As a rule vociferous protests followed,but the griever himself,Mr. Khan refused the need of any apology.And my mind is in a quandary,of which event is more rueful,his detention or his submissive acceptance.In a press statement Mr. Tharoor our honorable minister of state said and i quote-”this is a happening for a lot of Indians daily,but sadly they don’t have a billion to stand for them”.It is indeed sad Mr. Minister.Albeit it is well known,we have failed miserably to stop it.The reason is evident.For if the lamenter is a common man,he does not make the news.And if the lamenter is a part of glitterati,he would not feel the need to ebb and wane his good name,as is the case now.It is a bleak situation marauding our pride and conscience.I assure you,if it was you but not Sharukh,not even a trivial talk would have emanated.Once it has generated shock waves all across the nation it is a moral duty of ‘Baadshah‘,to press charges,to heed for an official apology assuring its prohibition in the future.For he jabbers incessantly of ‘fighting for people’,of being a ‘true’ Indian,the onus is now on him,for his voice will be heard if raised.For he and himself can seek an apology,if any Indian can.For Sharukh ‘Khan’ and not any ordinary ‘Khan’ could avenge,and no billions would support anyone but him.If he accepts it meekly,as being a mundane and quotidian event,what message will it send to the next ‘Khan’ who is ‘ill-treated’?If the King Khan fails to contrive an apology,an ordinary ‘Khan’ is just zilch and less.If anything is a certainty in this transient world,it is that more ‘Khans’ will be detained daily.If Sharukh does not dares,no one will.

On our 62nd Independence Day,which recently passed,people said we have inherited a strong country,we have inherited a multi-cultural society.But i say pragmatically as it looks,we have inherited nothing but lack of wits,we have inherited Chalta hai attitude.We are all cosily sitting where we are,no one wants to risk it for the greater good.The perilous and bleak scenario is causing consternation.Indians have not yet learned to dare,to challenge the status-quo.I am optimistic that,the offing will see us more belligerent and rebelious.

Come monsoon,and a flurry of seasons overshadows us.The most momentous being ‘Ganesh-Chaturthi’.The already boisterous streets of India,become overwhelmingly more rumbustious and a less more organised.But that is just a moot issue,when the fiscal liabilities are concerned.Every year,incessantly,stupendous amount of money flows into adorning the ‘stone-made’ reincarnations of Lord Ganesha,the brooding devotion of believers in that idol is extortionate if i am concerned.Pragmatically,its just a ‘rock-cut’ commercial silhouette of the almighty.I admire these ‘rocks’,not for they are god,but for they are meticulous pieces of architecture.

The beliefs and the unbeliefs,more so the latter surrounding the ‘almighty’ never seem to call it a day.Tons and tons of gold used to beautify a stone deity,in a country where more than half of the population lives below poverty line,in a country where eradication of poverty is ‘the’ major agenda,is ludicrous and worrying simultaneously.It is exorbitant that people actually are pushed to believe that there is a god in a colossal,stone made statue.More baffling is the fact that people believe there is god in that statue and in that statue only.Knowing god,i don’t think he would reside in a rock which has similar effigy as to him,and ignore a rock in shape of a ‘skunk’.For all i know,he does not discriminate.So if there is god in an idol,it justifies his presence in your ‘shoes’.You don’t treat him that well,do you?You kick him everyday,you put him as a shield so that it is he who gets doused in mud.Trust me,you don’t want to do all that with god.

The saga of the ‘rock’ doesn’t end here.People offer ‘lucre’ in front of it,and feel that by doing so,they will have a happily ever after.If it worked that way,i strongly believe everyone surviving below poverty line should forcefully be made sterile,for they and their off springs are never going to have a happy ending.And the golden words stand- “Prevention is better than cure”.Any attempt to bring ‘sense’ back in our society,is considered a threat to our ‘culture’.Its just an impasse,apathetic scenario.We are moving in to dying orbits,we are superstitious,we are adamant,we are helpless,but we are not alone.

The blending of the western culture in our society is not obscure to any mortal eye.But the vociferous protest against it,is embarrassing for a visionary India.The ‘pub-culture’ has already borne witness to the wrath of self acclaimed soldiers of culture.The latest victim of India’s adamant mind is ‘legalisation of homosexuality’.My contemplative mind,fails in every sincere attempt,when it tries to reason out,the ballyhoo surrounding it.If there is a consensus of two individuals,which culture prohibits them to pursue happiness.It is dismaying and causing consternation that our ‘religious-heads’ are thinking it all to be ‘anti-social’.I am afraid all that is left now in our ‘culture’ is a group of men,tired of their ‘lost-identity’,given up to every failure to lead a successful life,advocating the sermon for a ‘cultural-society’.We,the naive,call them ‘religious-heads’.The reason they give to patronage their orthodox behaviour is -”This has been going on for ages,this is gods way to do it”.I can’t help but think,is everything that has been going on for ages a supreme verity?And if that was the case why were ‘sati’, ‘untouchability’ and other menaces banned,after all even they were a part of our ‘culture’ once.

Any astute person would see that our culture is not being ‘destroyed’,it is evolving,like it has over the many years.A culture is never destroyed,it always evolves.But there are always protests to ‘change’.There is always just one more inexorable mind left.I am wishful that the higher minds decide what is best for our society pragmatically and not spiritually.For change is indispensable for a stable society.

Yes, sure we are not racists,we are Indians.We have inherited the regime of ‘All are equal’,which our selfless ancestors so diligently and incessantly worked for.For instance,if we ‘accidentally’ refer an inhabitant of eastern India as ‘Chinky’,it doesn’t make us racists,or ‘hypothetically’ if we advert someone who dwells in southern India as ‘Malli’ or ‘Yangad-Bangad’,it won’t make us racists as we have a constitution that says otherwise.Even the profane language which we use to cite the scheduled castes nor the address of a ‘Bengali’ as ‘Macchi’,pronounce us as racists,as we are bound to joke,we are not brooding guilty,we are making humour.Our constant utterance to Muslims’ as ‘Katu*s’,is really humourous,isn’t it?I am erupting with laughter,aren’t you?Well I am sure the jokes about those belonging to the ‘Sikh’ community will make you laugh.

What a secular country,what an amusing population.We bode our full respect to all religions.We are not racists,we are clowns,we elicit humour.I urge you in strongest words to refute and reprimand anyone and everyone who says we,the Indians are racists,and patronage those who appreciate our humour.

As a rule there were both sweet and sour opinions about it. I personally treat both the sides at par. Being an adamant supporter of equality, I welcome the verdict with all anxiety and pride. On contrast to it, I fear if the apex court has overlooked facts and preferred emotions? In lieu of scrutinizing the issue astutely, has the court decided the case sentimentally? Any pragmatic mortal mind will tell Radha is not capable to handle a child and responsibilities that are inevitable. She, herself being an orphan, is not only crippled mentally but her financial status is also vexing. Some of the psychiatrists believe her nascent mind, could go on to the lunacy of killing the baby if pushed towards delirium. Hypothetically taken, what if she does kill her child eventually, who would take the blame then? In such a miscellany, the future of the child indeed emanates consternations. But again, Radha can’t be ripped of her rights because she is ‘So and so’. The nineteen week old foetus can not be killed because it is possibly imperiled somewhere in the future. This issue brings in to perspective the controversial case which moved the Bombay high court last year, where the mother was seeking a legal abortion of her over twenty week old girl child, arguing that the foetus was examined and was found to be suffering from an incurable heart ailment, and that the girl would eventually have to face death untimely. The Bombay high court abrogated the plea, upholding the child’s right to live. There were questions asked even then, there were mixed reactions even then.

As for the fresh case of Radha Vs Union of India, the circumstances are just more morose. My conjecture and surmise at this moment is perplexing, I don’t see a flaw in either of the arguments. All in all I do feel a need to amend the laws, to give a clear transparency in such issues. Abrahim Lincoln once said and I find myself privileged to quote – “Two persons may honestly differ on something, and they both can be correct”. As things stand at present, his intellect seems to have been justified again.

There isn’t  no honest piss.

Truth of lies,

Lies about truth.

Why contain thee?

Let even the blind see.

Hear not of that rich man,

or to that fat old man.

Do what you feel,

And all else will kneel.

Try not to be him,

An execrable sin.

There isn’t a way to be born,

But there are ways to die.

Live as there wasn’t one,

Die as you will still live.

…………………………………………………..

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That one dark chilling night

That cruise side by side.

That certainity in daze,

That one last pretty face.

That exciting fun chase,

More with that black haze.

That too much of back and hair,

That one all in all stare.

That stupid smirk,

Those feelings which sunk.

So much for youth,

So much for truth.

You are gonna die alone,

No one for that stare.

Nothing for that chase,

None to weep over your face.

…………………………………………………..

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Those fairy tales,

Those moral stories.

Those lessons we take,

Were and are still so fake.

Why wasn’t i told,

The day i was born.

There is a good deed,

But ain’t no more.

Humanity,the costliest whore,

So none buys a more.

Through the hymen,

The pleasure of pain.

That momentous pleasure,

of  being insane.

No happy for others,

No real flight without feathers.

We killed the world,

Save yourself.

-Rahul Shrivastava

(Saving me)

Each Indian is vexed when one reminisces the unequivocally detestable series of events which shook India on the twenty-sixth day of November,last year.As appalling and dismaying it was,the worst was yet to strike.The probe which commenced showed assurance of ‘speedy justice’,which is all in all alien to our country.But the Much Ado was short-lived. The self realisation of being an Indian was what followed.

Days passed,they cumulatively added to make months.Now they are about to make a whole year,and yet the guilty is on trial.Ajmal Kasab,the solitary survivor of the perpetrators,is still breathing with strength and honor.The law of the land gives him the right to be adjudged innocent,until the honorable courts decide otherwise,which is not yet the case.So as of now he is as clean,as you are,as pious,as you are.The news broke today that our ‘leader’ as some call him,Mr. Manmohan Singh gave a word that our country shall not hold composite talks with Pakistan until it punishes those guilty of masterminding 26/11.Mr. Prime Minister if our own country still treats Kasab as innocent,expecting our neighbours to take action is outrageous and a bit humourous simultaneously.Justice delayed is justice denied.The dilly-dallying brings in to spotlight,a country governed by weak,meek and submissive ‘leaders’,reluctant to take collossal steps.In lieu of taking prompt actions,and send a strong message to all the potential terrorists,our great nation believes in waiting.Is it really worth it?Our country was held hostage and ravaged for three days incessantly on live television and it had all our eyes and ears aroused.As if we were waiting for a cine matinee in prosaic.The chargesheet filed against Kasab is just rambling unceasingly for pages,thousands of them.Mr. Kasab is alleged of loitering about the Shivaji terminal without a platform ticket,and will be trialed for it.Oh dear lord,that is a heinous crime,isn’t it?So much for transparency.

The great nation of U.S.A. hanged Saddam Hussain till death on live television,alleging his insubordination towards them.The new India,the shining India seems to have forgotten and gone about it’s quotidian routine as if there was never a 26/11.There are two sides to see it.One and the much hyped side to it is that nothing can wear India down.The not so hyped,worrying side to it is that we pragmatically don’t care.Everyday we watch the news as it breaks,we get apprised,and thats it,we forget that it ever happened.Cases of murders,extortion,rape,abduction seemingly entertain us.Instead of getting alarmed,we watch it casually as if it is a part of our routine.I beg you to put yourself in the victim’s shoes,will you be so adamant,so ignorant,if it was you,or a comrade of your’s?The same tune was sung after 26/11,the mob was agonised,they were ready to throw off the democracy if it didn’t guarantee their safety.Their reaction,and belligerence was unprecedented.But now assess where we are.We have become complacent.We have allowed time to take a toll on us.We are not demanding justice,we are waiting patiently for it,whenever it comes,in whatever way it comes.

I just hope,am just optimistic Kasab doesn’t die of old age and instead is tasted the flavour of justice.I just hope we change ourselves,we start to take responsibilities morally,we start to commit ourselves for the benefit of others,we feel for the others,we don’t enjoy news,we realise it,we strive for the greater good.And above all we don’t completely forget so much, so soon.

A nascent sapling cut from a tree,

Planted to be free,

Planted on a new ground,

Separated to be found…

Little did it know,

What was to come

It was alone,

It kept mum…

It is now a tree,

Not yet free,

To a fellow farmer it heeds,

Too egoistic to plea

Not willing to be helped

But being in need

To strengthen its roots,

To spread its shoot

“Let me” said the farmer

“Leave me be” said the tree

Aid was denied,

So was the denial,

The farmer reached out,

The tree backed down.

It must have been a farmer,

That cared a lot,

Abated resistance

To grow a good crop

The tree is finally free

It owes a ton

To the farmer who assisted thee

To the tree it was cut from

And it is amazed

It is crippled

It is dazed

A farmer like one no one can replace

Whenever in retrospect

It sees its parturient past

It bends in shame

For the arrogance cast…………………….

Rahul Shrivastava

(The insubordinate tree)….

It is unfortunate that a child is not considered malnourished till he becomes a severe case and is at the dearth of his life. The impoverished people of Satna district(M.P.),lack basic facilities like seating arrangement, drinking water, separate toilets or space to cook nutritious food; These numbers equally put forth the abysmal condition of medical facilities and emergency services provided to the not so developed classes. When a child dies of malnutrition, he does not go off easy. It happens through a slow and sickening chain, which leaves the child at pitiable and hapless condition. Sunken eyes, deep-set skin exhibiting each and every one of the 206 bones present, are what a parent must bear witness in his to be caretaker. The gut wrenching thought of impuissance becomes quotidian.

With the mushrooming up of fast food restaurants, pizza huts, and a gazillion more places to grab a bite, these figures are disturbing to any section of our multi-ethnic society. Next time you spare excess food at a fancy and gaudy restaurant, I invite you to spare a thought. Next time you curse your existence, I invite you to compare. Next time you feel that India is perfect, I invite you reconsider.

Why must a child die at all? Why do people feel they can justify death? Why is the government inefficient in providing the most basic amenity for life?These are a very few from the plethora of riveting questions crowding my fragile consciousness.

The hour when the government both at the centre and state level should accept their cumulative failure is here. New norms regarding food security need to be devised and executed to curb this horrid menace sine die. The proposal of propagandas is not alien to our system, its their implementation which is all in all indispensable.

A child lost to malnutrition is a concern for all Indians, a shame for all residents in the near by vicinity, a sin for the government.

The orthodox ‘fourth-estate’ of India, the press, scrutinized on the new and effulgent ‘fourth-estate’, the blogosphere. The former can with ease bring forth a thirty minutes special report on the alleged ‘conspiracy of the digital age’, or even ‘technology-a threat to India’ for that matter, if they feel their position disheveled. The gloomier side to it is that, the naïve and baffled masses would nod along them, owing to their incessant perception-“The media can not wrong”. It isn’t agonizing any more; it is appalling now causing consternation. Awareness grows as it is spreads. But in our country, sadly it isn’t growing anymore. It seems we are moving into dying orbits, imperiling nothing but our own virtue.

My concerning doesn’t emanate from a couple of flaws by the television media, but due to a long, prolonged sense of fear that has been instilled in me, an unexplainable agony that I have developed within myself; after watching the news as it breaks and juxtaposing it with as it is presented. I must here venture that through this article of mine, am not trying to spark an unprecedented revolution, or to change the face of television media as we see it. I am just trying to spread awareness as I see my biggest challenge in it. I do believe that many of the ‘news’ channels are credible to their reputation and do justice to their position. This is just yet another attempt to point out the black sheep.

For instance the not so recently concluded ‘Big-Bang’ experiment by some of the most intellectual minds, was presented as the grimmest catastrophe ever to take place. The experiment in spite of being praised was booed and feared. The stupendous amount of money that flew in it was shown to elicit nothing but Armageddon. And if that wasn’t horrid enough, a television ‘news’ channel of good standing gave it a religious cut, and borne witness that ‘The End’ as it will be, was predicted by a religious saint thousands and thousands of years ago. The chaos theory states-“One random act gives rise to another, which starts another, in a bigger picture it starts a change, it starts chaos, it commences mass hysteria” . And so it was to be, it was almost worth killing yourself when some of the self acclaimed intellects fell prey. The vicious circle took an even vicious turn when these ‘intellects’ started spreading their knowledge. Instead of keeping their newly found philosophy they decided to propagate it to their off springs. And so the chaos theory was justified.

The apex court gave its ruling quite a time back, ordering the honorable government to look in to these discrepancies. The government in a jiffy formed a committee for that matter. When the committee failed to submit its report in its prescribed term, another committee was made to look in to the working of the former committee. It is true then ours is a land of committees. But deplorably the only problem these committees seem to tackle is unemployment. Well so far, so good. And that’s the last a common man ever heard of this issue on which even the Supreme Court has given its verdict.

The more I contemplate about it, I get lost in reverie, I get dazed, for who is to blame.

The corporate ‘news’ channels who are in it for lucre, and will inevitably present things as the masses would find fascinating, or the Aam janta, which fails to understand the very same fact, or the ignorant and adamant government, sitting cozily in its comfort zone and seems to have become brazen about it.