Why this kolaveri kolaveri di?

You haven't seen/heard this new song 'why this kolaveri kolaveri di'? It has turned out to be so much of a popular song. That too in Tamil and English words mixed. Some even claim it has transformed into youth anthem. Not only in India, but the fans are all over the world. 

Apparently the meaning of kolaveri is murderous/killer rage. Now I thought whatever is happening/ has happened last few weeks, it is incredible. 

We see intolerance increasing day-by-day. Has Amrtya Sen's 'argumentative Indian' disappeared? Or are we, the people enraged beyond limit? The issues are many and people are fed up with the problems like price rise, corruption and they are happy with politician bashing. 

Is patience such a rare commodity? People are simply not ready to listen to any excuse for the still-to-come solutions. 

The recent episode of a guy trying to literally hit Union Agriculture Minister and one of the senior-most leaders, Sharad Pawar, was an indication of anger.  And subsequent reaction of Gandhian leader and darling of masses, Anna Hazare was also equally stunning, although completely unwarranted. He tried to retract, but the damage was already done. To his credit, seasoned and well behaved politician that he is for 50 years, Mr. Pawar reacted very graciously and in balanced manner. 

The incident is not one-off. Last few years have seen many such physical attacks on leaders of different hue and ideologies. 

But I just cannot understand this craze of hitting politicians. What will that attack by using your hands or throwing footwear have an effect on the political discourse? It will not serve any purpose, apart from fifteen minutes of fame. And the TV news channels will happily oblige. 

To exercise restraint by everyone including the TV news channels is the key. I strongly feel, you have right to protest in constitutional ways, no doubt. 

However, you cannot indulge in any sort of violence. At least not in our India, not in Gandhi and Ambedkar's India. As simple as that.                 

mehngai dayain khaye jaat hai!

This is so funny. Or is it weird? Don’t know. Not an expert. But still a bit confused and perplexed. I really don’t know how the rising prices of almost everything indicate affluence and material comfort?  

  

Honorable PM Manmohan Singh says the ever-increasing prices of food items do indeed indicate prosperity! “This (inflation) is a reflection of demand exceeding supply, to some extent it is a sign of growing prosperity of the country," Singh said in a press conference on the sidelines of the G-20 meet in France. 

Food inflation rose to 12.21% for the week ended October 22. People continue battle the rise in prices of vegetables, pulses and milk. And the blow comes, from nowhere. Petrol prices were up by Rs. 1.80 last week.   

This is the 13th increase in petrol prices since the fuel was decontrolled in June last year! 

And it has a cascading effect on overall goods and services. Thankfully there is no rise in the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas as of now. Don’t know when that will be done to further complicate living for large masses of India. 

   

This was possibly the worst timing for price rise. Major alliance partner in UPA, Trinamool Congress is fuming. It threatened to withdraw support to UPA thereby jeopardizing the stability at the Center. 

Sometimes I wonder, Congress forgets the very ‘aam adami’, they were chosen to govern for the second time in 2009. Day-to-day life of this aam adami is getting difficult. Probably our political class never understands implications of continuous rise in fuel prices. 

After all an MP’s salary is tax-free and comes with additional perquisites such as free petrol, free telephone calls and free housing. They get Rs 8/ km of travel allowance also! Most household expenses – furniture, electricity, water, laundry - are also paid for by the State. MPs can travel anywhere in the country by rail, first class, and get 34 free air tickets for themselves or a companion a year. 

To baat aisi hai!    

As a citizen we have to give all the taxes. And also face the music - saiyan toh khoob hi kamaat hai. Lekin, mehngai dayain khaye jaat hai!