Recap ‘08

The year has gone by, and with all pomp and show we will be bidding farewell to the worst year as Outlook magazine would have it say, and Rediff would say that this year was not our worst terror hit year. The year that saw the election of the new president of the United States and the year where Tata would have thought of as not having existed, according to me.

From Chandrayaan, which went unnoticed due to the presidential elections in the states and the terror attack, to the Indo-US nuclear deal which was finalized this year.  On a personal front progress meant spiritual growth and a new direction to life as a whole, there were trying times when no solution was in sight but time takes care of all, where a new day is present after every dark hour. It was a time when charge was transferred to a new general secretary after having completed the tenure with two successful and well managed events. Realisation that any responsibility goes with the knowledge of a certain level of discernment with it. This year marked the move from a day full with a flurry of activity to a general slump in activity.

Who would have thought that the biggest business houses in India would be struck with trouble more than twice in a year, the Singur issue where they had to relinquish an investment of about 1500 Crores and then came the terror attack that gutted the Taj, which adversely affected their stock, but as today’s newspaper reads, the most expensive buffet has been created at the Taj for the new year. Though Nano was bound to be in the market soon, it will be delayed for a while. I believe with recession around the corner Nano will soon be the choice of transport for all. Speaking about recession the fall of the Indian stock market which was on a high of close to 21000, to half that value, with stocks plummeting to less than half their value on that high. It was a time to think about the safest investments on the block, with the stock market losing its lustre as a lucrative option. All said and done there are those for whom “One man’s meat is another man’s poison” so this slump could well mean boom time for some. Indian markets were much more stable to the pangs of recession than other markets, but as reports would have it the manufacturing sector has recorded negative growth last month, and another month of the same will spell the words “ recession” for India too. Globalization in its true form showed itself, job cuts, business slowdown, and sad stories of layoffs. What was unnerving was the way in which some people were told to leave their respective companies. Jet airways was the first example of it.

News is rife, after the terror attacks, of an impending war with the neighbors but hopefully the administration his a non violent solution to it. What a friend narrated to me made me feel that after all the terror attacks the indomitable spirit of Mumbai is applauded is just to make the financial capitals work horses run after the carrot fervently. West Asia sees the Gaza strip being pounded by Israeli air strikes and a ground offensive in the offing, I strongly hope we do not follow suite, some opine that this is an opportune time to stake claim for POK. The strikes could well escalate and continue for a while. On a more personal level recession spelt the return of a few academicians due to lack of funding.  News trickled in that well known labs closed down in the United States, touch wood it does not happen to others.

The question lies , where do we go from here……………..

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Reunion

There was a sense of nostalgia as i left the Insti that evening and was about to board the bus for home. it was Jan 2007 when we had organised the first of our batch reunions. This was an opportunity to attend another one, memories went back to that cold evening where 70 of a 180 strong batch took time out of busy schedules to spend time with old pals. There was an overwhelming expectation that this one would be similar if not better. I arrived home only to realise that i would have to fresh-in up and leave. There was a meet organised at the school from where we would go to the hill station nearby, its a fort really. One of the famous forts from the Shivaji era, called Panhalgadh. it was here that Baji Prabhu single handedly fought the entire army of the Moguls so that Shivaji could escape. The entire afternoon was spent at the fort playing cricket and recounting old memories of the school.
Later that evening we were invited for a get-together at a water park which doubles up as a marriage hall. This was a gathering of all the past students of our school, judging that the school is 50 years old i had expected to see a lot of people and meet all my teachers there. As i entered the hall/park, there was a sustained sense of incompleteness. There was a felicitation ceremony at one end, and naturally nobody was interested in the proceedings at that end of the park. On the other-side there was the much sought after liquor. people were queuing up for it in large numbers. Interestingly there was a projection of the 4 slain officers of the terror attacks projected on a wall, and some sort of homage being given to them. the question that struck me was “why this at a reunion”, of course the lack of interest was obvious in that direction too.That same image came to mind later that evening as i tried to recall where i had seen the same sort of farce being played out, i had seen the same pictures on a banner in front of the insti immediately after the attacks.
What is a long standing opinion is that “please do not politicize or capitalise on the lives given by these officers, in this manner. This being said since at both instances there was a general lack of interest or for that matter “respect” at the outset.  This is not why they gave their lives for, not for some vested interests by some groups whether political or otherwise. Its time to tell such people that they can’t gain false fame through such facades.

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Bullet Proof Jacket for India, not Blame Games – An Immediate Need

Article contributed by the AAMJUNTA towards Progressive thinking

“Khud hi ko kar buland itna, ke har taqdir se pehle khuda khud bande se puchhe, bata teri raza kya hai”

This is the shayari that rings in my ears as India fights its war against terror and militancy. This war has been happening from day one, from the day of Independence, 15th Aug 1947 to till date, … and every time India gets wounded, wounded badly.

For every act of terrorism or militancy in any part of India, the political forces here raise their finger towards our immediate neighbour, be it Pakistan or Bangladesh, without even realizing what they are talking about and without even looking into their own mistakes, loopholes. Yes, our neighbour has been (partly) responsible, directly or indirectly, in all kinds of disturbances we have in India. But, that hatred was the theme of the creation of that country and its survival is based on anti-India politics. No one will have any second opinion on that, at-least in India. Their political parties and the army survives on this single theme, on anti-India policies. But, what about India? It was not formed with the philosophy of blaming others. But, what are we doing? Why can’t we stop blaming others? Why can’t we make India strong? What stops us from strengthening ourselves? No, we are not doing this. Our political forces do not like to do that. Because, they want to use this in vote business, use terrorism and militancy as an election agenda. They know they can get votes on the name of (anti)terrorism. And we the people… we are in their trap.

India has fought three major wars against its neighbour and many wars against terror (within and out), and who knows how many more are left to be fought? The division of greater India and the creation of India and Pakistan was the policy of Britain – to divide and rule. That had happened 60 years ago, and should be a close chapter now. The formation of two nations was wrong or right is not a debate any more. It is a fact and we have to accept it. Not only accept this, we have to live with it. India cannot change Pakistan, nor Pakistan can change India. Both countries will exist. Both have to learn the art of coexistence, if possible, or complete non-interference in each others’ internal affairs. Let’s either be completely pals or maintain a peaceful distance from each other. The on and off bilateral relationship will lead both countries nowhere. Either we have to commit to it or not commit. We have to make that clear. But, that hardly happens.

So, where is the solution? What can be done? As Indians, let us find common grounds and defend ourselves, rather than harp on the differences. Why not change this kind of attitude and stop blaming others. A strong federal force, a strong army supported by dedicated and vigilant intelligence may be some answer to it. The common man can very well be a part of the intelligence. Intellectual mass should educate and train the common man towards the dangers and threat that terrorism is posing for democracies. Give some value to the security establishment, be that police force or armed force. What stops us from from giving value to them? The mind set of 18th century has to be changed, if we want good and better people in our army or police force. Give better facilities and autonomy, not politically controlled autonomy (as seen now).

Let’s fight with terror, and  militancy. Let’s make our political force, our intellectuals and the aamjunta more accountable. Let’s create a bullet proof jacket made of intellectuals, security force, intelligence, political establishment and the aamjunta; a bullet proof jacket for our India, our mother land, our own country and fight back with force. And remember – no blame game policy, rather self defence. The sooner it is, the better it is.

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