When hunger strikes!

India, yes the land of miracles! My India! It is full of drama, struggle and hunger. Hunger to get! Hunger to achieve! Back in the days of freedom fighting, Bhagat Singh went on a strike, demanding good food and basic things in the Lahore jail. He and the revolutionaries fasted for more than 2 months to achieve what they wanted. And eventually, they got it.


But we are no longer in the era of British rule. We have been divided. We now have people in our own country, who probably are not physically cruel towards us like the British. But morally are.

Indian politics has always been my thing. I remember discussing with my ‘revolutionary’ theatre gang about how keen we are to step into it and make this world a cleaner place! I have promised myself, if ever I become a politician, I will be a pure, non-corrupt person who is on that chair to make the area around a better place.

But on second thought, do I really need to be on that chair to make my world cleaner? I read somewhere ‘anti-corruption begins at home’. Corruption is nothing but dishonesty towards ethics, morals and self. If you live in a place like India, to fight against corruption becomes all the more difficult! To fight against corruption here means, fight against your want of getting a work done or at least get it done any sooner.

“Rishwat lena hi nai, rishwat dena bhi corruption hai”

Anna Hazare, 2011. A 72 year old man who is sitting at Jantar Mantar today to tell the Government that its silence is not acceptable anymore, that corruption is not acceptable anymore. And yes, he is on a ‘fast-unto-death’ strike or ‘Satyagrah’ as Gandhi-wadis may call it. Firstly, I salute his courage to afford a protest like this at such an old age, only for his fellow Indians. And to people of my India, I’m glad that such a great gesture and support has been shown by them too.

India has over 6, 00,000 villages, more than a million towns and countless districts. Can you imagine the number of government offices and staff in these places? Can you imagine the amount of corruption? I bet you can’t!

Okay, forget the rural. A very simple example. Ask yourself, if tomorrow you are coming back from a party, late in the night and are stopped by a local ‘thulla’ who can give you a ticket with the powers vested in him, will you accept the ticket for drunk driving? In fact, will you even be ready to take the alcohol test? It is obviously easy to give him 100 bucks and get rid of it! That is corruption.

Anna Hazare’s act of courage is well appreciated. But picture this: you go to Jantar Mantar, scream at the top of your voice ‘ek-do-teen-chaar, band karo yeh atyachaar!’ The protest becomes a hit! After one week (or less), everything said and done, will this make ANY difference to the lives of those countless people who have to give ‘chai-paani’ to every government official they come across in those villages and towns? Will you stop giving those ‘100 ki patti’ to the cops that come your way?

No, I am not trying to be a pessimist. I am not saying that this won’t help at all! The ‘corrupt’ might get blacklisted and fired. Society boycott, bad mouth, bitching, awareness, beware-ness and more. But it is going to be restricted at the level of Central government or maybe some main offices that are branched in Delhi or big cites. I believe corruption is stronger and in power at a much lower level of the hierarchy. The level that you and I deal with, everyday. Will this morally shake those officers from within? Can we guarantee that ‘we will get rid of corruption’?

I hope it was that simple. I hope that any act, of any kind could bring immediate development to the heart and brains of this country. Anti- corruption does begin at home.

And this does not make me any less patriotic. I am still proud to be an Indian.“100 mein se 90 bayimaan, fir bhi mera Bharat mahaan!”  

P.S. - Of course, I support Anna Hazare.

Not just another Saturday Night.

As far as I remember, I have been going to Bangla Sahib Gurudwara every Saturday night, since forever. Me and my family spend a good amount of time there. We pray, eat a lot of kadha prashad, enjoy the langar some days and have a peaceful time. I always notice people who I see there every Saturday; I think that’s pretty natural. Last week, mom and I decided to have langar for dinner; we love the dal!

So I sat on the floor and looked around. Saw the person sitting right next to me; "I know him!" Since I was a kid, I had seen him standing outside the gurudwara. He used to stand with his palm open and with a stick on the other hand and was in a pretty dirty condition always. Sadly, he was blind. My dad, before we leave the place, would always give him some money. I had seen that man grow old, literally. Somewhere in my heart, I or in fact everybody, I am sure, feels helpless when see such people. I used to wonder if he could actually manage himself some food. But today, I was sitting right next to him. We were both eating the same menu. We both had our plates being washed at the same basin, with same water. We both had our rotis coming from the same chakki. Whenever the sevak filled his plate with dal or salad or vegetables, they would ask him to touch and check. I guess he was their (sevaks) favourite kid. They talked to him and say ‘le, hor le yaar!’ (Take some more) and he would smile. His plate was full, but like a very good boy, he finished it all.

I guess this is why they call it ‘community langar’, not because the community people have it, but because people and I mean ‘all the people’, sit together and make a community. A community from which people step out with stomachs full and hearts pleased.

He stood up and was about to step on his own plate. I pulled the empty plate and kept it with mine. A sevak came running from another end of the hall and took him outside, to the place where I usually see him standing. I saw him walk away and the thought of all of it made me smile and have Goosebumps!  

All so twisted, Yet so simple.

“It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear. Cause it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year but I’ll be there for you!”

I heard through the phone. My friend was watching ‘FRIENDS’ on television. Just for fun, I asked him to tell me which ‘FRIEND’ he thinks I am. I had taken these quizzes on facebook and of course I know myself too well too. I always knew I was Pheobe. She’s got her own creed. Her principles and friends meant the most to her. She loved animals and cherished family values. Like her, I totally love singing. And of course, I’m a happy person!

I waited for him to say that too. But he got confused. He thought I was a mix of Rachel and Pheobs. My voice raised and said ‘Pheobe!’ He thought for a while and agreed. He just said a very small thing and it got me thinking. “Like her, its as easy for you to bend your words as per your convenience. Remember you told me you wont drink at the party. And in 3 hours you were probably sloshed? Just like Pheobe, who never wanted to wear fur!”

I guess it was a very small example. And to think of it, I do have more examples to give. Like, when Ginie died, I told myself, my parents, that I will not get a new dog now. I don’t think I can give the same love to any other pet now. But, a month after that, I was sitting with a dog on my lap in front of my dad, trying to convince him to keep the pet. (I totally love them!)

I told my friend “I am not going to date ANYBODY now!” twice, after every break up. Umm.. But I did! (Hopeful, every time!)

I hated this guy for over six months. I told myself, my friends, “There is no way I’m getting in touch with him again, EVER!” Today, we chat online, call often and meet sometimes. (Things are smooth.)

There was a time I used to see people doing nothing in life. I used to ask myself “why is he not working? Why can’t she study further? Why are they sitting at home the whole day?” And it’s been seven months that I am home, trying to figure out things, future, life!

(Taking a break!)

They say life is all about making choices. But is it really in our hands? I mean, often we make a choice thinking we will stick to it. But, destiny has probably already planned every step for us. Every move that we plan, might take us through a route that will lead us to where fate wants us to be. And so I would ask all my friends to take things light, don’t be harsh while making a decision, and understand that every word I say is not engraved! (Wink)

“I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be.” -Douglas Adams.