Living among the monkeys

Ward Councillor, “Who is this?”

Citizen, “I am living in your ward and I have a complaint.”

Councillor, “Why are you calling me? Contact the Municipal Corporation or your MLA.”

Citizen, “You said to reach you if we have any problem in our war.”

Councillor, “Han Acha, What is the Problem?”

Citizen, “Lately, monkeys are becoming a menace in our locality. Yesterday, a monkey bit my neighbour Mrs Sharma. I am scared to let kids play in the park. We can’t walk freely around the block without caution. So, I was thinking if you could help.”

Councillor, “Do I look like a langoor to you!! Contact someone else. It is not in my work prescription.”

Citizen, “Yes, but.....Hello Hello...”

Before the citizen realised, the councillor had cut the line. It was just another sales call for him asking him to join the institution. But in this case, the institution was the neighbourhood from where he had been elected. He does not need their membership for next five years or before he decides to join the bigger race of MLA or MP. As a consequence, citizens of the locality are still living among the monkeys!!

There is a broken bridge of Samvaad between the people and their representatives. The representatives do not know the specifics of the problems or rather tend to ignore the problem and citizens are lost in the generalities of the problem. Citizens do not know whom to contact and Representatives do not know if they are the right person for the job. Former wants the problem solved anyhow and latter wants the problem go away anyhow. In a tussle between who and whom, the problem transforms into tolerance and acceptance of the status quo. It becomes a chaotic situation.

There are hundreds and thousands of examples where people want to solve the localised problems like parks, parking, street lights, security etc.  They do not know how to go about the problem. In the last decade of twentieth century, India passed 73^rd and 74^th amendment as a solution to these problems. It provided a representative at the door step of people. They do not have to go to MLA for every niggling problem. And jobs to be solved at the premise there and then before escalating into the failure of the government system.

The person who is elected is not supposed to be a leader or representative of the neighbourhood. For citizens, the post of ward councillor is solution of how the things are to be done. For the councillor, the post is a breeding ground to become a leader and representative. He works as an aware citizen of the neighbourhood rather than a point of authority. But the description is only the vision. In reality, the local elections are fought on party lines. Moreover, there is no oath or contract to explain the winning candidates their job. They are overpowered by the district administration and local leaders. They are pushed to background as a base to conduct party meetings in the neighbourhood.

The major problem is of dialogue-A Samvaad between people and councillors. There is no communication among stakeholders. The ward meetings, if taking place, happen once in six months. There are other problems associated with such meetings like low attendance; sponsored by political parties; vague agendas and meetings only for the sake of meetings. This communication has to be regular and documented to have a transparent and accountable structure of local government.

I am emphasizing on the word SAMVAAD. It means - Dialogue. A democracy can work only if there is a continuous and clear communication structure between the people and the representatives. The continuity will balance the change element in the society. The clarity element will make it easy and comprehendible, especially for India because of high illiteracy. In a democracy there are myriad of representatives at different level. And it makes it a necessity to improve the level of communication at the base because the probability of filtering of communication is more at the base. Further, anyone should be able to provide feedback.

Till we mend the communication gap at our local self governments, we will have to live among the monkeys!!

What does Indian Constitution mean - An attempt to invoke questions!!

(Read the following article not as an article rather as a question)

This session started with a discussion on the ‘Commitment to India’s Constitution’ on the 125^th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar. I kept changing the channel to the Lok Sabha to watch the live discussion in the parliament. Yes, Lok Sabha is actually a television channel!! I was eager to know what the Constitution means to the leaders of our democracy.

It was a day full of attacks and counter-attacks. It was a day full of quotes by our freedom fighters. It was, once again, a day of BJP vs Congress. But above all, it was a day of discussion on the Commitment to India’s Constitution made in 1950. Are we in consonance to the Constitution made in 1950? Why the changes made in the Constitution after 1950 were wrong?

Members of Parliament were busy in discussing what Constitution meant to us. It has been more than six decades. Should not we start thinking what Constitution means to us in contemporary era? I agree values like equality, liberty, fraternity are seminal. But do they mean same to us now?

Does Equality mean only reservation? The only solution I listen to giving equality is reservation. Give reservation to women in legislatures. Give reservation to backward castes in education. Give reservation in promotion. Give reservation in food distribution. Give reservation in jobs. What about the rudimentary idea of providing QUALITY education sans political-social interference to all free of cost? I think it is the solution to all the problems in our society.

Constitution makers gave reservation to end inequality. But now even a debate on relevance of reservation can invoke jibes thrown at you. When will the clause of continuance of reservation end?

We have been sticking to the past. I am not demanding to change the principles of Constitution like Democracy and Federalism. But can we change the way how it works? Do we need a strong centre? Why not adopt a strict federal model? Let Centre control only major subjects like defence and communication. Let’s state decide their course and bring out true competitive federalism. India is proud of Diversity with Unity. And it is high time to respect that diversity by giving States more powers.

We have the lengthiest constitution and added to that sub-ordinate and delegated legislation makes numerous laws contradictory. Should we not cut short the Constitution to basic values?

Fundamental Rights are the quintessential part of a Constitution. And due to various judicial verdicts the Fundamental Rights are being read in the most liberal manner. Instead of expanding the vastness of Right to life, should we not specify the rights? An extra page will not make it heavier. And when will rights of nature be included in the Fundamental rights?

Directive Principles of State Policy asks for various prohibitions. Should not we decide if we want to drink alcohol or eat beef? Is India a socialist economy or capitalist economy or a mixed economy? I don’t see India as a socialist country where rich is telling poor how to develop. Classes sitting at the higher echelons of the society are enforcing their plans of growth and equality on the poor. Their attitude-I’m rich and I’ll tell you how to become rich. Directive Principles include provision of just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. Should not it be a Fundamental Right rather than a policy direction? Directive Principles are full of such contradiction.

We even have a law not to joke about our constitutional authorities!! Actually a law saying you not to laugh!!

A simple analytical mind can find hundreds of contradictions in Constitution. If you ask judiciary meaning of any article, they will hide behind the technicalities and legal jargon which none of us can comprehend.

SHOULD A CONSTITUTION INSPIRED BY CONSTITUTIONS OF THE PAST GOVERN OUR FUTURE?

MARVEL-ous CIVIL WAR in BJP!!

Prerequisite: Watch - Captain America Civil War trailer

Advani - Put on your suit!!

Modi - I'm not afraid to hit an old man!!

BJP veterans Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi on one side and PM Modi and Amit Shah are on the other side of the civil war. WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? If you have seen the trailer of the CAPTAIN AMERICA CIVIL WAR, you will instantly relate to the similar state of affairs in the BJP.

Modi - Sorry Advani, You know I would not do this if I had any other choice. But he (Amit Shah) is my friend!!

LK Advani - So was I!!

The leadership has answered. It is time to make someone accountable for the loss of Bihar elections. If they cannot accept limitations, they are not better than the other parties. 

Prerequisite: Watch - Captain America Civil War trailer

A delight from the past!!

I was walking down the lane as usual at sharp five in the evening to get my chicken roll with extra mayonnaise. In the last year, I might have gone there more than a hundred times and ordered the same roll. And every time he gave me the roll I would ask him to pack it in a paper bag rather than a poly bag. It had become a ritual. If I had to eat a roll, I would leave the room at five for the roll junction and it had to be a chicken roll with extra mayonnaise. It was not the delicacy but the habit which I want to emphasise.

The reason I am sharing my obsessive compulsive disorder is that it was not so same that day. Just like all other days, I stood up from the bed at 4:45 p.m. and started questioning myself of which one of rituals to follow. Each ritual ended up with a different food product in my stomach. The sacrifice of the rituals could be roll, milk, burger or dumplings. And each had a fixed route. After the elimination round I chose the roll and went on with the procedure. I put on ear phones, locked the room and started walking towards the destination.

The description of the path is slightly imaginary. But try to walk with me. The route starts with a narrow road. But still it has room for little monster bearing four wheels. They are not even trying to hide. Even God will have problem to be omnipresent but these little monsters are literally everywhere invading our privacy. You can pick and choose the colour and the size. Most of them are just standing and observing. And some of them are being ridden by us. It is one of the reasons that I put on earphones to escape from the gazing cars.

I was half my way when something different happened. I met someone from the past. The last memory was when I was a kid, not denying that I have changed much now! We were in the same class in the school, almost eight years back. It was a time when time was simpler. Now at this point, it would be banality to write down the differences. I would rather give you a moment to relive your respective nuances.

Now come back to my story!!

Before trivialising the issue at hand, I will start with the part which was different. I was not anticipating her but I thought I saw her last week. And this time just like the last week, she was the one whom I thought I saw. It was either the pollution in the air which made her blur or the song I was listening which distracted me. For the purposes of discretion, I would not describe her or identify her. But for the purposes of curiosity and wonder I would state that her name connote a flower in the olive family. Good luck, finding and guessing the name from the two hundred different species of the plant!!

By now you must have realised that I am a kind of person who does not like his rituals, especially involving food, to be interrupted. On the contrary this was not one of those instances. I had a wonderful time. Her family has shifted to the city I am currently living and she is a working woman. She saw me, unlike I who thought he saw her, last week. And she actually beckoned me which I failed to notice. The most probable cause of such diligence was I walking and at the same time dancing in my head to a song. By the way, I dance better than Hritik Roashan in my head!! I have been told of my limbo disappearances many times. In case, the white flower (pun indented for the readers) is reading this, I am sorry.

And this was the sole aim of the story apart from exhibiting my writing skills. I am sorry for the failure to notice you. It was wonderful to meet you. And thank you for leaving a dumpling of your share (yes, I did not get a roll but I ate four dumplings out of six in the pack). Hope we see more of us in the future where I get to eat more of your portion. Till then, best of luck!!

Nine emotions (Nauras) in bollywood

Which movie would you pick to depict Shringara (Love)? Fortunately, Bollywood is full of them. You know that love has become an indispensable part of Bollywood movies when the most barbarous villains are defeated by the power of love (Sharukh Khan). Apart from the obvious I will pick out Raanjhanaa and Rab ne bana di Jodi. The gist of both movies can be summarised in the dialogue of Tani Sahni- Maine toh aapko ek boond pyar nhi diya aur aap mujh par barish barish lutate rahe. Aap mujhse itna pyar kaise kar sakte hai!! (l did not give you a single drop of love...and you just kept showering your love on me. How can you love me so much?)

The next emotion is Hasya (Joy). The only movie that tickles me every time I watch is Andaz Apna Apna. All the characters were at their best. It is only best to leave the description in the following pictures.

 

Bollywood has not made many movies based on the emotion of Adbhuta (wonder). The only reason that pops up in my mind is the low level of acceptability. Whereas movies like Birdman and Black Swan are winning Oscars, I can only think of No smoking and Roy which can be put into the category. Both of which failed to amass appreciation from the masses.

There are some movies which just soothe your soul and bring Shanta (Peace) in your life. I would like to place movies like Dum Laga ke Haisha, The Lunch Box and Munna Bhai series. They do not showcase anything new but I think it is the gestalt of whole production which makes them worth watching.

Raudra (Anger) is evoked whenever I watch a movie depicting the regressive state of Indian society prevailing in the twenty first century. NH 10 is a recent movie which focuses on social issues of women safety, honour killing and caste barriers to law and order.   

The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Border are movies which will unquestionably arouse the emotion of Veera (Courage). You can forget the only movie in which you loved Sunil Shetty. Yeh dharti meri maa hai (This land is my mother) fills you with patriotism in most high spirits.

Guzaarish and Anand are the movies which will definitely bring tears in your eyes. Karuna (sadness) is the emotion which causes a lump in your throat .I do not believe that I am even capable to write on such movies. Babumushai Anand mara nhi, Anand marteh nhi!! (Anand is not dead, Anand does not die)

We have made a lot of awful horror movies but in the process there are certainly some movies which are filled with Bhayanaka (Fear) emotion. I hate personally horror movies but if I have to choose one from Bollywood, it would be Ek thi Dayaan!! Don’t watch it alone. Enough said!!

The last emotion in nauras is the Vibhatsa (disgust). I cannot categorise movies in literal meaning of disgust. But in my perception, movies from parallel cinema which have gained prominence after 2009 satisfy the emotion. BA pass, Masaan, Ugly, Titli and Aligarh are some of the movies which will sicken you but along with that you have to realise that movies represent the society we live in!!

दहेज़ (Dowry) ki list!!

दहेज़ की लिस्ट

It is just a random post sharing an old artefact I found in my grandmother's documents. It is a list of dahej or dowry being asked from a girl's family. It is quite funny to read the list and also sad to be part of such a tradition where daughters are being traded for material gains!!