"Fast" politics- New trend, courtesy Anna

A good outcome of Annaji's fast was to trigger a new era of "Fast" politics by Politicians. "Fast", Anshans, Satyagrah etc. were forgotten by modern Politiciancs who believed more in "Rally" politics in which "paid" public is mobilized to show the strength of individual leaders or parties.

Upbeat with the success of Annaji's Fast, "Professional" politicians felt the Anna's tool is better than any other forms of political activities to win over People. However, the latest 3 days"Fast" by Narendra Modi in Gujarat failed to impress upon anyone other than his sycophant or BJP circle. Though we have been praising for the developmental agenda he has been pushing for & could achieve as well in Gujarat. Prosperity & progress of Gujarat & upliftment of urban areas particularly Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Rajkot etc. are the examples of good governance in Gujarat.
But Modi's "Sadbhawna Fast" & his speeches in the function exposed him as an arrogant Politician indulged in "self- praise" posing as "self styled" massiah of 6 crores Gujarati. In fact his addresses in the function might have declined his popularity in national arena. Though developments took place in Gujarat but no body can claim that Gujarat is a "zero" corruption state.

The general form of corruption exists in Gujarat alike any part of the country. Anyone can go to RTO office, Property & estate registration office, different "inspectors" from Sales tax to Excise to Police or factory/industry ,will find same "Indian" style corruption virus everywhere, but somehow covered under the carpet of "development" visible on the ground.

It looked as the Modi's Fast & 3 days conclave should have been propagated as the" Modi-Felicitation" event where "Modi-Chalisa" was chanted. Instead of Sadbhawna Fast, I found it a State supported "Jai ho Modi" show. For attaining Statesmanship of the stature of Indira Gandhi, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel,Lal Bahadur Shastri or BJP's Atal Bihari Vajpayee, these kind of Fast-politics may not help ,rather it would puncture Modi's dream of becoming PM.

Anyway, though "no near" to beat Modi in 'poltics", Shanker Singh Vaghela too tried to perform the tantrum of "Fast" to regain his political "ground". On watching them ( both Modi & Vaghela) both on "Fast", somebody murmured " Kahan Anna aur Kahan ye Nautankibaj". Difference between Anna's fast & Modi-Vaghela fast was Anna's fast was for the People & by the People by Heart, whereas Modi's Fast was to get "personal" mileage to improve upon his prospects for future "PM" & Vaghela sat on "Fast"with the insignificant objectives and no support from National level leaders. Anna's fast was selfless "Fast" for the Country, Modi's act was full with selfish motive pretending to be for the Country,but was for Him only.

Anna's Fast ended in positive note but doubt on "sense" of Parliament -Whether it was really "dil se"?

74 years Gandhian & an Honest fighter against Corruption Shri Anna's fast ended after 12 days in a happy note. Our hon'ble PM on August 15 remarked that parliamentry supremacy is imortant & Anna should not go for Fast  as it is not good for Indian democracy. Same PM on August 27 told that People's will passed through/as Parliament will.

Though the "sense" of House passed in Parliament for forwarding to Standing Parliamentary Committee,but as we watched debate in Loksabha, we could not get feeling that its a true "sense" of Parliament.

It looked as if Members of Parliament are under pressure to end Anna's fast 'temporarily' at that moment. I still doubt whether the 3 sticking points will really be deliberated by heart ( dil se) by our Parliamentary representatives. Maybe it will further prolong through series of consultations,meetings, points vs Counterpoints & we may not see the Lokpal Bill through atleast in year 2011. India celeberated "victory" for hearing "in principle" approval of points by Politicians raised by Annaji but question is even Corrupt politicians too would not vouch for "corruption" in their statements irrespective of their acts in reality,hence merely Parliament desk thumping by members would not ensure an effective or strong Lokpal Bill. I am sure the next time Govt will play around with the slogans like "national consensus" or broad agreement amongst all parties are essential etc.etc. It happened for Women reservation bill too.
Now we have to wait & watch how Lawyer turned Politician & Chairman of Standing Committee Mr Abhishek Manu Singhvi will "technically" examine the 'sense"of Parliament resolution once it reached under his ambit. Looking to the past records, I have my own doubt ( one may call it a cynical view) that the Govt will be able to enact strong Lokpal incorporating essential points raised by Anna team. And we may have to prepare for Annaji's fast in future as well till the TRUE SENSE BY HEART prevails among Parliamentarians.  

64 years of Free India,"Swatantra Bharat"- A matured democracy?

Today is August 15,2011,yet another birthday being celebrated for Indian Nation. Year after year,this day comes,we hear patriotic songs,stories on TV channels, go through special issues of Newspaper,magzines narrating inspirational stories about leaders who fought for our freedom from British. We feel proud in pronouncing India as the most matured democracy of the world,but at times,incidents & behaviour of our political class raises doubt on maturity of our democracy & force us to believe in thought that though we got freedom from British,yet we are not free from our own political rulers.During emergency in 1975, 'free' India had to face another struggle for the ceased fundamental rights under Indiraji's regime which ultimately restored with Loknayak JP's"samagra kranti" movement. In general, even with "emotional fool" tag Indian citizens have shown tremendous patience,tolerance barring coarse or crude response/behaviour during Anti Sikh riots,probably the "worst" period or "toughest" test of Democratic India to hold together a diverse Society across India.

In 1992, again Indian state encountered widespread odium amongst Hindu & Muslim brothers & it looked the country will be doomed into civil war & there may not be any solution other than imposing an Emergency.  But once the "emotional" content of brainy Indians diminished, the normalcy prevailed & democratic principles of Indian constitution once again proved to be the noble cause for sovereignty of country. The dawn into new millennium witnessed India entereing into an era of "coaltion" politics,wherein none of national parties is getting Majority to rule the country. The coalition period of our democracy may have been the period of "Corrupt age" when Indian public heard of loot of not lakhs or croes but "thousands of crores" or "hundred of crores"  ( No doubt,it also indicated India's economic progress as well on the postive side). Present Indian Prime Minister acknowledged indirectly the "Corruption" as the outcome of Coalition politics, showing his helplessness, "Coalition" era in Democracy may not be permanent.  Today, our democracy is eagerly waiting for a good National leader with integrity & dedication to lead the nation & make it corrupt free.

On the eve of Anna Hazare's Fast for the Janlokpal, again Indian democracy being tested for resilience & maturity under such conditions. So far, UPA govt acted out of nervousness & is making all efforts to suppress the Anna's movement or aggression,which is the sign of an Immatured & frightened Govt of India under UPA.

 Article 19 ( 1) b of Indian Constitution gives us the right to assemble peacefully and without arms. This right is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India and public order. Anna's movement is not going to affect on India's sovereignity and integrity then why Govt of India is so harsh on him? Rather, UPA should come forward in supporting Anna Hazare & work hand in hand for the cause of corrupt free India. Jan lokpal bill draft of Anna and Govt both could have been published by Govt of India & public comments could have been sought on both the Bills.

In Democracy "Parliament' is supreme only because representatives sitting in Parliament are elected by People & Rule for the People, by the People are fundamentals on which pillars of strong Indian nation had been conceived after independence. The representatives of "Supreme" Parliament should not become "super" Supreme to ignore public voices who elected them to serve the public,not to suppress them,if they protest for any cause.

On 64th Birthday of Free India, while we feel proud of being the national of World's fastest developing nation having sound economic prosperity, scientific & technological prowess attained by our largest pool of human capital, a glorious history of developed civilization, great empires on Indian soil like Mauryan ,Gupta periods etc., but there is a sense of distress among large section of Society witnessing the turn of events on Anna's Fast & an "immature" Govt response,particularly spokesperson of Congress party,talking "rubbishy' or "abusive" language on Anna. They need to be reminded  how an adamant ruler like Indira Gandhi dethroned by Jaiprakash Narayan movement in 1977. Matured democracy has inbuilt principle of great respect, resilience towards the public view & non violent protests have been the part & parcel of public or people's  right to voice their views before Govt.

Let us pray that "God loving" nation India will once again get through ( by the grace of GOD) in the test for degree of Maturity in our democracy on August 16 onwards & great sense of wisdom prevails upon the present days rulers to tackle Anna's movement.

Jai Hind, Jai Akhand Bharat

"Quasi" sensitive Electronic Media- Sensation or good for Time-pass

Price of an Individual life is less than a video clipping/Av of real scene of "Live death" for the Electronic Media to create "sensation". It was proved incidents after incident ,when Media "raced" to grab the Footage for such "breaking news". It was tragic to watch how a family near Indore got trapped under the wild stream of water & drowned away to heaven,People around the spot were busy in "live shooting" of a "death" video.One survivor of the incident could narrate the heartrending fact that no body bothered to take any initiative to save the family, rather most of them very busy in taking still or running Pics of the tragedy. Whether alongwith our Media, Society too has become so professional or Professional Society does not have courage to act upon during such events requiring valiant efforts to save life of somebody.Another similar dreadful Video footage of a "live murder" at Coimbtore was telecast by most of Media Channels,in which a group of goons were shown beating a person unto death. There were so many people,crowd around but all were silent expectators to the horrible "death show",Media could reach the spot but not to save life but to seize the Opportunity to get a sensational Video for the "BREAKING NEWS" slot.
Controversies, Scandals, Stories outlining humiliation to mankind or abuse of any Individual or evils of Society attract good TRP for any 24 hours News Channel. Quite often we watch insensitive & brazen Media reporting in the name of "real truthful stories"but one question pops up,Are these not attributes of "Yellow Journalism"? Maybe "Yellow journalism" is always good for "Timepass" for Society in leisure periods.Nowadays, most of TV News channels are busy in "discovering" or digging out Corruption stories from any nook. My observations are many a times, any particular corruption story will suddenly vanish out from the same Channel or diluted. Why? One may assume that Media channels might have been "managed" by the affected Individual/Party/Politician. Anchors of TV channels are very vocal in demanding declaration of Audited account statements of Income from any Company or Baba Ramdev or Politician's Wealth/asset time & again. But what about Media houses income & expenditure statements?Media houses should also come forward in declaring source of fund & income receipt details. Example of Southern India is in front of us, where Media channels, TV cable etc. all managed by political parties. A particular News Channel did the so called "probe" of "Cash for Vote" scam live, but before telecasting they did'nt go to Police. What was the motive? Alongwith politicians & their conduits, the concerned News Channel also needs to be investigated that whether the "sting" was carried out for 'commercial" gain or it was part of their "ethical" duty as true Journalist. For example in 2G case or Gas allocation in KG basin, Media has focused completely on Raja, DMK clan, Officials but what about real culprits. Story of KG basin Gas allocation was confined to Former DGH.Why they are unable to target Real Owners of Mega Industrial Corporates?? Anyway, in current scenario,despite of advocacy & proactive Media, as an Individual one may not have complete trust on Media reporting in the competitive & commercial regime of Journalism.

Modern Life cycle- Profession Vs Emotion Vs 'inclusive' Family roles

Ardent-craving for Dream cities in India or Abroad to settle down, Professional "Race" to go ahead of all, achieving higher CTC packages in "shortest" possible period etc.etc. are the topics debated among New generation as well as Middle & Senior Professionals of Modern India. Parents, relatives all feel proud in sharing their joy to whole world by propagating their wards "Job movements" or "settlements" across Metro cities or Abroad far from their native towns & cities.

Though stems of complete "Family Tree “would be dispersed across Miles within India or Abroad in “nucleus” family forms, yet connectivity through Communication channels, Social networking remains intact.

However, sometimes, somewhere in situations like unwell parents or close relatives or friends in trouble, the current age Professionals find themselves in hapless state of not performing their “personal or family” duty of taking care of elderly parents, relatives, and near –dear friends by reaching back to them physically due to official or “in-situ” family commitments, compulsions, and constraints, ultimately pander to routine telephony to members of clan for formal “How are you?? (Despite fully knowing that they are not well), satisfying themselves & concerned relatives or parents of at least being enquired about. Most of Middle or Service Class family settled away from their Origin faces this kind of situation & the nature of response may be by & large similar.


But, recently when I got an opportunity to see through the lives of Factory Workers, Labourers, and Vehicle/Car Drivers, I discovered how they struggle to earn & manage the Family with “limited ambition” or career goal and low income, but still ready to rush to their natives in the event of any eventuality, catastrophic situation in family or even close friends,sacrificing even Wage cut due to unpaid leaves,absentism etc.

Would like to share a true story of a low paid worker, whose sister & her husband died in a road mishap. The moment he heard of the sad news ,immediately left Factory, travelled by different means (No money in the pocket to buy Train or Bus ticket, took loan for all expenses for travel, other logistics) to reach to the Unfortunate site of mishap and after all last rites performed, brought his sister’s son & daughter along with him to take care of them throughout his life as Parents. He has only a 02 room small rented house, where his wife & a son in infancy also live. No matters how much he earns or how does he manage his family & his departed sister’s children, but for him, responsibilities towards an “inclusive” family is more important than confinement only into his own clique. His earning may be about Rs 8000 per month out of which Rs. 2000 per month goes on various loan payments, taken from time to time to meet similar kind of Family related exigencies.

When I told this story to one of my “Professional” friend, he commented that he is an “emotional” fool, ruining his own Family life, there is no need of such act of sacrifice by taking up the responsibility of his sister’s children. He remarked that he should first become financially capable to take up additional burden beyond his own family. Anyway it is different matter that in any case, he cannot attain financial comfort in present “birth” & by Professional advice, he cannot act upon his emotional or warranted conscientiousness in such crisis state of Family affairs.
Nevertheless, his story inspires many of emotional traits, irrespective of any kind of Professionalism or attributes of Individual persona. Maybe in competitive “race” among Professionals, tight work schedules to complete tasks in hand, tension of appraisal to score over peers, a 21ST CENTURY “PROFESSIONAL” fails to act upon or unable to fulfil “larger” family responsibilities in crucial periods & gradually lost or become insensitive to respond or react for any good or bad events.  

Whether professional excellence & prosperity of an Individual or professional dilutes his/her obligations towards broader & all encompassing kind of Family Roles?? Whether there should be perfect balance between performing Professional "Karma" & discharging duty towards broader Family "Dharma"??

TRUE LEADERSHIP QUALITY OF A PROFESSIONAL

A Professional gets more contentment to be recognized as a Good Leader with hard earned Respect, admiration from his or her colleagues /associates/subordinates than "money" or 'wealth". One of the attribute of True & motivational Leadership is How a Leader or Professional reacts to the "Success" or "Failure" situation?

An incident usually narrated by Resource persons during many Leadership development programs, which dates back to the period when our Former President Shri APJ Kalam was Project Director for a particular Satellite Launch & Shri Satish Dhawan was the Head of ISRO. In the first attempt, the Launch was utter failure & as Project Director Shri Kalam was supposed to be present in the Press/Media briefing, but Shri Satish Dhawan, the then Chief of ISRO completely isolated Shri Kalam from Media & himself faced Media taking the complete responsibility of Failure as Chief of ISRO & assured to resurrect the Project.

On the day of failure, Dhawan interacted with Kalam on various issues, but never did the job of "digging out" causes of failure on the nervous moments & during the period of sadness for complete Project team.
After few days, Shri Dhawan again motivated the Team to rejuvenate the Project under Shri Kalam.Again the day of Launch came, this time  Launch was completely successful. Project team was happy, anticipating Shri Dhawan to go to address the Media, but this time Shri Dhawan told Shri Kalam to address the press/media & share the Success of the project & went ahead to attend a meeting in the Ministry. It was a pleasant surprise for the Project team, having given opportunity to take Credit of the success, but at the Failure time, their Leader was very much there to take the burden on his head alike Lord Shiva.

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