Mumbai Ruined, Is it India Next?

Yesterday in my blog I questioned whether we really possess the fundamental right to life. If people are taken to ransom at gunpoint, if we are subjected to bow down in front of unconstitutional people without a reason and if we are still stating that this system is NOT responsible for all this, we are not doing good to anybody.

The system, this current government and the kind of leadership we currently have is to be blamed and nailed. Democracy has its advantages and has a flip side too. The flip side is that anyone can get away without being labeled or tagged, which means no one shall own the responsibility. If our lives are our responsibility then what's the difference in living in an orderly society and a barbaric one? The leadership has to answer this question.

Secondly, more fundamental than just the immediate leadership is the question of what model of development are we following and at what cost? Are we turning ignorant or blind in the wake of economic development so much so that we have forgotten how to keep our social fabric intact? We curse Europeans for their chauvinism but hell, its time to learn from them. Despite being in the top order of economic development they are equally aware and vigilant about developing their social order, which calls for greater civilian security, greater social harmony and last but not least greatest amount of awareness about their national interests. We, as opposed to them, have not even an iota of nationalistic fervor. And to make the things even worst is our political system/s which allow such things to happen every now and then and still don't take definite steps to curb such criminal acts.

My view is very straight: A piecemeal solution to this problem will never be a permanent cure. We need a fundamental paradigm shift to make things work in our favor. We shall not forget that we may have a civilization that is over 5000 years old but our democracy is not even a century old. It is still very fragile and prone to destruction. And if the keepers of this nation, whom we entrust to run it efficiently are so careless, better look at it with a fresh perspective. We might be approaching a stage of systemic change to live peacefully.

Do We Have a Right to Live?

It's a big question mark! I thought we have a right for peaceful social life in a country which we inhibit, where we feel duty-bound to contribute to its progress and in as many crude words - where we pay tax to run this country efficiently, uninterruptedly. But hey! I again question my own thinking! Aren't we asking for too much from the system here which is downsized to a puppet with its strings in the hands of people who don't have any feelings for this country. Why!!! That what is a 'right' of the citizens of this country now seems to be a privilege which is available only for those who can avail it by way of influencing the system/machinery.

I am a thoroughbred nationalist/chauvinist or whatever you want to call me but at the same time the biggest critique of this nation today. More so, I am the critique of the system which is running this nation. These are weak hands. Not only weak hands but crippled bodies, paralyzed minds and to top it all emotionless creatures who just don't have time to think of the billions living under this threat and can die anytime, anywhere.

My nationalism goes for a complete toss when I come across such incidents. I start questioning my integrity towards this nation. At times I want to resort to 'Escapist Tendencies' whereby I want to leave this country for a safer habitat and secured future - even though I've pay an exorbitant cost to make it possible. But when I come back to my senses, I still think of my nation. My nation which gave me space to live, freedom to exert and air to breathe. My nation! Am I not being unrealistic? Or am I sounding too artificial? I don't know! Even I am confused. I am not too sure whether I'll be ever leaving my country for any of these stupid reasons but I am sure that if I leave one day, I won't be missed here for the great amount of patriotism that I have. I will certainly not be missed for whatever integrity I show towards this nation. I am sure people of this country will not miss me for my faith in this country.

Then why am I living here? Is is purely for a reason that I am not equipped to do anything anywhere else than India? No! I don't think so. On a serious note I am a great believer in making contributions to the systemic changes and not deal with problems at a superficial level. I don't subscribe to piecemeal solutions. Rather I will give time to great thinking and solve things for better and for ever.

Now is the time for all of us to question our conscience. Do we really have a right to live or we need to fight with our own system to snatch this right and in-turn become barbaric for all such things to come in future.

Happy Coming Home

After five days away from Indian shores, it was a good home coming. I was mentally really not with myself when I was away this time. Before I was leaving, it left me in a quandary whether to go or opt out of this trip. Then said my mind not to compromise on the professional front and shy away from the duties. With a lot of internal rift, I decided to go to Singapore - a town I have visited five times till now. It was an internal event so this visit was a little different from the previous ones which which were press junkets and the treatment given to us was no less than a prince/celebrity. Unlike that, this was a different experience where we were hosts to as many as 80 odd people who didn't go nasty but could have gone anytime.

Anyway, from the very fact that we were traveling Jet airways to the fact that I was leaving my new born chota bheem (I call Ananya by this name)and her adorable mother behind, things were really not working around but work is work and to me its a little more than that so had to go. Anyway, the experience this time was not so good to be honest. Not because that I wasn't being treated like a celebrity but the beginning was faulty. For a flight which could be as short as four and a half hours, it took us a full night and a few more hours as we were traveling low cost and thus had to undergo the agony of an unwanted hop. And then started the clockwork. Every day till 10 at night we were working like mad maniacs and robots. Time after 10:30 PM was our own as if we were left with a 1000 horse power energy to run around the town and enjoy. But still everyone made most of it because there were many first-timers and probably the last timers too. I had no idea why the hell in this world journalists are pampered to this extent...Why?

Probably this backlash is because of that pampering only. Never mind. During this trip three of my colleagues lost a whole lot of money. Nitin, my colleague from Delhi lost some 15,000 and Rupesh from Mumbai lost around 50,000 and Chetan, who was from Mumbai too lost around 10-15,000. I was feeling so very sad for all three. Hard earned money should not go the easy route and specially in a foreign country where you don't have anything to fall back. As I said, this was not my first trip to that town, i was shell shocked to witness three thefts in a day's time. But with the office coworkers, in a foreign land - it was definitely a different experience. When we go as journalist, we really don't know who is who (in case we are lucky, there are a few known friends around). But office colleagues you know well and thus you don't have to waste time to mix up and make plans for the unofficial hours. We all grouped according to our tastes, likings and wants. I didn't want to explore/exploit the town so preferred to be a part of the group which was like me. But there weren't many like me. Somehow, people tend to do more with less - even if it is time they follow the same route. But I certainly don't believe in it. Shopping...I was not too keen except for the fact that I'd determined to buy some good toys for Ananya and a few souvenirs for Vasudha.

Can I finish this tomorrow?