IIT Madras' defence: A bundle of lies

Learned advocate and attorney general K K Venugopal was misguided by IIT Madras to present factually incorrect statements in the Supreme Court. They're liable to be persecuted for the same and we'll urge the court for the same on 10th October. It is noteworthy that all these lies are ON RECORD.

Lie No 1:

We can't identify which student appeared in Hindi and which student appeared in English.

The portion of counter affidavit by IIT Madras which was quoted in the 10th July judgement below:

This is admit card of JEE(Advanced) 2017:



You can clearly see the language written here.

Lie No 2:

Many students change their language at the examination centre itself.

This is one of the pages of JEE(Advanced) 2017 Information Brochure.


It clearly mentions that language can't be changed after registration.

This is the set of guidelines sent to Institute Representatives(IR) by JEE Organising Committee 2017. Note that IIT sends its own professors to each examination centre to conduct the exam.


It clearly mentions that language can't be changed under any circumstances.

Lie No 3:

Its impossible to establish check Hindi and English papers on different answer keys. Why?
Because we have no method to identify ORS(Optical Response Sheet) by language of question paper since language is not mentioned on ORS.

This is admit card of JEE(Advanced) 2017:

The roll number of a candidate is a clear link between ORS and Admit Card of a candidate thereby clearly establishing the language of question paper of the candidate. Its all about merging two excel sheets: one having data related to admit card and the other having data related to ORS.

Lie No 4:

The two questions which got misprinted in Hindi paper had a different level of difficulty, hence it's not appropriate to judge students on two different questions having different levels of difficulty.

See the original question and the misprinted question:

According to statement in Supreme Court hearing on 10th July by Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras & Chairman, JAB 2017, the two questions had so much difference in difficulty levels that it could lead to injustice!

Lie No 5:

This whole process of re-evaluation and fresh rank list would require a month.
As the scanned copy of the ORS is stored, it just requires the customisation of answer key and the ORS software gives results of the candidates within minutes.
The whole exercise including the segregation of Hindi and English ORS, will require few hours.

Read the views of Prof Dheeraj Sanghi, CSE, IIT Kanpur:
First of all, if the Attorney General claimed that it will take a long time to regrade 2.5 lakh copies, he was misinformed. 2.5 lakh students did not give the exam, and regrading is a matter of changing the key and running a software, which should take a few minutes to give the result. Source: http://dsanghi.blogspot.in

Lie No 6:

This re-counseling would lead to zero session meaning loss of entire academic session. As per their own schedule, they' re going to complete the entire process in three weeks. Given that 99% students have done physical verification and counselling fee submission, this process can be wound up in two weeks easily, the academic session starting comfortably in 1st week of August.

Some of the IITs were in fact, going to start their session by as late as IIT Jammu(8th August).

In fact the Supreme Court judgement itself is based on believing in these lies as true facts.

See the parts of 10th July order below:

T20 Politics

The FDI issue showcased the deplorable levels of our political discourse as personal attacks and political convenience dictated the debate in Parliament, rather than its actual effect on farmers, retailers and employment. The electronic media is obsessed with TRP ratings and politicians resort to eye-catching tactics to take advantage of this obsession. Viewers, too, are responsible for the state of affairs as they have not cared to improve their taste, which is what sustains T20 politics.

Published in The Hindu on 13th Dec, 2012

Cash(Vote) Transfer Scheme

After reaping rich dividends from NREGA in the 2009 general elections, it was expected of the Congress to come up with something more effective for vote transfer in 2014. A cash transfer scheme requires careful scrutiny of all provisions and effective checks of leakages, especially in a country where there is large-scale poverty, illiteracy, corruption and political manipulation. The government must take a leaf out of the most successful cash transfer scheme in the world, Brazil’s Bolsa Familia, which has many provisions like transfer through government owned banks and public enlisting of beneficiaries.

What is worrying is the haste with which the UPA government is pushing the scheme without adequately addressing serious concerns raised by civil society organisations. In a highly patriarchal society like ours, the misuse of the cash by male heads of the family is a distinct possibility and needs to be addressed. Without an effective and transparent mechanism for selecting the beneficiaries, there is every chance of manipulation by the party in power.

Published in The Hindu on 30th November 2012

Hyper-consumerism and Commodification of Women

As another Deepawali gets closer and The Times of India turns into The Ads of India, I wonder how many of the commodities- from iPhone, iPad to Nikes and Tag Heuers-being aggressively promoted do we actually need, specially in a world where close to 1.2 billion people survive on less than $1 a day.

Its definitely not expected of millionaires to avoid the show-off of Audi-Porsches and lead a Gandhian way of life, but what's really painful is the pressure that this culture of excessive consumerism is generating on the middle class and the lower segments of society, both economically and socially. It is also creating unnecessary strains on national economy and sustainability. 

Traditional bases of consumerism

In an era where effects of globalization are visible even in remote villages and religious values are giving way to new ways of life, many value aspects related to the all-important marriage ceremony are showing extraordinary resilience. 

Why does Indian society still measure in-laws' affection for the bride in terms of tolas of gold presented to her during marriage ceremony? 

Why do we even need to make a public show of the goods and money exchanged? 

It all gives an impression that the girl's place in the new home banks on the value and quality of the exchanges! Yes, I am pointing to the seedbeds of the plight of women in our society- the consumerist tendencies and the show-off culture. 

Whenever I ask people not to buy gold and switch to other jewelry, I get weird reactions against pointing to the fact that import of gold creates a massive burden on India's balance of payments and adversely affects our economy. Gold has strong backup in the 'golden' social values of our society as reflected in its special importance on the occasion of Dhanteras. Moreover, patriotism, as practised  in our society is a distinctive brand of selfish and parochial patriotism. 

Capitalist mode of consumerism

With the advent of modern means of production and communication, what we have been witnessing with each passing decade, is creation of more and more hypothetical needs through media campaigns funded by giant corporations and then feeding the same with high-profit useless goods. iPhone is a typical example! 'Useless' to me is any commodity which doesn't cater to substantive and real needs of day-to-day life, suitably matched to its monetary value. Only few years ago, many stylish and good to use handsets were in 10k range. Now, as a gentleman is judged not by his shoes but by his mobile handset, this range has crossed 40,000 Rs barrier. Even in the strongest analyses, i haven't found iPhone to be worth even one-fourth its price for the purpose it serves. It has been stealing money from people's pockets merely on the media hype and also because it has become a Veblen good in India.

Replacing one well functioning model by another has become the trend whether it be a cellphone or car and this tendency somewhere leads to replacing a girlfriend or wife with a 'better' one. This sense of good or better are mere manifestations of the consumerist culture. The values which lead man to happiness are being replaced by the values which lead man to madness. It has led to utter chaos of modern day life. No wonder teens are committing murders to own an iPad.

Adding to the woes of aam admi

India has the unique distinction of having more households with a mobile phone than a toilet, even though the latter costs less in most cases and is a far more basic necessity than a cellphone. Not only we need to understand the diversion of limited resources of poor towards unnecessary 'pulls' of consumerism, we also need to be sympathetic towards its reflections in their life in the form of poor nutrition, unhygienic living et c. We can gauge the scale of the problem if we analyse the value of a 3000 Rs cellphone in a rickshaw-puller's life- both in terms of money and its usage, i.e., the cost-benefit analysis. 

No wonder we find women in a highly vulnerable position in our predominantly patriarchal society where finances are handled exclusively by menfolk, primarily on two counts. One- women's needs, which are primarily family needs of nutrition, healthcare, education et c are cornered and consumerist pulls of the menfolk take an unfair share. Number two- the hyper-consumerist paradigm renders women's position as an object of pleasure and show-off thereby leading to the commodification of women that our society is witnessing. Female models featuring prominently along objects of desire in their commercial promotions, their particular positioning in advertisements not only substantiates the process but also strengthens it.

We can't expect the government to stop the juggernaut of giants like Apple and Samsung, especially in the WTO era or even a hefty increase in duties on gold jewelry is not practical due to political compulsions. All that we're left to do is to generate awareness. We need to understand that advertisements and media coverage is one of the most potent weapons of Capitalism today and also the fact that consumerism is its weapon of mass destruction(WMD). In the Galaxy of iPhone, SIII, Notes and Tabs, human beings are rendered as miniature objects and their needs frequently tampered with. We don't buy commodities, commodities buy us by the sheer force of  'appeal'. Even if I have three unused phones in my drawer still a fifth one tries to get its way. And, yes all this has a very deep impact on the quality of life we are living and the quality of the society that we're part of.

Kejriwalmart and Exposé Politics

Beginning with Robert Vadra-DLF episode, then moving onto showing the real Salman Khurshid and finally putting a big question mark on BJP's moral authority to raise issues of corruption, even though IAC has not exactly carved out a niche for itself in Indian political space, it has definitely set the process in motion. Newton's laws will definitely be on demonstration as the concerned political parties will neither remove nor cut the roles of the suspect public figures, continuing with their inherent acceptance of little bit of corruption as the 'in thing', without any precise definition of the 'little bit'. Secondly, enquiries and actions are least expected to be accelerated due to the apparent lack of vote-mass of Kejriwal & Co. Thirdly, there will be a lasting array of counter-allegations 'making mountain of what was not even a molehill'.

The subdued reactions and a confused outlook of the existing political system in the wake of non-stop AK firing presents us some interesting insights.


Post Independence Politics

Post colonial era, India was expected to adopt democracy the same way as you would expect mature behaviour from an adolescent. Unfortunately, to a society which was in tight grips of tradition, there was no institutionalized nurturing of democratic values. To a society, which is credited with contributing the term- communalism to dictionary, there has been no systematic efforts at strengthening the bases of democracy. Communalism originated out of the will to reclaim the lost Kingdoms of Hindus and Muslims. The perceived antagonism between them existed because each was thought to have brought down the other's rule. This mission to reclaim the lost Rajpat continued even among the Indian officials post British Raj and by the time it was noticed, it had engulfed the entire political spectrum by 1980s.

The first generation of nation-serving politicians gave way to increasingly undemocratic and despotic breed of politicians including the likes of Indira Gandhi to Lalu Yadav, Mayawati, all of whom hit democracy where it hurts the most. Dividing a multi-ethnic and increasingly plural society for their petty vote-bank politics was social engineering for them. This phenomenon made the public turn a blind eye to the corrupt practices by the leaders of their own caste, group, community. Indian voter was fooled big-time in the name of promoting caste and community through 'Bhoora baal saaf karo' and Dalit-Brahmin slogans. What they reaped was token service and the politicians amassed colossal wealth using divisive politics as a shield. Despite the large scale loot of public resources for decades, they remained important figures of the political landscape.


Nayi Rajneeti

Our politicians are finding the questions raised about the established political system 'laughable' and 'chillar'. The people who have dared to ask such questions are dismissed as 'mango people of banana republic' and are termed 'megalomaniac'. It sounds very natural as people came into politics to make money, rule like kings so all such allegations and questions are baseless and trivial. Simple!

When a UP minister asked the bureaucrats to steal a little if they're working hard, he was pulled up for sounding bizarre, actually he was not. He was trying to be very practical. If this 'little' would have been set as a statutory limit after being precisely defined as 5% or 10% of the amount under discretion and stealing being subject to hard work, India would have been a far less corrupt country, having a much more efficient administration. You meet wannabe bureaucrats and they would bluntly express their desire of having thoda-bahut and everyone knows what it turns out to be, later. Ashok Khemkas are rarest of rare in bureaucracy and in politics, an equivalent is probably non-existent. What I believe Kejriwal & Company will be able to do, is quick reproduction of the equivalents in the political realms.


The Broad Contours

I'm not a die hard Kejriwal supporter, neither I have any hope in the existing political setup. The real hopes lie in the awakening through increased awareness levels of the Indian voters sustained by questioning the current political standards and norms. The hopes also bank on a certain redefinition of the same. Much more than the number of seats that this anti-corruption politics can corner for itself, its success will be measured by the significant changes it could effectively bring in the public discourse of Indian politics. What we have witnessed in the recent past in the form of remote-controlled & highly centralized government, powerless PM, ideological vaccum along with a series of massive scams is probably the lowest that Indian politics has seen post Independence.

We, as a nation, are destined to see a better politics which would work towards the ideal of truly democratic nation through issue-based, development-oriented and pluralist outlook. Unfortunately, social justice and socialism have been mere slogans in past. If the political class takes note of development as the betterment of life style of the bottom 50 percent and works for institutionalized upliftment through Self-help groups, encouraging entrepreneurship, well-distributed industrialization in the impending 'new' era, 'land grabbing' will not be in headlines. This massive responsibility definitely lies on the shoulders of Kejriwal's yet-to-be-named party and such organisations which may come up in future. I have a certain intuition of the realization of the new era in coming years which will get rid of the system that we all are fed up of and start building the India which we shall proudly leave for the generations to come.

Zindagi Kabhi Kabhi

ज़िन्दगी कभी कभी औकात दिखा देती है 

एक वट वृक्ष को भी पात बना देती है 

एक एक ईंट से आशियाँ बनाया था 

ये न गिरेगा कभी कहके सबको आया था 

औ इसके श्रृंगार में अनगिन पल बीते थे 

जो भी देखता इसे अप्रतिम कह जाता था 

न जाने कब ऐसे आलिशानों को धूल 

बस एक झंझावात बना देती है 

ज़िन्दगी कभी कभी औकात दिखा देती है 

एक वट वृक्ष को भी पात बना देती है 

डिग्रीयां बड़ी बड़ी, ग्रेड्स से सजी धजी

आदमी को खुद पे इतराने तो खूब देती हैं 

कुछ कहीं शिद्दत से, और कठिन मेहनत से 

हुनर और अक्लमंदी की पूज खूब होती है 

आते बड़ी मुश्किलों के, रिश्तों की उलझनों के 

इसी काबिलियत की, situations वाट लगा देती हैं 

ज़िन्दगी कभी कभी औकात दिखा देती है 

एक वट वृक्ष को भी पात बना देती है 

पार्टियों को देख तू, सत्ताधारियों से लैस हैं 

न कोई रोकता, न कोई टोकता, मायावती भैंस हैं 

ऊपर से नीचे तक भ्रष्टाचार में लिप्त हैं 

शान से बोलते- हम वोट-बहुमत दीप्त हैं 

एक आम ईमानदार  की sincerity भी इन्हें 

देश की नज़रों से गिरा, सत्ता से हटा देती है 

ज़िन्दगी कभी कभी औकात दिखा देती है 

एक वट वृक्ष को भी पात बना देती है 

Zindagi kabhi kabhi aukaat dikha deti hai

Ek vatavriksha ko paat bana deti hai

Ek ek eent se aashiyaan banaya tha

Ye na girega kabhi kahke sabko aaya tha

Aur isake shringaar me angin pal beete the

Jo bhi dekhta ise apratim keh jaata tha

Na jaane kab aise aalishaano.n ko dhool

Bas Ek jhanjhavaat bana deti hai..

Zindagi kabhi kabhi aukaat dikha deti hai

Ek vatavriksha ko paat bana deti hai

Degreeyaa.n badi badi, grades se sazi dhazi

Aadmi ko khud pe itraane to khoob deti hain

Kuchh kahi.n shiddat se, aur kathin mehnat se

Hunar aur aklamandi ki pooj khoob hoti hai

Aate badi mushkilo.n ke, rishto.n ki uljhano.n ke

isi kabiliyat ki, situations, watt laga deti hain

Zindagi na kabhi kabhi aukaat dikha deti hai

Ek vatavriksha ko paat bana deti hai

Paartiyo.n ko dekh tu, sattadhariyo.n se lais hain

Na koi rokta, na koi tokta, mayawati bhains hain

Upar se neeche tak bhrashtachaar me lipt hain

Shaan se bolte-hum vote-bahumat deept hain

Ek 'aam' imaandaar ki sincerity bhi inhe

desh ki nazaro.n se gira, satta se hata deti hai

Zindagi kabhi kabhi aukaat dikha deti hai

Ek vatavriksha ko paat bana deti hai

On V-Day

मोहब्बत तो ज़िन्दगी की रूह है हमदम 

सिमटता जा रहा क्यूँ ये बस इक रोज़ में 

Coaching Institutes: Necessity Vs Evil

With about four years of experience in coaching institutes for IIT-JEE in Kota, Delhi, Jaipur and Patna and now almost at the exit point from this profession, i wish to target the 'ouch' factor attached to the coaching industry alongside analyzing its contributions in the light of imminent retributions.


Despite most of the current generation having faced one or the other entrance examination and hence been through the coaching experience, there is a widespread perception that coaching institutes are all about money. Its branding is more of an 'evil' or at best 'a necessary evil'. 


Money brings negative publicity


Salaries reaching astronomical figures and profits crossing 100% barrier, there is a definite feeling of shock rather than awe surrounding the extraordinary growth of coaching institutions. Bansal Classes, my erstwhile employer, reportedly had annual profit as well as income of 125 crores in 2009-10, with all expenses met with interest on fees deposited in the beginning of the session. In 3 years, there is no field that gives you the hike from 4 LPA to 40 LPA. The highest salary figure in Kota reportedly being 1.5 crores per annum for teaching Inorganic Chemistry!

Bansal Classes, Kota

But, you also need to go into the rigors that one goes through and also the fact that not everyone gets such a hike. A Kota teacher, on an average delivers four lectures a day of minimum 90 minutes for most of the year. The duration of the lecture extends to two hours in most of the cases. For a number of faculty members, it's 5 lectures per day from 8 in the morning to 9 in the evening for the whole of academic year. Its not surprising that three to four years into the profession, people start facing health problems such as swelling and pain in ankle, backache, spondylitis and even speech problems. Moreover, the commitment to quality teaching is such that every question in the monthly tests used to be fresh and original in Bansal Classes. 
The lack of vision and strong will to cater to the larger goods of society has definitely cost the industry a bad reputation as most of the stakeholders are focused on maximizing earnings. They need to understand that if you go on exploiting the riches of society without giving it back, it may cost you highly one day. All I mean to say is that there are very few examples where resource-less are provided free education alongwith other facilities. Parents of Rajesh, one of my students at Kota, had to mortgage their land to pay for his stay and coaching fees. He was under severe stress due to frequent reminders by his parents regarding the mortgage. Being an extraordinary student, his only fault is that he was born in such a poor family which cant even afford basic needs properly and a selfish society which cant educate its meritorious children. Not to mention the wonder called Super 30 in Patna, which has got accolades disproportionate to its achievements. The need of the hour being devoting a decent share of profits towards education of the deserving and needy.

Whats so vicious about coaching institutes


First, they charge you very high fees: 80,000 towards only tuition fee for a year for IIT-JEE coaching. Average cost of preparation for a two year period comes out to be around 3 lacs.
Next, they are seemingly depriving the deserving but poor of their success. The fact being they are just making money for providing genuine quality education to the people who can afford it, due to lack of policies governing them. Their very existence being facilitated by the neglect of school education in India and encouraged by the increased incomes of middle class in the last decade.
Lastly, they are a big threat to the existing system of schooling in India as increasingly high percentage of engineering and medical aspirants in classes IX-XII are opting for 100% coaching and zero schooling, creating the danger of leaving schools redundant.

The poor state of mainstream education in India

Among Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, who is still alive? Only a little over a third of class 4 students interviewed as part of a five-city school survey in India got this one right, with a small percentage saying it is Mahatma Gandhi. As many as two-thirds of students, also from class 4, who were asked to state the length of a pencil — placed against a ruler — could not give the right answer.

Nearly half the students in classes 4, 6 and 8 thought the shape of a square object would change if it is tilted. And about 45 per cent of students in these classes seemed to believe that a spider has six legs, despite the arthropod being described or named as ‘eight-legged' in almost all Indian languages.

These are drawn from 89 of the country's top schools, each of which had a library, a laboratory and enough computers, and 93 per cent stated they had internet facilities. And 63 per cent of the parents of these children hold a degree, post-graduate degree or doctorate, and more than 41 per cent of the fathers were into their own business.

These are some of the findings of a ‘Quality Education Study' (QES) by Wipro and Educational Initiatives (EI), covering 23,000 students, 790 teachers and 54 principals from 89 schools across the country. 

Why a necessity


In such a scenario, you are free to imagine the level of science and mathematics of class IX-XII students and the kind of answers you are likely to get from these students. Having been exposed to this all through my teaching career, I can assure you that had it not been for coaching institutions, the majority of students even at IITs would have had shocking levels of mathematics, physics and chemistry.
For me, coaching institutes represent an indispensable system of supplementary education. The poor standards of classroom teaching all across the country and emphasis on rote learning rather than understanding, had created the need for such a system. The numerous institutions that have mushroomed all over the country are just catering to the need. If not so, why would students from as far as Assam  to Kerala flock Kota coachings to follow their instructions 24*7 without going to school for a single class: all of this being voluntary. Right from the quality of textbooks to the content and pattern of board and other school exams, every aspect of the existing school system is way below acceptable levels. Teaching in almost all schools being a formality with zero innovation and zero concern towards conceptual understanding, is the root cause of the mass shift from schools to coaching. Lack of motivation, incentives and attractive salaries have aided to the systemic degeneration in the long run. 
What coaching institutes have done for the students, no government scheme can do in foreseeable future. Graduates, Doctorates and professors from IITs teaching students of class XI and XII has, no doubt, done wonders to the standards of education. 


We definitely need quality teaching to build a noble nation. A nation which is not happy by doing petty outsourced jobs from developed countries, but a nation which leaves developed countries behind in technological innovations, research and development. All this requires a major brainstorming over the existing system of school and college education in India plus increased spending by government on education. 

Baapu Jab Tum Roye The

Composition circa 1997 after going through National Book Trust's booklet on Gandhiji.

Kindly don't mind the level of poem as it was crude emotional expression of a young heart.

लालकिले पर जब तिरंगा फहराया था 

भारत में स्वतंत्रता का परचम लहराया था 

स्वतंत्र होने की ख़ुशी में हम पागल थे 

खूब पटाखे छोड़े हमने, हर्षोल्लास के कायल थे 

तुम्हारा ख्याल न आया उस वक़्त हमें 

इतना झूमे थे, नाचे थे, ख़ुशी में खोये थे 

बापू जब तुम रोये थे

हम अचेतन हो सोये थे 

हिंदुस्तान में स्वराज तुम्हीं ने लाया था 

सही मायने में स्वतंत्रता का अहसास कराया था 

सर्वस्व दान  कर अपना तुमने लड़ी ये लड़ाई थी 

बिना ढाल, खड्ग के आजादी हमें दिलाई थी 

फिर भी, अपने, सगों के देश छोड़ जाने के विरह में

१५ अगस्त '४७ को बिरला हाउस में 

बापू जब तुम रोये थे 

हम अचेतन हो सोये थे 

आपको पुण्यतिथि पर 

Dastaan-E-Bhrashtachaar

Published in Dainik Hindustan circa 1996, when Bihar was deep in Laloo mud and i was high on the newly discovered poet.

discovered today accidentally while browsing old diaries.

लडाई नए भारत की

मेरे अन्ना! मत हो अधीर 

रामलीला फिर से लौटेगी भीड़

आज़ादी की पहली उफान 

को जब लगे थे नब्बे साल 

दूसरी लहर चंद महीनों 

में भला कैसे पाएगी तीर?

गाँधी लड़े थे गोरों से 

तुम लड़ रहे चोरों से 

तब लड़े थे स्वराज को 

आज तरसे सुराज को 

समझो देश की चिंता पर 

जब वोटों की ममता है भारी

संसद की प्रभुसत्ता पर

इस नागिन ने कुंडली मारी 

लोकतंत्र के शीर्ष पर 

जब चल रही हो चमचेबाज़ी 

तो पुकार है लम्बे युद्ध की 

जन जन को करने प्रबुद्ध की   

गाँधी को फिर से जीना होगा 

अपमान-विष पीना होगा 

to be continued.... 

नीतीश की जय जयकार पर नहीं सुधरा बिहार

दिल्ली और मुंबई जैसे बड़े शहरों में बैठे मीडिया के धुरंधरों को बिहार का बेहतर होना बड़ा रोमांटिक लगता है और उनके लिए TRP के अलावा इसके और भी फायदे हैं| बिहार की so-called बेहतरी बड़े शहरों में safety की एक फीलिंग देती है| कुछ वैसे ही जैसे अमरीका वालों को पाकिस्तान के stable होने पर बेहतर नींद मयस्सर होती है| 

घुप्प अँधेरे में किसी के दिया जला देने पर जैसा शोर मचता हो कुछ वैसा ही नीतीश की सरकार के साथ बिहार में हो रहा है| और शोर बड़े longlasting हैं क्यूंकि इंडियन मीडिया की चमत्कारों में जबरदस्त रूचि है| बिहार में बीते पांच सालों में जो हुआ है वह निश्चित तौर पर चमत्कार है: लालू के बिहार के लिए, न मेरे लिए और न ही सामान्य बिहार के लिए| किसी भी दूसरे राज्य के लिए ये सब किया-धरा शायद सामान्य की श्रेणी में भी न आये| मैं नीतीश कुमार का आलोचक तो नहीं पर देश के नेताओं की अदूरदर्शिता का अभ्यस्त हूँ| यह दुःख की बात  है कि डेमोक्रेसी के इतने लम्बे नाटक में  इस देश ने ऐसे बहुत कम किरदार देखे हैं जो चुनाव की जीत और मीडिया की प्रीत के आगे सोच पाते हों| मुझे डर है की नीतीश कुमार भी उसी बहुमत का हिस्सा न बन जाएँ|

कहाँ है ये नया बिहार?

अपने एक वर्ष के बिहार प्रवास में मैंने उस बिहार को ढूँढने की बहुत कोशिश जो आजकल अखबारों में और टीवी पर दिखने लगा है, पर मुझे मिला वही पुराना लालू का बिहार minus अपराध और भय| आज भी बिहार में सडकें और फसलें इन्द्र देवता की कृपा के भरोसे हैं: कहीं थोड़ी बहुत अच्छी सडकें हैं भी तो अनाज सुखाने और बैठक लगाने के काम आती हैं| राजधानी पटना में सड़कों का हाल जो था कमोबेश वही है, हाँ आजकल खैनी मसलते हुए पुलिसवाले ज्यादा नज़र आते हैं| बिहार की सड़कों पर दो चार दिन सफ़र करें तो आपको ये भी पता चलेगा कि सडकें अच्छी हो तो इससे मवेशियों और पैदल चलने वालों को कितनी सुविधा होती है और सडकों पर गाड़ियों के चलने से उन्हें कितनी असुविधा होती है | इन्ही बातों को ध्यान में रखते हुए माननीय लालू जी ने अपने कार्यकाल में गाडी वालों पर रंगदारी टैक्स का प्रचलन शुरू किया था| विश्वास करिए मेरा, आज भी बिहार की सड़कों पर कई लालू कई रूपों में नज़र आते हैं| 

ए शिवानी! ये कैसी राजधानी?

राजधानी पटना में FM channels तो खूब व्यवसाय कर रहे हैं पर उनके prime time के anchors बड़े confused रहते हैं कि सुनने वालों को ये बताएं कि जाम कहाँ है या फिर ये कि कहाँ नहीं है| चूंकि VIPs के लिए सड़क खाली कर दी जाती है तो सब ठीक हीं है| बाकी शहरों का हाल बता पाना मुमकिन नहीं है तो मैं अगले मुद्दे पर चलता हूँ| माहौल आज भी लालू एरा का बना हुआ कि चूंकि शहर में रहने वाला हर आदमी गरीब है अतएव तरजीह सिर्फ उन्ही की सुविधाओं को दी जायेगी| रिक्शे, shared ऑटो और भीड़ भरी बसों से आप सफ़र नहीं कर पाएं तो औने-पौने दामों पर taxi और reserved ऑटो आपको ढूँढने पर मिल सकते हैं| पूरे शहर में रेड lights काम नहीं करतीं हैं पर traffic को हाथ देकर कण्ट्रोल करने वाले आपको हर कहीं मिल जायेंगे| ये एकमात्र सिटी है पूरे विश्व में जहाँ traffic control का काम PPP (Public Private Partnership) से चल रहा है| रेलवे स्टेशन और एअरपोर्ट में competition इस बात का है कि कौन ज्यादा substandard है देश के अन्य शहरों के मुकाबले| 

कराहती शिक्षा व्यवस्था

शिक्षा व्यवस्था इतनी लचर है कि इसे अशिक्षा व्यवस्था कहना अतिशयोक्ति नहीं होगी| स्कूलों में मास्टर जी आज भी सिर्फ हाजिरी बनाने ही आते हैं, अंतर इतना है कि जो काम पहले घर बैठे हो जाता था अब उसके लिए उन्हें आना पड़ता है| 'सरकार हर महीने पगार देकर जो एहसान करती है उसके लिए इतना तो बनता है भाई|' tution के मास्टर गाँव-गाँव में रोज़ पढ़ाने के नाम पर धंधा चला रहे हैं| क्या पढ़ा रहे हैं और कैसे पढ़ा रहे हैं इस तक बात पहुँचने में एक अरसा लग जाएगा| कॉलेज तो बस admission और डिग्री के लिए हैं| परीक्षाओं में खुल्लमखुल्ला नक़ल तो बंद हो गयी है पर असल माहौल अब भी बरक़रार है| छात्र कॉलेज जाते नहीं प्रोफेसर पढ़ाते नहीं| हाँ, graduation क़ी डिग्री में अब पांच साल क़ी बजाये साढ़े तीन साल ही लगते हैं| Higher education के लिए तो बिहार से बाहर जाना ही एकमात्र विकल्प है|

कमजोर प्रशासनिक मैनेजमेंट 

जो लोग नीतीश कुमार के प्रधानमंत्री बनने क़ी बात करते हैं वो ये भूल जाते हैं कि नीतीश कुमार रेल मंत्री रह चुके हैं| अगर उनका नेतृत्व इतना ही कुशल और सक्षम था तो प्रधानमंत्री क़ी कुर्सी का रास्ता सीधा वहीँ से जाता था| बिहार का byepass क्यूँ? बिहार में अब तक NDA की सरकार ने जो किया है वो करना एक elected govt के लिए औपचारिकता मात्र है| अब यहाँ से अगर आगे बिहार को एक विकसित राज्य बनाने में नीतीश कुमार सफल होंगे तो उनके नेतृत्व और व्यक्तित्व को ऐतिहासिक मायने मिलने चाहिए| दुर्भाग्यवश सरकारी policy अब तक तो vote बैंक से development तक नहीं पहुँच पायी है| 

जोर वाहवाही लूटने पर न हो 

जब लोगों का living standard पिछड़े अफ़्रीकी देशों की याद दिलाता हो और औद्योगीकरण शून्येतर हो तो जोर infrastructure के विकास पर और सख्त सुधारों पर होना चाहिए, मीडिया को लुभाने वाले विधेयकों और मसीहाई स्कीमों पर नहीं| जब ग्लोब के दूसरे हिस्से बुल्लेट ट्रेन के पीछे लगे हों तो गाँव की लड़कियों में साइकिल बाँट कर खुश होना cheap लगता है| जब देश के दूसरे राज्य Information Technology और industrialization के दम पर दिन दूनी रात चौगुनी तरक्की कर रहे हों तो किसानों के लिए बीज-खाद का राग अलापना बंद होना चाहिए| किसान-किसान के गीत गाकर आप देश की communist मीडिया को तो रिझा लेंगे पर दुनिया के कोने कोने में जा बसे युवा talent को न तो बुला पायेंगे और न जाने से रोक पायेंगे| पीठ ठोंकने वाली मीडिया और सरकार ये समझे कि मेधा का पलायन money का पलायन है|

नीतीश कुमार की प्रशंसा अगर TRPमंद है तो हो सकता है उनकी आलोचना भी publicity stunt हो| कोशिश बस इतनी है कि तालियों की गूँज में भविष्य के नुस्खे गुम न हो जाएँ, विकास की बातें बस कागजों और आंकड़ों में न  सिमट जाएँ, राज्य का सुशासन अखबारों में कम सड़कों पर ज्यादा दिखे|

मेरी तो शुभकामनाएं हैं कि नीतीश की सरकार तीस की हो पर उन तीस सालों में वो बिहार को देश से तीस साल आगे ले जाएँ तो उनकी नीति और उनकी कृति की असली जय जयकार होगी| 

India: A Country of Beggars

On a family trip to Rajsthan in my adolescence, i wondered why some foreigners were giving 100 Rupee notes to beggars to pose for some quick shots. The scene is still fresh in my mind and now i wonder why dint they opt for the big beggars who sit in most of Indian offices. That must have been more amusing for the better quarter of the globe.

The huge pool of these real beggars have consistently eaten away the country's economy and made big holes in our development budget. Due to their in-built tendencies and insatiable hunger for illicit money, we find pseudo beggars on our streets who are beggars by force, not by choice. In recent past, we have seen a lot of shouting at politicians and blaming the system for everything. I would just like to highlight that a big part of this returns to us: we, the people!


What about the educated class?


Amidst all the hullabaloo about the illiterate, uneducated politicians, i would like to raise some questions to the educated people, mostly middle class people. Don't you think that what's happening to you with regard to corruption is very similar to whats happening to Pakistan with regard to Taliban. The whole institution of corruption has thrived with your support all these years. Next, isn't it our character to adjust with the system and tamely oblige to the traditions and customs? Isn't it 'fine' to take advantage of everything without thinking what is right and wrong?

You can see it in the number of fake bills produced for reimbursement in corporate world. Everyone creates logical support for his pseudo morality. What the middle class does in day-to-day life is miniature form of what our ministers and bureaucrats do on a bigger scale. I know people in our society react very strongly when faced with such uncomfortable questions. The whole system unites to defend itself on flimsy grounds once you show it to be corrupt. I have seen this in one of the most prestigious institution in India- IIT! From student bodies to institute management, no one minds some extra bucks and undue advantage of his position coming his way. A couple of hostel council members once flew to Delhi and then traveled to Meerut to buy a couple of cricket bats for their hostels' cricket team at IIT Kharagpur! If it can happen in IITs then whats so funny about Mr Lalu Prasad getting buffaloes transported on scooters! Ultimately everyone is doing it for extra bucks. If it's government officials, its paap. But, when  its in day-to-day life: ' itna to chalta hai'. Corruption is corruption. There is no such thing as big corruption or small corruption. Taking 10 Rs more is also corruption. This is the seed.


Civil society is responsible


The likes of Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi have to take so much pain because everyone else who was in a position to do something, chose to live in the comforts that high government posts offered them. May be, they will end up suffering more than what they are able to achieve because the civil society, in general, is indifferent. A few patches here and there are voicing support but none willing to sacrifice.


We are so poor we can sell anything

Everyone seems to be living with a feeling of having a royal descent. Its all about chance: once they get it in the form of a government job or position of power, they make full use of it to make as much money as they can. Not a wonder that people say: "Corruption is a high profit, low risk business in India." The moment they get a chance, they behave like Emperors! The Babus and Netas need all the privileges and luxuries that they need not pay for! In lieu, honesty is on sale. High degree of moral poverty.



Its incorporated in the system

An IAS officer, a Mantri who is handling decisions involving crores comes from modest backgrounds and has  legal earnings of 30-40 thousands. Where comes the question of survival of integrity? The system must provide him enough strength to counter the crusades against his integrity.


The typical middle class mindset

Voices raised are least encouraged. The mindset was on exhibition in Radhika Tanwar case and Jessica Lall case. Facebook and twitter can inspire the middle class to join candle light vigils against corruption at India Gate and other places. But, when it comes to raising an alarm or being an eye-witness, it doesn't seem to be a part of revolution. There is no sense of heroism in refusing the TTE his illegal fees and asking him for the official receipt and pay the genuine. Instead there is sense of heroism in getting it done in 100 bucks when it might have costed 300!

The reality is that we are too casual about everything. Someone will come and take care of everything. We are driven by the mindset that there lies a 'Taaranhaar' ahead so why bother? Lets lead our normal, comfortable lives and leave it for others to sacrifice.

Unless we take charge of everything at hand, things will not change.


Solution: effective education and quality leadership

My dear countrymen! I would just be creating a false sense of comfort if I say that Lokpal Bill will be able to deal a significant blow to the monster. The reality is that the solution lies elsewhere. Even the first powerful movement against corruption owes credit to education, to awareness.

Its very important that people shed their ignorance and become concerned and hence aware about their society, their state, their nation. If one feels safe in the sofa watching sops, he will be paying the price for his indifference some day. The country needs vigilant citizens to increase the accountability of the system. The nation reckons motivated people to take up the role to lead the nation. The day is not a distant dream when we will feel it before we say 'Mera Bharat Mahaan', if everyone of us becomes Anna for 5-10 minutes everyday. One will not need to become Anna for his whole life then! 

Background Music: Hum me hai hero

अन्ना नहीं नेता इस लोकतंत्र के लिए खतरा हैं

 सुनहरे भारत का स्वप्न एक ऐसी relay race थी जिसमे गांधीजी के बाद जो भी धावक आये वो उस बड़ी सोच से कटते चले गए और इसे निजी स्पर्धा समझने लगे| दुर्भाग्यवश, आज़ादी के कुछ दशकों बाद ये स्पर्धा अकूत संपत्ति के अर्जन की प्रतिस्पर्धा में बदल गयी| नतीजा आज पूरे राष्ट्र के सामने है : भ्रष्टाचार राजनीति की रगों में इस कदर बहने लगा है कि इन दोनों को अलग कर पाने के लिए स्पेशल सर्जरी की जरूरत है | जन लोकपाल के जोश में जन-जन के कूदने के फायदे तो हुए हैं पर इसके नुकसानों की चर्चा भी जरूरी है| मैं उन नुकसानों को सिरे से नकारता हूँ जो सत्तावर्ग ने अपने फायदे के लिए चर्चित किये हैं: इस तरह के आन्दोलन लोकतंत्र के लिए सही सन्देश नहीं हैं वगैरह वगैरह | दुर्भाग्यवश इन तर्कों के खरीददार वे तथाकथित बुद्धिजीवी भी हैं जो या तो इस आन्दोलन में अपना कोई बड़ा योगदान नहीं देख पाते या फिर सिर्फ अलंग स्टैंड रखने के फैशन के शिकार हैं | इस वर्ग से गहरी सहानुभूति रखते हुए मैं भ्रष्टाचार से लड़ने की लोकपाल की काबिलियत पर प्रश्न उठाना चाहता हूँ | जन लोकपाल के प्रति लोगों में जो गहरी आस्था उमड़ी वह स्वतःस्फूर्त थी | एक विशाल दैत्य से लड़ने के लिए लोगों को जो हथियार मिल जाएगा लोग उसी में विश्वास कर लेंगे क्यूंकि उसके अत्याचारों से लोग त्रस्त हैं और उनके पास विकल्प नहीं हैं | विकल्प  तो दूर की बात लोग अब तक इसे जीने का तरीका मान चुके थे |

अन्ना का जादू चल गया 

 अगर हम आजादी के बाद से अब तक के भारत को एक विश्लेषक कि नज़र से देखें तो अन्ना जो कर पाए वो किसी जादू से कम नहीं| सौ-सवा सौ वर्षों के संघर्ष के बाद भारत विश्राम की मुद्रा में इस कदर लेटा था  कि उसे अपने रोटी-दाल और मारुति 800 के सिवा किसी भी बात की चिंता नहीं थी| कभी-कभार इसपर चिंता कर लिया करते थे कि सचिन का शतक क्यूँ नहीं हो पाया | उस पीढ़ी ने आज के युवाओं को पहले से ही सरफिरा और गैर-जिम्मेदार करार दे रखा है | मीडिया ने तो 'Pizza Generation' और 'Twitter Generation' जैसे नए जुमले भी फैशन में ला दिए हैं| इस पीढ़ी के लिए चिंता दाल-रोटी और कम्मो कि शादी से ऊपर उठ चुकी थी और उसने अपने आस-पास की हर चीज़ पर प्रश्न चिन्ह लगाना शुरू किया| उत्तर उसे हर बार बेतुके मिले| देश की इस नयी पीढ़ी को हर चीज़ से adjust करने के लिए प्रेरित किया गया| कुछ ऐसे थे जिन्होंने adjust करना तर्क करने से बेहतर समझा, कुछ ने बीच का रास्ता निकाला और विदेशों में जा बसे, जहाँ इस लडाई का scope नहीं था| पर बाकी के लोगों ने इन सवालों को मौन कर अपने दिल में रख लिया और उसके उत्तर तलाशते रहे | सब उत्तर एक ही और इशारा करते दिखे: व्यवस्था परिवर्तन- systemic change| 

जब अरविन्द केजरीवाल और उनकी टीम ने अन्ना से भ्रष्टाचार के विरुद्ध लडाई में अन्ना हजारे को नेतृत्व के लिए मना लिया तब भारत खुद एक विश्वसनीय चेहरा ढूंढ रहा था| अगर ये चेहरा 74 वर्ष के इस बुजुर्ग का न होकर किसी युवा का होता तो ये आन्दोलन इससे कई गुना बड़ा होता पर इतना नियंत्रित और अनुशाषित न हो पाता| जिन्होंने एक सोते हुए भारत को देखा है, 'चलता है' कहकर रिश्वत देने वाले भारत को देखा है उनके लिए ये आन्दोलन हतप्रभ करने वाला है, चमत्कार है पर जिसने मेरे भारत की बेचैनी देखी है उनके लिए ये ट्रेलर था, स्वाभाविक था|

लोकपाल नहीं तो फिर क्या?

ये बात मानी जा सकती है कि भूखे को दो रोटी से भी फर्क पड़ता है, पर सवाल है कि हम भूख के परमानेंट इलाज के लिए concerned हैं या दो रोटी खिलाने की अपनी ख़ुशी के लिए | नयी दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन पर सौ की बजाय पांच सौ माँगने वाले ऑटो चालक पर लोकपाल एक्शन नहीं ले पायेगा ना ही pantry staff से 10 रुपये की पानी की बोतल 10 ही रुपये में दिला पायेगा| ट्रेन में reservation नहीं मिल पाने पर फिर भी TTE को 100 के नोट वाले गांधीजी ही समझा पायेंगे | आम नागरिक को paassport , राशन कार्ड और driving license रोज नहीं बनवाना होता उसे तो रोज़मर्रा की जिंदगी में जिन अफसरों से पाला पड़ता है उनमे सबसे बड़ा तो शायद सड़क का ठुल्ला ही होता है|

ये बात और है कि बतौर राजीव गाँधी केंद्र से चले 1 रुपये में से जो 15 पैसे ही विकास कार्य में पहुँच पाते थे वो आंकड़ा हो सकता है लोकपाल, वो भी एक सशक्त लोकपाल, की वजह से 25 पैसे हो जाए| पर बचे हुए पचहत्तर पैसे के लिए राजनीति और beaurocracy में नैतिकता और development के प्रति तत्पर सोच की जरूरत है | ये सोच किसी कानून और बतौर राहुल गाँधी किसी 'संवैधानिक संस्था' से नहीं आ सकती, इसके लिए तो इस बिरादरी में ज़मीन से उठे  हुए कर्मठ ब्रिगेड की शिरकत जरूरी है| भ्रष्टाचार को नसों से निकाल पाने के लिए पदों पर उन लोगों के आने की जरूरत है जो जेबे भरने और कोठियां खड़ी करने के लिए आईएस या नेता नहीं बनते बल्कि देश के उत्थान के लिए जीते हैं | 

जरूरत इस बात को भी समझने की है कि IAS, IPS जैसी उच्च सेवाओं में योग्यता के अनुपात में सरकार वेतन नहीं देती |  ऐसे में टॉप Universities की तरह साल के कुछ निर्धारित दिन consultancy के लिए दिया जाना भी वेतन बढाने के सिवा एक विकल्प हो सकता है | सांसदों का वेतन बढ़ना एक सही कदम था और ये अभी और भी बढ़ना चाहिए| हम हर बात में अमेरिका को एक standard की तरह देखते हैं तो हमे ये भी देखना चाहिए कि US Senator की सालाना तनख्वाह $174,000 है| इस बात से भी इनकार नहीं किया जा सकता कि सिस्टम ऐसा है कि इसने रिश्वतखोरी को एक जरूरत बना दिया है | सिस्टम में बुनियादी बदलाव अवश्यम्भावी हैं |

विधानसभा से संसद तक: अनपढ़, नालायकों की जमात 

ओम पुरी, किरण बेदी और उनकी टीम के अन्य साथियों पर विशेषाधिकार हनन का प्रस्ताव लाने वाली संसद से मेरा सवाल है कि सांसदों पर टिप्पणी करना अगर गलत है तो आम जनता के पैसों से चल रही संसद का अपना काम न करना ज्यादा गलत है| ऐसे में पूरे देश की जनता की तरफ से इस संसद पर मैं जनता के अधिकारों के हनन का मुकदमा दायर करता हूँ | विधानसभाओं में कुर्सियां और चप्पलें जब चलती हैं तो भी जनता के मान-सम्मान को ठेस पहुंचती है | उस मानहानि का क्या जो सत्र-दर-सत्र आप सभी ने संसद की कार्यवाही ठप करके की है ? 

संसद मुझे ये बताये कि लालू यादव सरीखे १०० प्रतिशत भ्रष्ट नेताओं द्वारा अन्ना हजारे, अरविन्द केजरीवाल का मजाक उड़ाने और सदन का मेजें पीटकर समर्थन करने के खिलाफ मुझे विशेषाधिकार हनन का प्रस्ताव कहाँ पेश करना होगा ?

संसद मुझे ये भी बताये कि देश की जनता की भावनाओं को सामने लाने वाली मीडिया और पढ़े-लिखे समाज का जो मज़ाक शरद यादव ने उड़ाया था उसके खिलाफ कार्यवाही कहाँ और कब होगी?

मैं इस संसद को दो टूक शब्दों में ये कह देना चाहता हूँ कि 'संसद supreme है' ये गाने से आपको सम्मान की नज़रों से नहीं देखा जाएगा| पहले आप अपना स्तर सुधारिए, अपने काम पर ध्यान दीजिये फिर हमसे सम्मान की अपेक्षा करियेगा| नहीं तो सांसदों की बखिया उधेड़ने वाला हर ओम पुरी ऐसे ही घर-घर का सुपरस्टार बनता रहेगा| संसद और डेमोक्रेसी को सबसे बड़ा खतरा नाकारे सांसदों से है, घटिया नेताओं से है, किसी अन्ना हजारे से नहीं और न ही किसी जन आन्दोलन से है|

Corruption-free भारत का सपना

इंडिया के वर्ल्ड कप जीतने पर जो जन-उन्माद दिखा था वो ऐसी जनता का उन्माद था जिसके पास एक साथ celebrate करने की वजहें कभी नहीं होती | क्रिकेट इसलिए इस देश को जोड़ता है क्यूंकि 'दिल को खुश रखने को ग़ालिब ये ख्याल अच्छा है' | एक सुव्यवस्थित, समृद्ध  और नेताओं के नहीं जनता के भारत का सपना जो इस युवा पीढ़ी ने देखा है उसके लिए आगे व्यवस्था परिवर्तन की एक लम्बी लड़ाई है| अन्ना की अगस्त क्रांति तो बस पहला कदम है| 

ये तो भविष्य को बताना होगा कि स्वर्णिम भारत का सपना लिए कौन और कब गांधीजी की डंडी को अपने हाथ में थामता है|

जय हिंद |

जय युवा |

Future Calling

कल सुबह तेरा रंग देखेगा हिंदुस्तान 

सूरज! बादलों की ओढ़नी मत ले आना 

नहीं तो भोले-भालों को यकीं हो जाएगा 

कि मुश्किलों का ज़माना अब मिट चुका है 

बुरा मत मानना दोस्तों 

मुझे इतिहास बनने से ज्यादा 

भविष्य सँवरने की फिक्र है 

इतिहास तो बस मेरे तुम्हारे 

पदचिन्हों का जिक्र है 

ANNA EK, IRAADE NEK, BHRASHT NETA ANEK

Rohan:  I wish to change the operating sytem. It hangs time and again. It takes a lot of time to execute even simple processes. It consumes much  more resources than it deserves. Its inefficient. Its not even user-friendly. Why not upgrade it or rather change it.

Manmohan: Look I’ll install the latest version of Microsoft Word as Administrator is Supreme: there’s nothing above it! The speakers are very good and the cabinet case of CPU is admired by the whole world! In any case, changing the operating system is not the only solution. We can deploy sweepers for cleaning everything once in a year, we can spray perfumes all around to keep the users happy.  We can have small flower-pots surrounding the………… 

Manmohan is going on with his nonsense without knowing an iota of what the common man Rohan has to convey. The problem with pure academics and zero leadership and no connect to the masses has been best demonstrated by Mr Manmohan (he would have deserved to be called Dr Manmohan Singh had he been the finance minister). His government and for that matter most of the leaders have failed to decode the writings on India’s streets.

Aandolan is artificial

Theory No 1: It’s a media generated movement.

Theory No 2: It’s an urban movement (as if people in cities do not have a say in electoral democracy)

Theory No 3: Middle class protests (you know, middle class doesn’t come out to vote!)

Theory No 4: It’s an upper caste movement (Cudos!)

Our respected netas use such sophisticated gadgetry that they listen only that they wish to. They can’t listen that on a day when youth of India is striving for excellence in his professional and utmost satisfaction in his personal life and working hard for it, it can’t tolerate frozen and preserved systems of yesteryears where people need extra bucks to even open a file! They can’t understand how ‘Chalta hai’ people can become restless and say ‘Ab nahi chalega’. It must be fabricated, rehearsed and probably sponsored! Shame on you, leaders of India! If you can’t listen to people’s cry for a change in the outdated, corrupt and frustrating system, at least stop counting how many are dalit and how many Muslims among the faces that flash on your TV screen!

What Lokpal? How will we run our business?

Anna Hazare fasted in April to force the government to include civil society in drafting the Lokpal Bill. See what happens next: Kapil Sibbal and co convey it to Team Anna in simple political style- “Look, we are bringing the Lokpal Bill. Now don’t ask for this provision and that clause. We’re bringing the bill which all the prior parliaments avoided, should be more than enough for you. If you come with us, ok; if you don’t come with us, then also its ok.”

When a hollow bill in the name of Lokpal Bill is presented in the Loksabha, the govt makes its best attempts to crush any voices raised against it by even denying permission to Anna Hazare for his fast. Hiding behind the Delhi Police, Sibbal and Co send Anna to Tihar after unleashing Manish Tiwari cannon on him couple of days before. Unfortunately, the events took an unprecedented turn and Anna wave started sweeping the country. The govt remained unfazed and looked the other way hoping all this would die down soon. Only when a sea of humanity in support of Anna Hazare compelled them to take some action, they came up new ways of defusing the “Bring Jan Lokpal movement”. First strategy was to make it Anna Vs Parliament alongwith ‘threat  to democracy’ campaign with a few appreciations here and there.

It was an amazing eyewash that Loksabha came up with its unanimous appeal to Anna Hazare to end his fast in lieu of parliament’s resolve(?) to bring a ‘majboot’ Lokpal bill, without mentioning the specifications of the bill. None of the parties have come out in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill which has strong provisions to curb corruption and create a fear for the corrupt. Of course, all the MPs are worried that how will they make their living in just Rs 80,000 plus free facilities for almost everything. It wont be easy for the ministers to survive with a few lacs per month. The party funds and election expenditure also presents a worrisome picture for all of them.

My fellow countrymen and ever-determined Team Anna, be prepared for a really long war to see the end of corruption in our country. This movement is a real threat to the Multi-Trillion-Dollar industry called Corruption and the industry will use all its might to nullify the upsurge.

The great Indian Political Tamasha!

A movement which was aimed at implementing  Jan Lokpal Bill and which gained such support from the nation that neither govt, nor media and nor even Team Anna had expected, is begging to end on discussions of three provisions of the bill! This miracle is the outcome of the tamasha created by all political parties along with their big brigade of uneducated and also illiterate leaders, aided by an almost equally naïve  media. Very sadly, Anna Hazare and his chief warrior: Arvind Kejriwal had no clue about the unfolding of this tamasha. They just wish to find a sound cause to end Anna’s fast and the frustration in their camp is visible by the mimicry put up by Kiran Bedi on 26^th evening at Ramlila stage.

I strongly feel that the incumbent system will make every attempt to save itself from any radical change and Corruption will remain a monster looking into our face and asking us :”Look, you can do nothing, Can you?” till the breed of people at the helm of affairs in government are replaced by a new breed. I see the real hope in the gen Y and middle class coming out to vote sincerely and shun its inhibitions about politics. Most specifically, dropping the mottos of the kind: “Bhagat Singh ho par mere ghar me nahi”.

 Let the day come when the most powerful chairs go to the most deserving men of India.