Slap on the face of communal elements!

Such a welcome relief! This is something I would want to happen again and again. Just pause and think - a Muslim officer hell-bent on building more and more Hindu temples in MP-UP borderline area. Group of Sikhs building a mosque in Punjab. Sounds far-fetched and unreal?

Very true and tangible, nonetheless!

Generally Indian media (both electronic & print media) tend to offer an ugly and negative picture of our great nation. Ironically they are supposed to deliver factually correct news, we read & see 'mirch masala content' instead. They just deprive us of something positive and progressive! 

However I am biased about print media, I have highest regards and respect of Indian print media. I came to know about above mentioned news in print.
   
A person named Mr. S. S. Mohammad works for Archeological Survey of India and after coming across dilapidated condition of hundreds of temples in areas close to UP-MP border, he actually started working on refurbishment.

He fought and destroyed gradually the opposition from various people including local Gujjar gang of outlaws. He coaxed state and central governments and eventually PM intervened! Interestingly his aim is to restore 500 temples.

There is a group of old Sikh people in Sarwarpur in Punjab. They actually built a mosque and handed over keys to local Imam. The mosque was demolished during 1947 mayhem. It took healing spread over 63 years to arrive at this gesture and step.

Both these incidents have potential to become milestones in long journey towards real communal harmony.

I sincerely believe in the collective wisdom of 120 crore Indian people. We are too strong ultimately to get divided on communal lines. This is 2010, and we need to move ahead with peace and prosperity.           

Desirable Side Effect

Finally there was some typical Indian jugad and Common Wealth Games were declared as success. The grand opening itself would suffice for International Media to hail the management of sports in India!

 

It is amazing the way we handle such tricky situations with almost no hint of inelegance. What more we have remarkably performed on the field, a welcome relief from off the filed instances of shame and discomfiture.

 

It was supposed to be a grand event catapulting India into league of 'big world powers'. However it came with its rather large share of controversies. Prime movers in this show were - politicians (who else?!). We do not have sportsperson as administrators, our neta perform the duty. Now we have side show of cleaning up the corruption mess. Delhi CM & Mr. Kalmadi do blame each other & squabble often and how!

 

The encouraging fact of the matter is that India was second in the medals tally!! We actually won 38 Gold medals, 27 Silver & 36 Bronze medals - total of 101 medals. Can you believe that?

 

I do not really remember the last time we had won so many medals. I feel rather than the number of medals, that wining streak, that thought power & confidence of doing something extraordinary in these sporting events is significant and incredible.

 

It was good to see athletes wining the games and shooters claimimg all the gold medals possible.

 

Even if you want to concertrate on the positive outcomes, the point is not to be missed. We have to go ahead and demand accountability of Rs 70000 crores.

 

It is a 'rainy' warning!

The signs are already there. Writing is on the wall for everyone to see. It is just that what we do, what our politicians do is more & more significant henceforth.

Last Monday it rained heavily in Pune. In a day downpour was measured 183 mm, which is actually a record - highest one day rains ever in Pune. There are instances of cloud burst in as far area as Leh and as close as Nanded in Marathwada region. Yamuna swelled so much that New Delhi and Commonwealth Games preparation were in danger a few days back.

Scientists and people who study environment say there could be more such natural events, this day and time forward. 

The encroachments on places of natural flow of water in city areas are ever increasing. There is construction on places where once small rivers & ravines were flowing. Builders in Pune are crazy and money minded to the extreme. 

Consequence was devastating! Water logging, fall of trees, electricity cut & destruction.   

Our urban planning and construction need a major overhaul. There is something very wrong. It takes just a spell of 3-4 hours of heavy rains and entire city comes to standstill, not only Pune but almost every major city in India. The drainage systems are age old and need improvements urgently.

It is as if rains are warning us!

As common citizen I feel we should form groups to coerce civic authorities to abide by laws & to act and deliver results fast. Media could play effective role of watchdog.

Watching the 'decay'

It is interesting and disgusting at the same time. And people earn handsome money in crores! I am referring to integral part of our life - Television - or Idiot Box!

I read somewhere that society ultimately gets kind of governance & entertainment, it deserves. Sometimes I wonder this is true.

It is obnoxious to see new edition of 'big boss', so say the least. What is on offer? Whatever happens in that house for over three months. Who are there in the house? You name it we have it!

A lawyer who worked for lone terrorist ajmal kasab, a super robber, a bandit queen, a small time flop actor, all these along with some supposedly decent guys! Whoever is the brain behind this line-up would get a pat on the back. They are concerned with TRP ratings and hence money generated in form of advertisements.

It is quite amazing, the way TV has evolved from those Doordarshan days to now hundreds of channels. There are technological advances. So many shows, news, serials & sundry dull programmes are on offer. There are dedicated channels for education & knowledge, I doubt anyone really see those.

On the flip side though, increase in use of remote control is increased! People generally do not spend more time watching a show for long. Children become inclined towards consumption of junk food, as there is a lot of promotion on the television, and there is obesity to deal with right from teen-age!  

Spending too many hours on television, eats up the valuable time that can rather be used up in productive and healthy activities like exercise & reading. But that is so old-fashioned! 

It is time to move on!!

Going by the standards of Indian Judicial system, I always thought there would never be any result on babri-ramjanmbhoomi dispute. First and foremost it is indeed great news that there is some sort of closure.

However, the anti-climax is that both the sides (hindu & muslim) have decided to approach the Supreme Court!

Essentially what Allahabad High court has done is that it ruled in favour of prevalent Hindu faith - the disputed place is indeed ramjanmbhoomi.

The land is divided and given one-third each to Nirmohi Akhara, Hindu Mahasabha & Sunni Waqf Board. The court gave verdict based on ASI report and other pieces of evidence.

The reaction to verdict was rather surprising to say the least. No one wants to revisit the bloody phase of 1992-93. In fact that reminds us, almost 18 years have passed.

Even BJP and Congress have reacted in restrained manner.

I was a student of 9^th standard at the time when all riots & subsequent bloodshed took place in 1992. There was curfew imposed for many days.


With my limited knowledge and study of Indian society, I must say those days distorted Indian society, mindset of people & communal harmoney forever.

This time around it was differnet story altogether. It was a show of lots of maturity coupled with self-control by general public.This is 2010 and we are growing as nation and as an economy.

There are certain encouraging facts of life here in our country - India.

And there should be no unpleasant and dangerous speedbrakers.

On the other hand negetive factors do curse our overall advancement.There is very fresh, major embarassment of Commonwelth Games to deal with. And longstanding issues such as J & K, Naxalism threat & Inflation have not met their solutions and hence logical conclusions.

I strongly believe that if this opportnity, accidentally provided to us by the court verdict, is utilised sensibly and shrewdly we would have real peace and communal harmoney. Now that is a big ‘if’!