Memorial Of A Warrior King

                                        Every time i crisscross India gate, a sense of national pride,patriotism, inspiration, self confidence and self respect seeps in. India gate isn't just a monument for commoners like me, but an inspiration, a place to inculcate selfpride among impressionable minds. Marvelous monuments like these, encompasses the otherwise prevailing divisions in our society and unite us as one, bypassing every fissure. Monuments cultivates pride of our past, stimulates our collective national conscious while making us aware of our glorious past struggles.

                                    Indians aren't immune to wasteful spending, monuments dedicated to political parties,sheepishly trying to seduce people into believing the hallownesss of individuals with mediocre achievements. Our villages ,towns, cities,airports and numerous places are renamed, monuments erected, for creating personality cults. From north to southern edge, our country is riddled with statues, monuments etc. with implicit political vendetta. People as usual maintain their silence, become mute spectators fearing persecution. Being branded anti establishment & silencing opponents is normal in political diaspora. So, the end result being countless irrelevant eyesore landscapes devoid of any reconnect with masses.

                                        The desire of politicians to further their clout, leads to obnoxious indulgence at taxpayers money is notoriously known and is deplorable. This is a worrying trend with no remedy in sight , but recent agitation by vested interests to belittle and oppose construction of the Statue of Shivaji raises doubts about the veracity of concerns outlined by certain quarters. There's no merit in clubbing, monument of esteemed iconic cult figure "Shivaji", whose historic role in transforming our country's past is irrevocable with petty politicians. 

                                   Shivaji's legacy isn't confined to any political party or region but is an emotive issue for millions of nationalists across India. Being an outsider with negligible influence in present political dispensation could be the only reason why such project wasn't envisaged earlier. Shivaji's mammoth contribution in reshaping Indian history can be gauged from the fact, that he established a modern and powerful Hindu kingdom in south-western India from 1642-1680 in present day Maharashtra but is reverend in Tamilnadu, Karnataka to Bundela land alike. Starting from scratch, the Maratha emperor Shivaji is credited for forming first modern Indian state where jobs weren't connected to caste or religion.

                                    Shivaji's accomplishments are rarely acknowledged or appreciated by leftist intellectuals, or politicians who fear offending a section of public, thus his administrative brilliance or his nation building efforts were unnoticed till now. The monument in the eye of storm, is the proposed 192 m statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the highest in the world, in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast. It is touted to be the biggest tourist attraction for national and international visitors. 

                                   Wastage of money, unemployment, lackluster infrastructure are some of the other arguments raised to defunct this project. It is difficult to analyze how a project of national heritage, that binds and honors aspiration of masses to our glorious past can be seen through the prism of economic viability. But, incumbent government is  wiser and well advised ,so, this project has been designed such that jobs creation and environment concerns will outmatch the projected construction cost in due time. Meanwhile it is advisable that these concerned intellectuals and gullible people who were pained by expenditure on monument should pressurize govt in withdrawing security of traitors of Hurriyat, close money guzzling unproductive institutions like FTII etc, saving hard earned taxpayers money. These are some of the measures that can save the draining public wealth.

                                Shivaji with his Muslim soldiers. Painting by Mir Mohammad.

                                            Shivaji is a glaring example of glorious struggle by a military genius against the tyrants, invaders at that time. For long, left leaning intellectuals who dominated our academic landscapes have poisoned the young minds with viscous, fictitious propaganda brushing off stupendous contribution by gigantic personality like Shivaji.  Common taxpayer as we all are, my annoyance about wasteful expenditures undertaken by various government bodies isn't different, but bracketing the expenditure on Shivaji monument with numerous govt black hole projects is unworthy of attention.

                                    Shivaji is a symbol of freedom,pride, justice and courage in the face of adversity. Erecting a statue is an befitting recognition to the achievements of the warrior king, whose contributions are sketched in the hearts and minds of masses across India. Shivaji was a heroic leader,an epitome of nationalism, justice and exemplary achiever and this monument is an apt recognition of his greatness, swelling our heart with pride.

"Udta - ISRO"

                                 Another feather in the burgeoning cap of accomplishments of ISRO is the triumphant launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1G on April 28,2016.The first satellite IRNSS-1A was launched in July 2013, the second IRNSS-1B in April 2014, the third on October 2014, the fourth in March 2015, and the fifth, sixth and seventh on January 20, March 10, and April 28 2016 thus concluding and operationalizing the system . After successfully establishing their mettle globally through Chandrayaan-1 (making India the fourth country to place its flag on the Moon) and Mangalyaan (fourth space agency to reach Mars and the first nation in the world to do so in its first attempt) the navigational satellite setup is truly an incredible masterpiece . With the successful seven-satellite constellation IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) , India joins a league of elite nations having their own navigation systems in place.

                            The navigational structure of seven satellites is given a new name by PM Modi as NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation). NAVIC is unique as its regional in nature thus have just seven satellites while other countries have placed more satellites as their system is global in outreach. Even SAARC countries can avail the benefit of NAVIC as it is designed to provide accurate position information to users within the country and 1500km around the Indian mainland thus has foreign policy relevance.

                        NAVIC would offer services like terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking, fleet management, navigation aide for hikers and travellers, and visual and voice navigation for drivers. NAVIC  will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Services (SPS) to all users, and Restricted Services (RS) to only authorised users. The system has multiple navigation application for defense purposes ranging from autonomous navigational capability to Indian soldiers, sailors and airmen to GPS tipped bombs and missiles.

                     The magnificent achievement of ISRO made India self reliant and catapulted country's image and wherewithal as second to none.

Mammoth Personalities

                                    In the face of odds we often witness people succumbing, but the ones who don't relent become torchbearers of humanity. These are the real heroes, hope for society whose selfless conduct change the course of history. Such people have broken old myths, orthodoxy customs and ushered in light of knowledge and bestowed honor and dignity to helpless through their courage and sacrifice . These heroes have transformed society and have inspired generations. Today, i have the privilege to write about two such stalwarts of history.

Rosa Parks :- 

                              Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (1913—2005) was an African American civil rights activist. Through a simple act of refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus in 1955, helped initiate the civil rights movement in the United States. During those days, segregation was written into Montgomery law; the front of a Montgomery bus was reserved for white citizens, and the seats behind them for black citizens. Black residents of Montgomery often avoided municipal buses as much as possible  as they find it demeaning to travel by bus. On Thursday, December 1, 1955, the 42-year-old Rosa Parks was commuting home from a long day of work at the Montgomery Fair department store by bus.

                               Nonetheless, at one point on the route, a white man had no seat because all the seats in the designated “white” section were taken. So the driver told the riders in the four seats of the first row of the “colored” section to stand, in effect adding another row to the “white” section. The three others obeyed. Parks did not. Her refusal to vacate seat led to her arrest which sparked wave of civil disobedience movement. The leaders of the local black community organized a bus boycott that lasted  more than a year and ended only when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional.

                            In her autobiography, My Story she said:

                          "People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in"

                          Rosa Parks became a nationally recognized symbol of dignity and symbol of strength in the struggle to end entrenched racial segregation. The United States Congress called "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement".

Ruby Bridges :- 

                          A 6 year old girl in USA was chosen by destiny to radically transform society.  Ruby Bridges, who in 1960 as a 6-year-old became the first black child to attend an all-white school in New Orleans and thus helped end public school segregation in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis in 1960. The bravery of one small girl against all impediments led to integration in public schools.

                         Such was the innocence of the little girl that she she didn't realize at the time the role she was playing in helping end segregation. She mistook the loud crowds that gathered daily outside the school protesting her inclusion as were taking part in some sort of parade, such as Mardis Gras, and they didn't frighten her. The relentless refusal to be intimidated by violent loud mouth or some extreme bigots who promised to poison her food etc. she firmly held her ground without wilting. In one such instance woman at the school put a black baby doll in a wooden coffin and protested with it outside the school, a sight that Bridges Hall has said "scared me more than the nasty things people screamed at us." 

                               Abuses and racial slurs notwithstanding the two iron ladies above have displayed unmatched courage and determination to stand for the right. These iconic figures have helped in radically reshaping society for better. The rigid social customs were mental blocks that have subdued human race for long and few courageous people take it upon themselves to free society from tormentors and social evils.

Rare Gems

                                    In this article i have the privilege to write about few gentlemen who are doing a commendable social work. These philanthropists are torchbearers of humanity, a ray of hope for society, there undiminished zeal to serve society is a message for people to emulate and make India a better place.These are ordinary people who do extraordinary things inspiring the rest of us. They are the real heroes, making the world a better place,there unrelenting efforts ushers hope in society, there deeds are epitome of compassion and  worthy of appreciation.

Gangadhara Tilak Katnam :- Gangadhara Tilak Katnam a 67 year old pensioner from Hyderabad who has worked for the Indian Railways for 35 years has earned himself the nickname "Road Doctor" for putting his pension money in holes quite literally. He's a man on mission, since his retirement in 2011, he has filled 1125 potholes on Hyderabad roads with his pension money. A strong believer of social change through voluntary work Tilak took it upon himself to repair potholes after witnessing horrendous accidents due to potholed roads. He carries about ten gunny bags filled with tar mixed gravel and other necessary equipments in his car. He doesn't accepts donations but encourages people to participate in his endeavor and slowly his efforts are recognized and led to the birth of  'Shramadaan' - a voluntary initiative run by Tilak where students and young adults meet and repair potholes. They even have a helpline where people can call and inform them of potholes in a particular area.

Bhaiyalal :-  Bhaiyalal, 48, is an environmental crusader from Bharatpur village in Chitrakoot. After loosing his family Bhaiyalal took solace in participating in afforestation drive. He has been working as a contractual labour with the forest department, took part in a massive plantation drive launched in Bundelkhand in 2008.  The idea of working for the people occurred to him and he decided to bring barren lands back to life by planting saplings and nurturing trees. He specially chose barren lands coming under the forest department in Chitrakoot and helped in planting and nurturing around 30,000 trees. Bhaiyalal's love for trees made him abandon his village and start living in makeshift hut in the middle of jungle to be with his precious companions that he himself nurtured.

 Azhar Maqsusi :-  Azhar Maqsusi is a 36-year-old who lives in the Old City in Hyderabad. An ordinary man with an passion to feed the poor and homeless people. Every afternoon poor people who cannot afford a decent meal, line up in rows under the Dabeerpura bridge in Hyderabad for daily free-food camp run by Azhar. Azhar is running this free food camp for last three years with his money without accepting any donations. This camp is run with the help from family and friends and feeds one meal a day to 100-120 people daily. Azhar is also trying to raise social awareness through social media regarding the plight of numerous people who can't afford a decent single meal a day. 

                                                                                                                          Images courtesy -Goggle