Change is here, and visible. But, how long?

It has been a long time since I wrote something voluntarily. IIM curriculum, the job profile of a research analyst and top of all, my sheer laziness are to be blamed for my increased distance with writing over the last few years. But in a time when despair and helplessness is ruling in the minds and hearts of every Indian due to the ongoing CWG tamasha, Kashmir problem and many more such events, I got an opportunity to see and experience the change for betterment, a ray of hope, though not very sure how long this ray is going to be there. And it is this positive change which impelled me to share it through writing about it.

"Bhojpur and Delhi are not only separated by a 1000 miles but also by 5000 years", this powerful dialogue tells the disparity between Bhojpur (a small town in Bihar) and Delhi during the 70s in Sudhir Mishra's 2003 released cult movie Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi. Let me tell you this 5000 years would have increased many times in the 90s when the rest of India was progressing faster than ever post liberalization while Bihar was going back to Lalten, Charwaha Vidyalaya, and many such things. Bhojpur is just a symbolic name in the dialogue, you replace it with any XYZ town of Bihar, the 5000 years gap would not have been much different.

During the last decade I have been nothing more than a visitor to my home state. The 90s experience of Bihar has made me very pessimistic about any positive change there and I was not alone. But 2010 has proved me wrong if not entirely and permanently, partly and momentarily for sure.

On September 13 I landed at Patna airport on my short trip of home. One of my very sincere friend was supposed to pick me up at the airport but he was not that sincere to get up by the time I landed. On calling him, he suggested me to take a cycle rickshaw to Boring Road. Following his instructions, I got into a rickshaw and then the rickshaw-puller like any other Bihari rickshaw-puller started conversation on widely varying subjects! Just after coming out of airport area, he showed me an leisure park/garden coming up and from there the conversation became really engaging. Conversation goes as:
Rickshaw wala: Sir, ye park bana rahe hai. Lagta hai ticket bhi lagayenge.

me: Achcha ticket, ye to theek nahi hoga.

Rickshaw wala:Are sir, ticket laga ke bhi isko badhiya se maintain rakhe to theek hi hai. bas kharab to tab hoga ki bana ke isko barbad hone ke liye chhod denge.

me: Ka ho ab ta Election aa rahal ba, kaisan mahol lagait ba abki baar?

Rickshaw wala: Sir kaam aur badlao ke hisab se to Nitish jee ko ek aur chance milna chahiye lekin election me ta bahut kuch hota hai se hum pakka to nahi keh sakte.

me: ab to Laloo jee aur Ram Vilas jee ke saath aa gailan ha ta o se kuch mushkil na hoi?

Rickshaw wala: nahi sir, ab log badlao aur vikas dekh liye hai. unko to ab nahi hi layenge.

me: Aisan ka badlao aur vikas ho gail hai?

Rickshaw wala: Sir ab dekh rahe hai na road jispe ki hum rickshaw chala sakte hai aur kanoon-vyavstha ki raat ke 10 baje tak hum rickshaw chala rahe hai nahi to pehle aisa tha ki shaam ke 6 baje hi koi aa ke rickshaw pe baith jata tha aur bhada dena to rehne dijiye jo paisa kama ke rakhe hote the wo bhi chhin ke chala jata tha.

My conversation continued further till I reached Boring Road, but the above conversation itself was enough to make me realize that something has changed and yes, it has changed up to the grass-root level. This is the much hyped buzzword in boardrooms and power circles- the inclusive growth. It was not that I was not able to see the changes in and around Patna, rather it was my inquisitiveness to inquire about the feelings of common man with regards to these changes.

I am not going to quote the growth and development figures of Bihar over the last five years as media has already tried hard to cash in the Bihar growth story to increase their TRPs and readership. But let me tell you that in a year when Bihar is facing third consecutive drought year, the condition of state is not that bad it used to be earlier. Now it has got roads which are incomparable to its roads in the past, rather better than the roads in many states. Roads are not like the much talked Hema Malini ke Gaal, there are potholes in the roads at places, but now potholes exist in roads and not the viceversa. And above all people have the hope that one day this road will be without potholes. Schools have got their building and now there are teachers in the schools too. As a result schools are full with kids. One can argue about the quality of teachers and teaching standards of these schools, but any realist should not forget till five year back what was the condition. Now there is intermittent electricity supply in remote villages too though by purchasing electricity from outside as Bihar doesn't enough electricity to light up its Capital! Above all these developments, there is law and order enabling the people of Bihar to use these roads, electricity and schools.

I do understand that any mature and sensible person would be reading the above paragraph with skepticism as if he is reading a fairytale. And that's true, all is not so well in the land where nothing used to be well! Even the current change which is due to an electoral result was not primarily for development, rather it was the outcome of caste equation which coincidentally led to the path of development.Corruption is still there. It is just that it has shifted from "bhrashta neta" to "bhrasta babu". The growth and development is mostly pushed by government spending. Industrial growth and private spending is still missing in the state. So, how long these developmental changes are sustainable, remains a big question in front of hero of the change story, Mr. Nitish Kumar.

Now the biggest question at hand, is this change story going to continue in Bihar or will there be a comma/full stop in this story as Bihar is facing the election next month. Caste and communal equation, switching loyalties, dhanbal aur bahubal, etc. are in action currently in Bihar to decide the fate of the state in the upcoming election. Nitish is being projected as a hero and a villain by his supporters and opponents respectively.

I have just one thing to say for Nitish: Don't be mistaken, he is a human being after all, don't make him another god as we have done with Sachin and Rahman, and so don't think he is infallible. He can commit mistakes and would have committed mistakes during the last five years. But for god sake please be practical as well while being rational, he has achieved development, has shown ray of hope and optimism and controlled law and order situation in a land which was/is supposed to be lawless and full of corrupt netas and bahubalis. He, an engineer from Patna Engineering College has achieved this change amidst such unfavorable circumstances what our most respected, celebrated and educated lots of Manmohan Singh, an Oxford alumni, Rahul Gandhi, A Cambridge alumni, Omar Abdullah, a popular celebrity on YouTube has failed to achieve. Needless to say, how much the intellectual and elite class of Indian Metros may scream our highly educated and intellectuals like Manmohan, Rahul, and Omar have not achieved anything closer to what Nitish has achieved under worse circumstances. Commonwealth Games, Kashmir fiasco, Price rise, spectrum allocation and the list will go on. Anyways leave it, after all these are all done by forward looking intellectual leaders of educated youths.

I am keeping my fingers crossed waiting till November 26th when I will get the answer of my question. How long the wave of change is going to be there in Bihar?

In the name of poor

The pleasant climate of July at the hillock and the happiness of entering into cool second year are enough reasons to relax and improve upon my laziness. Few days ago, after sleeping for more than 12 hours in a go, I decided to watch Shoaib Mansoor's brilliant movie titled "Khuda Ke Liye (In the name of God). I had read a lot about the movie when it was released in Pakistan in 2007 and subsequently in India in 2008. I had watch it too in pieces. With tea breaks and phone calls coming nonstop, I finished the movie in 4-5 hours! Just after finishing that movie I read some article about oil subsidy in India and in particular the subsidies on Kerosene. I was still engrossed by the thoughts of the movie and found some relations between the movie storyline and Kerosene subsidy.
For a long time political parties of India have favored the huge subsidy burden of Kerosene in the name of poor. But, I seriously doubt if a poor really wants to pass his whole life in the dim light of a Kerosene fulled diya or lantern and to imagine the same happenings with his/her upcoming generations. It is just the corrupt Indian netas and babus who wants to fill their pocket by diverting the subsidy are shouting that the poor needs subsidized Kerosene. It is as similar as killing human in the name of Khuda. I seriously doubt if any god, allah, or bhagwan would like his followers to kill his own creature! But people with their vested interests in this killings try to justify it in the name of Khuda.

Weird the above comparison may sound, but the similarity betwen both the acts is that both are being done in the wrong names (poor and khuda). Following table gives the figures of under recoveries on the sell of different petroleum products:

Amount of Under-recoveries Suffered by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCS) in Selling PDS Kerosene and Domestic LPG, Petrol and Diesel in India (2004-2005 to 2008-2009)
(Rs. in Crore)
Under Recovery*	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	April-Dec., 2008
PDS Kerosene	9480	14384	17883	19102	25100
Domestic LPG	8362	10246	10701	15523	16137
Petrol	150	2723	2027	7332	6383
Diesel	2154	12647	18776	35166	58595
Total	20146	40000	49387	77123	106215

As crude prices had fallen down during the first quarter of 2009, the total under recovery on Kerosene would be in the range of 30000 Crores during FY 2008-2009. This amount is sufficient to establish 6000 MW of Coal or gas based thermal power station. Simple calculation further suggests that if we provide four pieces of 10 W CFL to each of those BPL families for whom the subsidized kerosene was meant, a 6000 MW plant can light up 80-100 million households even under Indian T&D losses. The electricity charges for these lighting would be in the tune of Rs. 6000-8000 Crores considering each unit of electricity at Rs. 4. I understand the practice is not so simple as this calculation. There are a lot more requirements starting from plant building, to transmission grid and electrification to providing CFL tubes. But, I am not talking something impossible. If the poor's symphatizer government can spent around Rs. 90,000 crores in Kerosene subsidies over last five years alone, why did it fail to spend even a small portion of that to provide electricity to these poors.
The motive of these governments run by the corrupt and cunning politicians is clear. They want the poor to continue living under the kerosene light so that they (netas and babus) and number of their upcoming generations can enjoy their evening in the glittering surroundings of five star hotels with the looted money out of subsidy scheme. Who is benefitting from these subsidies? A report by NACEAR had estimated around 40% of the subsidized Kerosene don't reach to the teargetted population. Following table about the leakage in the Kerosene distribution will clear the picture:

Extremely high leakage (More Than 50%)	Very high leakage (40- 50%)	High leakage (20-40%)	Low leakage (Less Than 20%)
Six States	Four States	Nine States	Four States
Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Orissa and Punjab	Assam, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Uttaranchal	Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh	Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal

So, for whom these subsidized Kerosene meant for? Definitely not for the poor. It is meant to divert the taxpayers money to netas and babus. By the means of these subsidies in the name of poor we are subsidizing OPEC nations! Now, I shift my focus towards last few central governments. Frankly speaking, it is hard to expect a clean government in India. But, there is a possibility of looking for best among the worst. A closer look at following graph makes things more clear and tell the truth about the government of aam aadami headed by a really clean and honest person!

BJP's Double Dilemma

During the last week, all the political news space in the electronic and print idea across the globe was taken away completely by perhaps one of the most important political happenings of this millennium and that too under the one of the most volatile and turbulent economic and political scenario globally. Yes, it was Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of United States of America. Thanks to the increased internet penetration among the Indian youths and global economic integration, the whole Obama story, from his nomination to inauguration, got much hype in Indian media as never before any U.S. presidential election was worth of newsmaking in Indian media- especially in the print media. All of this was very much justified as the media was flashing what the people were looking for. But, in between this Obama story some of the big news of Indian politics got lost. I am personally happy with these kind of news did not get the prime space in media. I am refering to the resignation of former U.P. CM Mr. Kalyan Singh from BJP's primary membership.
This is not something which was totally unexpected. In fact, it was on the expected lines and was just the matter of time that when would it happen. After the loss in previous Loksabha elections and the subsequent departure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from active politics, BJP as a party has struggled to sail smoothly. What BJP is facing and observing now is what I call the "Double Dilemma of BJP".
With the changic demographies of voters, that is more and more youth are joining the voting force, and slowly but steadily increasing expectations of voters about there futures has forced the BJP to overhaul the party. The outcome of recent state elections are clear sign of how the voter is going to exercise his vote? He or she is no more interested in living in the glory of past or wasting his future life in settling the scores of past. Thanks to Obama, at least one man has raised to occasion when the politics was in desperate need of a politician who can look into the future, especially after Bush remained busy during his two terms in settling the scores of his father. In the context of Indian politics I can't see any Obama or Obama-like currently available. But, I have hope. Slowly and gradually the Indian voter is looking for some futuristic leader. BJP realized this bitter fact by now that it can no more get votes in the names of Ramas and temples. Even the fear factor or safety cocerns seemed like thing of past. Especially dueing the tenure of NDA government we witnessed IC-814 hijack, and attack on parliament as the major terrorist attacks besides number of other smaller terrorist attacks. So, people of India has accepted the terror attacks as the part and parcel of their lives. So, in these changing times, when neither Hindutva card of security card was working in the favor of BJP. It needed some broader vision and bigger and better agenda for itself. Ironically, it was the oldtime harcore Hindutva face of BJP, Mr. L. K. Advani, who realized this changing rules of the game of Indian politics. He chose a perfect weapon to appease Indian Muslims and attack Congress by praising Md. Ali Zinnah. But, unfortunately it backfired and Adavani faced big time resistance from his party, RSS and VHP. The actions of BJP's posterboys such as Narendra Modi, Shivraj Chauhan, and Raman Singh over the last few years clearly suggest that Hindutva, Swadeshi idealism, and RSS might have been the reason behind their rise in Indian politics but it is the development and a vision for better future that is keeping them at that height in Indian politics and helping them achieveing further electoral success.

Coming to the "Double Dilemma", BJP is trying to sideline all the old warhorses in order to achieve two things- one to ensure that no hinderance in the way of candidature of Advani as prime minister and at the same time to ensure that after Advani it will be second generation leaders at top in BJP. Bringing second generation leaders in the top has become almost unavoidable to BJP. But here the trouble starts for the BJP. These old warhorses has started digging the grave for their party itself. BJP is confused between the choices of making these old warhorses happy and keeping them within the party or let them go and bring the second generation leaders in front and overhaul the party into a modern visionary party. Both the choices has its cons and pros. Making the old leaders happy and keeping them the poster faces in the coming election will result in a big jolt to the reform, modernization and overhauling of the party structure and image. Letting them go may result in loss of big share of votes in the coming elections and ultimately the desperate dream of Mr. Adavani will remain a dream forever. But, one thing is clear, it is a choice between short-term gain versus long-term advantage. Of course, opportunity is in the hands of thinker, planners and executers at BJP headquarter that what they want to do?

First it was 86 years old former vice president Mr. Bhairo Singh Sekhawat and now it is 76 years old former CM of UP, Mr. Kalyan Singh. Mr. Sekhavat crossed all the limits of greed and shamelessness. Just ensuring the defeat of Vasundhara Raje in the recent Rajsthan assembly election was not not enough to fulfill his greed. At the age of 86, after completing his term as vice-president and contesting for presidential election, he wants to contest upcoming Loksabha elections. In his response to denial of the ticket by party president Mr. Rajnath Singh, Mr. Sekhavat crossed all the limits of cheapness and shamelessness. He reponsded by saying, "I entered into the poltics when Rajnath was not even born". Who will make Mr. Sekhavat understand that your answer itself says that now you must quit active politics. What will he achieve at the age of 86 which he has failed to achieve by being in active politics for more than 60 years. Kalyan's response was also on the similar lines. Though, he was given ticket form Etawah parliamentary constituency, but he was not happy with his limited role in the party'd day to day affairs. He responded by saying, "the party has forgotten the senior leaders like Madanlal Khurana, Babulal Marandi, and Uma Bharti. Who will tell these veterans that their time is over now.Gone are the days when they can attract votes in the name of Ram and temple. They should now say good bye to active politics.

So, this is the time for BJP to do something new and different. Say good bye to these old warhorses. They don't have Obama, but they have severals of young (though not so young!) entusiastic politicians like Arun Jaitely, Narendra Modi, Ravishanakar Prasad, Madhavendra Singh, Shahanawaz Hussain, and Rajiv Pratap Rudi. Give these young leaders some responsibilities and prepare them for future. Come out of this dilemma as a stronger and visionary party rather than succumbing to the demand of these old blinds! Act before it's too late!

Socialism in Cricket too!

Former International Cricket Council CEO Malcolm Speed has dismissed suggestions that India is trying to take over the sport by flexing its financial muscle, insisting that such apprehensions are too far-fetched.

"There is too much fear of an Indian takeover and the power of the Indian administrators," Speed told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Cricket's unique selling point is the passion for cricket by Indians -- cricket is the most popular sport by a factor of about 30 in the second-most populous country in the world. This should be seen as a major positive. The game needs to find ways to use that unique selling point," he added.

The above is the excerpts from the interview of Mr. Malcom Speed, the former CEO of ICC. I am not very much clear about his intentions behind making these statements. Whether he wanted to point out the dominating Indian muscle power in international cricket or he wanted to just dismiss the recent allegations of Indian dominance by few of the cricket boards and media. Whatever the reason may be, but one thing becomes clear. Speed or the other officials of CA, ECB or for that matter any official of the developed nations is self-obsessed and big time hypocrite. They love any principle till the time it puts them in the comfort zone and benefits them.

Though I am not going to write about the recent bail-outs, import quota, or fixed exchange rate to floating exchange rates drama. But, the recent happenings has made one thing clear that these developed nations just talk of morality, principals, and equity but hardly put these in practice. After lambasting the developing countries for their protectionism and socialist approach, these so called developed countries (run by the intellectuals!) has turned to socialism to protect their market. What happened suddenly? Has the basic ideologies of socialism and capitalism changed? These question will be debated for times to come. So, let me look at the world cricket form this angle. Cricket is not isolated from the world politics and economics.

Starting from 90s, 1996 world cup to be more precise, there has been a drastic shift of power in world cricket. India emerged as unchallenged power in controlling the cricket. This was not because of the mercy or kindness of white skinned cricket administrators. Credit goes totransparent or non-transparent cricket administrators of India and rising Indian economy. Today revenue generated by the Indian cricket is 30 times more than that of its nearest competitor, as said by Mr. Speed. So, naturally India is a much bigger fish in the pond of world cricket nowadays than Australia or England were during pre-90 era. By virtue of their opportunist tendency, CA, ECB have started to talk about responsibility, equity and many more globe terms (these terms look better on paper not in practice! or say it like..these terms look better only when you are expecting these from the other party).

Let me clarify my stand. I am not a fan of socialist ideology. I strongly blieve that socialism can never be a good thing in practice. It may be good only for intellectual discussions, simply timepass with tea, or ideological debate under high spirits caused by spirit! It can never be practical. So, Mr. Sutherland (CA), or Mr. Speed prepare yourself to watch the show in coming years. I request you to just look at the pre-90 era of world cricket and think how responsibly and equitably you have behaved? I even don't think that India's sun will be always rising in the world of cricket. Let few more Bindra, Vijendra come to the scene and India will shift its focus from cricket to some other sports. It was you people who were in a notion that white skinned people will always be ruling cricket.

Sorry Mr. Speed, mr. Sutherland....whoever is concerned! Cricket too has its cycle like business! Be patience to come out of this recession (may be it would turn out to a great depression for you!).

Just shut up Mr. Ramadoss!

He did it again! Our health minister has mastered the art of cheap publicity. Every other day he is in the limelight of media, unfortunately, at most of the times for wrong reasons.He is used to make useless statements and encroaching in the personal space of others. But, whatever he spoke today was totally illogical and not accepted one form a mentally fit (I think so. As our constitution says that to be a minister you need to be of sound mind!) person.

While answering the questions of reporters on possible epidemic in Bihar as the water in the flood affected areas has started coming down he told that it's nothing new about Bihar. His detail statement goes like:
Bihar has been a center of epidemics even before the floods. So it is nothing new for Bihar. They have cases of polio, they have cases of JE (Japanese Encephalitis), malaria is a problem, kala azar is a problem. All have been there,” Ramadoss said.

I have certain reservations regarding this statement. My first objection has nothing to do with reminding him of his responsibilities as a health minister. It is also not that being a native of Bihar I am hurt emotionally by his statements. People from Bihar are used to get nothing after empathetic statements as well. My question goes as:

Does the smoking of SRK was new thing? That was a big concern for the minister.
Does endorsement of Lays by Saif was a new event? This also bothered minister very much.


Height of stupidity! A health minister is more worried about individual habits than about the healthcare of masses. That too in the hour of need, when Lakhs of people are facing one of the worst natural calamities of the recent times. Keep apart the past and present, that itself is another big discussion topic. Lakhs of marginalised people, majority of them are women, old aged and children - because in search of bread and butter for their families the adult males have gone to some other states, are suffering from a tragedy of this scale and our health minister instead of empathising (Doing something is far from expecations!) with them is rather mercilessly saying that their lives are of no use for the minister and this nation. Minister is telling that it doesn't matter to him that these flood affected areas are not at all appear in his map of India. I don't know the motives, but the other states and other ministeries are lending their helping hands to the state in trouble and there is our insane healt minister making such senseless statements.

I am not arguing with the minister that Bihar is one of the most developed states of our country. Neither I am saying that the politicians from Bihar are the best ones. But, what justifies his statements. Which theory suggests that we should not develop? If we don't have to develop or improve the thing then why we keep on talking of growth and development? If something is bad then should we try to make that good or make that worse. Can Ramdoss tell me if someone is suffering from a life threatening disease like Cancer or AIDS for that matter, should we kill him? Understanding the rationale behind his statement is out of my understanding. May be I am not that much intellectual!

During the tenure of this UPA government we have witnessed many good and bad incidents. But, what is important that there are few ministers in this government in this government who whenever opened theie mouth, only shit came out of their mouth. No prize for guessing one of the names different from Ramadoss- yes, he is our own home minister- Mr. SHivraj Patil. On numerous occasions he has done this. Things are always better when these people remain silent.

So, please shut up Mr. Ramdoss.

Oh! Enough of Kasmir appeasment. Stop it now.

Jammu is burning for last two months. Every political party is trying his best to get out of this situation and make a clear path for victory in upcoming assembly election. Center is watching all this as a physically and mentally challenged creature of god (rather Allah!). The so called powerful persons and administrators of Indian democratic systems are showing their impotency. One fundamental question arises why at all such a scenario come in first place which led to the vioent display of oppressed Jammu citizens' anger and frustration.

People of Jammu has suffered a lot in last 60 years due to all pro-Pakistan and separatists movement in Kashmir. They remained calm on most of the occasions when larger chunks of development amount were spent on the smaller population of Kashmir. They did not display their anger on migration of Kashmiri Pandits. After 60 years of independence Jammu region is one of the underdeveloped regions of India. This is largely due to the absence of governence and terrorism and Kashmir. Jammu suffered for such a long time because none of thir mistakes. They kept quiet, all because they always felt like an Indian and just because they wanted Kashmir to be the part of India at any cost, they never complaint about the partial treatment.

Now just look at Kashmir and the Kashmiris (I don't know what each of the Kashmiri feels, but what their representatives feel is vary clear). India spent billions of dollar on kashmir's development and security. The per capita central support to J&K around Rs. 9754 Kashmir and Rs. 876 Bihar. Ten times better support and this figure doesn't include additional billions of dollar spent on defense. Point here to be noted is that out of this support most of the money is spent on Kashmir and Jammu junta find themselves at the receiving end. In 2004, the Prime Minister announced special package of $5 Billion for the development of state. We are spending our taxpayers money freely without thinking about anything else. For the sake of development of Kashmir we are depriving another states of funds. The states which contributes larger amount to tax collection are getting lower support than Kashmir which hardly contributes anything to the tax collection. We are still carrying the burden of Article 370 (thanks to appeasement policy) due to which Kashmir is not an another state despite being part of India. Our constitution and acts are not applicable (with the exception of Foreign policy, Defense and communication).

In my opinion the provision of article 370 in the constitution was the biggest blunder. Till now Kashmiris don't feel to be part of India. Even when separatists movement was at low the article 370 never gave them a sense of belongingness to India.

Coming to the current hue and cry over land transfer, we need to look the issue closely. The reasons given by the hardliners in opposition to the transfer of 40 Hectares of land to SASB.

The All-Parties Hurriyat Conference spread three canards: First, the transfer amounted to alienation of 'Kashmiri land'; second, it would lead to intrusion of 'Hindu culture' in Muslim Kashmir; and, third, it would cause ecological damage.

In a so called secular nation and the people who always shouted the "aawaz of Kashmiriyat" are now opposing a move based on communal grounds. Even after 60 years they are still feeling that Kashmir should be separate from rest of the India. And lastly, the firing and terrorist activities going on for so long has done no harm to the ecology of Kashmir that land transfer deal will do. Let me try to understand the rationality of their arguments on the communal basis. In our secular democratic country, exchequer spents about Rs. 300 Crores for the welfare of "Haz Yaatra" of 14% minority (of course 1-2 % are not minorities. After all 1-2 % don't constitute the vote banks.Christians, Sikhs, Bhudhists...who are they?). Government try their best to provide airfare subsidy, opens special terminal at airports, sends teams of medical staffs and so on. Nobody has any objections on that. Whay at all a secular state provides any kind of support in a religious activity. A country where illiteracy, infant mortality, malnutrition to name a few still remains a major problem, is spending such a huge amount on religious activities. When the same government tried to help the pilgrims belonging to the about 82% of the population these Kashmiris started feeling the pinch. How one can be so insane. Form any comaprison these two supports are unmatched.

These Kashmiri leaders have always keep India warning about their willingness to merger with Pakistan just because the state got the basic supports form the center always on a preferential basis. We have done enough. What have we got in the return? Always a sense of hostility, their affection for Pakistan. We ahve faced the separatist movements in a number of states. Punjab, Nagaland, Mizoram and many more. We didn't provide any special status to these states and finally all these states are back to normal life and part of Indian democratic system. We have already done enough to appeas Kashmir and the Kashmiris. Just stop this appeasement right now. Let them do whatever they want. Stop the central grant and let them realize there is something called Economics and politics can't fill the hungry stomach!! This is high time when we must take some bold move rather than just pacifuing the situtaion for the time being!

But, I am not very hopeful. Every party will ook at the situation from the angle of upcoming state assembly elections and more importantly upcoming parliamentary elections. Anyways, I sincerely appeal to every poltical party please rise above narrow election politics and stop this Kashmir appeasement right now!

M. G. Road Bangalore to M. G. Road Indore: Without ticket train journey in between

Sunday, 20th July 2008
It was the third weekend in Indore. This time our determination was strong enough to cross the boundaries of IIMI. After having enough of quizzes, presentation and assignments, we understood the fact that we had to go out and at least see the city in this hectic schedule itself and there would be no time when we have nothing to do. The last 2 weeks were a kind of standard punishment of IPC (Indian Penal Act) - 15 days of jail (all minor crimes and wrongdoings attract this penalty...given our police prove the charges)! I went to city 3-4 days ago - thanks to the person who stole my cell phone. But, that was a visit to mobile store and not to the city.

We usually don't have any academic activities apart from classes in morning till 1.30 in afternoon. But, this was not the usual case, everything was coming as an obstacle in our way to city or more precisely way to movie. This time it was batch photograph for the placement brochure. I am in section D, a first time section at IIMI. It is not that only teachers are satisfying their sadistic wishes by the means of assignments, quizzes, presentations etc., many more things are there to test our patience. Our section's photography was scheduled last - at 1.00 PM on Sunday. With the dreams of going to watch a movie I slept on Saturday night and with the hope of making it I woke up at 10.00 AM on Sunday. After having lunch at afternoon, we came to know that photography of other section has overshot the time limit and ours is ultimately going to start at about 4.30 PM. What the hell was going on? Cursing my hard luck I came back to my room (more appropriatley "mera gaon": A construction funded by NABARD at IIMI) and slept. I was witnessing one more Sunday passing very fast and Monday approaching. To attend the photograph session I woke up at 3.45 PM and then got ready. Getting ready in formal dress and too formal means Suite...It was a time consuming task for me. Thankfully by 5.45 PM, the photography thing was over. I ran back to my room and changed dress. We thought about going outside the main gate and then catch some bus or taxi. But, then we realized the IIM van leaving at 6.30 PM would be a better option. This van will drop us at the beginning of city.

We started at 6.30 PM in the IIM van. Thanks to Sunday evening, this van was full. Anyway we managed to get packed in the van. Nothing was going right..just on reaching Rau railway crossing (4 Kms from here), the gate was closed!! There were two train crossings - means about 20-30 minutes of waiting. It was frustrating especially when we had to come back to the campus by 11.00 PM. We were five persons. Two of us came out of the van and started walking at the railway gate. We collected all the details from the gateman about the trains available from Rau to Indore and Indore to Rau. The gateman told us that one of two trains was going to Indore. After few minutes, we saw three of us, who were sitting in the van were running towards the train. They were telling us to run and catch the train. We also followed them and managed to catch the train at Rau. As we were running short of time, none of cared about buying the ticket.

What a memorable experience it was!! We were travelling in a train without ticket. This was the desperation to watch a movie or if tickets of movie not available then roam around the theater/mall. Our journey started with discussing different analysis about arrival of TTE and strategy formulations to get rid of TTE. We reached at a conclusion that considering the fact we were in local train running on a meter guage and too coming form MHOW (Army Cantt), there was hardly any possibility of meeting a TTE. So, we reached Indore station in just 20 minutes and that too without encountering any mamu (TTE). It was 7.10 PM by the time we came out of the station. We aske the first autowala " Bhaiya TI mall chaloge"? He replied "haan chalenge, kitne log ho? We told "5 log hai..le chaloge kya"? haan haan le chalenge..50 rupaye lagenge..
haan bhaiya jaldi chalo...". We reached the dream destination TI (Treasure Island) Mall located on M.G. Road Indore by 7.30 PM.

Oh my God!! is this a mall or a mob? This was the first impression after entering the mall. I was more comfortable with those kind of overcrowded malls. I still have the memories of weekends at Garuda and Forum mall at Bangalore. But, for many of us, who were not in Bangalore, this was just like a mob. We started running towards ticket counter at 4th floor. We needed 3 tickets of any movie (The Dark Knight or Janne Tu Ya Jaane Na was ok for us..of course we couldn't have tolerated RGV's Contract). Two of us were not watching the movie because they had to meet some of their friends. We reached the counter and the screen was showing sold out for JTYJN and fast filling for The Dark Knight. Great..we managed to get last three tickets of " The Dark Knight." Fortunately, movie was awesome. It turned out to be a real entertainer and that too in the need. But, the movie was longer than usual English movies. It was of 2 hours and 40 minutes. That meant movie would be over by 10.15 PM. We booked the cab in advance so that we could manage to reach the campus by the deadline of 11.00 PM. Once the movie was over and people have their part of dinner (McD burgers), we left the mall at 10.30 PM. Anyhow we managed to enter the maingate at 10.57 PM. Thank god..we entered just in time!! What a great weeekend...I went outside the campus and watched a movie in theater!

Again I was back to normal campus life. Looking at timesheet of Monday, What assignments and pre-readings? Leave it.. I started thinking about the omnipresence of Gandhi in our life. Ye saala M.G. Road har city me aa jata hai..wo bhi prime locations pe..Gandhi ko notes pe aa ke chain nahi mila..sadko pe bhi apna naam likh diya!! M.G. Road Bangalore was like playground for me during last two years. Now, I reached M.G. Road Indore to enjoy weekends (it can't become the playground.. I don't have the liberties now!!). In this transition from M.G. Road Bangalore to M.G. Road Indore, I enjoyed the Without Ticket journey of Train. Hope to see the city soon!!