God Save India

It is politics everywhere. Every action of the Government is targeting votes, votes and nothing else. For the Government, welfare to the country means nothing. Politicians are smart enough to realize that Indians can be emotionally maneuvered easily. Hence they perpetuate the emotional feelings among the public and mislead them totally.

The recent announcement of awarding Hemant Karkare for the Ashok Chakra is one among such acts. In what way Salskar and Kamte did not deserve this award that Hemant Karkare deserved. I repeatedly mention here that none of these three police officers qualify to be called martyrs. They did not fight the terrorists and they were shot just like other ordinary citizens who were shot in CST or on the roads. Because these men were police officers, they are termed as a martyr that sucks.

I may be cynic but l I view this like this. Hemant Karkare was involved in probing the Malegaon blasts that coined a new phrase “Hindu Terrorism”. This phrase helped the ruling party gain ground that was slipping from under their feet. It is a different matter that this probe and its alleged findings gave a boost to Pakistan demanding Purohit if we wanted LeT terrorists. As a gratitude to the great deed of Mr. Karkare, he is chosen for the award. In all fairness, he should not be awarded, if so, then award the other two police officers too. In India, after all even awarding Bharat Ratna has become a political gimmick (awarded to MGR) so this is nothing.

When the entire nation is worried about the border issue, there is another border issue that rocks the nation. It is not from neighbor country but from within. With elections approaching closer and Raj usurping the “Mee Marathi” plank, Shiv Sena has found out that Marathis in Karnataka are suppressed and hence he wants the borders to be redrawn. What the heck is this? Mr, Balasaheb, If you say that Marathis in Karnataka are tortured what would you say to the plight that north Indians are met with in Maharashtra by your nephew?

BJP, a ruling party in Karnataka and an alliance partner to Shiv Sena in Maharashtra is sandwiched in-between. It has no spine to make Bal Thacrey shut his foul mouth. This is not a problem of Marathi-non-Marathi but problem of country’s integration. BJP hoping to rule the country should act in a way it wins the hearts of people even if it meant losing alliance partners. After all, they did not bother to lose Shekhawat or Kalyan Singh so why to worry about Bal Thackrey?

Personalities like Amar Singh make me wonder can educated ones make a difference to politics. This joker just to put Congress in a fix nominated Sanjay Dutt (who was convicted for aiding terrorists and was caught red-handed for possessing dangerous weapons) for the candidature of Lok Sabha. He went on to add that if Sanjay Dutt is ruled out, he would field his wife Manyata? What sort of democracy we are in? Are the people jokers or Amar Singh is? Is it not the high time that Election Commission came out with basic qualifications for a candidate to Lok Sabha?

I am perplexed why we Indians take pride in bragging about our poverty? If not why should the “premier-in-waiting” Rahulbaba took Miliband on a poverty-visit in his constituency? Can you imagine any other foreign politician doing this with Indians whenever they visit their country? Is there a country in the world that has eradicated poverty on whole?

Karunanidhi has started crying over Tamils again. He is more concerned about Tamils than India. Prabhakaran, as we all know (and so do Karunanidi) is an enemy to Srilanka and India as well. He not only killed more Tamils but also looted Tamilnadu. Enough of Tamil issue. Let us focus other issues like power shortage, drop in industrial investments and issues that concern Indian citizens and the welfare of India.

With regional parties mushrooming all over the country, the country lacks political parties that will have a concern for the nation. Even the so called Nationalist parties are playing second fiddle to these regional parties. It is highly unfortunate for a country like us. Why don’t we think beyond our caste, state, language, religion? Is it a problem with our people or the politicians? How long will we allow such things to happen?

All in the name of God

Of all the headlines that literally gives us insomnia or indigestion day in and day out, this one grabbed my attention. Not only this drew my attention, it made me lose my peace of mind. This is not about the security of the nation; it is not about the border struggle between two states, not about film celebrities or cricketers but about God.

Thus goes the Headline: “Shirdi is the 2nd richest temple”. No prices of guessing the 1st richest temple – of course, it is the Tirumla Tirupati Temple famously known as Balaji Mandir. My initial reaction to this headline was, “Kya zamaana aa gaya – We have started classifying temples also as rich and poor”.

As I started reading the details, there is much more into it that kept me thinking for the whole of last week. While the TTD (Tirupati) grossed over Rs 700 crore, Shirdi Sansthan recorded a collection of Rs 81 crore in cash, 920kg of Gold, 440Kg of silver in its hundi. Besides this, donations worth Rs 42 crore were also made. Some devotee donated a Golden throne and another offered to cover the sanctum sanctorum with a gold sheet!

Saibaba, through out his life lived like a fakir. Instead of following him by adhering to his principles, we made him a God and are offering him a Golden Throne. Does not it sound ridiculous? Did Sai Baba ask us to provide Him one? For a great soul who spent his life under the shades of a tree, we are providing a roof of golden sheets! Of late, it is observed that every temple is planning to build a golden chariot for the Almighty. Why? What does this imply? Is it not an action of vulgar demonstration of wealth? Are we offered to have such an extravaganza?

These donors are cheaters of Government. They evade tax and the black money generated is offered as donation to these temples. They think that by bribing God, they can get rid of the sins they accumulate. These donors are termed as philanthropists. I can’t accept it. There is no dearth of temples in India but there is a huge shortfall in number of toilets, hospitals, primary health centers, schools etc., Will these so called philanthropists donate similar amount to build these toilets or schools or hospitals? The best charitable deed is not to build a temple not to feed a beggar but to educate someone. Why these donors have not thought of this?

In olden days, temple building provided employment to sculptors, artists, builders, and craftsmen etc., Temples were used as shelter in case of natural calamities. The wealth of temples were utilized in case of calamities, war etc., Also when there were no banks, the kings decided to have the wealth in form of temples and deities so that the wealth will not be stolen (as a respect to the Lord) by the invaders., In olden days, we had everything in abundance. So, instead of wasting the material like milk, curd, honey down the drain, it was offered to Lord in the form of abhisheka. Why to follow the same even now when people created by Him are starving of the same?

I am aware that TTD has been doing a great service to the society but they can always avoid such extravaganza. In Palani temple, Tamilnadu the wealth was literally looted by the politicians. The idol of Muruga is made of medicinal herbs. So whenever we consume the material that is applied on the idol in form of abhisheka, it had the medicinal effects on us curing certain problems. But what happened. The authorities literally scrapped the herbs and sold it in the open market for financial gains and the idol has become too weak that abhisheka cannot be performed on it or else the idol would break.

I am not aware of the practices of worshipping centers of other religion so I cannot comment on it. I am not against the agama rules of the temple. I believe in God but I can’t digest the extravaganza we practice. When the needs of the people created by Him are not met, practicing such extravaganza in temples seems a demonstration of vulgar display of wealth.

Elections in India

World’s largest democracy, India will have its 15th Parliamentary elections shortly. All of us are aware that the political parties of India would easily out number the stars in the galaxy. Numerous independent candidates along with these parties will enter the fray that will end up confusing the voters. Result - the votes would get split and we will get a fractured verdict. This, in turn, will give us a fractured rule.

The political parties are gearing up hiring marketing and advertisement agencies to make an impressive campaign that can get those votes. The TV media collaborated with psephologists, work over time to force their biased views down the people’s throats in the name of analysis. There will be discussions, brainstorming sessions on chalking out the manifestos, fielding of candidates that will keep the political parties too busy. Frankly speaking, how much such issues matter when it comes to voting is not known?

As we scan through the blogs, we observe that there is no dearth of suggestions flowing in. The suggestions are for the voters and political parties alike. Reviews, comments, appraisals on the present political situation, what needs to be done are broadly discussed. Will these blogs, ad campaigns make the real difference? Are these blogs catering to the real India? I wonder.

Invariably, almost all the blogs focused on the internal security of the nation. The public memory is too short. I would thank the terrorists, who kept our memory alive with frequent blasts all over the country just to spread similar feelings all over the country. If not fully united, at the least, these blasts generated a need of an awakening. I do agree the internal security is a genuine problem but is it the only problem? Had it been the case Delhi would have given us a different result. I still can’t accept that a handful of terrorists can take a country for a ride without local support. Have we ever tried to find out the moles / black sheep among ourselves and punish them? What are the issues that concern the nation? What have they promised and what is the status vis-à-vis their promises?

Our PM promised a makeover of Mumbai to Shangai. Did it happen? We don’t want Shangai but give us back our Bombay! They promised flats on slums – it too did not happen. Governments screamed “garibi hatao” and boasted that it is for “aam aadmi” but it preferred keeping people below BPL and almost forgot common man. Yet, we listen to their non-sense elections after elections. This Government is of the people, for the people but not by the people. Politicians have cleverly changed this phrase to “Buy the people”. Successive Govts preferred to provide people free-fish rather than teaching how-to-fish. This conditioned the people to remain perennial beggars so that they can be bought from time and again on a single day luxury. Election Day is the luxury day for this class of people.

It is the people in BPL category matters the most on Election Day. They do not want to look into their past as it is not rosy. They do not want to look into their future because it is bleak. They are concerned about the present. How to survive the day is their prime challenge. This is exploited by our politicians to the maximum. They pay them for the day (exaggerated pay), feed them fully, provide them liquor and maneuver things the way they want. These men vote as many times as they can without realizing that their votes tilt the balance of the country!

Elite class people have nothing to do with the election. Whoever rules the country, the policies are derived by this class for mutual gains.

Less we talk of the middle-class men is better. They are good at commenting, writing blogs or letters to the editor, good at whining but when it comes to action, they are vanished. So, ideally it is better not to waste energy on listening to them. They do not have an idea of their own. They easily get carried away by the TV channel they watch or the news magazine they read. If they have problems, let them learn to live with it. They have been doing it and they must be masters in it by now!

After 62 years of independence, there are around 70 crore people who do not have access to electricity. It is a different story that those who have access to electricity have for only 50% of the available time. There are no plans seems available with the Government to cater this ever-increasing demand.

Again, there are around 60 crore people who lack access to drinking water. Rain water harvest, check dams are the need of the hour. Has the Govt thrown any light on this?

Agricultural sector is thoroughly neglected. Why can’t we try out other crops instead of toiling for rice and wheat repeatedly? Farmers do not need free power. They want water. By giving free power we waste the power and weaken the earth by pulling out water. Why can’t we try our Drip irrigation system or check dam system?

Numerous vehicles are introduced to roads every day that adds to the carbon emission. If the public transport system has been efficient private vehicles would not have grown this far. For an efficient public transport system, we lack good roads. Infra structure is one area that is long forgotten. The golden quadrilateral project that took the life of a whistle blower is no longer visible. Such projects would bring the cost down on logistics and can provide employment.

Crime rate is on the rise. Violence is glorified in films. Policemen are no longer people-friendly. Corruption has taken roots among all levels like a cancer. Common public are losing interest in nation’s affairs. What made it to happen? They behave indifferent to whatever happens around as long as it does not affect them primarily. Did some one try to analyze and find a solution?

The problem lies with us. We respect those who amass wealth by whatever means. We remain indifferent to unethical practices around us. Blaming politics as gutter, we isolated ourselves from it but keep whining when it failed to provide solutions. We have learnt to live with problems and always expect Govt to provide us a solution. We do not see an issue in a broader perspective but from a narrow perspective that matter to the individual only.

I am sure, even this blog would not make a difference but I expressed. The election is not fought on issues but bought on money! Let us not cheat ourselves by discussing all these! There is a huge difference between Real India and the Political India.