Dada Saheb Phalke award to Gulzar

 

Rarely does a man deserve more than the prestigious award…  

Phir se wasooli

“Madamji ab tho aap ZK zaab ko Jnanpith dilwa he do. Likh likh kar inka haath hathode jaisa ho gaya hai”, that was crude woman putting the case for ZK.  Crude woman and ZK Bazz were back, and this time much determined.  ZK wore a short sleeved shirt that showcased his unusually swollen hand. He kept a  downcast face.

“Arre likne pikne se kissika haath hathode jaisa hua hai kya?”, the Bureaucrat, their constant nemesis, intervened “Peepooo ke ghir pade honge kahi pe isliye haath sooja hai. Tum logon ko koi aur kaam nahi hai kya? Ajathe hai bikariyon ki tharah. Ye chahiye wo chahiye. Chalo niklo yahan se”. Indeed the Bureaucrat was quite prepared and seem anticipated their trickery, he took out pictures of Chetan boy who had put both his hands up indicating “liktha tho me bhi hoon magar sooja nahi hai”

Crude woman had contempt written all over “arre ye mua kahan” almost spitting the floor and then looking to the ceiling with adoration “ZK zaab kahan”. ZK kept his eyes fixed on the floor, it seems he was drooling. “Tagoreji ke baadh ZK zaab ka number atha hai, kabi dekha tumne tagoreji ka haath, dono ke dono ekdam hathode jaise” Crude woman informed. The Bureaucrat was flummoxed and was not anticipating this turn of event. Indeed in all the pictures of Tagore he had hidden his hands, sometimes under the long gown or taken behind. In contrast Nehru stuck his hands to his chin, probably as a sign of clairvoyance to these allegations.

The Bureaucrat reclaimed himself from the setback “hathode jaise haath se kya hotha hai, kya likha hai wo bhi important hai”

Crude woman ignored him “madamji apki dukaan tho bandh ho rahi hai, aakhri bar secularism ki wasooli karwa lo. Panch saal me tho aap ludak bhi sakthi hai, I mean off, phir hum logon ka kya hoga?”. She was matter fact “hum log dar dar batkenge. Kon poochega hum jaison ko? Sab janthe hai hamari aukad” she shifted to confessionary mode as a final strategy.

“aisa karo thum log sahitya akademi ke certificate se kaam chalaa lo. Isse jyada kuch nahi milega” the Bureaucrat attempted to work out a deal. Madamzee nodded. Crude woman and ZK walk out with long faces. Scene 2: Sushmazee.  

Elitist dreams of crumbling world

There seems to be a concerted effort to malign and degrade Mr. Modi by the elite section who fancies themselves as liberal. Liberal in Indian context mostly means blatantly hedonist, crudely selfish and entitlement driven social worth. They therefore aren’t much concerned about issues related to common people nor their predicaments. Secularism, as I mentioned in my earlier blog, is reduced to pandering to mullahs and hedonist Muslims i.e. the elite section. This is in some sense uniquely post independence Indian phenomenon, and you could see this in Gandhi’s worldview. While the marginalized suffered worst possible atrocities and humiliations they were concerned about elite Muslims, the largesse extended herein were how secularism got defined. For their narrow electoral needs and liberalism standpoints they sought to viciously divide communities. It need be brought out that common people don’t have much problems with other communities as also that identities are multiple in its expressions. There is a concerted effort to reduce some as having only singular identity as also push them into prosecuted mentality therefore easy fodder for elite to play their games.

 

It goes without saying that elite section gained much from the corrupt and feudal system, and quite gleefully perpetuated it. These exaggerated concern for ‘secularism’ needs to be put in this perspective. This kind of urgency was not seen in the need for land reforms nor blatant expression of casteism in public space, prominent being temple squatters in each temple, that means deviance social setput in every few kilometers, and the misery that it brings. Indeed the so called liberals have no qualm sharing space with newspaper owner (and editors) who carry obnoxious matrimonial columns as means to earn quick money, in the process perpetuating unjust and primitive conceptions, the kind that would shock civilized people. Gandhi truly was redeeming factor for these scoundrels, it sought to wash away their sins and put a veneer of concern. Secularism therefore is a great alibi, in the meanwhile feudal norms exists as a way of life right in our midst. Further, connecting with sensitivities of elite Muslims help cement their concerns at global level, that the issues of common people, in particular, the Dalits cannot. Its reach and impact is tremendous after 9/11. I am not even going into deviant market of which they are the main beneficiary, I haven’t seen any of them protesting against Cokepepsi (nor racist products), despite concrete evidence of exploitation and misery to common people.  

  

Everything has to be seen in terms of not what is being said, but who is saying and what is the gain. The applecart is being shaken, the entrenched manipulators thought that few lines of secularism will fix things. The fact is: people will elect their representatives and they will lead them in policy making, any misdemeanor will be dealt by the judiciary. We don’t want elitist angst and intellectual posturing, indeed these pretentious people should be put in place and case be brought onto them for character assassination as also attempt to cast aspersions on judicial verdict as also intelligence of common people.

People have been suffering, and for some it’s hereditary. The elites with their Gandhian blinkers just couldn’t see it. There is an unjust and regressive social system in place, that has cut across religion and region. Elite Muslims (mullahs and liberals) pangs are minor matters in this, indeed we are tired of these scoundrels. People have suffered and in their wisdom will elect leaders who they think can fulfill their aspirations. Nobody should have any problems with it let alone readers of Guardian newspaper and the conveniently placed expatriate natives who experience vicarious mortification of impending doom in their little world. Most likely it is the world of their construct and nostalgia of past, that was never real for the common people. A major section of people in this country already live a doomed existence and have been for centuries, this is nothing new. The readers of Guardian may find this unbelievable, and therefore the letters to them in right nuance and english skills signed by Kapoors and Mehtas quite believable (both these i read representation of filth called Khatris, whose purity claims are more than others! Readers of Guardian should know what they are dealing with in the name of liberalism). Wonder what skills took these natives to these luxuries that the rickshaw puller couldn’t have. 

What is of concern is the environment threat that this model of development brings and how much it further degrades the lives of people who live in marginalised communities as also the threat to biodiversity. Clearly that shouldn’t be a major concern as people who gain and prosper cut across secular divide. I am also waiting for a letter by self styled guardians to declare casteism as racism and apartheid, deny Indians with casteist reference visa, condemn media outlets for perpetuating it. They should have done that alteast five decades back, but then it will go against their angst filled world. For some patronizing comes easy, it’s a nostalgic venture, a get-together of absolving themselves.

It’s always pyrrhic win for the sake of people

When majority of people have quite low standards and little expectations on things, though they have all the opportunity to strive and ask for better, then to reach the common collective consensus the candidates will have to touch the lowest denominator with much alacrity. This is true in politics as also in entertainment. In India visceral need for social contact, and contract, has to go through the traditional temple squatter’s framework, this therefore plays a significant role in political representation too. The mediocre society is so twisted in itself that it doesn’t even know that it is being cannibalised. This is then left for the elite to manipulate and control, operate their nefarious greed. Thus the ruses of liberal, secular, development …so on. In Indian context all these will have to be closely scrutinised. 

The Congress leader, read Sonia Gandhi, is hobnobbing with mullahs, a breed that has the narrowest worldview. They are being given the position of community leaders, therefore secular symbols. On the same day she is seen doing havan, thus giving credibility to temple squatters, deviance as culture. This is symbolism of Congress party that is perfected over decades and in it you will see most problems of India. This is a party that has ruled India for most of the time since independence –having had refreshing view on independence struggle, I prefer to call it transfer of power struggle, unfortunately poor Bhagat Singh and his idealist colleagues took it too seriously!! They just transferred the power, the law and the legal framework remains oppressive, it is after years of struggle of some committed people and immense misery to common people that these are changed. The ruling elite in the meantime were working on new masks to keep the attention of people. 

Keeping caste alive, and condoning regressive rituals also keeps Hindus divided, this therefore is considered secular. It is a different matter this regressive system has caused immense miseries to common people and has kept Indian society bounded and mediocre. Assuaging the possible hurt (of egos, mostly) of elite Muslims is what secularism is reduced to, it has taken an immense toll on the society. This artificial concern has also to be put in the context that common people, who whether Hindus or Muslims don’t have much problems with each other, secularism as understood by Indians is something ingrained, they don’t need lessons on tolerance. These artificial conceptions are desperation of elite to accrue power and fill the void left by electoral demands. Another game in holier than thou framework is that in the struggle of one upmanship they try to corner each other. This pushes other side to extreme as a reaction, so mild mannered liberal Jinnah was pushed into mullahs camp. And so in the finality, temple squatters came out spiritually pure while mullahs scampered for pure land. People suffered. Land reforms should have been first thing on the list...

The liberal elite based in cities, at running distance from TV studios, play these fractures all the time for gains. Feeding mullahs therefore is secularism and feeding liberals is a step towards liberty, all at the expense of common people. Since these overlaps with feudalist nature of society have seen to it that no effective reforms to empower people were carried out (it is only recently that some movements is happening due to pressure from bottom, as things have started to spill over). The reason, that despite all grand claims, majority of Indians suffers at the bottom of table on most international statistics.

There is a ‘Save India from Modi’ campaign going on, to much amusement of common people. What these degraded people don’t realise is that Modi’s significance is because of Manmohan’s insignificance. It was a clever counter point that people lapped, tired of irresponsible leaders. This blogger though holds the view that BJP shouldn’t have declared Modi as PM candidate, it was not necessary and has opened up unnecessary interest. Wherein the discussion should have been focused on matters affecting common people and how UPA has failed miserably, indeed it is thier arrogance that prevented them from communicating even the achievement, they took people for granted. Insecurities of mullahs and liberal elite is not an issue, they feed on each other…it is quite likely that mullahs blackmail is what is seen as threat to liberals secularism. Their concerns can so easily bypass problems of common people, incidentally this also is a quaint tradition of liberals. 

I am also quite shocked at the tenor of Modi’s speech on issues indicating ‘meat eating’ therefore, by a careful default, Muslims!! What a stupid thing to bring out, it only goes against common people. I am wondering at the competence of the brand builders…et al coca cola boys, if they can package an above average sportsperson from a stupid game to Bharat Ratna why cannot they package this politician to PM? Mr.Modi should focus on issues related to common people and hypocrisy of UPA. I thought he was brilliant in bringing the matter of criminal rotting food grains and how foolishly arrogant insular PM intervened with his insight, indeed he could repeat this. He has so many things to bring out. If ever, he can focus on elite Muslims and their debauchery, they are having quite a cosy ride. There is huge gap between common people and elites, no matter what religion. Polygamy is critical issue; this regressive patriarchal conception cannot be tolerated in any civilised society. Clearly it is meant to keep the elite Muslims in good humour and is an intensely divisive issue in patriarchy driven society. He should bring this up, it will put a hole in morality of secularism as is practised!! Indeed he should go ballistic on these primitive conceptions that are tolerated in the name of secularism.

Postscript: MJ Akbar joins BJP!! Kya sirji dariya ka rukh badalthe he tairakh ho gaye!! Well he should learn from ZK &Co, they never join any political party but with wonderful muslim brand barge into any gravy train, licking all the way to top. Mewaaz khaoz maze udaozz. You will see how without joining BJP they will work out their mewaa…

Now that it is clear that the ‘young woman journalist’ was cooking up stories against Tarun Tejpal shouldn’t she be arrested? It surely was consensual and most likely for gains, and as it didn’t work it turned sore and so the concoctions and allegations. I knew from the beginning that there is something very fishy here. These laws are meant for suffering vulnerable woman, the city based slick movers know how to misuse these, and therefore should be dealt severely. If senior woman lawyer can release the details of allegations and tarnish reputation before the convictions then it is quite fair that counter views are also made public, and in detail. Great work Outlook magazine. Tarun Tejpal should be released at the earliest.

You must watch Gravity more than twice!!

Rarely do I go out for movies these days, contrast this to rushing from one film festivals to another across the country. What started as a group soon splintered into individuals. But saw all the great masters and yes some really amazing stuff. The last movie I saw in many years was Avatar, a Hollywood movie. So it came as a surprise that I saw Gravity again the other day, a movie twice in a theatre is truly rare. Gravity is an amazing movie, and I am quite impressed. Though there are some minor problems (NASA points to few) as also I found some dialogues jarring. The worst was English subtitles that took the fun out of the visuals. 3D movies are here to say, it’s an amazing conception. Gravity is a path breaking effort, watching it was a breath taking experience.  

Though I must add people lack civic sense, they are rude and use mobiles quite openly during movies. They cannot even keep it on silent mod. These things, beyond a point, cannot be taught. The younger generation don’t imbibe values from aliens, clearly concern for others is not in Indian family framework. Respect is an important part of civic sense, it means valuing others and their presence. This leads to respecting laws. In the world of entitlements these are minor casualties, I guess. 

The other day I was interacting with someone, I don’t know him –a mere acquaintance. He was asking about what keeps a relation more specifically with children. I am no expert on Human relation though I have taken few HR sessions!! I shrugged and moved on, people don’t excite me that much. Later I caught myself thinking about it. I guess there are three things Trust, Respect and Love…yes that seems it. Love is unconditional as much as trust is implicit in any relation, so is respecting the individuality. Rarely does foundation of any Indian family has any of these, it seems coalesce of needs and urges. Keeping these parameters it’s no wonder why Indians are so deviant, and they are reproducing all the while. 

Hypocrisy, as defined by the liberals, in this context is reluctance to show how the reproduction happens!! And so the mediocre Indian creative community latch on to Americans for references. In this ruse lifestyle aspiration is what is pushed in, and the need for specific products to fulfill these. In Indian context acting or making movies is no big deal, few weeks and anyone can be an actor. The reason why directors are now actors, while actors are singers too, singers are also directors, actors are becoming directors, they are also cricket players, opinion initiators and expert in trivialisation…it is all quite easy, nothing seems impossible. They also bump into new talents in get together and ads; it is matter of coincidence that they are also related to each other or someone they know!!  So much talent is nauseating!! 

I was reading Andre Beteille, he writes “In primitive societies, the relations of production are homogenous. The differentiation and specialisation are mostly based on biological factors such as age and sex, and on kinship. Functional specialisation is based, at the most, on specific skills of certain individuals.” These certain individuals are mostly the technicians and the nearest we come to the intrigue referred to as professionalism and competence. While talent is increasingly attributed to youngisthan, for whatever reason, and hinged on kinship. Way to go ye liberals.              

    

Another 1984 massacre conveniently forgotten

  Bhopal gas tragedy that killed 8,000 within two weeks and caused debilitating injuries to approximately 5.5 lakh people, thousands and thousands of whom died an agonising death, many suffer till date. This massacre also happened in 1984. Congress was ruling the state of MP, and Arjun Singh was the CM. Arjun Singh’s conduct during and aftermath of the tragedy was nothing short of criminal to say the least. Most significantly he allowed Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson to first put up at the state guest house and later was allowed to fly to Delhi on state plane, and then the ‘state guest’ Anderson was allowed to get away from the country with full knowledge of the Union government. It is difficult to even conceive that this could happen. Wonder how much money was exchanged in the process. Subsequently Indian government didn’t seriously pursue this matter, and people suffered. Arjun Singh in the meanwhile brushed up his secularism credentials and continued to play active role in Indian politics without raising an eyebrow!! It is as easy as that. Ideally this scoundrel should have been to taken to custody.

Just four days after the tragedy struck, Arjun Singh made a statement where he seemed to be defending Anderson. Incidentally safety issues concerning Union carbide were raised in state assembly of MP before the tragedy and it was none other than Arjun Singh who assured everyone that it was quite alright, reportedly saying that he himself had been to the factory. Did the then chief minister actually check whether Union Carbide was following the best practices before handing out a certificate?

 “As it happens Union Carbide had similar plants in France and in Germany as it did in India. In Bhopal the dangerous chemical agent was stored in a single giant tank. In France it was kept in smaller, individual cylinders. And in Germany it was ensured that the chemicals in question could not be stored in such proximity at all, whether in one huge chamber or in multiple containers. How many lives might have been saved had either the French or the German example been followed?” (TVR Shenoy in an article in 2010)

 The main perpetrators of Sikh genocide of 1984 were never prosecuted and remarkably this tragedy would have lost its significance had not 2002 Gujarat riots happened. 1984 is not only about Sikh genocide it’s also the year that should question the culpability of leaders in their role in Bhopal tragedy.

An utterly confident and haughty Warren Anderson said this to Indian media before leaving "House arrest or no arrest or bail, no bail, I am free to go home...There is a law of the United States...India, bye, bye, Thank you."

That is about Indian system bending over back to let a person, who was responsible for worst tragedy of its kind, get away. Nowhere else in the world this would happen, his haughtiness points to the pits it had sunk. The colonial gift to India the “steel frame” as malleable as ever bends only for the powerful, it’s clear the culprit was allowed to escape from the orders of powerful people. Wonders of world’s largest democracy.   

(due to some reason I was finding it difficult to upload pictures into this blog, it took me about an hour…Crude Woman and ZK Bazz must be busy!! Sudharja budiya)

Reform without equity is dangerous

If the structure isn’t based on equality or equal opportunity then reform, that is, more autonomy and power, will be counterproductive. I was watching Satyamev Jayate the other day; it gives a new perspective on the entire idea of reforms. The hue and cry over police reform has to be put in context to whether the structure in itself equitable or not. In India these critical functionaries like Police or Civil servants or Army have different points of entry for the recruits and thus creates inequity and attitude of discrimination, it quite easily falls into temple squatter’s framework that Indians wallow in, as they like hierarchy wherein they should feel entitled. Even in Britain the system is attuned to fairness and competence, everybody should starts at the same level. We have carried on the colonial British system assiduously, since it serves the purpose of a section. We are been taught in school that the reason why India ‘survived’ after independence is because of the “steel structure” i.e. bureaucracy.  This is the nonsense that is fed to children.

Almost all of India’s major problem is because of ineffective and self-serving bureaucracy, this was worst during 1950s to 80s, wherein the closed system thrived hand in with feudal politicians. The reason why the focus was not on social development like education or health, indeed there are enough evidence to show that they actively connived to keep Indians illiterate. India’s skewed ‘development’ got further detrimental for majority of people after the ‘reforms’ in 1990s since it only perpetuated inequity.

When institutions like Judiciary, Media, Sports body, Market etc. demand complete freedom and autonomy in functioning, it is to be no doubt welcomed, because they should function without any influence or interference. This maybe true anywhere else in the world but in Indian context it has to be scrutinised very closely, we have a culture that thrive on perpetuating system that uses its power/influence to create misery. This framework is very much alive as temple squatters have spread out to lucrative pastures. This framework is sought to be replicated. So the media will furiously defend its turf in the name of freedom of expression without being responsible at all. It’s a mean to suck up money, media freedom is just an alibi. The Judiciary will be most incompetent but they will be very much alive on any hint of contempt. The same that happened in temples all over Indian subcontinent over thousands of years, where being responsible and moral was none of concerns while accruing wealth and giving misery was normal. You look at the way BCCI works out billions of rupees from thin air with bunch of amazingly mediocre players in a country where substantial sections are amazingly poor. It’s just amazing!! Ditto when majority of people suffered, faced untold misery and discrimination over the centuries the temples were opulent, not by default squatters too. While they connived to give godly status to rulers, their concerns included whether U shaped design was better than Y shaped on the forehead, these were serious philosophical discussions. It is the same tradition that political party spokespersons carry on, as they shout down each other with inanities, this traditional quality is the reason why they are appointed for same!  The vaadh samvaad parampara of the dimwits, no wonder with few exceptions Indian philosophy is absolute garbage or at the most common sense if not expressions of mediocrity, in the context of social reality it becomes an elaborate joke. It is in protest that Indian philosophy truly finds its bearings and roots whether through Budha or Kabir or Guru Nanak…the saints and seers over the ages who despite temple squatter’s mischiefs and threats attempted an egalitarian base. But these brilliant attempts were weakened due to vice like grip of the vicious as it played on people’s insecurities. They even have shlokas on anything and everything, indeed speaking in Sanskrit itself is sacred!! Culture lafangas generally start their speech with these to establish their scholarly pedigree. When it comes to India all these egalitarian values and institutions including its mahatmas, should be carefully scrutinised, they tend to sneak in with a bit of cleverness. 

The other day I was reading an article wherein the fellow with feudal reference was saying that he found visiting his friends in Pakistan like going to his own home, they could ‘completely understand him than people in small towns of India’. So our man had flash of enlightenment “if we are the same why this fighting over borders…”. I am not surprised feudals everywhere are the same and they wonderfully get along well, as much as Indian media celebrates birth in British royal family or their coquettish fancies. To mistake it as open mindedness and liberal is where we fault and they sashay as saviours and upholders of values. It is a trick temple squatters have perfected over the years and created it as aspirational framework for common people: To look beyond and be absolutely unconcerned about immediate misery created and perpetuated. Market has morphed it as choice, while for media it is news and it seems our freedom is hinged on it.