Three Years Of BJP- Hits & Failures Part-1

                                   After ‘Three’ years of Modi government , it is time to do reality check . How does the promise of “Acche din” holds true for general population ? With the earlier regimes engrossed in corruption, it was a sigh of relief to have government at the helm that on face of it at least hasn’t plunged itself into any corruption scandal till now. “Na khaunga na khane dunga” was the tagline which catapulted BJP under Modi leadership to rode on high hopes of majority and grabbed overwhelming majority leaving other political parties in tatters and to which opposition had no means to counter and thus succumbed. It is undebatable that BJP’s power and popularity grew leaps and bound under PM and is majestically growing which is unprecedented in history .

                                It is noteworthy to see, how a strong leader with complete faith of electorate can steer a confused nation out of morass and blew a new lease of life. How the administrative setup which was mocked for corruption and policy paralysis is transformed into efficient decision makers. With the latest success in Four assembly elections and stupendous success in UP state in particular only added to the sheen of PM Modi . Already some politicians have openly suggested to abandon harboring any hopes of capturing power in 2019 parliamentary elections while nudging their hopes on 2024. All these bodes well for BJP as the opposition is in hopeless disarray with none on horizon to challenge BJP.

                            One of the important factor for decimation of opposition is tethering pseudo secular policies apart from nepotism and corruption which eventually played havoc to their fortunes as people were unfazed and were in no mood to forgive their halfhearted midway course correction. A lot has been said and written and numerous times postmortem is done by political pundits on electoral defeat and is futile to prolong that review .

                                       In his book “Walking With Lions” Natwar Singh quoted Vietnamese General Võ Nguyên Giáp (who defeated the mighty French forces with ragtag but motivated Vietnamese Guerillas ) “Be careful when things go well. Don’t lower your guard, things start going wrong when they appear to be going well” . Is it not time to do some introspection and ask some tough questions of where the incumbent government fell ridiculously short of expectations. While all my questions are directed against PM Modi as I firmly believe when success is attributed to the captain of the ship so does the failure.

                                When PM Modi talks of big bang reform , be it GST or Demonetization, I as an ordinary Indian too have few questions to ask and seek answers. Sir, as we all are aware and agree of the need to educate masses as illiteracy is a curse, and for country like ours more emphasis is given on Human development as literate population is considered an asset. You yourself have given special attention on daughter education we all are aware of, so, I just want to ask you a simple question are you unaware of the education mafia ? May I ask you what steps have you taken to stop the thriving education mafia to curtail their power to extract money on flimsiest excuses from hapless parents ? Are you oblivious to donations and tantrums of private schools to extort money? Are you unaware of the ridiculous standard of teachers that are entrusted of imparting education to future generation in government schools ? Are you not aware of the pitfalls of our education system ?

                                   The problems plaguing our education system is that government schools are either simply not sufficient or grossly short of quality both in teaching staff and other requirements while Private school are money oriented act as a factory to cater to demand and supply situation and extract money according to their whims and fancies .

                               This is the state of elementary education , the lesser we speak about college degrees the better. How can a person of your caliber is so unperturbed by the mushrooming coaching facilities ? Does reforms in education sector that has the potential to change nations destiny skipped your thoughts ? Are you not aware of the mad rush to enter IIT’s or other prestigious organizations and parents forced to cough up unbelievable fees for coaching centers that you surely have seen thriving on every nook and corner of every town and city? Is the government so dumbfounded that no pragmatic solutions can be found to change the scenario?

                                 The recent reports circulating from different quarters suggest over 60% Engineering graduates are simply unemployable, why no measures are taken to stem the wroth in education sector which I am convinced you want to see flourishing.

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Readers can write to me at - garv560@gmail.com

Chandrashekhar Sitaram Tiwari

                                 In today’s time and age when fiery debates are order of the day . Epithets are flung at remotest provocation , some true some half baked. Even being a nationalist is seen with an angle of perceived ideology whether one endorses it or not . Words like “DeshBhakt” or “Bharat Mata ki Jai” are scoffed at and are hurled as abuses implicitly . Here,in this viscous environment, I have read and is sharing a valiant story of a freedom fighter who inspired millions, his valor and indomitable spirit still gives goosebumps and is held by masses in reverence. His awe inspiring tale has and will continue to instigate passions for the motherland till posterity. I am beginning to share the story , we all have heard and cherished to believe that what I stood for is true and will continue to serve my motherland in whatever miniscule way I can. To believe that nationalist feelings aren’t outdated and concocted lies won’t stand the scrutiny of time.                                                                                                                       

                       “Your name?”

                         The boy replied back nonchalantly “Azad”.

                       “Your father’s name”?- “Azadi”

                       “Where do you live?”-“In Prison”   

                              Taken aback by the fearlessness of a teenager, a Parsi magistrate Mr. Kharegat , known for awarding severe punishments, ordered 50 lashes of severe caning . The boy seemed unperturbed while facing the Jailer Ganda Singh, notorious for his cruelty and torturing the prisoners. The boy was punished more for displaying his contempt for the magistrate than his actual crime of throwing stone at the police officer. Much to the disappointment of the Jailer, with every stroke of cane lashing and tearing his skin apart , boy continued to yell “Mahatma Gandhi ki Jai”. 

                            As the news of the youth’s bravery spread, people from all walks of life converged, to accord a hero’s welcome and the slogans of “Chandrashekhar Azad Ki Jai” reverberated the streets of Varanasi . A revolutionary , a Star, glimmer of hope,a 15 year old Sanskrit student Chandrashekhar Sitaram Tiwari , thus transformed into heroic patriot Chandrashekhar Azad . This is how, the story of one of the greatest warrior a true brave heart of Indian Independence movement came to limelight. 

                                 The year was 1918, the British Government introduced the dreaded Rowlatt Act, to suppress the growing clamor for independence. It’s aim was to suppress political agitations under the pretext of “sedition” as disenchanted people raised their voices against additional levy of taxes due to First World War. The country was up against the Rowlatt Act,  and Mahatma Gandhi led the Satyagraha which was brutally suppressed by British government. Scores of people were killed in police firing and infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred in Punjab on Baisakhi day in April 1919 . The atrocious policies perpetrated by British knows no boundaries which further fueled the discontentment and unrest among masses and Azad was no exception to it.

                                 Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the non cooperation movement was launched all over India in 1921. Varanasi too was caught up in the frenzy , as students boycotted classes, and demonstrations were held . Azad being a rebellious by nature, left his studies and actively participated in it, but the Chauri Chaura incident(1922) and the abrupt suspension of Non Cooperation movement by Gandhi ji disappointed him immensely. His disillusionment with non violent movement made him believe and trudge the path of armed struggle for Indian Independence. 

                                Disillusioned with non violent movement and burning zeal to overthrow British , Azad joined Hindustan Republican Association( HRA) under revolutionary Sachindranath Sanyal. The organization was greatly influenced by the Russian Revolution in 1917 which overthrew Czar NicholasII. This organization was later renamed and reorganized by Azad and his associates like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Batukeshwar Dutta etc. as Hindustan Socialist Republican Army( HSRA) 

                                    Two daring raids carried out by HRA was the famous Kakori Case and (HRSA) assassination of two British police officers Saunders and Scott(escaped) to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai who were brutally lathi charged and mortally injured in 1928 while leading a demonstration at Lahore and thus infusing the spirit of nationalism and new lease of life in the freedom movement.

                                      On the ill fateful February 27, 1931, Azad was with his friend at Alfred Park  Allahabad, planning his next course of action when betrayed by his associate Azad was surrounded by police . Fighting against all odds and surrounded by 80 sepoys, Azad refused to surrender and resulted in gunfight . True to his name undeterred by circumstances , valiantly he fought like a cornered tiger till the end. He kept firing at the British police with his pistol, till he had just one bullet left. With no intention to surrender, he placed the pistol to his temple, and pulled the trigger.

                                    The story I recalled didn’t end here , Chandrashekhar Azad didn’t die that day , he lived in the minds and hearts of countless nationalist. His story is told and gives strength to generations thereafter. The story is a folklore inspiring patriots stimulating our nationalism, galvanizing us as one and prompting us to shed the narrow selfish beliefs and unite us as Indians. In prevailing acidic public discourse where slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ or ‘Vande Mataram’ are mocked and makes you an outcast , it best to remember the umpteen sacrifices of martyrs who went to gallows holding their head high for the future of this nation . Never wilt under pressure or get seduced by the gimmickry of unscrupulous elements who nowadays have slowly seeped into our society , these self professed intellectuals have for long continued with their despicable agendas enticing the gullible. The nationalism or patriotism will never go outdated as long our hearts resonate to the calls of nation.

Walking With Lions - Natwar Singh

                                       Natwar Singh led an extraordinary life, starting his journey from as the junior IFS officer to the corridors of power is filled with interesting episodes where he rubbed shoulders with the eminent personalities from the world of politics, arts, cinema and even sports of 20th century . This book is a recollection of 50 articles printed before. Natwar Singh sometimes went overboard in expressing his loyalty towards Nehru- Gandhi family while showing contempt for others including Morarji Desai(an elected PM).

                                          Natwar Singh shared some funny details about Gandhi ji’s wasteful expenditure at Eiffel tower to Papua Guinea tradition. His admiration and brush with inspiring personalities like Nelson Mandela , Fiedel Castro and his personal hero, Vietnamese General Võ Nguyên Giáp was interesting to read . His reverence for Nehru family is an understatement telling in detail about numerous incidents, he fondly narrated an incident where Sonia Gandhi reminding her hosts in Russia that her family connection with Natwar Singh will consume whole evening . Some thought provoking episodes on Godman Chandraswami and Margaret Thatcher or Rajiv Gandhi’s first encounter with Nelson Mandela where he told him “Mr Mandela, when my daughter learnt that I would be meeting you, she made me promise that when I shook hands with you, I should think of her. This I am doing now." was moving.

                                        It’s a book worth reading and I recommend it for those interested to read about some very interesting and humorous tales from history (first hand account). Natwar Singh was candid at times and revealed what transpired behind high walls.

Movie Allied - Review

                                      Allied is a romantic thriller shot in the backdrop of Second World War. A story about deceit,patriotic fervor yet its about two individuals madly in love in its purest form. The story mesmerizes you and haunts you in the end when your fears come true while you actually prays against it.

                                   Brad Pitt is in his usual best and reminds me of ‘Inglorious Bastards’ is playing an Intelligence Officer of the Royal Canadian Air Force serving. He was sent on a secret mission to assassinate a German Ambassador in Casablanca where he meets his fellow French spy( French Resistance fighter) played by Marion Cottilard who assisted him on this suicide mission . As they successfully executed their mission, the circumstances and the intimacy the two shared surpassed the artificiality of their relationship into stronger bond. After marriage, Captain contended himself to the desk job but the question soon emerges, is the marriage for real or he being played by his wife as she once mentioned, to avoid being detected(as an impostor) she plays emotions with honesty and dedication .

                                      Brad Pitt did a fabulous job and Marion Cottilard looked elegant and did complete justice to her role. A fantastic movie with subtle performance captivates you till the end, a must watch.