Kamleshsujata1

Saturday, May 23, 2015

GLAMOUR, SHOWBIZ, ONEUPMANSHIP - the veiled face of facebook

By Kamlesh Tripathi

‘A steadfast and voracious facebooker’ - is what I called him, till I met this old friend of mine Harish, recently in Mumbai, is when I came to know he’s gone off Facebook. I swallowed what he told me with a pinch of salt as it sounded incredible. Did he? I reminisced. And asked why?

‘Because you brag without being asked to; for how does it matter where you’ve been for a holiday, which car you drive, in what kind of a house you stay, how well connected you are both professionally and socially, how many jobs you’ve changed, how does your new office look like, how you look in that dress, how many promotions you’ve got, your career path or even your designation, how grand was your birthday party, how well groomed and aristocratic you look while standing in the plush lounge of Mumbai or John F Kennedy airport or in that swanky lobby of a five star, and number of flights you may have undertaken last week to show how busy you are, or how big and pedigreed is your dog or for that matter the brand, colour and size of your underpants?’ as all of this fairly bugging.

‘But then what is so wrong about bragging? One can only brag, if he or she is accomplished and has possessions and achievements to show around.’ I enumerated.

‘Definitely, but not by making a public announcements; it’s like inviting everyone to snoop into your worthy life. I value the privacy of my achievements and possessions and would like to limit it to my family, relatives and some close friends. But in Facebook, I find most talk only about their newly acquired possessions and achievements of life, and that to just for some digital ‘likes’ and appreciative comments.

CULT OF FACEBOOK

Point made by Harish had rattled me for a moment, as there was a point in his point. Is Facebook taking us away from our vedic and ancient culture of sadgi (simplicity). And will Bapu, the strong supporter of non-violence and sadgi like and approve of this I thought for an instant, as all websites have a domain culture; where members of Facebook appear to be drifting away from simplicity. Facebook, allows anyone above the age of 13 to open an account, and after registering the users can create a user profile, post status updates, pictures, share videos and receive notifications when others update their profiles. Also, users may join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics and categories such as people from work or close friends. So the intent is very noble, exciting, knowledge building, innovative with perks of a global reach. But, I guess the gravity is moving towards mere showoff and showbiz. And, it is about time the members come up with something more mentally nourishing where Facebook can chart the way. Remember what our ancestors always said, ‘don’t brag and showoff- nazar lagti hai

IS BRAGGING GRADUATING TO A REIGNING CULTURE IN FACEBOOK?

Yes as most notifications in Facebook, are about self aggrandizement and digital announcements of achievement and accomplishments, perhaps the longing vent of modern day etiquette better understood in otherwise traditionally starved India; and that insinuates about Facebook’s gravitational pull towards newfound consumerism of India. I guess it is now a war of between two cultures; the ancient aging culture of India that teaches you sadgi versus the materialistic web-culture mobilized via Facebook. Sure enough the soft world is taking on the hard world and maybe reason enough for China to ban Facebook?

A converse point of view also describes the young emerging India through Facebook that brings along day to day transparency by digitally describing even minor activities through notifications, pictures and videos which at times might even put your spouse in trouble for those occasional furloughs. And, last but not the least.

Harish needs to get back to Facebook but no one shall tell him when, as he will figure out for himself, the smart bloke he is. I know him well enough and he is not the sort to give up something so easily- and that too his first love, Facebook. For I know he will still login at broader intervals to see how the war of cultures is brewing and the day he feels the tangy slant of cultures has lessened he will write again, what’s in his mind; to once again bring cheer, laughter, knowledge, information and accomplishments to others and that too in abundance.

Friday, May 22, 2015

SNIPPET: CRICKET, CORRUPTION, AND STUBBORNNESS- Lord Vishnu in conversation with SRINIVASAN

By Kamlesh Tripathi

A snippet

One day, Lord God Vishnu, during one of his sojourns came across N. Srinivasan, the ousted BCCI chief, while he was frequenting his temple-abode atop, a tall hillock. Srinivasan, was attired in a crisp dhoti, bare-chested, appearing that devout Hindu with a holy kumkum- tilak on his broad forehead. And, seeing this, Lord Vishnu was more than tempted to talk to him. He decided to start the conversation in a soft manner, as he disguised himself as a senior Pandit of the temple.

‘Hello Srini, nice to see you in the temple again, and what brings you here so often?’

‘Well my name is Srinivasan and not Srini. And I don’t believe in giving away anything to anyone once I get it, so don’t take away the ‘vasan’ part, of my name. And by the way who are you for I’ve never seen you in this temple, in the recent past.’

‘Well, well. I am Lord Vishnu and I reside in all temples as the Lord God, and you all are my disciples. Since, I couldn’t have met you in my divine form because you’re facing some charges; I have come to meet you in human disguise. And, I find off late you have started coming to the temple quite regularly.’

‘Uh uh, I am now forced to come to the temple for regular blessings, it acts like a relieving bout of physiotherapy; as I am bruised because of this stupid IPL case where they have got me involved, for conflict of interest. But, please don’t give me that cock and bull story of you being Lord Vishnu. Anyone, can recognize me as I’m a celebrity. And what do you want from me?’

‘Well, I am Lord God Vishnu and I want you to return my name ‘Srinivasan’ to me.’

‘But your name is Vishnu, and mine, Srinivasan. So where is the conflict and why should I return your name?’

‘Well, Srinivasan is a synonym of Vishnu, and, there lies our conflict, so please return my name, as it stands for goodness.’

‘Return your name, what do you exactly mean by that?’

‘I mean return my holy name to me. Renounce it, and keep some other name matching your profile and characteristics.’

‘Are you mad? Why should I spoil another name, instead let me keep spoiling this age old tested name only. And, moreover, you have now become a synonym of me and I am no more a synonym of you.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Lord God Vishnu in some surprise.

‘I mean, I have a taller copyright on the name ‘Srinivasan,’ and its synonyms, then you. The very name Srinivasan reminds everyone of me and not you, anymore.’

‘And moreover as a policy I don’t return anything I get or I earn. Entire India knows how I am fighting tooth and nail for my position as the BCCI chief. And you can see it for yourself, I am not giving up.’

‘But, you are priding all the way, in my all powerful name. Moreover, you run the game of cricket considered a religion in this country, as its God, yet you don’t manage the game with any Godly instincts. Shouldn’t you just move away on your own till the entire enquiry gets over, and also surrender my name till your name is cleared.’

‘See I am a modern day ‘God’ and I manage affairs in modern ways; but you happen to be an ancient ‘God’ with ancient value system and system of governance. So you carry on and let’s meet after this bloody case is over.’

With the conversation heading nowhere, Lord God Vishnu decides to leave, demoralized; is when Srinivasan makes a request,

‘God can you surrender your name ‘Vishnu.’

‘But why?’ asked God.

‘Because, I now realize I have a complete copyright on my name ‘Srinivasan’ and its synonym ‘Vishnu.’

SONI, SELJA DIG IN HEELS, WON’T VACATE BUNGALOWS- Such unwieldy politicians likely to fade away from the Indian political map

By Kamlesh Tripathi

Once upon a time American and European fuel guzzling cars were very popular all over the world because there was no other choice. Then came, the fuel efficient Japanese cars that took the car markets by storm where some of these companies faced the threat of closure and some actually closed. Finally, to survive every car manufacturer had to manufacture fuel efficient cars. They say global trends are more powerful than national and national trends are more powerful than the local.

Indian political market is somewhat heading in the same direction where the culture of VVIPISM is frustrating the Indian population as a whole. Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps harping about the strength of the young Indian population which happens to be under the age of 35 and is 60% of the Indian population. And this population will soon be up for grabs if they don’t find employment in other sectors, and they will turn into politicians and that will be only good for the Indian Political Market.

For this new breed of politicians will be lean, wieldy, needy and talented, and putting it more appropriately--fuel efficient. Like the Sonis and Seljas they won’t require Bungalows to reside in, vehicles and drivers to cart them, secretaries to communicate, peons to lift their baggage and security guards to protect them. They will be confident and self-sufficient.

And they will be ready to operate out of a small residence, carry their own luggage, drive their own cars or move in public transport without security guards and operate their own laptops; pretty much, away from the hulky and unwieldy syndrome.

Looking in the manner the current generation of politicians is frustrating India through VVIPISM; the talented young India is seeing an opportunity in this. And this may happen quite soon. Arvind Kejriwal came quite close to this methodology but for some reasons moved away. But the younger generation is still contemplating the opportunity and it will require only 5-10 young crusaders to announce this new kind of politicking; and will become the new hero of new India—the lean Indian Politician.

Read the TOI column, Thursday, May 21, 2015

New Delhi: Former Union ministers and Rajya Sabha MPs from Congress Ambika Soni and Kumari Selja have slapped privilege notices on the urban development (UD) ministry for asking them to vacate their official bungalows.

The ministry served them eviction notice on the ground that they were no entitled to the ministerial bungalows. Both the MPs have contested the claim and have dubbed the notice as a breach of their privilege as parliamentarians. The UD ministry has been intimated by the Upper House.

“The two have given privilege notices to the urban development ministry in response to its eviction notice served on them for vacating their Type-VIII bungalows.” said an official.

Soni and Selja are staying in 22, Akbar Road and 7, Moti Lal Nehru Road, respectively, which are allotted to them when they were ministers in the previous UPA government. The UD ministry claimed they were entitled to accommodation meant for MPs as per their seniority but not ministerial bungalows.

This came even as all MPs staying in the Ashoka Hotel have vacated it. “Dushyant Chautala of INLD was the last to vacate the hotel.” an official said. At one point, 120 newly-elected MPs were staying at Ashoka Hotel.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

INDIA JOINS CLUB OF NATIONS WITH ‘ROAD RUNWAYS’- A moment of pride for Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh which is often in the news for wrong and silly reasons had a moment of pride when in a first for military aviation in the country, Indian Air Force on Thursday successfully test-landed a French Dassault Mirage-2000 on the Yamuna Expressway near Raya village, Mathura at 6.40 am on 21^st May 2015.

The aim behind successfully test-landing a Mirage-2000 fighter on Yamuna Expressway was to be able to use national highways during emergencies.

Flown by Wing Commander Prashant Arora from the “Tigers” squadron based at Gwalior, the French origin Mirage-2000 first made “a practice approach” around 100-metre over the highway. Then, after tearing back into the sky, the supersonic jet returned to finally touch down.

The marvel of Yamuna Expressway was constructed by JP Infratech when Mayawati was the Chief Minister of UP and that showcases her vision for big infrastructure projects, and Akhilesh Yadav the present Chief Minister showed graceful maturity by helping IAF in landing a supersonic jet in the Expressway constructed by his rival.

Others who helped IAF were Yamuna Expressway Authority and Mathura Police.

Though several countries, ranging from China and Pakistan to Sweden and Germany have such “road runways.” But it was the first of its kind in India.

IAF deserves commendation, and so does JP Infratech for the Engineering genius. It is also a rare moment of pride, for the citizens of the state and the country.

And last but not the least we hope in this celebratory moment, the bickering and divided netas of UP will join hands to honour the occasion.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

SHAMMING IN DELHI METRO- JUST FOR A SEAT

Some men are crooks, but most women are holy angels. But nothing is sacrosanct as trends could be changing, especially in Delhi Metro and that too just for a seat. For on a day when I was travelling from Rajiv-Chowk to Huda-City-Centre, Gurgaon in the crowded metro, I witnessed something quite demeaning.

I had just boarded the over-crowded metro from Rajiv Chowk when a lady appearing in her mid-thirties, more out of a rural background came and stood next to the vestibule, not very far from where I was standing and very close, to the two-seater generally reserved for senior citizens or the differently-abled, near the vestibule. She then suddenly squatted on the floor, when some thought she was unwell for Delhi metro doesn’t allow you to squat on the floor; and almost immediately she nudged the old man next to her and on the senior citizens seat, to vacate the seat for her, as she was not feeling well.

The frail looking senior citizen looked at her, somewhat dismayed, and in all earnest and sincerity just to help the lady; he offered her the seat as he got up. The lady without losing any time and even without a word of thanks or an acknowledging grin or a movement of face muscle slipped into the seat by just sliding up like a snake from a squatting position as if she was not able to walk; and this, I surely found weird, and all this happened just around Central Secretariat station. She then just closed her eyes, as if to dose off. And this gave me a feeling as if I was watching some kind of a skit. The old man then moved to where she was squatting and rested himself against the side of the metro while standing.

In the jam-packed morning metro no one had the eagerness to watchfully notice anything like this as everyone was too busy thinking about the day ahead: thus planning for it; barring the old man who perhaps was troubled and me who just by chance happened to witness the proceedings, happening in very close proximity.

By now the metro had come out of the underground, and had moved ahead, above the ground to Qutub Minar station, as if to welcome the morning sun in freezing winters of Delhi. Just then I churned myself a bit, more to comfort myself, so brutally sandwiched between passengers, is when I had an eye contact with the old man who seemed quite uncomfortable. But then I thought, just being uncomfortable is definitely a lower priority than being unwell. And the woman was, as if still resting, with her eyes closed.

On seeing her, I too decided to shut my eyes for a couple of minutes while standing; thinking it will give some freshness. And, just then in another wink the metro announced Chattarpur station, when it started slowing down, is when I saw the lady had also opened her eyes, she was now wiping her face with a hanky trying to look fresh and applying

some perfume out of a miniature. She gathered her shawl and coolly started shifting towards the exit door by nudging men to make way for her. And by then the metro had stopped at Chhatarpur station, is where she got off and started running ahead of men, to catch the lift. No one could have said she was unwell. I glanced at the old man, he was where he was, and then at the seat left vacated by the lady; and this time, it was occupied by a different lady; but an old one-thankfully a senior citizen.

And, all is not fair in love and war. For, once when I was returning from Huda City centre, Gurgaon to Rajiv Chowk. I was again standing near the vestibule, where the two senior citizens seat were occupied by two girls, perhaps college going. One out of them appeared to be all by herself and apparently from North-East. The other appeared to be local with her boy friend; and while she was seated her boy friend was standing right in front of her, in quite a lovey-dovey mood early in the evening; surely not gelling well with the ambience.

At MG Road an elderly looking senior citizen couple got in and walked towards these girls rightfully for the seat. While the girl from North-East coolly got up and gave the seat to the elderly lady; the boy friend of the other girl told the elderly gentleman ‘she is not well so she won’t get up.’ The poor old man had little choice but to keep standing.

Boy friend’s lie was more than evident when every now and then and under some pretext or the other he was touching his girlfriend, trying to hold her around the shoulders, fondling her lips or even caressing her hair and the two were making the ambience look sicker than the girl who was pronounced sick by her boyfriend.

And after about twenty minutes at INA market

station, they both got off and disappeared holding hand in hand, and that clearly showed she wasn’t sick. The empty seat this time was immediately occupied by another young lady without her boyfriend; even before the senior lady could pull her senior partner to the vacated seat, so he remained standing again.

And this is what came to my mind. Some men are crooks, but are most ladies angels? Or is it that some men make some ladies crook? Or ladies now want to compete with men in crookedness?

That apart, but what is more saddening is just to grab a seat and that too for a while one can fraudulently declare herself sick and go the extent of snatching the right of a senior citizen. So are most women Angels?

INSULT- IN THE ALCOVES OF LIFE

In the alcoves of life when insult strikes,

Morale dies but sorrow thrives,

Hate emerges and love vanishes,

And life cries in the lap of disgust.

In the upswing of life when insult strikes,

You zeal through life, leaving behind the fright,

To play the game of life, you retaliate to such strikes,

And in spasms of success, you sword the frights.

And in the grace of life when insult strikes,

Your seams burst to no respite,

And longings transform to disgraced moribund,

When the maze of life appears a mere tantrum,

And finally in the twilight of life when insults strikes,

Time is scarce and there is no rejoice,

And as I grapple towards my last rites,

I shudder at the pending equations of life,

For in heaven there is no carry forward of dice

So to each insult give a thought

Trace its footsteps back to your fraught

As time is scarce and the world imprecise

Penance will only be somewhat

For in the see-saw of life, lies the riles,

For I may have insulted, to get insulted,

Says the boomerang of life,

And now wait and watch, what more comes your way

In the unforeseen tremors of life.

************

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

#Bhulbhulaiya- Do #monuments reflect the ethos of times?

By Kamlesh Tripathi (Freelance writer and author)

#Bhulbhulaiya- Do #monuments reflect the ethos of times?

Yes they do if you hear them intently. I could feel it during my recent visit to #Bara Imambara (BI), Bhool-Bhulaiyaa (BB) and the tall #Rumi Darwaza (RD) while doing a book on Lucknow. The tourist guide took me around these signature monuments to my sheer delight. He coaxed me to listen to what the monuments hummed and conveyed while standing tall and tanned under the strong summer sun. Truly, it is, ‘a mirror and reflection of the civilization of its times.’

BI, BB and RD were constructed by the then Nawab-Ruler of Lucknow Asaf-ud-Daulah (AUD) in 1784 about whom, it is said: ‘Jis ko na de Maulah usko de #Asaf-ud-Daulah.’ (AUD grants benevolence even to those, whom Almighty denies- a catchphrase in the honor of the local ruler) AUD imbibed the ethos and spirit of #Awadh and converted it into grand edifices catapulting into iconic monuments around which these civilizations flourished.

He decided to build the BI for Azadari (mourning), to provide relief to his poor subjects who were reeling under severe famine of 1783-84. The construction provided employment to nearly twenty two thousand people at a time, but his concern did not rest there. To encourage men folk of respectable families who felt embarrassed working during the day, fearing they will be recognized as laborers in daylight, the Nawab directed that the construction work be continued even after sunset, throughout the night, when men could work in darkness without being recognized. Many, people who worked in the night were unskilled, work done by them was sub-standard, which was demolished during the day and re-built by skilled workers next day. Though, this arrangement caused a lot of wastage, AUD put forth some remarkable points relevant to mankind by weaving a fabric of #social security system for the society.

Even today, BI conveys the tale of pain, human suffering and so, is dear to all, as forefathers of many must have participated in this project cutting across religion and strata of society. AUD had shifted his capital from Faizabad-Ayodhya (twin cities) to Lucknow therefore Ram-Raj was not unknown to him.

The main hall of the Imambara 50x16 meters is 15 meters tall without any central pillars or columns supporting it. Is said to be the world’s largest ‘arched room’ without pillars as if conveying it is possible for a society to exist and survive with each other’s support alone as #Hindu-Muslims do in Lucknow like the arched room.

Within the Imambara AUD had also carved the labyrinth … the ‘BB’ which is three storeyed. It has 489 similar looking galleries without doors, where one can roam endlessly for hours. But by roaming endlessly you don’t reach your destination. To reach your destination you require proper direction, it conveys.

The narrow lanes of BB were carved to confuse enemy intruders during invasions. Only the King and a few knew the way out just as your Guru or the Almighty knows the way out in troubled times and keeping the enemy confused is a robust strategy even today.

These constricted lanes can make anyone feel lost as you sometimes feel lost in life. The passages, some of which have dead-ends exhort us to keep moving in life even during hardships and not to fear dead ends, for it will dissolve in front of your endurance.

Flights of steps go up-and-down like a sinusoidal curve. It is steep, dark and narrow. The sound of the lighted match stick amplifies and seems to travel throughout the length of the corridor, showing the other end lit up. So don’t worry there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

A series of closed narrow passages and intricate network that connects them to sets of staircases that suddenly change direction, going up or down to confuse. Only, one correct combination of the staircase when negotiated correctly leads to the roof on the top. Perfection requires precision like a combination lock, as only one correct combination of forces take you to the top.

So, even real life is like a combination lock. All combinations need to work. You cannot reach the top of BB without the help of a guide who with extreme perfection takes you up. As also in this journey of life the Almighty holds your hand and takes you through and through. Next,

The grand Rumi Darwaza (RD) standing 60 feet-tall, was also part of relief operations during the famine. It is devoid of wood and iron and outright a novelty, of its times. When viewed from the West, it looks like a huge Mehraab- a grand gateway. East is even prettier … resembling a Mexican hat. The three gates absorb all: the fast, medium and the slow moving traffic, symbolic of the trait of absorption in human life. Born tall, lives tall and looks prettier from wide angles. The tough, rough and the dainty mix of personality that human beings need to imbibe.

AUD’s caliber possessed the sponge to absorb the ethos of the masses and convert it into these everlasting golden scripts of brick and mortar. Try it out yourself. As and when you go close to these monuments they shear off your existing nub of thoughts and fill you with some gentle self-introspection which only helps you in re-determining your values. They say values of mankind rarely change, even over a lifetime.

In the flux and flow of life if someone were to ask me to describe Awadh of 1784 I would simply tell him to go and see any movie produced in that era or read a book published around that time. But sad, movies were not made then and books were not too prevalent. And, so I may request him to go and visit BI-BB-RD.

I now never miss an opportunity to visit old monuments and spend some quality time there as each monument has something to tell you.

(Read 'Aadab Lucknow ... fond memories' to understand the perspective even better)