Mars Orbiter and India

Mars Orbiter takes India to dizzying heights in Space research. You would have already read a lot about technical intricacies of the mission, so I would not elaborate on that. That’s the stuff for geniuses anyways.

I recall a conversation from decade back from college days. Topic of Mars exploration came up and we wondered when our country would achieve that. It was during college and quite few of us wanted to be part of this dream.

I remember a funny reply that one my friend gave in a drunken stupor. “Hey, I would move to US; become a citizen there. My Country would then have gone to Mars Man! Simple”. Not that he really meant what he said. Such characters who could play with words either ways used be in abundance.

Out of the nations ravaged by colonial rule, we are way ahead. Chaiwaala becoming a PM is one of the things that keep sanity in this country. We know that hard work pays here and there is no need to grab and dash. Mars Orbiter also showcases the exploits of that hard work.

Hope MOM gives impetus to next generation of Space Research in India.

Governors Transferred: An Irony

Governors, their sacking, their transfers, their role and their political relevance is being talked about a lot these days in India. Recently one respected Governor was transferred from West to East. He resigned citing insult and inability to move. Controversy ensued.

I am not going to touch upon the usual politics but about something else.

The person mentioned has been a distinguished politician with an illustrious public life; has been a minister several times in his life. He would have his valid reasons not to move, but what I fail to understand is how the transfer was an insult? Why cry foul about the transfer?

These are the very politicians who when come to power start transferring officials at their whims and fancies. IAS/PCS officers are transferred in bulk without reason. Aren’t these officials insulted? There have been cases of honest IAS officers transferred over 50 times without reason. Now that the political class is crying foul, it should introspect about what it has done to the public servants over time.

I sympathize with the said person; it’s never easy to move. But do politicians ever think about the similar pain of honest public servants? It’s ironical to see the political class raising a hue and cry now. Are we all not equal? Is Governor more/less important than any other public servant? But I guess this is a question for another lifetime.

I would like the Governors not being transferred but not before apathy of honest public servants ends. Till then I reckon its payback!

PS: I am of opinion to make the Governors tenure synchronous with the Parliament.

Worship Oneself: 330 million Gods

330 million. The number of Gods in Hindu mythology. It has always intrigued me. Who came up with this number? Why it is not 340 million or 350 million? Why is has to be 330 million?

I have been doing a bit of reading on this of late. I have not really understood the rationale behind this number. The only interpretation is that it represents infinity (a very large number). It is said that we do not have 330 million Gods, but 330 million gods. There is only one God, the unison of Holy Trinity, Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva. All other are demi-gods, who themselves worship God.

This very large number is used to represent that Hinduism believe everything is created by God and thus is divine. So everything we see (living/non-living) is divine. We worship all. Thus there is no concept of devil in Hinduism. As devil himself would have to be created by God and would thus be divine. In fact you will find that Shiva never differentiated between even good and bad people. Anyone who did tapasaya was granted avar. It led to even Shiva being threatened once, when he gave an Asura power to kill anybody and that Asuratried to kill Shiva himself.

Hence there is freedom in Hinduism to worship anything and anyone. We worship cows, sun, moon, flowers, stone, water etc. The list is endless. Thus all the egoists, who worship themselves, do nothing wrong. We are created by God and are ourselves divine. Self-worshipping not only takes less time buy also saves money.

Gang Bangers

I could not find any other title suitable to this post however coarse it may sound.

Supreme Court of India struck down the appointment of CVC PJ Thomas recently. Not just the judgment but the case in itself turned out to be a landmark one. It dealt with how to measure the integrity of a person; How the Govt. machinery can be misused to appoint personal beneficiaries to the autonomous constitutional authorities. In fact of late several murky deals from the power corridors of Delhi stood exposed bringing to light the best keep secrets of the India that is corrupt.

“28.3% MP’s have serious charges against them”, Thomas contested in court. Why was only he being unfairly targeted? I must say, I found his plea quite sound. Similar was the defense of Mr. Suresh Kalmadi. “Why don’t you question Delhi CM and Central Sports Minister? They were party to all decisions”.

Why am I alone being charged Sir, it was after all a Gang Bang.

What Thomas and Kalmadi did was a classic case of blackmailing. While Thomas pressurized legislative to support him or stand exposed, Kalmadi took his chances with Delhi CM and Central Sports Minister.

Without going into the good bad and ugly of Adarsh, CWG and 2G scam the thing that stuck me most was the collaborated loot of public money. Had this collaboration been shown in organizing CWG, it would have done some good to brand India. It’s like everyone is ganging up to plunder this country.

Having had rendezvous with functioning of bureaucracy up close, I must admit it would have been hard for Kalmadi to organize CWG without placating other authorities; difficult for Raja to remain Minister without collaborating in loot; and impossible for Chavan to survive without participating in the plunder.

In fact we are no longer averse to bribe and corruption. It’s a way of life. People teach their kids how to bribe without getting caught. “Sir, aap jaisa bolenge waisa ho jaayega”, beta aisa bolna, aadmi apne aap samajh jaayega.

It’s not just the big names which are ganging up; we too are part of the mob that is looting and plundering our nation. We are the Gang Bangers.

Top 10 Examples of Jugaad in India

“Aapko koi problem nahin hogi, maine jugaad kar rakhi hai”. “Kuch setting ho toh batao”. “Are apni upar tak setting hai”. Every one of us would have come across something similar at one point or the other. What exactly is this much celebrated setting aka jugaad? Well, it can simply be defined as an improvised quick fix to a tricky situation; goes to the extent of bending the rules; wisely attributed to lateral thinking.

Let me list down the top 10 examples of jugaad in India over the years.

1. The Third Front as Alternative Governance
   Recent elections have shown a new trend. The opportunist, UPA/NDA discards come together to form an alternative famously known as “Third Front”. It’s nothing more than a jugaad with sole purpose to bargain hard with UPA/NDA when time comes to form the Govt. Everyone knows it is not long term, but as to the purpose of holding the Govt to ransom it has worked quiet well.

2. Chidambram as Home Minister
   Prithiviraj Patil was busy putting make-up and changing wardrobes amidst the 26/11 attacks. He needed to go and went he did! The big question was “Who would fill the empty chair”? Chidambram, known to be an astute economist, was fitted to run the Home Ministry. Barring a few fiasco (Hindu terror, Shoe sting et al), expected of a jugaad, PC has more or less fulfilled the role of a workable HM.

3. Ravindra Jadeja as All Rounder
   The lack of all round cricketers in India is well known. One too many players have been tried by the selectors. When all else failed, time was ripe for the jugaad, Ravindra Jadeja. This jugaad failed and failed miserably. It even put a question mark to the very existence of jugaad. This, until he was selected again. You can hate jugaad, you can love jugaad, you can’t ignore jugaad.

4. Students and College Exams
   Most of us never studied the whole semester and used to bunk the classes. At the verge of exams, we had no notes/no idea. The jugaad used to come into effect. Whole course was divided into 4-5 parts, depending upon the number of friends in the group. Each one read a particular section and then explained it to the rest of the group. I still don’t understand how, but we faired really well, Jugaad rocks!!!

5. L K Advani as Leader of Opposition
   The fight for the post of Leader of Opposition was out in the open. Feelers were doing the rounds. When the GenX of the BJP leaders failed to come to a settlement, it was time for jugaad. The age old tested campaigner Advani, who till then had shown inclination to retire from active politics was brought back and he did some serious damage to UPA over price rise and corruption issues.

6. Security in India
   Secuity setup in most of the places in India works on jugaad. Overworked/underpaid policemen; lack of proper fighting equipments; lack of transport vehicles; lack of proper police station. When people say, “How the hell do we not see anarchy in such a scenario?” I tell them it is the Indian jugaad of 3rd Degree. If you get caught by frustrated law enforcers, God help you!

7. Elections year after year
   If you know someone who has acted as an Electoral Officer, you would know the whole election runs on nothing but jugaad. Govt officers are made poll officers, School/ Colleges are made the poll booths, Long lines at booths with no facility at all. Locals provide the chai/paani/lodging to the booth officers posted in remote areas. In tribal areas, the poll stationary is transported on Elephants. At some places people vote under lantern light. But this jugaad has stood the test of time and hopefully will continue doing so in the future.
   
8. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister
   When Sonia Gandhi did not accept the post of PM after 2004 victory, there was a big frenzy as to the appointment of the PM. Dr. Manmohan Singh, a respected, senior member of Congress party, was employed as a jugaad. Never contested an election, not known to be conniving politician, he turned out to be a shining success of Indian jugaad and how! Into his second term, the jugaad continues to rattle iron man Advani at his own game.
 
9. IPL in South Africa
   IPL2 in SA is a shining example in the Indian jugaad armory. At couple of weeks notice, it was decided to shift the event to SA. Frenetic night outs, back room negotiations and “karna hai” attitude paved way to one of the highly successful events in cricketing history. It was a city moment of jugaads.

10. Baap of All Jugaads: Sheila Dixit (Common Wealth Games)
    To term CWG, Baap of all Jugaads won’t be a misnomer. Everything was left to the last moment, to the chance. Sports Minister termed it the Fat Punjabi wedding, which turns out well at the end. A quick fix to the impounding problems, CM Shiela Dixit was the jugaad to get the games up and running. And boy did she turn out to be one hell of a jugaad. The opening ceremony was a grand success and the whole world came to know and respect the great Indian Jugaad. Bharat Bhagya Vidhata!

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)?

We have been exposed to a new phenomenon during the recent times. I am talking about the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Opposition wants to have a JPC, Ruling party does not want to give a JPC and Common man is left wondering what the JPC is?

By JPC, I understand a committee jointly constituted by parliamentarians across the party lines. How is it any different from any other gazillion committees that are formed to probe matters? Why the obsession? Will it prove to be of any help?

JPC is constituted mainly in the cases where people don’t have faith that the Govt. will allow an impartial probe or the Govt. wants to impress that it has nothing to hide. There are no specific rules to it and very few references to generalize from.  JPC does not have any punitive powers. It can only pass resolution and give recommendations.  Let’s delve in a bit of history. In all there have been four investigative JPC’s till now as below:

JPC 1

• Cause: Bofors scam in ‘87.
• Days Parliament was stalled before it was constituted: 45.
• Effect: Recommendations were rejected by the opposition party.
• Timeline: Aug ‘87- April ‘88.

JPC2

• Cause: Harshad Mehta scandal in ‘92.
• Days Parliament was stalled before it was constituted: 17.
• Effect: Recommendations partially accepted but never implemented.
• Ministers summoned: Dr Manmohan Singh (then Finance Minister).

JPC3

• Cause: Ketan Parekh securities scam in ‘01.
• Days Parliament was stalled before it was constituted: 15.
• Effect: Recommended a lot of stringent changes to stock market regulations but were diluted later on.
• Timeline: April ‘01-Dec ‘02.
• Ministers summoned: Mr Yashwant Sinha (then Finance Minister).

JPC4

• Cause: Pesticide in Soft dirnks in’ 03.
• Effect: Recommended guidelines for water usage by Soft drink companies.
• Timeline: Aug ‘03-Feb ‘04.

So what will the JPC achieve in this case and why is Govt. not allowing it? One thing for sure, it’s going to achieve nothing more than a set of recommendations that too in a year’s time. As to why the Govt. is not allowing it, is a bit tricky.

UPA has 259/545 in Lok Shabha and 91/243 in Rajya Sabha. Given these funny numbers from the coalition era and SP/BSP giving outside support, UPA will be in minority with strength of around 7 in a 15 member JPC. UPA might not be able to dictate terms in the JPC.

In the past the ministers summoned were Finance Ministers but this time the focus is on PM himself. Congress is worried that JPC might summon Dr. Manmohan Singh for questioning. Thus it is ready to sacrifice entire Winter session. If PM is summoned it would be highly embarrassing to the Govt.

Also the opposition will get a potent tool against the Govt. with leaks from investigation sprayed across the media. Govt. can ill afford it.

Verdict: Govt. might not allow a JPC in this matter. Winter session will be sacrificed.

Indian National Congress Hand: The Origin

Listening to the interim budget on television, my mind diverted from Pranab Mukherjee to Congress to its election symbol, the Hand. 15 minutes or so of googling and a coke later, I was still not able to find any definite story behind the Indian national congress election symbol. This led me to use my brain and come out with truth. Here it is. As transparent as it could be.

Hand covering the tri colours stood then for the coming unassuming reign of INC, in that sense Indira after the split of Congress.

Where have you seen this hand so prominently? What else could you relate with this? Guessed right. Budhha.

So is the INC hand, Buddha’s hand. Was Congress after the split based on the principles of Buddha. Was Buddha in any way the originator of the idea of Congress. Did Indira anticipated that like Buddha left the palace, Congress would have to leave Delhi, ousted by Janta Party in near future.

See the composure of the hand. It seems relaxed. It seems preaching. It seems, yes, in Aashirwaad (blessing) mode.

Is a father blessing his son. Or is it motherly compassion.

Or is it the divine blessing via Congress to the people of India? Probably.

Is it the bribing hand. Given the rampant corruption, it might be a message from the future, hinting at the coming corruption and an era of bribes.

During the emergency, was this a slap on the face of the voters. The public.

And Junta was left to do nothing but slap its own head with its hand.

During election campaign 2004-05, this was projected as a helping hand to the poor people.

Now whether the public felt it later as a pickpocket hand is a question to reckon.

I read that during the last general elections, the palm lines were changes in accordance with a palmist. So it may be a palm which carries future of the country concealed in the palm lines. Hope it be the truth.

Why fear when Obama is here

Obama! Obama! Obama! This man has been all over for a good two years now. Be it television, news papers or just the talk round the corner. It seems as if no one has anything better to do. Obama keeps a Hanuman with him, Obama lived in Pakistan, Obama has a brother in Africa. Obama this, Obama that. I am simply fed up.

Our national news channels have portrayed Obama as the savior of mankind. As if he is not just the President of United States but of the entire world. Everyone loves Obama talk, his vision, his speech and his charisma. Obama is being seen as once and for all solution to the problems of one and all. So much so that a kid in my locality is quite sure of getting good marks in exams this year now that Obama is the President of US. My colleagues at office, who till now were weary of the financial depression, are looking up. Its like, “Why fear when Obama is here”.

A news channel went as far as comparing Dhoni with Obama. Apparently they both share a desire to win, flamboyancy and a never say die attitude. It went further to comment that both Dhoni and Obama looked similar when in white clothes. It looks as if everyone is enjoying his own bit of Obama. There was a discussion that the “New Leader”, predicted by Nostradamus, has arrived in the name of Obama. I have had it from this Nostradamus guy. Every year the book fattens. Can somebody please decipher what he predicted earlier than when it actually happens?

I sincerely hope, now that he has become the President, he would be busier in running the nation and we would be spared, him all the time on television. I read his book, “The Audacity of Hope”. Regardless of my being fed up with his face, I really liked the guy. I mean it really require some guts to joke about the rhyming of one’s name with Osama. He himself writes that people considered his political career all but over when the two planes crashed into the twin towers. Let me add something to all the hoopla surrounding Obama. I really admired the honesty in his writings, just like the one which was found in My Experiments with Truth and one which seemed missing in the recent writings from senior political leaders.

हकीकत

दिल क्यों रो रहा है, मुझे नहीं पता। पसीज उठा हूँ मैं आज, न मालूम क्या करूँ। भाग जाऊं यहाँ से या सामना करूँ। यह हकीकत है जो भयानक रूप धारण कर मेरे सामने प्रकट हुई है।

यह रेलवे स्टेशन का दृश्य है। दिसम्बर की सर्दी भरी रात है। सुबह के चार बजे हैं। मैं इंजन की तरफ पीठ करके बैठा हूँ। पीछे से काफी शोर आ रहा है। वैसे तो कड़ाके की ठंड है, पर अचानक ही मुझे गर्मी लग उठी है। एक हाफ-स्वेटर में मुझे टनों ऊन की सी तपन महसूस हो रही है।

कारण? कारण है मुझे अपने सामने दिखती दरिद्रता जो नग्न्ता पर मजबूर हो रही है। एक छोटी बच्ची फूलों की सेज पर सोने के बजाए नंगे फर्श, पर गत्ते के डिब्बे का बिस्तर बनाये सो रही है। तन पर कोई गर्म वस्त्र नहीं, ओढे हुए है तो सिर्फ मोमजामा।

उसके सामने मैं खुद को गर्म चादर ओढे पाता हूँ। जो ठंड मुझसे बर्दाश्त नहीं हो रही थी, अब महसूस ही नहीं हो रही। क्या यही हक़ीक़त का असर है? क्या है उस नन्ही सी गुड़िया का भविष्य? दूसरी तरफ मैं अपने आप को देखता हूँ। हर्षोल्लास करते हुए। मजे करते हुए। यह उचित है या अनुचित, मुझे नहीं पता। पर क्या हमें अपने आप से यह सवाल नहीं करना चाहिए, ऐसा क्यों?

क्या वह बच्ची भगवान की देन नहीं? क्या हम और वो बराबर नहीं? क्या हम एक ही मालिक की औलाद नहीं? मुझे पता है कि आप में से कुछ मुझ पर हँसेंगे। सोचेंगे नहीं। क्योंकि अभी तक आपने हकीकत को देखा तो है, पहचाना नहीं।

कृपया हक़ीक़त को जानें और आगे बढ़ें ताकि इस धरती पर से दुःख और दर्द मिट जाएँ और कुछ ऐसा समां बने जो हकीकत को सुनहरा बना दे।

इस शाम की सुबह नहीं

जाने कितने बसंत भये,
कितने जुग पहले बे थे गए,
अब तो अश्रु भी सूख गए,
सुहाने दिन भी अलोप हुए।

मेरे यौवन का रस था पीया,
रब ने दोनों को एक किया,
एक रात का था वो मस्त मिलन,
बिछड़े आज मोसे मोरे सजन।

फ़ौज से संदेसा आया था,
धरती माता ने बुलाया था,
गोरी को बचन दे कि लौटूंगा कल,
सुख चैन ले गया वो हर पल।

माटी के लिए उसने प्राण दिए,
अपने ही आंसू सांवरी ने पिये,
एक घोर अँधेरी रात हुई,
सूरज को जैसे ग्रहण लगा।

हर आहट पर, हर चौखट पर,
बस एक सवाल ही पूछे वो,
कि कौनसी गलती मोसे भई,
जो बिरह में मैं तड़प रही।

एकटकी लगाये चौखट पर देख रही उस पार,
कि आ जाएँ शायद मोरे सरकार,
छोड़ दे आस ओ पगली,
इस शाम की कोई सुबह नहीं।

अरे उधर यह क्या था हुआ,
यह किसको गरम कढ़ाई में डुबोकर के मार दिया,
कौन थी वो जिसके मुहं में,
एक चावल के दाने ने,
विष का सा था उत्पात किया।

हाय रे जन्म दाता,
क्यों तू ये नहीं समझ पाता,
कि देवी का रूप था वो जिसका,
अभी तूने संहार किया।

माँ के गर्भ से पूछे कन्या,
कि क्या मैं जन्म ले पाऊँगी,
गर जन्म भी मुझको दे दिया,
क्या मैं जीवित रह पाऊँगी,
गर जीवित जो मैं रह गयी,
अपने हक़ को क्या पा पाऊँगी।

इन मर्म स्पर्शी सवालों का,
मेरे पास कोई जवाब नहीं,
पर कोई तो हो कि जिसको,
इनके उत्तर मालूम सही।

क्या कन्या होना पाप है,
या यह कोई अभिशाप है,
अरे यही तो जननी है,
यह जीवन देने वाली है,
इसी के रूप में सीता है,
इसी के रूप में काली है।

ओ नीचे करम करने वालों,
मानवता को डसने वालों,
क्या कभी तुमने यह सोचा है,
जिस माँ ने तुमको जन्म दिया,
उस माँ में भी तो सीता है।

वह माँ भी तो एक कन्या थी,
गर उसका जन्म नहीं होता,
तो तेरी क्या होती पहचान,
मत दिखा तू अपनी झूठी शान।

उत्तराधिकारी के लोभ में,
मत हो जा तू इतना अँधा,
छोड़ दे ये गोरखधंधा,
लेने दे मुझको भी सांस,
बस यही लगाये है वो आस,
आस छोड़ दे ओ नादान,
इस शाम की कोई सुबह नहीं।

कौन हैं वो बुड्ढे बुढ़िया,
जो चौखट पर ही बैठे हैं,
जिस तक़दीर पर था इनको गर्व,
उसी तक़दीर से चैंटे हैं।

कोई नहीं है इनके पास,
जिंदा हैं बस ले लेकर सांस,
बुढ़िया चूल्हा जलाती है,
बुड्ढा खांसे जाता है।

जिसे लाड प्यार से बड़ा किया,
जिसपर जीवन न्योछार दिया,
वो लाल ही अपना नहीं हुआ,
तो परायों की क्या बात करें।

शादी नहीं वो बर्बादी लगी,
जिस माँ से पहले कोई नहीं,
वो बीवी के बाद आने लगी।

माँ बाप का प्यार न रोक सका,
उसको खर्चे बढ़ते दिखने लगे,
बुड्ढे के पान अखरने लगे,
कलह के फल दिखे पके पके।

जिसकी लोरी में सोया था,
उस माँ की खांसी खटकती है,
जिसके कंधो पर बैठा था,
उसका बोझ आज भारी है।

जिसकी ऊँगली से चला था,
उसका ही हाथ झटक दिया,
टूट गया आज एक क्रम,
झुक गए सारे नैन.
न उसको आई कोई शर्म,
क्यों मिला ह्रदय को चैन।

जीवन में धुंध सी छायी है,
सूरज की किरण शरमाई है,
क्या यही वो प्यारा लाल था,
जिसके लिए कंगाल हुए।

पर फिर भी बूढा सोचे है,
कि नाती कभी तो आएगा,
बेटे-बहू को लाएगा,
जो बेटा अपना सबकुछ था,
वो आखिर कबतक रुलाएगा।

न सोचो तुम ज्यादा कंगालों,
सो जाओ आंसू पी पीकर,
इस शाम की कोई सुबह नहीं।

कहीं दूर कोई और दिखा,
कमल खिला पर मसला हुआ,
कोमल कोमल सी पंखुड़ियाँ,
मुरझाई औ सकुचाई हुई।

४ साल की नन्ही उमर में,
उसका था विवाह हुआ,
१२ साल ही हुई न वो,
कि उसका संसार ही उजड़ गया।

समझ ना आया उसको कि,
रंगीन चूड़ी के समय में,
सफ़ेद कफ़न सी साडी दे,
क्यों उसको दुनिया से दूर किया।

सास ससुर के तानों को,
अपनी छाती पर सहती है,
अपनी किस्मत पे विचार कर,
वो रो रो कर यह कहती है।

कि जीवन में हँसी कब आएगी,
कब फिर हँस गा वो पाएगी,
क्या समाज उसको सजने देगा,
क्या उसको भी कोई और मिलेगा।

जो उसके जीवन को रंग देगा,
अपने ही प्रेम के रंगों में,
क्या वो सखियों संग,
मस्ती के रस पी पाएगी,
या ऐसे ही रोते रोते यह,
जिंदगी पूरी गुजर जायेगी।

सूर्य सी वो दमकती थी,
कोमल काया उसकी चमकती थी,
पर आज अंधकार ने लील लिया,
शनि ने उसकी खुशियां को पिया।

कभी मंदिर में घंटा बजा,
पूछे क्यों तूने दी है सजा,
फिर भी एक आस लगाये हुए,
सपनों को है सजाये हुए।

मत सपने सजा इतने बावरी,
इस शाम की कोई सुबह नहीं।