Naxalism--The Threat Within

This post comes just hours after a brutal naxal attack slaughtered more than 70 Indian citizens.Yes I say citizens as they were first Indian citizens and later CRPF men.Their fault????Well they were just trying to safeguard the Indian Union from the Maoists and make sure we watch this bit of news on live TV.

After a few hours our indignation will die down and we will go back to our daily work as usual without sparing a thought to those souls who died safeguarding our country ironically not from hostile foreigners but from our own people.

First lets see whats fuelling Naxalism? What started as a revolt in Naxalbari In West bengal around 50 years earlier has now become a menace which is a major worry for our very survival.Are naxal leaders really interested in welfare of people?If so why are they blasting away schools and setting fires to crops of farmers who fail to pay them the protection money? Naxalism is a very romantic thought.There are no dearth of intelligentsia who patronize the Naxals or are sympathizers.In the 70's my dad tells me it was cool in west Bengal to be a Naxal because it was about student movement.Doing something to challenge the ineffectual government and try to bring change.But my father had other idea's and ended up joining Air Force while many of his friends got imbroiled in the Naxalite movement.Many of them are now living in the mainstream with good government jobs with their kids studying in the best of schools.When I talked to them why did they joined the movement and why they left it?They say the very idea of taking on the state sounded very exciting.With no jobs to speak of it looked like the best job in the world.Also the notion of welfare state where evryone lives for each other with no rich no poor but only equals was a charm.The soviet union was at the peak of its power.And Bengalis being always rebels without a cause joined in.But after they joined in they realised its not what it seemed.It was all the same what they were trying to escape.A few leaders controlled everything and led lavish lifestyles.And they were not doing any welfare but to the contrary threatening the villagers to extract food and money and shelter.They were always on the run.Anyone who raised his voice against the leaders were promptly silenced or murdered. This is my inside perspective on Naxalism

Now comes the turn of the Government.First question why was naxalism never taken as a serious threat?
Secondly why the security forces committing excesses in the name of national security.The tribal women are being raped and the men are picked up randomly and some never return.Those who return promptly go and join the naxals for revenge.Its not about calling eye for an eye because those poor villagers and tribals are Indians too and they have some basic rights.Thirdly after 60 Years of Independence why hasn't the basic necessities haven't reached them allowing the naxals to corrupt their innocent minds with thoughts of "UTOPIA".The government is acting too late and too slowly to have any consequence.The poloiticians are still fighting whose responsibility it is to fight the naxals.Why can't all of them shut up clean up the mess they have created over the years?First clear up the naxal menace and then fast track the development of those affected areas.

Life,Genetics and Death

One fine gentleman named Gregor Mendel discovered the wonderful world of genetics which threw open a wide world of possibilities for us.When i studied genetics for the first time it seemed to be so exciting that I decided I'll be in someway or the other will always be associated with biology.I took up as an subject of interest but a few days earlier I realised how practical genetics is in daily life.We fail to notice it but its there.What I might write may be completely unrelated to what I am writing but it doesn't matter.

A few days back my grandfather expired.He was a man of few words always in his own world.He seemed so much detach from the real world.He had no materialistic possessions to speak of except for a 1950 tissot gifted to him by his dad on becoming a doctor. His children had grown up married of or doing pretty well.My mom was the youngest and the most adored child of her dad. As a result among all my cousins I also was the most adored grandchild. He wanted me to become a doctor which I didn't become and when I told him I haven't cracked any med school he wasn't perturbed a bit.When I told him I am doing my M.Sc he made me see reason in going for an PHD.

Now that he has left this planet I have realized how important his role was in shaping me as a person. I have inherited his sense of aloofness to an extent. I remember making fun of him at times and he never cared. I have inherited that .I have inherited many traits like being always positive no matter how tough it becomes, his self-deprecating humor and I don't know how many other traits .He had grown old so he had to go someday or the other but now that he has left I have realsied that he will never leave atleast for me. Thanks 'dadu' for whatever you have done for me.I won't ever forget you giving me money in the evenings to eat 'fuchka' ,buying me 'aam-shotto' or just telling me what I should do.

All my grandparents Have shaped my personality, except for my maternal grandma all have left. What saddens me more is they never got to see the product of their self-less efforts. Death is such a big full-stop that no one can erase it.

BYE BUYE Chetak

Bajaj motors recently announced that they are stopping all production of scooters.The news was expected but I don't know why I felt bad.My dad had a scooter which was named Priya but was produced in a factory owned by Bajaj.I remember the yellow scooter when my dad got it in 1990.I was so excited and always asked my dad to stand in the front when he was riding.Going out to visit other people safely tucked in between my dad and mom.It was such a thrill standing in the front feeling the wind hit my face .wow man...I remember my dad getting all the groceries of the month loaded on to his scooter.

I got my first driving lessons on that scooter.I still remember the thrill I had riding.When I drove that scooter I felt I am a man now graduated from the cycle to scooter but my dad never let me take it outside our lane because I was underage.It caused a lot of resentment in me at that time but I am glad my dad didn't buckle down because some rules should be enforced.When my dad disposed off the scooter I was sad I didn't want it to be disposed.I wanted it to be snazzily painted with chrome linings to preserve it basically but the problem in staying in delhi is space.We didn't have the space to keep it.

Some days back the news of bajaj came in and and I went through those good'ol days when scooters were symbols of fledgling middle class prosperity.

Letters Letters wheres are you????

About even 10 years ago I used to see my dad buying huge bunches of Greeting cards around the new Year time and make regular trips to post-office to get postage stamps,inland letters and postcards.Even I used to wait for the greeting cards from my cousins and friends.I used to even write letters to my cousins ,to my grandfather and even to some old friends.I remember how eagerly I used to wit for my granpa's letters because he had this wonderful handwriting which resembled calligraphy while my writing was kind of industrious no reflecting lack of artlessness.The last time I guess I wrote a letter was in 2004 to my friend who was in NDA because mobile phones were not allowed.But after that no letters.
The greetings,the letters remind me of a different era altogether.No sms's ,no emails,even STD calls were few and far in-between.Till the mid 90's STD calls were rare because either you had topay exorbitant rates for those calls at the PCO's or you had to book calls on you telephone only to be charged without having a meaningful conversation.I remember there were contests on TV which asked people to send in the post cards with the correct answers and after 2-3 weeks afe=ter the contest opened we used to wait with bated breath in front of the TV just to see if we had won.Now these postcards have been replaced by SMS's.
I miss those days because letters played a very big role in shaping the way I write,improving my language skills.My Grandpa used to write such beautiful letters and the letters inadvertently contained interesting snippets from his life.He had such wonderful command over the language I doubt I can ever achieve that level.SMS's have reduced the writing skills to pathetic levels.It's now even reflected in the e-mails.
Sadly there are only a few greetings and letters which I have preserved and I feel sorry that I didn't preserve all of them.I never anticipated what once was a way of life would become a thing of the past so soon.

HOCKEY!!!!!!!!!!!!Is it back???????

I am actually very much enthused by all the buzz that the Hockey world cup has managed to create this time round in our country.The India-Pakistan match was an cracker of an contest(The subsequent beating was an aberration I hope).Frankly speaking I have been to a few football matches at the ambedkar stadium and few hockey matches in the National stadium.Sadly whenever I have gone its because I got the tickets for free but never paid for it.So today I ask myself why are the crowds missing from these two games which are literally more popular than cricket throughout the world(I also believe Cricket can never match upto the popularity of these two games,Just look at the dismal crowds turning up for test matches at most of the places).
I have zeroed in on 2 probable reasons for the decline of these two sports in our country.
Firstly both Hockey and Football require much more discipline and stamina than cricket.Yes that is a fact no-one should refute and I also agree that modern day cricket is much more competitive but still the kind of energy and endurance required for a game of football or hockey is unmatched.Also Indians are usually bad in physical games as most Indian parents would like their kids to play something gentler as football or hockey players are more prone to injuries/(A case in point my dad broke his hand while playing football for the Air force team and after that my grandma forbid him to play football at all).

Secondly Hockey performance start going down at the time the T.V made a foray into the homes.India won the cricket world cup while the hockey team started their spiral downwards.Our new national sport was Cricket because we were the underdogs and still we managed to become the world champions.While in hockey we were The ginats and we performed like the underdogs.Underdogs have a special charm which a giant can never have.

German Bakery Blast at Pune

The German bakery at Pune shattered a period of relative peace which lasted for just about 14 months. Sadly this time the media frenzy is missing which accompanied the Mumbai attacks.No endless discussions,no candlelight marches across the country,neither much political noises.It seems if everything is subdued this time. The question that arises in my mind is "WHY THIS HYPOCRISY".

Well the only possible answer that comes to my mind is quite pessimistic but I can't help it.I believe Mumbai attack was one of those acts where the terrorists showed us how vulnerable our upper middle class and upper class society are.Because before that always the targeted places were bustling with 'aam aadmi' .This was not to be tolerated either by the fourth estate or by the higher up in the society.Action was required.The water was above the head and action needed to be taken .So promptly we closed all our communication Channels with Pakistan and warned them until concrete action is taken we wouldn't budge from our position.Our media carried out campaigns to make the government accountable and god knows how many hours were devoted to discussions.But the echo of German bakery blast is missing.A few days earlier the government announced talks with Pakistan.Now after the blasts still we'll be talking to them and I can hardly hear the same voices who earlier advocated breaking of ties with Pakistan earlier when the Mumbai carnage happened.I want to ask them what has changed between the Mumbai attacks and The Pune blasts?The Media is much more busy with the Number one test ranking of India rather than covering the Pune blasts.

Its sad but true there are two India's where one part is matters while the other part is simply ignored.But the First part forgets the other India is the backbone without which India can't exist.

I am not against talking to Pakistan but what I want is consistent response irrespective of who is targeted by the terrorists.