Who says...

…When the going gets tough, the tough get going? When the going gets tough, people simply bail.

…No man is an island? It’s all a matter of choice.

…Better late than never? If you’re late, you’re late. No changing it.

…Fortune favors the bold? Fortune favors only those who are fortunate enough to have it.

…Sharing is caring? Every time I offer to “share” a chocolate with someone, I secretly hope they decline and mentally curse them if they don’t. And I know I’m not the only one who does this!

…Who says when in Rome, do as the Romans? So individuality doesn’t count?

…People who live in glass houses should not throw stones? Freedom of expression, anyone?

…Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst? More often than not, the latter bit is never followed.

...We must keep our friends close, but our enemies closer? Why pretend? Indifference and avoidance work best.

…A picture is worth a thousand words? What could a picture of a fruit bowl possibly convey? I don't get art.

…There’s no such thing as a free lunch? Whoever does, is absolutely right.

…There’s no place like home? It’s more about the people than the place itself.

…Discretion is the greater part of valor? Bullshit.

...The early bird catches the worm? The lucky bird who manages to get some shut-eye does.

…You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs? Humans are incapable of being happy for others without associating a negative emotion with it as well.

…Actions speak louder than words? Pray tell me. Wait. No. Pray “show me” how to get someone’s attention without calling out to them when their back is turned to you. Experience tells me silence never helps.

…Beggars can’t be choosers? I once met a child beggar who wanted the burger in my hand instead of the packet of chips I was giving him.

…Practice makes perfect? There’s a difference between inborn skill and acquired skill.

…If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it? The perfectionist in me stops me from believing in this.

…Don’t bite the hand that feeds you? Shake it.

…Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Nine out of 10 long distance relationships fail.

…Beauty is in the eye of the beholder? While I find pigs cute, others eat them.

…Good things come to those who wait? I say just go for it.

…Familiarity breeds contempt? Some personal space is all you need.

…Two wrongs don’t make a right? Trying to get back at someone can possibly make things worse, but succeeding in doing so can give a person a different kind of satisfaction (and anyone denying this is lying). It doesn’t make them a bad person; it just makes them human.

And the legacy ends

As I was going through the numerous "take care" and "stay home" messages I received as news of the death of Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray was reported, within just a few minutes I could hear the noise of the traffic growing louder—nearly as loud as the chatter of the people in the grocery store-cum-chemist downstairs who were scrambling to stock up on eatables to keep them going during the bandh the Sena is sure to call for.

I don’t know what I was expecting to see once news of Thackeray's death spread, but it wasn’t this: A man from the local municipal council, who collects the building’s garbage, standing at my door asking for his Diwali bonus. I found this strangely amusing considering I live right behind the Shiv Sena's local headquarters.

Anyway, the city had come to a near standstill in the last two days when word about Thackeray being critically ill spread. Local trains had half the usual number of commuters; the roads barely saw any autorickshaws or buses plying; shops in the busiest markets in the city remained closed.

After Shiv Sainiks (as the party supporters are known) pelted stones at a restaurant for staying open past 11 p.m. while their leader was ailing, all stores are now shooing their customers away in a hurry to avoid being attacked themselves. And strangely, even the small police check posts (chowks) are closed.

Shiv Sena leaders have appealed to the thousands of mourning supporters gathered outside Thackeray’s suburban residence, Matoshree, and asked them to maintain peace and not disrupt the city’s regular goings on. But despite this, the police are sure to be on their toes the next few days and tackle however the mob chooses to act out.

But here’s the twist: Word is that the "Sena Supremo," as Thackeray is known, passed away a few days back, but given the current festive season, the news was kept under wraps.

Sources from media houses claimed the same, with one having overheard that the announcement would be made this afternoon, as was seen.

I don't know how much truth there is to this statement, but having heard this rumour before the official announcement was made, it all seemed very insensitive to me that the hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside Matoshree were kept in the dark for days.

This has left me with mixed feelings. Yes, I do feel sad about the demise of such a prominent and powerful figure, but also a little angry that the family would leave their loyal supporters hanging this way.

I was in my third year of college in Calcutta when Jyoti Basu died, and in spite of him being in office for over two decades, he did not get the kind of support that I now see Bal Thackeray receiving. There were many who hated him and his beliefs for years, but there was no escaping the reach of his iron fist.

Sleep, Y U NO stop disappearing at night?!

If only a person resembling a panda could look this cute.

If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that I’m sure to look like a panda tomorrow, all thanks to the ever-deepening pits under my eyes.  Sleep deprivation does not suit me very well. Just like most of my nights here in Bombay, I can’t sleep. I don’t know what it is about being here that has messed with my sleep cycle this badly, but I JUST CANNOT SLEEP!


With howling, nocturnal dogs and a beetle that just won’t leave me alone for company (I’m pretty sure I woke people up with my shrieks when it flew right at my face), I’m lying in bed, writing/typing this and trying to figure out what exactly it is that is keeping me up.

Whether it's my body being unable to adjust to the new surroundings, or my stomach’s constant rumbling due to lack of food (thanks for that, Ankita Singh), or the cute, but annoyingly noisy, dogs creating a ruckus outside every damn night, or something entirely in my mind, I can’t say.

I don’t like being around people. The only people I’d like to be with are those that aren’t around, those I cannot be with. I’d rather people just let me be and not try to make me talk.

Stop asking me questions. Stop making me pretend to like you. Stop calling. Stop asking me what I’m thinking. Because more often than not, I have no idea.

Just let me be.

I share an apartment with two other girls—one that refuses to come back to the city and another that I hardly ever get to see. This wasn’t exactly how I had envisioned having my own place with friends would feel like. A great part of it involved actually getting to see those friends. Could it be lack of contact with people I actually care about (and those I work with do NOT count here) that’s keeping me up? Am I actually, subconsciously of course, craving for some company? I find that hard to believe.

I’ve always wanted this life—a job, a house, money, independence and lots and lots of shoes. What I didn’t factor in is the trivial amount of loneliness that would accompany having all of it.

I’m gonna get through this, whatever “this” actually is.

Reading though what I’ve written so far, it doesn’t make much sense to me either. Like I said. Or maybe I didn’t. It’s all a jumbled mess, and the only conclusion I can draw from all the gibberish spewing from my mind is that it quite definitely is fucked (for lack of a more appropriate word).

Why, Miss. Banerjee?

Ruled by the left-wing Communist Party of India (Marxist) for over three decades, Kolkata, or the “City of Joy” as it is fondly called, had been the core of communist politics. This, however, had failed to please the people and after years of disappointment, it came as no surprise when the 2011 assembly elections brought on a complete makeover in the affairs of the state. Having gained the confidence of the people through widespread campaigning, the Trinamool Congress, West Bengal’s state political party and an important ally of the United Progressive Alliance, swept the polls and gave new hope for better governance.

A conversation about one’s mission to overthrow communist politics would be incomplete without mentioning Mamata Banerjee, TMC’s commanding leader. Be it via concrete facts or blame games, she made use of every possible means to loosen CPI (M)’s grip over West Bengal politics. Although her aim to lead the state was achieved after a long wait, she finally found her place as the chief minister of West Bengal.

TMC and the Indian National Congress shared a common objective to oust the CPI (M) from its rule in the state. It was with their backing that Banerjee could pave way to her office in the Writer’s Building in Kolkata.

The Congress usually shares cordial relations with its allies, lets them take the lead in the state and depends on their support in the central government. This balance is typically maintained by both parties. So, the growing tension between the two allies in the not-so-recent past came as a shock to many political experts.

Banerjee had plans of her own.

Friction between the allies began with the Congress demanding more seats in the assembly and Banerjee out-and-out refusing them. She blocked the policy of 100 percent foreign direct investment in retail, she gave into secessionist demands and handed Gorkhaland administrative autonomy and also blocked the international agreement with Bangladesh over sharing waters of the Teesta River.

So we ask: Why, after so many years of striving to achieve their goal, would she risk losing out on the Congress’ support? Also, why would she oppose proposals which could benefit sections of the society as well as the population of West Bengal?

A 180 degree change in opinion

“Destructive bandhs (strikes) are not the future, and it ends today,” she said in response the failure of the bandh called by the Left on Feb. 28.

From 2006 to 2011, I lived in Kolkata myself. Apart from the city turning into a ghost town between the afternoon hours of one to five, if there was one thing that annoyed me the most about the city, it was the number of bandhs that were declared by the political parties of the state. It didn’t matter which commodity was the new target of price rise or who insulted or assaulted who in a remote part of the state, calling for bandhs seemed the answer to most of them. And yes, most of them were declared by the TMC.

It was not long before she was appointed the CM of West Bengal that she organized a sizeable number of road blocks and called for bandhs across the state. Why, I ask, would she make such a hypocritical statement?
It is only when in opposition that political parties realize the inconvenience it causes to citizens when such untimely bandhs are declared.  Clearly, such is the case with Banerjee as well.

Change in alphabetical status or mere stupidity?

State leaders believed that they faced an alphabetical disadvantage in meetings and surveys. To counter this drawback, West Bengal was renamed “Paschimbanga” in August 2011. This was done to raise the state’s alphabetical position from 28 to 21.

However, if raising its alphabetical position was the only motive behind this sudden need to rename the state, why did they not go with other suggested names such as Bangla or Banga? As filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh said, Bengal would have been the ideal replacement. Not only does “Bengal” sound a lot better, it would have also raised the state’s alphabetic position to fourth instead of 21st.

Not to mention it would be ridiculed a lot less.

Where is the need to maintain the term “west” in the name of the state (“paschim” in Bengali, means west)? Except in history, East Bengal no longer exists. The circumstances in which the state was partitioned was not one that called for celebrations; they were tragic and do not deserve to be remembered, even in the form of a mere name.

In spite of all the criticism thrown her way, there is no denying that Banerjee’s popularity has risen over the years. She knows her way around politics and is good at moving the crowd to accept her ways as well.

Littering and Indians' all-pervading apathy

Every time I draw near a street corner, I hold in my breath. Strange as it may sound, this is something I have learned from years of experience. Having come to realize that a street corner in India is synonymous with an enormous pile of garbage, I know that I will most definitely be hit by an awful stench every time I approach one.

Around the world, people are taking note of India’s economic growth. However, to those who live in the country as well as those who come for visits, one thing about the country which is clearly noticeable is that their disinterest in taking care of environmental sanitation and their propensity to litter are fields in which India and its citizens seem to have come to a standstill.

There is garbage everywhere in this country: in public spaces like parks, before government offices, and also, the most ironical of them all, under signs that say, “Please do not litter here.” In all these spots, one is sure to find a heap of innocent-looking trash just waiting to grow. Nobody seems to care about the right way to discard their waste. If anything, when a person finds a mound of garbage, he or she only adds to it.

Throwing our trash out in the streets seems to be the norm for people in this country. It seems standard here. Having lived surrounded by waste and garbage all their lives, it does not bother people anymore. As long as they have some place to dispose the trash from their houses, they are content. No one seems to care about their social responsibility of keeping their surroundings clean; and by surroundings, here, I mean the neighborhood beyond their doorsteps.

So, what does this say about these people?

No matter how the country progresses economically, there never seems to be any change in their attitude towards the environment. The streets seem to be everyone’s common dustbin. Everything we don’t need ends up in a pile somewhere out in the open.

Such is the scenario now that dumping garbage in open grounds and littering is no longer seen as an environmental problem. It is shameful that one of the fastest-growing economies needs to be seen in such light.

Although environmentally conscious people do exist, there is only so much that they can do. When these rare breed of people call the commonly seen littering mongrels on their behavior, they are either mocked or simply ignored. Instead of looking up to such people for the cause they take up, they are ridiculed.

Several municipalities in the country have proposed anti-litter laws that never see the stage of actual implementation. Even if such laws are really enforced, they would become nothing but a source of illegal income for the police or others who are given the responsibility of tackling litterers. Any fines imposed on a litterer would turn into bribes and be pocketed by them.

Apart from people’s indifference and the corrupt officials, inefficient municipalities and their inability to do away with trash from the streets, as they are supposed to, is another reason behind our filthy, garbage-cluttered streets. More often than not, the pileup that we see is trash that is overflowing from a dustbin which was probably meant to be emptied months ago. What can we expect from the common people if those, who are given the official responsibility of keeping the streets clean, slack off?

If people need to shop, they can walk all day long; if money is involved, they’re on their toes and working hard for it; but if they are asked to move a couple of feet to reach an actual dustbin, all the lethargy in the world seeps into them.

Indians’ mentality towards the environment needs to change. Their lackadaisical attitude and sheer laziness needs to give way to environmental consciousness and a basic sense of community hygiene. Sooner or later, Indians need to realize that, socially accepted or not, the “practice” of littering must be brought to an end.

My ‘Indianness,’ my own making

Given India’s multicultural diversity, how can one define Indianness? Could it be defined as patriotism and devotion towards one country, or a person’s cultural identity in their society?

I believe that our “Indianness” is most certainly imposed upon us to an extent. Indians are expected to dislike Pakistan and its people. If a person so much as attempts to voice their opinion in favor of Pakistan’s claim that Kashmir belongs to them, he or she is met with strong opposition.

Taking into consideration an issue, or opinion on a subject that has countrywide support, people are expected to go along with popular public opinion. This was clear when Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption was at its heights, and regardless of what their opinions on the subject were, there weren’t many who were willing to voice their views against his “my way, or the highway” approach to getting what he wanted done.

Also, seldom are girls seen clad in a pair of jeans and short t-shirts when in a temple, mosque or other places of worship. They are expected to dress in “traditional” Indian clothes when in such places.  Even in the 21^st century, women do not have the freedom to wear what they want to.

I was born into a Bengali family, but by nature, I’m as non-Bengali as one can be. My family moved to Chennai in 1997, and having lived there for nine years, I was brought up in an environment that is poles apart from one that we may find in Bengal.

There have been innumerable occasions where people have tried to force me into behaving more like what they believe a Bengali should behave like. They have tried their hardest to force me to respond in Bengali, which, in spite of being my mother tongue, is a language I’m not comfortable conversing in. I detest Bengali food; yet my family never ceases to force it on me. I consider Durga Pooja, the main festival of Bengalis, an extremely noisy celebration—These are certain things that often upset other Bengalis who expect me to speak a certain way or even think a certain way.

M.F. Hussain was exiled for depicting Hindu goddesses in the nude but similar such portrayals can be seen in the famous Khajuraho temples; Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” was banned in the country for hurting Muslim sentiments, but Taslima Nasrin was welcomed even though she was accused of much the same; political parties which are known for pushing their religious beliefs, the Bharatiya Janata Party for instance, which is widely popular for its “Hindutva” (Hinduism), are voted for in a country that claims to be secular—These are just a few instances among countless others which reveal the hypocrisy present among Indians. It makes me wonder if their frequently violent reactions are genuine, or do they merely go along with “accepted” outlooks?

Even though such conformist attitudes continue to exist in India, it all comes down to whether a person is willing to give into this kind of pressure in their everyday lives. An individual’s “Indianness” or Indian identity is something that should come from within, and not one that is forced upon them.  Conducting yourself a certain way because you feel obliged to do so does not make that your own identity. A person may believe that a lot can be accomplished by setting up a farce of an identity, but ultimately, this does nothing but creates another clone of what societies believe is an ideal Indian.

I most certainly will never understand why people assume that it is their duty to attempt to “mend” others’ mannerisms and way of thinking. I’m headstrong by nature (if I may say so myself), and quite stubborn as well, and cannot be easily pressurized into doing anything against my will. With absolutely no patience for people who are oblivious to their own bigotry, I could really care less about what others may have to say about me, as my identity, is of my own making.

Ever loving, never loved

Amidst the vast population of the country are an enormous number of ill-treated, unhealthy and injured street animals, with dogs constituting the majority of them. These street dogs face a great deal of cruelty in the hands of Indians. They are kicked, stoned, abused, run over and often tortured among other forms of brutality.

The ardent dog-lover that I am, loyal, friendly, loving, compassionate, endearing and plain adorable are the first thoughts that cross my mind when I think of dogs. Domestic or stray, they are all the same to me. However, given the way they are treated in the country, they clearly are not as loved as they deserve to be.

These animals face abuse in the hands of children and adults as well. Seen a lot with the uneducated population, we often find that there are those who gain some kind of sick, twisted pleasure by afflicting torture on these animals. There are better ways to achieve such feelings with having to resort to such barbaric means. One can only wonder how such sadism can make anyone feel good about themselves.

Civic bodies no different

Such abuse occurs at the hands of not just the general not-so-animal-friendly public, but from civic bodies as well. We frequently hear news of street dogs being neutered without being given sedatives or anesthetics. These reports are often heart wrenching stories of neutered dogs being left in a bloody mess after they are done being operated on. Such civic bodies are expected to watch over the welfare of these animals but instead, special institutions need to be set up to keep a check on their cold-blooded acts.

Founder of Voice of Stray Dogs and animal rights activist Rakesh Shukla believes that even in developed cities like Bangalore, street dogs are harmed and ill-treated, with civic bodies too, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike in this case, indulging in such misdeeds. He believes that the BBMP’s Animal Husbandry Department is especially dedicated to illegal relocation of street dogs.

According to their Animal Birth Control program, which was adopted to maintain the population of street dogs in the city at a manageable number, they need to capture the dogs, neuter them, and once they are operated on, drop them back in the same locality that they were taken from. However, these dogs are more often than not dropped off at an entirely different locality. Given their territorial nature, these dogs fight amongst themselves, and in the process, not only do they injure themselves, but are also termed a nuisance by residents as a result of the entire ruckus they create.

People’s rush, their doom

Being stoned and kicked out of the way are common everyday occurrences in the lives of street dogs. But these are in close competition with them being run over and either getting injured, or losing their lives altogether. These animals go unnoticed and are often ignored by people on the roads who are always in a hurry to get to places. Their negligible regard for their lives is evident with their refusal to slow down even a wee bit.

Does it cause people such a great deal of pain to simply slow down a tad just so these animals can move away from their approaching vehicle? The degree to which people can extend their heartlessness is purely mind boggling.

There is no law against treating street dogs with compassion, nor is there one against feeding them or giving them a place to stay. No matter how many times they are pelted at with stones or harmed in any way, the nature of dogs is such that they would go wagging their tails at the very same people if they are approached with kindness. It pains me to watch them run away at the slightest twitch of a limb from even those who truly care about them, as cruelty is all that they have faced their entire lives.

Their sad plight is being dealt with by several animal rights organizations and NGOs taking up their cause and looking out of their welfare as well. There are institutions which provide them with homes and also battle for their rights in cases of intolerable cruelty.

There isn’t much that I care for as much as I do for these creatures. By no means can I even begin to comprehend how one can bring themselves to being nasty to these dogs. An urgent change in attitude towards them is needed. People need to reach out to their humanity and bring an end to such brutality towards these hapless animals.

Where’s the ‘garden’ in the Garden City?

In April 2008, an anticorruption NGO called on the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to stop hacking down trees in the city under the pretext of development. But nearly four years later, there has been no visible change in the BBMP’s incessant destruction of the city’s greenery, which it seems, is at least partly driven by greed.

In an open letter to then BBMP Commissioner S. Subramanya, the chairman of Transparency International India (TII), M.F. Saldanha, a former Mumbai High Court justice, pointed out that the city’s greenery had been reduced from 15 percent in 2000 to 8 percent in 2008 with the felling of over 19,000 trees. With the large number of road-widening projects that have begun since then, it is obvious that that figure has shrunk considerably.

Timber from each tree that is cut down is worth between Rs. 300,000 and Rs. 500,000, but contractors purchase them for a measly Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 3,000. TII believes that BBMP officials sell the timber and pocket the huge profits, which motivates them to carry on their merciless destruction of the city’s trees.

Though much of this relentless tree-felling ostensibly has been done to widen roads to improve the flow of traffic, little or no difference has been made in that regard, and the city has lost thousands of trees in the process.

The BBMP fails to realize the importance of striking a balance between what it believes is “development” and the ecological requirements of the city. Sacred trees like the peepal, economically  significant trees like sandal, teak and pongamia as well as exotic ones with large canopies that provide shade and help reduce pollution have been chopped down for road-widening projects.

The Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act of 1976 made it mandatory for both local people and civic bodies to get permission from the Karnataka Forest Department before felling trees. But the passage of this act has done little to prevent the large-scale felling of trees. The Forest Department seems to have turned a blind eye toward the BBMP’s war on the city’s trees.

The city is fast turning into a concrete jungle, and the effects of this are unpleasantly evident in the climatic change that Bangalore is experiencing. Commuters need to bear the scorching summer heat without the shade that trees once provided.

In November 2011, in a case that the BBMP won, nearly 5,000 residents in Malleshwaram and Yeshwanthpur protested against the cutting of the last two of the 19 trees on either side of Sankey Tank Road. In this proposed project to widen the traffic corridor to Yeshwanthpur, the BBMP was asked to plant saplings to compensate for the trees that will be lost in the process. But there reportedly are no records of where the saplings that the Forest Department is adamant it gave to the BBMP have been planted.

Road-widening projects have faced strong opposition from the citizens of Bangalore, who have protested loudly against such unthinking destruction of trees across the city.

In spite of promises to restore the city’s greenery, with the current state of affairs and the BBMP’s indifference toward the issue, it seems certain that urban deforestation will continue apace.

Originally published in The SoftCopy

The end of al-Qaida, or just another beginning?

On May 2nd, 2011, al-Qaida lost its only commander for 22 years, Osama bin Laden. Though his death had been celebrated by people world over, it was a day of great loss for al-Qaida itself.

The assassination of bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, has triggered several questions regarding the safety of the world which feared retaliation by loyal and enraged members of al-Qaida. The most pressing matter of them all has been: With the death of its commander-in-chief, is it the end of the al-Qaida?

Even though it was believed that bin Laden’s authority over the activities of the terrorist group was gradually diminishing the Obama administration continued with its efforts to end his “reign” and his ability to attract violent jihadists. These efforts were based on the belief that al-Qaida relied, to a great extent, on the guidance of their former leader.

Juan Zarate, a top counterterrorism official under former American president George W. Bush said: “Clearly, this doesn’t end the threat from al-Qaida and its affiliates. But it deprives it of its core leader and ideological cohesion that bin Laden maintains.”

Ayman al-Zawahri, bin Laden’s Egyptian deputy was declared the new leader of the terrorist organization though according to a report in the New York Times, the delay in this announcement, which was made known in June, 2011, “led some counterterrorism analysts to see signs of a power struggle at the top of al-Qaida.”

Other reports in the New York Times state that in spite of being was second in command to bin Laden and also the organizational brains of the Islamist group, al-Zawahri has “little of the iconic stature of bin Laden.” They also say that he is not an uninspiring model for young militants and describe his mannerisms as “abrasive” and his speeches, “pedantic.”

Such reports lead us to believe that al-Qaida may not have a very bright future without a leader strong enough to guide them along.

As with every story, this too has its own opposing side. In the largely ungoverned terrains of Pakistan’s tribal borders, the al-Qaida set up terrorist training camps and other such groups where it continued to train militants in the “art” of explosives and automatic weapons. An instance of this would be the young Moroccan man, named Abdeladim K. by The Telegraph, who, along with two other supporters, was accused of “taking his orders from a higher official in the terror network based on the Afghan-Pakistan border.”


The decline of al-Qaida’s influence can also be seen in the Arab Spring, which indicates a change in their attitude towards democracy and freedom. These revolutions seen in the Middle East have shown the world that the “change” that the al-Qaida believe in can be achieved peacefully (with the exception of Libya). Though the group had tried to gain from the commitment that could be seen in the protests, their efforts were largely ignored as they believed that violence and destruction were unnecessary means to achieve their ends.

In another New York Times article, Juan Zarate, commenting on al-Qaida and the Arab Spring, said: “al-Qaida has been struggling on the sidelines of the Arab revolution. Its popularity in Arab and Muslim countries has been declining and there are internal divisions about the direction of the movement.

In the same report, the same outlook was echoed by a senior Obama administration official: “Although al-Qaida may not fragment immediately, the loss of Bin Laden puts the group on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse.”

Even though the most plausible conclusion would be to believe that with Osama bin Laden’s death, it is indeed the end of the road for al-Qaida, but the world still needs to be on alert in case al-Qaida supporters feel the need to avenge bin Laden’s death and make themselves and their continuing movement known.

India and its artistic intolerance

“ The best way to avoid getting offended is to shut a book… The worst thing is that artists are soft targets… We don’t have armies protecting us.” – Salman Rushdie

In yet another occasion of artistic intolerance in India, organizers of the Jaipur Literature Festival were “persuaded” by the Rajasthan state government to call off Salman Rushdie’s visit to the event.

The author had been scheduled to speak on the opening day of the event, but all plans had abruptly changed when intelligence sources had received information about paid assassins en route to Jaipur to kill him. Rushdie withdrew from the festival after Muslim organizations threatened his life if he did indeed make an appearance.

In 1988, Salman Rushdie ignited a furor among Muslims world over for the “blasphemous” verses in his his book “The Satanic Verses.” Following this, the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomein, issued a fatwa calling for his death which was backed by the Iranian government till 1998.

It has been two decades since Rushdie had to go underground for the controversy his book created, but Muslims continue to harbor ill feelings towards him. This is made evident with them opposing his participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Many deem it a disgrace that the Indian government failed to provide Rushdie with protection when rumor was first heard. This leads us to believe that there could be possible political motivations behind keeping him away from the festival.

Critics claim that in the wake of the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh next month, no political party has stepped forward to curb the Muslim opposition in the fear of losing out on their votes.

“That Rushdie might need protection in India reflects poorly - not on him, but on India," writes Soutik Biswas, Delhi correspondent for the BBC.

Extending an invitation to Rushdie, the artist activist group, Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust, believes that it was the state’s “cowardly unwillingness” to stand up against communal forces.

After the fatwa was issued against Rushdie, many Islamic authors had been targeted for their works: Farag Foda for speaking out against censorship in Egypt, Taslima Nasrin for her book Lajja, Naguib Mahfouz for the controversy surrounding his novel Children of Gebelawi, etc.

A similar such case of narrow-mindedness was also seen in India when the late artist M. F. Husain was literally driven out of India in 2006 by Hindu dogmatists. They sabotaged his artwork and also attacked his home in Mumbai for painting Hindu deities in the nude.

Such intolerance towards artistic expression raises several questions concerning literary freedom in India. Works of fiction too are not free from opposition.

With reports pouring in about officials in Rajasthan objecting to what was decided would be a video address by Rushdie, the nation’s image of a progressive democracy has once again been tainted.

It seems as though the more India progresses economically, the more intolerant it becomes towards art. The Jaipur Literature Festival is one that the country should be proud to host, but instead, as with everything else, it has been turned into a political soup. 

Can the LTTE re-emerge in Sri Lanka?

Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was considered a separatist militant organization. It was recognized as a terrorist organization by many countries for its horrifying acts of violence.

With a strong foothold in the Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka, LTTE’s primary demand was a separate state for the Tamils of Sri Lanka. To achieve its purpose, it committed severe atrocities, which included massacring hundreds of civilians, and waged a civil war against the Sri Lankan army from 1983 till 2009. With the demise of its leader Prabhakaran in 2009, LTTE finally admitted defeat and handed the regions that it had control over to the Sri Lankan government.

As the country finally breathed a sigh of relief after its fall and is now moving ahead with attempts to recover from the wounds left behind by the LTTE-inspired struggles, a major question looms over the permanency of this defeat. Having held a position of control in the country for over three decades, one could ponder over the possibility of such a strong organization resurfacing in the region once again. This could have numerous arguments.

N. Manoharan writes in the Institute of Peace & Conflict Studies that the idea of LTTE rising again is unrealistic, seeing that its top leaders as well as most of its troops have been “wiped out.” He is skeptical about the chances LTTE might have of advancing its goals forward without a strong leadership.

Manoharan also says that there are small groups of surviving LTTE soldiers, scattered across the jungles of Sri Lanka, who may want to “rekindle their armed struggle” using guns buried in these jungles. Setting up a headquarters at an undisclosed location as well as forming an executive committee are a few steps, he believes, has been taken by them to “vigorously” carry the cause of their struggle forward.

Moreover , with the Tamils in the region tired of what probably feels like a never-ending conflict in their country, the possibility of them lending their support to LTTE seems unlikely. The initial support that they did receive was, for the most part, out of fear of LTTE’s military machinery. Instead of reviving violence in their regions, the Tamils of the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka would rather revive themselves economically and socially.

Besides, there have been improvements in the relationship between the Tamils and the armed forces as well as the establishment of a strong and firm security in these areas of the country, opines D.B.S. Jeyaraj. Also, after decades of armed conflicts in their country, the Sri Lankan people are opposed to the “resumption of violence” in any form which further lessens LTTE’s chances of resurgence in these regions.

There have been debates among the Sri Lankan Diaspora over the final demand of the LTTE and the means used to achieve it. They have conflicting views over this core issue and reaching an agreement over it is a major necessity if LTTE wishes to re-emerge again.

Naveen Kumar, an M. Phil student at JNU, believes that the LTTE lost its power in the first place as factors which once enabled it to hold its power gradually disappeared. Post 9/11, the international community launched an all-out “War on Terror” which helps keep an eye out for any hints of LTTE making an appearance again.

We can conclude by saying that there will always be a possibility of fragmented LTTE militants attempting to resurrect its organization. But with no strong leaders, war-opposed Tamils who wish for no more civilian casualties and also, a central military which now seems more lethal, it appears improbable that the LTTE could gain power in the country once again.

Combating corruption: an insurmountable challenge

Corruption can be described as the misuse of power entrusted to an individual for their own personal gain. This attribute can be seen in abundance in its various forms in the Indian government; be it bribery, fraud, theft or money laundering.

With the number of scams that became public in 2011, leading to the year being described as one of scams, Indians have finally had enough and are now speaking up against dishonest officials within the government and their malpractices.

The 2G spectrum scam, misappropriation of funds meant for the commonwealth games, the various land and mining scams as well as the cash-for-votes scam have all together been an eye-opener for the citizens of India who now see the need for greater transparency in the functioning of their government.

People’s greed and desire for more money than they would need in one lifetime leads them to unethical means.

It is shameful that a country that claims to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world has the largest number of people living below poverty line. This is a direct result of the billions of assets—in the form of money, property, food grains, etc.—meant for their uplift, being illegally pocketed by those whose want for more seem endless.

What our country needs is greater transparency. A strong public forum to level out peoples’ grievances in the form of a Lokpal or a similar such body is the foremost requirement.

 Also, excessively complicated rules and regulations laid down by the country are too complex for the simple Indian mind. Undemanding and straightforward acts and laws in layman’s terms must be specified if they are expected to be followed by the common man.

Public involvement

The large number of corrupt practices seen in the country today is not restricted to politicians alone. Its effects have trickled down to the common people who have also been dragged into the web of this dishonest system.

In the existing framework of the country, corruption and bribery cannot be tackled by the government alone. It is the duty of every citizen to do their bit. All they have to do is say “no” to the temptation of being hauled into the snare of employing such practices as an easier means to their end. They must be motivated to strive towards honesty and a sense of social responsibility must be implanted in their minds.

Without the involvement of the citizens themselves, the country cannot expect any change in this fight against corruption or at the least, find it extremely challenging.

The true face of democracy?

In operation, the idea of democracy in India has been disappointing. Democracy, with its “for the people, by the people and of the people,” description, has been disappointing in India, with people across the country distressed by the ineffectiveness and incompetence of institutions like the police, courts and the administrative machinery.

The “protectors” of our basic human rights, as well as our constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights, misuse their power to suit their individual interests. In carrying out their duties, they often forget an individual’s right to live freely and fairly, and also their right to constitutional remedies, thereby violating their human rights.

There have been numerous instances where Indians have been denied their fundamental rights, a classic example of which would be when the Emergency was declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Police were given unwarranted power and the press was gagged, with its right to freedom of speech and expression taken away. This period changed the entire perception of democracy in the minds of people.


Severe laws like the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) have given such institutions unimpeded power which have resulted in repeated acts of human rights violations.

In 1958, then President of India Rajendra Prasad gave his assent to the notorious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act(AFSPA). This act deemed the states of North-East India “disturbed areas,” and vested the armed forces with powers to destroy structures on suspicion, enter and search premises and also arrest persons without warrant, detain and interrogate them, and use force even to the extent of causing death on mere suspicion. Moreover, no legal action can be taken up against these forces without prior sanction from the Union government.

A democracy is one in which the judiciary is the supreme power, but this law negates the entire idea by allowing the armed forces to be their own judge. The provisions of this act establish the executive’s lack of faith in the judiciary, and mar its power.

Initially sanctioned to combat terrorism, actions in accordance with this act now compromise on human life and dignity. If law enforcement forces resort to such violation of human rights, to fight which had been the central reason for its enactment, it would leave no difference between them and the terrorists.

The extensive misuse of the act calls for something more humane. For the repeal of this law, Irom Sharmilla has been on an 11-year-long hunger strike in the state of Manipur for which she was detained and force-fed. Though she has gained recognition and awards for her sacrifice and determination, it is the likes of Anna Hazare who receive utmost media attention. In spite of such atrocities being committed in the North-East, the country remains oblivious to these undemocratic practices.

The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, was enacted at a time when the economic capital of India saw an outbreak of organized crime and became the centre of criminal activities like the murder of business tycoons, extortion and abduction. Although it was then believed that the act provided sufficient provisions to prevent its misuse, they clearly are not enough any longer. The MCOCA is now misused by the police for their own personal gain. False cases are registered and the pleas of those accused are turned a deaf ear to.

When we think about the police, we think about security and maintenance of law and order in our societies. A force which once served as a source of moral strength has now deteriorated in standard and quality of work. Today, corruption plagues the police administration. Under political pressure or following their own judgments, policemen use their positions of power to benefit their own selves. They take a considerable amount of time in disposing cases, though here, the slow pace of the judiciary shares the blame as well. Such is the state of the police administration in our democracy that we rarely see cases being cleared without money exchanging hands.

Forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), established under the Central Reserve Police Force Act of 1949, and the Border Security Force (BSF) play a vital role in the Indian context of democracy. The CRPF are deployable throughout the country, serving as a backup for the state police forces for when situations get out of control. They assist the state and/or union territories in maintaining law and order and contain insurgency. BSF guards the borders with a commitment to promote a sense of security among the public and prevent transborder crimes. It has diversified its role in order to contain insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast.

In the course of performing their duties, these forces often resort to immoral and barbaric means. While trying to maintain order in Kashmir, the CRPF has been brutal in carrying out its tasks which involve firing at civilians and the youth. Also, in a recent video, BSF personnel were seen calmly torturing a cattle herder as they believed that he was illegally trying to cross over the India-Bangladesh border. In spite of evidence being produced, such violations are often denied by these forces and the perpetrators of such coldblooded crimes go scot-free.

The involvement of our security forces in such cases of fake encounters, random firing at civilians, rape and assault cases makes one wonder how democratic the world’s largest democracy genuinely is. What hope does it leave the citizens with if the upholders of our rights are the ones violating them?

Originally published in The SoftCopy

Indian students aren’t the only targets

In a world where it is believed that education from foreign universities will help obtain better employment and even better salaries, the question of students’ safety away from their homes is one that commonly arises.

The recent murder of Anuj Bidve has once again raised this nagging issue of the safety of Indian students abroad. Such violence against Indians, students in particular, is often said to be directly related to racism, a term commonly used in this context.

But is the use of such a strong term justified?

Racism is the belief that people’s characteristics and abilities are based simply on their race and ethnicity and though some of the attacks reported against Indian students were racially motivated, one cannot generalize them all under this category as such attacks are not restricted to the Indian student community alone.
 
These attacks were generally opportunistic and had nothing to do with race or Indian students in particular. Many of these crimes have been taken out of context and sensationalized to a great extent by the media, which tend to get carried away with their attempts at touching human emotions, as was seen in the Bidve case.

A common idea among people is that such attacks on Indians are often provoked by the locals’ insecurity about jobs and opportunities that they believe are meant for them, but are being offered to Indians instead. Indians outperform the locals academically and come as cheap labor, which lands them great jobs, leaving the local youth unemployed. This builds a feeling of hostility against Indians which leads to cases of crime, or so it is believed.

When a person travels to another country, he or she needs to have an open mind. One is more than likely to face racist remarks no matter where they are. This trend isn’t exclusively seen in Australia or Britain, the two countries currently on the radar, and is most definitely not directed toward Indians alone.

Cases of racism are a common phenomenon world over. Discrimination occurs against almost all minority groups. This was clear all through the “war on terror” post 9/11, during which Muslims across the globe were extensively discriminated against and were often victims of violence.

India, too, is no exception to cases. As an example, though many may not agree, South Indians are often made fun of in the North Indian states and are stereotyped and vice versa.

Also, one cannot easily forget the orthodox beliefs of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, which is incapable of hearing a word against their state or its people and also unleashed violent attacks on those who migrated to Mumbai for economic reasons.

Though the attacks in Australia seem racially driven and more than just crimes of opportunity, similar neighborhood crimes are a common occurrence in India as well. Cases of drunken murders and rapes make frequent news in the country.


A report released by the Australian Institute of Criminology in 2009 indicates that “international students are less likely or as likely to be victims of physical assault and other theft” as the general population of the country. This theory can be applied to any country as most of these robberies and assault cases are petty thefts and opportunistic in nature.


While in foreign countries, people in general, especially those working night shifts, are advised to steer clear of dark alleys and deserted streets to avoid being exposed to incidents of crime, the situation is no different in India. Here too people, women in particular, are warned against the same for their own safety.


With racial discrimination and related crimes prevalent everywhere, why should one focus primarily on the safety of Indian students alone? Students world over need to be reassured about their safety in a foreign country.
 
Originally published in The SoftCopy

Taliban: A perpetual threat in Afghanistan?

With the United States withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, the one major question which emerges is: “Will the Taliban rise again and seize control of the country?”

This leads to further questions like the extent to which the Taliban might control the country this time around and also the kind of chances that the United States supported government has of surviving. Though these questions might remain unanswered for years to come, they are issues that need to be kept an eye out for.

In the backdrop of growing number of cases of violence, murder, looting and extortion, the Taliban came to power in 1996 after the withdrawal of Soviet Union in 1992 and also the fall of the then President Najibullah’s government. It ruled till the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Pakistan. Despite of being overthrown, the Taliban continued to maintain influence in most parts of the country.

There are several reasons, as have been identified that heped the Taliban gain control over much of the country. They are:

• The downfall of the government left behind after the Soviets left Kabul
• Dissatisfaction of the people with Najibullah’s government
• Pushtun resentment of the government that it felt was majorly non-Pushtun
• External assistance the Taliban received, especially from Pakistan
• Lack of resistance against them

Pakistan’s involvement with the Taliban played a chief role in bringing the Taliban to power. The Taliban was backed by the Pakistan Interim Ministry, Pakistani Inter-services Intelligence Directorate (ISI), and the Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI), a Pakistani Islamist group. They supplied the Taliban with weapons, tanks, artillery and even aircrafts. They also received support in the form of training.

Because of the extensive support the Taliban received, and also due to the lack of an opposing army, the Taliban could take over large parts of Afghanistan.

When one looks at the reasons for Taliban’s rise to power, the failure of a government to stand up against the forces sticks out. In spite of its unpopularity, Najibullah’s government could survive for three years largely due to the support it still had from the Soviet military. Their abrupt withdrawal of support led to its downfall. This downfall was not immediately followed by the rise of the Taliban. So it can be presumed that after the U.S. and Coalition forces withdraw completely, their presence might still be felt in the Afghan government which might keep the Taliban at bay, at least for a while. History has shown that Afghanistan needs external support to help control situations that the Taliban is known to create.

The failure of a single leader to gain the support of a majority of the citizens of Afghanistan has been a key reason for Taliban’s power in the country. Unless someone can gain such trust and support to lead the country, it can nearly be guaranteed that Taliban influence in the region will continue.

The opposition posed by the non-Pushtun groups of Afghanistan did not succeed in making much difference as the groups have a penchant of fighting amongst themselves. There is a possibility of the Taliban taking advantage of such discord between the groups, as it did before, to take back control of Afghanistan.

All these factors support the chances of Taliban’s rise to power again in Afghanistan. One prime factor, which was unavailable in 1996 when they came to power, is that Afghanistan might get more external assistance to resist the Taliban now than they did 15 years back. After the withdrawal of the U.S. and Coalition forces completes in 2014, these countries should continue to provide Afghanistan with military support. This may keep the Taliban in control from gaining power again.

Another move that might help keep the Taliban at bay is the presence of a strong government, irrespective who it is being led by. Being able to rightly utilize the external support from other countries will also be a contributing factor.

Once the Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan, Pakistan grasped this chance to gain some influence over Afghanistan. This resulted in them providing support to the Taliban, which people then believed could fight against the growing discontent and corruption in the country.

It is a known fact that the Taliban was financed by agents from Pakistan. What might aid in ensuring that the Taliban’s power is kept in control is severing these ties between Pakistan and the Taliban. Pressure from other countries and imposing sanctions on Pakistan to do so can be of help.

The chances of the Taliban trying to take control over Kabul are more likely than not. Countries combating this strong opponent must remain vigilant and ensure that they put in effect the different factors that can impede this move by the Taliban so history does not repeat itself.