Small Strokes

Anna Hazare Showing Political Colours

2011-09-13T19:10:00.000+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Just a few weeks back the entire nation was under the grip of the Anna moment. His fast was being telecast live 24 hours a day. The popularity of his 21st century Satyagraha was so much so that Dhoni and his men getting drubbed 4-0 in a Test Series in England didn’t invite any attention! But against the script Anna Hazare who was being see next to Mahatma Gandhi and Jaiprakash Narayan has put a wrong foot. Now the man who has become the face of the fight against corruption has put his stamp on a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the centre.

As a free citizen of a free country he is entitled to freedom of speech and has got as much political rights as any of us. But he was being seen as the great crusader behind whom high flying IT professionals as well as the roadside cart puller stood together. Why on earth did he make such an immature statement? Now this entire statement will be seen as a political conspiracy by those belonging to the two main parties in India and those supporting them. Can Anna Hazare say that all those who joined him in the crusade were non-Congress and non-BJP people? Who is Anna to decide whom do we vote for?

He seems to be over optimistic about a non-Congress and non-BJP government and says he would support clean leaders. Now considering the true picture where very few people would have such kind of an image Anna might lend support to a M Karunanidhi, Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, J Jayalalitha, Mayawati or even an illiterate Rabri Devi. Are these namesthe ones we would see as our Prime Minister? I would still vouch for a Mamohan Singh, Arun Jaitley or LK Advani. Poor job Anna, you let us all down :(

Dhoni Moment of Truth in Captaincy Has Arrived

2011-08-13T22:00:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Life does come a full circle. Just four months back, MS Dhoni was the man of the moment having won India its World Cup after 28 years but the superhero of modern times has been facing the wrath of the people after three back-to-back test defeats. It’s been close to four years since MS Dhoni took helm of Indian cricket in the inaugural T-20 World Cup in South Africa and started with a bang by winning the tournament. He had a dream run ever since, taking the team to No.1 Test rankings and winning the World Cup in April this year. You could also add two back-to-back IPL wins in that kitty for the Chennai Super Kings. He led his side with a Midas touch and was being touted as a captain who could do no wrong. Old and young all would admire Dhoni and the former legends went gaga about the boy from Jharkhand.

Three humiliating defeats in Lords, Trent Bridge and Edgebaston and there are questions being raised on his leadership skills if Team India rightly deserved the No. 1 spot in cricket’s purest version. A team may lose matches back-to-back but the manner in which India surrendered like ‘school boys’ as Sunny Gavaskar rightly said does call for some hard questions. Hasn’t the No. 1 spot been debated ever since Team India achieved it? And why not, they haven’t yet won a series in Australia or South Africa and are currently making a mockery of themselves in England. The rankings improved due to regular home series wins and drawn overseas tours. Unlike the West Indies in the 80s or the Aussies of the past decade, they haven’t demolished the opponents in their own den. They haven’t instilled fear in the eyes of the opposition and wrapped up test matches in four days. They crawled to a 1-0 win over a depleted Windies side which won’t fare well even in a Duleep Trophy match.

Too much has been made about Dhoni and the No. 1 spot with people failing to acknowledge the contribution of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble who acted as the lynchpin at different intervals to scale this height. Sourav started the process about a decade back, Rahul stabilized it and Anil Kumble gave it the final push. When has Dhoni proved himself as a Test batsman, wicketkeeper or captain? To be honest Dhoni inherited a balanced team and his only test before this series came in South Africa where he managed a draw after losing the first test. The New Zealand series win cannot be rated too high as the Kiwis are themselves finding it hard to get the combination right. So the England tour was the moment of truth in Dhoni’s captaincy and it lies in tatters at the moment.

Dhoni has personally missed a milestone of turning into a legend from being just a good captain. They say a player or a team hasn’t achieved anything in the game, unless they have impressed the English crowd. Many might term this as arrogance but the English have always been arrogant about their cricket. And why not, no one can deny they are the home of cricket and have preserved it in the purest form. Nowhere in the world do you get such knowledgeable crowds as you do at Lords or Edgbaston. Suited man in the twilight of their lives applauding good cricket, that’s what a test match in England is all about. Some of the spectators rightly deserve the right to criticize you as they have seen the best of the Gavaskars, the Richards, the Borders, the Chapels, the Warnes and the Khans over decades. And Dhoni has failed to impress them with his wicket keeping which has been sloppy, batting which looks frazzled and lack luster captaincy.

As a cricketer Dhoni didn’t burst into the scene with talent written all over him unlike a Yuvraj Singh or a Zaheer Khan. He was an ordinary keeper who could hit the ball hard. But his rise as a cricketer has been phenomenal and in mere eight seasons from his debut has been nothing short of a Bollywood script. His fame only rivals that of Sachin Tendulkar’s in the team though he is nowhere near the master in terms of his talent or record. To start with he was never an orthodox wicket keeper. He seldom had his fingers pointing towards the ground which coaching manuals will tell you to do. His batting flourished with time but once he took over the captaincy he created a shell around himself which has done more harm to the team than good. He lost his flamboyancy and started becoming a run accumulator. He doesn’t alarm the opposition with his batting anymore which has been a downside to Indian cricket in the recent years.

Having said all that, Dhoni still remains Team India’s best bet at captaincy and he certainly isn’t outdone completely. He still can knight himself in England by bouncing back in the series. Perhaps he has to lose a bit of his calmness and be more involved in the game. He has to become more proactive as a captain and work on his field placements. He needs to talk to his bowlers often which he seldom does on the field. Bowlers like Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and Sreeshant need some support and encouragement when things are not going their way. They aren’t in the same league as a Zaheer Khan who has enough experience to know what to do. This team has it all that is required to defeat the English. It only needs to apply its skills to the potential and Dhoni needs to lead them from the front and not push from the back especially when the team has its back to the wall.

Real Fast unto Death Doesn't Count In India

2011-06-17T11:28:00.000+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Picture this – April 27, 2009 then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi sits on a fast unto death demanding a ceasefire in Sri Lanka when the security forces of the island nation had press the kill button against the LTTE. It lasted for 6 hours! November 29, 2009 Telangna Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrashekhara Rao sits on a fast unto death demanding a separate state of Telengana. Eleven days into it he breaks his fast thanks to the Centre’s diplomacy. June 4, 2011, Baba Ramdev sits on a fast unto death to bring back all the black money to India. Nine days into it he breaks the fast on Sri Sri Ravi Sankar’s call. Now of these people near death and Karunanidhi does what 90% Indians do every day keeping a gap of 6 hours or more between meals.

Now picture this – An unknown sadhu Swami Nigamananda goes for a fast unto death and dies in a Haridwar hospital on the 76th day. He was fasting to save the holy Ganga. He was demanding immediate stopping of quarrying in Ganga and shifting of Himalaya stone crusher from Kumbh mela area. Although this brave crusader’s battle raged over three months very little was done to save his life. And why should the district administration act? Afterall he was no Ramdev or Karunanidhi and his genuine cause could not be tolerated by the land mafia, the corrupt politicians in our country. And why about our 24X7 news channels, they couldn’t for a single story on this man as they were busy covering Ramdev’s circus.

Swami Nigamananda joins the list of Jatindranath Das and Potti Sreeramulu both of who had fasted and died for the cause they believed in. Jatindranath or Jatin Das as he was fondly known fasted in Lahore Jail along with Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters and was protesting agisnt the poor treatment received by Indian political prisoners from the British administration. He passed away after 63 days into his strike. Potti Sreeramulu died after 82 days of fasting demanding for the creation of Andhra Pradesh with Madras (now Chennai) as the capital. Jawaharlal Nehru’s government did little to save this man who had also fought for the independence of the nation.

Who is to be blamed for the death of Swami Nigamananda? To be honest he died as he was nobody and the government and the masses of this country cared little for this man. What is the cost of an ordinary India’s life? Where was Rahul Gandhi as he is ntrying to create a superman like image for himself taking up the cause of ordinary Indians? Why Manmohan Singh government wasn’t aware of this man’s fast? Why the Uttarakhand state machinery lend an ear to this man’s fight? The reason – he was an ‘aam aadmi’ and no Baba Ramdev and meant too little for anyone in the corridors of power.

The Great Indian Tamasha

2011-06-13T07:47:00.000+05:30

By: Reetasri Bhattacharjee

India knows its drama. The land has had many traditional forms of theaters be it in the forms of tamasha, jatra, nautanki or something else. Every part of the country has its own form of drama. Thanks to the Indian media and our very special politicians (and may I add the resurgent civil society groups?), there is never any dearth of drama in this country. I recently overheard a young boy telling that if you want entertainment watch the Hindi news channels! Probably nothing else describes the condition better.

The recent insurgence to fight against corruption has only heightened the drama. When Anna Hazare declared his resolution to fast, no one took him seriously. But within 24 hours, the real tamasha unfolded and immediately it became a media circus. I don’t want to go into the details of what happened. Too much has been said and written about the entire event. I will suffice by saying that everyone was entertained in process and probably the real fight against corruption got a true impetus.

However, if this wasn’t enough, came our very own yoga guru who changed the way Indians ate, drank, slept, etc in the last decade. He has taken it to himself now that if Hazare can fight against corruption almost single-handedly, he too can rake up an issue and fight it similarly. So came the issue of black money and our yoga guru becomes the self-appointed crusader for the ‘aam aadmi’.

Now this event has real drama. Usually it is said that films are inspired from real-life. But here is one exception where the opposite happened. A real-life event apparently seemed out of a film. Here I am mentioning Aamir Khan’s Peepli Live. The events of 4th June are a case in this regard. After midnight when the police attacked the sleeping crowd pof the Ramlila Maidan, one could literally feel the poor news channel crew hurriedly waking up to capture the events of a live tamasha. The shots that are now repeatedly shown on the channels are shaky (as was the case in the film), you could really feel the journalists and camera crew fighting to get the best shots. However, like in the film, the protagonist manages to escape from all this cacophony unseen. Can you believe 10,000 or more policemen, hordes of mediapersons did not see a single person escape!! And if this wasn’t enough, the very next day Baba Ramdev is seen wearing a salwar kameez in which he had apparently disguised himself to escape briefing the media about what had happened!! Now I say, beat this!! Impossible.

As I write this, the Baba’s condition is detoriating, the UPA is up in arms to protest the fight, the Sangh Parivar is dancing its way to support the Baba’s cause and there doesn’t seem to be a end to all this soon. As this drama continues, we the poor ‘aam aadmi’ can simply stay glued to our TV sets to see the tamasha unfold further. Who knows tomorrow, the Congress and Baba may declare to be long lost brothers!!!

This blog has been contributed by Reetasri Bhattacharjee a dear friend of mine. She is a regular blogger on blogspot and maintains the blog My Passing Moments

News Editors Reviving Colonial Hangover

2011-04-27T15:08:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Browse through any of the mainstream dailies in India or watch an hour long news program and you are bound to be served with the hot recipe – the marriage of William Arthur Philip Louis or Prince William and Kate Middleton. This seems to be the most sought after and important story for most of our media honchos. From what would they wear on their wedding day to who are included in the guest list, most of us in India already know it all. The marriage is supposed to be one of the biggest since the marriage of William’s parents Prince Charles and late Princess Diana. Corruption, Elections and IPL – all seem to have taken a back seat till the royal couple walk down the aisle.

Obamas missing the list of invitees, the prince of Bahrain declining the royal invitation, what are the protocols to be followed by the guests during the marriage – we are being bombarded day in and day out. What for? Is it the most important thing that concerns our lives or will we learn to have some self-respect for ourselves and not bow down to the white man. I wonder if Rahul Gandhi’s marriage if and when it takes place will have the same kind of craze in India let alone the entire world. It this marriage more important than the Lok Pal bill? Or the elections happening in five Indian states.

Being the marriage of one of the most powerful dynasties in the world this has gathered the imagination of millions of people in the world. We in India are not too far behind thanks to people who decide what news we read and watch. The colonial hangover is so much so in the minds of our editors that it seems the marriage is taking place in the third Delhi Durbar and Prince William would be the next ‘Emperor of India’ much like his great grandfather George VI. Come on guys the title was abolished 63 years ago by the Britons themselves. For heaven’s sake let these guys get married and live a happy life, they do deserve some privacy as a young couple.

Did Apple Copy Samsung?

2011-04-20T14:37:00.000+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

There is a famous saying in Hindi ‘Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Daate’ or simply (the thief accuses the cop) but something similar seems to have happened between Apple Inc. and Samsung. And hey! The bone of contention is nothing other than the famous iPhone. Shhhhhhh! but there are rumours that Apple copied its famous iPhone design from Samsung. This might hurt the diehard Apple fans as the phone has a cult following across the world and thought to be a piece of style statement.

The funny part in this entire story is that it was Apple which had initially filed a lawsuit against Samsung over patent and trade dress infringements. It had accused Samsung of copying the iPhone while making its F700. But as it has turned out the Samsung F700 was displayed a good one year ahead of the iPhone’s launch in 2007. Although the phone wasn’t anything close to the iPhone in terms of looks, but a pioneer is a pioneer any day.

Why Samsung faltered with F700? The simple answer was it never considered Apple to be a competition and was busy taking on Motorola and Nokia and developing traditional eight button or 10 button navigation phones. F700 series and other smartphones were in the backburner till the launch of the iPhone. Once iPhone hit the market, Samsung pushed the productions of F700 but it only half ready and couldn’t take on the iPhone even though it had some features which we see on iPhone 3GS.

Some questions lay unanswered. If Apple did copy why did it risk its reputation and file a lawsuit against Samsung? If Samsung did develop it first why didn’t it raise a cry once iPhone made its debut into the market? The answer might lie with LG as it was the first manufacturer which had filed a complaint against Apple for copying designs of its Prada. Now we all know how much of dirty games goes on behind these amazing gadgets.

Who is better: Dhoni or Ganguly?

2011-04-08T15:50:00.000+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Over the last few years numerous comparisons has been drawn between Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni and their captaincy. The World Cup win has raged the argument even further with some suggesting that Dhoni is the best captain India has ever had. After all he has achieved the No. 1 ranking in tests and ODIs and also has a T20 World Cup under his belt. On the other side the diehard fans of ‘Dada’ still swear by his man management and knack of spotting talent. It was under his captaincy that Indian team started to realise themselves as world beaters.

MS Dhoni

Comparing the two would be comparing between a man who loads a gun and one who fires in a combat situation. Ganguly took captaincy in the midst of the match fixing scandal when no one else wanted the job. He inherited a team which didn’t mind surrendering to the opposition where loosing was a norm. Things like wining a Test match on a green top in Australia, South Africa or England was unheard of those days. Dhoni took the team to the next level where he converted a group of match winners to a champion side

To start with Dhoni, he has been one of the best strategists that India has ever had in the last two decades. He goes more by his calculative moves which have worked wonders for him so far. His decision to play Ashish Nehra in the semi-finals versus Pakistan or promote himself ahead of Yuvraj Singh in the final have been brilliant. He is calm on the field which has earned him the title of ‘Captain Cool’, pressure and nervousness are something which don’t seem to exist in his dictionary. He is candid and doesn’t believe in making politically correct statements which has earned him tremendous respect among his teammates with half the side more experienced than him.

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly on the other hand was more of an instinctive captain. He backed young cricketers unlike any of his predessors. Legend has it that he fought with the board to have Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh in the squad. Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag and Dhoni himself are a result of Ganguly’s vision of promoting match winners and supporting them to the core. He didn’t mind being in the bad books of the board and the cricketing fraternity as long as his team won the mnatches. He matched fire with fire and eye with eye when it came to playing tough oppositions like Australia and South Africa. Who can forget how he made a mockery of Steve Waugh’s mental disintegration tactics in the 2001 series.

Honestly it is absurd to compare two individuals who did not compete on the same platform with similar team composition. One built the team laid the foundation whereas the other glorified it with his own skills. It would be better to see this as a whole process which was started by Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni taking it to its pinnacle.

Tata Motors Might Return to Singur?

2011-03-16T12:40:00.004+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Politics and business are never done emotionally. People with high ego usually do not end up being good politicians and businessman. Nobody is a permanent foe or a friend and it is more about flowing with the tide than to be sitting on the shore and waiting for an uncertain future. In a political hotbed like West Bengal where the future looks uncertain most of the players both in the industry and politics are playing their card safe. One of them is Tata Motors, yes the same company which was forced out of Singur by Mamata Banerjee and her supporters over the issue of unwilling farmers refusing to part with their land and take compensation from the government.

Many had expected this to be a final nail in the coffin for Mamata who had hurt the industrial aspiration of the state and dented the image of the state for ever. But what followed next was the rise of a firebrand leader whose political career seemed doomed after the 2006 Assembly Elections in West Bengal. The rise has been so much so that most of the industry captains are taking note of this and feel they might have to meet her in Writers from May onwards. The preset occupants the Left have closely guarded the red paint of the building for the last three and half decades.

Surprisingly Tata Motors has been renewing the lease of the plot at Singur which once promised to be the Detroit of India for production of the Wonder Car. While many wonder why Tata is still holding the land there are conspiracy theories emerging of Tata returning to Singur once the next government occupies the Writers. This might be a far fetched theory but who know in an uncertain state every possibility is worth a debate. Let us look at some of the parties which have stakes in this Singur plot.

The Farmers: They have been the biggest losers of this entire controversy. The once fertile land is no longer fit for agriculture due to the heavy construction work which took place. The closing down of the plant shattered the hopes of youth who might have got direct employment. The politicians have also gone back to Kolkata and the people here are left with virtually nothing. The only hope for these people is the coming up of an industry on the plot be it the Tatas or anybody.

Left Front: This was their flagship project which would have struck back their anti-industry image and made Buddhadeb the pied piper of Bengal. Alas, the same Leftists tactics of using force over the people cost them this opportunity. Their 260 versus 30 logic failed and the party succumbed to the same medicine which it had used for decades. Their first mistake was to acquire fertile land when barren land was available not too far away. Secondly the arrogance to suppress people of the area with their carders and having a shady compensation package for the farmers. They were left egg faced when Trinamool Congress won the Hooghly Lok Sabha which comprises Singur in the 2009 Elections.

Trinamool Congress: You can blame Mamata for this entire agitation but by pure politics it was a master stroke. Her once doomed political career got a new lease of life and she is almost certain to capture the Red Fort which many through insurmountable over the years. Singur through remains a bad patch in her CV if pragmatically assessed. But her dreams of taking the railway industry to Singur will help her get rid of some sins. To be honest neither she nor no one in her party might have ever imagined the Tatas to walk off. They were more prepared for negotiations which would have given her political mileage. But once in Writers she will have much more control over the affairs of the state and who knows might be able to turn Singur into an industrial hub which the Left only did in papers. If she can bring back the Tatas she has cast the final nail in the coffin for Left.

Tata Motors: Well they are perhaps playing the smartest game among all. Their Nano has failed to ignite the aspirations of the nation and Sanand plant is far away from meeting their target. In such a case going back to Singur won't be stupid as this will save them time and streamline distribution from two plants one in east and another in the west. With the Finance Ministry in Pranab Mukherjee's hand negotiations in the highest corridors of power isn't unlikely. Tatas have less to loose and more to gain from this deal in a state where they already hold large business interest. The problem was never with the Tata plant but the ancillary units attached with it. A little bit of political bargain can do it between the Tatas and Mamata Banerjee if she makes it to Writers after the elections can happen. It's no wonder that Tata is still holding on to the plot not to tease Mamata for sure as Tatas aren’t know for such brick bickering but they really do mean business.

People Of West Bengal: In a country like India where majority of the population is below the age of 35 there is no alternative to industry. When you get a name like Tata investing in your state, you don't need to think twice. The people of the state are here to gain if Tata decides to bury the past and look at Singur from pure business point of view. For everyone Tatas relooking at the state will be high return on investment.

We have a Women's Day but no Poverty Day

2011-03-08T18:22:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

From Google to card shops there is a huge buzz around that the world is celebrating International Woman's Day. Does that mean that all the other 364 days (365 in a leap year) belong to the men? What is so special about the day that all the news channels and portals are carrying out big articles on women empowerment, women reservation and what not. If we go by the demand of some women rights organization 33% days of the year should be reserved as Woman's Day!

Women's Day

Logically we have a Teacher's day in India where we celebrate our teachers (gurus) once in a year and call them by names for the rest of the year. We have Children's Day and where sweets are distributed to the children although we top the list of countries when it comes to child labor. So in this context women in India shouldn't feel any pride in having a day designated to them. There is nothing there to be celebrated to have a day nominated for them in the calender year where only Greeting Card and Telecommunication companies make the profit.

It is quite ironical that in a country like India with one of the highest number of people living below the poverty line doesn't have a day dedicated to the Poor. Not a day dedicated to the farmers of this country. So what is the fuss about exchanging red roses and distributing Greeting Cards? Is this what Women empowerment means in India? Will celebrating a day help the cause of women in India? So women in India should get over the hype surrounding the day and pragmatically think if this celebration makes any sense

India Don't Look Tournament Favorites

2011-03-08T06:38:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Team India started as the favorites in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. But if the performance is anything to go by the team has seriously hurt its brand value. Drawing a match after scoring 330 plus runs against England showed the weakness of the Indian bowling attach. In the match that followed versus Ireland the bowling has looked anything but impressive with Yuvraj Singh the most unlikely of bowlers getting five of the ten Irish men.

The lack of bowling resources at his disposal has made Dhoni looked clueless at times. Especially in the match against England there was not a single bowler who was stopping the singles and the boundaries when Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell were milking the bowling. Even if the Indian fans think cricket to be a game of sixes and fours flowing out of Sachin Tendulkar's bat it is not. If such fans needed one example the match versus England was one. A poor bowling attack never makes a team world champions.

A lot of doubt has been raised about the performance of Piyush Chawla. His selection had raised a few eyebrows but we all know that he is being backed by his captain. But Dhoni seems to be on a mission to prove that Chawla's selection was worth the deal. The only problem is the fact that in doing so he might have to throw a few matches here and there. A good captain should realise his mistake and not repeat them instead of persisting with his ego.

Till now the only two teams which have looked like favorites are the defending world champions Australia and maverick Pakistan under a maverick captain. Shahid Afridi seems to have discovered a master spinner in himself who seems to be causing a havoc among batsmen in this tournament. As far as the kangaroos are concerned no one should write this team off as they have held this trophy for the last 12 years and inmost of the times deservingly. India will have to overhaul itself in fielding and bowling to get over these giants.

Never Opt For An Apple's Launch Product!

2011-03-07T22:40:00.000+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

If you are one of those people in India who has missed Apple’s latest gizmo you have something on the offering. Just about a year after Apple iPad created buzz in the technology industry, Steve Job and his team are ready with the second avatar of the product. Apple has made the iPad2 faster, thinner, lighter, more powerful, and more versatile than the original iPad. What’s more it is priced at the same $499 as the model launched last year.

So just about a year’s wait has made the buyers get a faster, thinner and lighter product at the same price. So what’s the point in buying a product first up when you get a better one just about a year later? Off course it doesn’t apply to the techno geeks who love ripping apart a new product (virtually though) and writing about or those cool dudes who boast about having stood in queues to get hold of their Apple product. For a smart buyer a year’s wait seems to bring in a lot of bonuses.

This is not the first time this has happened with an Apple product. Since the launch of its revolutionary portable music player the iPod in 2001 we have seen six generations of the product rolling out. It has been even faster with the iPhone which has seen four avatars in since its launch four years ago. With every newer version Apple has something new to offer at the same price or even at substantially lower price.

P.S. If you are buyer and don’t have any eagerness to flaunt an iPad as yet, waiting for the third generations shouldn’t be stupid. One thing for sure you won’t have to wait for too long!

Facebook Quotes And What They Mean

2010-12-28T22:38:00.007+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Study shows the most hard working people in today's industry spend 2 hrs on an average on Facebook. No wonder we have people who are so busy and stressed with their work life!!!!! Here are a few common things that people have to say about Facebook:

I can't talk over the phone now I am busy - This means - My friend is online and I want to be back to Facebook. I can't miss being a part of some meaningless discussion. My online personality is more important than my real one.

I have N hundred friends in Facebook - This means all my life I struggled to make real friends and over the last few years have accepted every friendship request that has come across. If I need blood I will get links of blood banks, if I need to speak my heart out I have to chat and if I need some money I will see people offline!!!

I have to send some urgent mail - This means - There is nothing so urgent about me in my workplace I have to comment on people's status and pictures as I am seriously bored with my own pictures and status

I have to go for an urgent meeting - This means I don't want chat with you any more. I am bored with your talk. If you can sense it please do not disturb me again any time soon. By the way when I am bored and get you online I will ping you!!!

I don't check Facebook much - This means - I check Facebook regularly and am always logged in but offline mode. I want to show and publicly announce that I am busy and this is the best possible way in which I can do it.

I am seldom online - This means -I always used to be online but no one chats with me so choose to remain offline to protect my personal ego that I am important although others don't quite agree with the thought.

I still am loyal to Orkut - I haven't been able to figure out how Facebook works although tried doing it. The complexity here is too much and I feel home at Orkut where I play on my home ground!!!!

All this from work place and we are all busy in our office.....Wonder if some how Facebook could be integrated into daily work!!!!

Obama needs Manmohan more than vice versa

2010-11-06T23:35:00.003+05:30

I remember former US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India in the year 2000 when I was in school. There was a lot of buzz around the visit as to what his itinerary would be, where he would stay and who he would visit. And why not, it was after a gap of 22 years that a US President was stepping into the Indian soil with Jimmy Carter being the last to do so in 1978. His five day stay and tour around Agra, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Mumbai besides Delhi was flashing all over the newspapers and the just launched 24 hour news channels back then. No, we did not have any Twitter, Black Berry or Facebook in that era.

After all we were a nation which was looking up to America for everything be it outsourcing IT jobs to us, lifting the sanctions imposed after the Pokhran nuclear test and off course the engine for our ‘fully indigenous’ Light Combat Aircrafts. Cut to 2010, Barack Obama has arrived in India on one of his first Presidential tour and there seems to more buzz but less excitement. Our 20 odd news channels might be busy covering ever millisecond of his stay and tweets are flying all across the world but to most intelligent men in India this visit is more about give than take.

US Consulate’s apology to the Maharashtra Chief Minister on the identity card row has proved that US is going to play on the back foot. On the last occasion when George Bush visited India in 2006 US secret service agents had the courage to take sniffer dogs to Raj Ghat to make full proof security arrangements. This time around the US seems to be in a mood to take anything from India as long as it gets some market penetration and gets to create jobs in US riding on our shoulders. Who on earth would have imagined this kind of a master plan by an American President even when George Bush visited four years ago!

No, Obama won’t be talking about outsourcing as he doesn’t want to disappoint India. And, certainly not when 200 cash starved CEOs are travelling with him to revive the economy back home and put the country on a single digit growth at least. When Obama invited Mahmohan Singh as his first Presidential guest the die was cast and India was the only way for America to get out of the financial mess it is in. China and India are the fastest growing economies but China exports more than it imports while in India’s case it was an import driven economy till about a decade ago but is balancing its foreign trade with respect to the United States.

Obama’s team includes more than 200 CEOs from Boeing Company to The McGraw Hill. As they say ‘the business of America is business” Obama’s trip is more of a corporate get-together than a Presidential visit. Obama entered the White House with a superman like image and two years down the line going by economic and political situation he doesn’t seemed to have lived up to this famous one-liner ‘Yes, we can’. In Uncle Sam’s country people already doubt his chances for a second term. New Delhi is the only tow boat that can anchor Obama’s giant ship full of promises to dock in Washington.

Is ‘Freedom of Speech’ being misused in India?

2010-10-31T10:30:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

In 2001 noted author and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy stood against the death sentence of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. In August 2008 she expressed her support for the independence of Kashmir and on October 2010, at a seminar in Delhi named "Azadi – The only way", where Roy took part with Hurriyat Conference leader S.A.S.Geelani and Varavara Rao, Roy said that "Kashmir should get azadi from bhookhe-nange Hindustan". Article 19 of our constitution guarantees every citizen the ‘right to speech’ and time and again this has been both used and misused by the people of the country.

There have been calls in the political circle to book Roy for sedation under section 124 of IPC which states that “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in India shall be punished to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.

Should there be a cap on this right in India? Technically speaking any vibrant democracy in the world should ensure that each and every citizen has the right to express their views and opinion. But people like Arundhati Roy make uncalled for statements which threatens the internal security of India. Scores of Human Rights organizations and free society thinkers would back her in this. Where are they when our soldiers are stoned at? When their families are attached inside camps by the so called ‘azadi’ fighters? We never hear the Arundhati Roys speak then.

The big question that has emerged after Roy’s statement is should she be tried for sedation? Technically yes but politically no. If she is tried with sedation she would become another martyr for the separatists in the Kashmir valley. The international powers (read Pakistan and its ally China) would have wanted India to commit this error. It is quite popularly known who the powers behind this moment in Kashmir are and how much of a local Kashmiri freedom struggle is this. It is sad that authors who have been so much rewarded in the nation easily fall into the conspiracy of the separatists.

In most of the great nations across the world people like Roy would have been dealt seriously had they misused Freedom of Speech in this manner. Hypothetically if Kashmir is free tomorrow will Roy be able to make such a call for the Kashmiri Pundits? Going by the way most of the Islamic states around the world are run she will have to face a barbaric punishment which should have just remained in the history books. What’s more being a woman she would have never been able to make a statement if people like Geelani have their idea of Kashmir realised.

We should make sure we believe in one thing ‘nation first’ and such acts of treason shouldn’t be encouraged. Some people didn’t like partition, some want statehood others want reservations. Should we give in to the demands of all in the name of freedom of speech? When did these human rights messiahs champion the cause of an individual suffering Indian? It is easy to jump in mass moments to gain publicity but that should not be at the cost of security and integrity of a nation. Not all acts of freedom of speech can be tolerated and especially ones directed towards disintegrating the nation.

Ayodhya Verdict: India shows maturity

2010-10-02T16:02:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Amidst all the fear and apprehension Indian society has shown signs of maturity on the verdict of the Ayodhya title suit. For once majority of the politicians acted statesmanly over the issue and helped in preserving peace and tranquillity in the nation. Barring a few irresponsible like Mulayam Singh Yadav who wanted to play the vote bank politics by trying to appease the minorities our neta brigade behaved responsibly over the issue. There was wide spread speculations that the verdict would incite communal tension around the country like it had done post demolition of the Babri masjid in 1992.

The three judge bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising Justice DV Sharma, SU Khan and Sudhir Agarwal delivered the best possible judgement in the case which has been going on for over 60 years. All the three parties to the conflict the Sunni Wakf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas have got their share of the disputed structure. Now as the litigants prepare for further dual in the Supreme Court, peace prevails in the nation as of now.

There are some groups and politicians who are citing this as 2-1 verdict in favour of the Hindus and claim that the Muslims have been betrayed by the court. But what judgement would have been fair to the Muslims? Are they advocating for a complete hold of the disputed structure by a single group? Why should than Muslims hold the structure and not the Hindus? Wouldn’t such a decision have aroused communal tension in the nation accounting for thousands of lives?

In this historic judgement the judges had to consider many things- religious sentiments of the people, historical facts and the findings by the ASI. Agreed that demolishing a religious structure wasn’t something worth celebration but the same religious structure was built on a seventh century temple after having demolished it. The same place which is sacrad to millions of Hindus who consider it as the birth place of Lord Ram. True there are no historical evidence of this claim but when was religion based on evidence, isn’t it pure faith?

The disputed structure was known as Masjid-e-Janmasthan in popular culture which supports that argument that Hindus for centuries had celebrated it as the birth place of Ram. Nobody can deny that thousands of Hindu temples were destroyed across North India during the Mughal rule. Aurangzeb alone was thought to have destroyed more that ten thousand temples during his rule. Can these historical facts be denied in the name of pseudo secularism?

It is time we accept the verdict that has been given by the court and help restore peace and harmony between the two communities. Let there be a second mosque be built on the plot of land that will be allotted to the Sunni Wakf Board and let there be a Ram Mandir adjacent to that and both communities show harmony towards each other. The politicians especially ones like Mulayam who wants to rebuild his career making such inflammatory comments should be condemned by one and all.

Commonwealth Games only promises us shame

2010-09-21T22:54:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

“Canada deeply concerned about Commonwealth village”, “Foot overbridge near main Games stadium collapses, 23 hurt”, and “Jersey express doubts over Delhi”. These are some of the headlines doing circles of the Internet less than a month before the biggest sporting event India has ever hosted kicks off. The pseudo patriots will say Canada is showing typical ‘white men’s attitude’, bridge collapse is just an accident and Jersey? Never heard of a country by that name! But all these headlines do really tell a story.

It has been four years since the last Commonwealth Games ended in Sydney and seven years since India beat Jamaica in its bid to host the games in the process becoming the first Asian country to do so. But going by the negative publicity that the games is receiving many would think India would have been better off not hosting the games if it cannot match up to the international standards. The final touches being still given to the venues shows the (un)professionalism we showed in our preparedness.

Commonwealth Games 2010 was meant to be more than a sporting event for India at least in the minds of the government and all the sporting bodies in India. China signalled its dominance to the world by putting up a splendid show during the Beijing Olympics, 2008. It not only won the most number of medals but gave a glimpse of its future to the world. Sporting events of this magnitude are not merely limited to sports. Adolf Hitler almost stole the show with the Berlin Olympics in 1936 only to be denied the last laugh by American athlete Jesse Owens.

There have been reports of wide spread corruption where Rs. 35000 Crores worth of taxpayer’s money has been used (read wasted) in earning the criticism of the global sporting community. Indians would have still accepted the corruption like we do in our everyday lives but the kind of shame that our unprepared stadiums and unprofessional attitude has brought is unacceptable. What did Shiela Dixit and her government do for seven years? Where was the Sport Authority of India and Indian Olympic Association busy all this while to have led us to this shame?

There were some optimists who wanted to bid for the 2020 or 2024 Olympic Games. Some in the sports ministry were optimist that the infrastructure would be ready by then! Let us not bring much more shame to the nation if we can’ make it proud. Our economy might be going hammer and tongs but our infrastructure and governmental attitude still belongs to the Third World. Fans like me would be waiting more for a honourable closing ceremony of the games so that we can save ourselves from more embarrassment.

Ayodhya verdict not expected to settle issues

2010-09-15T00:26:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The Allahabad High Court will deliver the much awaited verdict on the Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid on September 24. This will mark an important day in the 60 year old case which has been the epitome of a political movement for almost three decades now. Ever since the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, Ayodhya has been one of core issues in Indian politics which fuelled BJP’s rise to power and be seen as the best alternative to the Congress party.

Now as the Government prepares for the Law and Order situation in Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere in the country a few questions come to mind. Will the court deliver a decisive verdict? Will BJP and the Saffron brigade’s dream of building a Ram Temple in Ayodhya actually materialise? Or will the Babri Masjid Action - Reconstruction Committee smile their way out of the court?

The obvious response to a decisive verdict is a 'No'. It is not the evidence that will count in the court but the fear of the repercussions of a decisive verdict that will prevent a final verdict from being delivered. If the verdict is in black and white, there will be wide spread communal violence across the country. The memories of riots that followed 1992 will come alive again if any of the parties have the verdict on their side.

The Muslims won’t bow down to a temple being constructed over a demolished mosque. They will site this as an attack on the minorities in the country. On the other hand the BJP-VHP and other Saffron parties have every right to believe that a temple should be constructed on the site as the Archaeological Survey of India reported the evidence of a large 10th century structure similar to a Hindu temple having pre-existed the Babri Masjid.

It is a known fact that thousands of small and big temples were destroyed in India during the Mughal rule. Aurangazeb alone is said to have destroyed more than 10000 temples in India during his reign. Somnath Temple in Gujarat was destroyed as many as six times before being re-built after Independence. Those scholars who deny these truths of history might have hiccups in explaining why not a single temple in North India predates the Mughal rule where as similar temples more than millennia old have survived in South.

As a young man of mid 20s, many like me have grown up around the Ayodhya issue and it is high time that we bury the hatchet. Both the sides have to show some maturity if this issue needs to be settled for once and all. There is no legal verdict on the issue; it has to be a mutually accepted one. Hindu groups should not fell proud of having pulled down a place of worship at the same time the Muslim leaders shouldn’t forget the historical wrongdoings of their predecessors

The issue is compounded by the involvement of various political interests in the case. BJP is not the sole trouble maker as it was Rajiv Gandhi who opened the gates of the disputed structure and performed Shilanyas. Parties like BSP, SP and RJD should stop portraying themselves as the messiah of the minorities and playing cheap vote bank politics. It is high time we behave like a matured democracy and not just as the largest.

Is revoking AFSPA Kashmir problem’s solution?

2010-09-12T17:55:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Consider this scenario - The security forces are facing a hostile situation in Kashmir. The government has given them a safety net in the form of AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act). In simple words the security forces have the ‘right to kill’. On the other hand it will be unable to take on the hostile situation where every potential door and window in the valley is a terrorist hideout. There are calls to revoke it at the same time such powers are necessary as they give the military teeth to fight. What does the government do?

If the Chief Ministership of Jammu & Kashmir is offered to our netas, a majority of them would like to turn it down. It is perhaps the most thankless political job in the country. Before being critical of Omar Abdullah or any of his future successors we should spare a thought by being at their shoes. Every incident can snowball into an agitation in Kashmir valley; a stray incident of stone pelting has the potential to bring the scenic land to a halt for weeks. As Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah campaigns for phased withdrawal of AFSPA the Centre is in two minds over the issue.

Let’s get the facts straight, AFSPA has been time and again abused by certain sections of the military. Be it in killing innocent people in the name of terrorists or assaulting women even to the extent of rapes and murders. In the name of conducting routine checks our security forces have crossed the line may a times. The call for scrapping such an act isn’t unjustified if you have been a victim of the high handedness of man in the Khakhi with Kalashnikovs and INSAS rifles.

Will revoking such acts really help on the ground? It seems very unlikely as the security forces cannot technically observe restrain in the counter insurgency operation being carried out in the valley everyday. No political policy can be used to command the men in uniform what to do and what not to do. When fired upon the security forces think of no act before retaliation. When challenged by terrorists using the civilian population as shield no act can stop the security forces taking a shot at the terrorists.

Does it mean AFSPA should remain for ever? No, this will have to be phased out for prolonged peace in the sate and in the interest of the Kashmiri people. But it seems no time for revoking such an act as the situation in the valley is as hostile as it can get. Security forces are being pelted with stones everyday. If the Kashmiris want such an act to be scrapped they have work in the interest of Kashmir themselves. They have to shun leaders who take commands from across the territory and talk of jihad and crusade. If not, revoking such an act and restoring it later won’t bring in normalcy to the Kashmir Valley.

When Bharat bandh is observed in Bengal!!!!

2010-09-04T09:13:00.005+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The trade unions has called for a Bharat bandh under the leadership of Left backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). The 24 hour diktat is to bring government’s attention to price rise. The Bandh will be 100% successful in West Bengal, 50% in Kerala (half the Malyalee community is busy in Gulf’s oil exploration) and also in Tripura which will go unnoticed due to its fate of being a North Eastern state. In the rest of the country the trade unionists won’t be able to stop their family members from going to work.

In the last six months this is the third time that West Bengal is being crippled by a thing called a bandh. Wasn’t 5th of July also observed as a bandh in the state in protest against the price rise? Did it help in doing any good other than hitting the daily wage workers, patients, passengers and even politicians who are not wasting a single day campaigning for the upcoming Assembly elections? Who’s good did they do anyway?

A migrant taxi driver from Bihar told me that his co-drivers in the union do not want to accept such diktats from their union leaders. He said Bangali drivers band nehi chahata hai Dada (Even the Bengali drivers do not want a bandh). It shows that not all Bengalis are not communists who want such unplanned holidays even though the people sitting in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi opine so. A lady from whom I buy stationary said CPM er raj e khola rekechi dokan ebar ki bondo rakhbo (I kept my shop open in the heydays of the CPM rule, what fear do I have now?)

The Communists who are in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in Bengal are trying their last ditch effort to hold on to their own version of the ‘Red Fort’. But alas people of Bengal seem to have enough of them. Soviet Union the mother of Communism has shunned the obsolete ideology about two decades back, China has turned into a Ultra Capitalist nation but the leaders here fail to read between the lines. Do we hear such strikes in China whom our Left leaders patronise? The Left will never tell this truth to the people of Bengal!

They should read the writing on the wall and think about a honourable farewell from the state they have ruled for more that three decades. Adolf Hitler committed suicide to have an honourable exit from history rather than fall into the hands of the Allied forces. Honour is the greatest jewel that a leader can earn. They have a few more months in power and should utilise it in building Bengal and not breaking it into parts.

The Unsung Talent of Bengal

2010-09-01T20:28:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

It is not quite often that we write a blog post on a barber (read barber, not hair stylist). Shahrukh Khan once made a movie and I am writing a blog post. I just happened to visit a barber in my locality for the second time for a hair trim as I call it. Receding hairline also does need a visit to a barber once a month! A Calcutta barber is never free and so he was occupied with a client (that’s what they call a customer in B schools).

As my turn came and I sat on the chair, I started explaining him what I wanted. He questioned me same as last time? I was shocked as to how on earth did he remember what I wanted when I had visited him only once in the past. He might have served at least a thousand customers in the last one month. I felt privileged as in this urban madness of Calcutta a barber happened to recall what I want.

As he was about to finish with my side locks, I asked him to trim them a bit with his straight razor and he gave me my second shocker. But last month you didn’t want it trimmed? I had forgotten what I wanted last month but he didn’t. When I was paying him the money I asked him how he managed to remember all these details. He replied me ‘It’s my job’. In a B school this would be termed competitive advantage, USP or in the most secretive case as trade secret!

This is the grassroot talent of Bengal which needs to be harnessed. In my two and a half years of stay in Bangalore I went to the same saloon but never experienced such service although I paid twice the amount there than what I did today. This is the unsung worker of Bengal who works as a thorough professional and doesn’t complain about salary hikes and join the bandh brigade every month.

Now my next door barber never went to a B school, he never went for any professional course to learn his art. He doesn’t know a thing about Customer Satisfaction Management nor does he maintains Excel Sheets to measure his quarterly performance. He has never read boring case studies of StarBucks or IBM. He hasn’t wasted his time in mugging up things which will mean very little in his day to day professional life. This proves the theory you can’t make a businessman teaching him Management theories.

He is smatter than many of us who think they are the most important factor in their organizations. He just knows his art and knows it really well. He doesn’t run around looking for employment but creates his own. This is a case study that should find a place in our B Schools alas that will never happen as StarBucks literate management graduates will try to market things in India where close to 60% of the product sale happens in the unorganised sector. Who is smatter, us or the barber?

Pakistan tryst with match fixing continues

2010-08-30T07:16:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Scyld Berry the editor of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack wrote in Australia’s renowned newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald wrote “It is only natural that cricketers - or some of them at least - should reflect the society from which they come. And Pakistan is, and has been almost throughout its existence, riddled with corruption.” This after the world of cricket has been dragged to another major match fixing scandal, the biggest perhaps since the last which threatened the game in the year 2000.

Many might call this as a very racist remark considering it comes from an Englishman whose historical and cultural respect for Asians is nobody’s guess. But isn’t it also true that when people are citizens of failed democracy who see corruption all around, are they to have the same kind of pride and respect for their nation. When these cricketers see their counterparts in India making millions aren’t they tempted to cross the line? That’s the entire point in Berry’s argument.

The defence for this cannot be strong as Pakistani team historically has been no saint’s army. The team has had a history of being in the news for all the wrong reasons in all its years cricketing history. From tampering with the ball to fighting in the pubs the team has done it all in the past. The team which is packed with talent has crossed the danger line too often to give it any benefit of doubt. This is not the first time that the Pakistani team’s name has been dragged into a match fixing controversy.

Be it the 1999 World Cup’s loss versus Pakistan or loss to minnows Ireland in the last edition of the mega event which even lead to coach Bob Wolmer’s suspicious death, Pakistani cricket has always had its shades of grey. Facing commissions and enquiries for such occurrences is nothing new for the Pakistani team as generations of players right from Imran Khans to the Shahid Afridis have faced questioning related to match fixing, use of drugs, ball tempering and even a mysterious death of a coach.

England’s dramatic comeback in the allegedly fixed test match and Pakistan’s school boyish bowling performance might just be one of those natural happenings in the game of cricket. But to the naked eyes it seems too much to be true. Millions of cricket fans around the world will be hoping that Pakistani players come out clean of this as this has the potential to tarnish the game like it did a decade ago.

Why the travelling Bengalis failed to notice Bengal’s decline?

2010-08-26T23:38:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

In my childhood I was always told that a frog which stays in the well doesn’t realise how vast the ocean is. Most Bengalis would have heard this in their childhood. Bengalis are by no chance the frog whose habitat is his well. Ask any tour operator in India and he will vouch on the fact that this is one of the most travelling communities in India. The annual Puja vacation in autumn has thousands of Bengalis travelling all around the country visiting new places, learning new cultures and tasting new food.

What surprises me is the fact that despite this most of us failed to notice Bengal’s decline compared to growth across the country. A majority patronised the idealism preached by the Marxists who have been in power for a shade too long than it should be in an ideal democracy. Others seemed to have turned a complete blind eye on Bengal’s road to insignificance in context of the nation and its growth engine. But how is it that such a thing was allowed to happen when people from the state have been seeing the growth of other places in the country?

The staunch followers of Marxism would give many arguments of how Left’s rule has benefited the state, But there are enough counter theories to prove how the extended Left Hand Drive has had a catastrophic effect on not just the Bengal but on the Bengali society as a whole. Do we command the same respect that we did in a pre-independent India or years just following Independence? Are we giving leadership to the nation as we did in the past? Have we produced the same number of eminent politicians, scientists, poets and social reformers in our recent years? What has pushed us into this backwardness?

Famous freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhle had once said “What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.” Are we even a shade closer to this statement today? What has pushed Calcutta to become a declining metro? Although there are signs of change all around the city but we shouldn’t ignore decades of darkness that we have gone through. Do these idealist leaders who have ruled the sate for so long answer these questions? For them idealism is the best way perhaps to not answer the facts of actualism.

Most of our idealist leaders were beneficiary of our glorious past. They went to institutes like London School of Economics but the moment they came to power they closed such doors for their subjects in the state. Why has the traveller Bengali failed to see the signs of progress elsewhere and notice the decline at home? Why has the traveller Bengali failed to punish these people who have betrayed the Bengali society? The day perhaps we have answer to these questions we will see the change.

Calcutta can rise from its ashes again

2010-08-22T17:44:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

It was once known as the ‘City of Palaces’ and the place to be during the might of the British Empire. Years of stagnation has made this metropolis as a model of ‘what not to do’ and a place which no longer features on the Indian investment map let alone the global one. A city where the history of the Indian sub-continent was written for more than a century is in sorry state. Apart from the emotional attachment of its inhabitants (mainly Bengalis) it has had very little claim to fame in the post independent India.

It has been exactly six months that I landed here after having a nice career in Bangalore for close to three years. I see a Calcutta which has the potential to define business in the coming years. My point of view might be totally contrary to the great economic thinkers of the state and the country, but that may be because I am not as educated as them! It may be because I see more potential in Calcutta (thanks to its underdevelopment) than these people. This city can change and for which it needs to take a few bold steps. Some of which I think are:

There needs to be a change in the attitude and people need to install some pride for their city. My friend who came to this city looking for a job was asked the same question again and again in all her interviews. Why Calcutta, why not Delhi or Bangalore? She gave the smartest and the wittiest answer possible “Give your city a chance.” Rome, London, New York, Bangalore or Mumbai wasn’t built by men who didn’t have pride for their own city.
The local manufacturing industries (what ever exists thanks to trade unionism) have a huge local market in the state and the surrounding areas, close to a population of 200 million (including NE and neighbouring states) and should focus on that. They should draw maximum mileage out of the cost advantage that the city and the state has.
Calcutta’s economic policies shouldn’t be decided on the same line as that of Bengal’s. The city is a state in itself and its policies should reflect that of Mumbai and Bangalore. Both Maharashtra and Karnataka have their economic problems but their capitals have become dream destinations for job seekers. If Calcutta flourishes the tremors of development will be felt all across the state. Let is be a epicentre of development.
English should be brought back into mainstream eduction. The decision to revoke it was a pin prick in Calcutta’s heart. It is ironical that no great Bengali author or poet of global recognition has emerged out of the state since Bengali was chosen as the language in the state. Our biggest pride Rabindranath Tagore was a beneficiary of the Anglo-Saxon world. The Left policy should have produced many more noble laureates. Let’s give our kids a ‘competitive advantage’ as you one need it to compete.
Politics is not for all and it’s high time that people realise this fact. The problem with Bengal and this city in particular has been that most of the people have thought themselves as the next potential leader! We need to have active participation in politics in a good democracy but not at the cost of our karma (work/profession). Karma e Dharma (work is worship), people shouldn’t forget that and leave politics to the politicians.
Aristocracy isn’t bad and it shouldn’t be denounced which certain politicians championed. Educated and wealthy men were not welcome in the City and they bid adieu. The huge migration of the intellectuals and business magnets from this city has hit it hard over the years. Amartya Sen, Laxmi Mittal, Vijay Malya, Prannoy Roy, Manna Dey and the list goes on. All these men were born in the City but migrated elsewhere for their great achievements in life. How many people in the same period migrated into the City and achieved something great?

In my observation these are a few things that we can do to make this city happen again. Rajiv Gandhi once said “Calcutta is a dying city.” All Bengalis were up in arms against him although in our heart we knew he wasn’t wrong. Cities are born and they do die and from the ashes rises another new powerful one. Perhaps it is time for a renaissance in Calcutta and in Bengal. Shall we accept this challenge or keep on singing the praises of our glorious past. The choice is all ours.

The Last Communist of Bengal

2010-08-18T20:52:00.002+05:30

By: Pritam Bhattacharya

As political communism seems to bid farewell in Bengal after thirty odd years, the batting has little to say except the tenacity of being at the crease for such a long time and it spurs me to write this post, a complementary to The Last Imperialist of Bengal. If political communism’s comeback in other climes and times are an indicator, Bengal might be bidding farewell to Communism and comeback may be very very far away, for good for for worse.

Who was/is the last Communist of Bengal ?

I think the answer is this, paraphrasing Nietzsche : The Last Christian died on the Cross.

The Last Communist of Bengal is a poet and writer who was out and out a Bengali and aristocrat (I mean this in the Burkian sense – through a habit of mind and not in the sense of অভিজাত as understood by semi and para-literate media hordes of Contemporary Bengal) and I would say : Mr. Asoke Mitra.

Why ?

1. He has been one of the rarest men of Bengal who sensed and articulated the loss of Civilization and High Mental Life in Bengal – echoing his own Bengali essay Calcutta 1969. He had an excellent, self-forged and elegant prose style in Bengali (I read almost none of his works in English – I admit). I think two hundred years hence and with the hope that in this period, Bengal will not be completely savage as far as mental life is concerned, a future historian would have sufficient distance and the freedom of judgement, cleansed of all contemporary incentives or disincentives, very few of the communist era will even merit mention. Mr. Mitra, I judge will be remembered.

2. He carried, cultured and respected the vanishing traces of Bengal’s Rennessaiance although not tempted not too infrequently and occassionally succumbing to the fashionable hubris of his time. We can readily pardon him for that because time itself was like this.

3. He is the only, yes only individual who has something else to say to those people who have little interest as how many processions, gherao, lock-out happened where and by whom and how many people beated, collared and hollared this and that. He has a long literary work documenting the decades of fifty and beyond.

4. He has been a lover of Calcutta where he came very young and the remnants of high mental life (his essay on Buddhadeb Basu should have been taught to party workers/cadres and leaders more as a primer to teach the art of as how to disagree yet to show respect where it is due) attracted him. He has described this elegantly and in parts, poetically. Here in last thirty years of political communism, he has no comrade near him. He shines in a singular aristocracy.

And now, I am going to discover a connection between the Last Imperialist of Bengal and her Last Communist – a connection which tells me something very deep about Bengal’s historical duty to Civilization.

Nirad C , the last Imperialist of Bengal declares from Oxford, in 1990s, Calcutta in the writhing agony of a Cadre State (a form of state where citizen = cadre) – ‘In matter of High Culture, there is no other community in India who can even match, let overtake Bengalis. In the last days of my Life, I find no hesitation in telling this.

Asoke Mitra, the last Communist of Bengal, in protest against imposition of Hindi as a national language and reflecting on Bangladesh’s autonomy on the language which is our common heirloom.

The Last Imperialist and Last Communist of Bengal joins in a common plane and I would like to call this plane a community’s siganture tone, its most encrypted code, its inner drive : Cultural Destiny of Bengal is different from her political destiny.

As an era bids adieu in Bengal, I remain in great anxiety in grappling with this Destiny.

This blog has been contributed by Priram Bhattacharya. He runs his translation and communications company Wordsmith Communication and is a regular blogger anfd writes on his blog Wordsmith of Bengal.

Our cities aren't global as yet!

2010-08-17T20:12:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata have barely make the grade of global cities. New Delhi and Mumbai are placed at the 45th and 46th places while Kolkata makes it to the 63rd spot in the list of 65 cities around the world. Our neighbours on the west and east also have made it to the list with Karachi, the only Pakistani metropolis being ranked 60, and Bangladesh capital Dhaka grabbing the 64th spot.

The top three are quite New York, London and Tokyo while Paris, Hong Kong, Chicago, Los Angeles, Singapore, Sydney and Seoul make it to the top ten of the prestigious list released by the Foreign Policy magazine in collaboration with A T Kearney and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Bejing which wowed the world with the 2008 Summer Olympics makes it to the 15th spot which will be a huge jewel in the crown for China which recently became the second largest economy in the world overthrowing mighty Japan.

So why are we ranked so low in the list? Poor infrastructure, poor civic facilities, poor connectivity are some of the main reasons for this dismal ranking. There is a section of Indians who will blame overpopulation as the main cause of this backwardness but Tokyo with a population of 13,010,279 and Bejing with 22,000,000 disapprove these theories. Population alone cannot be blamed for the incompetence in the system. We have a huge population and we have to make policies accordingly.

Another reason many would site is the huge rural to urban migration that India sees. Every day hundreds of people from across the country head towards the big cities in search of a better life. But isn't this true with every metropolis in the world? Doesn't New York and Tokyo also see such migration each day. They have to face migration not just from their own coutries but from around the world.

India wants to be the next big superpower but if we rank in such manner we can be one of the big countries in the world but definitely not a superpower. Our governmental policies promote bigger urban villages which sadly most of our metros have become rather than world class cities. Kolkata was once known as the 'City of Palaces' and people wrote poem's on its beauty. But when the white men left the city they took away the skills to govern a city as well. Same is the story with New Delhi and Mumbai.

There is a problem in the way we approach development. Our so called 'poor man's politicians' stress on making the lives of the poor better. In the end they create Dharavis around the country which become the den for criminal politician nexus. The betterment of the cities would equally benefit the poor and the rich if our planning is practical. We need to grow up and take the lead. It's high time we develop some world class cities in India.

Sector V, Calcutta

2010-08-17T07:34:00.002+05:30

By: Pritam Bhattacharya

I had been in a meeting in Sector V, recently. I could see bustle of activities and plenty of men in their late twenties and mid thirties breezily discussing the stress they are in and the hard challenges of professional life. They are truthful and telling the truth. Their life is really stressful and and except for something like ppm (parts per million), none of this class would leave anything substantial in their professional work that would outlive the next quarter, or next profit margin or the next project.

The reason is simple : In a deadline driven world where the office (and its roll) is some blip for someone thousands of miles away and few having an urge to refuse to live an Un-examined Life, the work itself is a Skinnerian Rat-Experiment. I heard somewhere that Nietzsche said that in certain special situation, the Urge to Work is a form of sickness. I am sure that many of these young men feel like being ‘sick’ while they pull themselves up for work in the morning. Add to this the daily commute in Calcutta – a brew of Middle Age Europe, Brownian Motion, Stoic Philosophy, Marxian motion of proletariat and extermination of traffic order, Neuro-Ambulatory advantage of honking, Traffic Policing in Post Modern Marxism.

I grew up in a quiant town in North East India but subscribed to many periodicals of Calcutta (late seveties) and read many translations of classics in Bengali. Most of the translations were excellent. Later I came to know that the translators were doing this as a hobby and not with the slightest aspiration of buying a posh flat in Calcutta’s gated communities. They did this because they loved it. They introduced me to Captain Nemo, Sherlock Holmes, Edmond Dantes, David Copperfield, Professor Moriarty, James Jeans, Neville Cardass and many others.

Without these Bengali translators of Calcutta, my Life would have been of such abject poverty that I would have remained as poor as a typical Cadre of Contemporary Calcutta even though the whole city would have been owned by me or my co-gangs in various forms.

What did these Bengalis get for their work ? A pittance as far as book sales are concerned because the typical Bengali publisher generally denies the author his/her due.

But they have the ever lasting gratitude of men and women of our generation. I more I grow my gratitude seems to increase for these people who made me unthinkably rich. Rich beyond any bania driven culture’s estimation of riches.

I thought of asking these busy, well-paid, well-dressed and apparently doing well gentlemen of Bengali origin : After thirty years, how many people are going to be in everlasting thankfulness to you for gifts you have given them ?

The answer, my friend is blowing in the Wind.

This blog has been contributed by Priram Bhattacharya. He runs his translation and communications company Wordsmith Communication and is a regular blogger anfd writes on his blog Wordsmith of Bengal.

Omar gets the shoe in Kashmir

2010-08-16T23:13:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

One of the best ways to express protest against politicians these days seems to be by throwing a shoe at them. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah became the latest victim in the shoe gate when constable Abdul Ahad Jan hurled his shoe at the CM. Omar had just finished unfurling the national flag and was in attention position as the National Anthem was being played. He now joins the elite club with former US President George Bush, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zadari.

In all these cases the shoe thrower have been hailed by the people who have had their recent against these leaders. Jan who is said to be a mentally disturbed cop as been hailed by people who have been agitating in the valley for over two months now. The protest which have claimed close t50 lives have exposed incompetence of the J&K government. Omar who does the most thankless job in the world (being J&K's CM) has been criticised for his actions or rather in-actions in the last few months.

For the protestors it is perhaps the best way to register their protest against the government but does very little to change governmental policies. Abdul Ahad Jan might have done personally done himself a lot of good but he has put a slap on Kasmi's face in front of the entire country. In the last two months Kashmir has been in the news for all the wrong reasons and this incident will do very little to get rid of the bad publicity.

These sort of incidents have no place in a democracy, if one still exists in Kashmir valley thanks to the two Ms militancy and military. The Kashmiri seperatists leaders might hail this act but this will hardly make any change in Kashmir. A few frontpage headlines will be published on the issues and it will find place in a few blogs of people like mine. Where is the achievement in all this?

One thing it will surely do is make the leaders more inaccessible to the ordinary Kashmiris. It is easy for the security forces to chek for bombs and grenades in such places than to judge the intent of a person to throw a shoe. It is high time people in Kashmir realise that they alone are responsible for how their community is looked at by the world. Weather they want to be looked as dwellers of a beautiful place of secessionists as many people drub then. The choice lies with Kashmiris

Interesting facts about Indian Independence Day

2010-08-15T07:34:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

15th August is an important day in the history of India. It was on this day that we bid adieu to our colonial masters the British after a rule which lasted for 190 years from the Battle of Palassy. It was on this day a new independent nation was born which would go on to become the largest democracy in the world. Here are few interesting facts that I discovered on the Internet from hours of surfing everyday

Why 15th August? Lord Mountbatten the last Viceroy and first Governor General of India wanted to show that he was in command and decide on the day India would gain independence. He chose the date August 15th as was the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied Forces.
We Share It – We are not the only one who celebrate out Independence day on 15th of August. We hare it with three other countries. South Korea won its independence from Japan on 15th August 1945, Bahrain from UK in 1971 and Republic of the Congo from France in 1960

Missing Person – The greatest irony of the 15th August 1947 celebration was the fact that Mahatma Gandhi one of the greatest architects of the Independence moments did not participate in the celebrations. He kept fast for the entire day and was busy dousing the flames of communal violence in Bengal between the Muslims and Hindus.

Tryst With Destiny - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous speech titled “Tryst with Destiny” towards midnight on 14th August 1947 to the Indian Constituent Assembly. He wasn’t technically the Prime Minister as it wasn’t yet 15th August.

Why Pakistan Was Born Before – Lord Mountbatten as the last Viceroy of undivided British India has to attend both the ceremonies in Karachi and New Delhi. To avoid a clash between the two Pakistan's independence day was celebrated on 14th August and thus every year Pakistan’s independence preceded that of India’s.

Colonial Hangover - Lord Mountbatten had ceased to be Viceroy of India. The Indian Constituent Assembly treated his arrival to that of a king. The Indian’s were still to get over from the colonial hangover. He was given the seat of honour, the President having vacated his in favour of the distinguished visitor.

Congress should stop defaming Narasimha Rao

2010-08-12T19:40:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Hear it from the horses mouth, Arjun Singh has finally broken his silence on the release of Union Carbide Chief Warren Anderson in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case 26 years ago. The wheelchair bound leader has blamed former Prime Minister and then Home Minister PV Narasimha Rao for helping Anderson feel India. Arjun Singh proved his loyalty to the Gandhi family by giving a clean chit to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Questions need to be asked on Arjun Singh's revelation. How was it that a Home Minister could take such a decision without the Prime Minister despite being a Gandhi had no say in it? According to Singh's claim Rajiv's immediate concern was about the compensation that the victims would get. Had the Prime Minister forgotten about a more fundamental thing called justice? What explains Rajiv's non-action in the entire issue?

Arjun Singh's revelation comes as no surprise as he has done everything to protect the interests of the Congress Party and more importantly the Gandhi family. Narasimha Rao has already been disowned by the Congress and it makes perfect sense for the leaders to make him a scapegoat on the issue. If sycophancy ever needs an example, Arjun Singh has given us a perfect one. His silence was better than his version of truth!

This is not the first time that the Congress has defamed PV Narasimha Rao. They had earlier put the entire blame of Babri Masjid demolition on the former leader. Rao is no longer alive to defend himself and it seems ideal for the Congress to pile all their wrong doing on his grave. Rajiv Gandhi in his capacity as the Prime Minister should have immediately resigned if his Home Minister had overtaken him in decision making.

It his high time that the Congress government stop defaming one of India's finest Prime Ministers. There has been a conspiracy to denounce all the economic development and growth in the Rao era from within the Congress. The reason is very simple no Gandhi can take credit in what happened during that period. So in the interest of the Congress and the larger interests of the Gandhi family it makes perfect sense for Arjun Singh to make such statements.

Politicians should not demoralise security forces

2010-08-10T23:22:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Mamata Banerjee at her rally in Lalgarh was bound to have some controversy and she did. The maverick leader from Bengal whose rally was attended by the Maoist sympathisers (PCPA) in huge numbers condemned "the manner" in which Maoist spokesperson Cherukiri Rajkumar, alias Azad, was "killed" in Andhra Pradesh last month. It seemed as if the Trinamool Congress leader was speaking on the same lines as the Left wing rebels who alleged that Azad was killed in cold blood.

Who was Azad? Was he a social worker working for the destitutes? Was he a spiritual leader, preaching peace? No, he was a hardcore Maoist leader who was trying to overthrow democray in India. The same democracy that gives people like Mamta a chance to speak their mind. In a Maoist India she would have been shot dead for making such a statement questioning the act of the government and the security forces in the country.

Social activist Swami Agnivesh might have been trying to act as a self styled peacemaker between the government and the Left wing extremists. He wasn't appointed by the government and thus the security forces were under no moral or combat obligation to not deal with Maoists (read anti-socials) like Azad. Maoists haven't announced any unilateral ceasefire for the government and the security forces to observe restrain.

These sort of political populism do one thing very well, they demoralise the security forces in the country. The men in khaki who are fighting in alien environment deserve some more support from the politicians in the country. Why did Mamata do this? Political mileage is the word and Mamata seems to have learnt the art to use it for her political gains. Her obsession to sit in Writers is making her forget the responsibility as a Union Cabinet Minister.

This is not the first time that the Trinamool chief has made such a statement. She had earlier raised questions about the Batla house encounter in Delhi where Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma has sacrificed his life fighting the terrorists. If that was to reach out to the minority community the fresh bid is to become popular in backward areas of Bengal where the Maoists are running the show. The same Mamata had once made the insane statement that there were no Maoists in Bengal.

Maoists guerrillas have been facing the music ever since Operation Green Hunt was launched. In their bid to create pressure the government to call it off they are trying every possible tr ick in the book. Mamata should understand her responsibility as a Union Minister and citizen of this country and should stop becoming a pawn in the hands of the Maoists She will not be able to run such political shows if India falls in the wicked hands of the Maoists.

The separatists do not want a Kashmir solution

2010-08-10T07:02:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Imagine this, the hardliners in Kashmir Valley want the Indian government to demilitarise the zone for peace in the valley. It is like asking fire tenders to quit the job when a building is burning. The recent spate of violence in the valley has polarised the people so much that an average Kashmiri youth is forced to believe that if Indian security forces quit the valley the entire place will become a heaven for peace.

The question however is why does India need to mobilise close to half of its active battle force alone in one state? Were Indian security forces always present in the valley in such heavy numbers? No, it was since the start of the armed separatist moment in the state in the 1980s that India mobilised so much of its security forces and turned it into a battle zone. What else could have a government done.

One of the major problem which prevents any solution to the Kashmir issue lies in the fact that the separatist leaders take their orders from across the border. As soon as Pakistan’s position falls weak on Kashmir, there are incidents of violence and a long propaganda that the ISI and the Pakistani government run. The ordinary Kashmiris are nothing but pawns in the hands of our western neighbours.

Pew Foundation an independent agency recently did an extensive survey on Kashmir and came out with some surprising results. A sizeable majority of Kashmiris want to become an independent nation whereas only 2% are interested in merging with Pakistan. This has come as a shock for the Pakistan backed jihadis and military commanders. This figure now questions Pakistan’s legitimacy to the Kashmir issue.

In such a scenario the best Pakistan and hardliners backed by it thought of instigating violence in the valley. It serves two purpose, shows India and the security forces in bad light and also gives Pakistan an issue to address the global leaders. The Pakistani administration is struggling hard to make the world believe that it is not a factory of terrorism for the world.

A lot of wealth in 2010 Commonwealth Games

2010-08-05T07:32:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Imagine this, the budget of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 has shot up by 1500 percent! Cost escalation and delay of projects is nothing new in India but the figure is of course good enough to scare the most inefficient and corrupt souls of the past. If this is not enough, new corruption deals are coming to light everyday. It shows how taxpayer’s money has landed in the pockets of a few in organizing the games.

How could such a blunder have happened in planning for the games which will test organizers and the people of Delhi in the days to come. It was with a huge sense of pride that India had welcomed the Commonwealth Games. It was a good chance to showcase that the once colonial nation had moved on to become one of the fastest growing economies of the world. It was a chance to show that to the erstwhile colonial masters among others.

Although culturally we have never looked as sports as a serious affair it has become a serious business in India. All our sports bodies are headed by a cartel of politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen. Where are our sports stars? Well they find their place in the back pages of the newspaper and listen to the dictation of these masters. The most famous sport in the country – cricket is a perfect example of this.

With close to 35000 crores involved in the games many things which are unimaginable in other countries are happening. Treadmills which cost Rs. 4 lakhs are being rented for Rs. 10 lakhs for 45 days. The cost of hiring a cab in London has gone up from £250 to £ 50 a day. All the contracts for the games seem to be landing at the door of the family and friends of the organizing committee.

In the summer of 2008, Beijing hosted the summer Olympics and showed to the world what was to come in this century. It was an event which had no precedent in the history although the western media was trying to highlight the flaws. The event showed China’s urge to announce that their time had come. Will the Common Wealth Games do anything similar for India? We should feel content if we can successfully pull the games off!

Why so much fuss about WikiLeaks report?

2010-07-28T07:35:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

This is touted at being one of the biggest war leaks in American history. There is huge furore in Washington and Islamabad over reports that ISI provided funds to Taliban to act against India. The report also rubbishes Pakistan’s stand against the good Taliban (which acts against India) and the bad Taliban (which carries out attacks on the American and NATO troops in the Pak-Afghan border.)

The massive 90000 page leak reveals the ISI had offered $15000 to the Taliban to kill some Indian contractor in Afghanistan. Other documents that have mentioned information regarding India and Pakistan, state that from the period of 2004 to 2007, it has been confirmed from the website that the ISI was under the command of the Pakistani army chief, General Parvez Ashfaq Kayyani.

The big question here is why is so much fuss being made around this? Is this something that people in Washington did not know about? The Indian government and people in India did not need any intelligence leak to know about these revelations. New Delhi has been constantly making appeals to Washington on the issue of ISI funding jihad and helping Al Qaeda and other terrors groups in the region.

An American Congressman said that “Pakistan is digging its grave by funding the Taliban” What is the United States doing in this? Helping Pakistan to dig this grave faster and better? It is no surprise that US funds are being used to plan 26/11 like attacks in India which are being fully supported by the Pakistani army and its rouge intelligence agency the ISI. Do these new stories surprise people in United States?

The reports also say that ISI had ordered an attack on the Indian embassy in Afghanistan. It is no surprise that America has been turning a blind eye to all this and waiting for an escape route out of Afghanistan. So why create so much fuss out of an open secret? It is high time the US realises that that anti Soviet campaign resulted in the birth of an Osama Bin Laden and the present campaign will be no different. Perhaps US will wake up after a second 9/11 style attack.

Kayani’s extension proves who calls shots in Pakistan

2010-07-24T08:13:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Democracy has one major fault line; it has too many protocols which prevents people from choosing the obvious. In feudal times peace negotiations would happen between real centres of power. In democracy however there are lot of rules and by rules to be followed which at times prevents people from taking a more practical decision. The Indo-Pak peace process is a major example to this theory.

In Pakistan General Ashfaq Kayani is the real power but the Indian leadership is forced to talk to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani due to our democratic protocol. These people hardly have any power other than acting as ceremonial leaders. In Pakistan the three centres of power are the military, terrorists and the radicals among which military is the only institutionalised centre of power.

In 1999, then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had made the famous bus trip to Lahore and signed the Lahore Declaration with Pakistani PM Nawaz Shariff. Pakistan replied India with Kargil in less than six months. It was a certificate on the theory that the civilian leadership in Pakistan is nothing more than the official seal. It doesn’t give orders to the army rather listens to it and at times takes call from it also.

Kayani who has taken the mantle of the army from Pervez Musharraf has forced the government to extend his term by another three years. This is quite ironic as in 2008 he had replaced Musharraf on the country wide pretext that the former President was turning into a dictator. History repeats itself in Pakistan, the only difference being that this time the decision has been endorsed by a civilian government (read under tremendous pressure). The reason Kayani’s leadership is important for the fight against terrorists!

The former director general of the dreaded ISI is not known to be too fond of India and New Delhi doesn’t like him either. His term extension has now become a worrying factor for the Indian leadership who want to start dialogue with Pakistan. It would be wise for the Indian leadership to talk to a man who holds power in Pakistan rather than to ceremonial heads it it wants to take the peace process forward.

Muralitharan finishes with just 800 wickets!

2010-07-23T08:14:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The title might seem insane for many as the Muralitharan Muttaiah the best off spinner that the game of cricket has perhaps seen will no longer be seen donning the whites for his country. Although 800 wickets is no mean achievement he could have easily gone to become the first bowler in the history of the game to grab 1000 wickets! His form and fitness seemed good enough for him to carry on for a few more years.

Murali had come to the Galle match needing 8 wickets to reach the milestone no cricketer had achieved in the 147 year old history of the Gentlemen’s Game. Most cricketers would not have the guts to announce retirement without reaching the milestone. But the magician from Sri Lanka knew he could grab 8 scalps against an Indian side who had played him relatively well and could have stopped him a single digit short of the achievement.

The first innings wicket of Sachin Tendulkar would be a moment for Murli to cherish as one of the best rivalries of the game came to an end with Murali having the last laugh. It would take decades for cricket fans to see such sights in the game again. Three Indian heads in the second innings wasn’t going to be tough for Murali but the cricket god was in no mood to deny one of his favourite sons the last laugh.

In what seemed a script straight out of a Bollywood movie, the off spin master had to wait for the last Indian wicket in the second innings to achieve this feat. When the last Indian wicket of Pragyan Ojha fell even the Indian fans seemed happy after all it was a deserved achievement for the man who had made cricket a better game facing all odds. His career could have easily ended in 1994 when Darrel Hair called him for chucking had it not been for then Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranutanga.

With Murali a era in spin bowling comes to an end with Shane Warne and Anil Kumble already hung their boots. Murali will be always remembered as a true gentleman in the game which doesn’t see too many of them anymore. He was one of the best ambassadors of the game his generation. To break his record in the future a bowler would not just need great bowling skills but a lion’s hear. Adieu Murali!

Are we expecting too much from Pakistan?

2010-07-22T06:20:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

There has been huge hue and cry over the relative failure of India-Pakistan foreign ministers’ talks. This after Pakistani side wriggled out of the talks after India disclosed of the David Coleman Headle’s link with the Pakistani intelligence service the ISI. The Pakistani side which had been lying low due to the US pressure suddenly got a shot in the arm to make a mockery out of the talks. This left our foreign minister SM Krishna dejected who had gone to Islamabad with high hopes and huge promises.

The big question that arises here aren’t we expecting too much from Pakistan? Did people in the Indian intelligence and security agencies expect Pakistan to own up the link? The government has been sending multiple dossier to Pakistan relating to the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai but has Pakistan acted? Or rather do we expect the Pakistani establishment to act tough with the perpetrators of terror? The answer is known to most people around the world but as far as official records are concerned we are not willing to accept the obvious.

Most people in India have believed that Kashmir is the bone of contention between the two nations. But the main problem lies in the political and military culture that has developed in the two nations over the last 63 years since independence and subsequent partition. While India developed into a well functioning democracy (at least on papers), Pakistan is yet to come to term with itself. It is neither a democracy, nor a military ruled state which faces the fear of being run over by militants. In this situation we should not be singing the tunes of diplomacy with Pakistan.

While India is striving towards becoming one of the largest economies in the world, Pakistan is trying hard to hold a nation together. The Frankenstein monster that it had created to wage a proxy war against India is slowly biting it on its head. There is complete lawlessness in the tribal areas of the north and demand for independence in the Balochistan region. In such situations the military and the intelligence are left loose. The result is a Mumbai attack which most likely was backed by the ISI. But the Indian side shouldn’t expect any strong actions by the government on ISI.

Waging a proxy war against India is not just a mania but a need for Pakistan. It allows it to divert attention from its own domestic affairs where people from Punjab, Sindhi, Balochistan and northern tribal areas have enough differences between them to be a one nation. In such a situation a proxy war is the only solution for Pakistan to preserve its integrity. In such situations should we expect the Pakistani side to take concrete steps against an agency which holds the grip over integrity of the nation?

Do we need a Railway Minister?

2010-07-21T00:14:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The latest of the train tragedy involving Uttarbanga Express and Vananchal Express at Sainthia station has some of the common things associated with every railway accident in India. The opposition calling for the head of the Railway Minister, high profile visits to the site, promise of compensation (which doesn’t reach 90% of the people) and the usual setting up of the enquiry commission by the railways whose report will lie in some corner of one of the zonal headquarter of the Indian Railways.

The worst among all these is the mud slinging that politicians resort to in the hour of human crisis. This has been true cutting across party lines on whoever has been in power and opposition. Ram Vilas Paswan asked Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to choose between Railways and West Bengal. BJP demanded for her resignation and the Congress just condoled the death of the victims trying its best not to anger one of its maverick allies. Such political flings in such tragic situations bring shame to everybody except our politicians.

The Railway Ministry is one of the cream portfolios in the Union Cabinet. It is more preferred by politicians of the backward states. It is no wonder that in the last 20 years barring a brief period of C. K. Jaffer Sheriff the ministry has been in the hands of Bihar politicians and Mamata Banerjee from West Bengal. It is the instrument to bring in cheer from the poor when their leaders have very little to offer on other parameters on the development index. Populist railway budgets have been common with Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav linking the village of his wife through the railways!

This brings us to the big question do we need a Railway Minister? Is a minister is so important to running the Indian Railways? It is a well known fact that no minister is directly involved with the functioning of the railways. It is the bureaucrats along with the employees of the railways who keep the system running. The Railway Minister is honorary head one of the side effects of our red tapism and socialistic growth in the first 40 years of our independence.

The Railway portfolio has become a victim of poor polity in our country. The politicians have more of vote banks to think of than development when it comes to running the Railways. The ministry can instead be run by a board which is nominated by the government and has retired people from the Railways. These people will have more knowledge about the system than a Mamata Banerjee, Ram Vilas Paswan or a Lalu Prasad Yadav does. In situations of crisis there will be less mud slinging and more of rescue operations.

If only we could have it this way, the railways would have been saved the ordeal of having turned into a political football.

Will Unified Command be able to tackle Maoist?

2010-07-15T07:05:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The Central Government has finally waken up to the growing problem of Naxals and proposed the setting up of a Unified Command to tackle the problem. Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal which have been the worst affected by Maoist violence, have been asked to set up a Unified Command. Its main aim will be to share intelligence and handle the Naxal problem as a single force. This Command will be headed by Chief Secretaries of the four states.

On paper this looks like a great decision to bring the state police, central forces and paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies under one command. A retired Major General will be a part of this Command structure to look into its functioning. The states will appoint an officer of the rank of Inspector General for the Command. But the bigger question is will such a structure work effectively?

The absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee from this high level meeting shows that not all political leaders and parties are on the same platform and frequency when it comes to tackling the Maoists. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wants to fight Naxalism with development while his Chattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh believes there is no alternative to armed response. Will a United Command work if we do not have a united polity?

The problem in dealing with the Naxals so far has been the fact that different states have had different approach when it comes to dealing with them. While some believed in using forces others wanted to invite them for talks. This gave Naxals a free haven where they would conduct operations in one state and than slip into another thus making a mockery of the security forces in the country. It is no irony that the security forces in the Naxal affected areas have hardly achieved any success.

Bulk of the security forces in the Unified Command will come from the State police forces which will be controlled by the state governments. The problem is to make all of them work like a single machine. The Centre’s role will be to oversee the operations as our federal structure provides very little playing ground to the Centre in such situations unless it takes control over the State with President’s Rule. Can it make the different states fight as a cohesive unit? This question will only be answered in the coming days.

Is Pakistan fuelling Kashmir’s violence?

2010-07-07T07:54:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Stone pelting civilians, Kalashnikov carrying security forces and complete breakdown of law and order. After years of simmering Kashmir valley seems to be burning again. Ironically all this in a year when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had declared 2010 to be a year for tourism in the scenic valley about which the great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had once said “Agar Firdous Bar Roi Zamanast Tho, Haminasto, Haminasto, Haminasto" (If there is ever a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here).

It is a well known fact that nothing happens in the valley without political and diplomatic interest. The question is who the biggest gainer in all this is? Pakistan seems the obvious answer. Imagine this Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haidar Khan has asked Pakistan to de-link Kashmir issue from the peace talks with India as he believes Pakistan doesn’t have much bargaining powers at present due to the international pressure. A violent valley gives Pakistan a chance to blame India of atrocities.

Years of cross border terrorism have given Pakistan very little gains as far as diplomatic victories are concerned. Post 9/11 the global perception on terrorism has changed and Pakistan finds itself isolated on the Kashmir issue. It’s biggest supporter America doesn’t give much weightage to the Kashmir issue owing to its covert support to Taliban and better economic ties with India. America cannot afford to upset India anymore due to economic pressures with a crumbling economy back home with many signalling it will soon cease to be the biggest economy in the world.

On one hand the terror outfits in the valley are keeping the security forces busy on the border districts and on the other the people of the valley are being incited to violence. Stone pelting seems to have become the latest weapon among the hardliners to fight the Indian establishment. The J&K government seems to be loosing its grip completely over the Kashmir valley and Omar Abdullah doesn’t symbolise a chief minister in control.

In the last decade several peace initiatives starting from the Vajpayee era had brought down the violence in the valley. The Army had moved to the borders and the paramilitary forces and police taken control of the valley. All this seems to be crumbling like a pack of cards in the last 12 months. It is high time India starts talking hard with Pakistan and makes the international community do the same. Considering the economic interest America and the European Union has in India this isn’t impossible. A few measures in the valley won’t yield results unless Pakistan has been taken care of.

Stop playing populism with the economy

2010-06-30T07:19:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Populism sells in Indian politics more than anything and when a government takes a decision based on logic it has to face serious opposition. The recent decision of the centre to increase the prices of fuel has met with severe opposition from all the opposition parties. There has also been some hushed protest from some within the UPA ranks with Mamata Banerjee not attending the crucial cabinet meeting in which this decision was taken. She has clearly set her eyes on the assembly elections is West Bengal.

The opposition parties are claiming that with this hike the ‘aam aadmi’ will be hit badly. This coming at a time when the inflation is already soaring at 15-17% and expected to deliver a killing blow to the ‘aam aadmi.’ Any increase in the price of an essential commodity hits the dometic budget but wasn’t this hike necessary? It is another fact that this ‘aam aadmi’ seems to include CEOs, Sarkai Babus, middle level executives and businessmen who drive their sedan everyday.

These parties are now planning for a nation wide agitation on the issues which aren’t expected to lead to any results other than a show of strength. A day of work will be lost especially in states like West Bengal which is already famous for its poor productivity. The government is firm on the decision and sees no logic in rolling back the hike that has snowballed into a major issue cutting across political circles.

What would have the BJP done if it was in power? It acted like no saint when it came to fuel price hike during its rule. So why is it opposing this move just for the sake of opposition. The Left parties always seem to have a problem with any economic reforms. What have they done for the ‘aam aadmi’ in a state they have ruled for more than three decades? Is the condition of the poor in West Bengal better than the country? It is worst on the contrary due to the policies of stagnation of the Left.

If parties like the Left, BSP and BJP feel that the prices of the fuel will hit the aam aadmi they can reduce the state sales tax on fuel in the states that they rule. Every litre of petrol and diesel has a tax component which is close to 50% of the price divided almost equally among the centre and the state governments. Is the opposition bold enough to do this in the states that they rule? Why not show the Congress and the UPA rather than taking the strike to the streets and making the lives of ‘aam aadmi’ into hell.

Even if this hike makes one percent of car owners shun their vehicles and opt for public transport it will do a lot of good to the nation. We in India have to start living with the fact that we do not produce all our fuel requirements and depend on imports. The prices in the international market keep on fluctuating from time to time and we should not be expecting the government to spoon feed us for ever.

English team has more rockstars than footballers

2010-06-28T07:15:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Clueless is perhaps the only word that could have defined the English football team as they took on Germany in the pre quarterfinal stage in the World Cup. Their movements on the field were disastrous as they went down to Germany 1-4 making another early exit from the world cup. This is nothing new for the English fans as they are used to seeing this every four years. The English football comes with a rockstar image to every World Cup and the story remains the same.

The English team did not have history on their side and neither did they have the form. England had last defeated Germany (West Germany) in the 1966 World Cup. Lot of water has flown down the Rhine and the Thames since then but little has changed in the last five decades. England has become the epicentre of football in the world but it has meant little good to its own national side. Every English footballer is a potential rockstar but seem to lack skills when it comes to football at the highest level.

In each and every World Cup the English team has the maximum buzz around it. Whose wife or girl friend would be accompanying him? Who is sporting the trendiest hairstyle? When other teams talk football, the talk around the English footballer is on their looks rather than their football skills. These impacts the players also who think themselves to be demi gods on the field. The moment England comes against one strong contender in the World Cup the end result is well known.

One of the main reasons which caused England’s defeat was their club football structure which leaves little energy in the players to play in such tournaments. Fabio Capello acknowledged this fact and said that his players seemed tired. Wayne Rooney came to this World Cup being touted as one of the best strikers to look for in South Africa. His performance was anything but dismal as he failed to open his account making him perhaps the most overrated player in the tournament.

The English fans and the team should perhaps re-strategise their entire approach to such major events and not blow the trumpet too loud. It is perhaps better to lie low and kill the giants whenever they are pitted against them. This rockstar lifestyle and football skills hasn’t’ worked for them and they need to realise this before the 2012 Euro Cup and the 2014 World Cup if they do not wish to make such shameful exits from major tournaments.

Will Afzal Guru escape death on President’s mercy?

2010-06-25T06:53:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

There is a notion that the poor in India do not get justice. But law of the land is such that even the high profile criminals escape punishment. The law in India awards Capital Punishment but in reality only one death sentence has been carried out since 1995. Dhananjoy Chatterjee is the only person who has faced the gallows in the last 15 years. This perhaps because the rape convict had no political backing. Even Rajiv Gandhi’s murderers have escaped death using President’s mercy.

The latest two cases in news being that have been in news have been that of Mohammad Afzal Guru was convicted of conspiracy in connection with the 2001 Indian Parliament attack Ajmal Kasab was found guilty of numerous charges in the Mumbai carnage. Ajmal has decided to approach the Supreme Court while Afzal’s wife has appealed for mercy from the President of India.

The government has opposed the mercy petition for Afzal Guru and asked the President to carry out the death sentence. Centre is now wary of whether President Pratibha Patil will accept its recommendation to carry out the death sentence of the Parliament attack convict. The President is however opposed to the sentence due to her personal belief and the Jaish-e-Mohammad might just escape the gallows due to this.

The Congress is always believed to be against carrying out this death sentence to keep it’s vote bank intact. The case of Ajmal Kasab has however put the government in a situation where it has been forced to call for Afzal’s death sentence. But people waiting to see him stand on the gallows might face disappointment as the President is thinking otherwise. Many people now feel it is a trick by the Congress to both eat the cake as well as have it. President Pratibha Patil was herself a Congress leader and all political appointees in President’s chair have known to protect the interest of their own parties.

The bigger question here is what will be the outcome of President’s mercy if she has it her own way? Will this do good to the morale of the armed forces in the country who laid down their lives defending the parliament? Will their families get justice in the end? Whose interest is dearer to our President the people who enforce the law and sacrifice their lives or those who break it? Can a President’s personal belief be more important than that of the belief of the people of the nation?

Birthday wishes and more…

2010-06-24T07:48:00.003+05:30

By: Reetasri Bhattacharjee

“Many more happy returns of the day”, so read in the front page of a leading newspaper on 19th June, 2010. Here the noteworthy thing, apart from the birthday wish is the date. Not many of the younger generation would know that this is the date when Rahul Gandhi, the Prince of India celebrates his birthday. The fact that I am stating him as the Prince of India is simple. He is the heir apparent of Congress and thus also the Prime Ministers’ throne, the illustrious MP from Amethi and the General Secretary of the mighty Congress. All this roles when capped by the same person he is surely nothing else than a Prince, isn’t it?

Anyway, moving ahead, he celebrates his birthday on one of the 365 days of the year, like all of us do. True he is the “rather cool” MP of the recent times and an hot favourite of the youth, but does it justify the fact that birthday wishes are expressed to him on a quarter of a front page ad given by another member of the Congress. It can be understood when we wish people like Mahatma Gandhi in this manner, but I want to know, what has this Gandhi done to get to much respect. Does the fact that he once traveled on trains to understand the plight of the passenger or that he ate in a Dalit's house make him MAHAN?

Did that Congress Committee member from the state of Tamil Nadu really want to wish Rahul Gandhi or did he want to show to the world that he has the money to flaunt and spend on an absolutely unnecessary ad. I am sure if he could have used that amount (which no doubt runs to lakhs) in a much better manner. And even if that money belongs to the Congress, there are much better ways to utilize them. An ad of such a thing is simply ridiculous.

Not only should the advertiser be blamed in this case, but the media too. It is well known today that newspapers really have to struggle to generate revenue but does it justify them publishing such ads. It is important here to mention that on the same day in the same paper two more such wishes came as ads. All the ads were by some Congress member and in colour too!! The amount of money that was spent on wishing this person! (Imagine what was spent on his celebrations??!!)

As I end, another question enters my mind. Is the situation inside Congress so bad that their own members need to wish their leader through a national newspaper? Couldn’t they do the same personally through a telephone, mail?? Strange are the way things work in this country….

This blog has been contributed by Reetasri Bhattacharjee a dear friend of mine. She is a regular blogger on blogspot and maintains the blog My Passing Moments

Narendra Modi’s Bihar sojourn was ill conceived

2010-06-23T07:52:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Narendra Modi may be India’s most development oriented Chief Minister but there are a few takers for him outside the state of Gujarat. His recent overt exercise of friendship with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has almost brought the JD(U)-BJP marriage to a divorce. Nitish Kumar who wasn’t to happy to see his ally at home turned down a dinner invite causing much embarrassment to the BJP. Now the saffron brigade has decided to keep Narendra Modi and maverick Varun Gandhi off Bihar to keep ties intact with JD(U).

Although BJP wants Narendra Modi to take the lead with many even calling him the future Prime Ministerial candidate he has very few admirers among the political class outside Gujarat. The ghost of Godhra doesn’t seem to leave him even though his performance as an administrator has no matches in contemporary Indian politics. Modi isn’t corrupt, doesn’t encourage bad advisors around him and can bring in investment which would be more than investments of states like West Bengal in a decade. But the communal violence of 2002 riots seems to diminish all achievements of this man.

The latest move of campaigning in Bihar was an ill conceived one. The planners didn’t realise the fallout of their actions and led it to mess. Bihar is no Gujarat and has a substantial Muslim population and bringing in Modi was not a sane decision keeping in mind the coalition government that BJP and JD(U) run. Nitish Kumar on his part has done a lot of developmental work and Bihar’s growth rate has seen an unprecedented high in the last five years. He is in no mood to commit suicide and give Lalu Prasad Yadav and his brigade a non-issue to take his government on.

BJP top brass should realise that Bihar is no state where elections are fought on developmental issues. It is cast and religion which declares winners in Bihar bringing in Modi was a huge risk which the JD(U) didn’t want to take. It has laid a perfect platform to return to power in the next assembly elections unless it commits a political blunder in the state. Modi and Varun Gandhi might be the hardliner leaders admired by the RSS but in states like Bihar with sizable minority population they aren’t the best cards for coalition politics.

Will India ever play in a Soccer Wold Cup?

2010-06-20T00:36:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

As the football fever grips the entire world, India isn’t aloof to it. The world’s biggest sporting event after the Olympics has the country completely painted in yellow, blue, red and possibly every colour in the spectrum. From Brazil to Argentina and Germany to England all these countries have their huge fan base following action following each and every moment of the action. We have a huge advantage following this event as there are no chances of heartbreaks.

Being in Calcutta, one of Indian football’s hubs gives the true picture of football worship in India. The city is all covered in blue and yellow as the city has been known to be worshippers of Latin American giants Brazil and Argentina. Calcutta’s favourite son Sourav Ganguly aka Dada seem to struggling with TRP ratings as Brazilian Kaka is the talk of the town.

The situation is such that suddenly the Indian sports lovers have shut their ears on the IPL controversy and the ongoing Asia Cup in which MS Dhoni and his men are sweating it out doesn’t seem there are too many eyeballs in India for them. Wonder if our cricketers are used to this? But a bigger question that continues to haunt is whether we will ever be able to cheer for our own team? Will we ever hear the Indian anthem as the FIFA World Cup?

Our dismal FIFA ranking of 133 doesn’t seem to be an encouraging sign for even the die hard Indian football fans. Still this is a remarkable improvement from the 166 we were about two years ago. This improvement is however nowhere close to getting us a World Cup berth. The competition gets tougher for India considering only four slots to the Asian countries which also includes Australia. This is far less compared to Europe which has 13 slots although European and Asian football aren’t comparable.

Many Indian fans may not be aware that India had almost made it to a World Cup. History has it that India has qualified for thev1950 World Cup. Four countries from Asia were invited to participate in the qualifiers. Burma, Philippines and Indonesia all withdrew, so India qualified automatically. India was placed in Group 3 with Sweden, Italy, and Paraguay. But their request to play barefoot was turned down by FIFA and they withdrew!

It is also quite well know FIFA is also desperate to get India into the event considering the huge support base it has and considering the fact that it is a rising super power having India out of the race is not in the commercial interest of football. The money involved in the IPL has shown how big a sporting market India can be. Along with China it holds one third of theoretical television audience in the world a fact which is hard to ignore.

What is India’s chance of qualifying for the event? Considering the playing standards quite bleak! But India can bid for the 2026 or 2030 World Cups as the bit for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 events has already been sealed. This will make India automatically qualify as South Africa did this season. For that to happen India has to host a few global sporting events. The coming Commonwealth Games will be a test and India is also planning to bid for the 2020 Olympics.

It might seem a distant dream but in 2026 and 2030 India will definitely be a global power to reckon with. Who knows our football standards might also improve by then if we could make the I League more competitive by involving more foreign players. A few years back nobody would have backed us at having a F1 driver by Narain Karthikeyan did something against the odds. India may one day realise it’s biggest football dream.

BJP on a reuniting spree

2010-06-17T07:01:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The Bharatiya Janata Party is on a reuniting spree and if speculations are to be believed after Jaswant Singh it is the turn of estranged leader Uma Bharti to return to the party. The former firebrand leader was recently seen travelling in the same plane with L K Advani, former party chief Rajnath Singh and party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad to attend the last rites of Chief Minister Raman Singh’s father, who passed away recently.

The only problem with Uma’s return is the Madhya Pradesh BJP leaders who do not have happy memories of Uma who ruled with an iron hand when she was in charge of the party. Uma’s homecoming might also pose problems to MP Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who has been in charge of the state ever since Uma Bharti left the party and floated Bharatiya Janashakti Party.

The larger picture however is that BJP is trying it’s best to build the party and fortify it’s walls. It had once been the most powerful party in the country. The recent support for Ram Jethmalani was another example of it reaching out to the ex-collegues. The ex Law Minister had been once very close to the leaders of the party and the fallout had been such that he fought a Lok Sabha election against former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

These are giant moves by the BJP which has been on a constant decline ever since the defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. The party has however taken some giant steps ever since Nitin Gadkari took over as the President. He has been trying to reach to all the leaders who had left the party due to personal differences with some colleagues. This as a counter measure to the growing popularity of the Congress which a decade back had looked on the verge of collapse.

If the BJP can pull off the return of Uma Bharti well it will be a huge achievement for the party as she is a mass leader and can bring in the votes when it matters. As for Jaswant Singh, people like him bring in moderate face to the BJP and acceptability among the general masses. BJP as a formidable opposition will always be an option against the Congress paving the way for better governance in the country.

Delhi should have acted on Manipur crisis earlier

2010-06-16T06:36:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Manipur is no stranger to blockade of the highway but the last two months have quite a nightmare for the state. The economic blockade called on by the Naga students pushed Manipur to the verge of breakdown with stocks of all essentials commodities, including baby food and life saving drugs, almost drying up. It is no surprise that this agitation was supported by the militants of the NSCN (IM) which ensured that no one had the courage to defy the diktat which lasted for more than two months.

The problem had started after NSCN IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah wasn’t allowed to visit his native village by the Manipur government led by. There was clash between the protesting Nagas and the security forces in Manipur which had led to the killing of a few people at Mao gate which stands between Nagaland and Manipur. Muivah was barred from entering his native villages as he has been demanding the integration of all Naga dominated in the North Easr into the autonomous Nagalim. This includes parts of Manipur including his village.

With Manipur on the verge of collapse, New Delhi felt it wasn’t time to play safe anymore and decided to send in troops to clear NH 39 which was ceased by the Naga organizations. Fearing counter strike by the security forces these organizations have called off their agitation and lifted the blockade from the highway. New Delhi which is engaged in peace talks with the Naga rebels was playing safe all these days and never had showed signs of using forces against the Naga rebels and the student organization.

The question that comes to the mind is why New Delhi didn’t take such a call earlier which would have not forced Manipur into this crisis. The state has every right to protect its territorial integrity under no pressure to allow a terrorist to visit his village. The Centre should have firmly stood by Manipur on the issue and not bowed down to the demand of the terrorists for over two months. Peace talks with the NSCN IM cannot come at the cost of hunger in Manipur. The Centre has equal responsibility towards Manipur and should have sent in troops earlier.

The Naga Students Organisation and other people who had supported this agitation should realise that they are also a land locked state and a similar kind of agitation in Assam could bring them down on their knees. With Nagaland not even producing enough food to support itself such groups shouldn’t be indulging in such brand of pressure politics. They can become even worst victims of this if organisations in Assam call for a similar blockade.

It’s all wrong with the ball

2010-06-15T06:39:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The first week into the FIFA World Cup has seen a few upsets and a few controversies. The biggest controversy is however with the official ball of the tournament. Adidas Jabulani ball is being touted as the enemy of keepers in the World Cup. If this statement needed any example the England versus USA match saw English goalkeeper Robert Green make a mess of a shot in his hand conceding a goal and the match ending in a 1-1 draw.

Adidas on its part has denied these allegations and said that ball was a result of long research and behaved perfectly. The 440-gram Jabulani, derives it’s name from Zulu language in which it means “to rejoice’” It is ironical that most of the teams around the world are doing anything but rejoicing the ball.The company also claimed that it was the roundest and the most perfect ball ever built in the history of the game.

Adidas has been making the World Cup ball since Mexico hosted the event in 1970. Jabulani is the first ball for the tournament to be molded of eight “thermally bonded 3D panels, creating a perfect sphere, replacing previous models with flat panels, according to FIFA’s website. The ball has an aerodynamic profile enhancing control and stabilizing flight, it said. The company is also claiming that all participating teams had approved the new ball in February.

But the fact remains that players from around the world especially the goalkeepers have been complaining about the ball. The argument is that they are finding it difficult to judge the bounce and swing of the ball and thus unable to hold onto it. The situation is so bad that one team has even started practicing rugby ball to prepare themselves for the unpredictable Jabulani. The ball is now being touted as a match changing factor in this World Cup.

One thing is for sure that the ball doesn’t give advantage to any team. Logically it still remains a fair game as both the teams will be using the same ball. The problem is that even the strikers are finding it difficult to judge the speed and swing of the ball. The only thing that the fans from around the world should hope for is that the ball doesn’t become a deciding factor in any match.

Did Arjun Singh betray India?

2010-06-11T06:54:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

If you thought the only controversial issue that former Human Resource Development minister Arjun Singh was 27% reservation for the so called ‘backward classes’ you are wrong. If what history tells us is true the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh allowed Union Carbide Corporation chairman Warren Anderson to use a state plan to escape India. This just one day after the poisonous methyl iso cyanide gas from the Union Carbide plant leaked and killed estimated 15000 people in Bhopal.

The recent accounts from the pilot of the plane tell that the orders to fly out Warren Anderson had come straight from the Chief Minister. Anderson flew straight to Delhi, met President Zail Singh and flew out of India never to return again. Twenty five years on the victims are yet to get adequate compensation and justice. It has been proven that adequate safety measures were not implemented in the Union Carbide plant which let to the tragedy. US government on it’s part has shielded Anderson as much as it could in the last 25 years.

Arjun Singh only has silence to offer to the nation and refuses to speak on the issue. It is ironical that in this country terrorists and politicians have the choices to remain silent whenever they want. We had seen this earlier with the Mumbai carnage accused Ajmal Kasab and we are seeing it now with Arjun Singh who is keeping mum on the issue and causing huge embarrassment his party which is trying to put all the blame in his shoulder.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said that it was completely State Government’s fault to allow Anderson to go out of India. He added that the centre could have done nothing. Is that some kind of joke that we are supposed to believe in? Did he not hop at Delhi while flying back to US? Didn’t he meet President Zail Singh? Did the Centre not have any information on the most wanted man in India on that day? Digvijaya Singh might believe his argument but the entire country won’t.

Arjun Singh needs to speak up and reveal his motive behind letting a criminal walk away using the State’s resource. The Congress high command has to take collective responsibility of the incident as they were in power both in Bhopal and New Delhi. It is high time that some government machineries show accountability towards the nation.

The writing on the wall is clear for Left

2010-06-06T08:25:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Remember the song ‘Winds of change’ by the German band Scorpions. It had become the popular anthem for German reunification in the early 1990s. It may not be too far away that composers in Bengal might be geared up to produce such a song. Although no reunification is in store for state, a political change definitely seems to be on the cards. The Left Fort is showing sings of cracks which are beyond repairs and the state could soon be painted green after the Assembly polls in 2011. It is no longer ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’ for the Trinamool Congress but ‘Ma, Mati, Manush and Mamata’ for the state.

Bengal finally seems to have had too much of Left for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the last three decades and wants a change in menu. Idealism never seems to feed the Bengali stomach and they want growth and the anti-Left lobby finally seems to seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Left ruled with an iron fist and shattered the hopes of everyone who thought they could be defeated. Years of power made it corrupt and years of defeat made the opposition loose confidence. BJP never existed in Bengal, the Congress surrendered but it was the grit of one lady whom many term insane believed in the impossible.

There was always an anti-Left vote in Bengal but it was never confident and never organised. These people boycotted polls at an individual level as they election results in Bengal were not worth betting. All it needed was a trigger for these people to come together under one banner and take on the Left. Nandigram and Singur proved to be catalyst and the results are here for everyone to see. It now seems Left had crumbled from inside long ago but the absence of a strong opposition gave it the power to rule the state over and over again.

Some staunch Left supporters dismissed their defeat in the 2008 Panchayat elections saying it was village issues which cost them power. It 2009 Lok Sabha polls they blamed the national wave for UPA as the reason for their defeat. In 2010 they say people voted for candidates in the civic body rather than the parties they represented. What would they say for 2011 elections? What other issues will people vote for? The writing on the wall is clear for the Left, only the leaders and their staunch supporters need to sense it. It is quite another thing to close the eyes and feel the world outside is dark.

Left supporters blame Mamata, calling her insane and blaming her for what happened in Singur. True this was one of the episodes which TMC should be apologetic about but this brand of politics of bandhs, gheraos and bringing industries to a halt had been mastered by the left for ages. In Singur, Mamata seemed more like the Left than the Left themselves. It is no point having a prejudice against Mamata even before voting her to power. If she fails to perform as a Chief Minister, people will have the opportunity to fall upon the Left again but somewhere a single party rule has to end.

When will Pakistan learn its lesson?

2010-06-01T07:49:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Terrorism has become a synonym for daily life in Pakistan. Just says after people belonging to the minority sect were killed, a group of terrorists disguised as policemen stormed the Jinnah Hospital in the heart of Lahore late on Monday night killing 12 people and injuring 10 others. The attack was reportedly a bid to free a terrorist, Amir Muavia, captured in an injured condition during an attack on a mosque in the city last week. This is not an isolated incident but something which has become a part of daily life in Pakistan.

Many in India have regularly tried to show their solidarity with the people of Pakistan when such incidents have happened. But our western neighbours seem in no mood to reciprocate with our good gestures. They gave birth and nurtured these terrorists and seemed to be burning as the illegitimate child has gone out of hands. Terrorists no longer take orders from the Pakistani government; the ISI and the Pakistani Army in fact have regularly locked horns with Pakistan’s security forces. Suicide bombing and blowing up military installation has become a norm in Pakistan.

Recently the arrest of a Pakistani in US for the alleged involvement in Times Square bombing has raised serious questions. The educated society in Pakistan wasn’t expected to behave the same as indoctrinated terrorists but that seemed to have exactly happened. It is no wonder that the US warned Pakistan of direct strikes within its territory if the roots of any attack in the US are traced back to Pakistan. The accused was the son of a high ranking military official in Pakistan.

The government in Pakistan may turn this accused a ‘non-sate actor’ as it had claimed when Ajmal Kasab was captured alive in India. But Pakistan as a society has to take responsibility of such events. What is it that goes inside the mind of an average Pakistani? Is it to kill everyone in the world who isn’t a Pakistani and follow Islam? The sad part is this is the exact picture that the entire world is seeing about a country which is both a perpetrator as well as a victim of terrorism.

Maoist say sorry for train attack!

2010-05-31T22:45:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

It is not just the politicians in India who change colour in India, the Maoists is nor far behind. Days after it has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Gyaneswari Express Maoist leader Bapi Mahto said that his party was sorry for the attacks in which close to 150 people lost their lives. He said that they wanted to target the goods train that was coming on the adjacent track but were misinformed which has resulted in the loss of so many human lives.

Are they really feeling guilty for their act? Certainly not. The kind of anger that the people in this country now have against them after they targeted the civilians has left the Maoist worried. Also the fact that their supporters in the civil society haven’t suddenly don’t have any words to defend the so called ‘misguided youth’ is worrying the Maoists. It just wants to create a scenario for the Arundhuti Roys to fight its case in the Television studio and make the world believe that these people are fighting for the rights of the adivasis.

There have been call by some Human Rights activists to call off Operation Green Hunt and after this incident there is very little that these groups can do about calling for a ban on such operations. With the centre thinking about deploying the army in the Maoists controlled territories the Red finally seem to fear of a stronger and lethal response from the centre. All this has meant that they want to use some diversionary tactics which helps them gain some public sympathy. They have even promised not to target the railways again.

The fact is straight, in case the army is deployed in these areas the Maoists are also likely to suffer huge damages which they have escaped at the hands of the para military forces. All men fear for their lives and so do the Maoists. This fear is making them make such statements to delay the government in taking strong measures against them. If the army is given the go ahead in the operation Maoists will see their worst dream come true.

Should we fall for such a lie from these men who are ruthless and merciless when it comes to killing people? Why is it that none of the Maoist sympathisers have come out in open and criticised the incident? The government should make its stand stronger in defeating these criminals who do not want development in these areas as this is the soul cause of their existence. They are the biggest hurdle to any developmental activities in the areas dominated by them. There is no reason for them to survive in a developed Red Corridor.

Mother of all civic elections in Bengal!

2010-05-30T09:52:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Nowhere in the country perhaps has a civic election aroused so much interest as it is happening with the case of West Bengal this time. As many as 81 civic bodies across the state are going to the polls today to decide the next course of politics in the State. Never has New Delhi looked so interest in any civic elections in the country in the recent years and never has any civic election made so much buzz in the Parliament. It is the Left Front’s biggest litmus test as it takes on the Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress and the Congress although the two main opposition parties have decided not to sail on the same boat.

An outsider might wonder what is so much to do with a civic election which is being termed as a virtual semi-final of the assembly polls stated for 2011. True, by normal conviction but the fact is never have elections been as interesting in Bengal. The result was always known for the past three decades where the Left front would emerge victorious. The only thing probably to bet on was whether they would get a two-third majority or do a clean sweep. To put in to perspective, Bengal elections had very little TRP value and the political pundits always go their predictions correct or probably there was no need to predict.

It all changed in May 2009 when the TMC-Congress combine sent a shocker to the Left winning more seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Bengal suddenly seemed to have opposed to having a Left Hand Drive in their cars. The Red Fort showed signs of decay and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee seemed to symbolise Mikhail Gorbachobe of India. The invinsibles had been defeated and the inevitable achieved. Mamata Banerjee who was just another politician in Bengal suddenly became the crusader of the Left in India. Since then even a small university election in Bengal has aroused interest.

In the run up to the civic polls Mamata Banerjee played a smart card with her alliance partners Congress forcing them to fall for her bargain or quit the alliance. The grand old party of India decided to opt for the latter option. This gives Mamata a chance to test her own strength before the Assembly elections. If she emerges victorious the Congress will have no options but to listen to her dicktats in the Assembly polls, In case she fails she will kiss and make up with the Congress. As for the Congress it still hasn’t completely closed doors on the Left in the background and might have the last laugh over Mamata.

The Left front on its part is trying hard to keep it’s fort intact and this election has become a pride issue for them. They are trying too hard and the desperation showed when Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee even appealed to the BJP voter to side with the Left. The supporters of the ‘untouchable party’ don’t seem to be untouchables for the Left anymore if it gives them control over the civic bodies. The great party of idealism has very little to showcase in terms of work done. It is to be seen if idealism can by them vote this time to because from a neutral point of view they have done little work to be voted back to power.

What do Maoist sympathisers say now?

2010-05-28T21:32:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The incidents of violence in the last two weeks in the Maoists dominated areas has had a fallout and all the liberal Maoist sympathisers seem to suddenly avoid the media. Afterall, the so called messiahs of the tribal and the poor don’t seem to be just fighting the state and it’s machinery and rather killing anybody and everybody who comes to their territory. The recent sabotage of Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express is just another example of how big a menace the ultra-Leftist moment has become and has indeed turned out to be the single biggest threat to internal security as Prime Minister Dr. Monmahan Singh had once said.

Over the last couple of years when Maoist became the talk of the town there has been an army of their sympathisers in the civil society. These people have time and again blamed the government for the problem but not once condemned the gruesome acts that the Maoist seems to be engaging regularly. The beheading of a cop doesn’t raise alarm to these people but the arrests of a few Maoist informers seem to make them insomniac. They have time and again called these people misguided youth who have taken up arms due to under development in the region.

The second argument does hold some ground as the infamous ‘Red Corridor’ is starved of development. But the Maoists are equally to be blamed for this as their activities have prevented any sort of investment in these regions. These are murderers who want an under developed region to fuel their existence. What else would explain blowing up schools, roads, bridges, communication towers and every single hope of development? These people who are armed with sophisticated weapons have themselves become the biggest hurdle to development as they are too much indoctrinated to understand the meaning of the term development.

After the recent attack on Dantewada where civilians travelling in the bus were killed with security men Arundhuti Roy had accused the government of using civilians as shields. What would she say to the country now? Would she advice people not to travel in trains as this a symbol of the Government so any attack on the railways is justified. It would be interesting to know why people like Arundhuti Roy suddenly become silent. Why is it that after any such attack they seem to go in a hiding and not be in front of the TV cameras?

It is for the entire country to wake up and boycott such people who are supporting the Maoists against the state. Which misguided youth fires from a sophisticated AK-47? It is for people like Ms Roy to answer the nation. What would she tell the family members of those who died in this gruesome act of murder?

Afzal Guru wants capital punishment for himself!

2010-05-28T07:47:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The indecisiveness in the Indian polity is enough to even frustrate a terrorist. The parliament attack conspirator Mohammad Afzal Guru who has been sentenced to death wants a quick decision on his mercy petition, whatever the outcome. The militant who originates from Kashmir has said that he is fed up with his solitary confinement and delay in the outcome of his mercy petition. In a plea filed by him he has requested the government either to hang him or decide on his mercy petition soon.

The Congress led government at the centre is sitting ideal on the case as they believe his hanging might cause a tilt in his vote bank with leaders in the Kashmir valley having warned of serious repercussions in the event of capital punishment being carried out on him. His mercy petition is lying with the government with the Sheela Dixit led Delhi state government having taken 4 long years to move the file between two tables! They fear that the Congress might seem to look anti-Muslim if the sentence is carried out.

The politicians can afford to sit over the case as not a single of their clan even had a scratch when the terrorists had barged into the parliament. Security men and women had sacrificed their lives to ensure that all of them remained safe. This was one of the worst terrorists attacks in the country and perhaps the most talked about in the country before the Mumbai carnage of 2008 where the sole terrorist caught alive Kasab has been awarded death sentence by the court recently. The Afzal Guru case has since then shot back to limelight.

Guru’s mercy petition is number 29 with the President of India. J&K chief minister Omar Abdulhha wants the President to take decision on the 28 pending cases before considering the mercy petition of Guru. This he believes is more important than dealing with a special case. It needs to be noted that apart from the case of Nalini the co-accused in the killing of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi most of the people in that list haven’t committed any crime against the state.

Some leaders in the Kashmir valley have openly said that Guru cannot be hanged since he is a Kashmiri. Isn’t that an insult to the brave men and women who died defending the same politicians who don’t seem to honour their sacrifice? What is the President of India doing sitting over so many mercy petitions. This kind of politics can only demoralise the men in uniform who bravely defend their motherland. Would our politicians have done the same if some of their colleagues would have been killed in that attack? The country needs answers and the government should not play with the emotions of the people anymore.

India should protest Canada’s moralistic bug

2010-05-27T07:37:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Canadian government's moralistic bug resurfaced authorities refusing a visa to a retired lieutenant-general on the ground that the officer served in Kashmir and there were human rights violations by the Army in the Valley. This comes after a similar incident a few days ago when a BSF personal was denied the same as he had served in Kashmir where the free liberal thinkers in the Canadian government feels India suppresses the Kashmiris and termed the BSF as a “notoriously violent force.”

People in Canada should bless themselves that they haven’t been blessed with a territory like Kashmir where the second largest army in the world has to deploy almost half it’s active force due to the anti-India activities that goes on in the state. New Delhi should not take this lying down as the Canadian authorities have raised the issue on Indian integrity and our right to control a violent territory where our western neighbours Pakistan has been fuelling violent sentiments so called ‘jihad.’ They have also been fuelling and funding a proxy war against India for the last two decades.

Kashmir is an integral part of India and we have every right to defend every inch of our motherland. It is true that the military forces in Kashmir have been given high powers by the government but considering the violent situation in the state such powers are necessary in the state. Human rights violation is common in any territory where the security forces have to face a hostile situation day in and day out. The forces face a hostile situation due to the cross border situation where they are time and again attacked by the separatists. These people are stoned which has become a new weapon for the terrorists where ordinary people are brain washed by the terrorists to fight against the Indian state. The Human Rights organizations are used as a shield by the same separatists against the state forces.

If the Canadian authorities are so hit by the moralistic bug and talk of Human Rights what are they doing in Afghanistan as a part of the NATO forces where the US drone attacks have killed as many innocent civilians as the number of terrorists. Didn’t those people living in the Pak-Afghan border have any human rights? Or has the Canadian government turned a blind eye on these facts? Who has given the Canadian government to fight against a so called ‘war on terror’ where it is still to be proven that the Al-Qaeda and Taliban had any direct involvement in the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Centre. What is their take on this issue? What do their forces do when attacked upon by hostile forces in such situations?

India should not take this lying down. The Home Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry should take up the issue strongly with the Canadian High Commission. Many Canadian officers and soldiers en-route to Afghanistan use the India as a transit point and all these visas issued should be scrapped off immediately should the Canadian authorities not back from such a stand. Kashmir is a internal conflict for India and the world has no right to take pot shots at our Government and it’s security forces on their methods to curb terrorism in an ‘Indian state.’

Did Ruchika Girhotra finally get justice?

2010-05-26T06:56:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

It is often said “Justice delayed is justice denied” but finally some justice seems to have been done in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case as former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for having molested the girl almost 20 years back in 1990. The molestation had become a mental trauma for the budding tennis player who committed suicide three years later after her family was being harassed by Rathore and his men.

The bigger question now arises is has justice been done in the case? Rahhore getting 18 months of imprisonment for forcing a person to death seems too less to be just. But that’s the judicial system in India and a person can be tried just on the charges that can be proven. But this system seems a fair judgement considering that Rathore was awarded just 6 months of imprisonment for the same offence in the month of December and had got bail in just 5 minutes! This had led to a national outcry resulting the case to be reopened which many people has termed as “Trial by the Media”

Ruchika’s family though is happy with the verdict as they finally can have faith in the legal system of the nation. Rathore is accused of abetment to suicide and the family is hoping that he will be awarded a harsher punishment on that count too. There are also another 22 cases pending against Rathore who had used all the bureaucratic and political influence to escape punishment in the case regularly harassing the family after it has tried registering a complaint against him. He had falsely charged Ruchika’s brother in many cases and had tortured him time and again forcing Ruchika to justice.

Although many accuse the media of trying the person outside the court room but the fact remains that it is only due to the media that the government and judiciary got into action and reopened the case leading to this judgement. Would this have been possible without the media? Be it a Nitish Katara, Jessica Lal or Priyadarshani Mattoo case the media forced the judiciary to deliver justice after the accused had used their influence to get off the clutches of the law.

In case of Rathore, the court should award him a harsher punishment for forcing the young girl into misery and finally to suicide. 18 months is too less to be a penalty for someone’s death.

North East needs to grow up

2010-05-22T20:20:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The recent flare up of communal tension in Meghalaya and the incidents at Manipur once again proves that North Eastern states have a long way to go to get over the ethnic clashes. The region has been infamous for communal clashes and terrorism which has resulted in grave under development of the region over the last six decades since India gained independence. Small incidents are enough to start clashes between different communities leading to loss of life and property and above all defacing the image of the region not only to the country but to the world. In the day of the Internet people across the world know what happens in any corner!

There has been a feeling among the inhabitants of the North East that the region has been overlooked by the centre. It is partially true but at the same time the people have done little to create a scenario of development as well. Terrorism have been time and again said to be a fallout of the gross neglect of the centre but the vice versa also holds true that it has been the biggest roadblock to development in the region. The numerous extortion drives that are carried out by the terrorists in the region has been a hurdle in private investment in the region with none of the industrial giants having any manufacturing or service industry in the region.

New Delhi hasn’t been a good judge of the situation in the states. Pacifying one state at the cost of the other has been a regular trend in the region. The recent example has been the Manipur versus Nagaland incident where both ethnic groups feel they hold the right ground. The Centre obviously hasn’t learnt lessons from similar agitations in 2004 and repeated the same mistake. It has always believed sending battalions of soldiers would solve the problems but that hasn’t happened the problem as more and more terrorists seems to rise from nowhere. Had New Delhi spent the same energy and money in building more universities the situation could have been different. For example South Assam has very little of terrorism as there is a University, a Medical College and a premier Engineering College NIT Silchar.

As for the people support the man with the guns they have to realize that gun was never picked up in North East for its development and protection of ethnic interest. It was just a cover-up for the huge amount extortion drives that are carried out in the name of a rebellion of freedom. It also protects the interest of the arms and the drug dealers in the region. What else would explain Rs 3900 Crore of money ceased in Bangladesh from an account belonging to the chairman of ULFA Arabindo Rajkhowa. Where was the money extracted from and where did it find its way? In a peaceful North East this amount of money could not be minted easily!

The solution to the problem is in development and that should not be in the form of begging to New Delhi rather starting it from within the region. North East has the potential to become a second Goa, thanks to the beauty it has been blessed with. But is the region doing enough to attract tourists? The answer is a straight No. Arunachal Pradesh can supply power to the entire eastern part of the country and generate revenue. Has anything been done in this regards? No. Nagaland can become a trade hub with the East Asian countries but have we done anything? Again a sad No. It is high time that the region grows up and takes constructive steps not for anybody but for itself.

Left Talks About Development?

2010-05-21T23:49:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

“Industrialization will continue” is what the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said in a recent election rally ahead of the civic polls in the state. Nobody doubts his intents to bring some change to the state in the form of industries. Everybody is convinced that the Bengal CM is trying his level best to convince the investors to pump in the much needed wealth into the state. But the big question arises can Mr. Bhattacharjee convince his party men. The answer is a sad negative as he faces much more opposition within his party than anywhere else. None of the indoctrinated member of the Left seem to realize that it is necessary to change with time.

The Chief Minister is a great general in the wrong army. The numerous election rallies that Left leaders host has one common song “we will bring in development to the state.” The big question is what did you do for the past three and half decade that you had been in power? Where were your development plans when you had clear mandate in every state election? No government in India had been blessed with such thumping majority term after term. Had it been a Nitish Kumar or a Narendra Modi, West Bengal would have been the most flourishing state in India. What prevented the Left from taking developmental steps that would have brought in much needed development in the state?

The Left has been regularly portraying itself as a party of the peasants and workers. The productivity of one hectar of land in Bengal is 2.2 metric tons a year compared to 4.5 in Punjab. This despite the state being blessed with the mighty Ganges. So if figures are to prove anything the government has failed. The definition of Kolkata in a major dictionary WordWeb states “One of the largest cities in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty” So Left did not do anything to protect the interests of the workers as well. It’s claim to fame has been closing down 6500 odd small and big industries in the state from 1970s to the late 1900s

When the entire nation was reaping the benefits of LPG (Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization) Left MPs sitting in the opposition benches were busy criticizing the policies of the government. When Parliamentarians from other state were driving the growth engine to their state the Left was busy talking about ideology. The results is a situation where a Left party worker of the 70s is lying in his death bed but his son cannot attend him as he has to earn his living in Bangalore or Pune as his father and his colleagues chased out the intellect of the society and any chance of investment that could have taken place in the state.

At the hour of independence Bengal was the most electrified state in the country and it’s growth rate was second only to Maharashtra. Today 29% of rural Bengal is electrified and the state no longer figures in the top ten states in the country on the GDP growth count. Somebody has to take the blame for all this stagnation that has happened in the state. Will the Left leaders do that? No, they will talk about ideology and Marxism. But it is high time that people in the state wake up and realize that they have offered too many chances to the Left who have failed themselves as well as the state in all parameters of development.

What Ratan Tata did for the Mumbai victims

2010-05-08T13:41:00.004+05:30

What Ratan Tata did for the Mumbai victims.... a every Indian should know.

Ratan Tata is the chairman of Indian Hotels who own the Taj Mahal Hotel Mumbai, which was the target of the terrorists last year . Hotel President a 5 star property also belongs to Indian Hotels.

Although there is no official confirmation on this but this is what is being said publicly. If true the following is really touching.

All category of employees including those who had completed even 1 day as casuals were treated on duty during the time the hotel was closed.
Relief and assistance to all those who were injured and killed
The relief and assistance was extended to all those who died at the railway station, surroundings including the “Pav- Bha ji” vendor and the pan shop owners.
During the time the hotel was closed, the salaries were sent by money order.
A psychiatric cell was established in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences to counsel those who needed such help.
The thoughts and anxieties going on people’s mind was constantly tracked and where needed psychological help provided.
Employee outreach centers were opened where all help, food, water, sanitation, first aid and counseling was provided. 1600 employees were covered by this facility.
Every employee was assigned to one mentor and it was that person’s responsibility to act as a “single window” clearance for any help that the person required.
Ratan Tata personally visited the families of all the 80 employees who in some manner – either through injury or getting killed – were affected.
The dependents of the employees were flown from outside Mumbai to Mumbai and taken care off in terms of ensuring mental assurance and peace. They were all accommodated in Hotel President for 3 weeks.
Ratan Tata himself asked the families and dependents – as to what they wanted him to do.
In a record time of 20 days, a new trust was created by the Tatas for the purpose of relief of employees.
What is unique is that even the other people, the railway employees, the police staff, the pedestrians who had nothing to do with Tatas were covered by compensation. Each one of them was provided subsistence allowance of Rs. 10K per month for all these people for 6 months.
A 4 year old granddaughter of a vendor got 4 bullets in her and only one was removed in the Government hospital. She was taken to Bombay hospital and several lacs were spent by the Tatas on her to fully recover her.
New hand carts were provided to several vendors who lost their carts.
Tata will take responsibility of life education of 46 children of the victims of the terror.
This was the most trying period in the life of the organisation. Senior managers including Ratan Tata were visiting funeral to funeral over the 3 days that were most horrible.
The settlement for every deceased member ranged from Rs. 36 to 85 lacs [One lakh rupees translates to approx 2200 US $ ] in addition to the following benefits:

a. Full last salary for life for the family and dependents;
b. Complete responsibility of education of children and dependents – anywhere in the world.
c. Full Medical facility for the whole family and dependents for rest of their life.
d. All loans and advances were waived off – irrespective of the amount.
e. Counselor for life for each person

1. How was such passion created among the employees? How and why did they behave the way they did?
2. The organisation is clear that it is not something that someone can take credit for. It is not some training and development that created such behaviour. If someone suggests that – everyone laughs
3. It has to do with the DNA of the organisation, with the way Tata culture exists and above all with the situation that prevailed that time. The organisation has always been telling that customers and guests are #1 priority
4. The hotel business was started by Jamshedji Tata when he was insulted in one of the British hotels and not allowed to stay there.
5. He created several institutions which later became icons of progress, culture and modernity. IISc is one such institute. He was told by the rulers that time that he can acquire land for IISc to the extent he could fence the same. He could afford fencing only 400 acres. He also made a condition that the TATA name should not be used (ironical in a country where half the roads and buildings bear Gandhi tag although they may not even have seen them)
6. When the HR function hesitatingly made a very rich proposal to Ratan – he said – do you think we are doing enough?
7. The whole approach was that the organisation would spend several hundred crore in re-building the property – why not spend equally on the employees who gave their life?

This was not covered by any news channel. The channels are busy showing cast politics, Sania Mirza's wedding, Shahrukh Khan's wedding. But these stories need to be told to the nation.

It’s Finally A Bandh In Kolkata

2010-04-27T15:56:00.004+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

It’s been close to two months that I have arrived in Kolkata and finally I get to see the event (celebration) that the ‘City of Joy’ is famous for! Event as everybody has been talking about it for the past few days and there will be assessment of it for the next few. Celebration as many students and working professionals have got an unscheduled holiday and they don’t seem to be complaining about it (unlike some of us who have to compensate this working on a Saturday). And finally what is this bandh about, well price rise as some political party believes that the price of essential commodities have gone up. Well it is anybody’s guess if the prices will come down in the market tomorrow as an outcome of the bandh?

The ground reality is that prices of essentials have gone up all across the country and both the Centre and the States should not escape the blame. But will a bandh which causes inconvenience to the masses help the situation? Thousands of people stranded at airports and train stations have more to worry today than the price rise! Can’t they protest? Well, they can but the political leadership (from the cadre on the road to the people sitting in Writers) expect people to express the solidarity with them. Staying indoors and not working for an entire day wasting millions of ‘man hour of work’ and harming the already dented image of the state. Some people still expect investors to come to West Bengal!

Now the question arises, are only the people of Bengal affected by this price rise. From New Delhi people might reject such an idea. But the ground reality is people in Bengal are more affected by such the price rise. The reason is again the political leadership of this state who have been ruling for more than three decades. Their policies and programmes have meant that this state could never generate wealth as has been the case with many states in the post-liberalization era. Can a government after ruling for so long at one stretch shy away from the fact that Bengal lost its industrial friendly image it had prior to its rule?

The sad part is that even the opposition parties are patronizing the same brand of politics. People seem to having a difficulty in choosing between the leadership and the opposition. The lead up to the Assembly elections of 2011 will see many such bandhs and strikes as it has become Bengal’s most well known characteristics to the entire nation. Price rise hurts people when they do not have good means of income and it is the responsibility of those in power to think about empowering people rather than do such events of political tokenism. As for the people they need to understand, people choose the government and get the governance they deserve.

When the Bengal tiger roared again

2010-04-02T17:03:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

If consistency defines Sachin Tendulkar and patience defines Rahul Dravid, persistence has to be the word for Sourav Ganguly. There is can be no better example of defiance in Indian cricket than that of Prince of Kolkata's or Dada as they fondly call him in his hometown of Kolkata. One thing which Ganguly has come to epitomise is determination to prove his critics wrong. The moment people count him out he produces something to silence all his critics. No cricketer of this stature has perhaps had to prove so much as Sourav Ganuly has.

The swashbuckling 88 that he scored against Deccan Chargers is a fitting reply to all the critics who have put question marks on his skills. The thumping of the chest after he scored his 50 said it all that the Kolkata's favourite son still has the fire in him to keep him going. Those sixes of Pragyan Ojha brought back memories of the vintage Ganguly who used to murder left arm spinners. Ojha can perhaps only blame his luck as he was up against a player who was known to be the killer of his art.

Most critics of Ganguly who were calling for his head have been silenced for now as Dada has let his bat do the talking and proving his point. But does he need to prove his point to anybody anymore? Most of his critics are people who haven't gone beyond playing first class career of have had a guest appearance at the international level. Is Ganguly's class subject to their testimonial? Surely not, as a out of form Ganguly is still better than most of his critics at their peak.

It is perhaps destiny that Sourav Ganguly has had top face critics all throughout his international career since 1992 when he was infamously dropped from the team after just one game and had to wait for another four years to make a comeback. God only knows what his records would have been had Sourav Ganguly not missed those four years. But the never say die attitude is something which has kept him going for so many years in spite of facing hurdles time and again.

Every sportsman is known and respected for some of his skill set. For Sachin Tendulkat it has been his form, fitness and above all ambassadorship of the Gentleman's Game. Brian Lara made cricket look like art while he batted, Rahul Dravid's patience and concentration has no parallels in world cricket. But what Sourav Ganguly will be best remembered for his mental toughness.

The Country Roads

2010-03-29T18:01:00.002+05:30

By: Reetasri Bhattacharjee

Who says dancing is not everyone’s cup of tea? In India, among most of the cultures dancing forms an integral part of traditions and merry-making. But in todays past paced world, these aspects of the various Indian cultures seem to be fast eroding and only those with a keen interest in this form of art are keeping alive the tradition.

As if understanding this sorry state of affairs, the Indian roads have taken in to themselves to keep alive the tradition. Now you may be wondering how a non-alive thing make such a thing happen. Well, anyone familiar with the interiors of India will find the link between the comparison. The roads are in most cases broken and never repaired. Heavy traffic in the form of heavy vehicles keep moving on these roads making the condition worst. and us poor souls travel on them without having much of an option. The combition can get fatal if you are on a really bad road on a bus which seems to have come straight out of ‘Malgudi days’ and whose the seats have been loosely put together and sadly have managed to get the last seat. The natural dance steps will make you see heaven and hell together!

The situation may seem funny at first but if one looks deeper into it, who is to be blamed. We are a country who loves blaming each other. In this case, the people will blame the authorities, the authorities will blame the government and someone probably can also raise the issue of corruption here. It has become such a jungle of problems that even if someone tries to rectigy them, it will be difficult to identify where to start.

For my age, I have travlled quite a bit around India and have seen almost all kinds of roads, though a interiors are still to be explored. From fascinating highways that do not have a single crack on them to the roads that do not have any unbroken parts left I have seen them all. As a child I reme,ber naming one such road the ‘disco road’ because once on a rickshaw on that road I could only keep making the disco move, albeit involuntarily. Currently I am staying in an institution which have amazing infrastructure. Professionals coming to visit it get amazed at how beautiful and self suffiecient the campus is. However they hardly come by the road that we need to travel with. For them there is a smaller but better road available. On the road that the majority of the population moves in so dilapidated that the government has been turning cold shoulders from ages. The irony of all this is that beside a state-of-the-art institution lies a rundown road and no one can do anything to improve its situation.

At the end of the day, it is us the common people who have to bear the brunt of all this and let the country roads led us to heaven and hell together boogie woogiing all the way.

This blog has been contributed by Reetasri Bhattacharjee a dear friend of mine. She is a regular blogger on blogspot and maintains the blog My Passing Moments

Knights finally seem to be riding in IPL

2010-03-19T20:31:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Its just the first week in IPL and thre have been quite a few surprises. First season's champions Rajasthan Royals loosing both the matches they have played so far. Last year's champion Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings going down in their opening ties. But nothing has been more surprising that the resurgence of Kolkata Knight Riders. The team which looked like a bunch of school boys in the last season in South Africa has registering two convincing wins in their first two matches.

Start matters and when the Knight riders started their first match against the Deccan Chargers in Mumbai and were struggling at 0 for 2, fans were relived the agony of the last season. It seemed like the KKR had carried it's bad form from one continent to another even after a year. But some spirited effort from Owais Shah and Angelo Mathews lifted the Knights from the bottom giving them a respectable total to defend which they did successfully backed by some good bowling performance at the death.

Many critics have been arguing that Deccan Chargers lost the match more than Knight Riders having won it. But aren't sudden changes in the course of a match common in this slam bang version of the game. If their first match was a close one, their second versus the Royal Challengers Bangalore was clinical. Never in the match did RCB looked like threatening the Knights. It was almost the perfect kind of match any team would like to play having dominated the opposition throughout.

Sourav Ganguly has been a great player but more that that he has been an exceptional captain. In the two games that have been played so far there has been something in Ganguly's body language which says that he is not willing to bow down this time around. He bowling changes have yielded results for the Kinghts and he is showing huge faith in players like Manoj Tiwari who has returned his captain's gesture with a strokefull half century against the Royal Challengers.

Another plus for the Knights has been the way Ishant Sharma has bowled in the two games. He has brought in the much needed aggression that the team lacked in the last season. With Shane Bond yet to come to the party in the later part of the tournament, KKR might have one of the most formidable fast bowling attacks in the tournament. Add to that the flamboyant Chris Gayle, party just seems to have started for the Knight Riders.

Parliament might soon require bouncers!

2010-03-09T22:12:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Subhash Yadav, Sabir Ali, Veerpal Singh Yadav, Nand Kishore Yadav, Amir Alam Khan and Kamal Akhtar, and Ejaz Ali were nominated to represent the people in the temple of Indian democracy. These people have now been suspended for their unruly behaviour in the Rajya Sabha. What's worse is the fact that they defied the action by Rajya Sabha. These parliamentarians (read hooligans) refused to leave the house after being suspended. Marshals had to drag them out of the house in an incident which has shamed the entire nation.

The scene was such that many would have felt the need for bouncers in our parliament. Bouncers might soon find government jobs thanks to the behaviour of our netas! The manner in which these MPs attacked Vice President Hamid Ansari was no different from a drunk unruly individual in a bar. The only difference is that they did all this without being intoxicated which goes to show the level at which our polity stands today.

The Lok Sabha or the lower house has witnessed many lows but the Rajya Sabha was considered to be a house of solemnity and intelectuals but all these have been shattered. State assemblies have witnessed hooliganism throughout the 60 years of the Indian republic but the Parliament luckily hadn't witnessed such incidents regularly. But the incident on Monday has shocked the entire nation. Much worse is the fact that the hooligans who committed the sinful act seem to have no remorse.

The MPs who represent some of most backward regions of the country Women's Reservation Bill was moved for discussion. This perhaps shows the reason behind the backwardness of these regions of the country. There is enough space for protests within Indian parliamentary democracy and if any party opposes the bill should stand up against this in a democratic manner. Although BJP and the Congress are on the same side of this bill some narrow minded political forces seem to be against making it a law.

It remains to be seen what action the Parliament takes on this issue. Suspension seems to be too less a punishment in this case. If not some bouncers should be employed by the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha to protect a few descent men and women from such hooligans.

Women's Reservation Bill: Will it become a law?

2010-03-07T21:34:00.006+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

All of us have heard about the 'Women's Reservation Bill.' For the past decade or so before the start of every parliament session this bill hits the headlines. As the session comes to a close it is one of those ever lasting bills which doesn't get passed in the any house of the Parliament and waits for another Parliamentary session. This has been the story of the bill over which the two national parties BJP and the Congress have a consensus!

The Bill guarantees 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies if it become a reality. Over the last many years this bill has had it's supporters and detractors. While the BJP, the Congress and the Left have been in favour of the bill. the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Janata Dal United have famously fought against it. It may not surprise many that all the detractors come from the 'bimaru states' or infamously termed as the cow belt of the country.

Now that one among the detractors has supported the bill it has got a fresh lease of life after rolling in the parliament for 13 years since 1996. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has reportedly shifted from the party line and backed the Bill. This is a smart move by Nitish who is being seen as a Renaissance Man in Bihar. By doing so Nitish establishes his image as a pro-development politician and scores vital points over Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Some prominent female faces of the Parliament cutting across party lines, Sushma Swaraj of the BJP, Brinda Karat of the Left have come together for the cause. Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also supporting the bill. Although both the BJP and the Congress which hold substantial seats in the Parliament have always voiced their support for the bill both of them never really pushed for it in the last 13 years.

The reason for this is quite simple, in this era a coalition politics where even a inch of vote swing could change results, both the BJP and the Congress could never assess the pros and con for the Women Reservation Bill. The detractors on the other hand are sure of loosing out their vote share with the brand of politics they play in the rural heartland and thus their opposition to the bill should not surprise anybody.

It remains to be seen if the Women's Reservation Bill finally becomes a law in this session of the Parliament or it would be worth some more writing in the near future.

Calcutta is changing

2010-03-03T20:19:00.007+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Competition pushes any man or organization to excel and achieve higher goals. This is quite an universally accepted and Calcutta seems to be no different. In the last five years that I have visited the city I have witnessed the change. An old world seems to be giving into the new. Now may would ask a question, what is there to write about if some changes are happening in the 'City of Joy.' Well it is a fact that any mega city see change on a daily basis and Calcutta being a mega city (atleast by virtue of it's population if not anything else) is the same. That is exactly where the similarities between Calcutta and any other mega city ends.

I had been visiting this city annually right from the time I was a toddler. But from then on right through my teenage somehow this city refused to change. My hometown Shilling would see much more change than Kolkata in spite of being the most important city in the entire eastern part of the country. The same old hand pulled rickshaws, the same unpainted buildings, the same overcrowded buses. In someway Kolkata began to symbolize a museum of Indian history rather than a buzzing metropolis.

Most intellectuals from the city migrated to other parts of the country and the world. Even more wrote obituaries about the city which was once the most precious jewel in India during the days of the British Raj. But the last decade has seen a new Kolkata rise, a Kolkata which wants to change not parting ways with it's rich tradition and culture. People are willing to let some of the old ways of life go and compete with the rest of the country. The oversized pride in the glorious past is being overshadowed by the urge to excel in the future.

Come to Sector V and you see a completely different Kolkata as now it has been rechristened. It is a completely different world nothing like what you see in the old city. Having got a job here and taking a serious tour of this place after a gap of three and a half years, I can swear this place has changed. Comparing it to a Bangalore or a Hyderabad at this stage will be quite insane as Kolkata woke up to IT and ITES business almost a decade after others. But never the less it seems to have taken a good start even though it isn't crusing yet.

Bangalore was no Bangalore about two decades ago till IT majors Infosys and Wipro wrote the horoscope of the modern day silicon valley of India. Gurgaon was a sleepy stop on the Delhi-Jaipur highway till Maruti Udyog and BPO majors like GE set up bases. Today these cities are examples of an India which is raising it's head in the globe. There is no reason that once India's most advanced city cannot be a part of the same legue in the coming decade.

Loosing Tata Nano factory in Singur and a few IT investments can be described as a setback but the city seems to be slowly obercoming another bigger one, the feeling of pessimism. One reason why this city remained isolated from the development in the last decade of millenium was because the people in this city had become intoxicated by pessimism and living in a self created environment of negativity. Thankfully a substantial section of the society especially the middle class seems to have gotten over it.

The only thing that the people need to keep in mind is that a city is as good as it's inhabitants and Calcutta is no different.

Leaving Bangalore.....

2010-02-26T12:49:00.003+05:30

“Kabhi Palko Main Aaso Hai
Kabhi Lab Pe Shikayat Hai
Magar Ai Zindigi Phir Bhi
Mughe Tughse Mohabbat Hai”

The lyrics from the Kishore Kumar's song kind of define my feelings at the moment as I leave Bangalore. I am going to Calcutta where I always wanted to go but this busy and bustling city has been my home for the past two and half years. “You can't get everything in life” they say and it holds true for me as I leave this city tomorrow. The idea doesn't seem to sink that all that is a part of my everyday life now will be a thing of the past within a few days.

It was almost two and half years back on 28th August 2007 that I had stepped foot on the Silicon Valley of India. Coming from a small town almost 3000 kms away I had very few friends here and hardly knew anybody in this happening city. But somehow this city welcomed me. It is a feeling hard to define but here I was in the most vibrant city of India and yet didn't feel out of place. The roads were bust but they didn't scare me, the buildings were tall but they didn't dwarf me.

When I moved from the hotel to the PG, I felt more at home as I was in the company of many like me who had come to make a career, those who were already well established and a few who had a few stories to tell. Slowly I became friends with many of them and soon started the process of interviews. After failing to clear some interviews, I came to truth with this city when a guy in the PG told me “Yeh Bangalore hai beta, yaha pe sirf kaam bolta hai” (This is Bangalore, only work speaks here).

Looking back, I cannot think of a better statement that can define this city. In less than 48 hours I will be gone from this city, if not for ever but professionally I presume. Here people have taught me the true meaning of professionalism and how to set standards just not for the nation but for the globe. The real cosmopolitan nature of this city allows the best of people in the country to work together and no wonder this city has become a 'verb' for industry leaders around the world.

I can't just digest the idea that I won't seen the Forum Mall daily with all the beautiful women around! The Anna Sambar and dinner in the Andhra Mess at night will be a piece of nostalgia in my life. I will miss the comfort of travelling in the Volvos around the city. But above all I will miss the people I lived with, I worked with. Guys, you are the ones who have made life special for me in this city and I will take those memories and cherish them throughout my life.

I may leave Bangalore but Bangalore won't leave me!

Indian economy to grow at 8 percent?

2010-02-22T17:18:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

For all those who are concerned about facts and figures the Indian economy will grow by 8% in the upcoming financial year. Well that's what the Government believes and that's what President Prathiba Patil said while addressing the joint session of the Parliament ahead of the Budget Session of the parliament. President Patil also said that providing relief to 'aam admi' from high food prices will be her government's top priority.

This might bring in cheers to many faces but the question arises in whether this growth in totality making India a better country. On one hand we are striving to become one of the superpowers in the world while on the other we have the largest number of people living below the poverty line anywhere in the world. Our figures on poverty are even worst that some of the Sub-Saharan nations according to many international agencies.

Our basic health care system especially in the rural areas is in a pathetic condition. This is quite an irony for a country which is becoming a destination for 'health tourism.' Does the growth in the GDP mean anything to these deprived people? Can the growth in the GDP rate or the sensex douse the hunger in a common man's life? How much of the GDP is the government willing to pump into the Social Sector to narrow the gap between India and Bharat.

The rise of the left wing extremism in the last decade has been a slap on the face of the nation which was going gaga over the country's economic growth. Government and various non-governmental organisations woke up to the apathy of people in these backward areas only after these people had been brain-washed by the Left Wing terror groups. The results are for all of us to see and Left Wing terror seems to be more threatening than the militancy in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East.

Do these figures mean anything to even a middle class Indian? The effective inflation on the ground is almost double than what the government claims it to be. This ironically in a period when India hasn't fully emerged from the financial meltdown. So has our economy and GRD growth practically made our life better or is it mere statistics?

India has to take 'Red Terror' seriously

2010-02-17T17:49:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh acknowledged it as the “biggest threat to the nation” but the Centre and the States seem to be nowhere serious to dealing with Red Terror. The Maoist unleashed their terror again when they attacked the camp of Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) of West Bengal Police in the Maoist dominated area of Silda. The attack left 24 policemen dead and the rest highly demoralised.

The Government's laxity towards dealing with the Maoist problem can be understood from the fact that
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Jharkhand counterpart Shibu Soren remained absent from the meeting chaired by P. Chidambaram of the Maoist affected states. This strikes which comes less than two weeks after that attack is an egg on the face of our politicians who don't seem to foresee the gravity of the situation.

All the States and their law enforcement agencies have different mechanism to fight the Maoists who strike with the same ferocity in all the affected regions. Some states believe in combat operations while others believe in sitting for talks with the left wing terrorists. The Maoist are taking advantage of this muddiness in the corridors of power and striking at will causing rampage in tribal belts in turn causing embarrassment to the Government.

Another striking feature of the Maoist attacks is the manner in which they execute it where the security forces are always taken by surprise. No where are the security forces suffering this many casualties as they are in Maoist affected heartland of India. The casualty rate of the security forces is alarmingly high when compared to that of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir and the various North Eastern states.

It is high time that the Centre and the State formulate a concrete plan to deal with the Maoist in the affected areas. Raising a special force to deal with the problem on lines of the Rashtriya Rifles which has been a potent forces in fighting militancy in J&K. Such a forces should be under the Centre like the RR is and not be a used according to the wimps and fancies of the political parties ruling various states in the Maoist affected region.

Pune Blast: Should India talk to Pakistan?

2010-02-15T18:00:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Valentine's Day is celebrated by lover around the world but a blast on it even in Pune has made sure that India and Pakistan will have to go a long way to fall in love with each other. Just when both the countries has seemed to have buried the skeleton on the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, the blasts in Pune has threatened to jeopardise the entire process of resumption of talks between the two nuclear armed sub-continental giants.

It is too early to conclude a Pakistani hand behind the blasts in Pune but going by the terror activities that have taken place in India in the last couple of years the Pakistani angle cannot be overlooked. Behind every major terror strike in India there has been a fundamentalist group sponsored by the notorious Pakistani spy agency the ISI. The latest attack is being linked to Pakistani Lashkar-e-Toiba and it's offspring Indian Mujahideen.

Pakistan on it's part has condemned the bomb blast in Pune with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani hoping for a meaningful dialogue with India. But isn't this the Pakistani stand after every attack that takes place in India? Pakistan claims itself to be a victim of terror, but who was behind the creation of all these terrorists groups? Pakistan is paying price for it's own actions, why should India have to face burden of it's transgress?

New Delhi will be hurt as well as sceptical over the issue, hurt as it has proposed resumptions of talks and sceptical as talks cannot happen in the backdrop of blasts taking place. The Central Government for now is playing safe on the issue as it doesn't want the opposition get a chance to nail it ahead of the budget session of the Parliament. An incident like the Pune blast leaves India with no choice but to dis-engage any dialogue process with Pakistan.

Pakistan on it's part might blame stateless actors to have carried the blasts but post 26/11 it has done little to improve relationship with India. Although people like Hafeez Sayeed were taken into custody after the Mumbai attack, they were let free once the matter cooled down. This has left India with very little scope to start the peace process with Pakistan again. The questions which looms in everybody's mind is should India sit for talks with Pakistan?

Let "me" Sleep

2010-02-14T10:28:00.003+05:30

By: Ratnadeep Deb

Its 4 am.And here I sit. I sit through the cries and screams..through the shrieks and whines..and through the bigots and fagots..through the suppressed and oppressors..through the penury and the plenary..through the acerbic and sublime..through the vandalisms and the indignation...through the burnings and flames and killings..through the madness and awe. My gut's on fire.My brain's on an overdrive.And I sit.Right through it. Doing nothing.In silence.....listening to the crickets and frogs,jealous and defeated.Bowed before the 'MAN".Hope,there's hope.....someone cries out inside.What does that make me??An insomniac,a roseate optimist.....a deplorable sycophant,a sissy...or just the ideal,state-of-art common man who sits through all????

One question rings out...Why did man INVENT fairy tales??Why fantasy for the practical always inventing and thinking man.What necessitated this challenge to his manhood?Bet they weren't necessary.Still,its all flesh and blood,isn't it...so why can't fairy tales be true.But then,ain't we flesh and blood.Or just hungry and thirsty for flesh and blood?.Why is the color of blood the most catchy and enduring;why did blood have to be of that color,the color man identifies most easily?God's honest bungling...maybe.People turn out to be blue-green color blind.But not red.Ain't red,green and blue the three essential basic colors???Why did the almighty have to leave out red from the color blindness loop???Or did god want us to spill that essential fluid and revel over it,and not miss out on the fun,the arousal,the joy... because of bullcrap COLORBLINDNESS.Why did man invent hunting as a pasttime??Would it be coz of the joyous thrill,the enigmatic libido spilt blood invokes?? We refer our genetic and genealogical comrades as BLOOD RELATIVES??What's that supposed to mean...more often den not,u dun f***in even share the same antigen but for a obscure 25-75% probability...WTF?

We never say genetically related or related by descendancy...which for that matter holds conditionless. Its always related by BLOOD..when sharing the same blood group can have as good a chance as converting a free-kick or an IIM call.Why has blood definitively been the epitome and teh pedestal on which human pedigree has flustered and relationships identified??Have we been programmed for this crazy infatuation for blood?I guess the answer's YES and hence I will no longer condemn killings,mass pogroms,homicide,fratricide or even terrorism for that matter.All performed by brethrens, an essential genetic need.Its just us, isn't it?

I sit.Still.Reclined.Nauseated.Puzzled.I sit and watch.maybe helpless..maybe not.But i sit...juxtaposed between the multiverses....swearing,abusing,slandering manhood.Shame on u Osama,go to hell Dawood,Die the thackereys,you dun deserve to live Taliban,fck u Nazis.....Alas!Besmirching humanity.I cry foul,I feel the same pangs of disdain and discomfort.In the abstract.But I sit...and sit.I sit and watch as Australians kill us for we are brown.Chinese and Pakistanis want coz we draw a line to their dissent.The maoists and naxalites want us coz we want to spend our cash,on ourselves.The Thackerey's want us coz we dun believe in regionalism nd fiefdom.I just sit and watch.

I thank god.For the earth has no heart.Its experienced in dealing with its illness..been here 4.5 billion years.Its seen a lot...meteor strikes,solar flares,acid rains,plate tectonics,continental drifts,asteroid strikes,earthquakes,volcanoes,tsunamis,hurricanes,maybe black holes,comets,novas....and it will treat itself off the human problem soon.Shrug'em off like a bag full of fleas...and gone we will be.Just like that.for the better.Until then....I wanna sleep.

Abhishek Sen is a 'Metal Fan' ever since I have known him since our childhood. He is currently working as a RJ in Shilliong and regularly posts on his blog ChaiBiskoot Tango

India and Pakistan to date again!

2010-02-13T12:42:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Over the last few year India and Pakistan have behaved like lovers whose relationship can hit the rocks any time. Come February 25 and bot the sides will engage in secretary level talks. This will be the first since the Mumbai attacks in 2008 when Pakistan backed and trained terrorists created a carnage in Mumbai. The attack had claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people and also some top cops of the Mumbai police.

Both the countries hope to take the Composite Dialogue Process forward in the coming months so that peace could prevail in the sub-continent. Both the sides might also talk on the Kashmir issue which has been the greatest bone of contention for the two countries over the last six decades. The US has been trying hard to get India and Pakistan on the table so that it can have more mobilisation from the Pakistani troops in the Pak-Afghan border to take on the Taliban.

Pakistan on it's part has been trying hard to draw the sympathy of the international community by claiming itself to be a victim of terror. True it may be, but the question also arises who were the perpetrators of terror in the first place? Who were the people behind arming and training people for terror activities for the last two decades first in Jammu & Kashmir and then the rest of India? Why is a Pakistan hand always behind all terror activities in India.

It is Pakistan and it's dreaded intelligence agency the ISI that has over the years controlled the terror activities in India. Although they are now facing the wrath of these murderous monsters that they have created there is not an iota of restrain in it's anti-India activities. Infiltration across the border has been high since the start of the year and ceasefire violations from the Pakistani side has been on a high. Can Pakistan explain all that?

It is a known fact that India and Pakistan have to co-exits with each other and so isolation from each other isn't a solution. But a bigger truth is there needs to be conducive environment for talks. India took a bus to Lahore it got back Kargil, it started talking it got back Parliament attack and after the composite dialogue process started it got Mumbai as a gift. Now that India wants to talk to Pakistan again let us hope the terror torn nation behaves sensibly.

From US to India with 'Terror'

2010-02-11T17:43:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

David Coleman Headley might have been the first major US national to be caught exporting terror to India but he certainly wasn't the last. A US national was detained on terror charges at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi by the joint team of Delhi Police and Intelligence Bureau. The suspect identified as Winston Marshall was arrested when he was about to board the New York bound, Qatar Airways from Doha, based on a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau.

David Coleman Headley being the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks in India had come as a shocker for the Indian security agencies after his arrest in the United States. Headley who has his roots in Pakistan was a regular visitor to India and had carried out recce for the attacks in Mumbai. Not only that he had associations with many socialites in India who seemed to have been completely unaware of motives behind visiting India.

There was a myth that the American security system could be bypasses by anybody in the world. That myth was shattered when the World Trade Centre came down and Pentagon was attacked on September 11, 2001. There was another myth that US security screening is full-proof and with David Coleman Headley and Winston Marshall now, this myth will also get shattered. This serves as a wake up call for the Indian security forces.

India has to learn that America has become the new path for terrorists to enter India due to out third-world mentality which hasn't been erased although as a country we have had decent achievements America has itself been a victim of terrorism, it's another fact that many would say it propagated terror and made the world a much dangerous place buy going hammer and tongs on Afghanistan in the name of wiping out the Taliban.

The greatest lesson that Indian security agencies have to learn from the Headley and Marshall case it that terrorism need not necessarily enter Indian through it's borders with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. It can come and strike even from the most developed of the nations. It is high time we get over myths and assumptions and be serious with our security apparatus. As they says it is better to 'prepare and prevent', than 'repair and repent.'

Secular Govt. announces reservation on religion!

2010-02-10T18:12:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

In India there are two types of government, one which claim themselves to be secular and the second which try to defend themselves to be secular. The Left parties by far have had the best record in keeping politics away from religion. But the Left Front Government in West Bengal has surprised everyone when it reserved 10% of all Government jobs for Muslim. To escape the clutches of the constitution which doesn't allow any reservation based on religion they have added the backward clause to it's order. Thus by law creamy Muslims will not be beneficiary to this.

The Left parties have accused all the major political parties in India including the Congress and the BJP of being communal. But this time with an election defeat in sight the Left Front Government seems to be trying it's best to reach out to the Muslims. It is quite a surprise that the Government has woken up to the backwardness of the community only after it deserted them in the Lok Sabha polls and the by-election to the State Legislature.

The Left Front's decision seems more out of desperation as it's bete noire Mamata Banerjee has promised similar reservation for the Muslims when voted to power. With the party's dwindling support which has become evident with the result of all the polls that have happened in the recent past, the Left seems to be trying to buy some oxygen ahead of the 2011 assembly elections. Muslims have traditionally been a strong support base for the Left and the party had taken them for granted but with the drubbing it got in the Lok Sabha polls the Left feels the need to win back upon the Muslims.

Left Front also wants to reiterate the fact that it still holds power at the Writer's Building. From industry captains to common people everyone seems to look into Mamata Banerjee as the next leader in the state. Her popularity and authority seems to be more than that of Left although Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee still holds the CM's chair. Does such a reservation police help in enhancing the secular image of the nation. That topic is seriously debatable?

India's 'Bombay' is Shiv Sena's 'Mumbai'

2010-02-09T16:56:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

In the past two decades many Indian cities and town were renamed to 'Indianise and Localise' them. The grand old Calcutta became Kolkata, Madras turned Chennai, Thivandrum became Thiruvananthapuram, Baroda became Vadodara and Bangalore was rechristened as Bengaluru. All these cities even after the renaming retained their original identity and calling them by their erstwhile name is no crime. But this hasn't been the case with Bombay opps! Mumbai which according to some of its political groups isn't allowed to retain anything from Bombay.

There is a joke which runs around the financial capital of India, What is the gravest crime you can commit in the 'Maximum City'? The answer call it 'BOMBAY'. The Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena can take anything but can't tolerate anybody dishonouring their 'MUMBAI' by referring to it by it's old name. A second joke runs around the city that the Thackeray are willing to pardon Ajbam Kasab as he had referred to the city as 'MUMBAI' but not anybody from any part in India if he refers to it has if he refers to it has 'BOMBAY'

From howling abuses to instigating violence Sena and MNS can go to any extent to protect the honour of 'MUMBAI.' Both the parties have mastered the art of street violence and threatening people in the name of Marathi pride and protecting India's culture. When Pakistanis and Australians come to play in India they take mantle of being nationalists but when a poor taxi driver comes from UP or Bihar they protect the rights of the Marathi Manoos. Both these parties seem to be engulfed in confusion as to whom do they really represent!

When Sachin Tendulkar said he was an Indian first and a Marathi next, this upset 'Sarkar' aka Bal Thackeray and he slashed out a Sachin. When industrialist Mukesh Ambani said Mumbai is for all Indians he had to face the ire of the Sena. The latest victim is Shahrukh Khan who supported Pakistani players for the third season of the IPL. The Shiv Sena has asked him to settle down in Lahore for his comments. Isn't it a joke that this party and it's estranged by-product the MNS claim to represent the Marathi Manoos?

The snubbing that both MNS and the Shiv Sena got both in the Parliament and Assembly elections has shown that the ordinary Marathis have lost their faith in the two parties. MNS was a result of Bal Thackeray's bias towards his son Uddhav Thackeray over his politically sound and capable nephew Raj Thackeray. Had Bal Thackeray not bee so bias there would have been some less violence and vandalism in the streets as both the parties seem to be competing over it. Do Marathis consider them as greater Marathi icons than somebody called a Sachin Tendulkar?

'Bombay' or 'Mumbai' who cares, as long as the city provides opportunities to thousands of people

Rang De Basanti in Rathore's case?

2010-02-08T17:33:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

What happens when there is delay in justice, the society creates more criminals. This was proved once again today when a youth attacked former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore today in Chandigarh court premises. The 24-year-old youth was a student of National Institute of Design (NID). The youth identified as Utsav Sharma was pursuing post-graduate diploma in animation and film design from National Institute of Design and had no direct relations to the case.

The 68-year-old Rathore is accused in the molestation of Ruchika Girhotra. Rathore had molested the girl 19 years ago after which she was led to suicide after her family members were harassed by Rathore and his men when they filed a complaint with the police. Rathore also got Ruchika rusticated from her school for non-payment of fees which finally led Ruchika to the extreme step of ending her own life.

14 year old Ruchika Girhotra a budding tennis players was molested by Rathore in 1900 when he was the President of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association. Ruchika who was initially reluctant to files a case did it after a lot of hesitation. Her entire family was harnessed by the police and her brother was arrested in some false car theft case. This compelled the family to sideline the case and subsequently led to Ruchika committing suicide in 1993.

Rathore with his political and bureaucratic influence had almost escaped punishment until there was huge hue and cry in the media which led the government to initiate re-opening of the case and also filing of fresh FIRs. Now the question arises what action does the system take against the youth who took this extreme step against Rathore? Or should the question rather be, who made the youth take such an extreme step?

Ruchika Girhotra's case is a example of how the powerful can do crime and escape punishment bending the laws. The entire police and the judiciary was found sleeping in this case involving a highly decorated cop who used and abused his position causing pain and agony to the Girhotra family. Why was the administration including the CBI sleeping over the case? Had it not been for his 'smile and wave, Rahtore could have escaped punishment.

The step taken by the youth is definitely condemnable but hasn't the state machinery failed enough in this case to even question the intent of a youth in this case. Why are people being forced to go the Rang De Basanti way to get justice. This incident should not be just seen as an isolated case but from a larger perspective of people loosing the faith in the executive and the judiciary.

Amar Singh's Celebritywadi Party

2010-02-04T18:04:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

If there was one place Amar Singh could be associated with it had to be Uttar Pradesh. A popular face in Mumbai he was more in the company of Bollywood celebrities and industrialists than mingling with politicians and party workers. Yet the celebrity politician was the General Secretary of the Samajwadi Party which claims to be believe in socialistic ideals. The irony lies in the fact that there was nothing Samajwadi about this man.

Amar Singh wasn't a mass leader who could convert speeches into votes. Mulayam Singh never even expected that from him. What made Aamr so important for Mulayam was the broker in him. Mulayam could win elections but not strike deals with the other political factions. Nor did Mulayam or any of the Samajwadi Party leaders have a stronghold in New Delhi. This is where Aamr Singh had become oxygen to Mulayam.

Any political party would envy the kind of celebrity fan following that Samajwadi Party had. From the Bachchan family to Jayapradha and from Mohmmad Azharuudin to Sanjay Dutt to Nafisa Ali, Aamr Singh brought in all the well known names among the Samajwadi Party ranks. It is no wonder Amar Singh spent most of his time attending parties in Mumbai and not bite dust in the rural heartlands of UP like other party leaders.

The most important of Amar Singh's responsibility was to bring in funds to the party and which he did efficiently due to his close contacts with the leading industrialists in the country. In the recent past Mulayam's son and brother have snubbed Amar Singh. It is believed that he wanted to call the shots since he was making sure the party ran by arranging funds in the first place. The Yadav family was in no mood to play second fiddle and thus had to show Mulayam the door.

For now Amar Singh seems to be playing his cards very carefully and sending fleer to many political parties. His close friend Amitabh Bachchan touring all the BJP ruled states might even be a sign that the saffron party is no longer untouchable for him. Or else he can form his own political party but he will definitely taste more success in Mumbai than in Uttar Pradesh. Who knows Celebritywadi Party may be on the cards!

Sena is no longer oxygen to BJP in Maharashtra

2010-02-01T17:57:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

One of the longest surviving political alliances in India has hit the rocks. After standing the test of times for years BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the Shiv Sena find each other on different platforms. The Saffron brigade is divided over the issue of migrants from North India to Mumbai. The RSS which first opposed Sena's continues attack of the migrants has been joined by it's political face BJP. This was anticipated as the BJP President Nitin Gadkari has been an RSS strongman.

Shiv Sena which has always tried to champion the cause of the Marathi Manoos had stepped up it's anti-migrants (especially from Uttar Pradesh and Biharafter the defeat in the assembly elections. Shiv Sena which has been hurt by Raj Thackrey's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is trying it's best become the voice of the Marathi people who seem to have lost trust in them. Their recent moves seem to be of a desperate political forces trying to regain lost grounds.

BJP which has been a silent observer to Sena's wrath on the North Indian migrants over the years seems to have lost patience with Bal Thackrey and his party. BJP which is trying hard to regain political grounds in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of North India finds its alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra a over-loaded baggage. The party now believes being a silent observer to Sena's politics may prove to be detrimental in the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh 2012.

BJP which is itself going for a complete overhaul with a new President wants to regain it's image as an alternative to the Congress at the centre. Bal Thackrey's militant regional politics doesn't fit the bill for the BJP any more. BJP which performed better in the Maharashtra assembly polls than the Shiv Sena don't consider Sena to be oxygen for it's survival in Maharashtra. Disassociation with Sena is a price the party is willing to pay to regain support in the North which had been it's traditional stronghold.

Considering the fact that the Congress and the NCP also took an anti-migrant stance with their recent decision on the Taxi permit, BJP is seeing this as a golden opportunity to be seen as the only voice for migrants in Maharashtra. Standing up for the migrants will also rid BJP from some of the sins committed by the Sena which it silently watched. Dumping Bal Thackrey's party may not be that bad a idea for the BJP in the long run and taking into consideration the national aspirations of the party.

India happy with Sri Lankan poll results

2010-01-30T14:10:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The results of the Sri Lankan Presidential polls will come as a good news to India. The government seems to be quietly happy over the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. New Delhi believes understands India's worries and concerns and ill lead to political stability in a country still divided on ethnic lines. The government is also happy over the fact that doesn't need to deal with a new occupant in the Presidential Palace after showing signs of favouritism over Rajapaksa.

India and Sri Lanka had shared close political ties since independence but over the last two decades the relationship was strained first after India's military blunder with the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) and subsequent assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in 1991. These incidents made sure that India always made a measured approach when it came to the Sri Lankan foreign policy.

Certain political organisation regularly voicing the propaganda of the LTTE did not help the cause between the two countries either. India which had burnt it's fingers with the IPKF in the 80s did not want to militarily get involved with the Lankan issue. This meant that both China and Pakistan got an opportunity to establish military ties with Sri Lanka and increases their military sphere of influence in the Indian Ocean.

Rajapaksa's opponent General Sarath Fonseka had close ties with the Chinese especially people among it's too military brass. India's western neighbour Pakistan was also said to have shared warm relationship with Fonseka. From India's perspective Rajapaksa's win was very important not for the betterment of relationship between the two countries but also for India's influence over the Indian Ocean region. China had already shown keen interest in establishing naval bases in Sri Lanka.

News Delhi has now approached Colombo for the settlement of the Tamil refugees who have been torn apart by three decades of the civil war where they suffered both at the hands of the terrorist and the government. The Indian government has expressed its wish to open a Consulate in Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka once a strong hold of the LTTE. Sri Lanka in return will open a mission in Kolkata.

Hope these ties go a long way for paving warm relationship between the two countries. India has to play a keen role in the post-LTTE Sri Lanka.

Shiv Sena doesn't believe in democracy

2010-01-29T17:31:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

If you think under world is powerful in Mumbai read this “This is not Shahrukh, but the Khan in him that's saying all this. Let Shahrukh go and stay in Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad. He is not needed in Mumbai. Balasaheb has made it clear that Pakistani players wouldn't be allowed to play in the IPL or set foot in Maharashtra" Wonder what this is well this is nothing but Shiv Sena's reacting to Shahrukh's support for the Pakistani players in the IPL.

The Shiv Sena spokesman doesn't stop with that he also adds ““There will be dire consequences if Shahrukh defies the orders of the Sena chief. Shahrukh must think twice before speaking. This is Maharashtra and the Shiv Sena chief's writ runs here." Well it is for everyone to judge weather this is the language a political party is expected to speak in a democracy? Or the larger question that looms is weather Shiv Sena and its by-product the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena even believe in Democracy?

None of us unaware of the fact that Pakistan had a role to play in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and we should refrain from washing our hands from it. But is this the kind of language a person should expect in our democracy where the Constitution ensures us 'freedom of speech.' Over the last few years there has been a tussle between the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to be a saviour of the Marathi cause. Now when it comes to Pakistan and racial attacks in Australia, Shiv Sena wants to represent the Indian cause.

When Mukesh Ambani one of India's leading industrialists said Mumbai belonged to all Indians the Sena slammed him. They had earlier done the same to one of the greatest Marathi icons Sachin Tendulkar as he faulted saying he was an Indian first. Mukesh Ambani creates jobs and thus has the right to speak on it, MNS and Sena are just the hungry consumers of it. Sachin makes India smile and unlike the Thackreys can walk into any Indian home and would get the treatment of a king.

Do the Thackreys believe they run a dictatorial rule over entire Maharashtra and Mumbai? The drubbing they got in the elections should have been an eye opener for them but that seems far from true. The question is not just about Pakistani players being allowed to play in the IPL but of a political forces which seems to consider itself above the law? It is high time the centre and the state machinery take some strong measures against such militant political parties.

North East snubbed at in Phir Mile Sur

2010-01-28T18:01:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

It has been more than two decades that Indians first heard a song 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara.' Few would have realised that this song would be something next just to the National Anthem. In the single channel Doordarshan era it was one of the most sought after programmes. The song which represented India and had Bollywood stars, musicians, cultural icons, sportsman and ordinary people. Cut to 26th January 2010 and we get a remixed version of the original song which mesmerised us for more than two decades.

To spread the message of 'unity and diversity' once again in a rising and fast globalising India 'Phir Mile Sur' was conceived. But the question is where was North-East in the entire video? The original one at least featured a dance sequence which had all the major tribes from North East. The only representation of the entire region was through an immobile Bhupen Hazarika and Mary Kom packing a few punches.

Was that all about North-East? Although it is easy to blame the mentality of the people in the mainland behidn this, but the truth lies elsewhere. The entire 16 minutes video seemed to be a representation of Bollywood stars more than anything else. Where were our cricketers? Doesn't Sachin Tendulkar stand a place among Abhinav Bindra and Vijender Singh? Cricket has always been blamed for our failure in other sports but the fact remains it is the most popular sport in India.

Coming to the issue of North East, the region not missed out on the video but has surely lost percentage in the footage compared to the original song. The reason for this is very simple, the region doesn't have any major stars in Bollywood and it slipped out of the mind of video director whose only claim to fame has been directing Kailash Surendranath a Bollywood pot-boiler Love You Humesha. If lack of awareness and creativity needs any example Phir Mile Sur would be in the lead.

What was the director's though process behind the entire video? NE wasn't represented not because the director had some bias but because he wasn't even aware enough have a bias in his mind. Why on earth did the make the video in the first place? If it was to represent unity in diversity why is the end product to poor? The makers of the video should think back and reflect upon their idea, it this what they feel will unite India?

Phir Mile 'Bollywood' Ke Sur

2010-01-27T17:24:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

15th August 1988 Indians heard a song 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara.' Few would have realised that this song would be something they would hum for rest of their lives. In the single channel Doordarshan era it was one of the most sought after programmes. The song which had Bollywood stars, musicians, cultural icons, sportsman and ordinary has its appeal even in the new millennium India. The song's popularity can be judged from the fact that it is one of the highest searched videos in YouTube.

Cut to 26th January 2010 and we get a remixed version of the original song which mesmerised us for more than two decades. To cash on this popularity of 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' and to spread the message of 'unity and diversity' once again in a rising and fast globalising India 'Phir Mile Sur' was conceived. But did it do justice to the original song? Is it better than the original which still sounds catchy after so many years?

First and foremost it seems more like a Bollywood ke sur thing than the unity in diversity thing which it intends to be. At 16 minutes it seems never ending montage of musical beats. What was the entire idea behind the entire song. Wasn't it to show 'unity in diversity'? But the beats of the song which never matched from one transition to another and it showed more of diversity and no unity at all. Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan his wife Aishwarya, Amitabh Bachchan seem to be representing India to it's producers.

Cricketers have been snubbed. Can the producers explain why someone called Sachin Tendulkar doesn't find a space in the never ending video? Is there a bigger Marathi icon than Sachin? Or for that matter why leave out Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble or Rahul Dravid? Well bashing cricket seems to be the only justification of our poor performance in all other sports. When Abhinav Bindra and Vijender Kumar who feature in the video were buying peanuts outside their school Sachin was scoring runs for India!

And the never ending bias towards North East. In 2010 you would expect people to be a little more sensitive about such issues. But no NE is represented by a Manipuri boxer and Assam's Bhupen Hazarika. What about the six other states of the region? NE has lost not just in time but in terms of percentage from the original video. When a region feels alienated from the rest the people who conceived this video should shown some more sensitivity and intellect.

For all the hype it created, 'Phir Mile Sur' turns out to be a complete dud. It was more like an advertisement for Bollywood at international film festivals rather than a video which will unite India. The old Mile Sur still seems to be rocking.

Pawar becoming an embarrassment for Manmohan

2010-01-25T18:19:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Sharad Pawar is turning out to be the biggest embarrassment for the Government. In there is one ministry in the UPA government which needs an overhaul it is the Agricultural Ministry which the Nationalist Congress Party chief is heading. Pawar's failure to control the price rise of essential commodities is seriously denting the image of the government which claims it to be a Government of the Aam Admi.

The big challenge for the Manmohan Singh now is how to save the face of the government without hurting the NCP chief. Congress had neutralised him in the Lok Sabha elections where they had gained more seats than the NCP. But the Maharashtra Assembly elections meant that Congress could not breathe in Maharashtra without NCP providing the oxygen cylinder.

What is hurting the government's image more is Sharad Pawar's aspiration for cricket which has become an embarrassment. When the country is recovering from one of it's worst financial crisis the person holding a key portfolio like agriculture seems to be too busy in paving a way for himself as the next ICC president.

Nobody doubts the intention of the Prime Minister or his abilities to run a government but he seems to be paying the price of running coalition government. Had Pawar still been with the Congress he would have surely lost his ministry but Manmohan's hands are tied. Taking any action against Pawar would be political suicide for the Maharashtra government.

Will Netaji's truth ever come out?

2010-01-23T14:30:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

He had once famously said "The greatest curse for a man is to remain a slave. The grossest crime is to compromise with injustice and wrong. The highest virtue is to battle against inequity, no matter what the cost may be.” As the nation celebrates the 113th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose we still wonder will the conspiracy surrounding his mysterious disappearance ever come out? It has been 63 years since we achieved independence India's biggest mystery still remains unsolved.

Many would like to believe in the crash theory that Netaji had succumbed to the injuries after the plane crash while many believed that there was a huge conspiracy behind his disappearance. Subhash Chandra Bose might have become a political victim and people who were threatened by his image as leader made sure that his life and death remained a mystery. Following are some reasons why many do not believe the plane crash theory:

The Taiwanese authorities have denied any plane to have crashed at the given time and date anywhere in their country. Can such a claim be out rightly rejected?
Declassified documents of British intelligence says British Prime Minister Clements Attlee decided ‘Let him remain where he (Subhash C. Bose) is now’. This decision was taken in October 1945. It clearly indicates that he was alive even in Oct 1945.
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was looking out for Bose till about 1950s due to his closenss to the Communist block, If he was dead why were they doing so?
In 1946, Gallacher, a British communist party worker publicly criticised the then Irish President D’ Valera for welcoming Netaji in Doublin! D’ Valera didn’t deny this. He visited India after 1946 and even commented publicly ‘I expected to meet Bose here’!
The British intelligence has reported that Nehru knew where Netaji was. Nehru took the Foreign Affairs portfolio himself and appointed none other than Vijayalekshmi Pandit as the ambassador to Russia!
Former Indian ambassador Dr Satyanarayana Sinha once met Goga, the son of Abani Mukherjee, a revolutionist in the Russian communist party; who told him that his father and Netaji were prisoners in adjacent cells in Siberia. He also told Sinha that Netaji had assumed the name ‘Khilsai Malang’ there. The most shocking of all information it contained was that Netaji had posted a letter from Russia to Nehru, telling that he wished to come back and he also asked Nehru to make amendments for his come back!
One more British archive document also states that the entire theory of the plane crash, in Taihuku (Japan), was pre-planned and contrived. In fact as late as December 20, 1945, a Japanese newspaper even reported that Bose was on his way to the Soviet Union and passed through Tokyo.
Netaji was in fact very much alive till at least 1946 one full year after his supposed "death". Russian archives had yielded two precious documents. The first concerned a discussion that Joseph Stalin had with his defense minister Voroschilov and foreign affairs minister Molotov in 1946. The second was a report filed by a Soviet field agent stationed in India, also in 1946 .

Congress-NCP sing the Marathi song

2010-01-21T17:49:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacarjee

Well if you thought on the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are the only saviour of 'Matathi Manoos' they have a new competitor. Well it is none other than the State Government or the combination of the Congress and the NCP. If the migrants in Mumbai (read Biharis and UP walas) thought that the grand old party of Indian politics would stand for their rights it has back stabbed them and played the language card.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday framed new rules for taxi drivers to get permits in Mumbai. According to the diktat, taxi drivers must have residence proof of 15 years of domicile in Maharashtra. New taxi permits will only be given to those who can speak, read and write Marathi, as per these rules. This in a city where more than two-third of the taxi drivers are migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The The Mumbai Taximen's Union (MTU) said it would move the Bombay (opps Mumbai!) High Court to challenge the government's move as this new rule is undemocratic and discriminating. Congress-NCP's move is simple, its pseudo-Marathi stand means that the Shiv Sena and NCP won't be able to play the Marathi card against the government. Both these parties thrive on the polarity in the state and if the government doesn't back the migrants then Shiv Sena and NCP might die a slow death.

The message from the government is quite simple “We are not welcome to migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bhiar”. Well many might argue that people from Maharashtra go unemployed due to the constant migration but the question arises why can't a Marathi drive the Taxi in the first place in his home state with the Home Ground Advantage while migrants (or better known as Bhaiyyas) can do it coming thousands of kilometres from their homes?

The other side of the story is that migrants thrive in business where the locals don't want to get their hands dirty. Why don't the Marathis sell milk and vegetables in Mumbai? Who has stopped them from competing with the migrants? If still the political parties say that the migrants are snatching the job than then they should stand up and applaud that migrant who has been able to do this thousands of kilometres away from home.

Now the big question is who will stand up for the rights of these migrants with the Congress and NCP also having turned their back on them. Well with Nitish turning the tide in Bihar migration might come down. NREGA has made Biharis stick to their state creating problems for big farmers in Punjab who don't get cheap labour any more. Hopefully the same happens in Maharashtra too for such politicians to wake up and realise the importance of migrants.

Deemed to Doomed University!

2010-01-20T17:53:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal seems to be in a mood to revolutionise higher education in India. He started with the argument for single board from the country, then scrapping of exams at the matriculation level and went to suggest 80% of marks as a criteria for seeking admission to the IITs. Now he has dropped a bomb on more than 2 lakh students by de recognising 44 deemed universities across 13 states in India.

Although nobody doubts Sibal's ability or his intent in changing the face of education in India he might be taking too many harsh steps which will pressurise the students more than change the educational system in India. There has been panic in the minds of the students studying in these deemed universities which seems to have become doomed overnight after the Central government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court requesting de-recognition.

It's a known fact that most of the Deemed Universities de recognised by the Centre ought to have been de recognised. Many were granting degrees at will and have become money laundering in wake of the autonomy granted to them and represent teaching cafés rather than universities. Some have upped their intake level beyond their permissible limits while most don't have experienced faculty to teach students in professional courses that they have started.

But the big questions that arises is who is responsible for granting them deemed status? Sibal's predecessor Arjun Singh's tenure as the HRD ministry is one of darkest phases in India's history. The controversy surrounding his reservation policy meant that the faulty process of accreditation that went under his nose went unnoticed. And the results are here for all of us to see. The Centre is in a Catch 22 situation where it has to de-recognise the deemed status even though it doesn't want to do so.

The biggest victims here have been the students who have flocked to these institutes seeing their deemed status. Now these people are uncertain about their future. These people who have invested their time and money in these institutes are in a panic mode all due to our bureaucracy and faulty educational system. Now will anybody from Arjun Singh to his bureaucrats to people running these institutions face any legal action?

Although Sibal's action was inevitable he could have approached it in a different manner. A time frame could have been set for revoking the deemed status so that the future students to these institutes could have a better choice at the same time the present crowd would have been spared. Monetary compensation to each student could have been a good idea to punish these institutes. As for Arjun Singh and his team nothing much can be done as all politician and bureaucrats in India enjoy immunity from legal action.

IPL 3: The fight begins with auction

2010-01-19T17:54:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

A noticeable difference between the first auction in the Indian Premiere League and the one today has been the maturity shown by the franchisees. One lesson that the teams have learnt in the last two seasons is big name don't necessarily deliver match winning performances. The bits and pieces cricketers and the lesser known names are the once who have generally excelled in the two editions of the tournament. New stars have taken birth in the last two years while some stars failed to sparkle.

Some teams like the Kolkata Knight Riders suffered heavily having too many big international names while most of their Indian players failed to perform in both the seasons. Having too many international stars also did not help cause as only four could be fielded. Deccan Chargers Hyderabad learnt the lesson in the first season where Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Shahid Afridi and Herschelle Gibbs could not be played in the same team.

Value for money seems to have been the mantra for most of the franchises in this auction and some of them have made smart and logical decisions. Kolkata Knight Riders have bought out the contract of Australia skipper Ricky Ponting who is unlikely to figure in this season's tournament. KKR who had made a mockery of themselves last years buying Bangladesh all-rounder Mashrafe Mortaza for $600,000 (Rs 2.7 crore) and played him in only one match made a sensible decision this time going for New Zealand all-rounder Shane Bond for a whopping $750,000 (Rs 3.42 crores)

Royal Challengers Bangalore followed KKR's footsteps and ending its relationship with Australian bowler Nathan Bracken. Explosive Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard also went for a whooping $750,000 after a four-way tie breaker. Pollard has impressed all with his display in the inaugural Champions League was brought by Mumbai Indians. Mohammad Kaif who was released by Rajasthan Royals was picked up by Kings XI Punjab.

Harshal Patel, Harmeet Singh and Ashok Menaria are the U-19 players who have a fixed price of Rs 8 Lakh. For the first time, Under-19 players have been introduced to the franchisees. This means that a lot of young blood who haven't even made their debut at the Ranji level will be seen in the company of the giants of international cricket. Although an excellent opportunity for this youngsters, these players have to be handled carefully to avoid them from getting overboard with the fastest version of the game.

The man who said no to a PM's post

2010-01-18T18:40:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

CPM patriarch Comrade Jyoti Basu is no more and his well wishers and supporters mourn his death. If for them he was no less than a messiah there is a certain section of the Bengali society who grew up criticising his policies he was a villain. But his death saw a trend which is hardly seen in Indian politics. From friends to foes all visited an ailing Jyoti Basu better known as Jyoti Babu at the hospital. On January 17, 2010 when the nation heard the news of his demise cutting across party lines leaders paid him tribute to one of post Independence India's most powerful and influential leaders.

There is no denying the fact that Jyoti Basu's hurt the educated middle class people from West Bengal in a unprecedented manner. West Bengal once India's shining economic model suddenly turned into what not to do in business and industrialisation. Left's opposition to education in the English medium cost the youth of the state hard who failed to find employment opportunities in the IT and the ITES sectors. The absence of industries and employment meant that West Bengal saw one of India's largest brain drains within the country.

But there was one instance in history for which Jyoti Basu would be respected for years to come and that was his decision to say NO to the Prime Minister's Office as that was mandate in his party. Jyoti Basu was not a by-product of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he was the party himself. Had he not respected the mandate of his party leaders, there was very little that could have stopped him from becoming the PM. But it was perhaps a decision only Jyoti Basu could take putting party before self ambitions.

Had Basu become the PM it would have been a historic moment not in India but in the context of Global Communism. The PM of the largest democracy having Leftist background would have definitely had fired in a new zeal of life into the dwindling ideology. Basu could have easily become the Stalin or the Mao of the new millennium. So when Basu termed it his party's decision in 1996 as a 'Historic Blunder' he wasn't referring to his personal ambition of missing out the top job in the country.

Had Basu been the Prime Minister than, Sitaram Kesri would not have had the courage to pull down the United Front Government as he did twice, once in 1997 with Deve Gowda and than again in 1998 with IK Gujaral. Gowda and Gujaral were no match for Basu's towering image. So it was very much likely that Jyoti Basu would have pulled off the first Non-Congress government at the centre to last it's full term, a honour that later went of another towering politician Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Jyoti Basu was no accidental politician but a politician out of choice. He followed his own conviction to become a trade union leader. A tag of St Xavier's School and Presidency College in pre independence India was equivalent to an IIT plus IIM today. Add to that a law degree from London School Of Economics and Basu could have gone high up in bureaucracy. He rather chose to fight for ideology and poor people. He represented a class which he was aloof from being the son of an US returned Doctor.

Jyoti Basu's legacy will always be debated and he will be criticised by many but one fact is true about this man, he was a staunch idealist and believed in what he did till his last day. He could have become a PM if he had wanted but he kept party above self greed. This is one precedent perhaps some of most successful politicians will find hard to emulate.

Sportsman versus the administration

2010-01-17T10:52:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Barely had Indian fans digested the fiasco around the Indian hockey that a new controversy has broken. Olympic Gold medallist and one of India’s biggest medal hopes at the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010, Abhinav Bindra has threatened to quit saying he was tired fighting with the system. This after the ace shooter had been in a tussle with the NRAI (National Riffle Association of India) over attending selection trial for the mega sporting event. Now with both the parties sticking to their own ego Indian sports is emerging to be the biggest looser and Indian fans are getting used to the ugly face of sports than the glittering medals.

The NRAI seems right on its part asking Bindra to attend trials for his selection. There is a fair argument as why should an exception be made in the case of any player. Bindra may have touched the pinnacle with his Olympic gold but most of the players in the Indian shooting team are medallist in other international events too. Making an exception for Bindra due to his star status post Beijing Olympics might set a wrong precedent in the sports. Even cricketer stars like Sachin Tendulkar has to participate in the domestic tournaments while making comeback into the Indian team post injuries. So why is Bindra making such a fuss about the entire issue many would argue.

The other side of the story is that NRAI has had very little role to play in Bindra’s success. It is well known that Bindra has practiced on his own over the years in his personal shooting range as India doesn’t yet have standard facilities to train its shooters. So if Bindra wants to prepare for the event on his own, overseas what is the problem with the NRAI? Isn’t winning a international medal more important than following the bureaucratic procedures? Can the NRAI guarantee Bindra the same standards of coaching which the ace shooter gets access to overseas.

Karnam Malleshwari, Rajvardhan Singh Rathore, Vijender Singh, Sushil Kumar and Abhinav Bindra have won medals at the Olympics more due to the individual talent and hard work. Their sorts associations have hardly played a role in their success. In all the above case the facilities provided to the athletes in India is of school or university level in many developed countries. The sports administration being run by politicians and bureaucrats rather than former sportsman themselves doesn’t help the cause either. Most of these bureaucrats and politicians have hardly anything to boast off in their own professional lives and they inspiring sportsman cannot be even thought of.

The easiest way in India for sports bodies to justify their failure has been to blame it on cricket. BCCI is perhaps the only sports body in India that doesn’t depend on the government for its functioning. Isn’t it a story of inspiration for other Indian sports bodies to follow? Team India might have recently become No.1 team recently but as far as branding and marketing the sport is concerned BCCI has been No.1 for almost a decade and flexed its muscle world over. Although, BCCI which isn’t aloof to political pressure but it can become a case study for other Indian sports bodies. It’s high time sports bodies in India start learning the tricks of the trade from cricket rather than bashing it to conceal their own flaws.

On the Bindra front the outcome of this tussle is quite well known. The association and the player will reach a compromise after the intervention of the Sports Ministry as it will not want to loose a medal hope. But the face of Indian sports gets tainted with every such incident. Sports is studied as a science in the west where as in India we are still having such ugly tussles over petty issues. From Adolf Hitler to Americans to the Chinese, sports has been seen as the best statement to superiority in peaceful manner. We in India should wake up to this fact, the sooner the better it will be for us.

Solar Eclipse: Science, Superstition and Spirituality

2010-01-15T17:41:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

15th January 2010 will be remembered as one of those days which has involved one and all in a majestic celestial occurrence. The Solar Eclipse has something for everyone, a huge opportunity for the scientific community to do some research on the sun and the solar system, an god sent opportunity for the astrologers to make some extra buck and above all opportunity for the ultra superstitious to practice some traditions which have been followed over centuries with very little or no questioning.

The solar eclipse is also has turned mythical as well as a spiritual event in India coinciding with the ongoing Mahahumbh Mela. Haridwar which has seen a huge rush of people for Kumbh mela took a holy dip during the solar eclipse as it is a very pious act. It is very auspicious, it is very fruitful and it can get one salvation. Others stayed indoors meditated and performed havan in what they believed to be a inauspicious period.

No one perhaps enjoys a Solar Eclipse more than the scientific community for whom it is an opportunity to study rare phenomena in the solar system. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launched a series of rockets from its two centres to study this solar eclipse and its repercussions. These were launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh and Thumba in Kerala. Other international space agencies like the NASA were taking pictures of the Sun and broadcasting it for the audience to see.

For thousands of shutter bugs around the world it was a never to be missed opportunity to capture a magnification celestial event through their lenses. Many video journalist and photo journalist armed with their equipment had thronged to those parts of the world from where the Eclipse was best visible. Astrologers were not left behind in making this event to make their wallet bulkier. After all, even the non-believers don't mind reading astrological predictions.

For the media it was another opportunity to soar its TRP ratings by giving humongous coverage to the event from across the world and giving them the bits and pieces of the eclipse. There was a sharp contrast in the reporting style of the vernacular media and the English media in India. While the folks speaking Queen's language stuck to facts and slammed myths, those broadcasting Hindi and other regional languages tried to cash in on myths and superstitions.

One thing which is true to all these groups is the fact that most of them won't witness such a Solar Eclipse in their lifetime. This solar eclipse was the longest solar eclipse of 21st century and also he longest ring-like solar eclipse of the millennium. So for all those who have missed this majestic site today you might have to wait a little longer for the next such event which NASA said would occur only after December 23, 3043!

Luring the money minting machines

2010-01-14T11:21:00.003+05:30

By: Reetasri Bhattacharjee

Giving voting rights to NRI’s, the Indian government is taking too big a step in making them part of our political system. True that they have been born and brought up here, it is their motherland. But they have been out of the country for too long to even understand how the country works today. The political system was changed over the years; the system is more complex and complicated now. There are more political parties now then there ever was. Regional parties are making a huge splash into the political scenario and have changed the way politics is envisaged here.

These non-resident Indians has been living in another system and naturally are more aware of that country’s political system. As human nature, they have adapted to a different system and understand that more easily. Some of them still do have strong ties with the country, but that no way means that they come here regularly or are part of the country like they had been before.

Some of the NRI’s are claiming that they have always been trying to improve the condition of the schools, hospitals and other facilities in the villages and that they should get the right to also have a say into the election. What they are doing is indeed noble and worthwhile, but how can they ask a favour back for that? Why can’t they contribute to their villages, towns and cities selflessly? Are they not contributing solely on humanitarian grounds or do they have some ulterior motives behind their support?

Even if they are given the voting rights, what will they benefit from it or as a matter of fact what will the people living in this country benefit. Will their contributions increase, can they ensure that corruption will decrease or can they ensure that the common man’s voice will be heard? What will they achieve by being a part of the political system when they have nothing to do with this system. Financial support is not the only thing that needs to be looked into, there are other factors too that are equally important for a politically active country like India.

The Indian government is obviously trying to appease these rich Indians as they can pour in a lot of money. Giving them voting rights is like luring them to pump in more money to fill in their coffers. How much will the money actually be used for the people is known to us. We only have to wait and watch what else will the people in power do to attract the people with money.

This blog has been contributed by Reetasri Bhattacharjee a dear friend of mine. She is a regular blogger on blogspot and maintains the blog My Passing Moments

Someone said Hockey is our 'National Game'

2010-01-13T17:56:00.004+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

If any sports enthusiast from abroad lands in India and decides to study the sports culture in India he will find a stark contrast between the India's most popular game 'Cricket' and our National Game 'Hockey.' While Cricket is played and followed throughout the country, Hockey's popularity is limited to certain parts of the country. If cricket has gone onto become a religion in the country, Hockey has been punctured by the administrators, the government and above all people like us for whom Hockey is what we academically study as India's 'Nation Game.'

Although the recent crisis may be seen as the biggest shame for the game in India, the slow poisoning has been going on for ages and players like Pargat Singh and Dhanraj Pillai can tell the entire story. A teaser from a Dhanraj Pillai's interview used to do rounds of Doordarshan some years ago where the ace striker had said “Hockey ne mughe naam diya, shauhrat diya par daulat diya” (Hockey has given me name and fame but hasn't given me money)

Although some administrators may see this article in bad taste but this remains a hard fact of Indian hockey. Although playing for the nation and the tri-colour should be motivation enough for any international sportsman he should get what he deserves. India's hockey players are paid much lesser than what a cricketer at a domestic level earns. Are they wrong in demanding for a healthy sum of money from the Hockey India? They have added the 'PERFORMANCE' clause in their demand which should be praised rather than criticised.

The administrators of all sports major sports in India apart from cricket are retired bureaucrats and politicians and insane remarks from them for the players is nothing unexpected. How many of the administrators of Hockey India dedicated their service to the nation during their youth without wanting a good pay? How many of these administrators know what effort does it take for a player to break into the national circuit? Why was a strike required for the administrators to listen to the just demand of the players at the first place?

It was also ironical to see from corporates to state government to celebrities queuing up to sponsor the players. Where were these people when these players were forced to go on a strike. Giving a sum of a few crores now is in the interest of all these parties. With the issue having become a national shame and attracted millions of eyeballs a few crores is not a bad advertisement after all. In a quite environment tens of crores would be required to gain that much popularity.

Many may wonder why Hockey was chosen as our National Game. Well when it came to Olympics we are still the best in terms of records having won 8 Golds, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze and the next best record held by Netherlands stands at 4 Golds. Post Independence we had won three consecutive Olympic Golds. The irony is our National Animal 'Tiger' and the National Bird 'Peocock' both are endangered and so seems to be the case with our 'National Game'

Virat Kohli: The boy has come of age

2010-01-12T18:04:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

December 24, 2009 is a day spectators at the Mecca of Indian cricket, Eden Gardens would remember for a long time as they witnessed the birth of a new champion in Virat Kohli. When Kohli had come out to bat India were spot of bother at 23 for 2 chasing a huge target of 315 against Sri Lanka. If there was disappointment among fans, cricket administrators were worried as Eden's emotional crowd had in the past given Indian cricket some ugly sights when India had been in a loosing situation. The World Cup semifinal of 1996 versus Sri Lanka and the 1999 Test match versus Pakistan where the stands had to be emptied comes back to haunt India cricket fans till date

But Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir not only gave some relief to the administrators but also made sure Eden witnessed one of Team India's best ODI chase. Kohli the former U-19 World Cup winning captain took charge of the situation and played a stunning knock to steal a match from under Sangakara's throat. India's most loved cricket stadium which saw many records break during the encounter got a glimpse of the Kohli's talent. He dominated the innings playing proper cricketing shots through the ground hardly giving any chance to the bowlers. Gautam Gambhir's gesture to hand over the Man of the Match award to him was perhaps the greatest honour coming from a team-mate.

If anybody thought that Kohli's performance at Eden was fluke the the tri-series in Bangladesh has given Kohli a chance to prove his class. With scores of 9, 91, 71 n.o. and the latest 102 n.o Kohli has emerged India's most reliable batsman ahead of champions like Sehwag, Yuvraj, Gambhir and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Another thing that strikes is Kohli's performance is the fact that all his knocks have come in the second innings and along with Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni he forms a rare club of cricketers who can perform under pressure while chasing.

Another interesting thing that is notice worthy in Kohli's game is the fact that he can score at brisk pace even though he doesn't seems to be a slam-bang cricketer. He is a run accumulator of the likes of Michael Bevan and Michael Hussy. Being a part of a star studded line-up which has big hitters of the ball Kohil perfectly fits the bill. The only thing that Kohli has to keep in mind is not to get complacent with his superb performance ans maintain this consistency. He certainly has been a find for the Indian team ahead of the World Cup in 2011.

Why can't we crticise Jawaharlal Nehru?

2010-01-11T17:53:00.003+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor is in trouble again. This time not for his Tweets but for his nature of free speech. The controversy when Tharoor while attending the Indian Council of World Affairs in London commented “foreign policy of Nehru and Gandhi was more like a moralistic running commentary.” This was enough for the sycophants in the Congress party calling for Tharoor's blood. If Tharoor acted like a unread politician in his Tweet controversy his latest comments were more scholarly in nature.

Now the question is where did Tharoor go wrong? The gravest mistake that Tharoor has done in this he has criticised the Congress' holiest cow Jawaharlal Nehru and his foreign policy. In a country claiming itself to be the largest democracy in the world there is no room for courage of conviction. How can someone in this country question the decisions and policies made by the First Family of Indian politics. Congress won't ever criticise Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi and it is a sin for anybody else in the country to do so.

It is a well known fact that our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's foreign policy failed on many counts notably in regards to China in 1962 and Pakistan in 1948. Has the Congress party forgotten all that? He had failed to understand the Chinese intention before the outbreak of the 1962 war. His foreign policy miserably failed leading to India's biggest hour of national shame. Can the Congress today defend the failure of our foreign policy then? Can anybody deny the losses India and its armed forces suffered during that period.

Being a Kashmiri, Nehru thought he was better suited to handle the Kashmir issue and took charge of the situation from Home Minister Vallabhai Patel. His decision to stop the advancement of the Indian army and agreement on a cease fire and reference to the United Nations gave India with its biggest issue of foreign policy 'Kashmir.' It handed over more than one-third of the Kashmir Valley in the hands of the Pakistanis a fact that no student in India drawing the map of the country realises. It was perhaps done intentionally to make sure people never recognise Nehru's blunder.

Can the Congress come out and defend Nehru in both these foreign policy blunder? Nehru was not only about failures and his greatest achievement with respect to foreign policy was his instrumental role in setting up the Non Aligned Moment. If we praise Nehru for his achievement why can't we criticise him for his failures? He was no god after all. We might have got independence from the Britishers 63 years ago but we yet to be freed from the clutches of political sycophants.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni: The finisher

2010-01-08T18:13:00.002+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

Before the start of the 2007 World Cup in West Indies India's most successful captain Sourav Ganguly said that the biggest difference between the 2003 runner-up squad was the presence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Although India crashed out of the tournament in the first round Sourav's quote spoke volumes of the swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman from Jharkhand. It is no wonder that in the same year Dhoni was handed the responsibility of leading in the inaugural T20 World Cup. Rest they say is history as Dhoni's men lifted the cup defeating arch rivals Pakistan in a dream final.

Cut to January 2010 when Bangladesh have set India a stiff target of 297. Chasing India struggle at 53 for 5 when Captain Cool walks into the middle. He starts rebuilding the innings with Virat Kohli, stays till the end unbeaten on a hundred ensuring the Bangla tigers don't have any reason to dance in the streets of Mirpur. Only half a decade back India used to choke under pressure while chasing but MSD along with Yuvraj Singh has changed the story completely. Dhoni belongs to a rare breed of cricketer who perform better under pressure. He is rightly being tagged as 'Finisher.'

Dhoni is one of the rare batsman who averages more in the second innings than in the first and the only captain to average over 60 in One Day Internationals. What makes this feat even more special is the fact that after becoming the captain, Dhoni has played more as a floater and not any permanent position in the batting order. Such flexibility might have adverse effect even on the most seasoned cricketer but Dhoni's performance remains consistent.

One thing which separates Dhoni from all the other Indian batsman is his ability to perform under pressure. Even the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag have shown signs of choking under pressure by Dhoni never shows an iota of nerves. Dhoni's approach to pressure matches seems to be more Australian than Indian. Although an aggressive cricketer by nature, Dhoni is never seen loosing his cool on his team-mates and opponents. No wonder he was handed the baton to lead the team ahead of experienced campaigners like Yuvraj, Sehwag and Harbhajan.

In the early part of the decade Indian team learnt to win against the best of the opposition and Sourav Ganguly was said to have brought in the aggression to the team. Players like Sehwag, Harbhaja, Zaheer and Yuvraj came from what became known as the 'Ganguly School of Cricket.' Dhnoni seems to have put his feet on the accelerator and the team seems to be pulling out victories from near impossible situation. Virat Kohli, Ravinder Jadeja seem to excel under pressure and we can rightly say the 'Dhoni School of Cricket' seems to have arrived.

Kashmir: A land of great ironies

2010-01-07T17:59:00.013+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

The West says if there is one place on earth from where the Third World War could begin, it is the beautiful valley of Kashmir. Such tags of volatility of brutality attached to a place about which the great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had once said “Agar Firdous Bar Roi Zamanast Tho, Haminasto, Haminasto, Haminasto" (If there is ever a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here). But Kashmir has been a land of ironies for the past two decades. It is an irony that all world leaders and diplomats know the beautiful Kashmir like the back of their hand for all the wrong reasons.

It is ironical that the terrorists attack in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar came on a day when J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah declared 2010 to be a 'Visit Kashmir Year.' The fundamentalists could not have dealt the state's tourism any better blow. Just days before this J&K police chief had figures to prove that violence in the valley in 2009 had been lowest in the last two decades since the conflict started. But statistics and figures don't always reveal the ground situation. However, it is no irony that the militants chose to target Srinagar's most famous landmark the Lal Chowk. After all a trouble territory tag serves many vested interests both within the nation and outside it.

Incidents like this questions the regular demand for troop reduction and even question the presence of such a huge number of security forces. Although militancy has been curbed to a certain extent but Kashmir still remains the most troubled territory in the country. Even though our neighbour on the west bleeds at the hands of the self created 'Frankenstein monster' it's support to infiltration of terrorists remains undeterred. It also seems highly ironical that Pakistan still hasn't gotten over its obsession with Kashmir even though every inch of its territory has been painted with stains of blood in the last few years.

Kashmir valley which was once the most favoured destination for the honeymooners and travellers wanting to escape tropical heat of the plains is the most common posting for an armed force personal today. The Chinar trees have given way to police and army pickets and Dal's beauty has be ruined by the barbed wires. There is anguish among certain groups of people towards the government but majority of Kashmiris seem to have become tired of violence. The irony however is even a minute law and order incident is enough to bring people to the streets and halt normal life in the valley for days.

The biggest irony of all is that the entire idea of 'Kashmiriat' seems to have gone for a toss. Ordinary Kashmiri people are sandwiched between the separatists, the moderates, the government and it's biggest instrument the military. Another irony is that all these groups claim to represent the people of Kashmir but ask any ordinary Kashmiri his conviction may be as varied as the shades of grey. Somewhere in all these irony 'Paradise on Earth' is dying a slow death. Wonder if there will come a time when someone will again stand up and say “Agar Firdous Bar Roi Zamanast Tho, Haminasto, Haminasto, Haminasto”

Jyoti Basu's legacy is worth a debate

2010-01-06T18:07:00.001+05:30

By: Subhadeep Bhattacharjee

There are two breeds of politicians, one who rule a state or a nation and the second who change it's fate. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu belonged to the rare second breed. It is not too often in India that a leader is unchallenged for decades but Comrade Basu is perhaps the only leader in the country to have held his chair for two decades virtually unopposed. Even the towering Gandhis cannot claim such a feat. Basu virtually never saw a low in his political career after taking on as the Chief Minister in 1977.

A testament to his towering image came to light in the last few days of his life when leaders from across party lines visited the Communist patriarch who lay on his death bed. Such gestures are not common in Indian politics anymore when mudslinging and abuses is the order of the day. The exorbitant courage of his conviction can be understood from the fact that he rejected the post of the Prime Minister as his party did not want it. Honoring party's mandate came first for Jyoti Basu who was not a byproduct of the party by the party himself.

In his hay days Comrade Jyoti Basu stood like a pillar which did not show an iota of tremor even when Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi tried to shatter the Left out of West Bengal. The politics of the state seemed to be insulated from the national political fever and Basu was instrumental in building this insulation. It would have been interesting to see what would Jyoti Basu have been as the Prime Minister after almost making it to 7, Race Course Road in 1996 only to be denied a swearing in by his own party. Basu later termed it as a historical blunder.

When in 2000, Basu decided to call it quits with active politics he had already served 23 years as the Chief Minister of one of India's most politically active states. A testament to his success can be measured from the fact that he served five consecutive terms as Chief Minister unopposed. His decision to leave the chair and pass it on to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was more like a seasoned batsman retiring hurt after getting tired with his long innings. Idealist to the core, Jyoti Basu symbolised what Indian Communism is, having been a member of the Politburo from the time of the party's founding in 1964 to 2008.

Jyotirindra Basu, the third child of Dr. Nisikanta Basu and Smt. Hemlata Basu born on July 8, 1914 wrote the modern history of Bengal. In the two and half decades of his tenure as the Chief Minister, Basu changed the entire image of Bengal. If the industrial image of the state took a huge beating there was cheers from the poor agricultural community who benefited from Left's Land Reforms and shared cropping. Today, even though Bengal might not be as industrialised as Maharashtra but there are no farmer suicides in Bengal either as in Maharsahtra. So the Left rule and Basu's legacy studied only from an urban perspective might not reveal a true picture.

If his life of staunch communism is a case study in Indian politics his political legacy is debatable. For a poor farmer in a remote area of Bengal, Comrade Basu might have been a messiah who freed him from the clutches of landlords while for an educated middle class youth from urban Bengal, Basu might be a villain who managed to push the once flourishing state into the dark ages. Basu's life remains a chapter of personal conviction where there is no single truth. He was a messiah to some and a villain to others. A fact that stands out is Basu changed the fate of Bengal and his political career has no parallels in India.