Ramaleela - A Public Verdict of Dileep's Innocence?

To all those who holler;

a) The acceptance of Ramaleela shows that Dileep is acquitted in the people's court

OR

b) we were telling the same thing, that Dileep can influence all and sundry if the film is released

My Ans to a) The Film Ramaleela is just a film, shot before the current imbroglio. I don't understand how someone can say the success of the film proves Dileep's innocence. It doesn't. Tomichan Mulakupadam is a very shrewd businessman, and he turned the adverse situation into something that he could benefit from. Also, the intellectual people of Kerala will see this as a film, not a verdict of crimes Dileep is accused of. People who are hollering that this proves Dileep's innocence is playing into the hands of the prosecution, and I am sure they will raise this as a ground to deny bail to Dileep, saying that if he could engineer public opinion while incarcerated, imagine what he can do when set free.

My Ans to b) And for the other side, Ramaleela is not Dileep's alone. There are many who worked day & night, a debutant director whose entire career is hinging on this film, livelihood of many too. The insincere sympathies that you are trying to show off, we understand the real intention behind it. To those great humanitarians who screamed endless hours on evening debates, what have you done to prevent such incidents from happening again? Nothing. Your shouts were not to help that poor girl, it was just an act of revenge, just to see Dileep is grounded. Nothing else.

The Women's Collective in Cinema is purportedly a women-centric organization meant to ensure safety & welfare of those hapless ladies working in Cinema. If that is the case, why the membership still constricted to those few enlightened souls? Why eminent and senior personalities were omitted? Recent reports are to be believed, even Manju Warrior also expressed her unhappiness about the 'activist' ways of the group. Is the only purpose of this WCC was to see Dileep locked away?

Recently one of my close friends asked me Why I Support Dileep. Is it because you are a fan? To answer him, let me start off by saying that I never was a FAN of Dileep. Yes, I liked the Dileep of old, the boy-next-door Dileep. But my support for him stemmed from a different source. In the depth of my heart, I knew Dileep wouldn't commit such a stupid, brazen act, trusting a dime-a-dozen, hired gun. People who knew Dileep, time and again, say one thing about him and that is his business intellect. When he had time to destroy all the evidence, and hatch escape plans, he was not doing any of that. If you have the slightest stain on your conscience, you would do it. Therefore his conscience must be free of those stains.

Also, when I saw certain creeps using the visual media (read TV) to declare him guilty and attacking him on a very personal level I automatically sided with Dileep. I mean who are these news anchors & failed film personalities to prosecute him? At best they should remain neutral in a debate, stating only known facts, not wild allegations and unproven cooked-up stories. Strangely conspicuous by absence was a FOR side. Most debates feature people from both sides, but these debates featured only people who are against him.

A couple of my friends told me that Dileep deserved it since he deserted Manju & Married Kavya. Come On, I mean your problem is not whether he is guilty or not, but few decisions he took in his personal life? If he was entirely in the wrong, do you think his teenage daughter would have supported him? Get a life, morons!

Let the law take its course and acquit/convict Dileep. Until he is convicted, he is innocent. I honestly hope to god that this will not go the way the in-famous Nambi Narayanan (imagined up by a major media house) or Sreesanth Case (powerful forces joined hands with Delhi Police). Those who are screaming for Dileep's blood, calm down and let's hope the truth will prevail.

Satyameva Jayathe!

Cinema is the playground for Nationalism.

First it was the warning about Smoking. It was so horrible and dispiriting, many people stopped watching films in theater.

Today it is the mandatory playing of National Anthem. Hon. Supreme court has given the ruling in that effect. Nothing wrong with a little bit of patriotism, what's your problem? they ask. My problem is, please don't force me to show my love for my country. It is an inherent feeling, something instilled in me from my childhood. The fanatic patriotism, (which reaches the zenith when India is at war or playing cricket against Pakistan and finds the nadir right after it) that you advocate is my brand of it.

Tomorrow, Cinemas will be forced to play a 3 / 5/ 10-minute video about the hardships and sacrifices of our Armed forces, during which all the patrons will have to stand up and salute. And may be, just may be, you have to wear only Indian attire during such passionate moments. (insulting our national symbols with something foreign?). Whats wrong with you, moron? They are sacrificing their life for you. Whats so bad about showing some respect, they ask. No problem. Anyway it is a new fashion to bring in the Armed forces into anything. Demonetization and standing in queue? Don't you feel a thing for the Jawan who stands in -12 Degree temperature at Siachen? It has reached such depths, that one room mate complained about the fan being too fast, the other one retorted "Think about the faujis who keep awake even at sub-zero temps. You have a problem with a little bit of cold?". To justify your taking away other's right, Jawan is a nice way to make other's feel guilty.

And hey, Cinemas should not use abusive language, display warnings when they show Smoking / drinking, beep out curse words, do not depict certain individuals as bad etc....as per Censor board ruling. Even with all this, the Censor board can still cut out major chunk of it, and even deny certification.

But alas, we will not do anything to stop piracy, which is destroying the cinema industry. We will not move a little finger when some self-declared moral police, whos primary responsibility is to stop anything HE believe un-indian, stop the cinema's release just because a certain character, portrayed in the film, is from their community. You see the community boasts of an All-Saint population. their ilk can't do any bad deeds.

Yes, we will not do anything to help you, but we will bring all kind of restriction to make sure you are not spoiling our new generation. Yes, as leaders we indulge in corruption, murder, lying, running of brothels, beating up the poor, rape, anything. No, sorry we are not setting a bad example for the young generation. Cinema is the only medium that can corrupt our young.

The judge who ordered to play the Anthem is refusing to entertain a plea, which request the anthem to be played in courts. Why? Patriotism not applicable for the high and mighty? What do they call it? Oh yeah, hypocrisy.

Does the law can be interepreted based on the whims and fancies of a certain judge? If that is the case, the Judge who commuted the HC verdict of Govindachaami, who murdered Soumya on a running train, to a mere 7 years erred on his interpretation?

To me, this current SC bench seems to be oblivious to the actual interpretation and hell-bend on the carrying out their personal agenda. Sad, since time imemmorial, SC was the last resort of anyone seeking justice. That esteemed perch has stooped low now. Sorry state of affairs.

So, back to Cinemas. Cinema is the culprit. lets choke it till it dies.

The Intolerance taboo

Once George Bush famously said, "You are with me, or against me".

There is this, more popular urban-corporate speak "Its my way, or the Highway"

Recently, an art installation was dismantled and the artists were taken into police custody. Reason? It depicted a cow!

In today's India, the most taboo word is...

Not Sex before marriage, sorry you are wrong.

Not Same-sex marriage, again you are wrong.

India is modern. We overcame those taboos...

The most taboo word is...

INTOLERANCE.

Today's india is intolerant towards the slightest criticism. If I say I feel insecure because of a certain incident, I am asked to leave India.

I put up a picture of an animal, obviously to show how they are mistreated or let loose on the busy streets, I am called Anti-Hindu.

Let me clarify. I am not against any religion, infact I am someone who respect all of them. I refused to eat the "Prasad" which some of my colleagues offered me after their visit to Tirupati. Reason? I ate non-veg that morning and I thought it is an insult to the sacred offering.

So why my innocuous shares & posts are labelled "insulting a a certain religion"? That is because people are intolerant, even about a mere mention of an animal.

More and more, I feel insecure. People are openly threatening me because I posted a critical view of their political affiliation.

They are free to criticize, ridicule, harass and do whatever they want to others. Past & present leaders of global renown hasn't escaped their wrath. But when it comes to criticizing their own, you can expect ink on your face, harassment over social media, or worst, physical violence and may be death.

Do you call this tolerance?

When some one lost his life because he allegedly ate beef... oops I shouldn't say that word in this part of the world... meat, I should still call India tolerant.

When someone openly threatens me because I posted a photo of an animal, and gets likes from the people who even shared a drink with me, I should still call my India is not polarized. it is still a great, tolerant country.

When firebrand leaders of a certain party shout from the rooftop that those who can't obey their rules, they must leave India, I still have to think my India is tolerant. From their rhetoric, I get the feeling that they are the rulers and I am a mere subject. So much for the celebrated DEMOCRACY. And the worrying fact is, the leaders of that party doesn't make a whole-hearted effort to stop and rein-in these loose cannons, who, in my views, is the real threat to the very fabric that holds this country together. They know that this is the only way way they can garner nation-wide attention and possibly sainthood later on.

These days, I feel like an absconding criminal when I eat B**f (see I am not going to put that in words). I think, not twice, but at least a hundred times, whether to share / like a post on FB, because probably someone, somewhere will find it insulting their sentiments.... So these days I thought of sharing only flowers, birds and kids pictures.

Yes my dear so-called, self-annointed moral / Cultural police of India, I am scared. I am scared shitless and I feel insecure. And I have no intention of leaving India, even if it means I have to live my life in the constant shadow of bullying, harassing and death.
Because.....

I am more Indian that you will ever be.

An Open Letter to Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister,

I was a staunch believer of MODI-ism, and believed that when you become PM, India would surge forward with progressive measures.
How wrong was I. During your reign, you have managed..

1. Visit countless countries in the name of bringing FDI... as if that was the only thing missing in India.
2. Tried to suppress the freedom with the BAN mechanism. (porn sites, Beef etc. etc..)
3. Tried to eavesdrop on unsuspecting citizen - many bills that enable the govt to listen in on phone calls, SMS, Whats-app messages (by keeping them for 60days mandatory) etc.
4. Failing to muzzle your MPs who spit communal diatribe and invoking past riots as warnings & vengeful acts.
5. Communal Riots springing from every corner, yet you keep silent on them.

It is only about a year, but the far-right wing Hindutva outfits feel free to attack anybody in the name of hurt sentiments. If let unchecked, our very fabric of secularism is gone forever. India would be hotbed for terrorism, because when there is injustice, there would be rebellion. And the true Indians, who already feel insecure and divided among the lines of religion would be vying for each others throat. Look at countries based on religion. Most of them are struggling with sectarian violence. Minorities are killed en-masse.

Looks at the terrible things happening in India right now. For eating meat (allegedly beef), Mohammed Aqlaq lost his life. in JK assembly, MLAs manhandle another MLA for eating beef. Two of your firebrand MPs issue statements which makes my skin cringe. Aren't you listening any of this? Can't you muzzle your own people? Have you lost the charisma and leadership qualities that catapulted you into National Capital? Sorry sir, but I think you have lost it. You are just another politician, whipping up communal issues to garner vote, rather than developments in the country.

We all have a right to;

Live peacefully
Travel anywhere in the country
believe in whatever religion
eat anything except fellow humans

but...

the keyword is LET. LET others also enjoy this freedom sir. Please take my India forward, not backward. Make my India a proud place to live, a place where everyone respects other's feelings and beliefs.

Yours truly

INDIAN CITIZEN.

The last drink Launch

My short film about drunken driving 'The Last Drink' is launched by Bangalore Traffic police. You can get more details from https://facebook.com/thelastdrink2014. Please support

A regional fanatisism

Today, after an inordinately long 23 years, the Indian Supreme court has commuted the Death penalty of a few convicts who were serving their time for the brutal murder of India's former Prime Minister and a beacon of hope for the younger generation then. And wasting no time, this killer抯 parent state's chief minister thundered from the dais that 'She has decided to free them and if the center doesn't respond within 3 days, she will release them!".
What would you do to a person, who has killed scores of innocent people along with a political leader, who was the only hope of a maddeningly stagnant India? These people have conspired to kill a Prime Minister, alongwith him dozens of other civilians and Police officers, and actually took part in the exercise knowingly. Doesn't this qualify as rarest of rare case? Why there was this long delay in executing them, where an Ajmal Kasab & Afzal Guru was executed swiftly? Is it that only people with Muslim names have to face the gallows, whereas others get a different treatment?
I have many Tamil friends and this is not an attempt to tarnish them, but I feel as Indians they score very low on many of my indexes. I had this friend who was a well-educated and well behaved gentleman, with whom I used to chat during our time together in the company cafeteria. And the Civil War in Sri Lanka has reached its zenith. One day we all woke up to the news of the capture & subsequent death of V. Prabhakaran, a terrorist by all means. My friend, when we met at the cafeteria, was boiling. He was angry because India didn't do anything to save the LTTE chief as well as the Cadres.
I asked him why we should try to save them, when they have killed our Prime Minister. I got the shocking reply. Rajeev Gandhi would have been YOUR prime minister, not mine. And his usual verbal diarrhea about Arya-Dravidian conflicts and how we should be the leader of the world, how the North-Dominated Indian government stifles us etc....
Since that day, I either delayed my trip to cafeteria or dropped it, just to avoid this guy. As an Indian, whatever I hold close to my heart was questioned, and that too, by a person who enjoys all the benefits of being an Indian, but refuses to believe that he is part of this country. For him whatever happened before some 5000 years is more important, the conflict of his ancestors and such crap!
Regional polity has come a long way! It has reached such a level that even the killers of a nation's leader can be set free, just to gain few votes. Everything has become vote-bank politics. If someone makes a reference to a leader's Chai history, next day both parties strategize to cash in on it. One sells tea with the leader抯 photo, where the opposition tries to set up tea shop within Loksabha premises. A bridge collapses and few dozen dies, but parties run to media to claim that it was the other who built it. Pakistan-based terrorists attack our institutions with such frequency and alacrity, but our leaders are scrambling to buy VIP-choppers that has price-tags equivalent to the GDP of some of the neighboring nations! A communal riot happens and parties trying to woo each section of society by making inflammatory speeches rather than consiliation and rehabilitation.
Two thing they all agree upon is Not to bring the black money stashed in Swiss banks, and increase the legislator's pay!

As things normally happen in this part of the world, these killers will get a heroes� welcome as was the case with the 2G Raja & Kanimozhi. They will be invited to join politics by all and sundry, become legislators for Tamilnadu and , god forbid, for Loksabha. If that happens, they will rub shoulders with Rahul, whose father they killed. It will be a moment of shame for entire India, as we will be openly displaying what a moral-less country we are!

The Manics and the Rapists of India (Bharat)

The ink on the obituary of the Dlehi Brave heart hasn't dried and yet another chilling, brutal rape took place. This time the victim is an innocent, un-suspecting 5 year old girl. The poor soul was abducted, raped, tortured and starved. For 48 Hours.

Treating doctors recovered 3 candles and a plastic bottle from inside her body.

Yet another rape. Yet another round of Protests. Yet another life wasted. What are our lawmakers doing?

Our president is SHOCKED! And he is PRAYING. Great isn't it? yeah, what we all can do is pray. Only that. The pathetic display of lack of apathy from the police is anything to go by, we don't have a fucking snowstorm's chance in Hell. How about initiating some strong measures to see that the slumbering behemoth, which is called the POLICE, gets the message and haul their ass?

This incident, as was the previous one, raises many questions.

1. Why Delhi is the Rape capital? Rapes are happenign all over the country, but the brutality that these mother-fucking assholes possess, why these creatures do this? Are they sick?

2. Why Delhi government is continuously failing to do anything? There is no dearth of crime in that place. Yet, the lethargic police force trying to push the incident under the carpet. Even after what happened a couple of months earlier? They were offering 2000 Rs as compensation, and asked the parents to be thankful to god for saving her life. From where that 2000 Rs came?

3. Why our male species can't co-exist with the female species? Is the fairer sex is only meant for their pelasure? Where are we going wrong? The parents failing to teach their offsprings about the morals and necesity to respect the women?

4. Why Delhi is continuing to be the epicenter of this malady?

I have no answers. I am stunned, shocked and blind with rage. I don't like to picture the poor girl, terrified, bound, begging for her life. Again and again her body viciously violated. Her cries muffled by an animal. All the while, the police, sitting in their office, chewing pan and trying to collect Hafta / bribe etc.

If the Police can't act on a desperate plea, why do we have this force here, eating away the taxpayers money?

The commisioner of Police and the home minister should take responsiblity of this heinous crime and should resign immediately. A widespread reform of police should be immediately initiated. The rogue elements in the force, who doesn't want to move their fucking fat ass must be weed out and proffessionalism must be brought in.

What are the punitive action the government has in mind for the officers? Suspend them, at most. After a period of 3 months, they come back with full privilages. Why don't you dismiss them on 'derelection of duty' ground?

And the ACP, abusing and slapping a girl? This male-chauvinistic, un-civilized and arrogant s-o-b should be dismissed from service with immediate effect. He is setting an example as a law officer that you can do anything to a girl. Especially if you occupy a powerful position. And He should be charged with assault, attempt to murder and derelection of duty.

We will protest again, we will come to the street, and we will forget! We should not stop until all the people involved- right from the commisioner, the Ministers, ACP and the officers who refused to file a FIR, and ofcource the scumbag who did it - get punished. No one should go scotfree. Learn from the mistakes of what happened in the previous incident. One guy is dead. Another one is preparing for an Airforce exam. Others languishing in the Jail. All the time wasting our hard-earned money. Another year or two, some of them will get bail, and may be acquited. Such is our legal system and the practioners of it.

P.S. May be Asaram Bapu has some words of wisdom this time too? Like she should have begged, called him 'mama' and such gems? Come on Bapu, whole India is waiting.

Y.A.P.S. Some bigwigs said Rapes happens in India, not in Bharat. Do you still say that Mr. Safron?

Y.A.P.S. So the real reason behind all rape is the revealing clothes girls wear. Now this poor sould, all of 5 years, was provoking with her dress? Come on birdbrains.... We, the people of India are waiting for your maniacal utterings.

A short film - The GIFT

As a member of this society, me, and my friends ganged up and made this small video. Please watch and share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlMAvdMeMw0

Delhi Rape - Gems from VIPS

India is a great country, India is next Superpower, India is technologically advanced!

Hey I didn't make that up! Every Indian leader want us to believe that!

So what's wrong with that?

Nothing except the fact that we are still in the cave-ages!!

Don't believe me? Read through!

Soon after the brutal rape of the the Delhi girl (I loath to call all the pet names the Indian media attributed to her), our nation has erupted in it's fury, every city witnessed large scale protest marches, every writer, established and obscure (including yours truly, who falls in the second category), wrote pieces on News papers, blogs, Facebook, and twitter. There were TV interviews of prominent citizens, where they all advocated death to the rapists!

Every Indian father must have heaved a sigh of relief! After all, the collective outpouring shown by entire India, without any political support (which is very rare) will prevent any wanna be rapist from committing it.

India has gone back to slumber, ladies and gentlemen! I would have kept quiet if that was the only thing. After all we are all used to this sorry state of affairs in India. We like to sleep through chaos!

But a few, very powerful and famous, gentlemen had the nerve to speak out how it is not the rapist's fault but the girl's.

A powerful organization's chief declared thus;

Rapes doesn't happen in Bharat! It happens only in India (sic)!

Ok, take great pride in that fact Mr. Saffron! Mera Bharat Mahan!!

And more gems from the same gentleman, who spoke about a domestic contract, where the woman is destined for household chores and if she breaks it, that's reason enough for these atrocities!!!


Some state's head's / deputies / ministers advocates;

1. Short Skirts as uniform is the root cause for rapes. Ban it! (well, Printing money is the root cause of all corruption, stop printing!)
2. Revealing clothes provoke men, don't wear it! (As if wearing Burqas is a guarantee against rape!! If that's the case, we would never get a rape case from Muslim majority areas / Rapes of Christian Nuns!!)
3. Women should not venture out after dark. That's an invitation to rape! (oh yeah! I agree!!)
4. Too much skin show in films / advertisements causes these incidents. (so your male species will get an instant erection when they see some skin, huh? Have you heard about restraint? Isn't that the difference between humans and beasts?)

There are many priceless quotes! Which makes you feel that you live in 18th Century!

A self-styled, self-anointed god man has had a revelation (in this context, it is the divine communication) of why she was tortured!

"She didn't call the rapists Brother and begged not to rape her, Had she done that, she would have spared!"

So ladies, there is the simple remedy for rape, Call your attackers Bhai / Anna / Bhayya / Chetta / whatever! They will immediately produce a Rakhi, tie it on your hand, buy you a Sweet box, apologize for thinking about a rape and drop you home! Isn't it beautiful?

The cheapness of begging is natural to that godman! So it is quite natural that he advocates it.

And the last but not least. A northern state's Home Minister offered the most plausible and kind reason for the continuous rape episodes that are happening all around India.

"crimes against women were happening as their stars were in adverse positions". Yes, you read it correctly! The entire female species now under a spell caused by some celestial body!

Yes, we live in THIS India. Where every single male feel privileged to rape, tease, kill, molest and whatever they want with their women! Every single male-chauvinistic pigs roam freely in this country and stalking their prey!

The leaders, with their skewed, bigoted view of women, and brains the size of a peanut, issues these type of sense-less statements, which acts as a catalyst for their brain-less followers. More attack follows;

The real reason, as you and me knows, is the mindset of these men! Where women are a toy for their pleasure. Am not going into all that, it's already dissected in many places!

Yes I am an Indian, I live in 21st Century, but amidst people who are still trapped in 18.

A Dream shattered!

***Note: This article is peppered with abusive language and read at your own risk. I find no other way to express my anguish and shock.


She was like any other 23-year old. She was working hard to become a physiotherapist, she wanted to become a good one at it, she had a boyfriend and loving parents, she loved good food & chocolates, she loved pink, and she loved children and dreamed of having her own at some point of time,and generally she was happy & content. Period.

On the fateful day, she must have been thinking what she is going to do with the rest of her life, and in the immediate future. After all she is only 23, and a whole, beautiful life is ahead. She was full of life, full of joy. She had a pleasant outing with her boyfriend, watched a movie together and may have been harboring thoughts of other pleasures.

Then she board the fucking bus! Yes, literally.

Now think about those 5-6 goons! They are the typical indian male, arrogant towards any woman.
The general trait is, pan-chewing and spitting anywhere, beedi-smoking, and passing lewd comments on passing-by women. They were out for a joy ride, if reports are to be believed. What a joy it was!

When the whole thing started, the girl and her boyfriend must have been thinking that it will be harmless, and if it gets out of control, they can get down. Then when it was heating up, the boy intervened. That's when the whole hell broke loose. He was assaulted, and the girl was grabbed, her clothes ripped off, and the rest.

The bigoted sick mother-****, they not only tried to rape her. When she resisted, they did the unimaginable, forcing an iron rod up her private part, which has damaged the entire uterine & vaginal wall. The beasts then had fun, pushed her out of the bus and left to the safety of their slums. The assholes told the police that they wanted to punish them, the girl for not cooperating and the boy for intervening!!!

Back to present, it is yet unclear the extent of damage to her physic and mind, but a few pertinent questions raise their ugly head in my mind.

1. Could she have a normal relation with anybody anymore? Wouldn't this incident will leave her psyche permanently scarred, specially when it comes to man and sexual life?
2. Could she ever conceive again? The damage to the intestine and re-productive organs, is it minimal?
3. What happens to her social life?
4. The people who know what happened, the stigma, would she be able to withstand it?

five minutes of brutal fun, ebbed out a life, which would have been a  promising & beautiful one. And the remorseless scums of earth, returned to their chores next day! If wasn't caught, they would have done an encore!!!

My guts are churning with disgust which is increasing each moment and my mind rings up so many methods for punishing those scumbags.

1. Strip & bind these goons, put their organ on a wood block, drip Sulfuric Acid onto it, drop by drop, and when the little pecker is completely gone, start with his balls. Should know what pain is when one's body is violated.

2. A special equipment, with a collapsed flaring tip inserted into their fucking anus, flare it up, and hang a weight on the other side for weeks at least.

Any method, but they shouldn't die immediately. Torture them! Make them suffer! Make them feel the pain that poor girl has gone through. Let them die the way they deserve it! a slow, painful death and in an utter disgusting way, so much so that even Dogs & Pigs shouldn't touch their damned dead body!

Do away with Democracy (as it is in India). replace it with A fool's idea

Democracy is imploding under its own weight! The system as it is in India is in total chaos. So is the standard of our parliamentarians. The divine altar of democracy – the parliament – has witnessed the worst of it, brawls among members, derogatory remarks against each other, etc. The srpouting of regional, narrow-minded (state interests over national) parties, and its by-product, the coalition government – has taken the already bursting-at-the-seams behemoth to a new burgeoning level. India’s most current problems, anarchy, corruption, non-accountability, criminals ruling, to name a few, has a direct link to the system of governance that we chose, about 65 years back.

Just a minute, don’t take out the sword to cut me into pieces. Let me reason. 65 years of this so called – of the people, by the people … - democratic rule, and where are we today? During this six decade, other countries have grown exponentially; technology has grown to phenomenal levels, but we are still where we were. Except for some powerful people, India’s mass population still reeling under utter poverty, reliance on methods that are long disappeared from rest of the world to find their daily bread, and our mindset, still stuck in the 18^th century… BC! With poverty, superstitions, human sacrifice, selling / killing of girl child, dowry system, casteism all these evils at its all-time high.

Too many cooks spoil the stew

Who is running the show? Party boss? Or Prime Minister? Or the Rubber-stamp President?  chief of defense staff? An overly active but morally declining (gradually) judiciary? It’s all about delegating, you see. Whenever there is something wrong, the opposition point fingers at the Ruling party, and ruling party retaliate by saying that the decision / policy was formulated by the opposition.

How many politicians sent to jail for misdeeds?

During the 65 years, how many politicians are send to jail for criminal charges, which are clear like daylight, but for some reason, not visible to the judiciary? Corruption, murder, dacoity, election manipulation, encroaching government land, rape, intimidation, abuse of power, the list is endless. Some brave whistle blowers bring some of these out in the open, but most of them are silenced, either by killing them, or bribing. Who thought A. Raja would come out so easily and will be celebrated like that?

31% of today’s MPs have criminal records! Including murder. Can you believe it? State party heads are embroiled in dubious cases against them, still it is in their power to decide who rules! People from UP have this logic-defying habit of electing murderers and dacoits to parliament continuously and over and again!

Election rigging

In Indian Democracy, vote is money, or the other way around! Does it make a difference? When a strong-hearted district collector took every step to prevent money distribution in Bellary (a northern district in Karnataka State), many of the voters came out in open, giving statements on media, that this is the time they can make some quick buck and the collector killed that opportunity, and I believe there were protests against the collector. Despite named in many scams, the candidate who offered most money (1500 per vote) won against the less fancied opponents (150 per vote). But the electorate took money from all the candidates!

Scaring the booth agents out, and right in front of the polling officer, votes were cast en masse. Liquor bottles served right in front of polling booths. Gun-trotting goons patrol obvious trouble areas to ensure the votes goes in their favor.

Me, my children, and theirs too!

In a brazen manner, every leader put his next-of-kin to take charge with / after him. Every plum post is reserved for leader’s relatives. And some shamelessly promote this while lambasting others for doing it.

Accountability

Due to red tape and other political reasons many development projects die a premature death. Crores of rupees spend, but who is responsible? Newly built infrastructures collapse, who to blame? Lakhs of crores rupees spend on numerous things, but who is the beneficiary? This government says it is the previous one, that party says we have nothing to do with it. Don’t they keep records of who started, at what stage the other party took over, etc? A CM orders his followers to start genocide, and later denies despite a senior police officer giving testimony against him. The result? The officer is imprisoned and might be killed in the jail! Land scams, Mining scams, political murders, scams, scams, more scams! Nobody dares to question!

Caste based reservations

Hold your breath, the biggest joke of Indian Democracy! Caste based reservation. Where on earth, do you think, such a discriminating policy will be allowed? Isn’t it against the law of equality? During the initial years, when the neglected tribes and castes find it very hard to survive, this was required, and makers of this law stipulated that it will eased out gradually. But dirty vote-bank politics and other vexed interests made sure that it is grown to mega-proportions and come to such a threatening situation where even promotions will be on reservation! Ha!

I am not against a reservation for economically weaker sections, for education, giving access to best institutions etc. Once they are proved themselves, why a job / promotion reservation is required? Does that mean, even if you proved you are no good, you will be heading important departments because you belongs to a certain caste? What is the motivation to do good? Where is the example set? Wonder why our research organizations / public sector manufacturers / other departments always produce sub-standard products?

Have fun at the expense of Public!

Our hard-earned money is spent on giving all these incompetent and ignorant lot a luxury treatment a la foreign tours, luxury villas, imported cars etc.  Every few weeks, petrol and essential good’s price increased. Would you ever consider cutting down the expense of yours, dear leaders? Great way to rule us. You have it in your power to beat up, even if it is a police officer doing his duty! You have it in your endless power to cheat us, and still come out on next election promising more!

Freebies! It’s raining freebies.

Some southern states indulge in this dangerous game. Offering freebies. If one government given free TV, the next one goes one step ahead and offer laptops. I believe in near future, they would be getting Hgh-end smart phones, digital cameras, luxury cars etc. India is prospering. What kind of a message these idiots are sending? That even if you don’t work, you get good things? Just like cast base reservations, this will also become a huge monster and will result in the collapse of the system.

Oh, so we are doomed? No way out? I don’t know. I am not a thinker. I am not a genius. After discussing with many like-minded people, I have drawn up a list of reforms, which is purely my way of seeing things. Opinions welcome.

Election process – revamp it.

Start from the root. There should be schools specially for training those who are interested in joining politics. Then make them attend exams. The first 10 or 15, should get a chance to draw up a comprehensive development program for their village. Let this be judged by a eminent group of people from all walk of life and rate it.

Their journey starts there. Allow the first 4-5 to start a debate among them, in public. And let the public vote for who is best in that. Until someone get a heavy majority (70%?) this should continue. Let the winner head a Panchayat, with runners up forming his cabinet. Implement what he has envisioned in his manifesto. If he fails to deliver, redo it, and find good, born leaders.

From these leaders, the next level should be identified. Ask every Panchayat head to draw up a plan for their district, and do the same. Every stage, the debate should be aired live, and at a convenient time so that maximum of the electorate can watch it. Just like before an important cricket match!.

From district level to states and state level to national!

Make them declare their assets, their immediate families and other close people. Every year declare anew. Any unproportional accumulation must be thoroughly investigated, and if any anomalies found, banish him / her from politics lifelong.

Retirement age for politicians

Set the retirement age. 60 / 65 maximum should be age to retire.

Two party system

Too many cooks spoil the stew. Let there be two parties. Those who can’t garner more than 30% of the vote banish them / merge with a party of their choice.

Scam trials should be fast tracked

Within 6 months of the trial give verdict and cease the entire property of that person, disqualify from contesting / holding any position in the country, and if convicted put him behind bars for rest of his life.

Monitoring authority

Appoint disciplined and clean record Military / Judiciary heads as advisors to government. This should be a term appointment by the concurrence of both parties.

This is my two cents. Democracy is dead! Long live democracy!

Truly, India is a free country

Yes, India is a great democratic country, where the government is of the people, by the people, for the people.

One poor cartoonist, a Mr. Aseem Trivedi, took this cliché by its literal meaning, which should never have been the case in India. India is a place of promises, just that. None of these promises are meant to keep.

During elections, we get thousands of promises - subsidized rice, TV, laptop, check the inflation, dams, canals, airports, roads, new trains, new irrigation projects, new schemes to ease the pressure on the people etc. etc. Once elections are over, even we forget about those promises.

We proclaim that ours is a free society. Every citizen is a free soul. He can travel / work anywhere in India, perhaps not in Jammu & Kashmir, but all the other states. Try telling that to a certain self-anointed monarch of Mumbai (Maharashtra), and you get the real meaning of freedom to travel / work anywhere in India.

Yeah, ours is a free society. When China restricts & censor the internet, we raised a big hue & cry. You see, the people of china should get freedom to read what’s there on Internet. Yeah, when some cartoons surfaced on a leading social networking site, our very efficient cyber crime wing woke up from the usual slumber, and shot letters to the site to remove the contents that in any way depicts a certain lady and her puppet. Or some articles that reveals the sources of foreign bank accounts. Or some references to the leading politicians in scam related articles.

Today, the new Mumbai police commissioner said that Creative artists should know their limits. True, they can continue praising the government, praising the great country, but any voice of dissent will be treated as treason. This cartoons, depicting the government as blood-thirsty hounds, will result in anarchy and chaos. Alas! Give me a break Mr. Satyapal Singh, do you think public doesn’t know these truths? They are unaware of the huge scams unearthed day after passing day?

The police can collect hafta, harass lovers, beat-up people, do all the goddamned stuff, but yes, cartoonists, they should mind the stuff they do. Such a pathetic force, who can stoop down to steal from beggars, trying to be the devil’s advocate? Get a life officer.

It’s just that Indian public are lethargic and carry on with their lives. We won’t raise a little finger to protest against any atrocities, any attack against our freedom, any interference into our private lives. The Coal-gate scam is 1.86 Lakh Crores? Fine, anyway I have my job. The 2G spectrum is 1.76 Lakh Crore? Oops, sorry I need to catch a train.

Mr. Trivedi, fear not, you have done nothing wrong. It is your creative freedom that you exercised. Yeah, they can hang you, but we will always praise your courage, via this kind of cheap blogs. You sacrifice your freedom and writing my protest in a blog, read by only me (perhaps a couple of people) and I am happy, I have done my bit.

India is a free country!  Incredible India!!!!!

Demo - Crazy (Sponsored by all)

So another huge scam came out in the open, stealing all the airtime and reams of newsprint.

As usual, a news anchor is shouting and regularly interrupting the guests from explaining their side of the story, and force-feeding them his opinions.

As usual the opposition is up in arms, shouting and sloganeering, interrupting the precious time of our lawmakers, and making sure the loss to the nation is compounded.

A baba, who have miserably failed to fast for 3 days in the first attempt despite his self-proclaimed abilities via an ancient form of mediation , somehow managed to fast for the same duration, and putting up a great show for the waiting cameras by leaping out from the window of a bus, declaring his ‘love’ for the incumbent government. Yeah sure, he is apolitical.

A Gandhian, who was hailed as the knight in shining armor to save this corrupt nation, withdrew to his shell, in revenge to the nation who clearly has had enough of his theatrics and disillusioned at the lack of action. The vultures in the ruling party, who learned their lesson from the first incident, in which they erred in tactic by attacking the Gandhian Team, played by the tried and tested method, delaying tactics and silence, and proved a handful the the Gandhian team by registering hundreds of cases against them, thus casting a pall of gloom over their otherwise hallowed heads. The team is in tatters now, the core members themselves issuing conflicting statements in major issues like the disbandment of the team.

Somewhere, ethnic clashes (read communal violence, this is the new sophisticated and much more polished term for that old, rusted cliché) erupts and people from a certain region of India, believing some mischievous SMS / Internet messages, flee from their workplaces, ironically from the calmest place in the chaotic India.

Somewhere, the Government employees of a certain sector started a pan-India strike that crippled an already struggling economy. The reason: They don’t like the reforms that are put forth by the authorities. It curtails their freedom, like they will become answerable for their misdeeds.

Somewhere, seeing all this, a certain king from South of India heaved a sigh of relief. The focus have shifted from his corruption amounting to a meager 1,75,00,000 CRORE.

Somewhere, a certain Italian lady has heaved a sigh of relief. The attention from the foreign bank account has been shifted, which was threatening to tarnish her husband’s puritanical image if they ever made a legislation to bring back all the money stashed in those banks. Anyway as long as her puppet is at the helm, she doesn’t need to worry, but still…

Somewhere, amidst all the shout and walk-outs, the opposition leaders heaved a sigh of relief. The focus is shifted from - their inactivity, mismanagement of issues, a certain leader who is still playing a big role in deciding how the party is run despite a slew of judgment against him on corruption charges, the damning evidences that is coming out against their future PM candidate on genocide, the mining barons etc. etc. They still like to believe that India CAN shine under them only.

Somewhere, a wealthiest man watching all these drama unfolding on TV from the coziness of his plush living room sofa in the most expensive house of India, wore a smug smile, knowing that whether this party or that party, he will always get a preferential treatment, be it spectrum, Coal mine, or oil fields.

Somewhere, an office worker, hurrying through his breakfast and watching the same scenes as the above-mentioned wealthy man, wondered that how someone can steal that kind of money without anybody noticing. He felt dizzy at the thought of money involved. He wondered that if these loots were ever to return to the country, how would it be like? May be they can reduce the taxes that are killing the middle class?. May be they can reduce the petrol prices? May be they can build better roads and more options for transportation, and thus provide some relief to the struggling common man who is always the one to bear the brunt of these scams.

Somewhere, in a remote village, a poor man looked up at the sky, praying to god to provide some relief from the scorching sun and willed the rain to come. If it didn’t rain for another week, his crop will be ruined. He can’t pay back the loan he has taken to cultivate his small piece of land. He doesn’t have electricity to run a motor pump, no irrigation provided by govt.

Somewhere, a wife was set ablaze with her newborn girl child by a crazy man. He wanted a son.

Somewhere, a girl was being raped and killed. The rapist, being an influential man, knows that nobody would punish him.

Somewhere, a contestant in an election, brazenly distributed money & liquor infront of the booth, witnessed by the polling officer.

Somewhere, a child was being sacrificed by his own father, instigated by a Godman, to retrieve a long-lost treasure.

Somewhere, a self-anointed god man, just out of jail for raping / sexually abusing many of his disciples, was getting a royal reception, with HAVANA’s performed to PURIFY him off the evils from the jail. Well-known politicians and religious heads showering their blessing on him.

Somewhere, a newly built bridge collapsed and killed a few.

Somewhere, a few thousand soldiers laid their life to prevent terrorist from a rogue nation entering our space. The nation cheered our win against that nation, in Cricket World Cup.

Mera Bharat Mahan!!