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.

Hate Modi ?

 Morris Jones once said " Miraculously elections are one of the things Indians do well "

                                   Notwithstanding what political pundits say our patriotic and honest coterie of media celebrities, politicians , NGO's , sidekick actors were unanimous about one thing, doomsday is near and our great country is going to dogs. Almost all of these self obsessed righteous people tried to make us believe the imminent threat to our democracy and were planning to seek exile as the last resort. Unfortunately as ordinary Indian, I was watching in bewilderment about unfolding political drama, these righteous god children missed their respective flights and could never leave India :( . I felt somewhat responsible in my mind and conceded my share of responsibility for putting these hapless distinguished people in miserable condition for supporting anointment of PM Modi as an ordinary.

                                As propagated by our honorable intellectuals about impending disaster, that ordinary Indians have brought upon themselves, gullible people like myself who were hoodwinked of glamorous days realized their mistake by electing a PM who has squeezed fun out of lives of common man and is now remorseful . Here is my list of deceptive propaganda unleashed by Modi that seduced ordinary people in voting for him often at their own expense of entertainment .

                                  1) Our intellectuals rightly denounced a person, as he is an outsider, with little or no respect for "Oxfrd" returned intellectuals. His passion to communicate in Hindi with masses takes the sting out of these godly creatures. I must admit,  this behavior is truly disgraceful as English proficiency is a natural criterion of ones knowledge, to hell with countries who promote their native languages our intellectuals won't tolerate a roadside tea vendor with total disregard of English slang as their PM. After all, its inculcated since childhood that survival and future both can be secured by English language competency and this PM doesn't understand our dilemma . 

                                2) Second reason of not liking Modi is boring social gatherings. Gone are the days, when family and friends gatherings ends without discussing governments scams. PM is directly responsible for taking out fun filled yet hopeless discussions on corruption scandals out of our drawing room gatherings. He's an embarrassment for politicians who's job had become synonymous with corruption, a shameful conduct i must say when comparing governments since 1952. Our government nowadays is being run without gulping exchequer, its outrageous is so 'Non-Indian', he must understand we like our share of fun by cracking jokes on ministers and only recycled jokes are circulated nowadays because of our PM's zeal towards ending corruption despite best efforts from our sniffing politicians.

                           3) Continuing in his tirade against our fun, he propagates 'Swatchta Abhiyan' , a drive towards cleanliness is what is left now in our life . Our PM doesn't understand the fun and freedom one gets in expressing and relieving oneself in open . Thus one can easily presume, "Liberty and fraternity" enshrined in our constitution is seriously at risk that our coterie intellectuals forewarned . This PM is pressurizing our free souls to behave , i can't stop thanking our scholars who envisioned such social restrictions , but unfortunately we ignored their timely advice.

                          4)  Modi has demoted many media celebrities. Some of our media celebrities, who have in last few years, graced themselves as the unofficial cabinet ministers yielding executive powers in previous governments with their "unbiased" and "patrotic" journalism have been reduced to positions of scarecrows on social media. Gone are the days when our "honest" journalists sets the agendas and choose the ministers in cabinet , nowadays they spend their scarce energy and time on SM bickering with kids. This mind numbing scenario is because of Modi, that the fourth pillar has been cut to size, nowadays we are ruined of our evening tamashas adding to my dislike .

                       5)  PM is against self employment. All the rhetoric about Startups and MUDRA bank initiatives to support entrepreneurship is farce. He has been instrumental in shutting shops of Kashmiris, Naxals and NGO's thus stifling their flourishing businesses . By killing a hardworking self employed peaceful non violent Burhan Wani, the real face of fascist Modi came out in open . He's trying relentlessly in curbing money supply to Naxals and Kashmiris, thus one can see the real face of Sanghi who earlier boasted of providing jobs is now depriving these hardworking class of their legitimate business of breaking India .Job losses are also reported from our NGO factories whose shops are being financed through petrodollars or evangelist missionaries. One can now have no doubt whatsoever about the prophecies of our secular , nationalist intellectuals who rightly apprised us about threats to secular health of our nation for choosing Modi as PM.

                                 The voting right exercised by countless Indians catapulted a person with humble beginnings to the top most seat of decision making. Right from the first day, he is being hounded by hordes of 'enlightened' intellectuals, media celebrities, politicians who corroborated with vested interests to defame Modi without much public support. The concerted efforts of individuals ,NGO's , media honchos , politicians etc. to lynch Modi on manufactured protests hasn't yielded much. Some of the politicians in their zeal to condemn Modi have actually made mockery of themselves . In their lust to grab power and eyeballs have actually ended up often dumbfounded and caught unawares.

                               Some of the above predictions propagandized by vested interests for ulterior motives have turned out to be false so far . My support to incumbent gov't thus continues and is satisfying although many blunders shouldn't be overlooked. 

After Life Ke Side Effects

                                           The concept of afterlife in divergent forms is prevalent in almost all religions. The soul's existence, reincarnation dogma, reward and punishment of oneself depending upon the conduct during lifetime isn't unique theory confined to one religion, but is propagated across every religion with minor modifications with its centrality intact. Depending upon ones orientation towards religion person becomes perplexed, astonished or in some cases intimidated. From Egyptian pyramids to decorating the dead in Indus Valley Civilization or Terracotta Army of China to weird religious ceremonies for dead in present day Madagascar all stand testimony to the unending belief of life after death.

                                      It is this belief and fear of unknown which is exploited uttermost by religious bigots by playing with the minds of vulnerable . Numerous social evils in Hindu society have continued for centuries as fear of punishment after life looms overhead making masses submissive and complying. During medieval age the Christian citizenry was enticed of rewards afterlife by theologists, and simple greed of annexing large swaths of land was usurped in the name of crusades. It is this fear of reprisals by bigots and fear of punishment in afterlife that prevented from publishing Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543), a contemporary of Martin Luther, to assert his theory(De revolutionibus) that the planets, including the earth, rotate around the sun till his death ,rather then the theory propagated by Church where earth was a sinful place and the heavy burden of sin made it immobile.

                                   Basically most evils in religions around the world cannot survive without fear of repercussions in afterlife. Afterlife emoluments actually plays a vital role in transforming a perfect rational individual into a manic. The world might have succeeded and progressed technologically, but hasn't yet succeeded in allaying the fear of punishment after death among masses. Rational thinking and courage to accept and reform religion is paramount, for religion to play constructive role in society.

                                  Carefully analyzing, make us realize, its religion which refuse to accept the renaissance and weed out violence, by reinventing itself, is the crust of the problem starring mankind today. Much of the violence perpetuate today is the handiwork of religious bigots. The unending cycle of violence in middle east with seemingly ceaseless supply of zoombies have created havoc there. Refusing to reform and taking every word written in a book without rethinking as gospel truth is plaguing Islamic world. The erroneous thought of transcending one religion over others and motivating followers with afterlife rewards is the nucleus of the problem. Its time Islamic civil society should rise from slumber and preach reform and tolerance towards fellow religionists and stem the wrath of violence.

                                The social and religious reformers with support from civil society coupled with laws enforcement, has successfully waned some evils in Hinduism and made it tolerant towards coreligionists and towards other regions. The same transformation is witnessed in Western society. Only after embracing Renaissance, the upheavals of dark ages were overcome and emphasis on science and social ,cultural revolutions converted it into free thinking, democratic,tolerant societies of modern world. The need of the hour today for every religion is to reinvent itself with respect towards human rights as central theme. 

                            The onus to reform is an unending process with efforts from all stakeholders for vibrant, plural society where human dignity is respected and violators should be subdued with impunity.

The Tryst Betrayed: Reflections On Diplomacy And Development

                                          In this book Retired Indian foreign secretary Jagat Singh Mehta takes back readers on zigzag journey of his carrier and his life which started on the day after India’s independence. It definitely was the most exciting part of Indian diplomacy when the country faced unforeseen challenges. The writer was overwhelmed by the decision making spontaneous ability of Nehru ji but had vividly elaborated upon the limits of our iconic leader.

                                        Although book reveals the haphazard decision making and preconceived notions of policy makers which is interesting to read at times , the book becomes boring in the middle and tempts one to skip these middle pages. In the end this book unfortunately is more about authors self glorification , not worth recommending to others, this book is certainly avoidable .