It
is a well-known fact that the institutions of democracy in India are very much compromised
by power brokers and cliques that exaggerate clout and therefore usurp benefits.
These have quite severely dented the benefits and the structure that egalitarian
nature of democracy was supposed to provide. It’s an amazing travesty for a society
that is quite primitive and didn’t have any egalitarian worldview to start
with. Amazingly insular elite have created an illusion of democracy, and percolated
benefits herein. What has changed in last few decades are the technological innovations
that disseminated to common people, the spin off benefits herein is how democratic
values seems to be getting consolidated and felt by common people. Clearly, sometimes grievance
spill over as a response to lackadaisical and tardy insulated State machinery. Social
media and mobile phones have helped the matter as people decide to take the
matter in their own hand. One startling example that happened the other day is
the public execution of alleged rapist (it may seem like one off example but
people are getting 
restive as also these incidents do have wider support across
the societies). Shocking though it maybe it doesn’t really point to brutal nature
of people. Indeed in the context of things the lynch mob is quite a subtle
presence compared to ‘nuanced and well mannered’ scoundrels who squat the
higher echelons of judiciary. Why not lynch the members of judiciary for their amazing
incompetence that has put untold misery on people? Why not for god sake lynch the
CJ of SC? Judges of SC and HC live like feudal lords,
showing much alacrity to protect their turf as also supplicating for post-retirement
benefits. Why are these people even paid? Standard of lawyers is best unsaid, the system quite understandingly
attracting the worst of people, and not surprisingly many have crept into politics
and have occupied plum positions as political leaders without having ever
visited any village! These are some of
the most incompetent and inhuman people.
restive as also these incidents do have wider support across
the societies). Shocking though it maybe it doesn’t really point to brutal nature
of people. Indeed in the context of things the lynch mob is quite a subtle
presence compared to ‘nuanced and well mannered’ scoundrels who squat the
higher echelons of judiciary. Why not lynch the members of judiciary for their amazing
incompetence that has put untold misery on people? Why not for god sake lynch the
CJ of SC? Judges of SC and HC live like feudal lords,
showing much alacrity to protect their turf as also supplicating for post-retirement
benefits. Why are these people even paid? Standard of lawyers is best unsaid, the system quite understandingly
attracting the worst of people, and not surprisingly many have crept into politics
and have occupied plum positions as political leaders without having ever
visited any village! These are some of
the most incompetent and inhuman people.
Political
leaders, mostly product of feudal nature of society, even with mass appeal are
at the end of the day just props. Once they are elected by people (by standing
in queue with hope and expectations, sold out by speeches and promises), they occupy
important positions. They then quite effortlessly switch to be cheerleaders of money
bags. These money bags go by the name of businessmen, media barons and other influential
exaggerated for clout/power section, they are also touts and perception
arrangers. Democratic values and principles therefore dies a gruesome death in
these corridors. The fight among the elite is therefore for manoeuvrability
space. Issues (that ironically affect common people) are conduit for asserting
one’s space, 
and dredging into suckabilty matters. To show how these people
work as pack let’s take the example of media, in particular TV channels. Some of
these have exaggerated presence, the market (fuelled by moneybags), as also by sycophant
politicians who don’t have mass base therefore feed to manipulate to work out clout.
It is nobody’s matter that these politicians degrade institutions by their crass
actions. Since they have no mass base for the same reason people are not their concern
they therefore spent time in TV studios, exaggerating TV channels therefore in effect
exaggerate themselves. Grassroot issues as well as genuine leaders/people
suffer, the mistake Congress made, the mistake BJP will most enthusiastically make
(as mentioned they are from the same framework). With pliable almost slavish journalists
they create reputations and also position themselves as spokesperson of the
society. This creates perception on reputation of TV channels. Indeed moneybags
(with market touts and pliable journalists) fuel issues and create perceptions
as and when it suits them. Vedanta Aggrawal is a sponsor (indeed I am told he
has adopted Pronoy. Sardesaiji is also very much on the chai pani list, it is a set up that gives extra lung power to sickularism
that is source of existence for liberal masquerading squatters), with his kind
of ill-gotten money the fellow will create perception as news and issues, this
then is responded by the government. The pliable bureaucrats now take over the
matter. This scam is not about money, it’s a quid pro quo world, that meets later
to quantify the spoils (ZK & Crude woman have minor expertise on these). This is a small example to illustrate how
things work, as the moneybags stampede, economists come out with compelling
jargons, the government quite effortlessly concede, there is celebration of liberal
values and saviours of democracy emerge from unlikeliest of corners.
and dredging into suckabilty matters. To show how these people
work as pack let’s take the example of media, in particular TV channels. Some of
these have exaggerated presence, the market (fuelled by moneybags), as also by sycophant
politicians who don’t have mass base therefore feed to manipulate to work out clout.
It is nobody’s matter that these politicians degrade institutions by their crass
actions. Since they have no mass base for the same reason people are not their concern
they therefore spent time in TV studios, exaggerating TV channels therefore in effect
exaggerate themselves. Grassroot issues as well as genuine leaders/people
suffer, the mistake Congress made, the mistake BJP will most enthusiastically make
(as mentioned they are from the same framework). With pliable almost slavish journalists
they create reputations and also position themselves as spokesperson of the
society. This creates perception on reputation of TV channels. Indeed moneybags
(with market touts and pliable journalists) fuel issues and create perceptions
as and when it suits them. Vedanta Aggrawal is a sponsor (indeed I am told he
has adopted Pronoy. Sardesaiji is also very much on the chai pani list, it is a set up that gives extra lung power to sickularism
that is source of existence for liberal masquerading squatters), with his kind
of ill-gotten money the fellow will create perception as news and issues, this
then is responded by the government. The pliable bureaucrats now take over the
matter. This scam is not about money, it’s a quid pro quo world, that meets later
to quantify the spoils (ZK & Crude woman have minor expertise on these). This is a small example to illustrate how
things work, as the moneybags stampede, economists come out with compelling
jargons, the government quite effortlessly concede, there is celebration of liberal
values and saviours of democracy emerge from unlikeliest of corners.
In the search of
Batalvi: Shiv
Kumar Batalvi was an amazing Punjabi poet, he died quite young (at the age 
of 36).
Immensely popular, even now his lyrics are used by movie makers. He is the
youngest to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi award. So here I was at Amritsar on
an exceptionally cold and foggy day. Batala is about 40km; my contact took me to
Shiv Kumar Batalvi memorial hall. It is in dilapidated condition, and is being
renovated. I was told that the library has some books, but someone assured me
that since he is youngest to win the Sahitya Akademi, add to the fact that he
is immensely popular, I will have no problem in getting his collection in Delhi.
Assured I was at Sahitya Akademi in Delhi, a place not unknown to me. They seem
to have spent a ransom in last decade on renovation, as also adding auditorium so
on. Previously anybody could enter the library but now (this is true for everything
around) entry is restricted. I was at their book counter, everything tastefully
done. But problem started when you got into the reality of things. Shiv Kumar
Batalvi is unknown here. I asked the fellow to search in his collection. Surprise.
The fellow says the system doesn’t work that way, it doesn’t search by name of author,
I will have to refer the title that he can search. I spent an hour or so
searching through hundreds of books, seeing my persistence the fellow at the
counter tried to help. Exhausted I left. The Sahitya Akademi has made a simple
search into rocket science. This in itself will tell the story of degradation. How
these institutions have been converted to personal fiefdom by people with clout.
Even the once prestigious awards are reduced to doles of favour, and
unfortunately lost it value, the sycophantic manipulative Congress leaders screwed
up institutions under the garb of sickularism and liberal pretensions. Even DD
and other government TV channels are degraded, they became means for spreading
clout. In DD one fellow was seen praising ZK
(the amazingly limited lyrist), they create a system wherein they use power and
clout to hand out doles and favours, these therefore show their indebtedness by
praising in whatever occasions. Hopefully these are eliminated and very likely replaced
by, what they will start screaming about, the ‘saffron’ brigade.
of 36).
Immensely popular, even now his lyrics are used by movie makers. He is the
youngest to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi award. So here I was at Amritsar on
an exceptionally cold and foggy day. Batala is about 40km; my contact took me to
Shiv Kumar Batalvi memorial hall. It is in dilapidated condition, and is being
renovated. I was told that the library has some books, but someone assured me
that since he is youngest to win the Sahitya Akademi, add to the fact that he
is immensely popular, I will have no problem in getting his collection in Delhi.
Assured I was at Sahitya Akademi in Delhi, a place not unknown to me. They seem
to have spent a ransom in last decade on renovation, as also adding auditorium so
on. Previously anybody could enter the library but now (this is true for everything
around) entry is restricted. I was at their book counter, everything tastefully
done. But problem started when you got into the reality of things. Shiv Kumar
Batalvi is unknown here. I asked the fellow to search in his collection. Surprise.
The fellow says the system doesn’t work that way, it doesn’t search by name of author,
I will have to refer the title that he can search. I spent an hour or so
searching through hundreds of books, seeing my persistence the fellow at the
counter tried to help. Exhausted I left. The Sahitya Akademi has made a simple
search into rocket science. This in itself will tell the story of degradation. How
these institutions have been converted to personal fiefdom by people with clout.
Even the once prestigious awards are reduced to doles of favour, and
unfortunately lost it value, the sycophantic manipulative Congress leaders screwed
up institutions under the garb of sickularism and liberal pretensions. Even DD
and other government TV channels are degraded, they became means for spreading
clout. In DD one fellow was seen praising ZK
(the amazingly limited lyrist), they create a system wherein they use power and
clout to hand out doles and favours, these therefore show their indebtedness by
praising in whatever occasions. Hopefully these are eliminated and very likely replaced
by, what they will start screaming about, the ‘saffron’ brigade. 
ZK
was seen, the other day, ruing on general degradation of things around (clearly
he is talking about himself and ofcourse Crude woman who seems lost these days).
Thappar is part of what is ostensibly ‘ever vigilant 
against right wing incursions’,
the moneybags losing out on Modi doles have put money here. How scoundrels like
ZK got themselves elected to RS is pertinent question. Incidentally, not long
time back ZK & Crude woman were seen attending the world’s richest wedding
(Crude woman also did Turd-e-disco for billionaires, it comes to her naturally.
She even has put the picture in the drawing room!!). Such wanton profligacy fits
in quite well to liberal values, just that it was around the time when
thousands of farmers were killing themselves as they faced untold misery, not to
mention some serious existential problems people face all the time, as also patriarchy
pressure of spending on marriages that has caused misery, accentuated gender bias
so on. It is clear that without
moneybags blessings all these big talks go nowhere. Ask Sardesaiji, moneybags
make saviour positioning much easier. Pliable NGOs fed generously act as a conscience front, while Greenpeace becomes a national threat.
And
so what happened to Batalvi’s book?…well I spent a day going through bookstalls
at Connaught place, through best sellers, celebrity memoirs so on (it has become quite a depressing place) as also at Darya Ganj. No luck. So finally got
hold of one online and ordered it. The book costs more than 1000R, thin school book
type American version ‘Punjabi poets’ with half page on Batalvi. Cheated. Royally
cheated.
