Independence Day

One of the biggest grouse this year is the loss of a public holiday as our "beloved" Independence day falls on a Sunday.I think its necessary for us to really reconsider this holiday of ours. It has become so customary what a public holiday would be like. Most people are glued to their idiot boxes, with special programs in every channel which use these occasions to garner high viewership to promote themselves. These holidays came into effect to make people understand what these occasions really meant. But none seem to understand its value. Independence day and Republic days have become so stereotypical. Be it the opposition bashing speeches after flag hoisting or the programs aired on TV with just a half hour slot for some patriotic songs to "celebrate" the occasion close to dawn when none would be awake. Independence day is perceived only as another special Sunday. Hence its better to work on these days to contribute to the country rather than lazing around as we have failed to understand its very essence and will never bother to understand it in the future.

Notes of a simple devotee

Anybody coming to Sri Parthasarathy swami temple after a couple of years would find a sea change in the environment and in the surroundings of the temple. To start with, a whole array of new flex banners of the deities adores the walls of the temple obstructing and covering the intricate murals on the walls. To a devotee like me, things like these are a huge turn off and take away a feeling of spirituality that you generally associate with any temple.

The second major change that one notices is the wooden steps connecting the temple. A temple is a place that provides you an ambience that is complete with peace and tranquility. But then, the constant movement on the wooden steps takes away the peacefulness completely.

The third major factor is the lighting. The entire temple is peppered with high intensity focus lights that makes the entire place bright. But they are everywhere and too much of them spoil the atmosphere and make the entire place look artificial. Usage of such high intensity lights not only irritates the devotee by blinding the eyes but also has a huge environmental impact and also consumes lot of power. Also the usage of similar lights while the deity is taken out on the streets has the same impact.

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The fourth noticeable aspect is that there is a huge influx of cheap plastic covers that fills the entire temple. Though the temple makes every effort to make the place clean, it is still unable to stop the growth of plastic covers.

The last two factors have a major environmental and economic impact. When the whole world is concerned about global warming and spread of toxic plastics, we at such an ancient temple have forgotten our ancient best practices of using tree leaves and cloth bags to carry stuff to the temple. Also the usage of low intensity lights would not only save expenses on current charges but also contribute to a pleasant ambience that would help in providing a conducive atmosphere for every devotee.

I would only want the temple authorities concerned to take necessary steps in doing away with such unwanted and unnecessary stuff that makes the pilgrimage to the temple to look like a picnic.

Women's Bill

Lot of hue and cry have been raised over the 33% reservations that was passed in the RAJYA SABHA alone. The woman's bill does no good to the womenfolk of this country. By bringing this, I strongly feel that they are limiting themselves to 33%. I accept there aren't many women in Indian politics. But thinking that this bill would change that would only stay as a hope. For, Lalu Prasad has already shown the way by making his wife the CM of Bihar when he was forced out by a judgment. Rabri, till date does not know anything, by her own admission and she was just a mere puppet in the hands of Lalu. If people supporting the woman's bill call only this as empowerment, then this truly is an empowering moment.

P.S The bill was not passed in Lok Sabha. For it was traded to gain support against the Cut motion brought in by BJP.

மேரேஜ்னா பரவாயில்லப்பா social matter, divorce case எல்லாம் வருது.

I get reminded of this dialogue by Koundamani - 'மேரேஜ்னா பரவாயில்லப்பா social matter, divorce case எல்லாம் வருது.' ,after a Andhra minister intervened in Sania-Shoaib marriage issue.. What a foreboding dialogue by Koundamani..

Hussain and Khajuraho

Sunday's edition of Hindu had contradictory news juxtaposed in its pages. On one side, it had a discussion board of eminent personalities voicing their views on M F Hussain's paintings which were criticized for its content while at the bottom, it had an article on the beauty of Khajuraho paintings. Though there content were similar, the differences between the them was apparent. Hussain's paintaings had Hindu gods and Mother India painted nude and Hussain himself once said that his way of abuse and making it disgraceful was to paint it nude. Hence this would amount only to sacrilege. On the other hand, everybody admires the sculptures of Khajurao. In fact, many places in India has sculptures carved in a compromising position or carved nude. Why isn't then there an uprising from the so-called guardians of the society. The reason could be because the intention behind these sculptures being structured that way could be noble at that time (Not that it isn't now). One reason that I learnt on seeing a sculpture of a King carved sans clothes was that the King felt that the dress code would gradually evolve and would be different in the coming generations. Not wanting to confine his image, he had asked to carve it that way. How foreboding?
Thus its only the intent that needs to be questioned and not the painter himself. After all in this democratic world of ours, its his right to paint want he desires and its our right to question that if it hurts our sentiments.

BJP

The recent tussle and turmoil thats happening to the country's primary opposition party is something that was on the cards ever since the charismatic A.B. Vajpayee decided to call it a day. The election debacle only acted as a catalyst and provided an opportune moment for disgruntled cadres to voice their opposition against the party.

The recent outbursts by its senior leaders and their subsequent expulsion from the party is mainly because the BJP wants to project L.K. Advani as its prime leader, not to the liking of many in the party. Advani's peers while he was in RSS and subsequently in BJP, wanted a greater share in the power pie after Vajpayee quit. When this was not happening, they invented reasons to bring to light their plight so that their position and say in the party would acquire greater significance. Yashwant Sinha wanted analysis of the poll defeat almost immediately and wanted that to be over before their Chinthan Baithak. Jaswanth Singh, courted controversy with his book on Jinnah while Arun Shourie questioned the leadership and some of the decisions taken. Brijesh Patel came out in the open with his comparisons on Advani and Vajpayee.

These are definitely testing times for BJP. This is the time where the baton is passed to a new generation and a complete re-assessment of its policies would take place Their commitment to Hindutva may also be shaped in a different way with younger and fresher brains at the helm. The two biggest challenges for the BJP hence would be the way they shape their ideals as they still are very much unclear about their policy on Hindutva while attracting the minorities too. This is because, its trying to shed its communal tag heaped on it by other parties which are more communal than the BJP. The second biggest challenge is that the BJP should not be bogged down at this point and should wait patiently until things stabilize before taking important decisions.

Only time should tell whether the country's chief opposition party stands to fight another election or becomes obsolete, making it a thing of the past.

Dynasty Rule

When our neighbours like Nepal and Pakistan are demanding and persevering for democracy, India is slowly turning to monarchy- dynasty rule silently without anybody noticing it. If recently concluded elections are to be taken as an indicator, the dynasty rule is here to stay. Most politicians today fight for seats for their kin and if not granted abuse their parties before parting ways. This phenomenon exists in every state right from Tamil Nadu and Kerala in south to Jammu in North. and from Maharashtra in West to Arunachal and Assam in East. Karunakaran and Muralidharan, the father and son duo are the most famous ones from Kerala while in Tamil Nadu the list is endless and well known, topped by the polygamous Karunanidhi. The state of Andhra has some well known names with NTR, his daughters as well as his son in law- Chandrababu Naidu apart from sons of YSR and other party leaders. Karnataka can boast itself of the controversial H.D Kumarasamy and erstwhile PM Deve Gowda while Maharashtra has the Thackerays that makes them gain entry into this coveted list. Not to be left far behind is Sharad Pawar with his daughter Supriya and the Dutts - Sunil, Priya and Sanjay. Orissa has Naveen Patnaik, son of Biju Patnaik while Lalu and Paswan have their close kin in prominent positions in the party. Far East, we have Agatha Sangma, daughter of ex-Speaker P.A. Sangma. Coming to Central India, U.P has the Yadavs- Mulayam Singh, his son Akhilesh. The rest includes the Badals of Punjab, Chautals of Haryana. Jammu has Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, children of predominant parties of Jammu. These are just a handful of names from a huge list as the Mahajans, Anubumanis and Natwar Singhs have been left out.
But the top slot would always remain with the Nehru-Gandhi family who have ru(ined)led India all these years. Its remarkable that this family has sustained its rule and grip on the world's second populous nation for these long years cutting across 4 generations. Think Indians would always favour a monarchy for they have been under a democracy (if you can call it one, given the above list) only for the last 50 years and rest of its rich history has always been under monarchs.