Rani Ramakrishnan's Blog, page 3

Broken

With enthusiasm churned out of potent energies

Hidden in latent ambition,

And saved up hopes of a lifetime

New Beginnings are made.

Bright and sunny,

The possibilities sparkle like Sirius

Making tomorrow a much awaited

Dream worth living for.

 

Fate is but unfair, as is life.

Often hopes are dashed

And dreams shattered

Into a million pieces of invisible shrapnel

Whose sharp jibes are painful,

Constant reminders of a yesterday

Gone awry;

Never to return or redeem.

 

Setting aside the sorrows

Of bygone days,

And mistaken ways,

One more attempt at fate’s roulette

To right the wrongs

Bestowed by the day before’s

Knockout blow to the head

Is but the norm.

 

One more time, the passion is built,

Another well of hope discovered

And the foundations of a fresh start laid.

Fed with resilience gained from experience

The bundles of old grief

Exchanged for faith and conviction,

Another first step of the thousand-mile journey

Begins with pomp and ceremony.

 

As all else on earth, this too ends

When gravity wins

And the hatchet slices through its carotid.

A million smithereens of pointy reminders

Filling each moment with

Piercing indications of the debacle

Lie all around

Irreversible and very visible.

 

How many more times should

Such failure one embrace

And smile for the benefit of uncaring others?

How many times should

The joints of one’s precariously glued persona

Be reattached meticulously

Before one can acknowledge the truth?

I am broken!

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Twice Blessed – Sneak Peek

 

With mounting fear, Tamannah and the rest of The Gang plead with the police officer to let them through but he refuses. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, helped by their growing panic, they push past him and rush to their friend’s room. At the door, they come to an abrupt halt. A chilling scene welcomes them….

The Determination

 Tamannah is determined to find out what happened to her friend that day. She sets out on a mission, certain that when she has all the answers life will become bearable again.

The Truth

A sinister truth lurks in the shadows. Step by step, she inches closer to it, not realizing that it is unlike anything she imagined. It has the potential to put her past, present, and future at risk…

The Aftermath

Everything is lost. The aftermath of her encounter with the bitter truth, catching her unawares, decimates her. Will she gather the courage to fight back? Will that be enough…?

Find out, now!

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TWICE BLESSED EBOOK Free Sample

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Bitten by the Columbus Bug

Should you become a writer? Can you write fiction? Is writing for you?

Are these are the questions troubling you?  You have come to the right place. I will try to address these questions in this post.

Who am I and am I even qualified to answer these questions? I am a novelist, and I can tell you how I began. You decide if it works for you.

What is the right age to begin writing?

I started writing at an early age, sometime after two. Before you gasp and assume I was a child prodigy, let me clarify. Like most children growing up in India, I was officially inducted into the sacred realm of enlightenment through a simple ceremony at home on the auspicious ‘Victory Day’ (Vijaya Dashami).

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This is a common practice in India. On this day every year, thousands of children learn to write in a token ceremony. These initiation rituals extend to leaning in all fields including music, art, dance . . . Learning / Education was held in high esteem in ancient India and some of these traditions have survived in spite of being thousands of years old.

Thus began my tryst with the art of writing.

Until a few years ago, all I had ever written were things related to academics, reports, emails, etc. I tried blogging when it was a new phenomenon but abandoned it after writing one post. I felt I had nothing original to contribute! The only out of the ordinary writing I can claim to have done is resume writing.

For all family members and many acquaintances, I have had the privilege of designing and writing resumes / cover letters etc.

Does any of this hint that I showed signs of becoming a novelist one day?

The Columbus Bug:

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On 03 Aug 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail to the west. His ambition, to reach Asia, on the East. How cool is that or should I say, how crazy. He launched himself into an endless unexplored ocean, travelling in the ‘opposite’ direction of his intended destination, defying logic . . ., and failed!

He landed on another continent that the world never knew existed. He failed to find the westward route to Asia but he discovered the Americas, the New World.

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“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

By Robert Frost

What am I getting at here? If you have the Columbus Bug in you and you are itching to explore it, I say go for it!

Exploring Writing:

On 01 Jan 2015, I made a New Year Resolution. I promised my friend Prabhs, that I would try my hand at writing a novel.

I have an admission here; this was to be my third attempt at writing fiction.[image error]

I had converted to Bookwormism way back in the fifth grade, when I discovered Enid Blyton. Since then the library has always been a sacred place, which I frequented at every opportunity. Sometime in high school, I thought about writing and began a Nancy Drew style ‘detective story’. It began well enough but I had no plot, characters or story in mind. Taking my pen for a walk led me to a solid brick wall, and after meandering for twenty pages, I ran out of steam. I gave up; deciding story telling was not for me.

Years later, unemployed and frustrated, on a hot sunny day, I began my second tryst. This time, I thought of writing something wholesome and there is nothing more endearing than the story of a happy loving family. With this brief brief, I began. After typing away for a few pages, I had seven beautiful characters and nothing else! I had no clue what to do with my creations and how to take the story forward. I gave up, for the second time.

On 01 Jan 2015, my third attempt was different. A resolution and a promise to a friend drove me to begin with a little more preparation. I dug out my earlier story with the beautiful characters and thought about what I could do with them. I made a broad outline of how I was going to take things forward; nipped out segments I couldn’t use, took inspiration from Shakespeare, and started working on Twice Blessed.[image error]

So, if you are wondering if you should become a writer, you’ll never know until you try. It takes a bit of your time and nothing else to try. If time is something you cannot spare, then probably it’s not for you, right now. Otherwise, you should at least try.

The idea is to keep trying a few times, if you find that your first attempt bombed. Remember Abraham Lincoln. What if he had given after his first defeat? America would be a different country today.

Can you write fiction?

That is a difficult question. As I have already described, fiction can derail you anytime. Let us give it some thought. We all have stories to tell, right; about our day, our work, our life . . . . Stories are everywhere. You can write them too.

This is what I found.

Putting pen to paper is the hardest. (I prefer to type into my computer now, but the actual process of begriming is very tough.) You missed all the opportunities you never attempted, so make the effort. Write a few words. Begin.
Having a broad storyline helps. Each time I began without having a storyline in mind, I got struck after experimenting with words. Multiple stories crowd your mind and you end up getting nowhere. So decide what you are writing, put it down on paper somewhere, and Begin.
It’s ok to be unsure of specifics. Often, the specifics come with the flow of the story and cannot be decided upfront. That is perfectly ok. You can pen the specifics as you progress once you Begin.
Don’t worry about how things are progressing. Write. The most important thing is to Begin.

Is writing for you?

 I have pursued diverse interests throughout my life’ I studied science in school and opted for humanities in college, at work, I migrated from customer care to sales and operations, and I even ditched corporate ambitions in favour of entrepreneurship. But I have to admit that I enjoyed every one of those choices to the fullest. I believed in what I was doing and I was happy.

Writing is different. It began as an experiment about which I had limited expectations going in. But I have discovered that when I write, I am at peace. It’s something I hiver experienced with any of my other ventures. Writing for me is like meditation. It enlivens me and gives me a sense of accomplishment, even if I am the only one reading my day to day output.[image error]

For you to know if writing is for you, please take time to experience your emotions in association with your writing. When you are able to judge that, then you will know.

Whether your books will sell, whether you will be a millionaire . . . , I don’t know. Time will tell. But if you pay heed to your emotions, you will know if you will enjoy your journey to becoming a millionaire, long before you become one.

Happy writing!

In the next post, we will discuss, what to write?

 

Allegory : Hiding in plain sight

Here is a modern day ‘management parable’!

A young chick pecked on cow droppings and grew strong. Every time he ate, he flew a little higher, until one day; he was able to reach the highest point on the farm, the top branch of the tallest tree.

The rooster sat on the highest branch of the tree and gloated at its feat. It felt happy and proud to have flown so far. Unfortunately, its high perch was visible for miles and a farmer hunting for food spotted it. He took out his airgun and fired at it. Wounded, it fell off the tree onto the hard ground.

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The bird lay there shivering in pain. A cow passing that way took pity on the shrivelling creature and dropped dung on it. When the farmer came searching for his kill, he couldn’t find the cockerel as it was now wrapped in a mound of bovine crap. He left empty handed.

Soon, thanks to the heat of the poop, the chick felt warm and alive. Forgetting its past worries, it whistled a happy tune. A cat pasting along heard the music and decided to investigate.

The cat dug the bird out of its warm haven and feasted on it with relish.

A below average story you say? Let us make it interesting and useful:

A young chick pecked on cow droppings and grew strong. Every time he ate, he flew a little higher, until one day; he was able to reach the highest point on the farm, the top branch of the tallest tree.Management Lesson 1: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be very high up! 

The rooster sat on the highest branch of the tree and gloated at its feat. It felt happy and proud to have flown so far. Unfortunately, its high perch was visible for miles and a farmer hunting for food spotted it. He took out his airgun and fired at it. Wounded, it fell off the tree onto the hard ground. Management Lesson  2: Bullshit can get you to the top but it won’t help you stay there.

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The bird lay there shivering in pain. A cow passing that way took pity on the shriveling creature and dropped dung on it. When the farmer came searching for his kill, he couldn’t find the cockerel as it was now wrapped in a mound of bovine crap. He left empty handed. Management Lesson 3: Not everyone who craps on you is your enemy.

Soon, thanks to the heat of the poop, the chick felt warm and alive. Forgetting its past worries, it whistled a happy tune. A cat pasting along heard the music and decided to investigate. Management Lesson 4: When in deep shit, keep your mouth shut.

The cat dug the bird out of its warm haven and feasted on it with relish. Management Lesson 5: Not everyone who pulls you out of shit is your friend.

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As you can see, the story had a hidden meaning; a lesson it wanted to convey in an albeit tacky manner. Such stories are Allegories

Definition: Allegory (noun)

A story, poem or picture that conveys a hidden meaning, usually a social, moral or political meaning, is often termed as an allegory.

Allegories have been around for centuries. Our epics, ancient scriptures teaching the importance of love, honesty, social discipline, etc are all allegories.

Synonyms: Popular synonyms include:

Apologue (an animal story with a moral)
Fable (an ancient story with a moral)
Myth (a historical tale about society, which can convey a moral sometimes)
Parable (a simple story with a meaning, usually related to Christianity)

Related Words: Certain other common usages in English, which are similar to allegories include:

Metaphor (A figure of speech used often to describe something. The objects used are unrelated to the issue being discussed but convey the messenger accurately when considered in the right context. ) E.g: All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. – William Shakespeare
Analogy (Comparing one thing to another to convey the meaning) E.g “Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.” – Don Marquis.
Simile (Comparing something to a similar object, thereby describing it) E.g. She’s as cute as a button.

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Make your writing more effective with allegories, metaphors, analogies and similes.

India, at seventy

I have tried to blend two of my all time favourite poems, “if” by Kipling and “Where the Mind is..” by Tagore, with some of my own thoughts and created a ‘remix ‘ poem. Hope you enjoy reading it.

 

If their mind is fearless, and gait full of life

Even in the blackest of nights,

If heads are held high with pride for achievements

Of sons and daughters alike,

If knowledge is free for all, the rich and the poor,

And its quality never compromised;

If society is not fragmented by domestic walls

Of Caste, religion, language or wealth,

Then, at seventy, Oh India, your children are truly free,

And forever will be.

 

If consequences don’t determine the choice of the spoken word

And only truth defines it;

If all work is aimed at perfection rather than completion,

Or mere uncoordinated tokenism;

If clear stream of reason is not a seasonal brook

On the verge of perennial obliteration

At the hands of dead habits, cultivated in self interest,

Incapable of securing the greater good;

Then, at seventy, Oh India, your children are truly free,

And forever will be.

 

If faith is the guiding light for every soul, not dimmed in anyway

By the origins of said faith,

And if actions of all faithful are united by the sole goal

Of love, for their nation and its citizens alike;

If birth is a right never curbed before realisation

And health not a losing battle,

If tomorrow is as bright for the youth as today for their parents,

And hope, a torch fuelled by past successes,

Then, at seventy, Oh India, your children are truly free,

And forever will be.

 

If otherwise your joints are weak with discord,

And heart heavy with widespread strife,

If your children starve and women fear

While leaders squabble, not act;

If plunder provokes nature’s fury to descend, as floods and famine,

And drought and disease;

If nationalism is confined to definitions and laws

Redefined every passing day,

Then at seventy, Oh India, true freedom is a few steps away,

And your children must toil through the way.

 

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The Kashmir Conundrum

Can the Kashmir problem be solved?

Millions of people around the world, who are linked to Kashmir in some way or the other, are probably asking this question every time the state of Jammu and Kashmir is mentioned in the news. Perhaps the more pertinent question is do we WANT to resolve the matter?

The marriage of this state with the rest of India was solemnised by its patriarchal ruler. The feelings of an unwilling bride were never factored in, neither were the possible overtures of other suitors. This relationship continues to be turbulent even today because of which we seldom hear of the region outside of news channels.

The tragic story of this Himalayan Beauty began long before, probably when the British ‘sold’ the region at a ‘convenient’ price. To understand something of the history of this region and to appreciate the reasons behind the conflict, you may want to visit What is the Kashmir issue .

Reality Check:

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Contrary to the indications of the official Indian map, the ground reality is that J&K is being governed in parts by Pakistan and China, besides India. Certain sections within the local communities resent the presence of Indian troops and constantly resort to pelting stones on them. They also sympathize with militants and shelter them whenever possible.

In a dramatic turn a few days ago, an operation to flush out a terrorist became bloody when the locals attacked the Indian troops in support to the terrorist. This hostile environment is making enforcement of law and order doubly difficult for the army, paramilitary and police, alike. Their families are also being singled out and threatened. (for details check : Between stone pelters and pellet guns: security personnel pay a heavy price )

It has recently been reported that not all stone pelters are patriots. Some of them are paid, thugs. For a paltry sum of Rs. 5000 /- a month, young men are being recruited as stone pelters.  These young men are at risk of getting gravely injured by pellet guns or even killed. Kashmiri stone pelters admit paid has an indepth report on this discovery.

The radicalisation of the society is so deep that the death of a single terrorist led to a complete shutdown of the state, widespread arson, several incidents of schools being torched etc. His funeral saw the attendance of thousands, many bearing Pakistan flags and shouting anti-India slogans.

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The current logjam in the state cries out the shameful lack of will on the part of successive governments at both central and state level, to address the issue. Terrorist organisations and radical right wingers are having a hay day due to this indecisiveness. They are harnessing every means possible to get their word across and winning the sympathy of locals.

Pakistan and China are forging new ties and building an economic corridor across Pakistan occupied Kashmir (Pakistan China Economic Corridor ). Having won a lot of local hearts, Pakistan has in the past lacked military might to take on India. With China now having a vested interest in Pakistan’s continued presence in Kashmir, the equations are likely to be dramatically altered.

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One must also remember that border disputes with China are not limited to J&K and India has in the past not been able to gain an upper hand in negotiations with its mighty communist neighbour.

Caught in the middle are the defence forces. They are built to tackle unpleasant situations both natural and unnatural, but administration and governance are not their forte. That is the job of the state. By making a uniformed soldier the face of authority in the region, successive Indian governments have effectively alienated the local population. Now the situation is so volatile, the uniformed forces cannot be eased out without unwanted ramifications.

The Possible Solutions:

If the government is willing, then there are several things that it can do. Its development agenda is bang on. The commissioning of the new Chenani-Nashri tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and any such projects should be continued. The state government, formed by elected representatives of the very population which are agitating, should become the harbinger of change in the state.

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Peaceful regions have to become hubs of growth. The ill will ingrained by decades of dubious propaganda and insurgency can be overcome only by changes on the ground. Social media, the double edged sword which is now uniting the radicals, must be harnessed to spread positive developments and good will.

On its part, the Canter took a bold move with the surgical strikes. Instead of dwelling on it publicly, it is time for more such tactical moves and making rightful use of our armed forces. Our borders need to be secured.

It is also time to decide if LoC is the actual border or if we wish to enforce the borders as in our official map. No government wished to be burdened with the legacy of this decision and so the bloodshed and loss of lives continue unabated.

It is also time for India to sit down and hash out its border disputes with China. With every passing day, its clout is growing internationally. Before the proposed economic corridor creates an impossible impasse and further complicates the matter in the region, we must try to reach some form of an agreement.

All of these efforts will be a waste if the internal unrest cannot be addressed. Radical views and calls for independence cannot be stamped out in a democracy; they have to be ‘eased’ out. For this, the state government has to win popularity through its sustained efforts. The state has to witness development; its children should have access to good education and its people socio-economic wellbeing.

It is also time to introduce foot soldiers of a different kind in the strife-torn parts. Local persons who believe in peace, Kashmiris living outside the state, who have benefited from living under better conditions etc. They must all be roped in to make the cause for peace popular. Technology can be a great enabler in this.

Things will not happen overnight but it may not take too long either. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If someone is willing to risk his life for Rs. 5000/- a month, then one can easily understand his economic situation. When that changes, positive changes in both thinking and action will occur.

Fatigue in Fatigue

 

In India, nationalism has taken on many meanings. During the freedom struggle, it was about independence and self-governance. In free India, it became about unity in diversity. Somewhere along the way, it also took on hues of caste, religion, language, rights and honour.

 

Needless to say, Indian Nationalistic views have undergone some radical transformations in the past decades. Nevertheless, one steadfast symbol of nationalism which has never failed to evoke pride and respect in the minds of the most defiant dissenter of Indian Nationalism have been the ‘Uniformed Services’ of our country.

A soldier has always been held in high regard by society. For the common person, a soldier symbolises an ideal son of the nation. He is someone who has pledged his life for the well-being of its citizens. A soldier’s job is not viewed merely as a profession; rather it’s a service of the highest order.

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Recently a young BSF Jawan posted videos on social media claiming that the food being provided for him was insufficient and of substandard quality. This he alleged was because all the supplies received in stores were being sold by officers and higher authorities to civilians. This viral video evoked a myriad of responses.

Many traders living in the same town as the Jawan claimed to have purchased these provisions and even fuel at half the market price. Other diffident soldiers who had been holding back their views found inspiration in his brave attempt and posted videos of their own. One such video cried out that officers in the army were using jawans as personal servants to do their household work. Chores as menial as polishing boots, feeding children were commonplace.

While society at large has broken out in outrage at the way its ‘warriors’ are being treated within the sacred armed forces, the services themselves have chosen to toe the lines of procedure and protocol. The Army chief has implored to his ‘men’ to come directly to him with their grievances rather than making very public appeals on social media.

From his point of view, it is most disgraceful that a soldier has broken rank to voice his personal opinion. It is in stark contrast to the very fibre of the defence forces where discipline is taught first. A sector where unionism and cheap politics has not been visible till date is showing gaping cracks in its core. The gentlemen are behaving in a very ‘un-gentlemanly’ manner.

On the other hand is the even more horrifying reality that the last standing bastion of pride and honour has suddenly ceased to exist. For the common man, the soldier represents selflessness and sacrifice. Now with these revelations, it has become evident that people running these services are not unlike their civilian counterparts. It would seem that for the average officer, his work is a job and not a service.

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The ground reality is that our soldiers are fighting on many fronts. They are standing tall against enemies along our borders. They are rescuing helpless fellow citizens stranded in remote inaccessible parts of the country when disaster strikes. They are braving the wrath of locals in many states where insurgency and rioting are commonplace. They are doing all this with ageing and insufficient equipment and safety gear. Add to all this, the need to render servitude to their superior officers. The picture that emerges is far from rosy. Clearly, all is NOT well with our defence forces.

While it is most embarrassing that young men are making a public mockery of their sacred creed by their public complaints, it is equally disheartening that they are being driven by the deplorable actions of officers of this very establishment. Which is the gravest problem, that of indisciplined soldiers washing their dirty linen in public or the officers of the same forces who are the cause for these allegations?

The answer is simple. A good leader is one who leads by example. How can autocratic officers who treat subordinates as menial servants expect to win their trust and allegiance?  Instead of seniors asking these tech savvy dissenters to reroute their grievances, it would be better if these very seniors took some visible and corrective steps to remove the draconian practices being followed unofficially.

Will the current leaders of these forces show the mental strength necessary to bring forth the reforms needed in our Armed Forces to make it the elite force it claims to be? Or will they choose to suppress these irritating voices and ignore the underlying chronic disease? This is the greatest challenge that our Armed Forces have ever faced. The path they choose now will determine whether future generations will continue to behold our soldiers as national pride. It will either immortalise our Jawans or the Amar Jawan remain just a Jyoti at India Gate![image error]

The India – Nepal – China Love Hate Triangle:

Sunday, 20 Sep 2015, was a monumental day for Nepal and possibly every Nepali Citizen. The New Constitution came into effect on this day. Since then a lot of changes have happened in the country. A new Prime Minister and a brand new woman President have taken office but what has been grabbing headlines is the growing impasse in Indo Nepali ties.

Nepal, the country: Cradled by the Himalayas, and nestled smugly between China on the north and India to its south and east, Nepal is a landlocked nation. Nepal is not too small. It is the 93rd largest country in the world and 41st most populous. Home to Mt Everest and some of the higher regions of the Himalayas, Nepal has become geographically trapped between mammoths other than mountains; India and China. With more than 100 languages, Nepal is divided from within by caste, language, ethnic origin, gender etc. The high class people from the hills have traditionally held greater clout than others.

Historical Indo Nepali Relations: In 1950 the Indo Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship came into force. Both nations vowed to safeguard each other’s security and protect each other from foreign aggressors. Under this agreement, Nepalese were entitled to equal opportunities, as Indians, in education and economics, while in India. In return Indians were to be given preferential treatment, above people of other nationalities, in Nepal. An open border came into effect and exists to date. As a larger nation, with the treaty under its belt, India began to lean in on Nepal and many measures relating to immigration, military deployment etc were initialled by India. Nepal became uncomfortable with India’s overtures and began leaning towards China.

[image error] India – Nepal – China : Entangled Forever

An example of the mutual bickering, which has marked Indo Nepali relations from the very beginning, was In 1988, Nepal refused to accommodate India’s wishes on the transit treaties which were due for renewal. Nepal’s stand was based on its view that as per the UN Charter transit privileges were a “fundamental and permanent right of a landlocked country”. On 23 March 1989, after two extensions, the said treaties expired. A situation akin to an economic blockade came into effect and remained in force till April 1990. All transit privileges ceased. This affected imports, exports etc. The trade credit extended by India was stopped. Nepal retaliated by decoupling its currency from the Indian Rupee. India retaliated by denying port privileges at Calcutta resulting in blockage of oil supply to Nepal. This unnecessary wrangle by both counties cost Nepal dearly. Its GDP growth dipped from 9.7% in 1988 to 1.5% in 1989. Extreme shortage of goods ensued. Nepal was transformed from a thriving economy into one of the poorest countries on earth. Indo Nepal relations continue to follow this trend of sweet sour courtship, even today.

Historical Nepal China Relations: In 1955, amid growing censure of India’s increasing clout in its affairs, burying its past differences, Nepal established diplomatic relations with The People’s Republic of China. Later Nepal recognised Tibet as part of China. In 1960 they resolved their border disputes and Nepal began to support China’s claim to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. In 1961 an all weather road connecting Katmandu and Tibet was laid. In 1970s Chinese weapons began to be imported by Nepal in violation of the Indo Nepal treaty. By the 1990s communism was on the rise in Nepal and so was the camaraderie with Chinese political thinking. This too continues to date.

Nepal’s Constitution: With effect from 28 May 2008, Nepal became a Secular Federal Republic. The Maoists came to power after waging a 10 year long civil war. Their dream of a new constitution was finally fulfilled in 2015 when it was officially adopted. It provides for the country to be divided into 7 states, the names of which are yet to be decided. Many people are happy to finally just have a constitution. It has also been hailed for the representation given to LGBT rights. Others are unhappy for insufficient representation, it being a botched effort and many such reasons.

[image error] Proposed State borders in Nepal

Current Controversy:  The southern lowland of Terai has seen an escalation in violence after the constitution came into effect. The ethnic groups in this region feel their rights have not been well represented in the new constitution. Madhesis are one such group in the eye of the storm. They occupy around 17% of the nation’s land and account for 51% of its population. Many of them are of ethnic Nepali origin but due to the porous open border, a large section of these people share origins and ethnicity with their counterparts in India. In fact cross border marriages are common among them. They fear that they are being marginalised and have taken matters into their own hands. They are striking and blocking entry of oil laden trucks into Nepal. They are blocking key routes leading from India and creating a situation in Nepal similar to what prevailed in 1988/89. Their acts are choking the nation’s economy.

India’s Role in the controversy: India is seen largely as an opportunist in this situation. When the constitution was implemented, India did not welcome it. Instead, using harsh language, the official statement feared for violence. In the days leading up to the official signing India was involved in empowering opponents of the constitution and motivating them to prevent its implementation. India carried out this exercise ‘after’ Nepal’s constituent assembly had officially passed the constitution and only the ceremony of formally declaring its implementation remained.

According to the government of India, it has not stopped the passage of goods into Nepal. The ground reality is that it has also done nothing to facilitate the safe passage of the same. It maintains that the blockade is due to the protesters but the Nepali public sees it differently. India has openly supported the Madhesi cause. This is seen as interference in internal matters by Nepalese. On its part, India maintains that the open border puts it in a vulnerable position especially when there is unrest in the border regions. These tensions, it insists, spill over and so it is in fact well within its rights to take a stand.

[image error] Nepal Border Blockade

The impasse continues. Unlike in 1988, Nepal has now roped in China to supply oil. Though China is only fulfilling a part of the requirement, it is still better than nothing. While the road route from Indian ports is still the best alternative for Nepal, China is a viable substitute. The public outcry against India has been great with #backoffIndia trending on twitter for several days. The public is outraged at being denied access to goods it is paying for.

Nepalese are not saying that their constitution is perfect. They are asking for India to allow them to sort out their own affairs. From what I can see, the only nation benefiting from this diplomatic fiasco is China. After 65 years of bitter sweet relations, India is yet to learn to woo Nepal the right way and China is ever lurking in the shadows to move in at first opportunity. For Nepal though, it seems like choosing between the lesser evil, each time.

Multicolored Newspapers

For the past few days, the newspapers have become colorful. Not just the first and last pages, but many more. It’s like Holi has come late for the paper world.

The colors are due to the arrival of the festival season which has brought along with it an avalanche of print ads. For all those who feared that the internet was going to swallow the fourth estate whole, this must come as relief. After all, if advertisers are standing in queue to sell their wares using this medium then there must be some people out there reading it, right?

For the serious newspaper reader though, the people who start their day with a cuppa news every day, these past few days have been more of a treasure hunt. The first, second, third sheets are all colorfully hawking offers of different eCommerce sites and retailers, pushing the customers to help them reach their targeted billions.

Somewhere on the fourth sheet, a headline peeps out and just as one gets cozy internalizing the happenings around the world, on the very next page, another advertisement! Oh, and did I forget to mention that most of these are full sheet spreads? That’s right; each company wants a full sheet, at the very least. As one continues to read, one has to learn the art of searching for news. So, hopefully many have acquired that skill. I know I have.

I don’t know if all the etailers and retailers are making their billions, I know as a reader I am not thrilled by the new improved news presentation but one of the hearty threesome who is having a grand festival is the fourth estate. The newspaper companies are having a blast and laughing all the way to the bank.

Regressive Laws Repulsive Outcomes!

[image error]Reservation! In India it is a touchy topic. Many have shed blood and given the ultimate sacrifice to make it a reality. Even today, as the Patel agitation in Gujarat takes centre stage one realises how deep its impact is.

The lawmakers who brought forth this monumental legislation were driven by the disparity in the availability of benefits to the average Indian. Their hearts were probably in the right place. Today, as agitators fill the streets in different states, for reservation, the government needs to revisit the law time and again. The reminder of the onus that this law places on the government and its ability to be objective, is constant but sadly little or no effort is being made to make the law as fair and relevant as possible. Behind this complacency is the very obvious benefit of caste based politics. The need for power far outweighs the desire to govern fairly.

As I sat reading about the present impasse in Gujarat, I was struck by their demand for increased reservation or repealing of the act itself. Unlike, other communities, till date, they are giving the government a choice here. So will the government keel or make the most of this situation? That, of course, remains to be seen.

Reservation is an admission by the government of India that disparity among Indians is so acute that some get access to a lot of benefits while others are deprived of even basic amenities like good education. It is a report card that is all red. Admitting its failure to provide equally for all Indians, the government has offered a stop gap solution. It is offering preferential treatment to certain people, based on their caste at birth. In spirit, it is in favour of the socially deprived. I am also sure that many have benefited from this law. It is also but natural for those adversely affected to cry foul.

The glaring flaws in the law include the fact that it is NOT time bound making the same people eligible for the benefits, indefinitely, even when the inequalities have been levelled. Another more serious concern is the fact that many people, even those eligible for the benefits, do not get it, either because they are ignorant of their rights or because they are too poor to do so. As the law has divided the nation on caste, it is more divisive than inclusive and this is taking a toll on Indian society and our value system.

I know it is a tall order but the law makers of this country need to address the reality of this nation after setting aside their electoral benefits. There are many people in India who are too poor to afford a good quality education and seats may thus be reserved for them, in principle. But this should not be a reason to not focus on improving the quality of education and health care in government run institutions. Moreover, there should be a time limit to such schemes. The law has to become development oriented, so that the persons who actually need it benefit from it.

I am not confident that any government in India, in the near future is likely to even consider such a law. One of many consequences of such apathy is the growth in the importance of case and its role in our daily lives. In a country which had to struggle with untouchability such trends can lead to radical divisions within society. It makes one wonder if we are going forward or backward in our ways.