Abhishek Pandey

Spreading hatred has not benefited any but many institutions in our country do not seem to understand this. They are promoting it in the name of cultural traditions and cultural purity. The best example of present times is Khap which has wage a war against the people wants to spread love in the society.

It seems these panchayats are above the law, as Khap Panchayats can allow killing of the lovebirds, if any one dare to marry the partner of the same gotra. What is Gotra and why there is much hue and cry about it? Perhaps, many gen-Y Hindus may not be aware of. It looks like the Khap Pancayat has been given responsibility for its public relation and they have done their job well.

Now, the concept of gotra is very much clear in the minds of this present generation after the panchayats call for killing of many couples in the name of gotra followed by detailed media coverage.

Many opine, if the panchayats consider the marriages in same gotra immoral, they should also declare that any Indian would be punished if he or she marries an Indian by justifying their decision with the old cultural saying – All Indians are my brothers and sisters.

And, they can also call upon Sania Mirza from Dubai and must load her with lots of prizes for marrying a Pakistatni cricketer Shoaib Malik. They can also propose her name for the Bharat Ratna award.

They are planning to shut down Delhi on June 20, if the central government doesn’t agree to amend the Hindu Marriage Act. No one knows the government will succumb to that pressure or would nip them in the bud.

Political parties have not came forward against this faction of the society, as no one want to annoy the huge vote bank in Haryana, Rajasthan and western UP. Shamelessly, several ‘intellectual’ young leaders like Jatin Prasad have supported them with many senior leaders like Ajit Singh, Mahendra Singh Tikait and several others.

Rashtriya Swayam Sewak (RSS) has also called the issue a social issue and does not show any interest in commenting on the issue.

It is irony of the state. On one hand, the government is encouraging inter-caste marriages for promoting harmony in the society. On another, the loose canons of political parties, including congress party, are aggressively waging war against the lovebirds.

Khap panchayats are continuously giving decisions for social seclusion of the couples those have tied knot with the partner of same gotras. It is the high time that the government must crack the whip on these panchayats and the person responsible for causing death to any couple must be punished.

It seems, the time is not too far when such institutions, if allowed to flourish, would demand for the separate colleges, schools and hospitals in the country for members of different gotras, caste and communities.

|

Indian Premiere League proved to be Indian Profit League but many don’t like its prosperity.

Lalit Modi, the person behind the idea of IPL and who turned the cricket into ‘Cricketainment, ’is in problem. The reason is simple; he dared to mess with a politician, ‘Union minister of state for external affairs’ Shashi Tharoor.

Though, the squabble backfired Tharoor who allegedly tried to help his girlfriend Sunanda Pushkar in the whole deal of IPL Kochi team. The probe is ordered, Tharoor has been fired and Sunanda Pushkar resigned from her role in the Kochi team.

The case has opened the Pandora box of the problems for many in Board for Cricket Control of India (BCCI). People including several politicians have started raising fingers over the involvement of hundred of crore rupees ‘black money’ in the IPL business.

Sport has become a business and so has politics. There is no difference between both the fields as there are great chances of earning huge money in both the genres.

No political party is exception in making their ‘persistent’ efforts to improve the condition of sports. Please don’t overlook, I mean cricket for sports here.

It is the tragedy of the nation that the politicians poke their nose in sports, apparently for their vested interests.

Though, all the sports are not great earner of the money and so you would not find many politicians in other sports. Say, Badminton or for that matter any other sports ranging from Kabbaddi, Kho-Kho, High jump, Long jump, wrestling and so on and so forth – not many politicians are interested in it.

Leaders like Sharad Pawar, Rajeev Shukla, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Arun Jaitely, Narendra Modi and several others are interested in alleviating the standard of cricket. It seems they damn care of improving standards of other sports. It is the love for cricket or lust for money, only god knows.

I believe, the politicians must keep themselves involved in the politics and they should leave sports for the sportspersons. Not only me, many believe in the country that the sportspersons would better take care of the sports.

|

Abhishek Pandey

The connections of the god men and sex are not very new. India had Devdasis system prevalent in the olden times. With the changing times, the contours of relations keep changing between sex and Sadhus.

Nityanand and Bheemanand aka Ikshadhari has tainted the saffron colour. It was not the very first time the saffron has got stains. Baba Ram Raheem, Kripalu ji Maharaj, Asha Ram Bapu and several others self styled god man have been reportedly involved in the much hyped sex scandals. Though, the rule of law is still to decide on these matters and they continue to play their ‘dirty’ game with apparent impunity.

In recent incidents, a self styled Hindu god men, Bheemanand, was arrested for running a sex racket of more than 500 call girls from Delhi. Another god man Nityanand was found in compromising position with her disciple and Tamil actress Ranjitha. She also accepted that she was giving her service like others services as serving food and massaging him.

Not only that, there are more disgusting acts in which many self-styled gurus had been indulging in the act of molestation and rape with the girls as younger as seven year. In a recent case in Kanpur, a priest raped a seven-year-old girl and strangled her to death.

These impostors in the business of faith have also brain washed their followers and the disgusting example was when a Tantrik cum religious preacher suggested his devotee to rape his own daughter for bringing prosperity.

Which religious text suggests that you would attain prosperity if you rape your daughter? The answer is an obvious, NO. But, I really don’t understand why all the genuine saints and devotees clad in saffron are not coming forward to save the Sanatana Dharma from viciously assaulted by these thugs.

These thugs turned Gurus teach abstinence but exploit innocence. They preach, keep yourself away from earthly affairs like sex, as they don’t want competition for themselves. They say, why follow Moh-maya perhaps indicating leave all these for them. These imposters are hypocrites.

Though, Osho or Rajneesh tried to change everything in between and talked about every taboo ranging from sex, wealth to other earthly matters. He talked openly on all these issues and taught people that they must not refrain themselves as it does not come from their mind.

I think the saints; religious bodies must evolve a system in which a centralized body monitors everything ranging from the activities going in the religious places and transfer of funds there. The temples and religious institutions are one of the largest investments for many big industrialists in the country.

The body also issue them license to preach and flourish the business of faith and it could also prohibit the entry of imposters by regular monitoring by the ‘Dharmgurus’.

Though, it is easier to say than implement because the path has innumerable hurdles. Many don’t want complication in religion. Many have their own interest in the on going system.

Some say, Sanatana Dharma has many sects as no sect would accept authority. It has Arya Samaj, Brahma Samaj, Shavites, Vaishnavites and several others. The solution is that we could implement UN system on which the people from different sects are appointed periodically depending upon the number of people they represent.

There are hundreds other solution but some one has to come forward to take an initiative. But there is no light of hope visible in the tunnel. Perhaps, it is the high time in Kalyug and we need real Avatar not of James Cameron.

|

Abhishek Pandey

BJP wants to take the power ride. Ram temple issue is too old to win this ride. Party needs fresh ideas and newly appointed president of BJP understands this well. He has presented the ‘old wine in new bottle’ and this wine does not seem to be deleterious for nation’s health, as Hindus and Muslims, both, would find it yummy.

Since the inception of the Ayodhya issue, the right wing never tuned its tone as soft as national president of BJP, Gadkari did during recent national conclave at Indore. He said, BJP is committed to the cause of temple construction at Ayodhya. Nothing new in this idea but Gadkari went one step further.

He asked Muslims to be generous to not oppose the construction of grand temple at disputed site. Even, he allured them saying that the party would facilitate the construction of mosque beside the temple. The tone is new and has never been heard by anyone, at least from the saffron brigade.

I think, he is trying to find out the practical solution of the problem and the plot to erect BJP’s building. He mentioned that the litigations are pending in the court for the resolution of the dispute and the verdict would not serve the purpose because one party would win and other may lose.

The visionary Gadkari is also aiming to hit the two birds from a single stone. As his proposal would neither annoy the ‘moderate’ Hindus, those are looking for the resolution of the dispute, nor would it send a wrong message to the Muslims that injustice has been done to them.

I used the moderate world because the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Shiv Sena have already registered their protest. The supreme of these parties, Ashok Singhal and Bal Thackeray, have said that “Ram temple is religious issue not a political issue. BJP or for that matter any party must refrain from taking any decision of its own, as it would bring dishonor to the several Karsevaks who sacrificed their life for the cause of Hindus.

Why the hell they don’t understand that the days of decisive politics are gone and they are gonna get nothing from such politics. Except, killing or maiming some innocents and making the life of their loved one’s hellish.

He knows and also understands it well that the developmental politics is the future and the construction of temple would alleviate the stature of the BJP among the parties supporting Hindu cause.

Though. in his complete speech of 7993 words, he spoke only 103 words on temple issue, mere 1.3 percent of total speech, but all the media, print, electronic, web, blew its as it was the core of his speech. Whatever, media know well what sells. Gadkari also knows well what sells and he is selling what is in trend, as he is a businessman turned politician.

Even, his vision is politically correct also. I too share the view of Nitin Gadkari, “This initiative would herald a new amity and reinforce the bond for a resurgent India.”

|

Abhishek Pandey

SRK says he want Pak players for his IPL team. Shivsena says it wants SRK to apologise in public or go to Lahore for his ‘Pak love’. BJP and Muslim groups surprisingly come together against Sena’s politics. Rahul goes Mumbai and tells Sena, Mumbai belongs to everyone and it is not the legacy of Thakreys. Everyone is busy doing business for good or bad. None of them wants to bear the losses in the business and SRK is not an exception.

It is the business and it doesn’t know any principle. Even SRK accepted in one of the interviews, no one in the industry knows any principle on Thursdays and Fridays – the release day of the Bollywood flicks.

Shahrukh Khan has invited controversy for himself after commenting on inclusion of Pak players in his IPL team. But, he could not become braver any more because he is not a politician, he is a businessman. He can not take any stand strongly that affect his business – the commercial success of his movie.

His movie ‘My name is Khan’ is about to release and he would not like that his movie fell prey to any controversy failing his arduous efforts and losing his hard earned money that he put in making a ‘wonderful’ movie.

Neither he would apologise nor did he will take his words back because both the actions would affect his stardom in turn affecting his business. He needs not to do this though as being an Indian he has all the rights to speak out his mind as Sena and MNS has. SRK and Shivsena both have right of free speech, both have right to do their business.

But, the business started stinking and becomes unbearable when his daughter asks him whether they have to leave India for Lahore or any other place. It is just very sad, shameful, and unconstitutional and against the core values of the country. All the problems arise here.

Who has given the Sena, MNS right to spit venom against any one who does not belong to their cult? Who has given them right to throw any one out of Mumbai or the country? Who has suggested them to poke their nose in every issue they find beneficial for their politics? Who authorize them to beat north Indians for appearing in exams in Mumbai?

They are no one to be the voice of Mumbaikars as they dint come out when Mumbai was bleeding and needed help after 26/11 attack. MNS and Sena must reply why Mumbaikars allow them to play politics on their issues when they can’t stand for them in need.

Politics is good, so is business. Sena wanna make use of every moment in the times when MNS, congress, NCP are ready to fix the last nail in Sena’s coffin anytime. It is the fight of survival for Sena but these kinds of strategies in ‘business’ would fail its all efforts. It is wiser for Sena not to create any problem over SRK comments because it can backfire fiercely. Even, SRK would not like to prolong the spate because its better to become coward sometime for good.

|

By Abhishek Pandey

Mohamed Ali Jinnah again the reason of division, this time in Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). Jinnah’s jinx formed factions of different ideologies in the party, which claims to be a party with a difference. Last week, Jaswant Singh was expelled from the party for writing against party’s ‘core ideology’ in his recent book ‘Jinnah – India – Partition – Independence’, which applauded the role of Jinnah and criticises Nehru and Sardar Patel for their role in the partition of the country in 1947.

Jaswant is under fire from with in the party and outside for his comments over his controversial statements on the partition of the country. This is not the first time that Jinnah has created problem for saffron party. In 2005, Advani has suffered a lot for tagging Mohamed Ali Jinnah as a ‘secular’ leader. Mr. Advani had to resign from the post of party president.

Aiming to not upset the vote bank, BJP president Rajnath Singh announced that Jaswant Singh has been expelled from the party for uttering words against Sardar Patel which is against the core belief of the party. The book has been banned in BJP ruled Gujarat. BJP did not mentioned Jinnah as the BJP stalwart Advani had praised him in past and naming him can backfire BJP itself.

Jaswant Singh who is saddened by party’s decision said that he used to be the Hanuman of the saffron party but he has become Ravana now. He urged that the party must read the whole book and then it should come to a decision. According to Singh, Patel was the person who imposed ban on Rastriya Swayma Sevak Sangh, soon after the death of Mahatama Gandhi. Mr. Singh stood by Advani in 2005 but Advani’s comments on the episode – ‘It was painful but mandatory decision’ – shows that he has very short memory.

Jaswant Singh was not given even show cause notice to defend himself. The saffron Party is of the view that his views in his book are against party’s core belief and an immediate stern action was needed. A party with a difference, BJP, forgot that a even a hardcore murderer like Ajmal Amir Kasab, who killed many people in Mumbai attack, is given chance to defend himself in Indian court but party forgot the process of justice in the case. At least, the party leadership must call upon Jaswant for an explanation before punishing him.

Singh raised the Kandahar issue mentioning that all the ministers including Advani were aware of the decision of releasing terrorists with exchange of 166 Air India passengers. He clarified that he spoke a lie in past for defending Advani, who said that he was not aware of the decision, in the time of election because it could have adverse effect on election results for the BJP.

In this drama, Jaswant Singh’s book has become the best seller and is very much in demand. Literary and artistic work should not be banned. Like Jaswant book, BJP government in Chhattisgarh has banned the late Habib Tanveer’s play Charandas Chor. BJP or for that matter any political party must ponder over the lines of former Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the answer to a book is a book, not a protest or a ban.

It is the general idea in India that Mohamed Ali Jinnah was the person who proposed two-nation theory and caused partition of the country in 1947 after a blood bath in which millions of people were killed, injured and many more were displaced. Though, there are several known and unknown facades of Jinnah exist in Indian and Pakistan’s history books.

BJP leaders are aware of the core beliefs of the party but the then party president Advani praised Mohammad Ali Jinnah for his ‘secular’ speech after the partition. BJP and Sangh leaders were fumed at Advani and he had to resign from the post of party president. But, this time party can not afford to give lesser punishment because BJP stalwart has not only praised Jinnah but also showed Sardar Patel and Nehru’s role in partition of the country in negative light.

Following incidents after Jaswant episode have created a crisis in the party. Sudhindra Kulkarni reigned from the party for not having freedom of expression with in the party. Kulkarni was questioned for his newspaper articles in which he suggested to revamp party’s ideology. Arun Shourie has also called the shots against the party top brass and said a jhatka (quick) change in the party is needed. He expressed his view that party has lost its direction and called party president Rajnath ‘Alice in blunderland’. He also said that Rastriya Swayam Sevaka Sangha (RSS) should take party’s command in its hand.

Madanlal Khurana, Uma Bharati and Kalyan Singh like leaders have left BJP in last couple of years. In recent days, Former Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Vashundhra Raje, Arun Jaiteley, Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha, Bhairo Singh Shekhawat and former Uttarakhand CM Bhavan Chandra Khanduri have raised their voice against the party for different reasons. All thses incidents are sprinkling salt on the festering wounds of BJP, who is recuperating after second continuous defeat in parliamentary elections.

There is no unity of command in the party. Any leader in top brass, including Advani, does not seem to have stature and qualities like Atal Bihari Vajpayee to unify the party members. Atal Bihari was liberal and secular leader with clean image. He enjoyed confidence among the party leaders and allies during his political career. Party has felt his absence in the last elections and missing his presence in the time pf present crisis. BJP has to find its sailor, who can sail the party in the right direction easily with all the members intact despite differences. Party has to modernise itself by revamping its ideology and character as per the demands of the present time. It is in national interest that Indians should have two national parties otherwise the one national party, whether its Congress or BJP, would become irrepressible by the democratic process.

|

By Abhishek Pandey

India celebrated its 62^nd Independence Day with pride. Is it really a matter of pride? Of course, yes. Many freedom fighters lost their lives to set India free. Their efforts bring fruits in the form of a free and sovereign country for the future generation. It was a great achievement after a long period of colonial era. India has travelled a long distance in last six decades in all the spheres. But, the domain of freedom has extended its reach or not, it is doubtful.

One question always trouble my conscience that who were the people got freedom on 15 August, 1947. Had all the Indians got freedom on that fortunate day? Practically, the answer of this important question is no. All Indians are not free. This was the freedom in true means for few sections of the people. It seems it was the freedom of politicians, Police administration, government officers and the elite class. For others, Master got changed but situation have not changed expectedly.

Politicians are free to play a ‘constructive’ role in corruption and get away easily by their influence. They have all the right to interrupt parliamentary proceedings through their uncivilised ways. They have the right to have disproportionate asset. They are also free to make their won statues at public place on government expenditure. They can make castist, sexist, communal statement to play the vote bank politics. They enjoy their freedom of speech at the cost of other’s freedom.

Police is free to do fake encounters, harass poor people and be inefficient in need. Police officials can also make defamatory remarks and can declare a person criminal without investigation as it happened in Aarushi-Hemraj murder case. Criminal loot and murder in bright day light and move away freely. They are also free to contest elections and enjoy political power until final verdict comes. In the same manner, Government officials are free to settle the matter under the table as it is their fundamental right. They can delay your work if you don’t grease their palms. They enjoy their freedom without any timely and proper supervision.

In contrast, Aam aadmi is still waiting for the true freedom in a 62 years old free country. Aam aadmi keep waiting on the cross roads or in the queue of religious institutions like temples, mosque and Dargah unless the so called elites pass on. Is this is definition of the equality in a largest democratic nation? Every second Indian is affected with the ‘Do you know me’ syndrome. Tenders, jobs and other favours are considered on the validity of this rhetoric. Discrimination of several forms among the different sections, communities, caste, religious groups are evident even after six decades of independence.

Women and girls can not go to bars freely because ‘moral police’ like Sri Ram Sene feel it is against Indian culture and ethos. Girl students and women teachers can not clad themselves in the attire of their choice because college administrations desire to curb their freedom. Couples can not stroll together in the parks or street because our police feel, it offends decency.

Friendship Day and Valentine’s Day are celebrated secretly as if it is illegal to have a good time on special occasion. But, most of the youngsters avoid having fun in public place because Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) don’t like their freedom. The celebrations on such occasions need their approval.

People from North-India can not go to Mumbai for livelihood because it affects the interest of locals. Hindi speaking people are killed in north-eastern states for earning their bread in other state with in their own country. North eastern and Jammu and Kashmir people face alienation in other metropolitan cities. They don’t get accommodation easily.

People with in their own country are outsiders and not free to move freely. Is this is the definition of freedom, which we got six decades ago? I think these people don’t know about the fundamental rights which include freedom of movement in any part of India. It is always believed that India is a country with unity in diversity. But, this believe seems to be shattered in thousand pieces when we hear about above mentioned incidents.

Few people, regional leaders and political parties have forgotten the true meaning of freedom thought of by our freedom fighters. How can a nation celebrate its independence when the freedom has not reached to aam aadmi. Many jingoists would defy these arguments but the situation draw the stark picture of reality. It is important for our government and all the Indian to re-conceive the idea of true India. Otherwise we, Indians, will keep waiting for the true freedom. We have to become mature at 62 to enjoy and celebrate the Independence Day.

Jawaharlal Nehru said on the First Independence day in his speech Tryst with destiny, “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.

Freedom and power bring responsibility. The responsibility rests upon this Assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India. Before the birth of freedom we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of this sorrow. Some of those pains continue even now. Nevertheless, the past is over and it is the future that beckons to us now. His words are still relevant even after six decades because we are still yawning.

|