AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CM OF DELHI

Honorable Chief Minister Shri Arvind kejriwal Saheb,
I am an AAP supporter. In fact I became AAP supporter after reading its Election Manifesto. It fired the imagination of many people like me who supported you and on whose support you became the Chief Minister.
But I am disappointed not because 700 liter water per head per day has not reached every household, not because not a single contract worker has been made regular employee, not because the Janta Durbar was mismanaged, not because not a single election promise has been fulfilled, not because the Law Minister used abusive language but because you sat on Dharna. I have the following reasons:-
1.    You were well aware that Police is not under Delhi Government. You should have taken opposition into confidence and tried to reason out the issue in the Parliament rather than taking law into your own hands. This way there is no difference between you and a common criminal.
2.    You should have waited for the outcome of the investigation ordered into the Khirki episode before launching your agitation.
3.    Your Law Minister is equally responsible for the unfortunate happenings. No one has the right to brand someone, particularly a woman, as immoral. You asked for the suspension of police officers but did not take any action against the Minister.
4.     You started your Dharna with your demand of suspension of five police officials, then scaled it down to transfer and finally agreed forced leave for just two. It shows you are not sure what you want.
5.    You threatened to disrupt the Republic Day Celebrations. Sir, this is the only success story our country has over the last many centuries. No one has the right to abuse it. Talked of
6.    You put so many people into inconvenience as your Dharna disrupted the Metro Service.
7.    You could not handle the AAP supporters present there to keep order.
8.    You  talked of flooding Rajpath with people on 26th Jan. You should know that there are many like you who can also bring their supporters and create disorder.
9.    You used this Dharna to prepare for 2014 General Election and garner support in your favor.
10.    You neglected your work to run the Government.  Work at the Secretariat came to stand still for two days when all of you were at the Dharna Sthal.

Yours Truely,
Hari Prasad Lakhera
B-5/395, Sector 8, Rohini,
Delhi-110085.

NOMADS OR SEEKERS ?

NOMADS OR SEEKERS?

Some lucky Verdurians are planning to have a pleasure trip to the only ‘heaven’ on earth Kashmir. I understand VAS and Savi are planning to entertain the group with latest Bollywood dance steps. 

Another 65 Indians have been selected to ‘one way’ ticket to Mars. One Mr. Jain, an Indian, based in the USA is planning regular flights to Moon. I too have travelled a lot for office work and pleasure and pilgrimage after retirement and been to almost all airports, railway and bus stations in India and a few in foreign countries. I can claim to be an International Travelers.

There is a community in Rajasthan called ‘banjaras’ who never stay at one place for long. They move with their belongings and members of the family from one place to another. For livelihood they do various jobs like blacksmiths, potters, artisans and roadside circus performers called ‘nuts’. They are true nomads. We have heard and seen the ‘backpackers’ from the West called Hippies. Once I met a Londoner in the caves of Ajanta and Ellora who was on the move for almost four years then. He started from London and went to places and when money fell short did odd jobs, stayed in cheapest accommodations, ate frugal food and fell ill too but nothing stopped him.

 What takes us to visit unknown destinations?  Is it the boredom of staying at one place or the inquisitive nature of humans to explore new places, people and ideas? Are we seekers or simply nomads? And then we return to where he started from, to our place of origin or roots. Strange it may look but we have an unfulfilled desire to experience something new because we are not satisfied with we already have.

Another equally strong logic may be to explore the unknown. Our saints and sages have given their lifetime to bring to us the mystery of the unknown as they experienced it during their own nomadic ways.

And then there are people who have not moved anywhere from their place of birth. They lived and died there. They did not have resources but more than that they did not have the inclination and courage to take risks of travelling to unknown places, talk to unknown people and experience a different culture.

Verurians in Kashmir will figure it out, I think. But for this nomadic way of life Amarnath would have remained hidden from us. Thanks to the Muslim ‘gadria’ (goat grazer) who saw it on his nomadic trails and informed of the existence of ‘Shiva lingam’. Nehru used to get his quota of drinking water from Chasme- Sahi. May be because bottled French water was not available then. It surely was not for the love of his homeland.

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY REWARDING JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF MAGICAL BEAUTY.

   

  

MANKIND, CHILDHOOD AND THE STORY TELLERS

MANKIND, CHILDHOOD AND STORY TELLERS

Blessed are those story- tellers, who, for generations have saved the childhood of mankind. Once mankind loses its story tellers, it also loses its childhood. In every country and in every community parents/grandparents tell bed time stories to their children. These stories have survived for centuries. All of these stories are moralistic in content. They tell about victory of truth over untruth, honesty over dishonesty, loyalty over disloyalty, kindness over cruelty. They tell about courage, adventure, love, faith. Two such story books which come to mind right now are Hitopadesaar and Panchtantra.  Blessed are the kids who have someone to tell them these bed time stories. Later on in their lives they come face to face with real life stories.

I guess in literary field there are many more story tellers than poets or essayists. Thousands of stories are told in form of short stories, long stories, and novels. Our own epics like Ramayana, Bhagwat and Mahabharat are also in story format. These story tellers keep us grounded by presenting to us what exists but our open eyes do not see. Thousands of stories are scattered around us but only the observant eye and mind with a very large heart can express them in words.

But for these story tellers, mankind would be very poor with neither a heart nor a soul.

  

MIDDLE AND NOT CHILDHOOD IS THE BEST PART OF LIFE

MIDDLE AND NOT CHILDHOOD IS THE BEST PART OF LIFE

It may seem a loud thinking in saying so but there is no harm in exploring the why. It may be because nothing much of childhood inspires me anymore, nothing much of this aged life promises me for future but everything of the middle age draws me towards it.

Our life span is a spread of childhood up to 13, teens from 14 to 25, adulthood from 26 to 40, elderly from 41 to 60 and old 61 onwards.  Our writers, poets and thinkers have said in volumes about the childhood-its glory, its innocence, its carefree span and so on but frankly speaking, it does not seem to be true. At best it is just poetic and literary hyperbole.  Besides what is so big about depending on someone else for most of your needs? The early stage, as a toddler, is pathetic enough when one cannot even eat, walk and clean oneself. Rest of the span up to 21 is nothing but a parasitic life, again depending on others, called parents, for your pocket money and overall upkeep. Worst still is the constant threat from parents and teachers for one thing or the other. You cannot do this; you cannot do that and all such dictatorial commands. Just because they give you food, clothing and shelter, you have to obey them and do their bidding. May be their intentions are good and all they do is for your good only but the price extracted is too high. They never ask you what you want. They want you to become what they want. Their self interest and false sense of pride override the dreams of their own child.

Look at the poor kid of six, standing outside early in the morning, shivering with cold at 8 degree C, yawning widely, bored to the hilt, waiting for his school van, a heavy bag on his back, water bottle hanging on his neck in the front and the Mom, Dad or servant standing close by to make sure that he boards the van. All this is for his/her future that is not in their hands anyway.

Look at this teen of 14. Same situation except that the bag is heavier, mind tense as home work is incomplete and pocket money is all spent. It never was enough anyway. There is lot of things that money only can buy like greeting cards for friends, flowers for valentine and so on. The parents do not understand. Parents of friends are more understanding. This is going to be like that for years to come.  The teachers are more interested in better results in the exams so that they can pat their back rather than telling what is beyond books. There is so much beyond these books to be learnt.  All what they can give is tension of coming exams, board exams, CAT, JET, GMAT and all such crap. The parents collaborate with them. They will never understand that the future is not all about running a rat race that makes a rat for rest of your life chasing the cheese along with many other rats.

What is there in life past 60? If childhood is the beginning of growing old, old age is the reverse of that. The older the worse it becomes. I have seen them depending on someone else for food, clothing and cleaning just like a child. All what they have is experience that nobody bothers to share, not even their own children.

We are the left with the middle, from 26 to 60. Here you are the king of your destiny. You can do what you want. You can find a life partner, enjoy life and raise a family. You can even stay single and mingle with other singles with no strings attached. You may even stay a virgin if you like. You can take up a job of your liking and kick it if you have other idea. The scope is so big and varied that no imagination can encompass. You can live in big Metros or small towns, or village or even on the Himalayas. You may just pick a bag, fill it with some essentials and hop on the first bus, train or plane to no destination in mind. The best part is you are answerable to no one but yourself. You have all the freedom on earth.  You are not dependable on anybody for anything.

I think the point is proved. You are welcome to drill holes in it or mend them wherever needed.      

      

SUBMISSION OF A DINNING SET

SUBMISSION OF A LONELY DINNING SET

Your Honor, in the name of God I swear I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

1.    My name is Dinning Set. I do not know why I was named as such because almost all meals from breakfast, lunch to dinner were served and taken on my marble top flat chest. I am inclusive of one flat table and a set of chairs. I would not go into my parentage but usually I am made of wood.

2.    World over there are different traditions of serving food. In India and in this household, where I belong to, it is said that in olden days food was normally served and taken in the kitchen. The guests/family members would sit on the ground in comfortable position, a small low height stool was placed in front of them and food served in a thali with saucers or on a banana leaf spread. With the advent of the British, the educated class brought a dinning set and usually placed it in the drawing/living room. The guests/family members sit on the chairs placed around the table and food is served as usual in thalies or banana leaves. In some households as in this household, thalies and banana leaves have been  replaced by porcelain or stainless steel plates and saucers.

3.    The basic idea was to have food together to follow the old adage ‘ those who eat together stay together.’ I remember Dadaji (Grand father-God save his soul) Dadiji (Grand mother) Bade Bhayya (elder brother), Manjhale bhayya (middle brother) Chhote Bhayya (Youngest brother) Chintu (elder brother’s son), Reena (elder brother’s daughter), Monu (Middle brother’s son) and Manav (youngest brother’s son) all sat on the 12 seater dinning table and would be served by the female members who usually cooked the food also. Dinner was an leisurely affair  while, breakfast and lunch were rather quick.

4.    It was around the dinner time that family issues were discussed, solutions found to controversial issues. Kids were encouraged, appreciated and at times mildly rebuked or lovingly poked. Decency and decorum was maintained but that did not debar members pulling each others legs. The atmosphere was jovial, serious or just right depending on the mood of the elders. Post dinner, there would be some more discussions before retiring to the bed.  This helped in knowing whatever is happening to each member of the family and take suitable action where ever required. Thus the family meeting would end with a promising note looking for a better tomorrow.

5.    Family business was flourishing as all the three brothers worked hard, talked to each other, consulted each other and in all cases rested the final decision with their  parents.

6.    It all started with when Chintu wanted to go abroad to pursue higher studies. He was advised to have formal education in the country only and fall in the footsteps of his elders and look after the family business. He however persisted with his desire and finally the family agreed to send him to UK for higher studies.

7.    Reena was a bright girl and she too wanted to pursue higher studies but the family decided to get her married once she reached the marriageable age. Her parents did not like it but agreed to the wishes of the elders. I am witness to her cries and anger.

8.    The youngest brother looked after the marketing aspect of the business while the elder one looked after the production and the middle one the purchases and sourcing. Competition was raising its head and profits were falling down.

9.    The blame game started. Marketing blamed the production for higher costs and production blamed the purchase and sourcing for the higher costs of inputs. Purchase blamed the production for higher wages and production costs and marketing for not working hard enough to get good deals and higher marketing costs.

10.                       The dinning time was now a war of wits among brothers. Dadiji did not understand the business anyway but was heart broken to see her sons shouting at each other. She too said good bye to all in her sleep.

11.                       There was no dinning time now. Everyone started calling food in his room and respective wives helped in furthering this divide.  I was a moot spectator and mostly remained unused for days. Once in a while some one would sit on a lonely chair, have a cup of coffee or some breakfast and that was all.

12.                       The process of separation was rather fast. The factory and the parental house were sold and the proceeds divided among the three brothers equally. Each one bought flats in the suburbs and started living separately. They started their small businesses.

13.                       No one agreed to take me along as I was too big for their small flats and of no use to small families. They sold me to a scrap dealer where I sit in a corner gathering dust waiting for a savior.

14.                       My  Lord ! Is it my fault that I am no more the pride of a well knit family? Is it fair that in my old age I should meet this fate? Have I not served them well when I was young and useful? At least they could have given me a decent cremation.

15.                       Finally My Lord I request you to find me a family who have time to eat together and stay together. With this hope I have come to Your Lordship. Please help me or arrange for my cremation.

THE MOMENTOUS MOMENT

THE MOMENTOUS MOMENT

AAP (Aam Adami Party) has officially taken over the reins   of Delhi today the 28^th 0f December 2013 at 12 noon. The oath of office has been administered by the Lt. Governor Mr. Najeeb  Jung to Mr. Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister with six of his cabinet members. The euphoria is to be seen to believe. Over 90000 people thronged the Ramlila Ground in Delhi to watch the ceremony. Many of them came from faraway places and towns.

It is the first time that a political outfit as old as just one year has captured the imagination of the common people and defeated the age old established political parties like BJP and Congress. Right now it is just a manifestation of public aspirations likely to come true in days to come. This is no time to doubt the intentions of the AAP leaders.

Tomorrow when a new sun arises in the east, people will be gauging the performance of the leaders in physical terms. 30% of Delhi electorate has voted for AAP and this 30% represent the people who are crying for change and are convinced that AAP will bring it. Balance 70 % is either hard core followers of BJP and Congress or other political parties or is not very hopeful of any drastic change.

On a lighter mode, I am surprised Delhi and for that matter the country have so many upright and honest people as will be seen by the number of people present on the ground and elsewhere. Had it been so, how come we lived with corruption for all these years?