In the name of great culture!!!!!!!!!!

Today is our Republic day. For most of the Indians, this day is no more than just a reason for extended weekend. But I am one of those exceptions who were required at their workplace at 7 in morning. Well that gave me a chance to browse through major news sites. What caught my eye was a reference to attack of a pub in Bangalore by some so called Ram Sena in the name of saving our ancient culture. What a great service to nation on Republic Day eve. People are ready to do any bullshit thing to get a place on national newspapers. It seems as time is passing, we are moving backward towards medieval era.

I am always perplexed when someone make a reference to need to protecting our culture. What is our culture ? Our culture is not something which one can be proud of. We were consistently beaten by foreign invaders. Foreigners have romped our country at their will. Our culture alienated around 30% of our countrymen as untouchables. They were made to live in inhuman conditions. And the best thing about it is that they were not segregated because of their activities but because of their birth. Actually, our culture is nothing but a baggage from the past which is reason for all of our woes. When our innocent citizens are killed by some foreigners and common man on street give a cry for revenge, we are reminded of Buddha and Gandhi and that India is country known of its non-violence and tolerance. For our every failure and inaction to solve the problems, we take refuge in so-called culture. Problem is that since the childhood, we are told that our culture is great and we are a great country. Really, how is that and what is its significance in today's world. What is our contribution to modern world ?

Our country is today progressing due to hard work of its educated middle class. They are driving force for growth of India as economic powerhouse and they are shaking the very foundations of our society which are responsible for our stagnation. This has cause an anxiety in a section of society which derives its power from these very foundations. They have found out that they can stand nowhere in intellectual warfare against this maverick middle class. So, they have resorted to mob terrorism.They want to tell themselves that though they are irrelevant and unwanted but they still cal the shots. Whether its Raj Thackeray or Some 'Ram Sena', point is that when some real attack on culture and country take places, these guys hide below their beds in their homes as we saw in Mumbai 26/11.

Time has come to shed our perennial illusion of great culture. If some women want to chill out in a bar, they are not breaking any laws. They are within their rights. They are just breaking the chains of restrictions that were created in name of culture and religion. If people want to watch an movie about homosexual relationship, then it is their choice. They do not need permission from cultural hawks. The way these cultural hawks resort to violence just shows that they do not have any basis behind their arguments. They ruled because of fear and ignorance. India has to decide on its 60Th Republic Day whether it wants to follow progressive western ethos or it want to turn itself into a Afganistan or Saudi Arabia.

Murder of Mumbai

It was December, 2006. I was sitting on a stone at Marine Drive on Christmas eve and for the first time in my life, I fell in love with a city. There was something in the sea air that I was missing since I touched my teenage. Mumbai had a feel of a modern and free city. Delhi has its own share of educated and wealthy middle class but Mumbai seemed a far mature city. Mumbaikars readily adapted to change in life style driven by pro-liberalisation policies since 1990s. I can safely say that when it comes to mentality and outlook towards life, Mumbaikar of 2006 was at least 30 years ahead of its counterparts in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. With its strict traffic policing, mature citizens with respect for privacy and beliefs of fellow citizens and a active nightlife, it looked pleasantly familiar to western cities, we usually see in Hollywood movies. But that all has changed dramatically in last one year and I don't think Mumbai is ever going to be same.

Last week's terrorist attack was unique in its execution and magnitude. Mumbai has endured many deadly assaults in last decade. But no attack was powerful enough to stop Mumbai in its tracks. In past, in the aftermath of blasts, people had move on with life as usual. Media used to call it spirit of Mumbai and celebrate it. Inept politicians and police officers used to hide behind this spirit. Nothing has changed since 1993 bomb blasts because establishment(media included) took this spirit as a denial of attacks by Mumbaikars. After rhetoric on day of attack, everybody used to forget about taking preventive measures and just wash their sins by joining chorus in praising the famed spirit of Mumbai. So, what has changed this time ?

The attack that took place on 26Th November was not a terrorist attack but it was a attack by few foreigners to destroy a city. They did'nt want to kill people, they just wanted to kill the city. This time, execution of attack was such that finally Mumbai has woken up to the fact that spirit of Mumbai is nothing but a mask Mumbaikars wear to hide their aloofness or selfish attitude. The very symbols of Mumbai, which every Mumbaikar feel proud were attacked and left blood-stained. Why Mumbaikar is today on road protesting the politicians and airing his rage on national television ? When Mumbai let itself raped by vote-hungry politicians, why today that much rage and anger ? May be Mumbai has realized that it has been taken for granted by politicians and terrorists alike.

Mumbaikars are fighting a battle that they have already lost. Thanks to a spoilt brat, term Mumbaikar has become a misnomer. Either you are a Marathi manoos or a bhaiyya or a Gujarati or a Tamil and so on. Mumbaikar has died a silent death without a whimper. I felt pity for honourable home minister of Maharashtra for his notorious remark 'small incidents happen in big cities'. He must be thinking that I have worked so hard on a sure-shot plan to trigger rise of a nobody into a political star. Everything was going according to script. I denied that goons are taking charge of Mumbai. I ordered an encounter that could be easiily avoided. Due to these terrorists attacks, People and media have forgotten about him. Now, I have to work out a damage control plan to bring that stupid fellow back on national television and these idiots are bothering me with the petty issue of death of 200 people. What are 200 people for Mumbai ? Why are they so bothered when Assembly elections are less than 1 year away ? Can't they go to their schools and offices as usual ? Where is that bloody spirit of Mumbai?

Mumbai has been murdered in this attack. Those very symbols, who were giving a illusion to people who are living in Mumbai that they are still Mumbaikars, left blackened for ever by terrorists. Mumbai will take a long time to recover. It is not about renovating hotel taj or fixing new glass panes in Cafe Leopold. It about rise of Mumbaikar from the ashes. People have to repair social fabric of a city which, till few months back, was considered as one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world.

What America means to us ?

These days, I am consistantly coming across articles claiming latest financial crisis as end of 100 year old American empire. It is a general perception that America's military might lies in its economic muscles. Now that muscles are losing tons of weight, there are waves of panic world over. There are predictions of new power equations everywhere. People are hoping that new power centers of world will be Russia and China. I feel it is too early to predict demise of USA as world's only superpower. America will bounce back on shoulders of its inspiring leaders and patriotic commoners.

Accept it or not, we are living in a era of US-haters. Most of the general people and media revile US. This is also true about most of the governments across the across which are against democratic instituions. I never understand the reason for that. Are people jealous of US or it is just sheer hatred for ts actions in past ? I think people are just jealous of the way Ameica assert itself on world stage. Sheer ruthlessness and arrogance are trademark of US foreign and economic policy. American influence over world just can be annoying for the ones who dream of a multipolar world. We have seen the capacity of America to involve in lenghthy conflicts without any concern for social and economic unrest back home. Amrican way of life, their patiotism and will power to rule the world invites the envy. Thats why a American failure is generally celebrated throughout the world whether it is crash of columbia spaceship or their failure to retain top spot in olympics.

So, lets assume that American empire is destroyed. What that mean for world ? Demise of American hegemony will be black chapter in world history. There is a conflict going on in the world. Democratic powers are on one side and a nexus of evil powers like religious terrorism, communism and totalitarian regimes are on other side(May be it sounds like a fantasy). America is leader of democratic powers. Who will take up challenge in absense of Ameica. India ? Are we in dreams ? We are yet to come come out of shadow of China. Our leaders keep begging before China for friendship. We just lack self-respect to lead a global coalition. Without America, it will a end of democracy and freedom. America symbolises everything good in this world.

I never understood why people want to hate US. Media says that US has a fetish for war. 9/11 attacks were an attack on soul of a progressive nations. What do you expect ? Just like our leaders, they should have keep repeating bullshit like Pakistan is resonsible for action and something like guilty will not be spared etc etc. and then forget about it ans start waiting for next terror attacks. Guys, they are nation with self-respect. Their leaders wanted to restore dignityof nation. After attack, whole nation stood together. Even opposition who fought a bitter battle for presidency just few months back was behind leader of nation. They just have no business for bickering and playing vote-bank politics. They answered and removed one of the most brutal regime of world. Osama bin laden, Saddam Hussein and Taliban were no saints. Nobody has dared to attack US again. Even today, US is trying to protect innocent Iraqis. Terrorist are killing innocent citizens and people are blaming US for all this.

Next one year will be decisive for the all of us. If US survive current economic crunch, democratic countries will get a morale boost. China and Russia have always helped anti-democratic regimes. They have always opposed sanctions on Sudan's ruling regime which is involved in genocide of its own people. They have supported nuclear weapon programmes of Iran, Pakistan and North Korea. They have supported anti-people rulers like Mugabe and Myanmar;s military junta. They started to make moves on their long-term strategy. All Latin Americans countires have turned communists expect Columbia. Russia incursion in Georgia is enough to create waves of terror in central Asia and East Europe. So, all hopes of future lies in rise of America and its coordination with other responsible nations like France and India.

On the edge

I am back! I know there are not many people who felt my absence in bloggers world, but still, I cannot not stop myself from exclaiming my return. There is a state of turmoil in the world. There are bomb blasts, communal violence, back-off on industrial projects, economic slowdown. low salary increments and monstrous inflation. Looks like we returning to some sort of dark age. I have not returned to make dark predictions about a world which is going to be doomed but last few months are giving the feeling that everything is just slipping out of hands.

Who is responsible for this ? We humans always curse a figure named god(or it is just a illusion) for our all woes. Everyone preach that his god is epitome of good and benevolence. Then suddenly, a sort of competition starts and people commit every known sin known in this world to prove(or force) that their god is the biggest(or more importantly, bigger than other gods ?) statue of goodness. It is a irony that despite all this, we human beings consider ourselves as most brainy children of mother nature. Well, some people plant bombs in cities and send mails to newspaper bragging about how they hold a whole country at ransom. It is a pity most of these guys belongs to a banned organization that has word student in its name. Alas! what education has done to these guys. Education has made them realize that they and their god is disrespected in this country and they are licenced by their god to punish the offenders. Some other guys are involved in mob terrorism because they feel that they have every right to kill someone who is trying to implement 'switching over to new god'. hmmmmmm...........I don't know how come these guys have time for all this bullshit.

If this all is not enough, there is economic slowdown world over. This is just an indication why today world is considered a small village. Falling of stocks in Wall street is creation great ripples in India. every news article with news of large layoffs and cost cutting is adding to blood pressure of IT and MBA professionals in India. Well, what is most noticeable here is ruthlessness of big corporates to defend themselves. These guys at top management level take faulty decisions. The guys at lowest level just implement those policies. But still, these managers generally get their dues. Even they plan their future in other corporates and keep their employees in dark about what is going to hit them. Always employees at the lowest level have to pay. They are first ones to be booted out as burden and useless. The freshers who join their first venture with high hopes and a burning desire to prove themselves overnight turns into bitter and heart-broken individuals. The anger is quite easy to be channeled as hatred and mistrust for whole soceity to turn them into sociopath. In India, it is common phenomena. Every mass recruiter here has incompetent managers who do not have full knowledge about existing process in the organization, leave aside new ideas. These irresponsible organizations allow these irresponsible people to handle affairs irresponsibly to ruin the career of new entrants in corporate world who can win the world, if given a chance.


So, is there any ray of hope ? It is very necessary to find solutions. Being from typical Indian middle class family, I am not going to put forward a solution. I will just selfishly and cowardily try to ignore the problem until it start to hit me without realising that every denial is pushing me towards a wall. There are two options. Either educated middle-class of India come out of it comfort zone of shopping malls and multiplexes and defying all fears and hesitations. take the rein of country in its hand or allow someone like Hitler to rise and capitalise on mass discontent prevailing among large section of our society. Like me, we all have choice. Act in time or wait in silence for inevitable to happen.

Let them know

Few days ago, I was going through my daily dose of newspaper. My eyes caught a clipping about permission granted by local administration to school for providing sex education to students. It reminds me of late 90s when some schools introduced weekly classes for sex education but due to objection of Parents and teachers, initiative was backtracked. My school was one of them. It was not that I was disappointed because at that time, I did not how it will help and why people are opposing it. Well, some of my friends were ruing at the missed chance. I do not have much hope from latest initiative. It will be taken back after sometimes because guards of our culture are against polluting young mind. Talking about sex has always remained a taboo in our society. So, legitimising discussing about sex in such a way is just out of question



Even today, I do not understand why people so bothered about sex education. Its an obvious thing that you have to know at some stage. Would not it be better if these information can be provided at right time through proper channels. These two means are either parents or school. Most of teens and youths do not like to share their problem with their parents. They want to become self-dependent and thus, like to tackle their problems themselves. Moreover, teens do not like to open themselves with parents. They generally feel hesitation in talking about their adolescent problems, doubts and any new developments. Even parents feel hesitation. They always have doubt about the timing. For example, after watching a family planning advertisements, if your son in early teen want to know what is condom, it will become a embarrassment for you and you will just try to divert his attention.



So, school become the obvious place to discuss adolescent developments. Now, here if proper guidance is not provided, students will resort to advice of friends. Here, they can come across many misconceptions prevalent among teens. These days, students are tech savvy. There are helplines and forums on the web. But these sources of information are suspicious and no one is responsible for wrong advices. Even that unreliable guidance is available to urban youths. What about majority of teens living in villages and towns ? Most of under-20 Indians are still equipped with wrong information. Few months back, I was watching 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'. In a scene, Salman Khan kissed Aishwarya Rai on cheek and she posted the question whether it can lead to pregnancy. Sometimes, movies intentionally or unintentionally reflect some harsh truths and it was bang on target.



Sex education is an important aspect of life. These days, there is a huge danger of sexually transmitted disease. Information is the only defence against these fatal diseases. At some point of time, a human has to cross the line. Is not our society in name of decency and culture, playing with lives of teens? Being having knowledge, next generation will be more equipped with challenges of the new world. Well, giving formal course of sex education will deprive them of some of the interesting memories. There will be no all guys meetings to unfathom the most difficult mysteries of world like 'where babies come from' , 'is a marriage some sort of magic wand which tell god to deliver the babies' and the mother of all, 'what the hell whispers are for?'.

Lets face them

Recently, there has been a string of bomb blasts throughout the country. An organization named itself as Indian Mujaheddin has claimed the responsibility for the blasts. This time we are facing a very strong enemy. These are not just some misguided youths with polluted mind who have masterminded the blasts. This is a network which has some clever brains with a plan to destabilize our nation and thus , convert it into a failed state. These hi-tech terrorists have long -term plans. The terrorism they are propagating is psychological terrorism. These terrorists are more interested in affecting psychology of our nation than actually killing the people. They have opened two fronts. On one front they are challenging law-enforcement agencies and government and on other front, they are playing mind games with common men. The later front is decisive front because it will prepare the stage for efficient execution of whole plan.

If you look at the pattern, you can easily understand. They have staged attacks in states which are ruled by a party which claims to be saviour of Hindus. And then, they send a email putting responsibility on shoulders of Indian Muslims. They want everyone, especially Hindus to think that this task has consent of all the Muslims and 'Indian Mujaheddin' is representing them. They have chosen BJP-ruled states because Hindu fundamentalists are supposed to be strong there. Now, it is a psychological battle. They are challenging Hindus to attack their fellow brothers. Very cleverly, they have raised all local issues in their emails to TV channels and claimed to be avenging for the injustice met out to them. By doing this, they removed all chances of claiming a foreign hand by government or even exploring the possibility of it. In their mail, they threatened Muslim film stars against acting in the movies. They are frustrated with Khans because they proved that Muslim has ample opportunity to become successful in India. These stars can become role model for aspiring Muslim youth. This can give them confidence that they can be accepted as all-Indian boys. What medium can provide a greater access to masses than cinema ? Success of these stars is example of false propaganda by terrorists. One more aim of these hi-tech terrorist is to create a empire of fear. Look at the sheer number of blasts that took place in last 4 days. They were more interested to cover every area of city rather than to kill more people. In this way they were able to touch life of nearly every person in the city. This type of organized terrorism is a new phenomenon in India.

Till now, our people have acted with caution. There had been no reports of communal skirmishes. Even Gujarat has remained peaceful in aftermath of bomb blasts. This kind of resolve is needed in this hour of crisis. Narendra Modi has let down these merchants of death. He was more than diplomatic in his reaction to blasts. The bitter bickering that was on between various political parties has toned down. Rather than asking for PM's resignation, opposition has resorted to need for federal mechanism and stringent laws to tackle terror. We have won first round of mind games and save the day for nation. But government and law-enforcement agencies cannot afford to lax. It is difficult to ignore dead bodies and grieving families. The propagators of this heinous crime should be brought at disposal of law.

Good Guy, Bad Guy

I have'nt watched latest batman movie 'The Dark Knight'. Our caped crusader is taking on its arch-enemy, joker. Everyone who has watched the movie is showering praise on joker for displaying evil with perfection. Nobody has time for batman. Batman has taken some sort of backseat. This is not a new phenomena. Our cine goers and film critics always have been smitten by powerful anti-hero. Whether it had been Rahul of Darr or Langra Tyagi of Omkara, these guys always have got away with best laurels. The more mean and evil they are, the more popular they will become. If they are powerful enough to instill a psychological fear into other characters of movie, they become a legend. We just love evil. Our parents may have teach us in our childhood to be a kind, good-natured and soft spoken fellow but these characters just brought all the bitterness and anger against society on the silver screen. Everyone could relate their anger and frustration with those portrayals.



In real-life also, Osama bin laden and Robert Mugabe has bigger fan following than the honest and efficient head of states who are working tirelessly for welfare of their states. It is part of human psychology. We always worship who inspires awe in us. Well this is true for at least for 90% of the people. Ya, I know you are thinking that you belong to 10% minority. Everyone thinks like that. Actually, parents and teachers are wrong in representing the rosy picture of world around you. One should present practical picture of the world to their wards. By instilling feeling of sacrifice, veracity and social welfare in an excess, they just make their ward a emotional handicap. People know that their companion is using them just for their cause or they are going to be cheated by someone, they just let themselves to be exploited on the pretext that they cannot hurt anyone. They just say that it is too late for them to change themselves. It is not just that. It can make their inner self very dark. And they find someone portraying their fantasies on the screen and in real life, these anti-heroes become their god. Now again we are good guys in our own perspective and here lies the main reason for mass popularity of these villains.

Well, there is nothing wrong in it. It is better if people are satisfied with considering beast on screen as their alter-ego. The glamour, power and terror wielded by them is a dream for majority. So, all self-proclaimed good guys an gals say in unison Hey Mogambo!!!!!!!!!!!!!