Being A Boy...an inner voice influenced by change in society.

Induja Pillai an emerging voice of new Indian society. I very much appreciate her effort for putting this so honestly in public domain, that what she thinks and what all her expectations from life and a life partner? I won't hesitate to acknowledge this fact that I got motivated by her to write this blog and put my view on the same.

As we all know, arrange marriages are the most complicated affairs of Indian society, where even your time and place of birth also plays a vital role not to forget caste and religion are equally important too. Nowadays girls are putting their expectations or aspiration from their life partner more honestly. Somewhere, I have started feeling the conventional taboo's attached with females would eventually breakdown.

Being a boy, one of my friend is also facing the same complicated situation of arrange marriage but by having a conversation with him, I am feeling that conventional taboo's for boys are not even showing a slightest crack. He was rejected by a girl for marriage since his annual income was lesser than her although they were in relationship for years. Every other person is evaluating him on her own self made economic parameters. few I have listed below:

1. Annual CTC
2. Own a flat
3. Own a car
4. Have been to abroad (as he is from IT)

He is actually graded on these parameters and given marks accordingly not by girls family but from girls themselves. His kundali, habits and character have taken the secondary and tertiary priority. There is nothing wrong in expecting a financially viable and stable life partner. But the females who are earning fairly well are also following these parameters more rigorously. If a girl is earning 15Lacs per annum, she wants life partner who earning is above 20 Lacs.

This recent change in attitude of the society raises a question why only boys have to provide the economical stability. Why can't they can be a house man even if they are willing to do so, like me.

I am low earning a very common salaried professional, not very smart, just have an average looks or may be below average. I am not physically too fit. If I ever get a girl who's earn fairly well and want to marry me. I would willingly quit my job to take up all household responsibility and become a devoted house man. But unfortunately by seeing my friends case it is next to impossible. I will also have to fulfill above mentioned parameters and may be more. And thank God , that there is no-one from relatives or my family are aware of my blog or else I would have been tagged as irresponsible just because I am ready become a house man and no father will ever give his daughter to me and no girl will even look at me.
Is it possible, that a time may come when conventions for a boy will also be broken? and they will actually be free from overburden liabilities and their partners will start carrying equal share willingly?

The Republic Day

Source: www.speakingtree.in

Today on 26^th January we had celebrated 66^th republic day of our beloved nation. A day mostly regarded as national holiday and when it falls on a weekend, it’s a heart break for many of us as we lose a vacation. This time it was a party time because it fell on Monday and provides us the luxury of extended weekend. As we all know this day our constitution came into force and it not only granted our rights but also pledged to protect them in every circumstance.

As per definition republic means ” a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives”  but to understand this term to we need to travel in time, starting from 320 BC when a roman philosopher Socrates  coined this term while discussing about various forms of justice with his favorite student Plato .Later on Plato compiled his own thoughts and teachings from Socrates in his famous book “The Republic” which is still regarded as one of the greatest books in the history of human civilization till date.

In medieval period when renaissance was its peak which started as a cultural movement but impacted the political and economic system all across the western world. People were outraged by their sufferings and insensitivity of their rulers towards them, which led to various revolutions in Europe and it, resulted establishing various republican nations in the world. This transformation was well quoted by a French poet Victor Hugo in his lines “No power can stop an idea whose time has come”. That time it was the idea of equality, liberty and freedom dominated the world, and I pray it should always remain the dominant one.

Here in India people were still leaving under the rule of monarchs later on the we were under a colonial rule. In 1857 people made an attempt to snatch the power from the British in a hope to revive there rights but failed. Since 1857 numerous revolutionaries shred there conventional life and step into a path of struggle so that they can enlighten the life of Indians. Once Bhagat Singh said “One individual may die for an idea; but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives. That is how the wheel of evolution moves on and the ideas and dreams of one nation are bequeathed to the next”. This liberty by virtue of which we live in a so comfortable and peaceful life had come at a great cost. Many have died protecting or nourishing this idea and this date also this liberty is preserved by those who march past on Raj-path and salute this great nation in an absolute sublimity. In my opinion it’s our necessity not only preserve this freedom and liberty but also fix the loopholes in it which are somehow hampering our own prosperity. I think it is the only to pay real homage to all those pure spirits who presented us this way of life in which “We the people” have a stake in decision.

 We should celebrate this day more actively than our birthdays since on our birthday's we were just born, but on this day we were acknowledged with all freedoms and rights. This day not only guarantees the rights of millions today but also to the unborn millions yet to come.

The much awaited contest: Delhi Assembly Election

The voters of Delhi should feel very proud that they have transformed the political discourse of this nation. You have two people in Chief Ministerial race, who came from an anti-corruption movement launched by Shri Anna Hajare. The last year victory of AAP had install a sense of conscience in all major parties that there traditional style of politics won’t work anymore. The BJP is forced to land Mrs Kiran Bedi and project her as the CM candidate, an iconic personality and moreover she led a furious movement for Janlokpal. All credit goes to voters of Delhi.

I recalled a dialogue from a Bollywood movie that “It is easy to choose between a good and a bad but very difficult to choose between two bad”, but the people of Delhi has to choose between two goods, purely amazing. Now everybody will vote according to his will and judgment but it will be very interesting to see to results. In 2013 AAP was not just a party, it was a revolution. There was a wave in favor of them, I can’t comment on current scenario, with which party the public opinion is aligned, but certainly I want to interpret the outcomes with my little knowledge.

Source: India Today

 AAP Wins: Considering the case where AAP gets a majority, it will boost the enthusiasm and energy in their party cadres across the nation and probably all coming assembly election see emergence of AAP. They will get a national platform to perform, if they able to perform well in administering Delhi, there popularity will increase exponentially as they will get the complete media coverage because of the location. Down the line it is highly possible scenario that people may see them or they can eventually become the only political party who can counter BJP. It is certainly a pretty bad case for regional, secular and caste based political parties. There mere existence will be at stake.

Source: India Today

BJP Wins: This will send certainly relax opposition parties that they are still in game and are not replaced by AAP. They will defeat BJP one day. But here it will create a slight confusion in my mind, to whom BJP will give the credit of victory? Modi wave or clean image of Kiran Bedi? Interestingly it will also be an outcome to watch. Although I have no doubt about the leadership of Mrs Kiran Bedi or any other leader irrespective of their party. Victory of BJP may have a positive outcome since if same party is in center and state, experts say then there is much more synchronization and high level of co-operation in decision making process. By this logic the development of state may expedite. But our PM has made it very clear that in the process of development political differences will be step aside.

No matter Who so ever wins this election , but certainly ,stakes are very high. Congress is fighting for its survival, BJP want to prove that NaMo charisma still dominate and for AAP they have establish themselves as a viable and credible option. Stage is set for another historical verdict by the people. I will urge every Delhiites go out and participates and contribute in creation of this history. You have got the chance and the power to change the entire political debate of this nation. Go for it.

The easy way out: Ban Uber

Again Delhi is in a media lime light for a heinous crime. A cab driver of Uber has been accused of this crime. These frequently happening despicable incidents triggers alarms bells in our society and bound us to think when will be our metropolitan cities will be safe for women.

Unfortunately nobody has any idea, this issue has become a political gimmick in our nation. Nobody wants to address the core issue of women safety, they just want to do anything to ease pressure from media and public, banning of Uber services just represent this thought process. Authorities are very brave and bold to take the most easy way, Ban it. It is also perfect way cover up your own failures and regardless of whatever we do with start up's, we gonna still campaign for "Make in India".

In my view when Uber has initially started its service, then why not its operational architecture or management was questioned? Why not guidelines were laid down for operations? Why always authorities have to wait for terrible incident to happen in order to act? I do have used Uber cab services many times. One will astonished to know many drivers left there conventional jobs, what we called in our society a good job then to being driver, in order to support their and their families rising financial needs. A day I took an Uber cab to go back home from my office and I was amazed to know the driver was well educated and used to work in a private bank where he gets only 22K per month as salary. He left his job and and joined the Uber fleet now he earns upto 35K-40K per month. As per Indian standards of society a bank job is far better than a drivers job even though how much less you earn or however hectic or intolerable your working conditions may be. He defy the conventions laid down by the society and make a choice for the betterment of his and his family but failed to comply the incompetence of our system now he has to pay the price of being unemployed.

Media reports are indicating that the accused is a repeat offender but did get police clearance anyhow. if this is true, it clearly indicate the lapses in our system. however the Delhi police did a commendable job  by arresting the accused in short span of time. I have only questions for policy makers did they really thought about drivers who actually did there job in best possible way to facilitate their customers. Before coming to conclusion over banning a complete fleet of any cab service, do a survey how many people are actually comfortable to hire a private cab. it is always an easy way to abandoned the entire system or ban the complete organization but who will pay the price, authorities travelling in red beacon's or the end customer or the people now employed by the decision. Why not opting the hard way, that they introspect the system fix the loop-holes and laid down stringent policies which will benefit all. After all our PM also quote regularly 'Sabka sath sabka vikash'

The Media Justice

Recent Rohtak eve teasing incident shows the diminishing values of human behavior and degrading aspects of law and order. The bravery shown by the girls is also very commendable.  Keeping all these things in my mind I want draw the attention towards a dangerous pattern evolving in our society, nowadays we are so impatient for justice and have a mad rush for questioning the authorities or our system, that one day it will lead to a disaster.

This story is getting covered on all news channel as headlines and in the manner it is being presented is not very appropriate. Less than 48 hours have passed and the accused have been already rejected by the Indian army, Announcements have been made to honor the girls on the republic day (source: TOI). Everybody is in some kind of conclusive mood over the incidents as the accused has been proven guilty and heroic behavior of the girls is being treated as a turning point in the transformation of our society. I am not saying not to applaud anybody’s resistance towards any injustice but at least one can refrain itself from jumping at a conclusion without a fair trial of the accused.

All this hue and cry defies the principle of, law of natural justice which grant every accused, right for a fair hearing. We have seen in past that hype has been created for any incident and post investigation the truth was entirely different. I advise my readers before making any decision or reacting over this incident on social media always remember that there are three versions of a story, my version, your version and the truth. Let the trial carry out.

Eve teasing or any other incident undermining dignity of a women is very unfortunate and perpetrators involve in such incidents should get severe punishments, but being part of a civilized society please don’t get carried away by a media justice.

Qualification OR Competency?

Smt. Smiriti Irani taking oath 

From last few days I am bound to say that I am exhausted by watching debates after debates over the row erupted on the educational qualification of our current HRD minister Smt. Smiriti Irani Ji. To be very honest when the news broke about her portfolio I too was skeptical not because I was aware of her qualification but because of her administrative inexperience. So far she has undertaken the responsibility of party activities and probably she would have delivered  her responsibilities in a very efficient manner, but directly HRD ministry with cabinet rank certainly raised my eyebrow. But nevertheless I had seen her in much of debates and very found of her vocal  and debating strength, therefore it came to my mind she could be a good administrator and time will tell.

But now there is every where Smt. Irani ji and her qualification and there I do also have some opinion. Some people give this argument that this is the India of 21st century and if we the young, educated and dynamic Indians are expecting a highly qualified education minister what is wrong in it? After all we also pass the barriers of degree in order to get a job. By this logic this question is very legitimate but here is my question, Literacy rate in India is 74%, means there are 26% of illiterate people also have  voting rights, means they have a stake in deciding the government. So by the above logic they shouldn't have this responsibility. and even If you make qualification as check to judge this responsibility then many qualified people do get carried away by caste and religion while casting their vote and you add this number too, there will be a huge amount of voters who will be put to dock, keeping in mind the responsibility they have. But we had faith in there competency of judgement so we should do the same with Smiriti Ji. Let's watch her work for a while.

In a debate I saw a person stating that she is just 12th pass how she is going to interact people in II M's and II T's. What kind of ill-logical thinking is this? Did degree of these prestigious institute make people insensitive or there is an sense intellectual supremacy and arrogance prevails in there campuses? I think this is not true, by my own experience I can only say that an old saying is absolutely true in there respect that "A talented person is always polite in same way a tree laden with fruits is always bend". I don't think her qualification will ever bother them but her competency may, which can only be seen by letting her to the job given. Well I to have admitted my job is much easier as many have given this argument that a health minister should have to be a doctor or civil aviation minister shouldn't have to be a pilot (courtesy: Omar Abudullah).

But I have seen many leaders are jumping in and using this incident as leverage to cover there own academic background and eagerly putting this argument that  if she can be a competent then we are also. I don't want to take names but I have a request for them please don't buzz in, she is competent enough to be qualified for this discussion but with due respect you are not, please carry on with your caste and regional politics.

This discussion of qualification verses competency is going to echo louder in coming days with lot of argument and counter argument and this debate will go on. Some people will also took out the resume of very qualified peoples and raised the question about there competency just for the sake of argument but I don't want to get into all this. In my advice Smiriti Irani ji you don't have to win any debate, you have to win people, for which you should continue with your hard work and the world will acknowledge and admire your effort, just ignore this kinds of petty and irrational controversies, after all your party symbol is lotus, " the more sludge will be thrown, the more will lotus bloom". if you did justice with this ministry, you will be idol to millions of Indians and who knows in 2029 general election you are running for country's top job. i.e. Prime Minister of "Republic of India". Now it all depends on you future course of hard work and commitment towards the people of this country.

Losing My Left

In this general election things have changed drastically in political spectrum on India, it has shifted from parliamentary form of election to a presidential form of campaigning. But in this whole exercise, I want to bring attention on one of the outcome of this election i.e. loosing of the left philosophy dynamically in India which can be well explained by the below graph.

 This philosophy gives us cold war. It raises the voice for workers and peasant which comprises the majority population of world as well as India and you like it or not, post industrialization in the modern world due to birth of this very own philosophy the labor laws were advocate and in today’s world every developed and developing nation gives values to this basic idea of labors or workers right and upheld its values by law in various forms.

In India the journey of left is mix with bullet and ballot. When in 1957 the first left government was elected in Kerala. It was the first time in entire world when the leftist have seized the power by a democratic process and it send a strong message of emergence and acceptance of this philosophy in India. Sino-Indo war 1962 war created a split in communist party of India. One section of communist favors China and one section adopted the philosophy of nationalism. The one who where in support of china did so on the basis of ideological basis of communism, the one who opposes did so on the basis of their own idea of nationalism first and then followed by communism. Everyone is entitled for their opinion, but now since 1957 in the history of 57 years the grounds for left is shrinking. Now look at their performance in recent election, they are reduced to 3.2% vote share and with 10 seats to represent. Certainly this number is not going to help in their objective and keeping their acceptance level in general public, in future also I don’t see any improvement either. Although I am not a very representing voice but trust me you are no longer the point of conversation in drawing room of middle class or topic of conversation in farmers sitting under a banyan tree, it doesn't matter how true and committed your ideology is towards workers and farmers.

Nobody can deny the fact that left government has always pushed for land reforms and put their best efforts to abolish caste ism and feudal infrastructure. For the left which participate in elections it’s high time for them to introspect that what went wrong? or they will turn into history. You cannot only roam around a secular ring and think it will revive your fortune. What humor is this that in India more than 1 million people works in IT industry and they are not in the purview of any labor or employment law. Did you ever confront the government in parliament over this issue? At least in my knowledge it never happened and yet you claimed that you pioneered in protecting the rights of labors or workers but you enthusiastically participate in secular debates. I have one request for you don’t evolve around communal ring, it is very important that India must remain secular but in socialism or communism ideology, religion in non existence. You are it making it communal by arguing about certain community, which can be evidently perceived by your election manifesto.

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The violent form of left emerges when Charu Mazumdar and Kanu Sanyal adopted the path of bullet to change this system. If I take the violence form of left (i.e. Naxallite Movement), it is also not finding the place in drawing room discussions of the general public, they only see soldiers getting killed by armed extremist whatever your noble cause may be and I do share the same opinion. Still some time I get mesmerized by the lines of a revolutionary poet Gorakh pandey who also inspired the life of Anuradha Gandhy (a naxallite leader) :

“It’s thousands of years old

Their anger

Thousands of years old

is their bitterness

I am only returning their scattered words

With rhyme and rhythm

And you fear that

I am spreading fire.

For them I have only one request please drop your weapons, your own founder Kannu Snayal committed suicide raising question about the current movement of extreme leftist. In the land of Gandhi and Buddha, if someone thinks that since he get inspired by the ideas of Mao, Lenin and Stalin and believe that the same idea will nourish and get a mass acceptance in this land, you are mistaken. They are great leaders but there idea work for their own nation but it doesn't mean it is universal and moreover people in this country needs improvement in current system, they don't want to completely change the system, they still have trust in current running system for justice.

It has been said that an idea never dies, it prevails in different forms. May be your all ideas or philosophy will someday partially or fully absorbed by one or more political parties which in my view be great thing but how absurd is this, that someone who claims to be a pioneered of something turns out they were not, they were only rich of words but someone else implement their idea on  the ground level. That will be your end, and if I am not wrong it has already started. Please get together in non violent movement, in India there are thousands of peasant and workers still residing and they want that there voice to be heard in parliament in same furious manner in which you claimed to advocate. It’s hard to see such a dissenting philosophy of modern world slowly dying.

*Diclamer

The data shown in the graph can have the variance of +- 10%.