India On Edge

                                       In these political turbulent times sane voices are overruled and are steadily browbeaten into silence and cowardice. Unfortunately everyone today holds a piece of truth and claims they hold the entire truth with windows of dialogue firmly shut. The recent turmoil in Central Universities points towards this disturbing social trend with politicians playing there nefarious part for ulterior objectives for usurping power.  Like all developing countries India too has its share of vexed social problems. Many social ills plague our society but the biggest and ugliest is the caste cauldron.

                                      Universities play a decisive role in shaping the worldview of students regardless of there social or economic background. It provides an environment where debates are conducted and encouraged. Conflicting opinions and ideologies are freely exchanged and contemplated in harmonious environment. Unfortunately our universities have become a hunting grounds for politicians who have vitiated and surcharged political environment of campuses across India. All political parties have there students wing to propagate ideology and garner support among gullible ,idealistic and impressionable young minds.

                                         The suicide of Rohith Vemula (UOH) indicates the tug of war between different ideologies inside educational institutes. People with divergent ideologies doesn't allow other to flourish without consequences. The sad part is the witch hunt carried out by politicians and some organizations to demean a section of society after his death . Politicians from across political spectrum rushed in droves to politicize and benefit from unfortunate death. The self proclaimed saviors of underprivileged politicized the issue by sensationalizing and exploiting the sentiments of aggrieved only with ulterior objective of vote bank politics.

                                    The commotion in JNU wasn't different either where a politically affiliated group denounced and deplored constitution and  openly indulged in contempt of Apex court. The sloganeering and opinions expressed by ultra left group were rude and demean country in large and section of society in particular. The intrusion of political parties and clout they hold can be easily gauged when multiple parties rushed to accommodate an accused in total defiance of social and moral values. Surprisingly the blatant hero worship of an executed jihadi terrorist by accused wasn't an issue for these politicians.

                                      In the name of freedom of speech group of Islamist students and their leftist allies chanted slogans praising the convicted dead terrorist and also slogans were made for the breakup and destruction of India as the ultimate goal of this leftist-Islamist alliance inside JNU campus. This perverted group claims to own the ultimate truth about society and thus behaves like judge, jury, and executioner. The action taken by civil authorities thus was carefully portrayed as oppression and victimhood card was played to hilt.

                                      The economic reforms and education for all along with social reforms in harmony should be priority of government and social organizations should pitch in with ground realities for inclusiveness of underprivileged. The pious environment of Universities should be utilized for peacefully exchanging of ideas and deliberating upon the proper resource allocation for upliftment of marginalized, thus, doing away with social ills of the past for peaceful bright future. Concerted efforts by society should be made to refrain politicians from the hallowed gates of educational institutions. 

Martyr's Day

                                                               Hussainiwala Memorial 

                                   On 23rd March 1931, India pay homage to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on their 85th martyrdom anniversary. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev killed  John P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as he was leaving the District Police Headquarters in Lahore on 17 December 1928 to avenge death of Lala Lajpat Rai but managed to successfully evade arrest.

                                 On 8 April 1929, Bhagat Singh accompanied by Batukeshwar Dutt, threw two bombs into the Assembly chamber from its public gallery while it was in session to protest against the British rule in India . The smoke from the bombs filled the Assembly so that Singh and Dutt could have escaped in the confusion had they wished. Instead, they stayed shouting the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad!" ("Long Live the Revolution") and threw leaflets. The two men were thus arrested.

                                      The Death Warrant Of Freedom Fighter Bhagat Singh

                                            On 15 April 1929 Sukhdev Thapar was arrested from Lahore and few days later Shivaram Rajguru was arrested too. Following a hasty trial of the Lahore Conspiracy Case, they were executed by the British a day earlier than the scheduled hanging in the Central Jail at Lahore at 7.15 pm on March 23, 1931.

                                                       Death Certificate Of Bhagat Singh

Happy Holi Friends

Marvelous Rusty

                                    I have never read Ruskin Bond maybe because not interested in fiction and the day my wife insisted i should read one, i relented ,and was one of the most interesting books i have ever come across. After reading few of his books i can safely say that Ruskin books are ones that can cheer up your otherwise dull day or soothe you down after hectic day. He beautifully and intuitively spun simple life stories . Most of his novels take place in scenic,serene city of Dehra Dun with incidents of nearby jungles and mountains adding more funn. The themes of his writings show inspirations from his friendships and relationships with the locals and even strangers beside nature (he seems very infatuated with).

                                 His books are about simple joys of life like flowers blooming, joys of riding bicycle early morning, scent of earth after first splash of rain etc. Not many writers have the mettle to write simple stories without dabbling into philosophy or politics and still keep readers captivated.

                                 Where do you get to read such magnificent lines eloquently and effortlessly conveying a message in innuendos, so enjoy reading "Rusty" as it portrays life beautifully.Some of the most impressive lines i have enjoyed reading...
"Drunkenness is really a vice because it degrades a man and humiliates him. Prostitution is degrading but a prostitute can still keep her dignity. Thieving is degrading according to the character of theft.Begging is degrading but it is still not as undignified as drunkenness. In all vices victim is aware of his degradation but in drunkenness we lose our pride our heads and above all our natural dignity."
"My old lama will, I am sure, be among the first to return ,even if he has to walk all the way over the mountain passes .Maybe that's why he plods up and around this hill every day. He is practicing for the long walk back to Tibet ".
"I watched him until he was far along the path. I wondered how long he could last. Perhaps a year or two, perhaps a day ,perhaps an hour. But whenever or however he died, it wouldn't be death. He was too old to die. He could only sleep. He could only fall gently , like an old brown leaf."
"The sick and the dying are heartened by the thought that people are still well enough to feel reckless , indifferent to each other's safety! In Delhi there's feverish desire to be first in line, the first to get anything ... In Delhi , to be second in the race is to be last"