LOK-APALL DRAMA

If only News channel activities could be represented in forms of blood and sinew, it would be a crime scene on my television. I switched on the TV early morning and I had reporters attacking me from every news channel. I was so disoriented that I switched off the TV, connected to internet and sat back to know what exactly had ruffled the feathers of a silent democracy so early in the morning.

Lokpal, of course. The previous day’s bill being discussed as shallow, parties staging walk-outs and disapproval and news channels feasting on the proceedings. The scene kept going from bad to worse. We have a veteran Gandhian fasting, battling fever and deteriorating health and negative signals from Meds. The last I heard, Dr. Ashwin Mehta made a statement that the doctors strongly disapprove of continuing the fast which could lead to a renal failure for Anna.

Then again, Indian Parliament is famous for “happening” sessions, how could discussion on Lokpal be ignored in this light. Whose embarrassment is it when not even minimum required numbers of MPs were present to discuss the pros and cons of the Bill? Putting this issue on the forum, news channels had experts, concerned leaders and Heads on discussion. Congress shaded this irresponsible absenteeism under “genuine reasons”, while important people swayed between varied opinions like “being irresponsible”, “political gimmick to deem the Bill a failure” and so on. The Congress has issued notices to the absentees and I hope the matter will not go unnoticed later on as Lokpal travels further.

Customarily, there was a blame game soon after, where Congress Head Mrs. Sonia Gandhi accused BJP for bringing down the Bill in Lok Sabha, saying, “we saw the….asali chehra dikh gaya (we saw the true colors of BJP yesterday)”. On the other hand, we have SP, BSP, BJD, and BJP, all unhappy and agitated. BJP is making all efforts to drive nail on the failure of Congress to make amendments and to present the Bill in Rajya Sabha. After the President Okayed the bill, there was a lot of debate whether the Rajya Sabha would see the bill on 28.12.2011. First it was seen as not possible, then as to be seen by 2 pm, and then, finally, due to procedural delay, the Bill would be presented in the Rajya Sabha on the next day.

I definitely back Arvind Kejriwal on one question – “does this country have any laws? Is there something like a fix procedure to go about anything in this country, or is everything molded to favor the ruling party?” Other questions that I am concerned about are- if the government does pass the bill as Team Anna says, how will it change the governance in a country which has been used to bribing and sinking into corruption for the past 60 odd years? Are we, ‘the masses’ ready for sudden, clean governance? How will the public cope with it? Is Kiran Bedi right in saing that the motive of Team Anna is served, that people are aware of the need for a Lokpal in this country and are in support of it even though they did not turn up at MMRD in Mumbai or in Delhi? And the biggest question right now,before anything else, when will we have a functional, clear Lokpal for our country?

ON CHRISTMAS

It is a wonder why people wait for Christmas so eagerly. It is extremely difficult to not be happy on Christmas, but so for those who know what Christmas is. We have come to such a point in history where people justify and rationalize everything they do. If I were to ask my Dad to donate clothes to poor this Christmas, he would probably say, “Well, my dear, that is a wonderful idea and a noble gesture. But do you think it is absolutely necessary? We do not have much spare clothes to give. When you think rationally……..” and then there is not end to it.

There is this wonderful song by Declan Galbraith “Tell me why”. My favorite line in the song goes like this – “Tell me why, coz I don’t understand, when so many need somebody, we don’t give a helping hand, tell me why…” Why is it so difficult to take out some time, some of the resources we have and share them with someone who has only dreamt about it, or hasn’t even dared to dream about it? Not for the sake of making a statement, sharing is such a wonderful human phenomenon that is being lost to materialism. Sometimes I think that we should never have moved on from Barter system. A perfect give-and-take relationship where people know and realize that they cannot do without each other, where people believe that each person in the society is vital. But then, I am sure, human as we are, we would have found an alternative way of discrimination.

Dear all, this Christmas, let us bring a change – first in ourselves, in our perception of others, in our assumption of responsibilities towards others, and then, change others through us. It is never late to start a noble cause for if we believe, time itself shall stop and make way for the change we want – a change towards an equal, loving society where people live for each other. As we welcome Jesus into our life, prepare for His love, let us increase it manifold by sharing this love and hope with others. Let us identify Christ in each other, who is waiting to be welcomed into your heart, let us respect and love each other as we would do to Christ, let us rejoice in unity unto Him.

Merry Christmas.

MY CHRISTMAS

Born and brought up in a small town in south-east India, being a Christian for me was limited to church visits (we still do not have a catholic church there. Mass is celebrated at a common church for all churches or in the compounds of a Jesuit school). As a child, I never enjoyed or even understood the meaning of being a Christian but Christmas was something that every child there, irrespective of religion, waited for. For one thing, we had the Christmas vacation to look forward to, which was always a welcome stop to waking up at 5 in the morning and finding your way to school in thick fog. But of course, the main attraction was the preparation for Christmas.

One week before Christmas people will start coming and going, borrowing hay, hollies, ovens, spare decoration, suggestions and lots of love, laughter and smiles. My Hindu friends come home and help set up the manger and crib. Dad and my elder brother would put tuning bulbs and lights all around the front yard and mom would bake some 20-25 cakes and other goodies. Three days before Christmas, the carol singers will start coming. They use traditional drums and bells and there would be a Santa dressed in crumpled old Santa costume looking very merry and White. I knew who the Santa was anyways; he was a fat boy who lived down my street. On Christmas Eve we’ll all go to church and be back after Christmas Mass by 2 am. The first thing we did was keep baby in the Manger and my mom made us repeat “Baby Jesus, come to our house, come to our hearts and stay with us.” She never allowed me to keep Baby Jesus; it was always my elder brother. So when nobody was looking, I would take the Baby out, keep it in the crib box and then put him back again, believing that He looked prettier then. The next morning, till night, there would be a lot of visitors and visiting going on. My classmates would come without fail and linger around till the cakes were over. Truly, Christmas (and mom’s cakes) had made me popular at school.

This year, I am celebrating Christmas on my own. I will definitely miss the hollies and carols and cakes. I will miss my parents and my brother, I will miss my friends. I might spend the advent looking into my laptop, writing assignments or dissertations and projects but something is going to remain the same – the elation I felt when I replaced Baby Jesus in the manger. The manger this year is my heart which is aching to welcome the Lord and I will say,” welcome dear Lord to my humble heart; please stay with me, now and forever.” This year I want as my company every child that has not received the love of Baby Christ, the joy of Christmas and the satisfaction at the abatement of eager anticipation in wait of the Light of the World.

“Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew - 19:14

This year, in the crib set in my heart, I want to add children, lots of children to welcome the Holy Child, to make merry and play with Him, to understand and befriend Him, to worship Him and to vow allegiance to Him.

Right Night Ride

One could find perhaps a few things as exciting as hitting the highways after hours. Well, technically, there is no “after hours” on the highway but one should not be surprised to see bikes and cars zooming past you with a trail of songs sung by exhilarated youth (sometimes quite stoned, sometimes just under ballistic adrenaline rush). But then, a lot can happen on a ride or drive, especially if you are trying to kill boredom, drunk, and know only as much Kannada as to say “ Kannada gothilla”. Worse, if you have a girl with you.

Definitely I am referring to the Mamus in Bangalore. They prepare rather too enthusiastically for their night –time prowls with their Khaki uniform, black jacket that barely conceals a revolting belly, helmet, aged bike, a tattered notepad of recycled paper, and something that would have been called a pen in your granddad’s age.

So what happens if you live in the heart of the city and feel bored at 9 at night? Arguably, the same that happened to two of my very dear friends – night ride plans. But the hitch is, both of them decided to go separate ways with two different guys who barely look twenty, are sloshed and are crazy riders with just one agenda – reach back by 12 somehow.  Well, the time constraint doesn’t mean shorter rides, it just means crazier riding.

5 minutes to 12: a bike stops in front of a ladies’ hostel, few seconds later, and another bike screeches to a halt. Four youngsters look at each others, start smiling like idiots and then burst out laughing like maniacs. The guys still had their helmets on but the expression on the ladies’ face was twinned – I am laughing at my ride. Why the hell are you laughing? Then there was a chorus of-

            “What happened?”

            “Dude cops caught us!”…………..”us too!!!”

            “Are you serious?”

            “Bloody hell………”

CASE1

Ride on Mysore Road.

Speed – immaterial

Fun – unlimited

Crime – having Gobi Manchurian at roadside.

Penalty options – Call parents and get them talking with the cops, Pay Rs.2500 at police station and get back on road, listen like a dummy to the Cop-preach and pay Rs.200 to shut his face.

CASE2

Ride around the city area

Speed – bearable (considering the rider is 4 beer mugs down)

Fun – seen laughing like morons on the road

Crime – that they exist.

Penalty – no penalty. The rider blows into the blower and is detected by three cops as “perfectly sober”. They smile at him and give them a clean chit. The rider depressed at losing money for worthless, undetectable 4 mugs of beer.

CONCLUSIONS FROM THE TWO CASES

1.      Bangalore cops hate Gobi Manchurian-eaters at roadsides.

2.      Or they think Gobi Manchurian should be Rs.200 costlier.

3.      Bangalore police use imported liquor detector (presumably Chinese – no guarantee, no warranty promised).