Tuesday, January 29, 2013

ARTIFICIAL ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH EQUALITY


The post-industrial world is international and multicultural. Thoughts can be shared at the speed of light, communication between individuals or groups, anywhere on the surface of the globe happen instantaneously, and technology transcends what were once insurmountable barriers.
In the last century, colonialism has been shunned, the exertion of racial superiority has been made illegal in most civilized countries, and the concept of one gender as superior to the other has been overturned. Nations now share their trading and wealth and participate in multinational endeavors across the globe as well as in space. Political differences are being reduced, and the vision of a world of nations united is anticipated. Here in India the differences of caste are being abolished, at least legally, communalism is condemned, and the democratic rights of every sector of society are being exerted.
Discrimination has been an ugly word, and great efforts are being made through legislature to remove it. The call of the day is for unity and equality. There is a great desire to eliminate the differences that divide us, with the hope that we can realize a oneness of human existence where peace and satisfaction abound in a global community of mutual respect.
Yet despite our best intentions, the power of legislation economic forums, and social engineering, disparity and dissonance abound. The platform of real quality and true respect remains elusive and distant, and the disadvantaged far outnumber the privileged and prosperous few. Differences remain, and the sense of superiority of one over the other continues to cause conflict. In our attempts to be politically correct, we have created the phenomenon of reverse discrimination.
Artificial attempts to establish equality have in their own turn created further conflict and subjugation and finally proved to be futile failures. In the great global communist uprising of the last century feudal hierarchy and capitalist exploitation were overturned and replaced by idealistic proletariats, only to see new ruling classes established that were as brutal and suppressive as the ones they replaced. The attempts to eliminate the financial sectors and replace them with communal systems of enterprise led to the destruction of tens of millions of the very people they were meant to represent, and all to no avail. The entrepreneurial spirit could not be suppressed, and within a few short decades exerted itself once again.
The truth is that nature is diverse and irrepressible. While the goal of equal rights is laudable, the attempt to establish it cannot succeed at the expense of reality. Artificial and forcible measures, well intention-ed as they may be, result in the burden of disadvantage being shifted to other sectors of society, rather than eliminated.
On what basis then is this equal vision established? How is an elephant equal to a dog, or a learned man equal to a cow? Shall we all sit down with the animals to eat and share beds? An elephant cannot sit down and talk, nor can a man eat a hundred pounds of food a day! A woman can never be identical to a man; an intellectual cannot be forced to do manual labor  That is, equality cannot be achieved on the external level. Everyone must act according to his/her acquired nature.
There can never be a prompt solution to this situation, nonetheless, I’m going to leave to you all to ponder a bit over the topic and maybe pave a way out.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Difficulties are meant for Transformations


In life action and reflection go hand in hand. We should take out time to reflect on – where we have been, where we are, where is our life leading to, and where we wanted it to be. We should ponder over what good things we have done and what can we do more. Also, we should look at our mistakes and failures and churn some lessons from them
Difficult situations, that we come across, are also simply meant for transformation; situations that we bring upon ourselves by the choices we make. But, later we realize that these situations helped us to choose a pure and better life. That’s the purpose of life that every situation is meant to help us to transform our consciousness positively.
Difficult situations may thus seem like punishment and suffering but this punishment is meant for rectification and transformation. If we will deal with difficult situations in this mood, such situation will not inflict suffering and depression upon us, but they will penetrate deep in our heart and the mind so that we learn some lessons and transform.
Whenever we come across such situations, we should not be depressed but tackle them with positivity. In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells to Arjuna to get rid of depression and do something positive. A moment of difficulty in life is meant to rise us up and choose right actions with conviction and determination. Also, in such situations we should ponder upon our mistakes and how they we have hampered our relation with God, with our loved ones, our friends, with the society, with our occupation and all the stakeholders around us. In religious history, there are several examples which talk about concept of repentance; repentance is healthy if done in proper consciousness as it can lead to positive transformation.
Thus, we should have some milestones in our life to make these reflections which can help us transform our consciousness and make a resolution – I am going to dedicate this moment, this day, this year, and this life for a purpose – to serve God.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Know what you're doing.?

It's almost 0030hrs on a Wednesday morning. I'm in a scratchy mood, bewildered by the drums which are thumping in my head due to absence of a proper sleep since a week. Who the hell said that college is way easier than school.?.! It's not, and the matter of fact, at many times you feel it's pointless unless you involve in something which is sufficiently important for you.

I'm not gonna criticize, but the current Educational system is on a highway to hell.! Yeah.! I criticized it, but it's the truth. We are not getting Education in schools, colleges etc. We are just filling up our precious brain with stuffs. Stuff's which do not correspond to Education, rather to gaining of materialistic knowledge to just earn money, fulfill our wishes, materialistic appetite, fame, take pride and pretend to be a 'creater', in a way, competition with God.! If a Scientist can claim to 'expert' enough that he can create a butterfly, A Beautiful creature, without using any of the resources provide by the upper power, I'll bet anything to him 'cause I know that he never can do it.!

The real need and purpose of Education is to know how to live our life and not to carry the burden of cementing a place in a world class Organisation, rub your asses so that you have large numbers in your bank accounts.! With money, comes a disease in which each want becomes a person's need, wishes become wants, and above all, he forgets the place and importance of people around him and start worshiping machines which disgusts me.

I'm not saying that we should ignore the importance of Science, Technology in our lives. I'm just saying that they are to make life comfortable. What's the point of working 20 hours a day and not having time to spend the money with you and your friends.? Where's happiness when parents watch their child leaving them just to have a 'better life'.? What better life could be there without people around you to love care and above all, have the Almighty's blessings.

It's time for you and only you to think about it. I may be wrong, misleading, nonsensical. But the only thing I wished to share was that we need to know why are we doing, whatever we are doing right now.?

Thursday, August 4, 2011

...Lokpal Bill...What's going on.?...

 India being the largest democracy in the world, possess great amount of stiff competition from its rivals like corruption, delusional power, and other anti-democratic and unethical elements in our society which creeps into the system. Let's look into the hot shot, Jan Lokpal Bill.


What is Lokpal.?
The word Lokpal means an ombudsman in India. The word has been derived from the Sanskrit words "loka" (people) and "pala" (protector/caretaker). So the word Lokpal means 'protector of people'. The concept of Lokpal has been drawn up to root out corruption at all levels in the prevailing Indian political system.


When was it introduced on stage.?
The first Jan Lokpal Bill was introduced by Shanti Bhushan in 1968 and passed in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but could not get through in the Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008, yet they were never passed. 42 years after its first introduction, the Lokpal bill is still pending in India.


What did it offered.?The Lokpal Bill provides for filing complaints of corruption against the prime minister, other ministers, and MPs with the ombudsman. The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) while recommending the constitution of Lokpal was convinced that such an institution was justified not only for removing the sense of injustice from the minds of adversely affected citizens but also necessary to instill public confidence in the efficiency of the administrative machinery. Following this, the Lokpal Bill was for the first time presented during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969.However, while it was pending in the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved, and so the bill was not passed at that time.


Its duties were.?1.To judge the cases and make jurisdictions against corruption cases with the Lokpal.
2.To judge whether a case is legal or whether a fake complaint has been made.
3.To potentially impose fines on a fake complaint, or even a short span of jail time, if the case is not proved to be legally true.

What stopped it from being in service.?
The bill was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, and most recently in 2008. Each time, after the bill was introduced to the house, it was referred to some committee for improvements --- a joint committee of parliament, or a departmental standing committee of the Home Ministry --- and before the government could take a final stand on the issue, the house was dissolved. Several flaws have been cited in the recent draft of the Lokpal Bill.


"The three men stood up, glowered at me, and began shouting in chorus. They ignored the business card I had introduced myself with. How dare I complain that there was undue delay in delivering my LPG cylinder? They leaned forward menacingly. We shouted at each other. Then I walked out. The next day the owner of the gas agency called me. He was obsequious, contrite. I would never again face a problem in getting cooking gas. It would be delivered instantaneously. I was flummoxed. What had changed? Then it dawned on me: the man had studied my business card. I was Somebody. I might be able to do something to him", Chaitanya Kalbag


Venality does not only involve money. We live in a land suffused by power, influence and patronage. Our lives are steeped in a million shades of grey. Anna Hazare's fast in early April gave voice to the rising despair among ordinary Indians about the muck they are sinking into. But is the former Indian Army driver from Ralegan Siddhi village a messiah or a demagogue? Hazare says "India needs an Egypt." He must be careful what he wishes for. Revolutions have a habit of devouring their children; remember Leon Trotsky, Abolhasan Bani-Sadr, and Che Guevara.

Do we really need a Star Chamber to pronounce judgment on corruption ? There is good cause for mass anger. The government's own Lokpal Bill has been introduced eight times since 1968. As Hazare and his close collaborator Arvind Kejriwal point out, none of the existing anti-corruption instruments seems to work.


Current Happenings.
The various social groups and other public groups are now driven by large support by the population (surprisingly 50-60% consisting of educated middle class group). Anna Hazare, backed by the Civil Society is now devising a strong Lokpal to come into action. 

Need of the hour.?
The Jan Lokpal Bill may need to move from idealism to realism; the solution may also lie in granting independence and teeth to existing agencies created to fight corruption, like the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, the Lokayuktas, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Lokpal definition is idealistic, its search and arrest powers sweeping, and its descriptions of corruption expansive (go to www. indiaagainstcorruption.org for details).

Equally vaulting is the proposed punishment for corporate corruption. "…if the beneficiary is a business entity, in addition to other punishments mentioned in this Act and under the Prevention of Corruption Act, a fine amounting to five times the loss caused to the public shall be recovered from the accused and the recovery may be done from the assets of the business entity and from the personal assets of all its Directors, if the assets of the accused are inadequate," the Jan Lokpal Bill says.

A number of cultures, fungi and bacilli are already beginning to invade the Hazare petri

Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the Mahatma's grandson, says, “It is prudent that we give the process of drafting new anti-corruption legislation some time and space. Now the drafting committee is one entity on which responsibility rests collectively. It cannot exist in two halves. In pictures of the first session, 'civil society' representatives were seated on one side and the government representatives faced them from the opposite end. This is not a management-trade union negotiation. The committee's success will be a joint success, its failure a joint failure."

It might be rude, but I am terribly disappointed by the scenario in which India being a breeder of one of the largest youth force(educated one too.!!), their participation and inclusion in constructive policy building and implementation, leadership opportunities are nor seen neither encouraged. Though, I believe it’s time that we take our responsibility to uproot the in-explainable causes of corruption from our very system.


But going back to the topic,

Do we really need a Jan Lokpal Bill or liberating the investigating units like CBI and distribution of anti-corruption powers to existing divisions would help counter corruption.?
Will by coming into existence of Lokpal is the only possible solution.?
Should Prime Minister be included in Lokpal or not.?.if yes, would it be dilution of the PM's power.?
Why is there no consensus between the Drafting Committee and Civil Society.?.( Drafting committee agreed on 15 out of 71 annexures in draft put by the civil society)
Why are the other parties along with opposition not taking any stand regarding what should be in the draft....what shouldn't.?
What if the implementation of Lokpal doesn't change anything.?


Still many things to ponder upon, a long way to go...


A look at the salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill:
  1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up.
  2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.
  3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.
  4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.
  5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.
  6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month's time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.
  7. But won't the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won't be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.
  8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.
  9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.
  10. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Love..!..

If you'd take a dictionary and look up for the word "LOVE", this would come up.:

loved, past participle; loved, past tense; loves, 3rd person singular present; loving, present participle
Feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone)
- do you love me?

Like very much; find pleasure in
- I'd love a cup of tea, thanks
- I just love dancing
- a fun-loving girl

loves, plural
An intense feeling of deep affection
- babies fill parents with intense feelings of love
- their love for their country

A deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone
- it was love at first sight
- they were both in love with her
- we were slowly falling in love

A personified figure of love, often represented as Cupid

A great interest and pleasure in something
- his love for football
- we share a love of music

Affectionate greetings conveyed to someone on one's behalf

A formula for ending an affectionate letter
- take care, lots of love, Judy

A person or thing that one loves
- she was the love of his life
- their two great loves are tobacco and whiskey

A friendly form of address
- it's all right, love

Used to express affectionate approval for someone
- don't fret, there's a love

(in tennis, squash, and some other sports) A score of zero; nil
- love fifteen
- he was down two sets to love

Aint love grand.?.
I mean, there is much more to it, besides looking at the meaning of the word..!
Believe not.?..Not to worry.. :) ..'cause I am about to unfold a chapter of someone's life.. Yes, it's a true story..!


Like always, Hernandez was riding his cycle in the block where he stays. He loves to spend time with nature when he is alone. steering through the cool breeze, chasing the occasional vehicle that passes, watching people doing stuffs at home, racing through the pits and holes filled with rainwater after the few downpours; all this was one of the daily my-special-time-alone routine he used to have. He always wanted to friend, but didn't had the honor to have kids of his age in his locality, call it luck or destiny, so he always missed being somebody's friend, more than just a boy who lives right next to my house.


Being a natural born'n'gifted mind, his parents had huge expectations as being the elder son (God.!.isn't that too soon.?). Hern (As called by his friends) was aware of it and tried to keep up. He believed that his parents' happiness would keep him happy too. He went to Maryland's State High school, one of the best and near home. The fee was hefty, $5000 a year, but his father paid it. Mr. Sanchez, his father, always considered spend money on education as an investment deal (And the best one.!). And so far, the educational and social (etiquette) front was well taken care of and was going good.


It's the social (emotional) arena, where he thought to be a sore looser. No one is born as an emotionally subtle person. It's the initial 6-7 years which makes up the psychological frame work of the brain. Hern's family had been a disputed one. He usually used to catch glimpse of his father and his uncles sharing uncouth words on mere issue of authority and ego, which used to disturb the peace which he shares with his parents. Effected by this, his father lose his temper very frequently. Hernandez was used of the scolding and frequent beating up by Mr. Sanchez on petty things. Frightened by these activities, he gradually lost his self-confidence and self-esteem.


This brought about change in his various, daily routine. Around the age of 12, he went into a shell, an invisible, unbreakable shell from where he saw no one and pretend to think that no one's looking at him. He ceased to exist. He became a bookworm, a psycho. He had friends but for namesake. Soon, he was trapped inside such a shell. His parents couldn't comprehend the reason behind recent behaviour. Hern became ignorant, dull, short tempered. Like his soul isn't there.


Would Hernandez be able to come out of it or will he crush under its pressure.?
How can a teen survive such self created atrocities.?
Is teenage really that difficult.?


I'll be continuing it...Stay glued for more...:D

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

...A DreaM...NightmarE...

I sit alone on my bed,
lights out..
I should be sleeping but I can't..
Knowing that you're here,
that I'm not safe from you, still.
You're free to come back and hurt me.
Tired of the fight almost everyday,
I'll let you.
Praying through it all,
hoping that I'll still have the strength to get up
another day a fake a smile.

Hearing your foot steps,
I jump up....
watching the door,
you peak your head in my room.





Your features are different,
not the same as usual...
That only frightens me more...
You let yourself in, closing the door behind you.
I watch you come closer to me...
Holding the cover tighter to my body.

You kneel on your knees,
laying your head in my lap....
crying...
Not knowing what to do,
I stare...
Your sobs disgusting me...
Your tears, seeping through my clothes...
burning my skin...
Yet, I can't push you away...
Why? ...
I hate you...
But still my heart feels heavy for you....
'Do onto those as you wish to be done onto you.'
That rings in my ear...
So I embrace my rapist...
The man who's hurt me repeatedly...
knowing the wrong in his actions...
No words were said...
I wouldn't have had it anyother way..

After hours of me comforting you(r) ....
sorrow, self pitty...guilt? ....
You stand up, and back away...
looking me in my eyes...
Shaking your head...
saying aloud,
' I don't know what's wrong with me, '
I can't say anything...
so I just look,
you then pull a gun from your pants....
my eyes bulge...
my heart rate speeds up...
palms getting sweaty...
I try to say your name aloud...
nothing comes out....
You hold the gun out to me...but I shake me head...
'no, '
is all i can bare to whisper...
nodding, you say,
' I'm sorry.... forgive me? '
Nodding my head.....shutting my eyes tight...
I whisper..
'I do, '
Hearing your body hit the ground....
my eyes open...
'So am I, '
I say...
Waking up the next morning..
thinking it was all a dream...
stretched out of bed..
I look down and see my feet in a puddle of blood....
It's true....
I am free........

...LovE StorY...

Above the sighing of the sea
a silver voice ensorcelled me.
She sang of other days and times
of coral sands and warmer climes.

The sweetness of the melody
combined with tales of tragedy.
Held me entranced I could not go.
It was imperative I know

who sang alone upon the shore
where I had often strolled before.
Tonight beneath the silver moon.
I felt my inner self attune.

I raised my voice a baritone
So she would know she’s not alone.
Our voices joined harmoniously.
I think she’s been aware of me.

before I sang a single note.
She sat upon an upturned boat.
Moonlight outlined her silhouette.
We sang together a duet.

I walked across the drying sand
to where she sat and took her hand.
I could not speak no more could she
but we established empathy.



We sat in silence side by side
and watched the slowly ebbing tide.
WE seemed to have no need for words
but thoughts between us flew like birds.

She was an exile just like me
her homeland far across the sea.
She had been born in Port of Spain
and longed to see her home again.


She could remember vividly
the beauty of the scenery
. I told her I remembered too.
The white sands and the sea of blue.

Two strangers met beside the sea.
We felt that it was meant to be,
no longer strangers but firm friends
As if the fates would make amends.

Our friendship deepened day by day.
Dan Cupid always gets his way.
I asked if she would marry me
she was quite happy to agree.

The dream we shared was to go home
where would find a warm welcome.
We both worked hard and put away
what cash we could against the day



We’d bid farewell to these cold shores
and make our way back home of course
. And that is how we came to be
the owners of a hostelry.

In San Fernando Trinidad.
Where bright sunshine makes our hearts glad.
A place where foreign tourists stay
on their sun seekers holiday.

WE have a daughter and a son
and soon there’ll be another one.
I bless the night I heard her sing.
Which was the start of everything.

We both still sing to entertain
our paying guests and we explain
How strangers met by accident
or perhaps divine intent.

Each time we sing a love duet
about that night when first we met.
Our voices blend I harmony
our love is clear for all to see.

Although we have fond memories
of that cold country overseas.
We know where we would rather be.
Right here in our own home country.