I am boycotting the Indo-Pak series, are you?

The dates of Pakistan’s cricket team’s India tour have been declared and there is lot of excitement in the air. But instead of exciting, I have decided to boycott the coming series. Yes. I am not going to watch, read or hear any news/communication relating to the matches. This is because, Pakistan has not yet investigated nor jailed any of the plotters or planners of the November 2008 Mumbai attack. Prima facie, the attack points to the involvement of Pakistani state agency. Instead, it has continued the rhetoric of India not providing enough evidence. Boycotting the series is the only way I can show my solidarity to the families of the innocent people who died and support to the brave men guarding our borders.

I know that there will be a lot of temptation to watch these matches, but I will be resisting it. These is the only way I could register my protest as a common man. The reason I am not digging the cricket pitch or using other violent methods is because this will give unnecessary attention to the series. Boycott is a sure way by which I can make my protest known and send a clear message across the borders and to BCCI, “For us justice is more important than sports and we won’t let the masterminds of attacks roam free.” After all, sports are played to imbibe a sense of fair play and co-operation.

Some people may argue that one should not mixup sports and politics. Though I agree with their perception, I pity their naivety. Cricket is not only a sport, but also a means of accruing money for terrorists. If sports and politics are not to be mixed up, then why aren’t we organizing matches of kabaddi, football or hockey? And why only cricket?

The reason is amount of money involved. The BCCI and PCB both will be able to fill up their pockets by playing with national sentiments. Ironically the BCCI calls itself as a private body for keeping itself outside the ambit of RTI act, 2005. The TV channels will also get hoards of money by showing advertisements. The cities where the matches are held may get some additional tourists. I wouldn’t have objected if these all ended here. However the main income will be behind the scenes. It will be in form of betting and match fixing. Thousands of crores of rupees will be transacted during these high tension matches and ultimately these will go in the hands of terrorists, because all of these betting rackets are controlled by mafias. These money whether collected in India or Pakistan, will finally be funded for the activities of fanatics, lunatics,  jihadis and anti-Indian elements who will use it to kill my fellow brethren. The PCB and Pakistani players are notoriously famous for match-fixing and spot fixing. So in anyways, it will be either the Pakistani team or the fixers winning the game.

The Pakistani players are not to be sympathized either. Javed Miandad was having a fine fan following in India. He returned this love and respect by marrying his son to the daughter of India’s most wanted criminal, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar. (Link here)

People might also argue that the series is part of confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to increase people to people contact as spectators will come here to watch the matches. However, along with the spectators come ISI agents. These agents bring with them fake currency in lakhs. The other issue is the spectators staying in India even after expiry of Visa and mixing in the local population. (Link Here) Some of the spectators are ISI agents in disguise who come here along with fake passports and whose only mission is to reconnaissance the city and targets for future terrorist’s attacks. One of the mastermind of Mumbai attack and now in US jails, David Headley confessed of using cricket diplomacy to survey targets in Mumbai, prior to November 2008 attack. Same was confirmed by Abu Jundal. (Link Here)

The point I want to make is clear. Time and again our signal of friendship, whether it be Lahore Bus service or cricket diplomacy, is viewed by our hostile neighbours as our weakness and its time we say ‘Enough is enough.’ We are not going to face any apocalypse if we are not playing cricket with Pakistan, but the PCB will surely go bankrupt. If we are playing cricket only the BCCI, PCB and anti-India elements will get the money and material for planning and executing the next attack on Indian soil. If the series is viewed by us, we will be termed as a soft nation with short term memory, who can easily be fooled by assurances.

I have decided. It is your turn now.

Great Indian Family Circus

The ‘Rajiv Gandhi Jamai Kalyan Yojana ’ is a great scheme launched by government of india. It provides interest free, unsecured loan to the beneficiary; Property at prime locations at 90 % subsidy and many more things. However, the only flip side is that these scheme is applicable to only the ‘son-in-laws ’ of people in power and not to the ordinary ‘Mango People’. When there is so much hype over female foeticide, we guys should sign Shri Robert Vadera as a brand ambassador for our ‘Save girl Child’ campaign. He is the best example of a guy who is only known and respected because of his wife, instead of vice- versa. I wonder why the opposition parties like BJP were silent on this issue and I realized that they themselves too are party to the crime. How many of you guys recollect Ranjan Bhattacharya? Yes the same Ranjan Bhattacharya, who was an alternate centre of power when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power. Yes, he was the infamous son-in-law of our unmarried Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When ABV was in power, canards were heard of how this man became powerful and wealthy in a small span of time. But the fact still remains that though Ranjan Bhattacharya used his connections with PM, his pace of growth will be considered with that of snail, when compared with that of Robert Vadera. 50 lacs to 300 crores in such a short span of time! Wow! He should be given the award of most promising Entrepreneur for last 5 years.  He has paled the achievements of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and et al. This will never happen, because we know that this fortune is amassed only because of his position of being son-in-law of Gandhi family.

In Indian Politics, it is not necessary that only Son-in-law gets favoured. This theory holds true conversely too. You may get benefits, if your son-in-law is a party leader. Ashok Chavan, not so Adarsh CM of Maharashtra, had flats registered in names of his mother-in-law and sister-in-law in the Adarsh co-operative society. Gopinath Munde, was given a wild card entry in politics because of his brother-in-law Late pramod Mahajan. Infact, many people were anxious about Munde’s political career after death of Pramod Mahajan.

If we look at the recent history, we will realize that these politicians have reduced our democracy in to a farce and divided the states and seats as Feudal states. Even regional parties like Shivsena and DMK, who once lambasted congress for following dynastical politics have followed it intrinsically. So is true for NCP, INLD, SP and many more.

In this bleak future, we can only do two things. Either pray to God to save India or to be the force of Change. What will you decide?

India, Incredible Indeed…

India is a strange and mysterious country, famous for its mystic intriguing people. Though it is the largest democracy of the world, its politics is often obfuscating. People here have excess pride in cleanliness and hygiene, and still 70% population defecates in open. Four of the most powerful parties are run by women (Congress, BSP, AIADMK and TMC), and still crimes against women, particularly rape, female foeticide are on rise. We want girls as sister, mother, friend, and wife but never as daughter. Women are worshipped as goddesses and mother, and still we do not mind abusing mothers and sisters. 

On every nook and corner, people curse corruption, but they shamelessly indulge in it when they got even the slightest of chance. We have the highest number of doctors in the world, but unfortunately, more than half of our people die because of Non communicable diseases. Many of these lives can be saved if they get medical attention in time.We are complacent with our soaring number of graduates in universities and as a global back-office provider and IT industry, but the number of patents does not even match to that of Malaysia.

We preach in Unity in Diversity, but everyday a northeastern student is bullied in Delhi, a north Indian is heckled in Mumbai, a Maharashtrian biased in South. We strived to built an equal society with best of both Communism and Capitalism, but instead we are having the worst of both resulting in crony capitalism. We strived to built a egalitarian society, but every now and then , people face discrimination. A Brahmin student doesnot get admission in good college, despite of scoring good marks; a muslim is unable to find residence in decent housing colonies, because of his religion; a dalit is still socially excluded with entry denied in temples and common water bodies; poor people seldom can afford medical attention; rural folk still awaits basic necessities like roads, latrines, and potable water.

Of all these contrasts, the one on which I laugh often is, our constitution is the largest, most detailed constitution ever written, but as a democracy we are a failed state. Who is Responsible?

Happy Birthday Bapu...

Many Many Happy returns of the day Bapu. In the heavens you must be surely partying by working more on Charkha, while here in India, government departments are praising you and your vision lavishly for significant contribution in India’s development. Ironically though, you believed on Simplicity and probably that’s the reason you are worshipped. Critics of you lambaste that how you were a hypocrite; of your inaction in saving the life of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev as you feared for the fan-following they were commanding in youth. You are also criticized for your induced naiveness when British were recruiting millions of Indian soldiers to fight in foreign lands especially when you were prophet of non-violence and peace. You are also criticized by the tales of your hegemony and how you thrashed democratic procedures for electing P Sittaramayya over S C Bose in 1938 Haripura session or acting as Dronacharya by asking Sardar Patel to cancel his candidature in 1946 so that Nehru get elected.

However, for us, the generation who was born to celebrate the golden and diamond jubilee of independence, you were the hero, the father of nation. We were taught in schools of how you bravely fought with British to fetch us independence and that too only with the help of your Lathi. I was simply amazed!!! You being the one worshipped, I decided to follow your footsteps and practice life of Truth, simplicity and non-violence. Year’s passed. As a student, I always heard stories of Babus, Pandus and Lukkhas exploiting people to get money from corrupt practices. In fact, I pitied my friends who paid bribe to get their job done. You know, I still abided by your principles.

With a strong belief on you and your principles, I decided to get my driving license without any agent. I was termed insane by my friends. But, inside, I had a belief on you and your principles. And then this belief was shattered!!! I was forced to make a couple of rounds to the RTO office Vasai. I found myself helpless, running from pillar to post, even when I was having all the requisite documents. Graciously you only rescued me. It was only after offering the authority Rs 1000 note, I got my learning license. Your smile on the note was strange and vicious to me as if making a mockery of me.

Time passed by and as I was shouldering more and more family responsibility, I realized that without you (definitely on note), none of my work will be done. I myself became a part of the corrupt racket by offering bribes to get my work done. I simply couldn’t wait till eternity by sticking to your principles. Every time a paid a bribe, an internal feeling loathed my soul. But Bapu, this is India of 2012 and we are forced to pay bribe even for getting our lawful dues.

Some 20 months ago, we were given hope by a man who claimed to be your disciple. We as a country supported him wholeheartedly. We thought we won, when the merciful Government of India agreed to our demand of strong LokPal bill. But Alas! it was all farce. The government used Saam-Daam-Dand-Bhed to discredit the movement and dishonor the leaders.The call for strong Anti corruption bill is falling on deaf ears and with every passing day, new scam and scandals are being unearthed.

Neither your ideology of truth, nor your methods of non-violent protest are yielding any results. All our petitions are turned away with a blind eye. Lately, I have started to believe, that your mathods  are not going to work and to let our grievance heard, we need to follow the method employed by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, to make some loud explosions do that the deaf government listens to our voices. I know that you abhor violence and the path chosen by might cause peril to our lives. But Bapu, you only once said “It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence”

P.S: Give my warm regards to Manjunath, Navleen Kumar, Raju Shetty and many other unsung heroes who fought against corruption and have joined you.

On a Dream Ride...

Some places are always famous for their scenic beauty. They are so blessed by God, that these places get heaps of praises from the visitors, travelers, and tourists alike. India has got such places in plenty. Of all others, my favorite is Konkan and Sahyadris. The reason for these,

      1)      I cannot afford to go to Himalayas or Alps (lolz).

      2)      No other place in India has witnessed the presence of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, nor the display of valor, courage and statesmanship. Shivaji Maharaj is the source of inspiration for Indians, here and abroad.

So when Abhishek called me to check if I would join with him, my immediate reply was yes. The journey was not going to be ordinary, as we had decided to cruise along on his Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle. For me it was dreams come true. We were planning since long for such a trip, but somehow the plan did not materialize. Visiting your dream places on a dream bike was a great way to elope from scorching May heat. The only missing thing was a dream person, a damsel in my case. But then, if a damsel would have accompanied me, I would have preferred to vroom to Goa and explore the beautiful things there!!!

Initially we had a 14-15 days ride with an aim of visiting each and every fort enroute, but later due to paucity of time the plan was trimmed to 7 days with only major forts in the Konkan, Pune and Kolhapur section. In any case it was going to be a win-win situation for me, because for apart from riding the bike, I was going to spend some time with a decorated military officer and observing him would have surely helped me in developing my personality.

We moved from Mumbai on 2^nd June 2012. The plan we had chalked out had ample buffer time and this helped us lot, as we were able to see each place with our own pace. We were able to experience the history of the place. Just imagine yourself at Raigad, where durbar of Maratha dynasty used to be held or the palace of Shivaji Maharaj. A cold shiver passes through your mind when you visualize the scenario 400 years back. It requires the place, the time and the mindset to experience this feeling as it cannot be described in words. If I had an option of using the Time machine, I would have surely opted to go back and watch the events of Maharaj’s life. Coming back to flexibility of our plan. Our plan was so flexible that we added some places on the go, deleted some places and at times stretched ourselves to the limits to adhere to the plan. That was perhaps because of the time and energy spent by us on planning. for 10 days prior to our move, me and Abhishek used to discuss, negotiate, plan our travel all on the phone and I am sure that he must have blowed off his energy and balance discussing with me for this trip, rather than chatting with his fiancé. I would be a dead man of his fiancé knows this.

The Bike:

The bike was awesome. It never gave us any trouble except a small puncture in the 1800+ km journey. It was like a honest companion party to us in all our endeavours and mischieves. It was the one who dared rain, bad roads and an inexperienced driver like me, who since getting his 2-wheeler license had rided only  below-100 cc bikes. Still it was fun. Nicest thing happened to us was that since Panvel to Kolhapur, for 5 days we never encountered a bullet. So, wherever we went, we commanded respect. The feeling that only a bullet rider can experience! Though riding was a good experience, rain spoilt the show. It followed us since day 3- Devgad to the end of journey. Our speed was also considerably reduced. I am not adding the pain caused to us when all our belongings were wetted. In Kolhapur, we were joined by Prajakta, a celebrity there. Her joining us made some welcome changes as we discussed more about movies, songs, social and prevailing issues in Kolhapur, rather than history and wars. The presence of a girl brings an amount of charm and elegance to your rugged life. And if that girl is your sister ‘toh kya kehne!’

The Roads:

The roads we went were motorable, when on NH17 and NH4. The state highways were also not that bad. Major delusion was while going from Pratapgad to Umbrath on Day 3. We were greatly disturbed by the condition of the road. The road gave us an impression that it was built and repaired last time in 1965, when the Tanaji Malusare monument was built. Another major laughing stock was the coastal highway from Kunkeshwar to Malvan. The road never passed from near coast nor the road was on condition to be called as highway. All our apprehensiveness for the roads came to an end when we visited Vishalgad. After travelling through Vishalgad, we proclaimed that any other road will be surely best in comparison to road to Vishalgad. I sometimes wonder, if there is any notorious intention in keeping these historical places and the roads going there shabby. An inquiry committee needs to be set up to check this. During our Vishalgad ride, I also learnt one most important lesson and that is to keep your emotions under control on road and to always remember that you are doing a journey and not a race. There is a very faint difference between confidence & over-confidence and also between adventure, risk and stupidity. The adrenaline rush lets us forget the wise things mentioned above and the animal instinct takes over. If we don’t tame the animal, it won’t be late that we get get late. The accelerator is a great thing, but surely not a good toy to play with.

 The Place(s):

Konkan mesmerized me. I have always heard and read of Konkan and Konkani Manoos in writings of P. L Deshpande, Jayant Salgoankar, et al.  They all have heaps of praises on the scenic beauty of place and people. I experienced it. It was as if a scene of a movie set. At times, the road were so calm that we stopped,rested, and refreshed on the road itself. For two nights, when we went to Devgad after taking diversion from NH17, after midnight, we encountered no vehicle on the road, for a stretch of 50 km. Konkan is also famous for its dreadful ghost and ghost stories. But sadly we met none, even when riding after 2:00 am in night. Probably they knew of our arrival and had escaped to safety.

The forts we visited in these 7 days were Alibaug (Kolaba), Murud Janjira, Raigad, Pratapgad, Devgad, Vijaydurg, Panhala, Vishalgad, Sajjangad and Ajinkyatara. The offbeat tracks included Umbrath-Tanaji Malusare Smarak, Sangameshwar- in search of Sambhaji Maharaj’s Smarak, Kunkeshwar and Kaneri Math.

The experience will be incomplete, if I am not mentioning the delicacies we tasted. We were completely carnivorous and missed vegetarian safaris at will. Of these worth mentioning are Kokam Kadhi, akkha masoor, Prawns fry. The biryani and kokam kadhi at Chhaya hotel in Mahad was nice. Tambda and Pandhra Rassa at Prajakta’s place, that was superb. To top it up, finished the trip with delicious Pompfret fry at Abhishek’s house. Simply awesome. I added some extra kilos, though we two had decided to eat fruits only to shed some weight and to cope with the heat, but ironically we never had any fruit in the whole journey.

The food added some extra kilos, the sun tanned my already dark skin and I resemble more like an African chap. Surely, I came back more ugly, than while I went. Still, I will say, in the book of my life I had added a wonderful chapter, which most of the other guys will be envious of.

P.S:Giving below picasa web link for photos.

https://picasaweb.google.com/104943987261560989599/KonkanTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCOzDk9Gt_fq2Tw