The burden of Secularism ?

What exactly is communal violence ?

We all have seen the recent scorn heaped on the “Civil Society” by Kapil Sibal, Digvijaya Singh etc. as to how to unelected folks are dictating terms and even righteous anger displayed and scorn heaped as well. Behind the Scenes, quietly this government and all the intellectuals are licking the feet of Antionio Maino headed NAC and processes are under way to pass several bills from NAC as is in the parliament. The main and the most devious one amongst them is the “Communal Violence Bill”.

This bill is a pure political ploy to play to the minority galleries just in time for UP elections, where congress is still nurturing a dream that “Yuvarajaa” will be able to make an impact at least in one state. On the face of it, who could argue with a bill the compensates victims of communal riots, compensates them better and ensures that justice is done, right ?

Well, the devil is in the details, the bill deals with violence only against a specific group, if you look at the definition of who are this group then it becomes obvious to as to what is the intent behind the bill. OK, what a “group” is defined as follows: “A 'group' means a religious or linguistic minority and in a given state may include the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.”

Now you understand why I am upset. Why should the government treat some violence as more worthy of attention than others? The excuse given is the existing laws are firm enough to deal with the rest. This is the same twisted logic that has resulted in a commission for every category of individual in India. We have commissions for “Child welfare”, “Women”, Minorities & Soon for “Homosexuals”. All at the same time, we have a “National Human Rights Commission”. What rights are these specific categories entitled to -- which are beyond the rights entitled to every human being, escapes my reasoning. Now we have this communal violence bill. Where in the train burning and killing of Majority is “Secular” but the retaliatory riots (equally heinous) is “Communal” Even in the same riot, violence against majority is “Secular” and against others is “Communal”. This is insanity, there is hardly any debate, every well-meaning news anchor and paper should be screaming against this bill, but the media in India is largely subservient to the white skin of the ruling Maatha.

Oh, Yeah the parliament has proposed another bill that makes denial of apartment rental etc. to minorities -- an offense. Yes, a catholic housing society in Mumbai can still ask all prospective tenants to get a certificate from the local parish, but a Hindu society can’t do the same. Yet, all this is very “progressive”.

I am of the view, that such special privileges, categorization and treatment to various groups will only perpetuate the divisions that exist in the society today.

Why am I alone in this thought ? It seems that the burden of secularism is only on the Hindus, as far as the Congress and their media allies are concerned. Very disappointed, we really need a change of government. This is more dangerous than the monumental corruption that the Italian Maatha has presided over.

"National" news that shakes all of us, yeah right...

Today, an earth shaking event happened in India and the so called national channels are going gaga over it expressing shock and indignation. What happened ?

• Did a terrorist attack happen ?
• Did the government enact a lokpal ?
• Did corrupt cabinet ministers get dismissed ?
• Did we win a nobel prize ?
• At least, did Yuvaraja get married ?

Nope, not even close. Sit down, take a breath. The earth shaking event that impacts all of India is (drum roll please….) that of Delhi University’s college cut-off mark list. Yes, this news of so much “National Importance” is all the rage in the news channels (the Delhi kind). The arrogance and the presumption that somehow all of India cares about this is shocking. It would be interesting to poll in Andhra and TN and find out as to how many of the citizens there can even name even one of the so called “Institutes of national importance in Delhi” like St Stephen’s college or Lady Shriram College of Commerce etc. The first time I came to know about any of these is through NDTV, hell I got to know that there is a festival called Holi only when I went to IISc Bangalore. Even during the time the Central government was showing only the Hindi DD all over the nation sans a few metros… (Thank god that changed with cable and DTH, today you can live anywhere in India and not be kept away from entertainment in your native tongue..)

As hard as it is to believe, I hate to break the news to all the “national” news channels, that rest of India doesn’t care about this. Even NDTV had to shed its arrogance and had to start a Chennai based one called NDTV HINDU to get viewership in TN. So get a clue and stop this obsession that somehow, all of India cares about all the nitty, gritty and sundry in Delhi. Other than our parliament, Supreme Court and Scams nothing else gets paid attention to by rest of India on Delhi.

Now, coming to one specific issue there is huge ruckus that some commerce college in Delhi has announced a cut-off mark of 100% for non-commerce stream students. Even, our pseudo intellectual HRD minister has jumped into the fray -- expressing shock at this insanity which is designed to keep out science stream students from commerce. I for one, say more power to them. In all fairness, if you didn’t take science and took commerce instead you were never allowed to pursue degree in science, why commerce should be thought of as an “second class discipline” that all and sundry who never intended to opt for it should come in ? But then I am being logical here, so will not align with the lot that goes for intelligentsia in the media.

Is it time to give up on Indian Media ?

It is shameful that analytical reports are rarity now-a-days in the media particularly the English electronic media. The correspondents and all the way to the so called “brand name anchors” are either unwilling or unable to ask all the tough questions. The recent Baba Ramdev episode is a case in point here. As a layman who watched the proceedings the following questions immediately come to my mind?

1. When did the government discover that Baba Ramdev’s movement was a front for RSS, is it midnight of the raid?
2. If they had known it all along, why did the rush several heavy hitters to meet him and separate him from the rest and negotiate with him in good faith?
3. If the national interest were not threatened by the summit of separatists with Arundati Roy et al advocating even break up, if the home minister waxed eloquent about how diverse viewpoints are essential for democracy, what made him react with alarm when a movement against corruption had a forum?
4. If indeed, what Kapil Sibal said is true that Baba Ramdev agreed on some things and then went back, the media singularly failed to highlight what Sibal& Co did to Anna Hazare’s panel during lokpal bill follow-up? If so, why is he himself upset it at now. He was the one that taught that underhandedness to the “civil society”.
5. Even if indeed, RSS was behind it, what is so anti-national about it?
6. If constitutional bodies are being circumvented by movements started by individuals, then what is Antonio Maino doing in NAC, why everything proposed by NAC is taken as “gospel” by the government? Abolish that as well….

I want the media and the so called “journalists” to have hands on their hearts and introspect.

I still have my hopes…Do you?

A very upset, secular & law abiding Indian.

Hmm... If Osama has been killed in India....

If Gujarat Police had killed Osama… (special thanks to Ravikumar for having triggered this thought)....

1. The NGO factory, will file one million cases in the Supreme Court asking whether the encounter was legal. How manufactured evidence of Osama’s implication in terrorist attacks and leadership of al-Qaeida has been provided by Obama to Modi and unquestioned Modi ordered the elimination of Muslims in the operation to Kill Osama.
2. Teesta Setlavaad will distribute one hundred million Xeroxed copies to various people, all vouching as to how they “saw” a ‘pregnant Osama’ (sic!) was dragged out, his tummy butchered and the still born baby was killed by Gujarat Police Mobs.
3. Digvijay will hold a press conference in “Azamgarh, UP” deriding the continuous prosecution of Muslims by the US based BJP and Hindu terrorist cops. How he had spoken to Osama personally, before 9/11 and how Osama had assured him that his actions were intended only against anti-Muslim infidels and not Mr. Digvijay singh. How Osama expressed anguish at reported speeches by Narendra Modi during election campaigns and decided to terrorize America!
4. Javed Aktar will come on TV waxing eloquent as to how the Godhra train burning and reprisal was the inspiration for Osama and how Gujarat government is squarely behind it. How not enough Hindus have been killed yet by Osama as proof that he was not a terrorist.
5. Arnab Goswami, will host 100 days long special, as to how Times NOW had an exclusive footage of Osama defecating in the open in the mansion compound and about that Act’s serious implications for the security environment to India! With Digvijay Singh moderating a special panel discussion on how defecation by Hindu Terrorists poses a serious threat to the secular fabric of India.
6. Yuvarajaa, will visit various Madrasas interacting with the youth, reinforcing how Osama was a devout Muslim, asking the youth to emulate him.
7. Italian Maatha will not say a word, remaining aloof and thereby “intellectual” to the NDTV.
8. Manmohan, will announce how his government is to appoint a Sachar Commission (part 2) to find out why Minorities are not having enough share of “terrorist jobs” how according to Digvijay singh, all opportunities are being cornered by Hindus…

Now, aren’t you glad that he was killed by the US forces in Pakistan? Still, Digvijay Singh expresses grief at Osama not being given a proper Islamic burial….. so that he couldn't get his 72 virgins in heaven. God help this nation…

National news channels - Dream ON... India

What makes a news channel - National ?

Is it awareness about national issues ? Being aware of the different regions, religions and culture of India ? Who are the leaders that have shaped the identify and politics of different states ? Why so called “National parties” are struggling outside of the BIAMRU region ? Awareness about that ?

Nope. There is a simple set of Rules. You news reporting should be in English. You should pretend ignorance about other regions outside of the Hindi belt. Even other Indian names whether it is individuals, places or whatever…

Recently, it was really comical to watch the soldiers of the NDTV brigade struggle to pronounce the names of the trustees of Satya Sai Baba’s trust.

Guess the following name: Adee Kesaa Voo Loooo Nay Dooo !

Give up, it is Adikesavulu Naidu. I bet the same morons, will have no problems pronouncing “Silvio Berlusconi” or “Jacques Chirac” etc. in all their native glory. It would be really hilarious to see how many of these morons answer the question who is “Andhra Kesari”.

Welcome to the NDTV brigade of “national anchors”, we all should have seen the writing on the wall, when you realize NDTV stands for New Delhi Television. Yes, they have no intentions of paying attention to other regions of India… :-(

Mr. Perfect, a perfect movie

After a ridiculous supply of pseudo western trash, which is still continuing in the form of Dum Maro Dum, it was highly refreshing to watch Mr. Perfect a Telugu movie. This movie continues a fairly distinguished line of movies in Southern Cinema, particularly Telugu industry which cater to the whole society right from elders to kids, with very good issues in our society picked on analyzed and a definitive judgment made in terms of a choice to make in life.

The story line deals with a very delicate question that youngster of today faces, which is whether to marry someone who aligns with everything you desire/have/aspire. Or should you in some sense be accommodating for the overall health of the relationship. Such a simple yet very important theme has been woven into a beautiful movie with life in India portrayed as to how we are all social animals and the relationship across generations and families is a very important thing in an “Indian Marriage” is told exceptionally well indeed. Even with my fairly limited understanding of the Telugu, I found the dialogues touching and to the point with not an unnecessary word spoken anywhere in the movie.

All the characters have their space in the movie and have delivered the performances with aplomb with no overacting anywhere. How the human interactions we have with others are in some sense dependent on the beginnings we make in our interaction with individuals is beautifully portrayed. Prabhas and Kaajal have excellent on screen chemistry. Kaajal has delivered the performance of her career so far, portraying the emotions of hatred in the beginning, upon listening to her father how she goes about (re)judging Prabhas and falls hopelessly in love with him is beautifully portrayed.

Prabhas has portrayed the daring of the youth very well. His decisions based on the firm belief of no compromise in life in your wants and desires in life isl well etched. His run-ins with Prakash Raj are all very well done. This is a movie without any villain, with every character crucial to the eventual outcome. Even the seemingly sentimental scenes early on how they are brought out with relevance in the end is simply too good. Finally he settles on Taapsee, as a no compromise choice but to win over the family what all he has to do and become-- form the basis of the eventual outcome. How marriage is a truly family occasion is brought out very well indeed.

Writing anymore would give the plot away, so watch it and thoroughly enjoy. It is a movie that reinforces the romance with your spouse as well as the value systems you espouse for your kids which are “Old Fashioned” for them. My family enjoyed it thoroughly…..

Why white skinned people only buy apartments in India ?

India through the AdWorld….

I have been observing lot of Ads (courtesy of world cup coverage and now continuing with IPL) the following things that I didn’t know are readily obvious to me….

1. Most Indian Kids study in convents, with all their class teachers named “Rosie Miss”..
2. All Indian college Girls party after college invariably in bikinis possibly for a wet t-shirt contest
3. Most new apartments are purchased by “White” families, with the girls preferably blue eyed and blonde
4. Most indian marriages take places in churches with the girls invariably in white gowns
5. Nobody other than families with White Mom/wife in Capris and sleeveless tops, white dads in Khaki shorts buy apartments and furniture, in India
6. It appears that all swimming pools in India are reserved for whites only and so do all the resorts that are shown in Ads…

Surprised at that, well you shouldn't be if you watch the ADs. We clearly need a dose of reality check for the Ads. I remember, the Malaysian government under Mahatir Mohammed, criticizing the media there and asking them why do we need whites in our ads, are the products sold in Malaysia are for Malaysians are for Whites only ?

It is time Indian ADWorld went through such a critical look by one and all. We need products sold for Indians portraying the Indian customer, not a totally unconnected race. This extends to all the spheres. E.g. even during IPL ceremonies under Lalit Modi, white wal-mart trash used to occupy prime slot showcasing “their talent”. E.g. where was the need for Bryan Adams during our world cup ceremony ?. When a world cup happens in Australia etc. I don’t see them going out of the way to show case Indian culture, and India is the Real Money bags for these events ! It is not enough to just have have Military power or Money power. The most important one is soft power, where in people showcase your culture, race and habits and mimic them. E.g. USA is the most successful nation in this “soft power”. It is a shame that Indian ad world is hell bent on destroying our soft power potential, with this shame less subservience to white skin….

Please where is our pride and most importantly, self-respect ?