Chak De! Hindustan

In our Social Studies lessons, I was taught that India is the only secular state in the world. I still remember the term 'Sarvadharmasambhav' used in our Indian Constitution to describe the secular nature of our country. It means that all religions are equal or no religion is greater than the other. I was also also told by my teachers that it is a matter of great pride that we have taken birth in such an ideal nation. But since childhood, outside my text books, I never observed that secular environment around. There is a feeling of hatred everywhere. Earlier I observed Hindus hate Muslims but now Hindus even hate Christians. And I bet no one can deny it. Since Hindus are in majority, minorities are always at the receiving end. So where is this picturesque secular state?

I could have written this article long time back, for I have always maintained a soft corner for Muslims. I have always felt that they are treated unfairly at par with others in this nation. But then I never wrote because I knew that those who know me would take this piece of my mind in another stride and shall relate my strong feelings to the religion of my closest corners. And my true intentions will not get the required attention. Now the time is right to open up to the cause. What is happening in Kandhamal in Orissa reconfirms my belief that in 'hindustan' hindus get reservations and minorities get commissions. Strangely we have evidences in 'hindustan' that a Ram Mandir existed hundreds of years ago at a particular location of the Mosque, but we have no evidence of a nun raped by hindu activists and then burn to death just a month back! Hence we have all rights to destroy the Mosque which was definitely at a wrong place but unfortunately in the case of that nun, Jesus forgive her, she was at the wrong place. She was in 'hindustan'.

My reason for repeatedly calling our nation hindustan and not India or bharat, which is officially the hindi name of our beloved nation is that this nation has time and again proved that it is only a place for hindus to dwell(hinduon ka stan). One proof of it lies in the recent mis happenings taking place under broad day light in Orissa and Karnataka and the central government yet again sitting like a lame saint. Second proof is my personal khota sikka that has always helped me winning discussions on the topics alike. It is a well known fact that demolition of Babari Mazjid was an act of Hindu activists and Bombay Serial Blasts was the consequent reply of Muslims. But still less than 1% charge sheeted in the case have been convicted for the demolition, whereas more than 90% have been punished for the Bombay Serial Blasts. And not to forget the Godhra riots, all thanks to Mr. Nanavati and his commission, many of the culprits are running the nation today.

I question those people who are against this theory of conversion-What is the fault with this whole idea of conversion? If Hinduism has no aspirations to expand itself beyond its conventional position, that doesn't mean other religion should follow the same rule. Moreover I see conversion as a ray of hope in the darkness. For those who are being converted they enjoy benefits that our $200 billion dollar economy is also not providing them. The Christian missionaries provide these under prieveiledge with food and shelter beyond providing them with basic education, clothes and a better living. So what is wrong with the idea of conversions? If we can ban the Muslim fundamentalist group SIMI, why banning the Bajrang Dal or Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a hot topic of great discussion? Oops!!! I forgot I am sitting and asking this question in 'hindustan'.

put DEALS aside, think about the DEADS

Yet another day, yet another blast. Indian cities are no more a safe place to dwell. The fear of coming out of the house and never returning back has began to haunt people living in Indian metros. Earlier bombs and blasts were synonymous with the Kashmir valley, but now the show unfolds anytime, any day and anyhow.

How can we Indian Government be so complacent, when it comes to the securing our lives. If the super might of USA could not deter the assassinates from destroying the twin towers, how can they ever imagine that Indian streets are safe. If a country which has won half a dozen war in its history could be physically vulnerable, we shouldn't forget India has been ruled by invaders and its has people always a victim of cheap politics; No wonder we are the biggest democracy of the world. First Jaipur, then Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Surat and now New Delhi. 2008 has already proved to be a "rocking" year, with still 3 and a half months to go. It is time that we put "Deals" aside and think about the "Deads".

From Railway Station to the Bus Depots, Markets and even the Schools they all suffer from heavy impeachment of security. We rely heavily on those decade old "wooden" metal detectors that do not work even when there is power, leave aside 10-12 hours of power failures(and mind you nuclear deal can not improve this situation). A small country like Israel was all set to destroy its complete enemy land just for two of its soldiers who were kidnapped. Indian Government come to All India Radio and give lecture on the unity in diversity of our nation. Its time to change attitude.

Inflation is going down. Main hurdles of Nuclear Deal is over. Oil prices are again touching double figures. Leave aside Kashmir issues, its an age old problem. Its time government sit and discuss some serious security measures. Securing energy needs is not as important an issue as securing the main resources of the land-its people-is. We can not live long in this fear. Government should redraw a plan to secure us and opposition party should stop playing cheap politics rather become a part of the campaign lest we all will succumb to the surrounding violence.

Indians And Their Heroes

Have you ever been to a premier of a film? Or else to a live concert? Or anyhow have you ever seen a celebrity, whom you had always seen on your 21"? Recently I got an opportunity to be at the premier of the film Mission Istanbul. My excitement grew as I left my home for the newly inaugurated PVR Premier at Ambi Mall, Gurgaon. And the excitement reached its pinnacle at 7:30 PM, the scheduled time for the arrival of the cast of the film. I got the front row luckily. I was dumbstruck to see the number of people who had gathered to see their favorite stars; the number was more than a thousand. Some had come to see Viveik Obroi(dude is your spelling ok?), some had come to see Zayed Khan, Suniel Shetty, Shabbir. I must admit here that I had gone to see Shreya Saran. Girls were crying to get noticed by Viveik Obroi, screaming howling for Zayed Khan and hooters were on from the band of boys for Shreya Saran and the other lead female(sorry sweetie, I don't know your name). And when they started throwing audio CDs and Mission Istanbul T-shirts towards the maddening crowd (like a master throwing biscuit before a dog), craziness of fans defied all boundaries and lead to nearly stampede condition in a 1 km long mall!

Becoming an idol in India is not that tough. Take Sania Mirza for instance, may I know what has she achieved other than a Junior Wimbledon Title, nearly a decade ago; a WTA tier III event held in her own native, Hyderabad and Shahid Kapoor? I think that last one by far is her biggest achievement. I have never seen her playing beyond third round in any of the tournament and yet she is the Tennis Idol of India. Even athletes like PT Usha and Milkha Singh are worshiped, all because they came "fourth" in their respective events when they participated in Olympics. That well defines the Indian state of mentality. While the Americans are rejoicing Michel Phelps' unmatched feets, we aim for breaking national records that any of the Chinese or American Olympian can overcome in his practice sessions itself. I might sound like a rude critic but I feel the same for Abhinav Bindra too. Just one Olympic Gold and he has become an overnight hero. The day he got that glistering piece of gold, very next day he was all over the newspaper. Media had suddenly forgotten inflation and had Abhinav's biography all over. I fear for his life doesn't take the same road as that of Indian weight lifter Malleshwari or that of Rajyavardhan Rathore.

Its not only the Indian sports that we have overnight heroes, who shine one night and disappears the following night. Arundhati Roy caught people's attention with God of Small Things but since then she hasn't been able to write a book that has made the same noise. Even Jhumpa Lahri hasn't been able to interpret the success of Maldives as yet. Still we count them in the list of Greatest Authors of all time. If some group of foreigners comes to adore Aishwarya Rai's beauty, we believe that she is the most beautiful women of the world. Where is that Abhijeet Sawant who once became a regular name in every house? I wouldn’t be wrong in saying that if a newspaper publishes this piece of my writing in a big way, tomorrow I will be counted one amongst Shashi Tharoor or VL Sanghvi.

Firstly we come to conclusion very early; we like judging book by its cover. And once we make some one our idol, that we very easily do, we go to an extension of even making a temple in his name. Gosh!!! Raj Thakrey was right when he raised his finger and asked "What Amitabh Bachchan has done for the state that has given him fame?" But still there is a huge fan base in the state that does prateeksha outside his home every morning to catch a glimpse of their lord. We expect our sons to be like Mihir of Kyunki..... So what if he married Tulsi, spent a night with Mandira, but he did come back to Tulsi only(mmmuaah.... such a purified soul he is). Every Indian city has an MG Road, named after the father of nation(except for Delhi, where it means Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road), the same father who kept on saying that "I will die but never let India cut into two pieces." Finally he died after four and a half month of India's division. Airports, universities, schools, national schemes, buildings, community centers are all named after people with his hierarchical surname. God knows who is the one behind this "christening department"? We don't find it too difficult making someone our hero, irrespective what has he actually achieved. MS Dhoni was already a star, his Rs 6 crore contract with Chennai Super kings made him eligible for Khel Ratna as well. I wonder what will happen if Mohan Began invites David Bekham for a season?

Idolizing is not bad. Its good. Its gives you a mentor. It shows you a path followed by a successful man. But my submission is why do we have so many under qualified idols being worshiped for no reason replacing the true heroes of India? Nobody remembers Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who gave India its first army and fought like a hero against the English. This "Gandhi" idolism only barded him his due. Other than Punjab, no one remembers Bhagat Singh who gave India the idea of complete independence unlike Congress who was happy with half of it. Poor Rajguru and Sukhdev are not even remembered in Punjab also. They must be sulking seeing India from heaven that they hanged for no reason. Sir CV Raman was a hero. He put India research to the world's attention with his Raman Effect and groomed other greats like Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai. But does any one of us know when is his birth day? In contemporary India Sachin Tendulkar is a hero. Hero is one who does good work. He is consistent. He might have bad days. Hence Sachin is a perfect cricketing hero. Leander Peas is another example. Shah Rukh Khan for me is a hero. He comes from a humble background and worked hard to be there where he is. And he hasn't stopped; he is evolving himself with the changing time. Salman Rushdie, APJ Abdul Kalam, MS Swaminathan, Verghese Kurein, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Omar Abdullah(at least, I am their fan after listening to their speech they made in parliament recently), Barkha Dutt, Shekhar Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Amjad Ali Khan, Medha Padkar, AR Rahman, Shaban Azmi, Satyajeet Ray, Kumar Mangalm Birla, Ratan Tata, Vijay Mallya(he provides material for boozing, a swimsuit calendar and a low cost airlines, what else a youngster today needs). But still when it comes to giving away Bharat Ratna or naming the new Hyderabad airport or starting a new IIM, Indians doesn't even care to think of the above mentioned list.

DREAM UNLIMITED

Every child when young has thousand dreams in his mind. Young boys often like to be a pilot, while all little princess wants to be a beauty queen. In some other cases it might be a doctor, an actor, a cricketer and a fraction aspire to be Shaktiman too. As a child grows so grows the complexities around him and he is made to realize the biggest lie of the world “one can not always get what one wants”. So the aspirations of the child wash away with time and a child who once wanted to be a doctor, now try finding out all means to get rid of his studies after passing 10+2. Some limited number still remain stick to there childhood dream, but that dream matures, for good, with time. I was one amongst the limited number.

As far as my memory goes, when I was young I often told people around me that I want to be a Commander, a character on television. Commander was a well built, with a moustache on his face, who was an Army officer. He was my hero. My craze for him was so much so that my relatives and people in my friend circle started calling me Commander. This was the birth of my dream. Years later, one fine Sunday my dad came to house and gave us a sudden surprise. He had tickets to an Oscar winning Hollywood blockbuster. I never ever had seen an English movie before. We went to see the movie. A board outside the Theatre declared the name of the movie THE INDEPENDENCE DAY and a still from the movie was put up outside that showed a gigantic object hanging on top of the Empire State Building and destroying the structure by emitting a green laser. The next two hours, changed my life forever. The film was all about alien’s plan of invading the earth, fighter planes, aerial combat, a cool black pilot whose maneuvering techniques outsmarted those of the super advanced aliens(Will Smith). At the end of two hours, I decided to be a fighter pilot. I still remember whenever I was alone with no one around I would sit on a chair and assume I was flying plane by holding an imaginary joystick and producing sound of the engine from my mouth. I fancied flying an aircraft so much that even while I was sitting on a commode to shit, I would presume I am sitting inside a cockpit and I would consider myself into a similar situation as that seen in the movie. Later I came to know that pilots for the Air Force are trained in National Defense Academy, Khadakwasla.

For the first time when I shared my dreams with my parents, I got thumped by my father. He shouted at me, “You know what NDA is? Or you just heard the name from someone?”

I took science after 10^th, even after the insistence from the closest corners of mine that I should opt for commerce as I was below average in Science. But for me choosing commerce meant “end of my dreams”. During the two years of 11^th and 12th my passion to join defense forces multiplied. One of the major factors was the movie Lakshya. I had always been compared to Hrithik Roshan by my cousins for my looks. I could relate myself with the character of Hrithik, Karan Shergill, in that film and Hrithik became my favorite actor.

By now I had began to believe that I was sent on earth by the God to be a fighter pilot. I was born to fly. When my friends were dreaming about their girls, I was dreaming about Fighter Plane. But on the other side my academic results were degrading everyday. I was often told by everyone that my initial decision of taking sciences was wrong. And this was giving my family nightmares. They had had enough of my day dreaming of joining the defense forces. What I was able to see for myself, nobody else could. So the problem arose and I became a laughing stock in my family and friends. The world, to me, had become my enemy. At times I tried convincing my self that may be what others say is right and I should grow up now. I started doubting my dreams. But there was some voice inside me that refused this school of thought. This was the time when I started writing. I passed 12^th exams somehow cribbing, crying and spoiling nights of people around. I gave NDA exams but couldn’t clear the entrance. I was yet again asked to change my line and take admission in BBA. I yet again refused and join engineering. I chose Mechanical as candidates of this branch have better options in Air Force. And chose my college, on just one parameter of it’s; It shared a boundary with Air Force Station, Gwalior. The college turned out to be a fake and my future was at stake. But I was having a ball, watching planes flying all day over my head. So much was my obsession for my dream. Meanwhile I yet again attempted for NDA.

In the month of December, my dad called me up an told me that he had received a letter from 1 Air Force Selection Board, Dehradun asking me to come for the Service Selection Board Test in February. But there was a big obstacle before me, my test dates clashed with my University Papers and I had to choose between the two. Without even a moment of hesitation, my choice was clear. I had a date with my dreams……

I started my preparations for the D-day. I ran 4 kms every morning before I exercised for another half an hour and additional half an hour in the evening. I started taking bath from cold water, to make myself tough. I regulated my eating habits. I played lot of video games to make my reflexive skills sharper. I came to know people in defense forces use lot of abusive words and I was a kind of guy, who would think 10 times before calling someone gadha. I became fluent in the weirdest abusive words. And I did all this in secrecy, not even my room-mate knew what I was up to. I was simply following my instincts. Dhoom2 was released during those days, and everyone was aware that I am a die hard Hrithik fan, hence the assumptions were quite obvious. “Safal Mahajan copying Hrithik Roshan”.

There was always some unknown Force, in the entire process that kept helping me moving forward towards my dream. As if it had hold my hands and was helping me through every elimination round of the test. From day 1 in Dehradun to the final day in Bhopal, despite of numerous obstacles I sailed smoothly. I passed the test. Although a minute formality of merit list was remaining, on the basis of which successful candidates were to be sent to Khadakwasla. Going by the records, very few unfortunate ones miss the train to Pune. I was optimistic. I was going to NDA. My dream was accomplished. I felt like conquering the world. I called up my Dad and when he asked “Who is this speaking? Is it you Safal?” I said proudly, “Nope! Lieutenant Safal Mahajan.” My act was pre-meditated.

The wheel of fortune that was moving fast in my favor began slowing down. It was 7^th of June. Merit list came out and my rank in the list was 458. I came to know that authorities in the NDA had closed the admissions at 445. For the first time in NDA, admissions were close below 600 ranks, mainly due to the new Pay Commission that was scheduled to come in the following month that would increase the income of an officer by 5 times, hence very few students had backed out. My dream was over. Later my college also refused to accept me back as it is. They demanded a hefty amount. I never gave any entrance exam for that year so I couldn’t have got admission in any other college. As expected, tension gripped my family. Everything was over for me. That Force which had once held my hands, seemed nowhere near. I wanted to cry out loud, my tears also betrayed me, not even a drop fell. I was in depression.

3 months later my dad called me up in Bangalore. Luckily I had got an admission in the Management Quota of a Bangalore college. He had received a letter from the Bhopal Selection Center asking me to appear for a selection test. I had completely forgotten that while post my NDA debacle, while my family was looking out for an alternative to bring me back from the dead end of life, I had applied for a technical course in Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Crazy me! But the history repeated itself yet again. I had to report at Bhopal on 5^th of October, and I had my college exams starting from 4rth. I yet again had to make a decision. “What to do? What not to do?” situation kept going through in my mind day-night. But when I took decision it was just a moment and since then I never looked back. I simply closed my eyes. The first thing that came to my mind was NO.

Today I am proud of my self not because I proved others wrong, but I proved myself right. I have begun trusting my instincts irrespective of what other says. I have stopped believing in stars or omens and have become a karma-yogi. I have stopped expecting things and started believing that if you dream something in your life and you are ready to eat, sleep, and drink that, you can get what you want. I have found the elixir of life. I learned to be practical in life. I began believing in God unconditionally. Since childhood, I was living under this pre-assumption that whatever happens to me my Mom and Dad are always there to take me out of the problem. I have stopped assuming it now. I believe, it’s my fight and I must fight on. Fear in me still exists, but the newly born courage helps me to come over it. Most importantly, I have started dreaming again and that too on a much larger scale.

I know, I am not a Superman with superpowers in me. All I know is that I am an ordinary human who dared to dream, what fate had for me is a different part of the story. But I DARED TO DREAM. And believe me if I could reach my dreams, anyone else can. Dream on guys……..

RAJ IS RIGHT

This saga started when Mr. Raj Thakeray leader of a relatively new born party Maharashtriya Navnirmaan Sena(or MNS) questioned Mr. Amitabh Bachchan’s loyality towards Maharashtra, the state which gave him his fame. Apparently Mr. Bachchan had gifted Barbanki, a district in UP, with an all girls school (and he named the school after his new daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai).

This sparked off a movement in Maharashtra aimed against the migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh working in Maharashtra. Small time workers in factories, taxi drivers, small shop owners, who hailed Bihar and not Maharashtra, were beaten up by the MNS party workers in front of media, the entire nation witnessed the show live on their TV sets.

Thousands of migrant workers left Maharashtra within hours to avert violence. Police and the state government remained unanimated (like always) for many following days (like always). The entire nation cried foul (including Raj’s “dear” Uncle Mr. Bal Thakeray) but there was no one stopping MNS’s antics. The Government in power maintained a vapid expression.

There were apprehensions that whatever happened, it happen because an unpopular MNS needed a good publicity stunt to come in the limelight or may be they were simply trying to secure the marathi vote bank for the upcoming elections. Whichever the case may be, Mr. Thok-re (Oops! I meant Thakeray, I shapath.) did give the nation a genuine topic to think on. On day one I ignored this issue as a cheap political stunt, not really giving much of a thought over it. But in the past few days, I have been seeing this issue from a different angle, a different perspective and I shall not hesitate to agree that Biharis are a menace. 

Bihar produces maximum number of engineers, IAS and IPS officers every year, but the irony is they do not have a single education institution that they can really boast of. As a result every student from Bihar leave his state and go to other states to pursue their further education. The state machinery is in a bad shape, all thanks to the corrupted politicians who have sucked up people’s blood and the state’s reserves to their enjoyment for years together. 

I have friends from Bihar, they tell me that there are virtually no rules and regulations in Bihar. What works there is Role-Baaji. One of my Bihari friend once told me people in Bihar unscrew the fans from the train’s ceilings and take them home once their journey is over. Also they make a “genuine” use of emergency chains in a train. Every passenger pulls it just right in front of his house (Why crowd the station when your house is on the way?). Now when a person is brought up in this environment, he gets accustomed to that way of life and might not like a change. Someone once remarked: It’s the change that human fear the most and not death.

And its these same habits of migrant workers which come along with them in their suitcases to the migrating city, disturbing the day's course of the place.

Another aspect that these migrant workers bring along with them is illegal business of human trade. A middle man brings a large chunk of illiterate workers from Bihar and sell them off to people who seek unskilled labours, let say like at construction sites. This was the only reason why, New Delhi CM Shiela Dixit issued an order for mandatory carrying of an i-card 24*7, earlier this year.

This issue is genuine and we must face it now or else it is too late to correct. Bihari population is blamed by us for over crowding the buses, paan stains on public wall, robbery in our neighbourhood and even rapes and murders in our cities (irrespective of whether they are involved in it or not)! Jokes like “ek bihari, sau bimari” has become very common. We all blame them for everything bad, then why to shy away from acknowledging it?

In the mean time Lalu Prasad Yadav has challenged to perform chatt puja in front of Bal Thakeray’s house(Now that sounds interesting!!!!).

Who had ever thought that a part time cartoonist will ever reserve a permanent space in national dailies for his sheer popularity. I rest my case with the verdict: Raj is right, not in the way of solving this issue, but definitely his idea is right.