SOME THOUGHTS

Once again I am defaulter as I have not written for over a month. I will not offer any excuses as it is my fault. A lot of ideas had been churning around in my mind but I just could not put those into words till now.

Let me start with current happenings. Withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes is a very bold step which was surely needed and such actions cannot be announced days in advance  but it seems those who decided about it did not foresee such huge surge of crowds to exchange old notes. May be they did not apply their mind fully to this but partially this crowding also is created by persons who visited banks every day to exchange old notes. If each family had used this opportunity of exchanging old notes only once to have funds for running of house, this problem would not have arisen. This is based on my calculation about Dwarka in Delhi. There are about 1 lac families and 100 branches of banks. Even if you take 70 branches being effective and clear 300 persons per day, then it would have taken only 5 days for each family to have needed funds. I think it may be similar situation at other places too.  Also there are reports of hired labour being sent by some persons to do this exchange job. All said and done, we know that there is no gain without pain. I feel the situation will be normal soon and hit those who are hoarding huge amount in such notes..

There is a row about water of rivers being shared. Government of Panjab does not wish to share river water with Haryana. It is also in news that they are willing to share only on payment by other state. One must know that natural resources are for all people. If Panjab thinks that they own rivers, they ought to know that all rivers which flow through that state originate in another state. How would it be if states where rivers originate ask for payment from Panjab? I feel that this is nothing but stunt for garnering votes in future elections and sense of natural justice or equal sharing of natural resources by countrymen be damned. The similar situation is between few southern states also.

I have seen blatant violation of traffic rule of jumping red light by electic-rickshaws. I am surprised why traffic police turn blind eye to this? These vehicles are registered as power driven vehicle by state transport department and not pedal rickshaws.

Please do share your views on this.

DIWALI GREETINGS

MAY GOD BE ALWAYS KIND TO YOU ALL.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

We all talk about women empowerment. We want women to be well educated, self reliant and work at high posts. Politicians talk about it till one feels that he or she is really keen about it. But how many of us really do want this? If one wants women to be empowered is it not correct to change some of traditions of past? Some societies have rooted out many past traditions which demeaned women, examples are Sati System, treatment meted out to widows or not giving a say for marriage to girl, letting girls study as per their choice.  Some still cling to past. As example I speak of triple talaq.

I had been told that as per religious books triple talaq is permitted in a certain way. There have to be gaps between each word Talaq pronounced. The gaps are meant for chance of reconciliation and can be as long as a day. But presently it is said that a husband can pronounce triple talaq in one sitting or even send it by post or telegram or pronounce on telephone or send sms or pronounce on skype. This has sanction of religious heads. How come it is only males who have been given benefit of advancement? In olden days women mostly were uneducated and were confined to homes carrying on with household tasks. Has that not changed now? Are women not mostly educated and working in high positions including Managing Directors of large organisations or even Head of a nation?   Then how come benefit of advancement not been passed to them? To my mind it seems to be a case of selfish interests of men. If not so , then let them also say talaq as dictated in religious books and not take advantage of advancements.

SOME THOUGHTS

There was a time when old persons could sit down and read newspaper at leisure. Now for old persons like me it is an acrobatic exercise. I do not know what has come over publishers of newspapers. I do not think they need any efforts to compete like fashion designers. Even one of famous columnists who's first name I remember is Bachi has written about it and she is surely much younger than me. Let me explain why I say this. I sit down comfortably on easy chair with a cup of tea within reach and pick up newspaper to see what is happening in the world. I unfold it and find many a times that first sheet is half with news printed. I somehow manage to turn it over to see what the next page which is luckily full says. When I continue it is suddenly that I find half page page again inbetween.  Now while I turn it over I lose grip on one side of paper making it fly all over with pages opening randomly. Or there is a folded sheet which opens from left and on unfolding it same process of paper going on it's own will happens. Why can not the publishers stick to newspapers as those were a few years ago without such half or folded pages? They should rather concentrate on reliability of and good coverage of news rather than indulging is these gimmicks.

An Army General gave information about surgical strike in the presence of Prime Minister, why should there be doubts? Or should some persons start talking that these happened earlier also making  us look as habitual at this in the International Forum? What is more important for us - National Pride or Advertising Political Party one belongs to?

RESPONSIBILITY OF SOCIETY

I felt so sad to read in today’s newspaper about a 30 years old specialist doctor working in AIIMS having committed suicide. My heart goes out to her 2 years old daughter. As per newspapers her in laws and husband used to harass her. Instead of feeling proud of having a daughter in law who is so qualified and working for well being of people, they used to blame her for neglecting household work due to her busy schedule. I know the in laws will blame her of being quarrelsome but if it was so, would she have committed suicide considering her being so qualified and intelligent? It is said that in laws, who had taken her daughter away, did not let her meet her for a couple of months. One cannot bring her back to life but should now see that her so young daughter is brought up with love and affection. I feel some reputed NGO, if not government itself, should monitor her bringing up. 

WHY TARGET THE POOR ONLY?

Yesterday I saw in TV news workers of MNS in Mumbai upturning hand cart of a poor fruit seller thus throwing all fruit on road as he was non-maharashtrian. This makes me wonder if they want or their leader wants all non-maharashtrian to leave Mumbai then why target only poor. Why does he not speak against those who are rich, like people of film industry? Why does not he ask famous film stars most of whom are non-maharashtrian to leave Mumbai? Or the rich industrialists? Come to think of it, it is said that even he is from a non-maharashtrian family who migrated from Bihar to Bombay a couple of generations ago.

SOME REFLECTIONS

Well, on turning 71 I spent some time to reflect on times gone by. 

I am living in a rented accommodation with wife. Our both children are away. Daughter is married and living separately with her children and her husband is posted to another town. Son with his wife & children is in Canada for the last over 2 1/2 years. So we two take care of each other. By God's grace I earn reasonable sufficient pension to look after ourselves at the fag end of life. People do wonder as to how come I did not make a house for ourselves. I did make one but sold it off to take care of more important needs of our children.Now we do not wish to intrude into their life. But I do feel that having own accommodation does make a lot of difference as you do not have to run around to find another house for rent once lease for current one is getting over. We could check into some decent Old Age Home but we can not at present as we have a 10 1/2 years old dog. She needs a lot of care & love. We do not wish to abandon her. Also I am not sure about standards of such Homes. I have lived a decent life, earned respect of people who I came in contact. Even today if I meet anyone from my organisation, I get a lot of attention and respect. Still I feel that own accommodation as well as some regular source of income is a must for old age as we should not have any expectations from our children.

So my advice at this age to you who are still young is that do take care of your children, give them the BEST but at the same time CATER for your old age also.

PUNISH THE PERSONS RESPONSIBLE OF TRAGEDY

My heart goes out to those two young boys of around 10 years of age who are critically injured after falling down while participating in DAHI HANDI celebrations in Mumbai. As per reports they fell down from 6th tier of HUMAN PYRAMID. Sixth tier of human pyramid would roughly mean more than 25 feet high, taking into account that each person forming such pyramid is around 5 feet or so of height. DON'T YOU THINK THAT THIS TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY HAD FOLLOWED HON'BLE SUPREME COURT ORDERS? The apex court had given these orders after giving due thought and the Hon'ble judges are not meddling into any tradition but just laying down some limitations to avoid HUMAN TRAGEDY which occurred due to some political interference.

I strongly feel that the persons responsible for encouraging deliberate disobedience of orders of Hon'bl Supreme Court leading to such young boys getting critically injured should be arrested and tried under relevant sections of Cr P C / IPC.

Some Thoughts

I have been thinking of writing for a long time now and today I decided that one needs to put thinking into action. So here I am with random thoughts.

Today I heard in news that in a school in UP singing of National Anthem was disallowed by the management on pretext that certain word in that are not allowed in Islam. I wonder since when we Indians have started linking National Anthem to religion. I would like that wise gentleman to tell me do non-muslims of Muslim countries have any option on respective National Anthems?

Another thing which has been bugging me is – Does our Government want Defence Forces to go on strike like any other services? Even State Police Services had gone on strike some times. Why I am asking this is as number of ex as well as serving Defence Persons who live in my area and we do meet off & on while on walk or in market, have been telling that they always get stepmotherly treatment from Government. They say that in case of national emergencies Armed Forces get called without second thoughts but when it comes to give some well earned increase in salaries they are the last to be thought of. I was given two recent examples – first being that Hon’ble Supreme Court had in a judgement reduced qualifying service for earning full pension from 33 years to 20 years. Orders for the same have been issued for civil services while for Defence Services it is still under consideration; Second being letter for giving affect to increase in pay etc as per recent Pay Commission has already been issued for civil services while once again for Defence Services it is still not issued. I know Veterans had gone on agitation demanding OROP which was promise about two decades earlier but each Government kept dilly dallying on implantation. The present Government finally issued letter for that though, as felt by Defence Persons, in a diluted form. I shudder to think about consequences of strike by Defence Forces.

I fully agree with our respected Prime Minister about those who call themselves as saviours of cows. I am all for protection of cows and peacocks, our national bird, but who takes care of them in old age?  Why should they take law in their hands? If they find cows being taken for killing for beef, they should just stop the vehicle and call for police. 

DOUBLE STANDARDS

Have you ever given a thought as to do you have double standards? Most of us will say NO and we do not have double standards. Is it true? No, not in my opinion.

We, almost all, will ogle at a woman in skimpy & revealing dress. We may not pass comments but will in our hearts enjoy what we look at. Don't we abuse or fight with those who look similarly at our close relative dressed like that?

Most of us will praise media for giving in depth news about any rape case but God forbid, if victim happens to be someone close to us don't we criticise media of unwanted meddling?

Most of us will condemn those mistreating daughter in law but at home how many of us follow what we preach?

Do give it a honest thought.

LIFE OF ELDERLY COUPLES

Well, my friends I am not yet dead but ideas which kept cropping up for writing died very young. So my absence from here for over 2 months. Today I decided to write whatever comes in my mind while I am here.

As told in my previous post, we - self & wife, are living alone for the past 2½ years as our children are married and settled in their own lives. Though our daughter stays in the same city but in a different area, we do not wish to burden her. We do meet once in two or three weeks. Her children, studying in 9^th and 5^th, spend a couple of days with us depending upon their school / studies schedule. Our son is in Canada with his family. So I think it does qualify me to speak about life of couples staying alone, by choice or otherwise.

We do find a lot of time at our hands. She watches TV when she is not busy in kitchen or some other chore. She found channel Zindagi interesting. I take up outside chores. Our dog also takes part of my time - taking her for walks, feeding her or grooming her. Once a week I give her bath. She is over 10 years old, so technically she is the eldest in the house as their one year of life is equal to human 7.52 years or so. I still find a lot of time at hand. So apart from reading, I also watch news and 4 serials on TV.

My experience of TV is not a happy one. There are such glaring discrepancies in story line of serials that one wonders if producers take viewers to be fools. Also the serials drag on and on and on by some way or the other. It seems that the aim is to reach at least a thousand episodes. Thus it becomes so dull once the main point for which the serial started is over and then dragging starts. That is why my wife finds Zindagi better as serials stick to one story line for which started and finish as soon as that point is over. No serial exceeds maximum of 50 episodes or so.

Apart from that most of the shows on TV are not hearing impaired friendly. I am hard of hearing and use hearing aids. News channels are fine as pop ups in writing are also there alongwith news reading and there is no background music. In case of serials one has to hear the dialogues to follow the story. So if I raise the volume to suit my need, even with hearing aid, it does not help as the background music is so loud and jarring that it drowns what those artistes are speaking. Enough of my laments.

Coming to the elderly couples living alone, we find a lot of time at our hands inspite of engaging is some activity or the other, even social service as once day is over at night one is at ownself. No matter how brave a front we elderly couples put up it is a fact that we do miss our grandchildren, if not children. 

TRUE SAYING

There is a famous saying that it is only the wearer of shoe who knows where it pinches. It is so true. We read a lot of incidents of persons being looted at knife or gun point. We do feel  sad for such persons but the enormity of robbed person never can be gauged by us just by reading or listening in news. Why, here is the reply.

I and  my wife stay alone as our children are settled. Our daughter is married and our son along with his family is in another country.

For the past few years my wife goes for a walk alone in the mornings from our residence Up to a crossing near a Sports Complex cum park. She walks  on the main road. She also feeds pigeons who are aplenty near that sports complex just before crossing. I do not accompany her as I walk very slow due to my knee problem and I utilize that time to feed our 10 years old dog after taking her for a short walk as she also does not want to walk more due to old age.

On Sunday, the 10th April 2016 she went for walk at 8:30 am. Around 9:30 am a friend came to our house and told me that my wife is sitting & crying on the pavement of main road near Sports complex as she has been robbed of her gold bangles and chain He accompanied me to that place. One of the persons who had gathered there had informed police and there were a number of police personnel, including a couple of them in civil dress who seemed to be fairly senior, there. It took me some time to calm my wife down to an extent where she could at least tell what happened. She told that as soon as she climbed the pavement where pigeons flock, a young man approached her from side road. There was another man standing near a motorcycle. He told her they are from police flashing an identity card, which she could not make out as she was not wearing her specs. He further said not to go further as she has lot of gold on her. At that point another person approached her from behind asking her to hand over her 4 gold bangles, gold KARRA and chain or he would stab her. She was puzzled out of her wits and before she realized they had taken off said gold items and rode away on motorcycle. She broke down and started crying on the roadside. This was around 9 AM.

To me it seems a well planned act as they must have watched her routine for a few days before striking. Otherwise how come they were there with motorcycle and third person must have followed her from close to our residence and intimated those two that she was on way.

Police have lodged complaint but I am doubtful if there will be any outcome.

My wife is yet to recover from this trauma. 

FOR YOUR VIEWS, PLEASE.

Kindly read this story till end and then answer my question at the end.

There were many thefts in a state which baffled everyone. There was lot of political pressure on police to solve this trend. A senior police officer did study of reported cases from various towns and came to conclusion that 2 gypsy tribes which used to move around the country together were involved in this crime. He conveyed this information to the concerned minister. The minister then made a public statement about these findings. The tribal chiefs rejected this as false claim. They wanted the minister to give proof. So the minister arranged a meeting between the concerned police officer and the tribal chiefs.

In the meeting the tribal chiefs told the police officer that no one from their tribes was involved in such crimes. When the police officer insisted they asked him for proof. The police officer then informed that thefts had taken place in towns at times when their tribes were camping near those towns though at little distance. The chiefs said that this does not amount to proof. He then further stated that mostly young men from their tribes were seen travelling by public transport to the concerned towns late in evenings prior to night of thefts and travelling out early next mornings. He further substantiated by telling that at times some articles like bead necklace or headgear or other personnel clothing items used by tribesmen or empty bottles of liquor brewed by these tribes were found at scenes of crime. The chiefs told that this still does not prove without doubt that their men were thieves.

On return to their tribes, they called all young men for a joint meeting. They then advised them to ensure that they are not be seen going to town in late evening, be careful of their belongings and not to drink when they go for thefts to town.

Can you draw a parallel to this story in recent times?    

HAPPY HOLI

May God bless you all with a happily colourful life like Holi.

WHO IS A STUDENT?

Student – when we hear or read this word, most of us have image of a child in school uniform going to school. We do accept elderly teenagers and just out of teens who are in college after completion of schooling, as students. They may be even undergoing post graduation courses or professional course like medical, engineering or law etc. Even Oxford Dictionary interprets student as 1 a person studying at a university or college. 2 a school pupil .3 a person who takes a particular interest in a subject. adj. referring to someone who is studying to enter a profession : a student nurse. So normally a student would be in age group of 3 to 22 years, upper age may be extended to 24 years catering for a failure or so in school or college. In other words we may call someone Student who is undergoing a regular course in school or college, including open school or university, for getting a popularly recognised  certificate or degree.

Thus naming someone of around 30 years a student seems rather farfetched. I know that someone may be doing Doctorate or PhD but should we call them students? They are doing research in a particular subject, may be under guidance of someone but is that STUDYING? They may be called Research    Scholars /Assistants instead of Students. Otherwise there may be persons who become PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS for reasons other than studies. They can continue for years doing same research or start another one on completion of first PhD. Will you call me a student if at my age of 70 I start research for PhD in any subject?

Food for thought.

NATIONALISM Vs PATRIOTISM

JNU episode has lead to many debates. A lot of persons have either spoken or written supporting JNU Students union members & condemning government or opposing it. It appears that media as usual has not been neutral. It has been giving unprecedented coverage to students statements and mostly criticizing government. I read a number of write ups by some persons published in newspapers. One such article has prompted me to write this. I have been wanting to write this for a number of days but something or the other made me postpone it. Today I decided to get it off my chest.

A few days ago I read an article in which author stated “Nationalism asks you to believe your country is without fault. True Patriotism is loving your country, while also criticising the things that are imperfect.” She gave examples from times of Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev. She also quoted one of her colleagues who while urging her students to participate in protests against recent police action by saying “ The difference between a nationalist and a patriot is the  difference in believing your country is great , and it can do no wrong; and believing that your country is great, but not perfect. Nationalism asks you to be blind to the bad aspects, and to believe your country is without fault. True patriotism is loving your country, while also criticising the things that are imperfect and considering the ways it could be great.”     

This made me open up Oxford Dictionary to find :

“nationalism . n. 1 patriotic feelings, often to an excessive degree. 2 belief in political independence for a particular country.”

“ patriot. n. a person who strongly supports their country and is prepared to defend it. DERIVATIVES ........... patriotism  n.”

However giving benefit to the author and her colleague for their interpretation and choice of words; I would like to ask so called patriots by them :

a     a)         What are you doing to eradicate corruption which is poisoning growth of our               country?

       b)      What are your actions to get back wealth rightfully of our country stashed by               some persons in foreign accounts?

       c)    What do you propose to curb terrorism which results in killing of so many                    innocents, including women & children?

      d)   What suggestions do you have to stop infiltration by terrorists into our country by       underhand means including by digging tunnels under international border or               LoC?

      e)    What thoughts are you putting forward to those responsible to ensure safety of          women at all times and anywhere?

f     f)     How do you propose to ensure that all children do get proper education and                 teachers are of right capability & outlook?

     g)   How do you plan to make our population of various religions, culture and                     backgrounds to live in harmony?

     h)   What your attitude is towards a group of persons taking to arms to enforce their          ideology and forced collection of funds to run their activities by violent means -          killing so many innocents including aged, women and children?  

     i)     How would they contribute to lighten grief of young widows and small children left     behind by our soldiers killed by unwanted action from across the border or                   terrorists trying to infiltrate into our country to indulge in acts of violence?

     j)     What is your view about such soldiers who lay down their life in prime of youth to       defend our country – are they patriots or not?

And there are many more pressing issues other than shouting about so called Intolerance & suppression of Freedom of speech, which need urgent attention of all patriots to make our country achieve greatness.

Talking about suppression of freedom of speech – If it is so, then how come so many persons speak in public or write about it in newspapers / magazines or there are so many marches shouting slogans against this are being held?  

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech is a must in any democracy. Someone is supposed to have said that there is no Freedom of speech without Freedom to offend. Well, point taken. These days there are so many marches and protests using offending slogans going on about suppression of freedom of speech. How can these go on if there was no freedom of speech? Point to ponder.

When we talk of freedom of speech why there is no talk about Sense of responsibility which should come with freedom of speech? Freedom of speech and Sense of responsibility are two sides of same coin. Can we use our freedom of speech/offend to use abusive language? Should we not think before raising slogans which are anti-national? Should we not give a thought before raising slogans praising persons who had indulged in acts of terror killing so many innocents including women & children? Will we praise such persons if our near & dears ones were victims of their terrorist acts? I doubt if most of those who are taking part in protests have given a thought on these lines.

Another thing which comes in my mind is that this whole issue started due to protests by students in JNU. I feel surprised that many of these STUDENTS have been residing in JNU hostels for more than five years pursuing doctorate. What kind of students are they?   

National Pride

I feel so sad that some of us seem to have lost pride in our Nation. Or may be they put their own thoughts above National pride or respect. You may be wondering what brought this up in my mind. Well, there are two instances of protests against death sentence – in Bangluru and JNU, Delhi. I am also against death sentence except in exceptional circumstances. But in these two places the demonstrations were against hanging of Yakub and Afzal Guru under the garb of protests against death sentances. These two persons had been hanged for acts of terrorism leading to deaths of many innocents including women & children. Don’t you think that these were exceptional circumstances? Wouldn’t their protests bring embarrassment to our government in international forum? Are these protesters backing terrorism killing innocents? Don't the political leaders backing them also show disrespect to national pride?    

IS THERE AN AFTER LIFE?

Is there After Life?

 Why I am asking this is as some questions still remain unanswered- for example :

What makes a body - be it a human being or animal, to be alive?

 Why one dies very young while another very old? If it is matter of genes, then how come siblings from same parentage or even twins have different span of life? This is not only for humans but animals too.

How come some have easy or comfortable life while others a difficult or struggling one? It is not only we humans but animals too. Stray animals have struggling life while pets have comfortable one.

Do we face consequences for our actions in this life itself or some are carried forward to next life? This question came to my mind as it seems as if pets come into life of humans to collect some debt from previous life as well as repay theirs in kind by giving happiness to or working for owners.

May I have your esteemed opinions?