Indian Democracy: Governed By The Contradictions, And Not By The Will Of People!
RIP Kargil Saheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj.
The Indian democracy is said to be governed by the will of people. It’s not the entire truth. In reality, it’s governed by chosen contradictions. They make us sad, frustrated and gloomy. This time I would not enter into any sort of complicated analysis. Just presenting two news items side-by-side. That would be suffice to make Indians realize that not all is well with this country. The first news item is related with Saheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj’s birth anniversary. The second news item is related with murder of a Deputy Superintendent of police, Zia ul Haq in Deoria, in Uttar Pradesh.
By means of contrast I wish to know are our soldiers sacrificing their lives for such rulers who appear to be no better than murderers? And secondly, do our citizens, which include judges and bureaucrats too, have no other option other than to live under shadow of such criminals posing as rulers? Anyway, RIP Kargil Saheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj/Zia ul Haq. We shall always remain indebted to your glorious sacrifice. And for such rulers, it’s better that they get punished instead of making an attempt to define their worth.
Now the mother of all questions: If that’s the fate of high ranked police officials, how can the judiciary expect a common man to act as whistle blower? Any answers?
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Capt. Amit Bhardwaj was leading the reinforcement column of 35 men when they were ambushed en route by Pakistani soldiers armed with light & medium weaponry. With the help of Havildar Rajbir Singh, he decided to divert the attention of the enemy & ordered his Second-in-Command to get the men out of the battle area. The two gallant men were killed, the others survived, though all were wounded. Capt. Bharadwaj saved nearly 30 of his men and killed more than 10 infiltrators, though he himself was hit twice fighting till the last breath. His body lay in deep valley of Himalayas, till it was retrieved on July 13, 1999. The bodies of Captain Bhardwaj and Havildar Singh 57 days later.
Respect
Jai Hind
Source: “Remembering Kargil Shaheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj on his 41st Birth Anniversary”
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“I demand that the Chief Minister come here and resolve this issue. I demand Raja Bhaiya be subject to a police investigation, and the CBI should also intervene. If the CM does not come here I will not bury my husband. He will have to come or I will commit suicide…….He was under a lot of pressure. He was constantly being threatened and didn’t want to stay here. If justice is not served then I will go to Akhilesh Yadav’s house and kill myself,” ( Wife of murdered police officer)
And who is Raja Bhaiyya? A ruling Minister in UP’s present government against whom 48 criminal cases are pending.
“But this is not the first time that Raja Bhaiya is finding himself under scrutiny for death of a policeman. In 2007, DSP Ram Shiromani Pandey, the investigating officer in the POTA case against Raja Bhaiya, died in a road accident on the eve of his approaching the Allahabad high court seeking action against him. Questions were raised, but nothing could be proven and Raja Bhaiya remained as powerful as ever.”
If that’s the fate of high ranked police officials, how can the judiciary expect a common man to act as whistle blower? Any answers?
Source Links:
Akhilesh leaves for Deoria to meet murdered DSP’s family
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Death Is More Honest Than Life!
In Conversation With Life And Death
I met lots of people in this short life, who preached me in pompous tone that ego is bad, money is filth, ladies are evil and etc. That I have had heard umpteen times since childhood, and, interestingly, I came to live a more realistic and down-to-earth life than those who talked about such values publicly in glittering company of like minded souls! I found people, talking about life devoid of ego, the most egocentric souls, chasing name and fame with greater passion than anyone else. I met shrewdness disguised as faithfulness. Friend or beloved, they turned out to be more like poison placed in silver cup.
And still, having seen such worst contradictions, I feel life is a beautiful affair. Life’s canvas still motivates me to live life fully. May be life has some more cruel lessons to offer me! But I am now no more interested in life’s equations similar to one which we notice on chessboard-you win I lose types. In fact, its cruel maneuvers never appealed to my sense instinctively. Precisely, that’s why I have never been passionate admirer of life’s idiotic episodes. My philosophy, until now, has been to deal sincerely with whatever came to cross my path. For me, the very fact that you have arrived in this world of human beings is a big mistake- a divine joke. May be for a greater lot, these changing facets of life turn out to be as important as a life and death issue, but in my eyes, the life mired in deceptiveness at its every turn, does not evoke great concern. I find even the most beautiful episodes of life, have their genesis in some sort of deception. So as I suffer pain, when I come to hear about loss of loved ones, or when I anticipate a blissful episode, the nothingness of life keeps me in state of peace.
Sometimes back I read powerful arguments in favour of death. And one of them stated that death is very much needed since if you continued living, you would realize that people who lived around you as picture of faithfulness were nothing but beings mired in selfishness! Death arrives to retain your illusion. It does you a great favour by keeping your faith intact in flawed people. I am sure had life allowed a legitimate route to embrace death all by oneself, I am sure many would have adopted that path. India’s great revolutionary Bhagat Singh had made a remarkable comment- hanged to death by the British Government in the pre-Independence era- that had he been living, life would have heaped upon him some more chosen scandals. So he is so happy that death has embraced him in the prime of his youth; that death kept his so many vices secret. That’s why he was more happy than sad when hanged to death order was delivered to him. In my eyes, he was the ideal example of these words: “Those whom the gods love die young.”
It’s pathetic that laws of this nation-may be elsewhere too-are strange. They treat suicide a crime. However, the same lawmakers, being devoid of accountability, fail to ensure that people who abetted suicide of innocent person should not go scot-free. The policymakers take no measures to keep away those scenarios, which compel anybody to think about killing oneself. Paradoxically, aiding and abetting suicide, becomes a cause of concern only when someone brings the issue in the court. It’s easy to understand that why it’s never the case. The case in court drags for years and in the end we find the accused denied punishment in want of concrete evidences. So it’s really amusing, and tragic as well, that society first promotes crime and then the same society delivers verdicts. Isn’t that height of absurdity?
Anyway, the pretenders, who unfortunately claim to be my close friends- the ones who are guilty of complicating my simple life, dare to ask me as to why I am not a public figure, why I am not that involved in life’s silly episodes the way they are? Interestingly, they are like the conspirators, standing by your side as a mute spectator, just like you, witnessing the tragedy given birth by them. Since they often dare to ask me such a question with straight face, I need to quote these lines by well known poet Sahir Ludhianvi as a reply to these curious souls-the conspirators:
“क्या मिलिए ऐसे लोगो से जिनकी फ़ितरत छुपी रहे,
नकली चेहरा सामने आये असली सूरत छुपी रही
खुद से भी जो खुद को छुपाये क्या उनसे पहचान करे,
क्या उनके दामन से लिपटे क्या उनका अरमान करे,
जिनकी आधी नीयत उभरे आधी नीयत छुपी रहे।”
“Is there any point in meeting with people, having dubious intentions?
Who project their unreal image, but keep the real one hidden
People, who have kept secret from themselves, too, their own real image
Why should I embrace them, and seek them ?
People who half disclose their intentions, keeping close to their hearts the actual intentions.”
Another brilliant poet, Nida Fazli, has exposed the real elements, which constitute the so-called beautiful episodes of life. These verses in my eyes reveal the reality of life. For a simple person like me, I don’t think that such a cruel world can ever elicit deep attention on my part. It’s another thing that for people of the world, I might look like living, but internally I am on par with dead.
“हर तरफ हर जगह बेशुमार आदमी,
फिर भी तनहाइयों का शिकार आदमी,
सुबह से शाम तक बोझ ढ़ोता हुआ,
अपनी लाश का खुद मज़ार आदमी,
हर तरफ भागते दौड़ते रास्ते,
हर तरफ आदमी का शिकार आदमी,
रोज़ जीता हुआ रोज़ मरता हुआ,
हर नए दिन नया इंतज़ार आदमी,
जिन्दगी का मुक्कदर सफ़र दर सफ़र,
आखिरी साँस तक बेकरार आदमी”
“Everywhere there is sea of people
Yet a person suffers from isolation
Carrying the burdens from morning till evening
Human being has become some sort of moving tomb
Everywhere you find busy roads
Wherein one person becomes victim of other person
Every day a person wakes up only to die a bit more
And still greets each day with great expectations
The destiny of human life from its one episode to another
Is to remain anxious till last breath.”
P.S.: Translation Of The Verses Done By The Author Of This Post.
Life and Death Are Always Inseparable
Pics Credit:
ऐ ज़िन्दगी तुझसे मौत ज्यादा ईमानदार है
मौत के साथ साथ ही चलती है ज़िन्दगी
ये कैसी बिडम्बना है कि अक्सर मुझे बहुत से लोग मुझे मिले बताने वाले कि अहम् बुरी बला है, धन बेकार है इत्यादि इत्यादि। ये बाते सैकड़ो बार नर्सरी स्कूल से लेकर अब तक पढ़, सुन, आत्मसात और जहा तक संभव है जीवन में चरितार्थ भी कर चुका हूँ लेकिन अफ़सोस सिर्फ यही है कि महफ़िलो और तन्हाई में ऐसी बाते करने वाले अक्सर पद और ओहदों के पीछे भागने वाले अहम् के पुतले निकले। वफ़ा के आवरण में लिपटे धूर्त और मक्कार मिले। दोस्त हो या प्रेमिका उनका रंग एक सा ही निकला जैसे चांदी के प्याले में विष।
ताज्जुब है इसके बाद भी ज़िन्दगी मुझे भली भली सी लगती है। इसके बाद भी जीने के मायने उभर के आते है ज़िन्दगी की कैनवास पर। हो सकता है जिंदगी को अपने को और उधेड़ना बचा हो। लेकिन जीवन के शह मात टाइप के समीकरण में अब मेरी दिलचस्पी कहा। पहले भी कहा थी। इसलिए मै बहुत दिलचस्पी से जीवन के तमाशो को नहीं देखता। जो मेरे सामने आता है उसको पूरी तन्मयता से निभा कर आगे बढ जाता हूँ। मेरी नज़र में जीवन में आ जाना ही एक गलती है। एक डिवाइयन मजाक है। सब के लिए हो सकता है ये जीवन के तमाशे जीवन मरण का प्रश्न हो जाए मगर मेरा जीवन के तमाशे में कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं जिसके प्रत्येक अध्याय में छल कपट के नए किस्से हो। सबसे खूबसूरत क्षण के पीछे भी मक्कारी दबे पाँव आके दस्तक दे जाती है। सो कोई जीए मरे इस दर्द में भीं जीवन का खोखलापन एक शान्ति सा भर जाता है जीवन में।
कही पढ़ रहा कि मौत क्यों आती है या इसका आना क्यों जरुरी होता है। वो इसलिए कि ज्यादा जीये जाने से लोगो के वफ़ा के पीछे उनके असल स्वार्थ उभर के सामने आ जाते है। सो मरने से ये भ्रम बचा रह जाता है कि अपने कुछ अपने से थें। इससें बेहतर मौत के पक्ष में बात कुछ नहीं हो सकती। मै तो अक्सर मानता हूँ कि मरने का सुविधाजनक रास्ता हो, कोई सम्मानित शास्त्र सम्मत रास्ता हो तो बहुत से लोग ख़ुशी-2 मौत का वरण कर ले। भगत सिंह को जब फांसी की सजा सुनायी गयी तो वो बहुत खुश थे। उसकी एक वजह ये थी कि उन्हें खुशी थी मौत जल्दी आ गयी। जीते रहते थें तो कितने दाग और लग जाते उन पर। कितनी उनके और अवगुण लोगो के सामने प्रकट हो जाते।
देश के कानून भी गज़ब के है। आत्महत्या को जुर्म मानता है। पर उन परिस्थितयों को लगाम लगाने की कोई जिम्मेदारी नहीं लेता जो किसी को मौत के दरवाजे पर छोड़ जाते है। उनको कोई कसूरवार नहीं ठहराता जिन्होंने किसी को मरने के लिए मजबूर किया। किसी को उकसाना तभी जुर्म बनता है जब तक मामला कोर्ट में ना पहुचे। पर कितने ऐसे केस कोर्ट में पहुचते है। और कितनो को सजा होती है कितने वर्षो में? सही है समाज ही जुर्म करने को मजबूर करता है और समाज ही न्याय का ठेकेदार बन कर सजा देता है। गजब तमाशा है भाई ये।
खैर उन लोगो को जो आग लगा कर तमाशाई बनते है, मेरे मित्र होने का स्वांग करते है और अक्सर मुझसे पूछ लेने की गलती कर बैठते है कि आप लोगो से क्यों कम मिलते जुलते है या कि क्यों उनकी तरह जीवन की तमाम नौटंकी में शामिल क्यों नहीं है तो उनके लिए साहिर की ये पंक्तिया ही काफी है कि
“क्या मिलिए ऐसे लोगो से जिनकी फ़ितरत छुपी रहे,
नकली चेहरा सामने आये असली सूरत छुपी रही
खुद से भी जो खुद को छुपाये क्या उनसे पहचान करे,
क्या उनके दामन से लिपटे क्या उनका अरमान करे,
जिनकी आधी नीयत उभरे आधी नीयत छुपी रहे।”
और रहा जिंदगी के तमाशे की बात तो निदा फाज़ली ने इन कुछ लाइनों में जिंदगी की असलियत बयान कर दी है। मेरी नज़र में तो अपनी खूबसूरती से मुझ सीधे सादे मनई (इंसान) के मन को भरमाती जिंदगी का असली चेहरा यही है। और ऐसे जीवन में मेरी दिलचस्पी कभी नहीं हो सकती। हां जीते रहने सा दिखना एक अलग बात है।
”हर तरफ हर जगह बेशुमार आदमी,
फिर भी तनहाइयों का शिकार आदमी,
सुबह से शाम तक बोझ ढ़ोता हुआ,
अपनी लाश का खुद मज़ार आदमी,
हर तरफ भागते दौड़ते रास्ते,
हर तरफ आदमी का शिकार आदमी,
रोज़ जीता हुआ रोज़ मरता हुआ,
हर नए दिन नया इंतज़ार आदमी,
जिन्दगी का मुक्कदर सफ़र दर सफ़र,
आखिरी साँस तक बेकरार आदमी”
शह और मात
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Words For Soulmate, For Moon Dipped In Tears
Do Not Shed Tears, My Beloved!
Tragedies often catch people off guard. The icy hands of death take you in its grip when you are still busy chasing affairs of life treating them as real. For past few days, my computer’s screen was bombarded with dark images dealing with death. That’s because I was reading material associated with war crimes. I waded though gory tales of unsung people lying buried in unknown cemeteries. However, it never occurred to me that I would have to deal with death in real life after few hours. After spending few hours in mind boggling research, I sought some moments in isolation. However, the news of death of someone, close to my heart, filled me with pain. I had never met him in real life but impact of his passing away left me shell-shocked.
There is no point in bereaving, for you had served him so well my soulmate! His death should be a matter of celebration for you- a cherished culmination of your sincere efforts. Death of loved ones should come as a tragedy to those, who failed in their duties towards them. It should sadden those, who never themselves turned into towering figures of inspiration by their good deeds, and thus, did not provide moments of glory to their near and dear ones. And I know quite well, how you sincerely served him even as you struggled hard to fulfill your routine obligations with your body in grip of so many life threatening diseases. I never saw you missing single opportunity to serve him in nights when your body demanded sleep after having worked a long hard day at the office. So your tears are an insult to great efforts you made in past to provide him comforts at cost of your well being.
Do I need to say more to my soulmate flirting with tears? No. Not at all. This might be suffice that the said person needed better clothes to serve the mission of higher forces. He has not died but merely changed the role. Good people never die. They remain in our hearts and minds as most cherished memories. Close your eyes, my beloved, and you would find him smiling in your mind’s landscape. So do not shed tears in vain. Look at myself. I am lost in all smiles, for having met such a wonderful lady like you in world chased by deception and crooks. I am sure when I would leave this world, I would have no regrets. After all, I came to share the road of life with such exceptional souls like you-the ones who knew how to truly love and care.
Pic Credit:
Internet
Rajesh Khanna: The Earthly Superstar Who Now Became A Star In The Sky
Anand Never Dies!
The passing away of Rajesh Khanna makes all sensitive souls very sad. He should have lived for some more years on this planet. In India, they say people used to live for more than 100 years in ancient times. The people are dying at a very young age nowadays. We have been witnessing the passing away of creative souls at frequent intervals since last year- Jagjit Singh, Shahryar, Ravi, Shri Lal Shukla, Shammi Kapoor, Hanuman of modern times Dara Singh and now Rajesh Khanna. It appears that heaven badly needs creative artists to entertain its own residents, and thus, be it a singer, writer or actor, all are slowly getting placed in heaven one by one. Anyway, the death of Rajesh Khanna makes me realize that death is really the great leveler. It leaves none. It cares a damn for stature.
Rajesh Khanna provided death a new meaning in his timeless classic movie “Anand”. The movie highlighted the theme that death is an insignificant drama. However, today when he has passed away, it’s pretty hard to keep emotions in check. The Hindi movie landscape’s first superstar has now become a sweet memory as the presence now gets limited to magazines, books and movies. I really don’t know what are the elements involved in the making of a superstar but I am aware of the fact that his charishma in 70s left both young and old spellbound. Male newborns got named Rajesh, a new hair style came into existence and the frenziness found in every woman’s heart attained new height. The arrival of angry young man Amitabh Bachchan soon eclipsed the magic of Rajesh Khanna, but by then Rajesh Khanna image has attained some sort of immortality.
The early phase of all great actors had been a roller coaster ride. Rajesh Khanna proved to be no exception. The leading actresses of those days refused to work with him and well known directors failed to take note of him. His early movies did not create a desired effect. When Shakti Samanta narrated him the story of Aradhana, he noticed that Rajesh Khanna did not seem to be much impressed. After all, it was a female oriented movie, in which the hero died during the middle of the movie. It was no less a herculean task for Shakit Da to make Rajesh Khanna see light at the end of the tunnel. However, very few can predict the course of destiny. The movie, which in eyes of Rajesh Khanna, offered no better prospects not only proved to be a milestone in history of Indian movies but also gave Hindi movie world its first superstar. That’s the only logic which governs Bollywood- success appears like appearance of cascade in barren land. It defies all established rules. A female oriented movie gave Indian movie landscape its first male superstar!
Interestingly, the other dominant trend which defines Bollywood is that superstars rarely know real acting or, for that matter, are rarely offered roles that involve some real shades of acting. That’s so evident if one has witnessed acting skills of present “Khan Brigade”. They develop some lovable styles but they rarely come to act. The only superstar that can act a bit, Amitabh Bachchan, too feels that he never got an opportunity to reveal interesting shades of acting. All the time he remained engaged in “dhishum dhishum” (fight scenes)! Anyway, destiny smiled on Rajesh Khanna once again when he got opportunity to show his acting skills in some movies having substantial plots. It’s really curious coincidence that it was Hrishikesh Mukherjee, known for his simplistic take on serious issues, who came to provide both Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan some good opportunities to strike a bonhomie with various shades of acting. In fact, they both came to work together under his direction in Anand and Namak Haraam. Anand turned out to be a huge success. In fact, the character played by Amitabh, Babu Moshay, became a household name. The plot of Anand revolved around the philosophy found in the Upanishads that there is no such thing as death. Death is not an end but a new beginning. In other words, it taught the art of living, reminding us that laughter is the best medicine. After all, we rarely come to live life in a proper way. The movie made it clear that death is final drama, which paves the way for soul’s fresh journey with new set of cloth in form of a new body! Rajesh Khanna depicted this art of living in an unforgettable way.
Anand: Now Offering Solace To People In Heaven
However, let’s not forget the role which Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, R D Burman, Salil Choudhary, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Anand Bakshi, Laxmikant Pyarelaal, Hemant Kumar, Sahir and Khaiyyam played in shaping the course of success for Rajesh Khanna. It’s an undisputed fact that Kishore Kumar played the most significant role in making Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan careers attain starry heights. It’s also a proven fact that both of them lost their star appeal, when Kishore Kumar stopped singing for them in last stage of his singing career, due to health reasons. The romanticism demonstrated by Rajesh Khanna and machoism exhibited by Amitabh were heavily dependent on voice of Kishore Kumar! His voice acted as most suitable medium for them, which earlier provided new heights to Dev Anand. I am sure had Kishore been missing, Rajesh Khann would have failed to locate “Mere sapno ki Rani“. Tanuja would have maintained safe distance from Rajesh Khanna had Kishore not turned out to be “Dil ke Chain“. This song “Ye Jo Public Hai Ye Sab Jaanti Hai” became the most popular idiom to make a remark on the shady affairs in the world of politics and business. Another song from the same movie Roti “Gore Range Pe Na Itna Gumaan Kar” transcended generations to influence the fate of every fair skinned Indian girl.
May his soul rest in peace. The people who have moved ahead in this eternal journey, never travel backwards. They simply live inside our heart and minds as sweet memories. This line which forms the part of song picturized on him expresses this sentiment so well: “Kuch Log Jo Ek Roj Bichud Jaate Hai Wo Hazaro Ke Aane Se Milte Nahi“. Anand never dies. He always manages to be back on earth’s playground to play the game of life with a new face.That realization is bound to make one smile even as the eyes remained moist with tears. It makes reunion with Rajesh Khanna-a good soul-a great possibility. By the way, let’s not forget Rajesh Khanna’s words said to Pushpa In Amar Prem: ” Pushpa, I hate tears”.
1. Mere Naina Saawan Bhado ( Mehbooba )
2. Kuch To Log Kahenge (Amar Prem)
3. Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai (Souten)
4. Hazaar Rahe Mud Ke Dekhi (Thodi Se Bewafai)
5. Vada Tera Vada (Dushman)
6.Sajna Saath Nibhana (Doli)
7. Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai (Kati Patang)
8. Ye Reshmi Zulfein (Do Raastein)
9. Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhein (Safar)
10. Zubaan Pe Dard Bhari Daastan( Maryaada)
11. Wo Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi (Khamoshi)
12. Yun Hi Tum Mujhse Baat Karti Ho (Sachha Jhootha)
13. Mere Dil Me Aaaj Kya Hai (Daag)
14. Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaayein (Anand)
15. Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana (Andaaz)
A lot depends on how the song is picturized. I love this song not only for beautiful verses by Majrooh Sultanpuri, excellent composition by R D Burman, terrific singing by Kishore Kumar, but also for its mesmeric picturization. Absolutely stunning romantic song picturized in a perfect setting. A meaningful one as well. The verses are not only talking about romance in some absurd way like “Tum mujhko chand laake do” (get the moon for me) but they are having a take on it in a balanced way. The movie was full of typical Bollywood elements ( and that’s why I don’t like this movie) but the songs stand apart.
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Why do we suppress the truth and never honour the real person ?
View of The Ganges From Chunar Fort
It’s indicative of dark age when righteousness gets marginalized and the glory of real people gets eclipsed by the gestures of fake people. It’s often too late when truth comes to make its presence felt. Often the picture is quite murkier when truth strikes its authority. Let’s realize that promotion of good values cannot take place if we have nothing substantial to offer people dealing in virtues. The customary gestures are not suffice to ensure the survival of good souls. How come people with bad reputation emerge as kingmaker while the people with clean reputation remain trapped in ironies of life as sufferers ? I am going to narrate two grim episodes which highlight this aspect.
The previous week I took short break from my writing, making myself get lost in the beauty of nature. The Ghats of Ganges, the long stretches of fields occupied with wheat crop ready to be harvested, the touch of cool wave flowing under the huge Peepal tree, the smiles of naughty village kids and the scent of green mangoes which fills inside the nostrils as we pass through the mango-laden branches are some of the fascinating scenes still moving inside the corridors of my mind. However, something unwanted happened which tainted the blissful episodes which occurred in short break.
Some kids who were playing on Ghat close to my place of stay in Chunar-my maternal grandmother’s town famous for its ancient fort built by Maharaja Vikrmaditya the King of Ujjain- somehow slipped into the deep waters of Ganges in an attempt to get hold of the cricket ball which had fallen in the river. It was noon time so the Ghat bore a deserted look. When three of them started crying for help once they found themselves trapped and started drowning it was obvious that their cries failed to evoke response. It was sheer luck that one person appeared on the scene and he dared to jump into the deep waters. He made his best efforts to save all the three kids but in the end all he could manage was to save one child from drowning. Two children went deep inside the waters becoming untraceable. When the news spread like wild fire, the Ghat was filled with sea of people in grip of sorrow. The administration acted in swift manner but all in vain. The high police officials and other senior officials were quick in making their presence felt but other than entering in face saving gestures they were no better than mute spectators.
The Chunar Fort Built By King Vikramaditya In Memory Of His Brother Bhartahari
They were supposed to arrive on the scene with proper net to locate the dead bodies. However, they arrived on the scene without any rescue material. They manged to find a fishing net but it was pretty insufficient to trace the dead bodies. Meanwhile, the evening came closer, making tracing of the bodies a remote possibility. The next day swollen dead bodies of the kids were found floating on the surface of the water. The print media like always reported this incident the way it does, mentioning the lackadaisical role of administration and gathered some interviews so that city section does not remain vacant!! Ironically, the dead bodies when reached to the mortuary, the doctors were found missing. The whole scenario is enough to suggest the role which government machinery comes to play in wake of a tragedy. It acts in same heartless manner the way it acted decades ago. We have new generation in the administration but call it design they prefer to act like their worn out predecessors. They find it safe to be coloured in deceptive traits of their previous officers.
Now let me state the actual reason which made me write this article. I didn’t write it to highlight poor administration which is something so commonplace in India. I was really hurt on noticing that man named Ram Bilas who saved life of one the children drowning did’t get any credit for this heroic gesture. What’s worse, he was accused by the relatives of the drowned children that he didn’t make proper efforts in saving life of other two kids. The reality was that this man made valiant efforts to save all the kids even as he found himself trapped in strong currents. One of the kids came to hold him so tightly that he himself started drowning. Meanwhile, the other two kids lost their grip amidst this dangerous struggle for survival. Both media and administration neither bothered to mention the role of Ram Bilas nor they seemed interested in offering him suitable reward. Is that’s the way to honour the saviour?
Look at the flow of money in IPL. Huge money is being distributed as prize money each day. However, we have no money to give to our real hero Ram Bilas who saved precious human life by putting at stake his own life. It really hurts that our real heroes on most occasions remain unsung heroes. And as I end this write-up I need to highlight another gross misrepresentation on part of media. One of the small scale factories operating in my locality caught fire. That made all the residents of my locality took all possible steps to control the fire. Someone promptly informed both fire brigade and police but like always they arrived when we had already nearly extinguished the fire. Media persons also arrived on the scene to click the perfect images. In fact, some of them were frustrated on not arriving on time to get sensational image of huge flames!!!
Anyway, next day the news items in this regard reported that fire brigade officials after battling with flames for few hours managed to extinguish it totally. The role of localites went altogether missing. Doesn’t it raise doubt about the credibility of media ? After this incident, it became very clear to me that media is far away from the truth in our times. It depicts what sells not what really matters. It’s not interested in truth but only crass sensationalism.
Our Real Heroes Always Fade Into Oblivion
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A Tribute To My Colleague And My Friend Who Died In Mishap
Tears Of Sadness
The premature death of young promising person always shocks us. It makes us slip into a depressive mood. It also makes us philosophical, making us aware of transitory nature of the earthly happenings. Though the feeling of detachment does not stay with us for long, it still manages to evoke sensitivity that makes us face to face with reality of our vain pursuits.
I am talking about death of Sandeep Banerji, an ex journalist, who died recently when his motorcycle rammed into railing of the Curzon bridge at Phaphamau with full force. His body remained on the bridge in the mutilated state for quite a long time until the police was informed who carried it to the mortuary room. Later, the members of Allahabad Press Club paid customary tribute to the departed. I don’t know is that sufficient enough to calm the pain of his family comprising of her wife, old mother and two year old daughter?
I am really taken aback by the way life comes to deal with bright faces. Two more such deaths flash across in my mind. My one of the aunties who lived in New Delhi had always been my source of inspiration. She had been living there all alone with her daughter for past many years. One day I heard she is no more. A lady who for the most of the time was caught in the struggles of life passed away silently. No news. A good soul passed away but the world around us remained alive to the glamour of life! Similarly, I always admired father of one of the close friends. I never entered in conversation with him but whenever I met him the love and affection in his eyes always made me drawn towards him. One day while taking an early morning walk, I met my friend sitting in pensive mood at one corner of the Khusraubagh. He came to inform me that his father is no more. I don’t know why tears hit my eyes and I remained sad for many days. Such is human life. Good souls pass away and we the survivors remain engaged in petty concerns as if they are life-and-death issues.
Coming back to my friend Sandeep Banerji, I met him a decade ago. I was then involved in contributing articles to national newspapers. A chance meeting with him led to increased friendship with him. That time he was working as crime correspondent in The Times Of India. I used to give my articles to him for publication in the weekend supplement of The Times Of India. I wrote on issues which were not of his taste but then he ensured that they managed to see the light of publication!! From him I came to know how thankless the job of crime correspondent or, for that matter,any correspondent really is. Barring few of them, they are the most exploited lot. Even the most known brands in field of news world are unprofessional in heeding to the monetary needs of the scribes. If that’s the state of people working in top brands, one can easily imagine the plight of stringers working in Hindi newspapers. However, I always found Sandeep smiling amidst the ups and downs of this profession.
Ironically, I was about to meet him in coming days after a long gap. I would have never postponed my meeting had I been aware of the cruel turn of events. I pray for this departed soul. May Lord rest his soul in eternal piece. I shall always remember you Sandeep.
“If man were immortal he could be perfectly sure of seeing the day when everything in which he had trusted should betray his trust, and, in short, of coming eventually to hopeless misery.He would break down, at last, as every good fortune, as every dynasty, as every civilization does. In place of this we have death.” (Charles Sanders Peirce)
Do We Indians Have Larger Than Life Egos ?
Krishna: A Smile On Face Always !
The problem with we Indians is that we have larger than life egos.
We are incompetent to absorb remarks made in lighter vein though we pretend to be comfortable with them.That’s the reason why sense of humour or wholehearted laughter has gone missing from our lives,making us turn into caricature of sorts who may boast of hi-fi lifestyle but deep within are nothing but mass of emptiness.
We have nothing in our lives apart from our stupid ego..Ego of achievements..Ego of knowledge..Ego of hi-fi lifestyle..Ego Of Money. The list is endless..The death comes and wipes out all the egos in one go..
However,learning right lessons is not the habit of Indians… Their flirtations with ego gains momentum with each passing day,with each passing moment …This is sad state state of affairs in nation that boasts of being a “knowledge oriented” nation !!!
“When I had little knowledge, I had become blind by pride like an elephant (during rut). Then my mind was proud , thinking that I am an omniscient. As and when I realized bit by bit in the association of wise men, my pride waned like a fever, as I came to know that I was a fool, actually.”
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