“Ek Baap Ke Do-Do Bete”

It’s becoming a habit now, writing under the influence.

A Holler to my dear subscribers, I owe you buggers for the encouragement.

Another Saturday goes by.

Topic of discussion today - Mahatma Gandhiji’s infamous line at time of the partition of India, or in other words, during the formation of Pakistan.

Statutory warning – Overly religious people who are very much involved in their “jaat”, I suggest you do not read ahead. No, I do not mean to offend anybody, for what it’s worth I’m a firm believer in equality, and when I meet/socialise with people, the whole “jaat” issue isn’t even a criteria, not even close.

If you still do get offended, your problem.

A brief history lesson.

India, our country, was called the ‘Golden Sparrow’. After the century under British rule, we were no less than a bird made during an origami lesson.

We achieved Independence on 15^th August, 1947, and three years later on 26^th January, 1950, the Government of India Act was passed. That day, we now call our Republic Day.

It didn’t come easy. The British tactic of “Divide and Rule” continues to bite us in the ass. The eventual outcome of which was the formation of Pakistan, an independent, Muslim country.

The ‘Father of our Nation’, oversaw the procedures, as the country was torn apart based on religion.

Subhash Chandra Bose, the one person to stand up and be a literal “pain-in-the-wrong places”, was said to have asked Gandhiji to set some conditions. Those conditions, could’ve prevented a lot that has happened in the recent years.

They were, one, do not let it happen, two, if it was to happen, then it was only fair to send all the Muslims to Pakistan and let the natives come back to India. As hurt as he was to see the country split, he did not see the reason why Muslims should stay in HINDUstan.

To which, came the reply, “ek baap ke do-do bête(two sons of the same father)”, and the decision to make it the people’s choice to live in whichever country they chose to do so.

The outcome?

When the railway lines were opened, cross-country for the people to travel to their desired country, after the first set of trains to Pakistan, the trains from Pakistan to India, were looted, men were slaughtered, women and daughters were raped and murdered. Why? No idea. Which caused further uproar, and retaliation started.

Since began, our conflict, and hasn’t been resolved yet.

Like every topic, this one has a kazillion ways of looking at it and it’s completely based on an individual’s perception of what is right and what is wrong.

Some say, “when we call our country HINDUstan, we do not understand how the other minorities come into the picture”, the more open-minded ones, stick with, “it’s not really that big of an issue, as long as everybody minds their business, and equality is a necessity in today’s society”.

The question being, would certain negative events have occurred in our country if the Gandhian Philosophy wasn’t being followed?

On a personal note, If somebody I slap out of anger, IF and when he does wake up, smile and lean over showing me his other cheek, I am going to slap him. I’m going to slap him till I have the energy and he doesn’t.

It’s almost retarded to expect him not to slap you, after your polite invitation.

With respect to my piece about terrorism, do you see what I was trying to say there?

Who wouldn’t come and attack us, we’re almost too inviting, and on top of it our Constitution is virtually suicidal.

A few days ago, I was randomly surfing the internet, when a chat-box buzzed me out of my trip.

“Dude, you have to write about this, Gandhian Philosophy is the root cause for everything, and will certainly bring on the downfall of our country”, said Arnab Ghosal, an Engineering student.

As I said, it’s difficult not being racist at times, as I also said, if a certain group of people invite me to point at them and laugh, I will.

On an extremely basic note, after every India-Pakistan match, if India loses, a certain group of people rejoice with fireworks, raising flags, running riot. “Yeh dekke dard hota hain yaar, jis des mein rehte ho, jisne tumhe paala hain, how can you do this?(it hurts my friend, the very country you are living in, the very country supporting you, you work against it)” says Prashant Gautham, a businessman.

On another extremely logical note, if Hindustan, was as it is named, would we/world still be threatened to attack a certain notorious country?

I say, not being racist et all, just being plain logical, that if Hindustan, was infact full of Hindus, the pure Aryan Race which we are known to be, the race which Hitler considered as second only to the Germans, by now for all the acts of unnecessary terror and violence, certain countries would’ve been declared enemy nations and nuked without thinking twice.

“Ek baap ke do-do bête” and “the lean your other cheek forward to be slapped”, first cost us a part of Kashmir, PoK, the whole of which now Pakistand rightfully demand as theirs, for which we’ve pretty much destroyed them on three different occasions of the frontlines. The same also cost us a part of Arunachal Pradesh which China now lays claim to.

Now, being very frank about it, we all know we have the superpower called U.S.A behind us, we also know that China hates that very fact and considers itself one, U.S.A will avoid coming up against China, China will support Pakistan and if it wasn’t for our colossal army and extremist thoughts of the military, time for India would have turned back a 100 years.

“Woh log maarke nikal jaayenge, humlog doosra gaal dikhaate reh jaayenge(they will pretty much demolish us, and we will be left showing the other cheek)”

What hurts me?

I can see it happening, almost everybody can see this happening, and there’s this feeling of utter disgust and helplessness. Pretty much like a particular dialogue in the Bollywood Movie “Singham”, “jo koi system ko badalne nikalta hain, system ghoomke uski bajaati hain”(whoever tries to change the system, gets &^%##$ by the system in return).

It hurts me to the point that I’ve started to think on these lines, I’ve always been the one for equality, eradication of this disease called “religion” and zero discrimination policies.

It hurts me, that I’m proved wrong with every single death of an innocent which is caused by mindless violence, by unnecessary bombings with the sole aim of taking as many lives as possible, by every politically biased decision the country takes, by every corrupt politician who has made the future of a country as opaque as a murky puddle of utter bullshit.

It befuddles me, the fact that the guilty are not punished, by the fact that our own constitution is used to work against us, by the fact that the constitution only comes into play when the officials want it to.

First, we had Kingdoms, ruled by Kings, Empires, ruled by Emperors, Now we have Countries... Yeah. Precisely.

It disgusts me, that I’m human. Sigh.

It’s Reigning Savages, Hallelujah!

Why the "The Weather Girls" famous song's reference for a title? Read on.

Man, is considered to be the most developed specie of animal on planet earth. He has been “blessed” with the power of speech, intelligence and the ability to thrive in large organised numbers in what is now called a “society”.

A society with its own set of rather inconsistent rules which are looked/frowned upon as per convenience.

Coming to the fact of the matter.

I shall not take away any credit from the advancements man has made in various fields. But, at the same time, not all of these advancements have come for the better, take for example, The creation of the concept of religion, it’s after all the brainchild of some really disturbed human being.

The consequences of which has now left no room for difference between animals and man.

These man-made barriers which separate mankind from each other based on territory, caste, creed, religion and social standing are the same ones bringing the whole concept of mankind down.

The whole concept of Secularism is clearly non-existent.

From the various terrorist attacks all over the world to the obvious way the Governments of certain nations function to assert dominance based on those very factors support my point.

The Mayans sure predicted an apocalypse, it wasn’t the “holy” one though, the ancient geniuses could clearly see mankind fucking itself in future.

As they say, “what goes around, comes around”, also as they say, “Life always comes a full circle”.

Man has gone from a scavenging Neanderthal fighting and adapting according to Darwins theory of “survival of the fittest” to a social animal and back to the same. Scavenging on what’s left of humanity with the sole purpose of world domination.

It disgusts me.

It’s an insult to animals with each comparison between man and animals.

Animals are more human, than ANY or EVERY single one of us. And we’ve managed to kill them slowly too, but that’s a whole other topic.

What man is, is a whole other creature all together, a creature of his own miseries, ruled by his own insecurities and governed by his own distorted subconscious state of mind or a follower of the same.

If “god” does exist, I think I give him the benefit of the doubt, owing to the fact that even he probably did not know the magnitude of what he “supposedly created”-- A race of self-destructing monsters.

God first created a planet, he was happy.

He created Trees and greenery, he was happier.

He created animals, small, big and enormous, he was happiest.

He then, created man.

I’m assuming that’s when he quit his job and went into hiding.

Cheers.

Once Upon A (Night) Time

It was a Saturday night, the usual activities where lined up with the guys, plenty of alcohol, cigarettes and other things to smoke, which are for some reason frowned upon and an SUV to roam about the locality while we “performed” the aforementioned “activities”.

I joined the guys later on though, why?

I attended a gig, played by the upcoming bands in Mumbai, in the alternative rock scene. With a friend.

She’s probably the cutest little thing, doe-eyed, dusky, normal Indian-woman height, and black (REALLY) curly hair.

I’ve known her pretty long, about 3-4 years now, she was infact the reason behind, not one, but MANY mini-breakups with my, well, I honestly don’t know if we are still together are not. That’s a whole other story.

Do I like this friend? Maybe I did at some point in the past. But I guess we both are way past that stage where such things fuck-up good friendships and as she puts it “we’re awesome together”. She’s committed to a doctor guy, based in Pune. Yay.

I never understood why women feel the need to be equal to men in some things. The case I’m going to talk about today is Drinking, Alcohol. I mean, drink how much ever you can handle, im a 5’11in and 110kg monster, MOST human beings can’t drink much as I can.

One quarter of the girly vodka bullcrap, “green-apple with 7-up”, and a miniature port-wine. That was at around 11ish in the night.

Its 2am now, she’s still passed out on my bed, in my room, with my parents at home, and I can safely say I can feel my balls in the back of my throat.

That’s not the point of this piece I write though.

For many years to come, this story will be the story to get high and laugh on between me and the guys in the SUV, which we lovingly call our “mobile-bar”. The entry is based on “invitations only”.

It houses everything, from ‘chakna’ to a variety of alcoholic beverages, with amenities for all types of glasses. Again, I can now say, you will never leave our mobile-bar sober, and hungry.

That’s not the point of this either.

That mobile-bar, for me, is a second home, and “the guys” are way beyond what you may call “friends”. They are family. A family much closer to me than my literal one.

Let me give a little insight, about the guys.

One of them is a North-Indian-Brahamin-Delhi-ite, he’s got his own flourishing business, and he owns our “mobile-bar”. As sane as human beings can get, as humble as they come, a frank talker, and you will not stop laughing at the jokes he cracks.

The other one’s a mutt, part Punjabi, part Kerala-ite, How that happened, I still fail to understand, an engineering student like me. He’s, well him. I seriously doubt if there are more people like him. Again, as sane as they come, an extremely decent guy, he still thanks me for “getting him his first pair of tits”, and in his case, you will not stop laughing AT him. Also, he claims to be dyslexic, but I guess all of us know the real fact, “woh humlogka chutiya banata hain”.

Another one, Is a tall, lanky South-Indian-Brahamin fellow, who in no way is “shudhh” as per the Brahamin culture. He’s an executive at a very well-known five-star hotel. Like the rest of us, he’s “chilled out”, frank genuine, and smokes like a fucking chimney.

What connects us?

The fact, that our bunch, is one with possibly the most genuine people ever moulded. We are simple, we think less, we drink a lot, we smoke a lot. The actual “bond” between us, we haven’t been able to explain yet, and possibly won’t be able to ever. The fact remains, if and when the one of us needs the other two, may it be day or night, or in a different city or a country, the other two WILL be there or do everything in his power to help the one in need.

No, its not part of some deal we made. That’s just how we are.

The drunken slobs influence me in many ways that make me better.

Among the many sticky situations we’ve found ourselves in, they were with me, today too, when the friend I was with passed out, and did not leave me alone with her, even when the woman ended up puking in our “pyaari dhanno”. They were with me to the point of carrying her home, and placing her on my bed and telling me “kuch chahiye toh phone kariyo”.

As they say, friendships happen, and incidentally we all are the kind of people who don’t look for friendships, we like our alone-time. Also incidentally, none of us can point out, as to HOW and WHEN we began drinking together.

So yeah, tonight, was a night when something I knew all along, probably slapped me on my face.

The fact of “friendship”, a human emotion that always perplexed me, Is something that cannot be explained. “Love” for that matter, can be, related to the human need to “mate”.

Taking into account my condition now, I’ve been a popular guy all along, almost everybody knows “bala”, I probably have over 300 friends on Facebook, but I don’t need them, like I need these guys.

Pretty much like how “David” on FRIENDS says towards the end, “after years of trying to explain something, I’ve found that it cannot be done.”

The point of this piece, if you’ve managed to read the whole thing is that I myself do not know the point of this piece.

I just realised that I’ve been typing my thoughts as I sit on the floor in my room with my dog curled up on her bed beside me, with my friend passed out on my bed.

It’s 4am now, everything stands the way it was a couple of hours before,

Luckily, tomorrow is the “rest day” is my weekly gym regime.

Sleeping tonight doesn’t seem possible. After all, I’ve to drop this girl back home BEFORE my parents wake up and have me for breakfast.

What a Night, what a fucking, night, sheesh..

“You Kill Me? – I Kill Me, And You” – Part I

26^th November, 2008 began like any other day, millions hurried towards another monotonous day at work like little pre-programmed drones, children heading to school, housewives glued to the television with what I can only describe as “unbelievable loyalty” to their daytime television shows.

The way that particular day unfolded, would change the city for many years to come. It wasn’t “just another day”.

It was the day 10 men, teenage boys more like, armed with the infamous Kalashnikovs I.e AK-47s and hand grenades, and a bag of dry fruits, brought the entire city to a stand-still.

They were a part of a group who call themselves Lashker-e-taiba, big surprise. They make it difficult NOT to be racist at times.

Entering our island city from the shores, through a stolen/rented out fishing boat, went on to openly firing at Leopold’s Café, a well-known spot in Colaba, and Victoria Terminus, one of the busiest railway stations in Mumbai and taking a strangle-hold on two of the biggest hotels, namely The Taj Mahal and Tower Hotel and The Oberoi Trident.

It brought out the true condition, mental and physical of the infamous Mumbai Police, no comments. The lack of adequate and latest arms and ammunitions and safety gear handicapped them further.The absence of appropriate planning cost us three of the best police officers we had on our side, namely Hemant Karkare(ATS Chief), Vijay Salaskar(Encounter Specialist) and Ashok Kamte(Additional Commissioner of the Mumbai Police).

Their vehicle was ambushed. They hadn’t worn their bullet-proof vests.

As the curtains drew shut on the nightmare, the reality and the gravity of the situation become more apparent.

The National Guard eventually brought the situation under control, 9 of the 10 terrorists were killed in the neutralization. One was caught, the infamous Kasab.

Their mindless killing, of Indian citizens and foreigners alike, to the point where the body count read “AT LEAST 166 killed and 293 wounded”.

Its three years later now, Kasab continues to lead a rather happy life in various Indian Jails. The human-rights activists are working towards a “fair trial” for a guy who blindly fired an AK-47 in a crowded railway station and killed countless innocent human beings.

And to talk about irony…sheesh.

“You Kill Me? – I Kill Me, And You” – Part II

Picking up from the irony…

The questions almost ALL Indians now ask go something like this – “Are Indian Jails actually a vacation spot for terrorists?”

“Does a man whose main aim was to kill as many Indians as possible, deserve a ‘fair trial’ in an Indian court of Law?”

14^th July 2011, THREE more synchronized bombs go off on the busiest streets of Mumbai, Opera House, Dadar and Xaveri Bazaar, another live explosive detected and neutralized by the Mumbai police in Santacruz.

AT LEAST 21 died, over 160 wounded.

The rumour mill also excreted out another one, which claimed that 14^th July was Kasab’s Birthday, and the explosives were a symbol of respect “by his friends”.

“Nothing can be done by our country, after three days of unnecessary new reports, debates, celebrity interviews, they will make a documentary called ‘Spirit of Mumbai’”, said a rather agitated Shweta Basu, a BMM student.

“Yeh bharat desh hain, abhi agar America mein bomb girta toh theen chaar missile nikal liye hote, destination bina poochhe nikal liye hote, maalum hain na osama ko kab maara, kab dafnaa diya, maalum pada?”, added Prashant Gautam, even more agitated, he even shed light on another major fact.

The fact that, our hard-earned money, the majority of which we pay as taxes, go towards aiding such captured terrorists.

In short, we pay, for their vacation.

Are these thoughts justified?

From where I stand, Hell fucking YEAH.

Not only the fact that imprisoning is a very decent thing to do, for what they brought over the whole city.

I stand bamboozled at the fact that, a terrorist is being given the best food, the best cells in prison, more security than most VVIPs in Mumbai meander along with, and to add to that, the best lawyers in the business to give him a “fair trial”.

It’s almost too inviting.

Who wouldn’t attack us, knowing we would keep them alive with our tax money AND give them a fair trial, after killing countless??

I can now say, clearly, that the people of India, do not trust their own Government, for whatever it stands, it doesn’t count for nuts.

The ONLY action, if any, misused, the infamous Mumbai Police take, are by putting up 10-15 ‘naaka-bandis’, the point of which goes from “catching terrorists” to harassing commuters for infringement of negligible laws, clearly to earn some “pocket money”.

They earn their salary, twice over, each day, as bribes.

The Indian Constitution states that the police, can NOT, charge commuters for flouting traffic norms, clearly for which the Traffic Police exist.

When pointed out to, the commuters are threatened by demanding money by claiming false charges.

Some say, it’s done, most say its beyond repair, being ranked in the Top 5, of a list whose title is “Most Corrupted Nations”, almost all, have given up.

I ask you one question,

What good is your country, when you yourself, are not welcome and safe in it?

Sigh.

INDIA - A Developing Nation?- Part Uno - Educational Predicaments

When it comes to the overview of the holistic development of India, a certain phrase seems synonymous, “the same gift, re-wrapped in a more attractive wrapper”. We are the same ignorant people, part of a system run by the same kind, with the only difference being, the fact that now, we earn better.

“ An Indian father and son got into a heated debate which unfolded as follows –

Father- What is the sole most important thing India provides the world?

Son- Tech Support

**SMACK!** “

The above was a joke, published on a certain website. A joke, which almost seems surreal, Why? Because, that father, that son, me and you reading this, know for a fact, that it’s true.

It’s the year 1970, a farmer toils all day at field, and somewhere in his mind echoes “mera beta bada hoke engineer banega”, “mera beta daactur banega”.

Let’s time-travel to 2011, a big executive at an MNC works all day, with the EXACT same thought. Hence the reference to the gift-wrapper phrase.

India, as we already know, along with China, are the leading exporters in labour, labour of all kinds. Ranging from opening the country for various BPO’s to set up, to generate employment to sending executives to respective countries to work there, as we are the only breed of earthlings to readily work week-ends, for a much cheaper rate and way lesser benefits.

It’s a vicious cycle, from parents, to children to their children where the whole concept of “living your life to its fullest”, doesn’t even feature on the credits.

The cycle goes something like this,

You study, in most cases forced to, something you hate, put in 10-12 Hr days at the office doing something you hate, earn what seems to be a large sum with the ‘$’ sign, have a major epiphany when you have your first heart-attack about how you pretty much did nothing you ever wanted to or made you happy all your life and then die.

Why can’t Indian parents see their children as, football/basketball players, Artists, Photographers, Writers, Actors, Video Game Designer, doing something which makes THEIR life fulfilling without being frowned upon?

More so, the same Indians, who want to be safe, who want everybody around them safe, who complain about the Indian Political Scene and doubting the abilities of the India Armed Forces, here’s a question,

WHY do you NOT encourage YOUR child, to be a politician? or an Army man?

The relationship between a parent and a child, is one of a kind, and the strongest around. The protective and possessive nature’s justified, doubting that, or a parent’s love is not the aim of this piece.

Just, as the parents expect the child to understand, the child feels the same need too, even more at times.

Times change, encourage whatsoever the kid wants to do or become in his/her life. Stop trying to live the life you always wanted through your children, the feelings may not be mutual.

Try and be a guide, not a jail warden.

A Nation Of Examination

The Head of Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, C.N Rao had penned down a letter to the P.M, pointing out the faulty educational system of India comprising of multiple entrance examinations, autonomous Universities and their examinations.

His statement, “India does not have an education system, but an examination system” has really struck a chord with todays youth and has become quite “viral” on various social networking websites conducting “polls” and “questions” based on the same harvesting millions of “hits”.

Gautam Nair, a mechanical engineering student from a well known college in the city says, “The feeling is subjective, for high-scoring students will score high in any case, but these multiple entrance exams, give us mediocre students a chance to enter the market”. Whereas, Shantanu Shah, a class XII student, dreams of a world without examinations and with innovative ways of learning.

C.N Rao, in his letter, has put forth an idea based on the American system, ONE common entrance exam for all universities, like the SATs, which would be a major leap forward compared to the present system which is, chaotic, least to say. At the same time, it will also reduce the burden on the students by a great deal and make Education “fun again”, instead of making students fear it, and run away from it, and thats just the education aspect of it, its better not spoken about the quality of the teaching faculty in today's universities.

Statistically, the rate of student suicides is going up exponentially, with every year as children fail to “meet the standards” of their/their parents’ “Dream Institutions/ Universities” and are afraid to face the ones they love, let alone the world. Students give up years of their lives trying to get into these “high-end” institutions. Parental Pressure, makes things worse.

Yes, our Nation’s education system needs a makeover, and it needs one fast.

For which, we need to get back to basics, comprehend the real meaning of the word “education”. In the Oxford Dictionary, Education means “the act or process of acquiring knowledge”. Another states, “acquiring a skill/knowledge for the overall dynamic development of the individual”.

Nowhere, does it state, OUR nation’s interpretation of “education” which goes on the lines of “the act of enforcing 12 sets of examinations on a child, and decide his/her future FOR him/her on basis of ‘marks obtained’, which can be easily done by rote-learning everything in the reference books “. And also, “suppress any form of creativity and understanding” or “the act of creating low-cost, willing-to-work-weekends, drones for foreign companies”.

There are two kinds of people in the world, the street-smart and the book-smart, our youth needs to be the perfect mix of both, and not end up like the above mentioned “drones” who, are neither with no practical subject knowledge and lack of remotely ANY social life.

Hence, the “low-cost” and “willing-to-work-weekends”, our education system, in simpler terms, churns out donkeys for the richer countries, who work weekends, for something they THINK is a lot of money and are taken advantage off.

Why? Because they are not equipped to be authoritative and command for what their work deserves, the “$” sign before the three to four digits is what they work for.

Seriously, Its time to Turn the Page.