Gandhian Tenets of Satyagraha Vis-a-vis Anna'

Dear Brothers n Sisters ,
I beg to differ from the majority who stand behind the shadow of Anna and his so-called Civil society team…Let me espouse my views with the aid from Gandhian tenets.. his original speeches..texts n other such bibliography. Please dont get fired up..Kindly peruse the text completely b4 jumping into conclusions.

Hereinafter in this text , Gandhian Satyagraha will be coded as GS and that of Anna’ as AS.

1) GS : Our tyranny , if we impose our will on others , will be infinitely worse than that of the handful of Englishmen who form the Bureaucracy . Ours will be a Terrorism imposed by a majority and therefore worse and really more Godless than the first.

AS : What is Team Anna doing right from the beginning ? Aren’t they trying to impose their conditionalities on the Govt ? , howsoever good , the intentions may be… Isn’t this a kinda Terrorism by a Majority ( under the camouflage of Civil society )

2) GS : Non – Violence and Truth Force is never a method of coercion , it is one of conversion . It proceeds on the active principle of Love. It is easy for you to love ur friends . But I say unto u , Love ur enemies. It is never the intention of a satyagrahi to embarrass the wrong-doer . The object is to convert , not to coerce the wrong-doer and to awaken the sense of justice in him..

AS: Both Team Anna and The GoI are in a belligerant mood.. there is a virtual Trust-deficit and mud-slinging on either side.. Anna and his team are nevertheless , fighting tooth n nail , armtwisting to bring the Govt. of the day to its knees.. Media flares up the issue and enjoys the “defeat of Govt by the Civil society” as if in a war.. Parliamentary Democracy or for that matter , Constitutional directives are interpreted in the thinker’s own ways n means.. The PM is made to cut a sorry figure in the Nation’s eyes..The media makes a mockery of PM and his team as if a team of Crony jokers at the apex is running a puppet show.. Who elected this Govt. to power ? It is WE , THE PEOPLE… Aren’t we mocking at our self-image ? Rather than persuading n winning the Hearts n Minds of the ruling power , Team Anna is stubbornly persistent on Govt . agreeing to its Jan Lokpal draft…

3) GS : A Satyagrahi will appeal to public opinion , educate public opinion , state his case calmly and coolly b4 everbody who wants to listen to him and only after he has exhausted all these avenues , will he resort to satyagraha .

AS : The Jan lokpal draft was prepared by the Bhushans father-son duo , Arvind Kejriwal et al..They came in public light as representatives of the Civil society .. But for Kiran bedi.. Hardly very few in India knew about the Bhushans.. not to mention Arvind kejriwal as a whistleblower and RTI activist..and Santhosh Hegde (as Lok ayukta) as he pulled up mining scams in Karnataka.. They least bothered to come out in public light to introduce themselves to the remote Indian . their only concern was the educated elites to join hands with them . Soon after it was drafted … Was it circulated among the Indian masses ? Lest Anna Hazare announced his fast from Jantar Mantar at Delhi , the people of India wouldn’t have known what it is all about … The mood , then was volatile for an easy ignition and quick flare-up of Anti-Corruption sentiments among the masses , as The Raja of Corruption case spread like wildfire thro ‘ the veins of India . Neither the majority of the rural masses knew what is Lokpal nor its efficacy when brought into force.. Team Anna never gave thought to a wider consensus of Public opinion to emerge.. The leviathan plank on which they vindicated their modus-operandi is tat this Lok pal was swept under the carpet for the past 40 years by successive Governments.. But for the Telecom scam ( and its paraphernalia .. CWG.. Adarsh n others ) , would the Corruption issue got a bigger face among the elites n the masses ?

4) GS : If we want to cultivate a true spirit of Democracy , we cannot afford to be intolerant . Intolerance betrays want of faith in one’s cause.
Going on Dharna is barbaric- a crude way of using coercion . The person sitting on dharna knows that he’s not going to get trampled over .. It is the worst form of violence.. humiliating the opponent. The end of Satyagraha is always an agreement , never dictation , much less humiliation of the opponent .

Sitting on dharna inside Tihar jail premises and threatening to go on an indefinite fast.. dictating terms to Govt . to pass the bill before a deadline … do these rhetorics augur well for a true satyagrahi ?

Alas ! all of a sudden , India awoke and joined hands with Team Anna as their foot soldiers.. Thanks for the Lotus revolution in the Middle East which spawned mass uprisings against tyrannical Govts. The media and the jingoistic minds portray a serious Governance deficit in India.. Oh.. really ? how does it emerge all of a sudden like a bolt out of the blue ! Were all of us in deep slumber until these Corruption scandals shook us up ? How do we fail to realize that we’re the main instruments of this evil.. Don’t we bribe the RTO official to get a license sidestepping the regular procedures? Don’t we grease the palms of the revenue officials to get a community certificate or the Traffic cops on the roads to escape penury for traffic violations ?
WE , THE PEOPLE incentivised , breeded and cultivated the corrupt and now we join as foot soldiers with Anna to fight against this evil.. Wat an ignominy !
We sell our morals and ethics for wholesale and when time comes for blame-games , we spew the filth on the Govt .machinery.. Do these Netas and Babus land in our country from space ? they were feeded by Mother India.. and If the society remains morally and physically corrupt .. how can we expect a diamond from a gutter ?

Anna has now given a clarion call for “ A Second Freedom Struggle “ .. People of all ages have already given him the de facto status of Mahatma … A jubilant mood is setting in India with people adorning the Gandhian caps and bragging on their first Jail journeys in Facebook n Twitter. We, Indians get corny at times as we lose patience and tolerance too easily.. But we dont find any fault in misusing the Truth Force i.e. Satyagraha … Due to the ill will of successive Governments since 1960s , Lok pal failed to fructify.. There is no denying the fact . But why is it that when these big scams tumbled out akin to skeletons from cupboard , we instantly rised up in unison to fight against it ? No doubt , we need an effective mechanism to curb corruption at all levels.. it needs to be multi dimensional . An over-powering , all pervasive Jan lokpal will be inefficient to handle genuine cases in the long run .

Neither do I agree with the Govt’s draft of the Lokpal .. Well said , it appears to be an Hollow draft with many loopholes.. but why did this happen ? its only beacause we are rushing up thro matters in haste . We don’t give time for any wider public consensus.. Hardly very few of the rural populace know what is Lok pal or its functions..Yet they come and share space with the so-called Civil society team to voice against corruption. The people of India want a permanent solution very soon.. They want it to be realized in their lifetime… It conspicuously shows the selfishness. We are just doing lip service , when we expect “an ivory –tower drafted Lok pal /jan lokpal bill “ to serve as an effective sustainable anti-corruption tool.. It ‘ll lose its sheen in the long run and will be of no use to the future generations. … A well drafted bill on corruption needs to meet the wider section of the populace , seek their opinion , improvise it , remodulate it to make it an effective tool and then come into force.. How long will it take ? India is on the path of rapid development and year-on-year , the quantity n quality of the literate and the educated intelligentsia is on the rise.. How long can the Govts which come to power shirk from its responsibility ? How did RTI come into force ? was it due to mass upraisals by the people ? I hope u ‘ll buy my argument that RTI is functioning quite satisfactorily despite some shortcomings and limitations in its working.

To be frank , I feel this ex-serviceman Anna Hazare is misusing Gandhiji’s potent weapon of Non-violence . Won't this set a wrong precedent by people to use Satyagraha to coerce their will upon the Govt ? Hasn't TRS leader used it to vouch for Telengana ? I vouch and espouse Anna's high ideals to uproot corruption but the means he has adopted is a farce . As Voltaire said I disagree with him but I ll fight till the end , for his right to express his dissent .

Actions Speak more than Words

Hope u get the crux of this post from d title..Yes , my dear friends, i have did ample talking through my posts.. Let me stop here . One of the readers gave me a good feedback which prompted me to take this action. I personally feel that i can pull more people on my side when i transcend and transform my Visions to Missions. Yeah.. this Blog will remain idle till the time i make a mark in the society. It might take months or even years.. but i'll try my level best to keep it as short as possible. Yeah.. this is d curtain call for my journey.. As of now , i ve decided to bequeath one poor family, a month and help them by all means.. in terms of a permanent income from a structured employment sector besides other basic needs..
Inter alia , I have also planned to extend my services in Education (by providing free text and NBs , uniforms and shoes , etc ), Health ( aiding in improving the medical facilities at local PHCs and rural hospitals ),etc... This is my short term plan. Many more such plans are on the anvil ( say, farmers - market logistics chain , Generating local level incubators for rural entrepreneurs , utilizing IT, R & D of Technical institutions in almost all sectors) . I would welcome u all , my friends to join me in this endeavour.. Ur feedback and suggestions are most welcome.
As u all know .. the sole factor for all this is MONEY !
I would just like to quote Mother Theresa's words here " If the work is intended , Money will flow "
I'm starting this on an optimistic note.. let us join hands and work towards the change ..
I ve taken a pledge to make a significant impact on the life of someone (preferably, the weak/downtrodden/disadvantaged/poor ) before floating the next article on this blog...would also like to covey that my future blogs will also carry some news on the humanitarian / developmental activities that i would be working on.. I need all ur sincere blessings , in this endeavour of mine..
I'M TAKING A BREAK HERE ............ BYE.. MY DEAR FRIENDS.............................................

Discover Yourself

Right from the cradle to the grave , all of us , typical Homo sapiens , fail to discover the purpose of our birth. This post , I hope , may ignite your minds to discover a new "you".

The life of a typical human starts in his infancy where we follow a Jocose-bellicose-lachrymose cycle and reach adulthood. In the frenetic search for something, we lose sight of ourselves. Life, per se ,is expressed linearly as Education which leads to Employment and Entertainment. Have we ever paused for a moment and introspected the raison d'etre for our actions ? Certainly ,not ! Great legends like Teresa , Tagore , Gandhi , M.L.King et al have made an indelible imprint on history. We merely skim through the pages of history as though they are antiquated. We fail to understand the fact that these divine souls discovered themselves.

It doesn't need an Einstein's grey matter to ignite the spirit in you. We're more adept at doing this.Put these Qs to urself :
1) Why am i here on this planet ? Introspect deeply and u may find that purpose.
2) What am i equipped with to achieve it ? Explore ur latent talent and potential.
3) Am i moving towards this purpose ? Course-correction , analysis and rectification.
(It is ineffable to be put in words. Pls note that this is not a one-time event but a continuum.)
You need not be a Ramana maharishi or a Ramalinga adigal to execute this. Leaving this thought at hind-sight and carrying out your routine chores doesn't cost u a lot.
Implementing and improvising it will pay u rich dividends(in terms of moral and psychological growth and stability )

The evolution taking place in the occidental world is a vindication of my contention. The hedonistic approach of life is gradually opening up to oriental thoughts.The relentless pursuit for wealth and power has caused a moral bankruptcy in the west. " Giving Pledge" campaign promoted by Buffett and Gates , proliferation of Yoga and Meditation are the offshoot of this "inner" discovery.

It goes without saying , that the Orientals will stand to light up the World in the future. Yet , the foundation for it remains an Achille's heel. This "inner" discovery will aid in bringing this metamorphosis. The challenge of conquering the flagrant Maya around us , shapes our destiny .

Wake up to this delusion and I promise , You'll rediscover a new soul with an enlightened spirit.

The Typical Desi

This post is intended to flush up the minds of typical desis . Though it was on the backburner for a long time,better late than never.

The rat race for d desi begins with schooling. Every bright mind here is put to test ,ofcourse through the hackneyed model of Academic bulimia(Fast in Fast Out).The rapacious rankling for marks and grades transcends from schools to colleges and further to Job training. Our strong obsession with the Exotic augurs well with studies and jobs too. The desi builds his foundation here in his motherland , gears up to a foreign land for higher studies and gets fetishly attracted to the foreign soil.We, euphemistically, called it Brain-Drain.

There is a volte-face to every action. It expressed itself as Brain-Gain . I call it sheer Opportunism. A son who deserts his loving mother when she is ill , returning back when she is well-off, is sure to be lambasted. But Mother India politely recieves her sons with a leviathan heart. It is a matter of ignominy. Still further , the yester-year sons of India , after finding a new home abroad, denigrate their motherland.

It is to be remembered that it is this India, despite its linguistic-regional-casteist-ethnic divides , which is poised to be the future global power. Tables have turned over time and India is at the centrestage now ,though we're still developing. Global leaders on the lines of Obama, Sarkozy,Medyedev are queuing up to clinch deals with us. Global governance foras are opening up to pave way for us. It is the same land , which our young desis are deserting till date.
A few of us can argue that millions of dollars are pouring in as remittances but i would like to stress.. Not even an inkling of a penny can equal the love u show to her by being with her through all the odds.

The narcissistic desi , who is sheerly moved by self interest hardly stands by his motherland. The cliched reasons offered by these skepticals are corruption , sub-standard goods and services and so on. It is worth noting here that for every Radia gate and Bofors, there is a Watergate.

What have we gained by aping the West ? The disintegration of Joint families and growth of extended families... I sincerely agree to the view that customs, traditions and mores should evolve with time. But should it be at the cost of losing our roots ? There is a popular adage : BE A ROMAN WHEN U RE IN ROME. On a lighter vein , i would like to shoot this : ARE WE INDIANS IN INDIA ? Right from dressing up in sleazy outfits to uttering broken foreign accent, we yearn to be westerners in India.

Transplantation of best practices , cultures and traditions ought to be given a thumbs-up , no doubt but the process involved , is a cause for worry. While the West adopts and adapts the rich practices of the East, the latter blindly adopts the Western culture and practices ... sans any threadbare analysis of its suitability to the rich civilizations of the East , developed through centuries.

Women were equated to Gods during the Sangam ages , though they were dependent on men. Do we find the same parallel now ? yes of course.. but disparagingly.. in a paternalistic society. It is more painful to watch women self-commodifying themselves . To me,it is a sacrilege to portray women in bad taste in both the print and e-media.In what way a skimpy-clad actress/ model will add up to d brand value of a Bentley or a Rolls Royce ? The tags " Hot/sexy/gorgeous/etc" are indiscriminately used by both genders in reference to both. Fairness , oflate , is touted as a springboard for success in life. From fairness creams to cosmetic surgeries , ludicrously, Men are on par with women! The salacious reference to divine beauty is a pernicious way of self-humiliation which we inflict upon ourselves. But we , desis find great pleasure in endorsing it.. courtesy: the western model.

The gloomy part is : How many of our children (in the age gp. of 5-16) know to speak and write in our mother-tongue ? We 're portraying the most practical way of showing disrespect to our Mother . How do u expect such a generation to grow -up ?
On a parallel , In Japan , young school students are taken on a mandatory visit to Hiroshima and Nagasaki and are asked to sketch/pen a few lines on it. .. A perfect epitome to groom up a sensitive young Gen.

Time and again , we indemnify ourselves and fix the fault on the system. But how many of us accept the fact that we're part of it and in a way , eroding and corrupting the very system. I m sure to be isolated in this argument if i stand , an amicus curae , for Mother India.

My urge is : today's young generation can bring about change. Bygone is bygone. Let us be d change and support Mother india in its rise and its endeavour to wipe the tear out of every poor child of her. I don't mind being tagged corny if i sound to be a bit patriotic.Hope my words will stir up the thinking souls !

Jingoistic Passions : Are we True Indians ?

When Sachin scalps his landmark 200 , we turn heads over heels in a burst of euphoria. The same thing happens when Rahman bags a Grammy and an Oscar. We feel elated and see ourselves in their position. but how many of us accept the fact that there are many more such Sachins and Rahmans in remote pockets of India , who yearn for someone to lend them an helping hand ?

Ofcourse , I do agree that these Great people are legends and have inspired a whole new generation. There is bountiful media hype and hoopla peeking their celebrity status. What is worthy ? crowning an already Bejeweled monarch or nurturing and grooming up "Potentials" who'll lead India to a glorious future.

I apologize for using this word but i can't get an alternative. I call ourselves as ' Inglorious Indians '. Most of us don't agree to the bitter truth that we're turning more opportunists and introverts. The hot celebrities of the corporate world, be it the M.Ambani who's building himself a bungalow running into crores of rupees , the Bollywood Khans and sizzling sirens who rake in hefty packages for films and endorsements (The only inspiration they leave for the young is their 6/8 pack abs , washboard abs , size zeros' and hourglass figures ..The lust for beauty eclipses the concern for the outside world ) remain in a paradise land of their own..

Social responsibility under the garb of CSR bloomed up lately as an effect of the work done by a few Good samaritans ( who , i consider to be True Heroes of India ). My earnest urge is : We spend a lot on hi-tech gadgets , garments , et al inspired by the ostentatious lifestyles of our great celebrities who hardly spend few dollars out of their wallets for a social cause. Are we not opportunists if we rapaciously hunt to make most out of the Land (our motherland ) , doing a penny worth for Her in return.If we reason out , we blatantly blame it on the system as if we've no stakes in it. But there'll be a time when India will make us feel proud. It is then we bluster ourselves as proud Indians.

We contemplate that we are being taxed to benefit the downtrodden. if so, why is it that nearly 30 % of India is BPL , even 6 decades after we were set free ? Let us stop playing blame-game and look forward to the future by supporting our fellow folks.It is high time we heed to the frail voices of the poor in our neighbourhoods.

Small steps taken now will surmount towering challenges in the future. My fellow Indians , come out of your cloistered shells and treat your poor counterparts as your kith and kin. If the energy latent in the Deprived India is awakened and tapped , our Demographic capital can't find a parallel for itself in this world.
Let us UNITE and endeavour for the synergic prosperity of our Nation. Jai Hind !

Patience & Tolerance - The quintessentials in Today's World

In this mileu of frenetic lifestyle , these two virtues are derisive and bound to be despicable. Sounds pessimistic ? That's reality !

Few crass law-abiders like me get miffed at traffic signals when we patiently wait for the Green , amidst megalomaniacs who honk jarring sounds right into our ears to make us move on. Rapid urbanization has sapped out these values from the urban denizens.Constant rankling and skirmishes over trifling issues are the order of the day. 'Gandhigiri' ostensibly captures the euphoria only on the silverscreen.

We should bow down our heads in ignominy as the State is pushed towards a cul de sac but for bringing out a legislation, directing the welfare and maintenance of senior citizens by their children. Joint families are a passe'. Nuclear families are in vogue.Co-operation and harmony is bygone while parochialism and conservatism has spread its tentacles within the family fabric. Lack of effective parental care is conspicuously showing in bringing up a child. Gone are the days when children sought solace in the warmth of their near and dear at home.They're turning palpably despondent nowadays.

Even True love is hardly spared for and its becoming evanescent unable to catch up with the times.Unilateral concessions and sacrifices are antiquated and relationships now function on a quid-pro-quo basis !

Any time motivation

We often fall apart when some of our near and dear fail to empathize with us. Every one of us r born with a purpose. Some may realize it sooner .. some later... some never... They reach the woods flummoxed of the life they spent in this hectic world. Try to find that one purpose for which u've been created . Germinate and nurture it to realize ur potential.

No pernicious or sinister acts can sabre rattle u. For u have the burning spirit in u as this video speaks out... Here u see a differently abled person who's a mountain of indomitable and indefatigable spirit.. He's no less a Superhuman.. Try to emulate his zeal for life.

Beyond the myopic Vision

Friends,
Kindly spend few minutes and watch this video. Some of us see ourselves as Happy go lucky persons pampering in whatever life has in store for us. Our quest for a better and better lifestyle eclipses the outside world. If we scratch it under our skin , we're no better than rapacious beasts callous of our neighbours. We're still living in the world where the human is made to live the life of an hungry dog hunting for its food.

Hope this video will kindle the dormant spirit. If not for the philanthropist in u , atleast to keep the Narcissist and the profligator in u at bay .