this shift the power is being accrued through connection in Media though they claim egalitarian and democracy as alibi the intention in most cases doesn’t seem to compliment democratic society but only a mean to increase their influence/clout/money with minimum of effort. The arrogance of keeping their power intact is now smartly packed as self regulation, as also the balderdash of egalitarian values. It is from the same traditional context that they get the audacity to proclaim their god given right to decide for themselves and create their own laws. The western model doesn’t work in Indian reality, these scoundrels are in for making some fast money-clout at the expense of common people. Why corruption and incompetence in government only the point of enquiry what about some equally corrupt people in media and corporate??. That will be looking into mirror!!. Recently during T20 a fellow was kicked out, the reason given by the corporate entity was ill health, the person denied flatly and was found to be correct…this is just a glimpse of professionalism as is practiced in India. Arbitrary removals, decisions taken on whim are all part of folklore…it seems they are born competent: thou shall always be comptento came the voice from the sky!!. Most Indian media is about this very accident. (Again let me stress there are some great people in media as well as corporate). They don’t seem to make any mistake even if they get things go wrong whether it is about polls, or other details, even if the ‘mediaperson’ lack any perceptiveness or understanding ( most importantly the focus of their news and what doesn’t make it as news in a country of more than billion people), the gross negligence ….despite all this they come out as competent and meritorious. The reference point for them is something that is referred to as TRP (it is now presiding deity in many TV channels). Then they have the audacity to teach us the importance of competence!!.

Indian government is well within its right, considering- the culture and traditional context, to ask for reservation of at least 25% media time on reporting on issues related to rural India as also development issues of Tribals and SC (that is not too much for more than 70% of the people, they are now in media as crime news titillations). If they don’t agree they can close down and start some kirana store already there are too many channels. The idea that governments are only facilitators for corporate to function is western, it suits their reality, in here it breeds inequality and puts millions of people in vulnerable position. It really cannot work in a nation of acute disparities. There is an immediate need to protect livelihood and basic needs of millions of people, the environment, and natural resources. The development that is sustainable can only be allowed. That is what democracy means and that is what development is.

(That is a long one doubtful whether bloggers have read each line of it!)

The ten headed Kamal Haasan is here!!

Dasavatharam is here finally. Watch out for Kamal Haasan he is one actor who innovates a lot, I don’t think I will miss this one (I haven’t really gone out for movies in theatres for a long time, the last few being Shivaji, Munnabhai, Al Gore’s The inconvenient truth…quite eclectic!!). Long back I watched Apoorva sahodarangal (I guess I was in college those days…the songs were quite popular. Even in our college film festival we chose Kamal Haasan movie, he was a big hit). Last 10-15 years I haven’t seen his movie, did catch up part of few movies in TV recently in Tamil channels. I liked ‘Indian’ movie as also fight scenes in Tamil movie where he acts as a old woman (avaai shanmugi), not to forget the silent movie Pushpak. Other movies I liked include spectacular Naayagan, Thenvar magan. He is an amazing actor and probably one of the very few trained classical dancer-actor (also a singer recently!!). You could see those in some of the old Tamil and Malayalam movies. He has also acted in Hindi movies the most popular being 1980s blockbuster Ek duje ke liye, with some equally popular songs.

One movie that I have seen recently in my Box that I absolutely loved was Khosle ka Ghosla, it is brilliant particularly the man who acts property dealer. If you have spend some time in underbelly of delhi you understand the nuances better, many of which will easily be missed by outsiders. I should know it. I have spent more than enough time with property dealers. It so happened that when I first landed up in delhi 95’ later 97’ I used to be very confused about the streets. Karol bagh had thousands of alleys, to get to know the place apart from other things I used to visit Property dealers posing as a person looking for room for rent apart from free chai biskut, next few hours was free ride to different localities in his scooter, it was one big fun. These guys are impeccable in first meetings chai piyoji(he), hanji(i), biskut-viskut vagara (he), hanji kyon nahi (i)…then after few crap about what you do…which I kept changing from student to bank meh kam karthe hai to what not depending on whether I am looking for room or flat (that means visiting richer houses!!). We went to different houses (giving crap answers to some equally crap questions from house owners…one can write few paragraphs on this!!) each I would find some fault, in the end I giving some vague expression….you need to see the gentlemanly fellow slowly bringing out his claw- it is a remarkable transformation from kyon ji aap to kya behenchodh- some of them got really frustrated, but I always tried depart with some promise of future dealing and so on. Next week would be another dealer and there are hundreds of them!!. The only transgression was probably when I tried to play the game, I gave the info about vacate room to a fellow staying nearby for some money, few days later I found the dealer with few goons knocking my door….pay back time!!.

One of the many uses of a tree !!

On this World Environment Day we need to pause, think and take mitigative actions not only on the deterioration of the Nature and Environment but also should realize the serious exploitation of Natural resources by some of the Corporates at the expense of sustainability and livelihood needs of local population. Since the Governments of many poorer countries are influenced by money (corruption is rampant) it is for the international communities to take action. Water, sand, trees, traditional knowledge ….don’t come free, it is the property of the society and the people of the region, their basic needs should get preference (or else compensated) over profit.

Is Mango the king of fruits ?!!!

India is the largest producer of Mangoes (Magnifera Indica) in the world, the name Mango originated from Tamil ‘Mangkay’. Some thousand varieties of Mangoes grow in this region, the fruit is considered king of all fruits. It is believed that from India Mangoes reached Europe through traders, much earlier Buddhist monks were responsible for its spread in Asia, later Arab traders took it to gulf and other places. Ancient Indians believed Mango tree can grant wishes, even now some parts of India during auspicious occasions like Deepavali and pongal (in Tamil Nadu) they hang Mango leaves at the entrance. Various dishes (like for instance manga pulliseri- the one I expertise in!!) and puddings are made from this fruit. Pickles, papdis, murabbas, chutney, amchur, panna… the list is long. (Unripe mangoes are used in fish curry in travancore region, it give that characteristic taste).

The famous breed of Mango is Alphonso (or hapoos)- they sell that in boxes even in malls nowadays, it has been gifted to head of other countries as diplomatic gesture. Apart from popular varieties like Kesar, Dashehari, Mulgoa, Chausa, Langra….there is Himsagar, Kishen Bhog, Mankurad, , Neelum, Suvarnarekha, Vanraj, Bangalora, Banganpalli, Bombai, Bombay Green, Fajli, Fernnadin, Zardalu. Hybrid Varieties are Amarapali, Mallika, Arka Aruna, Arka Puneet, Arka Anmol, Arka Neelkiran, Ratna, Sindhuri, Au Rumani, Manjeera, sugar baby. Other hybrid varieties released are Alfazali, Sundar Langra, Sabri, Jawahar, Neelphonso, Neeleshan, Neeleshwari and so on…..now those are some serious names!!. During mango season (April-May) mango exhibitions are held with varieties of mangoes in display (few weeks back I went for organic mango festival!!). I recall when kids we used to run when mango fell from tree, the one who reaches first gets it, unlike coconut mango fall with light thud (obviously!!).

So is it mango the king of all fruits?.

Well….hmm…well this blogger is not really impressed despite its credentials. My vote goes to Jackfruit (kathal in hindi, chakka in Malayalam) this fruit is really underrated. Dr.O.W. Barrett (an agriculturist credited with many books on these subjects) wrote in 1928: "The jaks . . . are such large and interesting fruits and the trees so well-behaved that it is difficult to explain the general lack of knowledge concerning them.". There is mention of jackfruit in Varamahira’s Samhita (6^th century). This blogger gives this humble fruit top marks not only for its taste but also smell -nobody can miss it even from few meters, it is sweet combination of pineapple and banana!!. It is one fruit I am crazy about, so much so one tends to overeat. Jackfruit is also purely Indian tracing its origin to Western Ghats (the name jackfruit traces its origin to Portuguese jaca which in turn derived from Malayalam chakka). The fruit is quite a recluse with spiny exterior and sticky interior, it is like the fruit is asking “you don’t want to mess with me do you?”. Truly cutting jackfruit is a messy affair. One has to smear oil in hands before venturing otherwise regret it for next few hours, the glue doesn’t go even with washing!!. There are two types of jackfruit as I know kooza and varika chakka, the later is favored as the fruit is of high quality. The Kooza are softer and fibrous and very messy. It is difficult to tell whether the Jackfruit is kooza or varika before cutting (the variation of these names are found in Thailand and Srilanka, even Jamaica). Like mango many varieties of jackfruit are now found the 'Singapore', or 'Ceylon' jack was introduced in India in 1940s. In 1961, the Horticultural Research Institute at Saharanpur, India, reported the acquisition of air-layered plants of the excellent varieties, 'Safeda', 'Khaja', 'Bhusila', 'Bhadaiyan' (gr8 name that one!!) and 'Handia' and others. The Fruit Experimental Station at Burliar, established a collection of 54 jackfruit clones from all producing countries, and ultimately selected 'T Nagar Jack' as the best in quality and yield (In Assam, nurserymen have given names such as 'Mammoth', 'Everbearer', and 'Rose-scented' to preferred types). This blogger has a liking for jackfruit as well as tapioca chips (hate potato chips). In South Karnataka coastal region I happen to taste Jackfruit idlis!!!(as also ela adas). I am big fan of Chakkakuru mezhkuperatti (jackfruit seeds).

Ludovico Di Varthema an Italian traveler who came to kerala in 1503 had this to say about Jackfruit “I found in Calicut a kind of fruit which is called Ciccar (jackfruit). Its stem is like that of a large pear tree…this fruit is gathered in the month of December, and when it is eaten it seems as if you are eating musk melons, and it appears to resemble a very ripe Persian quince. It appears also as though you are eating a preparation of honey, and it also has the taste of a sweet orange. Within the said fruit….there is another fruit which, if placed on the embers of a fire and then eaten, you would say that they are the most excellent chestnut. So that this appears to me the best and most excellent fruit I ever ate”. Our man had something to say about mangoes too “another fruit is also found here…this manga (mangoes) is made like one of our walnuts in the month of August, and has that form; and when it is ripe it is yellow and shining. This fruit has a stone within like a dry almond, and is much better than the Damascus plim…”

Long live Jackfruit !!!