DIGEST

Rats in ROMANCE
The adorable agouti that are the first of their kind to be born in the UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk






















The look that says 'I've just eaten all your chickens': The fox who was too fat to flee the coop
http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Can We Reform It

These were the days when I used to serve as a science teacher in a govt. school in Himachal Pradesh. A fellow teacher was being transferred from that school. He was willing to be transferred to a school of his own choice. He wrote an official letter to then chief minister (congress) Vir Bhadra Singh. The initials of the letter read as

“To
Raja Sahib Sh. Vir Bhadra Singh
Chief Minister
Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.”
I have no protest against writing a letter to a chief minister. My only concerns were about the language of the initials. Was it necessary to write ‘Raja Sahib’ in an official letter? Could he not have written chief minister of Himachal Pradesh only? Isn’t this a reflection of monarchism or feudalism dominating the democracy? These were the few questions which I need to be answered.

On probing he told me “This is how he likes to be addressed and there are a few who even don’t bother to mention chief minister.” Wasn’t this a clear case of appeasement on the teacher’s behalf and monarchial hangover on the CM’s behalf? This mentality is deep routed in the core of Indian mass.

Today when I heard Rahul Gandhi saying that there is no internal democracy in political parties in India. He also mentioned the “LAL BATTI” culture and his despair that common man is not getting a chance to join politics.

As he claims, he might have some solutions for this problem. The question is whether the solutions are realistic or not? I would like to go with the negative side. This is because we don’t have the virtue of fair play. We always take politics in terms of pulling down the other’s leg. The same idea is manifested by our political and social organizations. After the death of Nehru congress suffered a huge split in the absence of a dominating figure. The other parties could not retain there independent identity for the same reason. In nineties congress suffered a lot due to the absence of the dominance at the top. The story was no different for BJP after Bajpayee(conflict among the second row leadership). Therefore, Rahul Baba, it is not only the chief minister who likes to be addressed like that, but the teacher is equally amazed of writing these lines. You could mould the congressmen but who would mould the common man.
Pic from http//:www.msanjay.weblog.us

Redefining Love

“Where r u? I’m desperate to meet u. Pls, try to understand I can’t wait anymore. I want it now or never. Hu knows wt happens 2moro.” These were the lines flashed on my friends mobile screen. And mind you these were the midnight hours.
“What is this nonsense?” he uttered.

On probing , he confessed that this creative work was from his girlfriend.
“I wud like 2 avoid it b4 marriage. Pls control yourself”, he retaliated.
“I knew her for last five years now but she had never behaved like that” he murmured.

Sana (name changed) hails from Varanasi in Utter Pradesh, which happens to be the hometown of my friend Sumit (name changed). They have some strong emotional attachments towards each other. Now they are in Delhi. Their society does not enjoy a reputation to allow such kind of conversation especially on the part of female.

This story clearly suggests that restrictions can only make the things more complex. It is also evident that when these bonds are cleared the lava inside bursts out. Some time it can result disastrous consequences. The time has come to oppose this orthodox behavior of Indian society. We have to move faster towards the modernity( Not Obscenity). We must respect the biological needs.

The story has got another angle too. The term “love” ( which rarely happens) is being redefined by the youth. Girls are turning out to be more pragmatic in approach. This no more remains a life long pledge. They want to live it now. What is your take on that?

Pic from http//:www.bbc.uk

Let India be India

There are people who accept the superiority of American political system and recommend the same for India. A section of people proposes to adopt the western concept of education in India. Recent incident of Sania Mirza’s flag desecration case has initiated a debate on freedom of expression in India which is entitled by our constitution as a fundamental right.

Whenever we confronts any flaw in our system we waste no time to admire the American or western system. This time it was no difference.

A reputed English Daily published a four column story on the same issue. It described comprehensively why Sania won’t be hounded in the US for insulting national flag. It mentioned that in America to burn its national flag is not an offence. To protest against the state policies people are free to ruin the emblem. This was attributed to the absolute nature of freedom of expression in US. The story says Indian version of freedom of expression is not absolute. The story ends saying “Clearly, India has a long way to go before it can catch up with the US on this civilisation issue.”

Now the million dollar question is can India afford to catch the US on this issue? My answer is negative. We are culturally and linguistically diverse country. These national emblems imposed by the constitution are the strings responsible to hold us together. We can’t let these symbols of our integrity to be insulted.

This doesn’t mean that I support the case against Sania Mirza as it seemed that it has been framed deliberately. I strongly feel that Public Interest Litigations (PIL) needs to be scanned so that dignity of an individual is maintained.

We have our own system. It may not be the best in the world but it is not the worst either. Solution is here within. It requires the eyes to locate and hands to execute. So let India be India.

Let’s ‘Live In’

Context- Recent ruling of apex court to give inheritance right for live in partner.

“Late twenty is the perfect age for getting married”, is what senior fellows used to preach. My elders did follow the same philosophy. I was also supposed to hold the same line. My parents have some plans to knot me by the end of the year. I too was getting prepared for the inevitable incident (marriage) but destiny has something else to offer.


A ruling coming out of the apex court was enough to create doubts in my minds about this social institution (i.e. marriage). The judgment has legitimized the unregistered relationship between him and her.


I put some serious thought over the consequences of the proclamation. If I can enjoy all the luxuries what a married couple do than why should I trap myself in the web of the documents? If I can avoid some expenses- which are inevitable in the shows like marriage- why shouldn’t I? Should I waste the all precious hours in a piece of act, when I know there is an alternative? Why should I appease the social setup around me to let my relationship kick off? If there is an arrangement which has a provision to quit without any complicity, why should I stick to the older format? Moreover, it would provide me the luxury of enjoying different fruits in the basket, as the condition of life long sustainability would not be there.


Unfortunately it would hurt Ekta Kapoor (sop maker), as the conflict between in-laws would vanish. It would heart the business of lawyers, as there would be a dip in registration and de-registration of the relationship. Social activists will find it difficult, as the issues of dowry and in-laws discrimination would erode.

Given all these factors let’s create a chaotic social setup where there will be no names for such relationships. Let’s scrap all those ancient philosophies and notions for the sake of modernity. Let’s break the shackles of so called morality to convert into animals, which believe in use and throw. Therefore, let’s “LIVE IN”.
Photo:http:/ www.suncenter.com

BHARAT RATNA – and my nominee are……

Morning of 17th January- Years ago this author came into existence on the same day. The day has repeated itself once again. My landlord’s dog (she) – Maggie, was the first to wish me. Her sound made me wake up.

I turned on my television set. News flashed on the face (screen) of a news channel. It read, “The govt. is planning to scrap ‘BHARAT RATAN’ (highest civilian award in India)”. Maggie, once again opened its mouth, as if it was asking who my nominee for the prestigious award are.

The question took me into a serious thought. All political parties (even individuals) are proposing the names of their leader for this award. As the thinking process was on my eyes stuck to a news headline of English daily, which read ‘BIRD FLUE BREAK OUT IN BENGAL, CULLING OPERATION IS ON’.

The headline helped me to find my nominee for the honor. I decided to propose the CHICKENS (not headless) for the congregation. Maggie with a sigh of astonishment opened her eyes wide, as if my decision went out of her expectations.

I have some sound ground for this nomination. Look at the history of chicken as a species. It has been serving our society for a long as a source of proteins. The species has made its case strong by adding yet another social service. These are sacrificing there life so that H5N1 (virus which causes bird flu) remains out of human population.

Unfortunately they have been denied of their due. If the award is supposed to be given for the one who served the society with absolute sacrifice, then my case makes a point. Now it is up to you to decide. What do you think?

Cultural Globalization

“I” represents the India of 21st century- an India, of huge potential, giant economy and numerous opportunities. In other words we are the superpower in making. It is a notion which world shares today.
In my culture sex was considered very personal. Premarital sexual relationships were taken as illicit. Character of an individual was determined by his dressing- exposing the limbs were considered obscene. Only indecent people were authorized to talk about sex. Eve teasing, molestation and rape were rarely heard terms.
Now, sex remains no more personal. Premarital sexual relationships are a matter of prestige. Body covered of clothes is a measure of primitiveness and modernity is defined by the length and opacity of the cloths one puts on. So called cultured section of our society loves to talk about sex. Eve teasing, molestation and rape are quite familiar terms.
Why?
Well, it seems to be a question which can not be answered in one sentence. However, there is a need of an answer. Evidently, it looks a consequence of globalization. We are exposed to the different cultures of the world. We have a lot of prejudices about these cultures but we don’t have knowledge of the character of these cultures. When we think of the western society, there is a general perception among our population that they sexually open. When people from these societies travel our territory they confront the problems.
Perhaps, we are moving ahead of our time. We were not ready to adopt this intermix of culture. Our civilization must have given some more time to mature. We skipped some of the steps of our ladder to modernity.
It would not be appropriate for us to consider ourselves at par with the west. We have our own limitations. Our way of living is different altogether. We should think of innovations in this system, instead of pursuing the west. We have to abide by the rule of nature which says “evolution takes its own time.” Let “I” Flourish naturally.
Photo:nitawriter.worldpress.com