Random Thoughts

A Knotty Affair : Election 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 08:59:00 +0000

The prospect of witnessing a fiercely fought general election in 2014 between two largest political outfits with Modi and Rahul at their respective helms, had been considerably dampened with the drubbing of congress in the recently concluded assembly elections held across four states. The reluctance of congress in apportioning the blame of defeat to its would be knight had many pundits seething in exasperation and suggesting that revival of party fortune could come about only if Rahul takes a backseat and the likes of Scindia and Pilot are thrust ahead as campaign managers. Atleast, this way one would know where the accountability lies. Humbly accepting the verdict, Rahul again threw the hat in the ring by announcing an impending restructuring in the party, stressed on establishing a connect with masses the Kejriwal way and promised unimaginable slew of measures to put his party back in reckoning. No matter how incredulous this may sound, the palpable exuberance of the nation to ascertain who shall triumph when these two political honchos lock horns, has once again rekindled. This has been stoked by reports that Congress could probably anoint Rahul as Prime Ministerial candidate in the AICC meet scheduled on 17 January, 2014.

Dubbed as having a finger on the pulse of masses through his sojourns across the length and breadth of rural India, knowing their problems like the back of his hand and heir apparent to self proclaimed pro-poor party, Rahul has repeated failed to win over their allegiance especially after 2009 despite rolling out flagship programs like MGNREGS, Food security bill etc. The most predictable reason offered for poll debacles in U.P. and other states is attributed to lack of organizational structure and need to build up strong cadres. Well, If Rahul being the chairperson of Youth congress for several years could not fill up the structural vacuum and mobilize his cadres in such long span, the party overhaul he wishes to implement just four months prior to election 2014 certainly seems a tall task and not without further widening of fissures between young blood and old vanguards.

Unfortunately, congress has lost ground in few southern pockets that once were its strongholds for taking a call on contentious issues. Andhra pradesh, which for years had been a congress bastion would prove very difficult to redeem owing to bifurcation of the state and emergence of rival faction YSR congress which enjoys immense sway in the coastal region of Andhra and expected to leave congress way behind in electoral fray. On other hand, in Tamilnadu, DMK has decided not to get into a pre-poll alliance with Congress after facing rather tumultuous experience at their hands in 2G scam with Raja and Kanimozhi landing behind bars. Others who walked away from the coalition include TMC and MIM, further reducing the choice for congress in scouting partners for support and with anti-incumbency being a huge factor this time around, a comprehensive rout seems imminent.

While the expediency and volte-face in approach adopted by initiating dialogue with Anna or requesting different party's for extending support in passing Lokpal bill is appreciable, the skeptics see it as too little too late. Rahul certainly is attempting an image makeover by voicing opinion notably on supreme court ruling on Gay rights, trashing ordinance for protecting convicted MPs and MLAs from disqualification etc. But, the critics never for a moment cease to forget his disposition of maintaining stoic silence on issues of national/international importance, reticence to media interactions and not giving an insight into his mind . Though he could still cover his tracks gradually in coming months, the most discomfiting and loaded baggage of corruption that UPA-2 is leaving behind wouldn't be easy to shrug off from public memory. The long list of scams(2G, Commonwealth, Coal Gate, Aadarsh etc) resulting in huge loses to state's exchequer, are so deeply entrenched that nation seems in all likelihood made up its mind to bequeth power to BJP.

This assumption would be too far fetched since their road to forming a government is not sans glitches either. Securing an absolute majority without a strong presence in southern states and hindi heartland of U.P. which sends largest number of MP's to parliament is virtually impossible. Stiching post poll alliances for BJP shall be a litmus test as they stand alienated by Nitish's JDU to whom rally around a polarizing figure and PM nominee like Modi is now untenable. Other regional forces harping on secular credentials wouldn't associate with right wing plank having a seemingly divisive agenda. Barring AIADMK and TDP, there is no inkling of a slant towards BJP from other formations. Thus, cobbling up requisite numbers to stake claim will be an uphill task unless the Messiah of development and torch bearer of progress for middle classes, manages 180 plus seats on his own steam. Attempt to realign with Yadurrapa's party who was made to quit on charges of corruption, an issue they have been Chastising Congress for, smacks of dual standards on principles that they themselves find hard to hold onto.

The growth and development story of Gujrat certainly is Modi's crowning glory, but the hyperbole surrounding it has repeatedly been dismissed as Gujrat was always a flourishing state even under the congress regime. The soaring popularity on social media among the youth, yet another aspect that he gloats about was also busted by the Cobra Post sting exposing Tech companies managing Modi's campaign in exchange for money by creating false identities. The halo around Modi factor hasn't had any profound impact on BJP's performance in Delhi as AAP managed to garner the vote share of congress and formed the government despite being second largest party. Major credit for their stupendous run in Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan was ascribed to good governance by incumbent Chief Ministers and anti-establishment vote respectively.

Though Modi has been relentless in addressing rallies to make the campaign more aggressive, many opine that he has reached the crescendo pretty early. Does one know Modi's vision for India? Political, economic and social agenda of BJP should form the crux of his discourse and swing the public opinion in their favour, rather than scornful personal barbs. What is most disgraceful is the crass tone he employs in criticizing the opposition and some of its prominent leaders in his nasal twang. Certainly, his demeanour lacks the persona that dignified and graceful Leaders are made of.

The ensuing general elections 2014 would baffle the nation in choosing between Rahul - Inexperienced, idealistic enigma who has shunned responsibility all through and owes his candidature for the top job to family legacy and Modi - an authoritarian leader with third tenure under his belt as Chief minister of Gujrat, carrying a blemish of Godhra riots which he cannot wish away and regarded as panacea of all problems facing the country by some sections of society. Neither of them fit the bill for premiership. A fractured mandate with BJP emerging as the single largest party is a distinct possibility. As one congressman put it, Congress could well take their badly bruised image and despicable performance in assembly elections as an opportunity to introspect, revamp their party and rise like a phoenix whenever subsequent opportunity (beyond 2014) presents itself. Perhaps, it is their turn to play constructive opposition and scoff at every instance BJP falters, with a wry smile.

Strong Ethics Alone Can Stem the Political Rot

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:56:00 +0000

Scrupulous conscience that refuses to buckle in any circumstances is paramount to a person’s character while traversing a path connected with public life. Sadly, the current state of affairs, reflect a total paradox and erosion of moral values has become a deep rooted menace to eradicate. Across the spectrum, political groups are fraught with individuals who jump onto the bandwagon of politics either clamoring for power or with covert intent of making it a lucrative career option. These misplaced ideals have overshadowed the true essence of being an elected representative which places upon them a mandate of discharging selfless service aligned to aspirations of their constituencies and thereby steering the party agenda ahead. India’s model of multi-party democracy has thrown up numerous factions over the years, mostly having regional identity and few mainstream groups with a pan India presence. Thus, convergence of diverse ideologies in an era of coalition politics is another challenge that has ruffled many a regime.

Ideally, parties with similar leanings and common minimum program that come together to form a power equation should scrape by. But, discord and disagreement over major policy issues between ruling party and their coalition partners keeps government on tenterhooks with a perpetual fear of losing majority. This is a fall out of striking balance to stay afloat both in their regional backyard by pandering to the vote bank and at the centre, though at the expense of country’s detriment. Recent example of this trend in UPA’s second term is Trinamool Congress, having opposed crucial initiatives like FDI in retail, Pension reforms, Lokpal bill etc on domestic front and curtailed the signing of Teesta water treaty with Bangladesh. The Leftist (CPI) too played truant when it came to passage of nuclear bill and withdrew support during the first term.

Apart from anguish of keeping the coalition intact, there is a bigger albatross around the neck to contend with, the principle opposition. Their task, instead of playing constructive role has acquired new dimension of adopting any skewed approach to usurp power. Acting in cahoots with groups having diametrically opposite ideology to scuttle passage of bills, scouting for sticky issues to put the government on the mat, demanding resignation of key cabinet ministers who dig into nefarious designs of their cadres, withholding party views and indulging in double speak on important issues has become the prescribed code of conduct.

Yearning to be back in power is perfectly legitimate but the means of getting there should not be spurious. Shrill pitched anti-government rhetoric can well be replaced by demonstrable good governance in opposition rules states, progress card of development reforms could be brandished, welfare schemes that benefited masses be highlighted among a plethora of issues, to stake a credible claim to power. But to nation’s dismay, elections have become synonymous with slugfest, appeasement of minorities by spiking up reservation percentages to garner votes, playing up communal card over disputed sites and what have you.

There are host of burning issues that need redressing on priority, like improving literacy rate, reduction in prevalence of malnutrition among children where India stands among the highest in the world, alleviation of poverty etc. Fragile ethics and obsession with power politics has culminated in unprecedented corruption. Big ticket swindling in 2G and Commonwealth games, has mired the decision making process at the bureaucratic level owing to fear of being hauled up for even a miniscule act of omission. This upheaval that India has plunged itself in, has pushed real issues into oblivion. It just doesn’t suffice to be counted among most sought after emerging economies and sustaining growth rate of 7-8% in a period of economic gloom the world over.

Progressive vision that embraces social, economic, law and order issues should encapsulate the agenda of any political outfit which in turn lends to well being and welfare of entire nation rather than a particular section of society. That’s the fundamental purpose of politics from layman’s point of view, though it is a relative thought and might have numerous others connotations in present times. The prerequisite to replicate this definition in practice requires quelling the narrow political considerations, looking beyond fulfilling personal agendas through corrupt practices and cleansing of conscience.

The Indian polity has to do some serious soul searching. Unless it realizes social and moral responsibility and reinvigorates itself with a genuine desire to serve its citizens, the fabric of largest democracy runs the risk of being reduced to tatters in the coming years.

Absolute Surrender Down Under

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:06:00 +0000

The ongoing series against Australia has reiterated that Indian team deserves to be few notches below the Numero Uno rank, they once briefly held. The last defeat being their seventh consecutive loss on foreign shore in last six months is certainly not an aberration rather an affirmation of the above fact. Any side that aspires to dominate the game in five day format has to have a blend of quality batsmen and bowlers who can adapt to different conditions and surfaces quickly, pile on big totals for their bowlers to bundle out opposition twice in a game. This dexterity for a batsmen comes with an exquisite technique to cope with pace, bounce and spin.

While our bench strength has improved, now that we have atleast couple of names who can try and fit in the slot that exit of Indian batting trio (Sachin, Dravid & Laxman) would create, the breeding ground of these successors still remains the docile wickets that hardly test the ingenuity of a player. The standard of domestic cricket stands exposed when youngsters are blooded into our national team and made to slug it out against fiercely competitive opponents who outperform them in all department of the game. Change in domestic structure alone would not suffice unless the turfs on which our budding talent plays are revamped to create a level playing field for both seamers and leather hunters. There ought to be more overseas fixtures with other cricket playing nations especially for India A and under-19 teams to give them exposure in terms of nature of wickets, climatic conditions and chance to guage the difference in quality of international teams.

The present lot, dubbed as the best available, bereft of any fitness issues and touted as having the best chance of drubbing Australians in their backyard, is completely bewildered and rattled by the Aussie quickies. The top order is clueless in negotiating the lateral movement of the cherry as if they seem to have developed glaring deficiency in technique. For some, the deliveries invariably go past the huge gap between their bat and the pads to dislodge the stumps, others love to fiddle with away swingers to be lapped up in the slip cordon and the rest hardly move their feet to reach out to play the ball and literally swing their willow relying on the eye-hand coordination as if it were a golf stick. The likes of Sachin, Dravid and Laxman who are most accomplished of the lot have all been bowled through the gate on most occasions. They certainly need to tighten their technique and lead by example. Agreed that this trio had amassed tons of runs around the world but reflexes and footwork tends to slowdown with age. Perhaps, the time to hang their boots is just around the corner. Its just not the technique to nit-pick but the temperament that has let down the Indian team as well. Willingness to graft patiently and letting go the bait that is pitched outside the off-stump should be a part of Test batsmen’s armoury. Going into test matches without shrugging limited overs approach, is bound to result in wrapping up of a Test within four days.

Proving their mettle on dusty spinning tracks at home as well as on green tops overseas where the ball wobbles in air and after pitching, can only bring about consistency and give an impetus to reaching the top echelon of Test cricket rankings again. The argument that every cricket playing nation plays to their strength and have the prerogative to prepare wickets suitable to their style, is fine. But, invincibility at home only induces a false notion of being the best and dismal performances abroad, crumbles the team morale thereby making them surrender matches meekly rather than looking to reverse the loosing streak. Media commentators too can contribute a bit in taking the burden off the Indian team by being modest in their expectations instead of going ballistic in sensing victory before the series gets underway.

Thus, the choice between remaining complacent in winning home series convincingly but looking forelorn on away tours and being a formidable team irrespective of opponents they are pitted against on any soil, is for BCCI to make. But, the first option shall tantamount to cheating millions of Indian fans who worship the game and depriving them of seeing their heroes reach absolute glory in Test cricket.

A Garland Worth Crores

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Political debates on News channels are about vociferously defending a party’s stand point and taking pot shots at opponents. More often than not, they turn hostile with panelists trying to rebut each other simultaneously thus making the discussion a cacophonous outburst. The anchors being moderators too, have a tough time doing the balancing act in giving an equal participating opportunity to all speakers within restricted time span. Having to contend with influential, high ranking and eminent panel with bloated egos on the show makes it even more delicately poised. Probably, providence has a way of putting these anchors at ease once in a while by turning discussions hilarious. The recent DIG level investigation ordered by Mayawati to probe the alleged conspiracy hatched by congress, of letting loose a swarm of bees to attack her while addressing a BSP rally, was a complete laugh riot.

The subject itself was ludicrous and the guests left no stone unturned in making snide remarks at “Queen Bee”. Imagine the plight of DIG who had earlier investigated some high profile cases, was now being asked to probe the bee attack as if he would swoop down on them and shift the entire hive inside the prison cell. On a serious note, the officer is in a tangle to either frame some scapegoat as part of his investigation to pacify the chief minister or lose his job. That too, the culpability of igniting fire to make bees go berserk should lie with congress as they were most vehement in condemning the ostentatious display of wealth. It cannot get any more bizarre than this.

But there were those who put their astute brains to use in ascertaining the worth of the garland by diligent mathematical calculations. The estimates vacillated from several lakhs to twenty two crores. The television viewers though were spared the agony of having to bear with statisticians computing mean and variance of cash entwined in ten meter long garland. In hindsight, it would not be presumptuous to assume that bees had swapped their loyalty and were clamouring for wreath of currency notes around CM’s neck instead of Honey (Mayawati) itself.

Procrastination : A Remedy For All Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:18:00 +0000

The ruckus over Tharoor’s “Interlocutor” remark has hit headlines again. The minister has irked and embarrassed his party with such relentless regularity that expecting him to remain politically correct is a fallacy. But interestingly all the controversy his statements have raked up is centered around usage of dialect and it has now reached a crescendo when he sought to point out the difference between “Mediator” and “Interlocutor” in his defense. Interpreting his sound bytes and twitter messages has gotten critics to dig deep into intricacies of English language and the media is feeling insulted at the hint that his language is not being understood. So, here’s a minister who seemingly reminds us of his sound literary grounding time and again, having authored several books. This is a contrast of sorts, since majority of Indian politicians are incoherent while articulating their views.

In all fairness, overturning the foreign policy decision, of having no third party intervention in addressing issues concerning Pakistan and dealing with them only in the bilateral realm, is a gross violation. India asking Saudi Arabia to exert their influence on Pakistan to stop cross border terrorism could be termed as going an extra mile in ironing out problems with its neighbour. On the other hand, the slightest overture of involving a third country to intervene and mediate even through inappropriate usage of spoken word can spell trouble. Ironically, foreign policy issues are being deciphered on the basis of semantics. Despite several slip ups and receiving flak from opposition for his comments, congress just decides to bury the hatchet by expressing displeasure over the matter. Isn’t it time to clip the wings of partymen who rake up a controversy at the drop of a hat and show them the door?

The party’s attitude of dragging its feet is just not restricted to Tharoor’s conduct but applies to matters as grave as terrorism emanating from across the border. A case in point would be the wavering stance adopted over JUD’s war cry against India. They decided to go ahead with foreign secretary level talks with Pakistan on the premise that some progress on terror has taken place and no engagement whatsoever would further hinder the peace agenda. When the bugle of jihad blew over the streets of Lahore in the form of a huge rally, the external affairs ministry chose to give it a deaf ear stating that rhetoric by likes of Hafiz Saeed should not be given much importance. But, why is India then insisting on his captivity and holds him as prime conspirator of 26/11 when his speeches are to be brushed aside. Then, leading up to the talks, Pune witnessed a terror strike which was being seen as preceded by specific warning by JUD’s top brass. Subsequent to the German bakery attack, there was again an echo that India should not fall prey to attempts by vested interests aimed at derailing the ensuing dialogue.

As expected, the talks were reduced to mere farce with Pakistani delegation making strong statements and referring to Indian dossiers as piece of literature rather than treating those as proof of their complicity. Both countries addressing press conferences separately resulted in contradictory details emerging with respect to primary focus of discussion. The neighbour claiming Kashmir was touched upon in great detail while the Indian contingent downplayed the same and stressed on having made demands for dismantling terror infrastructure and clamping down on overt acts of perpetrating violence. In the backdrop of events that played out in last year and a half, Congress must have realized the fact that dialogue and diplomacy with Pakistan would not budge them an inch. Yet, congress seems content in pursuing the same approach.

Will the menace of terrorism and troubled ties with Pakistan, ever be handled by congress regime in a manner that befits the neighbour’s shirking and obstinate ways. Perhaps, procrastination has become congress’ forte and recourse to tackling problems instead of being resolute in its stand.

Sena's Tirade Bites Dust

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:23:00 +0000

It takes bollywood stars steadfastness against Sena’s tirade to exercise the constitutional right to freedom of expression in Maratha land. That reeks of surreal democracy, the populace of this country so proudly embraces and more agonizing is ruling regimes frailty in upholding its tenets. Such is the spineless disposition of the state government that it only assures to provide cover against any disruption the Shivsainiks has vowed to unleash instead of nipping the violent steak and instincts of hooliganism in the bud that characterize them. Despite having a lot at stake commercially, Shahrukh has refrained from reaching out to Bal Thackeray or retracting his statement on non-inclusion of players from Pakistan in IPL-3 by tendering an apology. Qudos to his spirit as this precedent has garnered a lot of support in his favour from various quarters. These voices would otherwise have remained stifled, searching for a denizen who could be audacious enough to defy the wrath of lumpen elements, to echo their sentiments.

The leadership of a regional party so easily claiming propriety to an entire state on frivolous grounds of their regional identity and acting like self appointed guardians of Marathi Manoos, needs to be scoffed at. This delusion, when their outfit couldn’t even manage to secure the mandate of its people is even more bizarre and anti-national. Shouldn’t this ideology which is unconstitutional and totally converse to the principles of democracy, automatically expunge them from being part of electoral politics?

A viewpoint that Pakistan cricketers shouldn’t have been isolated from IPL-3 by franchise owners, does not make the person expressing it partisan and construed as owing allegiance to a neighboring country. Though, Shahrukh himself could not eventually include any Pak-player is another question. He elaborated his intent of doing so but the injury to player of his choice could not make it possible and thereby other viable option was exercised. Infact, aftermath of 26/11 has complicated issues and would have had some semblance of influence on the perspective of team owners viz the player’s availability factor, possibility of match disruption at certain venues and eventuality of terror attacks. Nevertheless, all franchises cited their own strategic compulsions in keeping away from Pak-players and made themselves oblivious to political posturing with Pakistan while deciding the team composition.

But why not pick on a political figure who also happens to be Home minister of India. Mr. Chidambaram on national television had articulated his displeasure on this issue and went to the extent of saying that IPL has done disservice to the sport by distancing itself from world class T-20 players. Perhaps, Sena thought him to be beyond their grasp to muscle round with or that their idiosyncrasy would not hold ground and picked on an easy target.. This way, they could prompt a two pronged attack, one on his religious identity and his vocation being the other which meant serious monetary ramifications not just for the actor but many other business associates if screening of his film is disrupted.

In a larger context, it is evident that Shiv Sena having been consecutively routed in three assembly polls is getting marginalized, with MNS further cutting into their vote bank. Bereft of any genuine issue, they are harping on misplaced nationalism and targeting the film and its protagonist, to keep themselves afloat. The fact they are ignorant of is that their bankrupt political agenda and bullying ways is alienating the masses further and would not take the party long to get decimated from the political arena if they do not do away with their blinkers.

The entire Sena-SRK plot has culminated in a manner that movies are usually scripted, with “good overcoming the evil”, but this time around the country would not feel wretched of repetitive story-line like they do for reel action. Rather, this real life magnum opus would be lapped up as a triumph of innate democratic values that ”Badshah” refused to comprise on and went around proudly proclaiming ” My Name is Khan”.

Desolate Sporting Affairs

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:40:00 +0000

India will figure prominently this year on the sporting calendar as it hosts commonwealth games and hockey world cup.. With these prestigious events on the cards, the onus of scrupulous planning and execution brings forth a mammoth challenge. The commonwealth organizing committee is already feeling the heat to put up with deadlines as precursors in the form of squabbles and apprehensions over timely completion of infrastructure have raised serious doubts over its progress.

In retrospect, none can forget the glorious memories etched in our minds of Asian games, the magnitude of which perhaps was colossal way back in 1982. The accolades it garnered for splendor on display, state of art sports complexes, accommodation villages and the exquisite precision in coordinating the event right from inauguration to the closing ceremony was seen as a new chapter in our sporting history. There were some impressive performances from Indian contingent to take pride in that helped amass a decent medal tally too. This spectacle laid foundation for many sporting extravaganzas that were to follow and bestowed us the status of excellent hosts.

Over time, organizing apparatus was expected to run like well oiled machinery and in fact endeavor to surpass the benchmark set earlier. The commonwealth platform being so gigantic, preparations should have been underway with diligence and alacrity. Instead, the build up to the event is marred by controversy and under preparedness. And this concern was expressed by none other than Chief Minister of Delhi. Though, assurances from Mr. Kalamadi allay those fears, any lapse would severely dent the country’s reputation and have far reaching implications as far as bidding for future events is concerned.

Apart from the project execution glitches, there is hardly any consolation from Indian sporting arena itself. With world cup round the corner, Men’s Hockey team was at loggerheads with its governing body over non-payment of dues and threatened to boycott the tournament. The federation claiming to be bereft of money was imposing upon players to choose between playing for national pride and money. The impasse finally got resolved with sponsors doling out funds and IHF promising to fulfill their demands before the start of world cup. At last someone, realized that governing body is inconsequential in their scheme of things but Hockey as our national sport cannot be snubbed.

It is not as if other disciplines are unscathed by controversy. The tussle between administrators and sportsmen continues to brew. The rifle association has gone ahead and selected teams for two successive world cups which excludes the Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra citing the pretext of his absence from team selection trials. The bone of contention here was the international scores that were not being considered to qualify his inclusion in Indian squad. Eventually, only when feelers of Bindra mulling to quit the game surfaced that association agreed to take international scores into account as eligibility criteria but not before squandering the prospect of a medal in impending events.

These developments are a pointer to complete insensitivity towards players by sports administrators who are from political or bureaucratic arena and govern the game without any understanding of it. The view to alienate politics from sport and having professional managers at the helm too has its pitfalls. Barring Cricket and Tennis, most other disciplines practically have no visibility, making sponsorship deals hard to come by. With restricted budget allocations, promoting other sports to the fore is extremely difficult. Here political clout comes in handy to pull a few strings and bring in sponsors, which a professional might not be able to wield.

Expecting sport to thrive in penury, exhorting players to just subsist on national pride, interference in technical aspects of training (in Bindra’s case) by incompetent people at helm of affairs and holding back rewards has crippled the sporting culture of our nation. Come what may, restoring equilibrium in sports management is critical, else the rot shall never stem and might have a spill over effect.

Media Assumes New Role

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:52:00 +0000

Last few weeks of electronic media coverage seemed more like a fixation for delivering justice on the tube rather than balanced coverage of news from across the world. All media houses were continuously beaming the Ruchika case with old file reports showing the villain of molestation episode Mr. Rathore walking out of court with a wry smile on his face.

Strangely there is a predictable pattern to news bulletins and despite having a bouquet of channels to choose from, the viewer is left exasperated with same story being aired on all of them. There is immaculate precision, rather seamless coordination not only in sequencing of news content but also in recess timing for commercials among broadcast stations. Does Out-dated visuals and repetitive information make a story compelling? Comprehensive reporting on wide array of issues, national and international should form the core of disseminating information. That would at least evoke some interest among masses and keep them away from being stifled by stale banter.

Certainly, cases of this nature need to be brought to light and followed up to ensure that people wielding clout do not go scot-free after flouting the law. Indeed, it was a news channel (Times Now) that took up the cudgels in the exemplary Jessica Lal case that was languishing with no imminent progress, and garnered incredible public support to seal the fate of Manu Sharma. As a responsible media vehicle, its contribution in this case was laudable.

But, the media crusade against exploitation of any sort has gained such heightened momentum off-late that citizenry would after a point give up faith in judiciary of the land to believe, their case can attain expeditious resolution once it is on media radar. The premise of such perception stems from the inordinate delay in court cases reaching fruition and even after legal battles culminate, the pronounced Verdict is either not commensurate with the crime or there is always an option to appeal in higher courts to buy time.

Before this belief gets ingrained firmly, a serious revamp of judicial machinery with focus on fast tracking legal cases, setting up additional courts, appointing requisite number of prosecutors, judges to clear backlog cases etc should be thought out. Other facet in imparting justice is the role discharged by Law enforcement agencies which ought to be morally upright and incorruptible to not stoop under the pressures of bureaucracy. Probably, only then the media glare would shift to more significant issues.

Media and judiciary are two different disciplines with completely diverse functionality and prerogatives. It is not as if one establishment can take on the mantle of responsibility for other in case of an existing lacuna in either of them. Blurring of lines or infringement on jurisdiction of judiciary by media is an unnecessary digression. It serves them better to steer clear of criminal investigations and remain committed to bringing across more invigorating, socially relevant issues to the fore which would fetch more TRP’s.

Before this post is published on my blog, another molestation case (Churchill Brothers case) is making headlines in media as though they have assumed sole responsibility to espouse the righteous cause of fighting sexual crimes in the country. Getting justice delivered to victim and crucifying perpetrator through media trial was well received in the past. But, an attempt too many in this direction would tantamount to going overboard and is already causing fatigue among viewers of news channels.

PAAAA……………….

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:16:00 +0000

With a lot of expectation, we set out to watch the late night show on the first day of its release. My little one was so keen on tagging along with us that her excitement knew no bounds as if she would grasp the film from beginning till end. Well, the reel rolls with casting credits being read out by Mrs. Bachchan. It looked quite an innovative idea to me and probably coz A B Corp was co-producing it, they thought she is a lucky mascot. Nevertheless, she looked as charming as ever.

The movie kicks off with a contest organized by a school where a young politician Arte (played by Abhishek Bachchan) is invited as a judge and guest of honor to felicitate the winner. He gets inspired by Auro’s work and amidst loud cheers enters Auro, a frail, tall, prematurely grown up, old looking boy afflicted with progeria, a rare genetic disorder.

Auro is a child born out of wedlock to Arte and the female protagonist (Vidya Balan) when they come togther while studying overseas. Their romance is portrayed through a catchy song “Udi Udi mein” but they soon drift apart when Arte suggests to abort the child as he intends to follow in his father’s footsteps to become a politician. Vidya decides to move away without being an obstacle in his career aspirations.

The televised award ceremony leads to a series of events that develops a close bond between Auro and Arte. Vidya’s dilemma of revealing his sons relationship with Arte and subsequently on getting to know that Auro is his own blood, how the politician despite being a public figure embraces him, forms the crux of the movie.

The look of Auro is awe inspiring and makes you marvel at the transformation of BigB into Auro’s character. Its just not the prosthetic artistry that lends credence to the character but oodles of talent that makes the portrayal of Auro so authentic and incredible. Child like nuances and especially Auro’s signature jig are so deftly done that audience can completely associate with the character alone and the legend of an actor playing the part could be easily forgotten.

Music by Illyaraja is refreshing and some funny lines interspersed in between makes for lighter moments in the film. There is some deliberate media bashing that drags the movie a bit and could have been avoided. It looked as if the makers had a personal axe to grind with the media and thus incorporated those parts in the script. Otherwise, the flick is an absorbing, fairly well scripted and emotional tale.

Verdict : Should be seen at least once for Auro’s magic, refreshing look of Abhishek, superb performance of Vidya and emotional quotient of the film.

India : Murky time ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:30:00 +0000

The gruesome 26/11 attack on India has left it grappling with reinforcing internal security apparatus, expediting the trial of lone surviving terrorist, attempts to bring to justice the masterminds of this conspiracy and more importantly convince Pakistan to accept proof of its complicity in cross-border terrorism through a series of dossiers. In the wake of a year gone by, there is some semblance of progress made in maritime security by inking contracts for procurement of surface vessels, Dornier aircraft and interceptor boats. Establishment of a radar chain, NSG hubs, construction of coastal police stations, check posts and barracks are still in the offing. For those who think all this should have been accomplished by now are being overzealous considering India’s 7,515-km long coastline.

Aftermath of terror atleast triggered the thought of plugging porous coastal borders to make them watertight. Though, there shall always be a lurking fear till these measures see the light of day as envisaged. Mere installation of technology too is futile unless trained personnel monitor the enemy movements and thwart their evil designs. Many crowded markets that were targeted earlier, now have unmanned metal detectors and CCTV’s strewn all over the place with nobody to monitor footage. Indians get jolted often but complacency and lack of resolve to even comply with systems in place are our hallmark., In all fairness, there is a long stretch to traverse before Indians feel protected.

On a macro level, web of contentious issues have compounded further. As if dealing with Pakistan wasn’t enough, China has been audaciously tugging at India’s territory and marking “China” on boulders with red paint. Incursions, violation of air space, threatening of shepherds perhaps could be played down as minor irritants since such incidents have been a feature for long. But China wanting more on their plate by staking a claim on Arunachal Pradesh is a bit too audacious. India did respond with a strong build up of troops only to be warned by China if it can afford a confrontation.

India’s recourse of bringing about pressure on Pakistan through diplomatic channels has already proved to be damp squib. Despite being blacklisted by International community, terror outfits still operate under disguise, charge sheeted 26/11 conspirator secures easy passage for lack of nailing evidence and US aid to fight terror continues to be misused. Pakistan seems to revel in obstinacy at the expense of its own peril.

The anguish of constant rebuttals from every quarter is strengthening the perception that India is getting marginalized in the corridors of power in South Asian block. This was exemplified by US president Obama’s statement asking China to monitor the India-Pakistan stability in the region, during his recent visit.

Boosting defense capability is vital for India but the modernization plans are often stuck under red-tape and inordinate delays. Catching up with China’s military might is a tall ask and though India is touted as an emerging economic power, it still is few notches behind China. Though the scale is tipped in China’s favour, bullying by no means should be tolerated. The least India could do is shun silence and be a little terse in response when confronted with territorial encroachment.

Handling Pakistan is an arduous task. Knee jerk reactions like bombarding terror training camps which is easier said than done or engaging in full-fledged war is no solution. Instead, imposing economic sanctions or abrogation of Indus water treaty could be considered as an instrument of diplomacy against Pakistan so that they feel the squeeze. Else, the only plausible option is to make our territory an impregnable fortress so that it deters terror groups from making Indians an easy target and sense of calm could prevail.

If India were to make any headway in dealing with conflicting bilateral issues, it should exert itself as a formidable power and speak from a position of strength rather than adopting a soft approach.

Tharoor : The Diplomat

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Every medium is engaged in shrieking “Cattle-Class and Holy Cows” debate, though it all started with a tweet, the word which in itself sounds so lilting and melodious. Wasn’t the fall out of twitter comment by Tharoor a bit too harsh on the Ex-Diplomat. I think, each reprimand by congress he is subjected to, is a rude awakening for him in conservative Indian polity that is devoid of humour and dwells on incisive analysis of a twitter message meant to be taken in jest.

First, it was the lifestyle soaked in luxury followed by misinterpretation of “Cattle-Class” that never was attributed to People at large but pointed towards the way passengers are huddled in Economy Class. Without discerning the reference and intent of the remark, quibbling partymen jumped the gun demanding an apology. Some even suggesting that he should resign. Queer as it may sound, this was bound to happen as nit-picking is the only means of conducting business for bunch of haggards, who cannot accept a refreshing change of guard in their league.

Even before Tharoor got elected, there was talk of his distinct profile having served in the UN and skepticism over his style of functioning rather being able to blend with the Indian political culture. Rattled he certainly would have got prior to finding his footsteps in quagmire of criticism by his own ilk. This incident certainly points at the glaring gap in sensitivities of a highly educated, suave diplomat, who earlier has seen the highest echelons of power and run of the mill, fault finding Indian Netas. The paradox is Congress clings to its stance of taking action at appropriate time, when Prime Minister dismissed his remark as a joke. Perhaps, Manmohan Singh understands how demoralizing it would be to let go a relatively young, bright intellectual making a foray into politics and trying to make a difference.

Agreed that he is in public domain where scrutiny is a reality and should refrain from touching upon sensitive cords though unintended. But all the same, gauging the mood among the spectrum of political class he tendered an apology, demonstrating that he isn’t a rebellious, stubborn and westernized politician trying to poke fun at his countrymen. Also quickly moving out of the five -star accommodation and clarifying that he was footing the bill not from the government coffers but his hard earned money, is an affirmation to tow his party’s line of austerity.

Setting an example by living an austere life without frills and fancies is a very subjective issue. Certainly, the enthusiasm on display by holy cows taking to travel by trains and economy class is highly risk prone and in the same breath extremely inconveniencing to common people given the gun totting entourage that accompanies them as security shield. Putting life in jeopardy for the sake of austerity is very imprudent.

Moreover, cutting down on travelling expenses which amounts to a miniscule percentage of the total government spend, hardly makes an impact. It’s believed 80% of allocated government expenditure is lost in transit by the time it percolates down to actual masses. If by some mechanism, this drifting of huge chunk into corrupt hands can be checked and made to reach the true beneficiaries, calamities like drought, floods, earthquake etc can be tackled without the garb of austerity.

This would have a ripple effect in terms of addressing the endemic of corruption, elevating the socio-economic status of rural masses through various government funded schemes with entire allocated funds at disposal and sparing ripping apart of political class even if it entails tweeting messages in lighter vein.

Mr. Tharoor, you have brought in a refreshing trend of leaving your trail and being accessible to common man through Twitter. I only wish you continue the political journey and become a change agent in external affairs of this country too.

Waning Enchantment

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:16:00 +0000

Going back in time, on would recall that the early eighties saw a deluge of expatriates immigrating to Dubai from the sub-continent in a bid to explore greener pastures. With an oil rich economy and booming trade, the earning potential this place offered, lured many a middle class back home to venture out for a tryst with fate in the hope that accumulation of sizable wealth could help alleviate the social status and present an opportunity to enjoy the luxuries in life. Since then, the gulf between these regions has been so closely abridged that Indians along with citizens of neighbouring Asian countries have outnumbered the population of local residents by almost two times. The era of gradual economic upsurge witnessed a frantic need to deploy skilled manpower to meet the growing demands of expansion and modernization programmes thus opening the flood gates for expatriate community to gain a foothold here. Capitalizing on the situation, the expatriates steadily grew from the lowest rungs, casting their shadow in all spheres of activity, to occupy prestigious positions at the highest level. Each immigrant, with a definite objective to accomplish, made progress comfortably during this phase of development in Dubai which eventually became a haven for the middle class.

Ten years down the line, this Emirate was being hailed as the hub of International business. Alongside the emerging identity came the problem of restricting the entry of burgeoning number of foreigners who made a beeline for the metropolis. The bright scenario that many had envisaged was slowly undergoing transformation. Jobs were difficult to come by and even if one succeeded in securing them, it would not have come about without a substantial clout. Most succumbed to the fear of returning empty handed and accepted whatever came their way regardless of meager compensation packages they were offered. Unprofessional approach of employers, irregular salaries & extra working hours were some of the problems they had to contend with. Lurking fear of retrenchment had them bowing to the whims and fancies of their sponsors.

Professional problems apart, the frequently changing govt. regulations kept the expatriates on the toes and could disrupt their smooth sailing at once. This was evidenced in the drive to curtail issues of family visas and stringent formalities imposed for its renewal. To ensure effective implementation of this measure, high salary structure was made a yardstick and one had to fall in the salary bracket of Dhs 6000 to enjoy the privilege of living with family. There were increasing instances of visa renewal applications of resident expatriate families being rejected, which meant a disruption in their established pattern of life. The scuffling of schools, hassle of seeking admissions etc jeopardized the education of children thus proving to be a harrowing experience for parents. Obviously, rigours of displacement from one setup to another, adjusting to the new environs and the prospect of maintaining a long distance relationship with the family becomes difficult to savour. The graph of up-swinging inflationary trend which reflected in exorbitant rents, added to the woes of expatriates. Substantial savings were a thing of the past. Making both ends meet for a single earning member with a family in tow was all the more difficult, compelling them to send their family back home.

Disillusionment began to creep in the psyche of masses who contemplated returning to their roots for subsistence. The factor that really instilled confidence in them to avert the present turmoil was the changing face of Indian economy. An attempt to liberalize economy by the congress regime heralded the entry of giant MNC’s who launched operation on a large scale thus creating a lot of job slots. Though liberalization policy was intended to provide a major thrust to economy and swell foreign reserves, it was welcomed by the masses with a feeling of apprehension. The industrial houses in India anticipated tough competition from International brands and were skeptical about losing sizeable market share they enjoyed. Huge budget allocations for research and development, product promotion through advertising, excellent customer service were thought of as ploys to maintain a niche and be viable in market which had turned totally consumer oriented. Services of professionally qualified people were being sought no matter how astronomical their salary demands were. Abundant scope for career progression was certainly influencing the Indian expatriates to pack their bags for good.

But the risk of chucking up secure jobs and starting from the scratch would play havoc with their nerves and hold them back from taking a plunge. It should be realized that the nagging questions of having access to good livelihood, family life, respectable social status and comfortable lifestyle back home could be answered upon embarking on the journey. Though, a piece of encouragement can be had by recollecting an old adage “Fortune favours the brave”.

Shallow Perceptions

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:23:00 +0000

Recently while watching a beauty pageant, a colleague of mine in all seriousness remarked, “what a disgrace such contests are on women kind”. My curiosity to probe his, mind prompted me to oppose his view point as I always had a strong conviction about the very concept of these contests that is rightly captioned “Beauty with Brains”. The idea of skimpily clad contestants walking on the ramp in presence of the male audience was the target of his scathing attack. Knowing his religious bent of mind and staunch beliefs I saw no point in putting across my views and quietly backed out of the conversation. He went on to add that posing a few customary questions is neither a genuine yardstick to gauge intelligence nor being crowned qualifies the nominees as epitomes of beauty.

The gentleman’s remark did not come as a surprise to me. Of late, this issue has attracted a lot of media hype and was subject to severe criticism by many women’s organizations. These self proclaimed guardians of women’s dignity even took to the streets in protests, demanding that the event be banned. If people at the helm who deem themselves fit to protect the interest of women, can harbour wrong notions and misinterpret the motive behind the spectacle, then who would make a commoner understand?

It would not be fair to shun the perspective of these lobbyists as a sham. The crux of the problem lies in one’s perception. Thrusting individual opinion is no means to drive a point across, though a rational discussion may influence the thought process to see reason.

The most discerning feature is that our thoughts always border on the evil side and these negative images take precedence over the positive connotations. My colleague who took objection to women flaunting themselves in swimsuits is a case in point. On would applaud the guts of individuals who admit this fact rather than resorting to hypocrisy. But, such exemplary conscience is hard to come by, partly due to the pressure of conforming to the dual societal norms on morality. In fact, the coterie that projects a genuine concern for exploitation of women, enjoy leering at the fairer sex as objects of desire.

How easy it is to draw a line for demarcating permissible moral code of conduct from the illegitimate and label things as taboo when it comes to the family. Ask any respectable father of middle class lineage if he would allow his daughter to be a part of beauty pageants. Their answer will only be in the negative, but they would spare no occasion to turn around and ogle at others with disrespect. Those who cannot regard others with equal reverence and refrain from such voyeurism themselves, have no right to raise hue and cry over feminist causes and disguise their true self with pretence of piety. Only a serious resolve to mend their biased demeanor could add weight to their argument, else their justifications would turn out to be damp squib.

There are many teasers that keep cropping in our minds which remain unanswered and ultimately end up as misgivings. For instance, some tend to liken the participants with other women who they feel are at par or superior both in terms of intelligence and physical beauty but cannot afford to reach this platform to upstage others. This may be true but any sane entity would not toy with the idea of congregating all female species under one roof to vie for the crown. Others, who would shudder at the thought of facing an interactive session are critical about this exercise and mix it up with evaluation of one’s intellect without realizing that this is just a measure of spontaneity. Moreover it is just not the facial charm, the vital statistics or intelligence quotient that is singly put to test. Rather it is a blend of these determinants that forms the criteria of selection and an embodiment of these aspects truly represents a complete personality.

How different the scenario would be if we focus on the contributions made by the winners, right from working on numerous social causes by raising funds and garnering support of the masses to rally behind these issues, representing their countries as ambassadors to being role models of millions of aspiring people. It’s high time we start making efforts to broaden our vision and take a peek at things in proper light.

Boredom Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 08:46:00 +0000

I wonder why “Boredom Syndrome” is so rampant among the single expatriate population out here in U.A.E., the clue to which still eludes my reasoning capabilities. I can testify that this state of mind is not synonymous with me alone but many of my acquaintances or in fact many a stranger would rally behind me to support this view.

Despite living life in the fast lane where the day-to-day routine of hectic activity at work place, the race to get ahead of times and strive to make the most out of available opportunities always keeps one on the move, deep within a vacuum still persists resulting in dreariness. It seems a paradox that people crave for some means of entertainment to pep up and enliven themselves even after a grueling day of hard work rather than crashing down to catch up on their sleep.

Many would dismiss the boredom phenomenon as a cliché that has caught the world by storm and call it a farce. They are not to blame as only stepping into the shoes of distressed souls and actually undergoing the travails would make them realize this fact. I would personally attribute monotony as the root cause for allowing boredom to creep into our psyche.

How long can one endure the routine of jumping out of bed at the crack of dawn, heading straight for a quick shower and getting dressed up to look prim and rushing to make it on time to work. People who are unaware of this lifestyle would be nonplused to know that the planning to this sequel begins a day in advance soon after returning from office. Having cramped all the chores within a span of few minutes, more anxious moments await you. Setting out on the streets, all your conscious efforts to stick to the timing goes haywire owing to traffic jams stretching an few kilometers. Hoping to take a breather on arrival at the office, a pile of papers and stack of files greet you and constant reminders to meet the deadlines from the seniors play havoc with your nerves. Seeing the day through, the loners in the hope of finding solace in the cozy surroundings of their confines return to their abodes only to be confronted with stark reality of mute walls giving a hard stare, as though seeking an explanation for their very purpose of existence.

What else can you do to get away from the shackles of boredom and rejuvenate yourself for facing the same plight day after day except indulge in watching television. With not very many alternatives to chose from and an almost non-existent social life, the search for an ambience that exudes warmth and obviates the feeling of root-less-ness continues unabated.

The day everyone cherishes and looks forward to is Friday, the last day of the week. This is when all and sundry have some engagements lined up for themselves, preferring to be left on their own. Moreover, one comes across a distinct pattern of socializing among different groups. Families tend to mingle with their own ilk which is a subtle indication that bachelors are not welcome. In a place like Dubai, which is a conglomeration of diverse cultures, glimpses of a group of people from different origins hobnobbing is a rare sight. The restricted movement of masses within known circles leaves the single fraternity in a lurch, who often are seen taking a stroll in crowded parks or thronging the cinema houses.

Fortunate are those who have friends, acquaintances and relatives whom they can relate to. A feeling of belongingness, a support system to fall back upon during difficult times is of great essence to overcome the pangs of isolation from our kith and kin. For those bereft of this luxury, keeping one-self engrossed in constructive activities and wholesome entertainment is the only consolation.

Saurav : An Emphatic Comeback

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:54:00 +0000

It’s been a while since I wielded pen to scribble anything. I would wonder often, whether I could bring back the old flair for words and then ponder again as to what shall be the subject, I can easily piece together my thoughts about. And finally, I made up my mind that it has to be Indian Cricket with a special mention on how determination catapulted the fledgling career of the most successful ex-captain of team India. Well, you guessed it right. I am referring to none other than Saurav Ganguly.

I have never been an ardent fan of Saurav myself, though he amassed thousand of runs in one day format of the game and has a decent average in tests too. Somewhere there always seemed to be a flaw in his technique when it came to handling the short pitched stuff and his lackadaisical fielding always overshadowed his superlative offside strokes which very few in the game could match. This is not to take away the positive attributes ingrained in him. Leadership skills is on such area where he actually left a mark and was instrumental in making India get back to winning ways on overseas tours by backing youth and discovering quite a few talented cricketers.

But, the unfortunate slump in form for extended period and ongoing skirmishes with Greg Chappel on Zimbabwe tour, blew open the Pandora’s box and gave clues to what actually was ailing Sourav’s form. From there, began his excruciating journey. One side had, media hounding him with awkward questions and cricket experts pronouncing the end of his tryst with International cricket and on the other were his staunch supporters from Bengal taking to the streets, protesting against the injustice meted out by BCCI. Chappel and Kiran More (then Chairman of Selectors) were looked upon as the men responsible for keeping the Bengal Tiger at bay. From captaining the side, to being labeled as a disintegrating force in the team, he was finally relegated to playing domestic cricket and made to prove his mettle with the bat again.

It would have been easier to hang up his boots and call it quits rather than facing the brewing storm of criticism and lamenting public. Instead, he left no stone unturned in proving to the cynics that he is made of steel. Remaining unruffled and maintaining composure in such trying circumstance is a huge task. I just wonder how nerve racking it would have been each time he stepped on the ground to bat whilst he knew each failure would push him further into oblivion. Imagine the kind of ego pounding and embarrassment he had to sustain to be playing alongside second rung cricketers who once looked upon him with awe.

Any faint hearted person would have crumbled under the scathing attack from all quarters but true to his bestowed title, Saurav maintained the rhetoric in his interviews that he still had few years of cricket left in him and fought the lonely battle to stage a comeback like a tiger. Come to imagine his plight of being marooned by his own Indian team mates who never were forthcoming in patting his back because there was a lurking fear of being castigated for belonging to Saurav’s camp. Nevertheless, his resolute nature and belief in his capabilities saw him gaining in confidence with each domestic game he played which contributed significantly to Bengal’s team cause.

Of course, the change in regime of selection panel and induction of Colonel Vengsarkar as Chairman brought about a fresh leash of hope for Saurav who by then had a string of strong performances to show. And, how could all the hard work go in vein. The results fructified in the form of a berth in Team India test squad. This came at a time when India had a sound drubbing against South Africa in ODI’s and needed an experienced player who could provide solidity in batting line up. Not only was it a golden opportunity to cement his place in the team but also to get back at all the critics who wrote him off.

And, what a comeback it was. There was determination writ large on his face and one could see a totally changed persona of this cricketer. Showing remarkable patience while at the crease, willing to grind it out for the team cause and shouldering immense responsibility was his hallmark. He not only justified his place in the team but also silenced his detractors thus bringing to the fore his commitment towards the game and accurate judgement of his where-withal.

Since then, he hasn’t looked back. With brilliant knocks under his belt both against Srilanka and West Indies, he now looks all set to make an indelible mark on the world cup stage. Whether it was the jolt of being dropped from the team or having to prove a point that did the trick is difficult to say. But in all earnestness, emerging victorious against all adversity is no mean feat and I am sure Saurav’s stature as a cricketer must have gone quite a few notches higher in the eyes of India fans.

Mediocrity

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:00:00 +0000

What does mediocrity attain?
This question in my mind, often reigns
I guess, a lackluster life and looks of disdain
Is all it accrues, rather than prosperity and gain

Though, we all of contentment feign
A desire to overcome its halo, still remains
But the tides render our efforts in vain
To abandon us on the shore, time and again

Do I construe this trait, God ordained?
An answer, my logic has never ascertained
Probably, choice is either to make attempts sustained
Or rue over the goals unattained

Few can escape the shadow, it casts
Always remain wary of being typecast
The attribute seeps into the psyche too fast
And its impact does long last

Now that signs of mediocrity, I can truly interpret
I vow not to fume and fret
Rather work towards alleviating my regret
To realize how better my life can get

Mystic of God

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:00:00 +0000

Strange are the ways of God
Unravelling his mystic is a term broad
It's he who snatches and accords
And rightly so is referred to as Lord

Obeisance to him, I started to pay
Very religiously, five times a day
Submitting before his exalted stature after much delay
At peace I feel on being guided to his doorway

Being the anchor of human existence
To me, every decision of his makes sense
His hidden rationale is profound and immense
Behind each inflicted pain lies some benevolence

Fresh leash of life he will grant again
My quest shall not be in vain
Never would I doubt his justice domain
Dogged belief in him shall ever remain

To persevere and follow his guided path
Is the only way to escape the worldly wrath
Lest, dejections shall always cross your path
So be prepared to face the aftermath

A Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:00:00 +0000

My patience wears off, in hope of striking it big everyday
What am I being tested for, oh God! Let me have your say
Guided by my instincts, I flew down to Canada to stay
Still a stable life, a good job and family union seems far away

Sinful creature I am, little importance on worship I lay
These trying moments could be to impart a lesson, in a way
Though reverence and homage, in my own way, I do pay
Maybe you want me to bow before you and pray

I am endowed with commitments, do enable me to fulfil them
Let not from my joblessness, disgruntlement stem
Keep my morale and esteem high, to overcome the present mayhem
Else I shall lose my pride that is perched on the hem

You're known to be merciful, do forgive this lout
Reform, I certainly shall bring about
Repentance and guilt engulfs me inside out
Put my life back on rails and I shall become truly devout

You only can rewrite my career's preamble
Be my saviour and let it not scramble
Don't betray my trust, else my life would be in shambles
This time around, I am bereft of all gambles.

America at War

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:34:00 +0000

Giving a damn to the world opinion
To exhibit unwarranted dominion
America prevailed without being emotive
Committing a crass act, for a subtle ulterior motive

Weren't inspections, resolutions just to mock
When the real intent was to "Awe and shock"
Subjugating a devastated land with indomitable might
If that is audacity, then what is proxy fight?

Hoping to extend supremacy by securing oil fields
Oblivious of hatred, their actions will Yield
Blazing guns, ground razing bombs
Would accomplish their mission with aplomb

But, what of suffering inflicted on humanity?
Will it ever be ashamed of bullying and insanity
Not for long, the rest can tow their line
This is the beginning of America's decline

Ghastly bloodshed in the name of pre-emptive strikes
Cruise missiles crisscrossing once silent skies
Sane can only oppose Bush's way of professing peace
And pray for the second Gulf war to cease

A Journey Of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Alec) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:34:00 +0000

More I probe the essence of life
Increasingly I get bewildered and entwined
To me it seems, a journey full of stress and strife
With many responsibilities and tasks alligned

The toil begins with academic excellence in youth
Where burning the midnight oil is the norm
Parents egg their children on, like sleuths
Hoping they would outclass others and brilliantly perform

Seeking a respectable social status
Men go through the rigour and grind
In making a quick buck lies their impetus
Though, at the cost of relinquishing peace of mind

Wedded bliss makes the family circle complete
And obligations breath down their neck
Mounting expenses make the reserves deplete
Leaving their finances in total wreck

Tired of discharging duties to the utmost best
Their life cycle ceases, sans any pleasure
With no accomplishments to boast, they are laid to rest
For grave is where they find peace in good measure.