Visiting Tihar To Hear A Confession -Part 2

We  were both  looking at a news item prominently displayed on the page .It read “Shootout  in South Delhi .3 Killed”.Any shoot out attracts attention for various reasons ,but this was no ordinary shootout .It did not involve some unknown terrorist in Kashmir or a fake encounter in a Mumbai suburb .It had taken place between the police and two boys I had taught many years back .One of them had opened the batting with me for my house ,and I had  maintained his pocket money  for many years .I had also accused him of running away from his dorm on a cold December night with two other “accomplices” of his .He had never admitted the fact .But now his name was staring me  in my face- Aditya .He had managed to escape death .He had been taken into police custody ,because he was absent at the time of the shootout –he had gone to drop another accussed to the Nizammuddin Railway Station .By the time he returned to the flat where the entire tragedy was unfolding ,his other accomplishes -3 of them –had been gunned down .And one of them happened to be Girish .A photograph in black and white showed him lying in a pool of blood .The other two I did not know –nor was I bothered .My mind was a whirlpool of memories –everything came back in a flash .The many years of youthful exuberance seemed to have been lost in the dust and grime of history .The evenings  spent ,discussing Bob Dylan,Karl Marx,Amitabh Bacchan,and London seemed to have gone down the drain .  “You must always try to speak the truth –even when your voice shakes .You must always speak the truth not because God  says that .After all who has seen God ?You must speak the truth because it is more comfortable than speaking lies .”,I had passionately argued .The boys had heard me with rapt attention .Had I not spoken well enough ?Had I not generated that kind of love and respect that at least two of them had thrown all caution to the winds .?It was the only chance I had to make a impression .Had I blown it off.?These thoughts came rushing in and out of a youngish mind .I tried to steady my head and my heart .I could not .I missed the assembly .And I wept .

I am not going to recount the details of the case .It involved a businessman from AbuDhabi/Dubai,his abduction ,a demand of a 3 lac dollar ransom,the CBI getting the leads ,the trail leading to a flat first in South Extention and later to Sarvpriya Vihar,the police forcing their entry into the flat and shooting down the abductors –one of them Girish .Aditya came back after dropping the 4^th abductor to the Railway Station ,and found the police waiting for him .!!He had run away from me –but he had run too far away .I suspect he kept running –not only from me ,but also from himself .I wish he had come back ,on that fateful night as I shouted in the wilderness for him .But my voice had disappeared into the fog and empty fields .Girishs’run had ended in death (or does death end living?),but Aditya had still some way to go .He was sentenced life imprisonment and lodged in the Tihar Jail.!

Life continues –when Robert Frost was asked to define life ,he had said “It goes on”.And so it did for me .The past never really is powerful enough to pull you back ,or stop you from moving forward .Its a misnomer to say that people who think about the past don’t move ahead .Infact ,they move faster .Sometimes you want to leave the memories of the past and the best way is to be involved in the dream of the future .It accelerates you .I moved ahead –and some of my greatest achievements were to unfold .I got absorbed in the accolades ,the claps ,the small recognitions ,the admiration and love of students , staff and parents .The press pampered me and at times hammered me .But it gave me a sense of importance to share the stage with Governors ,CMs,celebrities .I was feted out to five star lunches and dinners ….Aditya and Girish became a thing of the past .But the past catches up with you .Its a bad mistress –you cant ignore it for long .One day it knocked on my memory door .!!

I was recovering from a serious illness and used to come to office slightly late .My cell phone used to be activated only when I entered my chamber .So for all practical purposes my interaction with the outside world was nil.People were genuinely concerned about my well being –so if I had kept my cell phone on ,I would have been all the time attending to it .The doctors advised me  to avoid the  the cell as much as possible .I devised a plan –the cell would be switched on only when I attended office ,which was for about 4 hrs .Most of the messages were taken by the very efficient Nidhi and the very particular Sangeeta .They made sure that the doctors’ instructions were adhered to.As I entered my office one day ,and switched on my cell ,I found a flood of missed calls .One of them was from my college mate and at that time DIG Prisons in Delhi .I phoned him up

“Hello Kain ,kaise ho bhai”,he queried .

“Theek huhn Randhir ,how are you ?.Havent seen you for a long time”,I replied .

“Acchaa Kain ,Tihar meih ek criminal hai ,jo aapse milna chhaahataa hai”,he replied .

“Criminal ?Who is he ?I don’t know anyone in Tihar jail .The only criminal I know is you”,I laughed out aloud .

“He is one,,,,”,and he paused as he looked presumably for his name ,because I could hear sheafs of paper  being moved .And then he said “Aditya.Do you know him ?He says you taught him and is a great fan of yours .He speaks good English and when I asked him which school he was from and he named the school ,I asked him whether he knew you .He was surprised as to how I knew you”,replied Randhir “I told him we were college mates .Aur ,sense of humour accha hai uska”,and he paused .  “He laughed and said ,that he was happy because he thought even you were housed in Tihar”. Typical of the boy .On a more serious note ,Randhir told me that Aditya wanted to meet me . 

“Kuch confession karnaa chhaataa hai”,he said . “Bolo ,kab aa sakte ho.Mera dus din meih transfer ho rahaa haih .You don’t have to do a thing .You just have to walk in.Thats all.”

I fixed up the date with Randhir .Sangeeta protested because she said the date was too early for me to move to meet Aditya in Delhi.I had not recovered sufficiently enough .But destiny was beckoning me .I was impatient to hear what the confession was .I was interested to meet the young boy who I had last seen nearly 20 yrs back ,and I may never see again .It might be the only chance that life was giving me to experience a strange reunion .For me it was a question of either now or never .I was feeling  weak,I was on medication .I wanted to respect the sentiment of my wife who had prayed so hard for my survival .I was confused .Sometimes I play games with myself .I was fiddling with a 5 rupee coin .In a very filmy style I tossed the coin and called for heads .I remembered John Wayne in a famous western film say “when you toss a coin into the air ,do what your mind wants when it is in the air .And do it ,irrespective of which side the coin falls on”.,I had wanted it to fall “heads”,up . It fell with tails up .But I remembered John Wayne .I decided to go to meet Aditya in the Tihar Jail .!!It was a teacher going to see whether he could retrieve something for his student from whatever was left of his life.One does not stop teaching just because someone leaves school or college .One does not stop teaching because one is in a corporate office or a prison .One does not stop teaching because one is rich or poor .One stops teaching when one starts to forget and stops falling in love .Or when one dies .I did not belong to either of the  categories .I got into my car along with my driver Nasir.We took the NH 8 .I was to have lunch with Randhir .And I was to meet Aditya .We passed the open fields –there was a riot of yellow colour as mustard fields were at their majestic best .The sun was warming up the earth .After about 5 hours ,I was at Tihar Jail.

(to be concluded tomorrow ).

Visiting Tihar To Hear A Confession-Part 1

t’s a story that needs to be shared .Its a story of 2 wonderful  children  gone astray .Its a story that is a consequence of a act of mine not to pursue the truth to its logical end .Its a story of how some things come to haunt you years after they occurred .Its the story that behind the facade of a smiling Principal ,lies buried a deep intense past .Its a story that has been recounted many times –over a bonfire ,over a drink ,over a cup of tea ,or across the table .Its a story that I wish ,I could wish away ,or lighten by recounting .It is a story that does not go away .Ek chhotaa sa lamhaa hai,jo khatm nahi hota ,main laakh jalaata hun,yeh bhasm nahi hota .!!

 Its the story of a boy called Aditya and his friend Girish (names changed ).Its a story that began around the late 1980s when I was a young teacher teaching History in a school in Haryana .Aditya  was a bright boy –very sharp and very quick on the uptake .He played cricket and was fairly proficient at it .I was his house tutor and found him loving ,though at times unwieldy .It is not a uncommon trait among young boys .I kept a strict watch over him .Girish joined the school much later ,and I did not get to know him as well as Aditya –he also belonged to another house and as such did not fall under my direct supervision .He was a national level table tennis player .Life trundled along –some days were more tiring than others ,but nothing very spectacularly different .The school routine revolved around the axis of what was called “from rouser to lights out”,and each day was packaged to a minute .Normally after dinner ,a head counts was taken to make sure that all boys were present ,and then the Duty Master (a teacher was assigned duties to make sure the school adhered to all the timings ,and if in case there were any discrepancies then he was to bring it to the notice of the Principal),would sign the roll list and call “lights out”.The dorms would then be plunged in darkness .No one was to be seen anywhere outside his dorm after that .

But somedays ,things never happened that way .Some mischievious students would leave the dorms and go out and have dinner at a place called Murthal .They used to take a huge risk –because at  times after supervising dinner many teachers would also take the journey to have the famous paranthas there as well .There was a chance that you could come face to face with each other . And if that happened ,then the child /children faced the prospect of being expelled .Normally ,the boys had devised ways and means to beat the system .Remember ,it was far more difficult those days ,because there were no cell phones .So movements could not be tracked with ease.

I was a Duty Master –I forget the date –on one such day .I was really tired because the duty used to start with the roll call at 5.30 am and end at 10 pm .After supervising “lights out”,I made my way home .I had just got married and had made a programme with Sangeeta to have dinner at Murthal .We had just bought our new red Maruti 800 ,and after a quick bath and a drink ,took to the road outside the  school .A great drama was about to unfold .I carried a flask in which there was hot water just incase I needed to recharge .It was a early December  night .The road was engulfed with fog .I drove with great care .I have always been a very  meticulous and steady driver .

Sangeeta noticed someone on the road in the distance as I concentrated to beat the fog “Kullu zaraa dhyaan se.Someone is on road”.I slowed down and saw 3 boys all wrapped up in the trademark blue blankets of the school .They saw my car approaching ,and strained their eyes to look at its number .Maruti 800 was not a common car those days .My was the original Japanese one ,and it was well known in the school .Its number was DBA 5380 .!!The boys were quick to pick up its occupants.They ran –into the fields adjacent to the Grand Trunk Road .But not before its powerful Japanese headlights picked up their faces .One of them was Aditya  ,and the other one was Girish .The third fellow by his own admission was Pradeep(again name changed ),though I don’t voucsafe ,for it .The fog was too heavy .But I had no doubt about the two boys identity .

I got out of my car and decided to give them a run for their life .I was young and atheletic .But soon ,I realized that the fields were uneven and it was pitch dark.I started to shout “Aditya,Girish ,come back-I have seen you .You cant get away”.But there was pregnant silence .By this time even Sangeeta was on the road beside me .  “Lets go away –I am damn hungry .How does it matter .”she said .

“It does Sangeeta .They will be encouraged to violate the law if we don’t make it difficult.Not only ,will I make it uncomfortable ,but I will make sure they are suspended .They will never forget it throughout their life .”I waited for about 30 minutes .There was no sign of them returning .It was freezing cold outside .I decided to give up .I should not have .I could have saved 2 lives .!!

We went to Murthal .I don’t like losing (how can anyone ?).Throughout dinner time ,I was thinking as to where the 3 boys had disappeared .I was also thinking about reporting  the same to the Principal .It was my duty to do so –I was the Duty Master .I went back to school ,dropped Sangeeta to the house and walked to the Principals Residence .But I thought to myself “Let me check whether the boys are still missing .Let me take a walk to the dorms”.

I climbed the stairs .Oh God –it comes back so vividly ,I still remember what I was wearing .!!I went to the dorm  which housed Aditya  and Girish . I had my torch in my hand .I flashed it open .I saw Aditya pretending to be fast asleep .I shook him up and confronted him “Come on ,I am taking you to the Princi”.He was a terrific actor “Kyon Sir koi problem to nahi hai .Kuch aur ladke bhi saat le lete hai”.I was on the edge of losing  my temper .  “Don’t play games with me.You were bloody on the road an hour back .Going to Murthal .”

“Kya keh rahe ho Sir”,he said, “I have been here all this while .Infact ,I am not feeling well”.I switched on the lights of the dorm .By now I was livid .I was shouting  “Come on ,we will settle the issue with the Principal .Come on”,and I caught him by the collar .By this time the House Captain had jumped into the show and took me aside and told me that I should sort out the matter in the morning .Since Aditya  and Girish were both saying they had not left the dorms ,there was no point taking a controversy to the Principal around midnight .The same thing could be discussed in the morning .In anycase ,there were students who were mates of the the two boys concerned, saying that both of them had not left the dorm .Maybe I could be wrong .

I let the matter rest .I went home .Sangeeta was waiting.  “Sorted out the matter”,she inquired  “I hope the boys were back.They must be so ashamed”,she said .

“No ,they said they never left the room .Even their dorm mates said the same thing.Its a conspiracy .No one is standing up for the right thing .We are a breeding ground for criminals”,I yelled .Even as a young master ,I had a passion for doing what I thought  was right .My voice was quivering .She patted my hair and told me to relax .

Over the next few days ,I talked to the two boys (the third I had not recognized ),but they were adamant that they had not left the room .I talked to the Principal ,who called the boys and talked to them .But they continued to stand their ground .I tried a different strategy ,told them that since there was no proof and since I was giving up ,at least for my satisfaction ,they should admit it .But they stood their ground .On their farewell  ,I went up to them and asked them that since they were on the brink of leaving school,at least they should admit it that they were indeed the boys who were asking for a lift on that fateful December night .They stood their ground .For the first time ,doubts started creeping into my mind –could those boys be someone else ?No,I was sure that they were Aditya  and Girish .But then why was I giving up ?Should I have taken them to the Principal on that night itself and asked them to be suspended .?Why was I acting so legally ,looking for evidences etc ?Is that not where our legal system is at its weakest –sometimes evidences never can be produced and thus cases go unresolved ?

I let the things pass .Life took a different turn .Both the boys passed out of school with first division .The third boy met me at the school on the day when the result was declared .He hugged me and confessed that he was the third boy who was with Aditya  and Girish . “So I was right Pradeep .They were Aditya and Girish”.

“Yes Sir”,he answered . “But they always maintained that they  wanted  to prove that the truth sometimes never prevails”.

But the great drama of life was just about unfolding .Life has its own way of teaching how certain values never should be compromised with .And sometimes ,the lessons can be taught in a very mean and harsh way .And sometimes one becomes a party to it .

About 15 years later (I had become the Principal of a school in Bhopal,and then DPS Jagdishpur by then ) down the line, I picked up the newspaper after making my morning cup of tea .I casually opened its fourth page .A headline in it was screaming something which I could never imagine .I rubbed my eyes .I searched  for my specs .I re read the news item .I nearly froze . “Sangeeta see,I told you it would happen one day.It has happened”.She rushed to where I was sitting and reading.She read the news item .I looked at her .There were tears in my eyes .Through the haze of my welled up eyes ,i could see her  standing as if she was standing in the  the fog on a cold December night on the way to Murthal.Just the way Aditya and Girish had stood asking for a lift in my car .

(To be concluded ).

Go Arnab Go .!Dont Forget to Take Maroof Along !!

I always watch the 9 o'clock News Hour Debate .The reason is very simple .Its Arnab Goswami .We have all seen him starting his career  as a correspondent of NDTV and work his way to the top as the most influential TV anchor .There will be difference of opinion on whether he is scholarly or jingoistic –but that is something that will always happen to people like Arnab .One will either love him –or hate him .One cant ignore him .Infact when my son and me watch the debate we are either saying “Shut Up Arnab”, or “Go Arnab Go .Bite him now”.He lacks the polish and the charm of my dear friend Vinod Dua , the balance at times that Rajdeep Sardesai  has ,the effervescence  of Sagarika Ghose ,the glamour of Barkha Dutt ,and the looks of Prannoy Roy .But he gets on to his show the best people and asks them tough questions .Of late he has been able to rope in Pakistani diplomats –Hilaly , Strategic Analyst Syed Tariq Peerzada ,and the former spokesperson of Pervez Mussharaf –Rasheed Qureshi .He lines up moderate Indian diplomats  –Kanwal Sibal,K.C .Singh  (moderate in tone I mean!!),the very articulate Ltd  General Bakshi (real Mama of my school headboy ),and the one and only Maroof Raza (ex Mayo ,and St Stephens ).Yesterdays   debate was a classic –it came against the background of Hina Rabbanis foolish and ill informed statements in the US .  Hilaly, (a tough and wily old fellow-very good with words and coming from a family of distinguished diplomats   who have their roots in Mysore in South India )and Peerzada were trying to defend the indefensible –that India was warmongering and trying to internationalize the issue .Maroof whose nostrils were dilating throughout, due to pent up anger shot a volley at Peerzada . “Do you need any other proof that the Pakistan army is involved in Kashmir after the land mines show they were made in Pakistan ?Do you need any proof that the Pakistan Army is in the hands of Jehadi and Taliban  elements , where a “kaffir”,has to be beheaded ?Do you still have the guts to say that your Army is a professional Army ?”.And when Peerzada tried to interrupt him Maroof shouted loudly “Will you shut up Mr Peerzada .I am not impressed by your accented English .Pakistan is trying to internationalize the issue because it is the temporary President of the Security Council .It is trying to divert the attention of a crumbling civilian government which is being threatened by a maverick mullah .It is trying to internationalize the issue because Kashmir is a dead issue as far as the world is concerned.You tell me one good reason why we should internationalize the issue?”.

Peerzada did not speak a word after that .He mumbled “I don’t want to talk with you”.Whom will the Pakistanis talk to ?Can they stop talking to our Chief of the Army ,Air Force and Navy  ?Or the DGMOS?Can they stop talking to our politicians ?Can they stop talking to our burueacrats?Can they stop talking to our school Principals ?Can they stop talking to our chai wallahs who sell tea on roadsides ?Can they stop talking to Nationalistic Indian Muslims like Maroof Raa ?

No –they cant .And when they do everyone  will tell them what Maroof Raza said –“Shut Up”.Start behaving like a nation that is equipped with computers and whose kids want to enjoy the technology of the ipads ,notepads ,laptops ,facebook ,twitter and cloud and flutter technolgy ,and who are preoccupied with global issues like climate change and depleting energy sources .Dont behave like medieval men who come riding on horses with a severed head as a mark of your expertise.We no longer live in the Dark Ages or in the time of the crusades .At least we in India don’t .Come –share the benefits of the modern  age with us.Learn from us .And you can do that by shutting up .!!And –Go Arnab Go !!And don’t forget to take Maroof with u .He rocks .!!  

(Written late last nite .Posting it today)

Beautiful And Vibrant New York !!

I left Canada in rain .I had not seen the sun for nearly a week and had kind of started missing India .Vancouver is a lovely city –lots of trees ,the Frazer river ,wonderful roads ,and lots of hills .I saw  Canada when it was probably at its colourful best –The Fall as they call in that part of the world .Its a time of the year when the trees change their colours in a most magical way .But without the sun –well it is not quite the weather I am used to, for extended periods of time .

The formalities of immigration into the US are at the Vancouver Airport .Once you are checked in at Vancouver –you have checked in to the United States .And they really check you .Biometerics ,body scan ,questions about your stay ,about what you are carrying in your luggage –everything .!!Once through with it –one is in America though geographically one is in Canada.I picked up my tit bits at the Duty Free, because I was told that once in Newark Airport , I would have to go straight out to the conveyer belt to pick up my luggage .And that conveyer belt was literally on the road .!!

The flight was long .It was a Canadian Airlines flight that took me from the tip of the west coast to the  tip of the east coast .I flew across America –over its widest part .I was not too impressed by the Airline –they did not serve anything on board except coffee or a soft drink .Everything else had to be bought .Which is strange especially if one is flying six hours and those six hours are contain  your dinner /supper timings .I had left Vancouver at 3.35 and was scheduled to reach New York at 11.54 .Thats a long time –almost the time it takes to fly from Delhi to Istanbul .Imagine not being served meals .!!Thats what makes the Emirates a really great Airline .They look after you really well when you are onboard .And they charge you for it .Fair enough .

The weather started to clear after the first hour into my flight .In the beginning,I  could see nothing from my window seat as I looked down .It was covered with a thick blanket of clouds .But gradually the clouds disappeared and I could see the vast expanse of America below me .I flew over Montana ,Dakota ,Milwaukee ,and over Lake Michigan ,then over Detroit and lake Erie.Every student of Geography knows or should know that America has 5 great lakes in the North . Of these 5 ,it shares 4 with Canada .The only lake that is totally within America is Lake Michigan .Its a big lake and has a number of cities around it .By the time I crossed it ,It was pitch dark  dark –but I could see the brilliant lights of Milwaukee and Chicago and Detroit before I came over the dazzling lights of the city of New York .It was a clear day and I could see a million lights as we touched down at the Newark Airport in New Jersey .

It was exactlt 11.54 when we touched down –the scheduled time for arrival of the flight in New Jersey .There was nothing like standing in queues with your passport and fill forms .I walked out from the plane ,through some long corridors ,and went down a escalator and towards the conveyor belt to pick up my luggage .I had two bags and the hand baggage with me ,and my sister Kusum had warned me that I would have to pay for my trolley .I had done it in the past (even in Istanbul one has to pay ),but I did not have a 5 dollar note to insert into the machine .I was just figuring it out when I was greeted warmly by Ravi who is my nieces husband .He had come to pick me up and along with him was his dad a retired University Professor .He was quick –he took out his credit card ,punced in the amount ,and swiped it .The trolley disentangled itself from hundreds of others and I was finally able to load my luggage on it .But I had learnt how to get a trolley if I did not have paper money .On my way out when while returning to India ,I saw a old man struggling in an attempt to get a trolley .Promptly I asked him whether he had a credit card and when he said yes ,I told him to watch me while I got my trolley out . “Please look the other way while I punch my 4 digit number”,I joked with him !! “And just see what I am doing”.Within seconds we both had our trolleys .We learn so much from each other .Never ask anyone to do something you can do yourself .Its good to know –and you can only know if you decide to be independent .

Very soon we were on our way to Manhattan .Storm “Sandy”,had hit the East Coast –but there was no sign of it that was visible to the naked eye .Ravi kept telling me about the landmarks as we drove towards his home .Many of the names were familiar to me .In between I got a call from my niece Shrutima .She was waiting anxiously she said .Even I was very excited about meeting her .We passed Broadway ,Times Square ,and the legendary Central Station .

“Kulu Mama ,we are nearly home”,Ravi said .His Mercedes (yes I have to mention this !!as also the fact that he is from MIT!!),pulled up in the building where he stayed .Outside it was cold .!!Very soon we took the elevator up to his penthouse .I waited for the elevator door to open .And when it did ,I found Srutima waiting to receive me !!

“Hi Kulu Mama .Welcome to New York”,she cooed .And I heard a dog bark .It was Misty who was to become a great friend of mine over the next 4 days .I was in Newyork –from the other side of the globe .It was a long journey and it had taken me  a number of years to get there .I was tired ,bleary ,and wanted to hit the bed .But that was to be only at 3 am !!

(To be continued .)

The Ghosts Of History Visit Us-Yet Again !!

I was listening to a discussion between Rajdeep Sardesai and Assaudin Owaisi .For people who don’t know Assauddin Owaisi or Rajdeep Sardesai ,let me briefly introduce them .Assauddin Owaisi is brother of Akbaruddin Owaisi .Their  father and grandfather had been booked also for making hate speeches in their times .Besides becoming infamous for making rabid statements about the Hindus ,Akbaruddin also threw chappals at Tasleema Nasreen and issued a fatwa to behead Salman Rushdie .Inshort –he is  a rabid fundamentalist,and grew up in a atmosphere where spreading hate was common. .Rajdeep Sardesai is among the most polished and educated political analysts we have .He is the son of Dilip Sardesai ,Indias legendary batsmen and his mother is the famous Nandini Sardesai who was the head of the department of Sociology at the St Xaviers College Mumbai .She is a social activist .Rajdeeps wife  is Sagarika Ghose –another well known Television anchor who is also a Rhode scholar .

It was a fiery discussion .At one point of time Assauddin Owaisi threatened to walk out .He was near hysterical .Rajdeep held his nerve .He asked him over and over again whether he did not think that his brother had made a speech which tantamounted  to a speech against the state(He has been booked under section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war against the Govt of India ),and Section 124 (Sedition –which could lead to life imprisonment if proved true).Assauddin kept denying it and then brought in the inevitable . “What happened when Uma Bharati was using inflammatory  words to provoke  the bringing down of the Babri Masjid.What do you have to say to her when she said “Dakhaa lagaaoo,Masjid giraaaoo” .And continues to hold the view that she did nothing wrong .Where were you Rajdeep when inflammatory speeches were made in Gorakhpur .What happened when Varun Gandhi made the speech in Pilibhit.You don’t try to be a judge .Let the law take its own course ”?

Babri Masjid ,Godhra ,Varun Gandhi,Somnath ,-the ghosts  of history do not go away .Watch any discussion on the Godhra riots .I am not taking any sides because I am not sure about the truth because I haven’t studied the reports of the various commissions.But the Congress party always will try to bludgeon the BJP and blame it for the large scale arson and riots that took place in its aftermath .Thousands died .Immediately the BJP will respond by saying that the Congress engineered the 1984 anti Sikh riots .!!And also the fact that people responsible for it were actually made Ministers .The same argument that the Congress uses when it says that a lady was made a Minister in the Gujrat Govt post the Godhra riots .!!

So what does one witness ?The same tale of who came first –the egg or the chicken .One justifying a wrong by quoting another wrong from the past .One can keep debating about it till the cows come home .No one seems to be debating as to what should be done to create a society that will be safe for women to live in .Noone seems to be bothered about the crisis in schools –there are no teachers and worse –there are no Principals willing to slug it out with the mafias that control schools .No one is bothered about the lack of parental involvement in the school that their child studies in .The Parent Teachers meetings draw a very thin attendance .No one is bothered about the time bomb of population that is eating into our development .No one is talking about our failed foreign policy which has made India –Pak relations so fragile that a nuclear war can happen today ,now .!!Just pause for a minute and think .India says that 2 Indian soldiers were brutally killed by the Pak forces .Read the comments on facebook . “Nahin chhoreyengey in ********** ko is bar”,says one . “Our patience is now tiring”,says another . “Please ,we know your government is impotent ,but stop the rape of our motherland by these b*******ds “,says another .Now weigh the  the options we have .I think anyone conversant with nuclear war knows that there will be no winner or loser in case it breaks out .We cant go to war .And anything we do in a clandestine way is not going to satisfy anyone .It has to be seen (the punitive action),-but I am afraid we have no such option .The Pakistani ambassador to India looked like a cat who had  lapped up all the milk when he remarked “Our army is not trained to do things you are talking about.These are baseless allegations”.The ghost of 1947 has not gone away .And neither will .You can kill a physical identity –but how can one kill a ghost !!

The curse of history has cast a spell on the nation .Unfortunately our long and glorious past is also home to some stinking skeletons .Maybe the skeletons are there , when a country has such a long history .They act like speedbreakers .At times they confront us as walls .We need to learn to drive over them –the speedbreakers –or climb over the wall .All major civilizations of the past with a brilliant past and a list of achievements fell prey to this factor (for reference please do read Arnold Toynbees  great work on the rise and fall of civilizations ).We need to  learn from our past. Otherwise what Karl Marx said many years  ago will haunt us yet again “Historical facts appear as it were twice –the first time as tragedy and second time as a farce  “. Or as Edmund Burke had said “Those who do not learn from History are doomed to repeat it “.

I hope that we make study of History compulsory in school and  college .No matter what course one enrolls in .!!

Women Must Realize This .......!!

There have been strong reactions to the words spoken by Asaram ,Bhagwat,Vijayvargiya(A Minister who i know from my Bhopal days !!), and others about women.These reactions  will continue (otherwise how will Arnab hold on to his TRP ratings ?!!) and some people will indulge in either under intellectualize ,intellectualize ,or over intellectualize the issue .Rape is despicable and perhaps the worst form of a crime in society .Safety of every individual (not just women)  is at stake in a society that appears to be as morally bankrupt as India at the moment .It is a extention of other forms of degradation that we have stooped to inorder to conquer .If politicians ,buruecrats, criminals ,terrorists can get away with loot and plunder ,then one is just a stroke away from just about anything that can one can imagine .It was obviously not just a case of sexual gratification that the six animals were indulging in .How can one explain why they put a rusted L-shaped lever into the genitals of a hapless and helpless young woman and then churned it and threw her out of a bus .Is making a law giving death penalty  for rape ,going to be enough for a crime like this not to happen again ?Even if we have a law in place ,do we have a committed police force to implement it?And most importantly -all of you who gather at various places and burn candle lights ,have you ever paused and thought for a minute -Why did no one offer to pick up a naked girl in freezing Delhi cold and take her to a hospital ?Is our citizenry better than the people we shout against ?Just pause and think .Is abusing using four letter words enough ?
 I can see a point when the godman says that rape laws like the dowry laws can and will be misused. Because everyone is not perfect .We need to build adequate safeguards to make sure that it serves the purpose for which it will be made.I have seen the sexual harrassment clause being used to displace perfectly reasonable and decent people -and at the behest of power hungry men or managements who wanted to topple someone good.Hence a lot of thought must go into it and very strong safeguards to prevent its misuse .I was also distressed how many see it as if its primarily a gender issue .Lets not get pushed into a situation so that a feeling arises that  all men are rapists.I read a very disturbing comment by a very well known Principal saying that they will come out on to the streets whenever atrocities are committed on women .Why not generalize it by saying that everyone should come out protesting whenever atrocities are committed on anyone ?
 At the end of the day ,let us be very clear -nobody can protect you like you. And you and you and you.” .Governments ,police ,and the criminals are not bothered even if you give them votes ,respect them take out processions , call them brothers or fathers or fall at their feet .Please ,please be aware of that .We dont live in a ideal society.Please draw your "Laxman Rekhas",and dont get agitated by such statements .Who is guaranteeing that Ram will arrive to slay the Ravans ?There arent many Rams around . And i doubt whether there ever will be one .So at least be prepared to defend yourself. .I would never trust the government and the police and the moral police ,and on that presumption would never step into a DTC or a scooter rickshaw at night ,unless i was armed .Yes we must allow women and decent men to be armed .And nobody seems to be talking about it .Read this true story which i reproduce from "THE HOUSTON HERALD NEWSPAPER" IN HOUSTON , TEXAS"

Last Thursday night around midnight, a woman from Houston , Texas was arrested, jailed, and charged With manslaughter for shooting a man 6 times In the back as he was running away with her purse. 

The following Monday morning, the woman was called in front of the arraignment Judge, sworn In, and asked to explain her actions. The woman replied, "I was standing at the corner bus stop for about 15 minutes, waiting for the bus to take me home after work. I am a waitress at a local cafe. I was there alone, so I had my right hand on my pistol, that was in my purse, that was hung over my left shoulder. All of a sudden I was being spun around hard to my left. As I caught my balance, I saw a man running away from me with my purse.. I looked down at my right hand and I saw that my fingers were wrapped tightly around my pistol. The next thing I remember is saying out loud, "No Way Punk! You're not stealing my pay check and tips." I raised my right hand, pointed my pistol at the man running away from me with my purse, and squeezed the trigger of my pistol 6 times! When asked by the arraignment judge,

 "Why did you shoot the man 6 times? ~

The woman replied under oath, "Because, when I pulled the trigger the 7th time, It only went click." 

The woman was acquitted of all charges. She was back at work at the cafe the next day!"

We must empower our women to the extent that they are no longer dependent on either the governments ,the police and even the men at home who take their dependence for granted .I know arming anyone is dangerous but as Jeff Cooper writes“The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles."

 We must  allow all women to carry weapons till we transit from a barbarian society to a modern one .And hope the governments have the guts to enforce the rule of law to move towards it .It has failed us innumerable number of times and yet again yesterday -it has given Akbaruddin Owaissi enough rope already for the horrendous speech he made .Even if he is arrested -nothing will happen to him .Govts are too frightened to take punitive action .Do you think they will be able to implement the rape laws ?If yes -then they are surely running with the hare and hunting with the hound .!!So many criminals are moving around scot free inspite of damning charges and chargesheets against their name .And some of them are Ministers !!Ha ha -Shibu Soren is calling the shots in Jharkhand .And the assassins of a former Prime Minister of India were honoured under our noses .And the terrorists who attacked the Parliament are still alive ,even after the highest court in India says they should be hanged . !!Imagine .Just imagine .!!

New Year -Some Reflections .!!

A New Year(in particular New Years Eve ) always evokes a festive  atmosphere .Now that I have grown fairly old ,and on hindsight ,I  really cannot see a reason why it should be so .As far as I am concerned ,it signifies the chopping off of another branch from my tree of life .Though I don’t exactly feel bad about a year gone past –I don’t overly get excited about a new one .I cant for the life of me see why people dance ,hop ,drink and eat as if tomorrow would not come .I must admit however that I was equally wild and Bohemian when I was younger .And I now wonder why I was so on a particular day .!!I cant forget one New Year eve party in Defence Colony ,New Delhi ,where after a bout of gallons of drinks the host (a highly placed executive in Otis ),took us to the Hyatt which had just opened in Delhi .After eating our food ,I could see him pull out his credit card to pay .I had never seen a credit card (we did not have credit cards in India then –nor debit cards those days .I still remember his was a HSBC ONE !!),and through a foggy mind , blurry eyes and a slurry tongue said (with a giggle !!) “Pradhan (name changed ),you have given him your visiting card”!!.Visiting cards were common those days .Pradhan ,because he was so drunk thought that he had actually given his visiting card .He did not know that I did not know the difference between a visiting card and a credit card .!!So he started searching for the credit card !!He was obviously not going to find it since  the waiter had taken it .And the waiter took about 20 minutes to get it back since it used to take a whole lot of written work to note down the number ,the name ,address,etc .It was not like these days that one just had to swipe it !!Anyways ,the matter was resolved and I was educated about what a credit card actually was !!

The way we greeted each other those days was different .We would receive a lot of cards and occasionally telephone calls wishing “A Happy New Year” .But you were sure that anyone doing so was at least thinking about you .For whatever reason .!!And sometimes ,your very near and dear ones would drop into your residence with a cake or pastries .And with lot of hugs .!!We would sit around TV and watch Ramu Damodaran with his baritone voice recount “A year that has gone past”.(Incidentally Ramu did History Hons with me and went on to top the Indian Foreign Service list and is posted in New York !!)And then watch black and white entertainment programme on DD which dot at 12 midnight  would show crackers and fireworks for a couple of minutes .Everyone would then get up raise their glasses and clink them saying “Happy New Year”. We would all dance as if we were accompanying a baaraat –very bhangra style !!-on music played on tapes which sometimes would get mangled .!!Mahesh my cousin would whistle by putting 2 fingers into his mouth .The fellow never seemed  to tire !!

Now its so different .Yesterday I sat down to see how many sms es I got .I counted them .Till early morning I had counted 869 messages from my “friends”.Nonsense !Most of them I could not recollect .And leaving aside 40 or so –none of them probably knew me .Yes –they must have met me somewhere and we would have exchanged our visiting cards  ,which must have been stored in their phone or sim cards .All they probably must have done   was to have gone on their “contacts” list ,and then enter  “select all”,or “mark all”,write or copy a typical message “Wishing you and all your loved ones the very best for 2013.May the year ahead be filled with peace ,prosperity and good health.Have a great day”.After doing that Mr Khurana (name changed ),must have pressed the function key “send to all”.And hey presto –so nice of Mr Khurana .He loves you .He sends good wishes .He remembers you .Imagine he is so sweet –he did not forget u .!!Wow –you are so important for Mr Khurana .!And you don’t even know who he is .!Big deal –not that Mr Khurana knows you .You are just on his phone book .Period .

There are however some really interesting messages that do the rounds in bulk .Here is one sent to me from someone I cant seem to place . “Tamam Sabuto Or Gwaho Ko Madenazar Rakhte Hue Aaap Ko Dhara 1/1/2013 Ke Tehat Ek Din Pehle “HAPPY NEW YEAR” Kehte Hue Zindagi  Bhar Khush Rehne Ki Sazaa Di Jati Haih.”My wife got the same message and my son got the same message –but  from different people .

I never feel good about such bulk message .I love it when someone sends me a simple message like “Happy New Year Sir”,Or “Happy New Year Mr Kain”.At least the person knows who he/she is sending mesages to .There are some people who will never send me messages that are” forwarded”.Just inserting a “Sir”,or “Mr Kain” makes it evident that the person was at least having you in mind .!!To those kind of messages ,I go overboard .!!I always reply back to them by name and always insert a smiley –a heart ,a hug, a wink ,and sometimes even a kiss .To all the others ,I select them 10 at a time and insert a message “Thank you very much .Same to you”.And press the “send to all” button .!!

So inspite of getting 869 Happy New Year Messages ,I know that there were only 40 who actually thought about me .And to those 40 ,I would want  to say  “Thank You very much X,C,K,N,N,M,and many more”.I am privileged to have so many friends who actually wished me well .Lots of love to you .God bless and Happy New Year.A smile ,a hug ,a heart and a kiss .!!