since millennia
you have been doing this to me
carving portions of my body
drawing lines on my person
each bloodier than the last
you kept multiplying
and kept drawing lines
taking a piece of your own
nothing else would suffice
you never stopped to think
of my wounds or my pain
you continued
till the borders grew so tight
and my pieces so small
you could have had me
for mincemeat
now I am unrecognizable
as far as the eye can see
there are walls, fences and barricades
you call them countries, states, nations
but the lines that you so meticulously drew
also broke homes, families, hearts
they cut rivers, meadows and mountains
even the skies are in tatters
as you cannot fly into another’s
nothing is complete today
nothing is free
only one thing is true
there are enemies on every side
you spend millions to survive hate
what could have been yours with love
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Saturday, December 6, 2008
LEADERLESS, DIRECTIONLESS, CHARACTERLESS
If the terror attacks have numbed us, the subsequent political circus by the Congress-NCP combine thereafter has been nauseating. Our politicians will remain the same—insensitive, petty and self-serving. First Vilas Rao Deshmukh took his own sweet time to ‘offer’ not ‘submit’ his resignation and then it took several hours’ nay days, for the decision to select the CM for the troubled state of Maharashtra. To silence the media channels somewhat, Rahul Gandhi gave a statement that the CM for Maharashtra had been decided but the name would be announced later. Why? What took so much time? Obviously, it was because of the behind the door haggling between Sena, NCP and Congress.
The utter bankruptcy of our political parties! They are unable to come up with a single name which would be acceptable to all. And the icing on the cake has been the announcement of Chagan Bhujbal as deputy chief minister. How can they even consider a man who is so tainted, at this juncture; somebody, whose name was involved in a multi-crore scam? Is this what we citizens deserve in this hour of crisis? Instead of coming up with a name of high integrity and administrative abilities we are forced to accept a man of doubtful credentials. As a citizen one feels insulted and helpless. These men who are elected representatives are on their own trip. The terror attack is only an opportunity to grab the coveted seat. Damn the people and damn their sentiment!
The only qualification to be a chief minister in India is to be a sycophant to the high command or a major contributor to the party fund or belong to a certain caste. One is amazed that the choice was being discussed on lines of who is a dalit or who is maratha. Whether you have a criminal background it doesn’t matter. Whether you have any education or not it doesn’t matter. Whether you have handled any ministry competently earlier doesn’t matter. Which is why perhaps, you had a sarpanch (Vilas Rao) rise to that level; his lackadaisical approach resembling that of a village square politician. For the past several days when work in Maharashtra should have been at an urgent pace, it has been held in abeyance because of no political leadership. All the departments which need to coordinate with the home ministry were obviously waiting. And in this crucial hour this can lead to loss of momentum.
I do believe just as the citizens of Mumbai had gathered at the Gateway of India to express their anger towards the political establishment they should gherao the mantralaya and not allow unacceptable candidates to be selected as the CM, deputy CM or home minister.
The utter bankruptcy of our political parties! They are unable to come up with a single name which would be acceptable to all. And the icing on the cake has been the announcement of Chagan Bhujbal as deputy chief minister. How can they even consider a man who is so tainted, at this juncture; somebody, whose name was involved in a multi-crore scam? Is this what we citizens deserve in this hour of crisis? Instead of coming up with a name of high integrity and administrative abilities we are forced to accept a man of doubtful credentials. As a citizen one feels insulted and helpless. These men who are elected representatives are on their own trip. The terror attack is only an opportunity to grab the coveted seat. Damn the people and damn their sentiment!
The only qualification to be a chief minister in India is to be a sycophant to the high command or a major contributor to the party fund or belong to a certain caste. One is amazed that the choice was being discussed on lines of who is a dalit or who is maratha. Whether you have a criminal background it doesn’t matter. Whether you have any education or not it doesn’t matter. Whether you have handled any ministry competently earlier doesn’t matter. Which is why perhaps, you had a sarpanch (Vilas Rao) rise to that level; his lackadaisical approach resembling that of a village square politician. For the past several days when work in Maharashtra should have been at an urgent pace, it has been held in abeyance because of no political leadership. All the departments which need to coordinate with the home ministry were obviously waiting. And in this crucial hour this can lead to loss of momentum.
I do believe just as the citizens of Mumbai had gathered at the Gateway of India to express their anger towards the political establishment they should gherao the mantralaya and not allow unacceptable candidates to be selected as the CM, deputy CM or home minister.
HOW DARE YOU MR. ACHUTANANDAN!
The country in general and Keralites in specific should rebel in one voice against the Kerala CM’s crass remarks. How dare he abuse a slain martyr’s family? Our politicians were spineless we always knew but they would indulge in such loose talk against the father of a hero killed in action defies all norms.
First the home state does not send any representative on Major Sandip Unnikrishnan’s funeral and then only under extreme public pressure the chief minister along with his home minister arrives only after the family has already declared they won’t meet political visitors. The father who was already broken hearted and grieving at his young son’s demise was further hurt and humiliated at the manner in which the people at the helm of his own home state had behaved. His outburst was one of pain and disillusionment. Couldn’t Mr. Achutanandan have shown more grace and not used such disgusting language. This terror incident has truly unveiled the ugly faces of our politicians who strut around wearing masks of empathy and concern.
The entire state of Kerala should rise and throw out such a chief minister. He should realize he is alive at this ripe old age because men like Sandip die at young ages.
First the home state does not send any representative on Major Sandip Unnikrishnan’s funeral and then only under extreme public pressure the chief minister along with his home minister arrives only after the family has already declared they won’t meet political visitors. The father who was already broken hearted and grieving at his young son’s demise was further hurt and humiliated at the manner in which the people at the helm of his own home state had behaved. His outburst was one of pain and disillusionment. Couldn’t Mr. Achutanandan have shown more grace and not used such disgusting language. This terror incident has truly unveiled the ugly faces of our politicians who strut around wearing masks of empathy and concern.
The entire state of Kerala should rise and throw out such a chief minister. He should realize he is alive at this ripe old age because men like Sandip die at young ages.
JAWS OF TERROR
Mumbai has been pulled out of the jaws of terror. For this we have to thank only our men in uniform. What an awe-inspiring job they did in the last three days in the face of such extreme danger and odds—each one of them: the NSG, the MARCOS, the Army commandoes and even the Maharashtra police. But, my head hung in shame when after 36 hours of battling at the Nariman House I saw them board dilapidated state transport (BEST) buses. Is this how we treat our heroes? Is this the kind of logistic support we can provide them? Even a three-tonner would have been more respectful. Why was there no one from the civil administration to at least provide them with some very basic refreshments? Is this how super specialized commandoes who put their life on line get treated?
This country does not deserve its soldiers. More so, the politicians and bureaucrats, who first create these horribly, complicated situations because of their callous, incompetent and corrupt behaviour; and then push these brave men to do or die. It is, of course, to the credit of our forces that they never let the nation or its people down; be it the war in Kargil, natural calamities or man-made disasters like pulling a child out of a bore-well.
But, in the last 30-40 years, successive governments have undermined the prestige and position of our men in uniform. It was to the credit of Indira Gandhi who had so substantially increased the defense budget for both men and material, that the salaries and perks of soldiers had risen several fold. Perhaps, that was one of the reasons for our emphatic victory in the 71 war. Not that our soldiers would have let us down without it, but a happy and motivated force is a much more lethal power to reckon with than a demoralized one. In 1962, when the Chinese attacked us our soldiers didn’t even have woolen socks (forget high-altitude gear) in sub zero degree temperatures. More men died of cold and frost bite than perhaps bullets.
It is not enough to salute them, shout slogans and sing platitudes when they pull us out of some terrible disaster. We have to thank them and show our gratitude in tangible terms- both monetary and in kind. I was shocked to hear Arnab Goswami mention on his channel TimesNow that some bureaucrats had actually questioned and resented the 2 dozen eggs the soldiers got as monthly rations.
Even the recent controversy over the three service chiefs hesitating to implement the sixth pay commission in its current form has raised the hackles of our babus in South Block. One should stop as a nation and ask ourselves what has driven the top brass in the three services to take such a stance? I think it is for the first time in post independent India that the chiefs have refused to accept the diktats of their political masters in issues relating to their men without their being involved. It shows their level of frustration, anguish and humiliation at being treated as a second class service. The people of this country would like to see them get equal if not higher pay than their civilian counter parts of the same rank.
Whenever, our men in uniform die in action or get injured the political masters that may be rush to announce rewards, gas agencies, petrol pumps etc, and then the moment the dust settles on their graves make their families, parents wives run from pillar to post, adding insult to injury.
The country wants its political leadership, both in government and opposition, to set aside their partisanship, and for once give their soldiers their due and show more respect to their standing. In today’s, troubled times, when we keep calling upon them not just for external dangers but also internal ones, let us not shed crocodile tears but offer real rewards. And please, please, Mr. Modi and Mr. Advani don’t come when a city is battling terror to score brownie points, when you can very well wait for the operation to finish. Our soldiers our not beggars, don’t announce one crore compensation like alms.
This country does not deserve its soldiers. More so, the politicians and bureaucrats, who first create these horribly, complicated situations because of their callous, incompetent and corrupt behaviour; and then push these brave men to do or die. It is, of course, to the credit of our forces that they never let the nation or its people down; be it the war in Kargil, natural calamities or man-made disasters like pulling a child out of a bore-well.
But, in the last 30-40 years, successive governments have undermined the prestige and position of our men in uniform. It was to the credit of Indira Gandhi who had so substantially increased the defense budget for both men and material, that the salaries and perks of soldiers had risen several fold. Perhaps, that was one of the reasons for our emphatic victory in the 71 war. Not that our soldiers would have let us down without it, but a happy and motivated force is a much more lethal power to reckon with than a demoralized one. In 1962, when the Chinese attacked us our soldiers didn’t even have woolen socks (forget high-altitude gear) in sub zero degree temperatures. More men died of cold and frost bite than perhaps bullets.
It is not enough to salute them, shout slogans and sing platitudes when they pull us out of some terrible disaster. We have to thank them and show our gratitude in tangible terms- both monetary and in kind. I was shocked to hear Arnab Goswami mention on his channel TimesNow that some bureaucrats had actually questioned and resented the 2 dozen eggs the soldiers got as monthly rations.
Even the recent controversy over the three service chiefs hesitating to implement the sixth pay commission in its current form has raised the hackles of our babus in South Block. One should stop as a nation and ask ourselves what has driven the top brass in the three services to take such a stance? I think it is for the first time in post independent India that the chiefs have refused to accept the diktats of their political masters in issues relating to their men without their being involved. It shows their level of frustration, anguish and humiliation at being treated as a second class service. The people of this country would like to see them get equal if not higher pay than their civilian counter parts of the same rank.
Whenever, our men in uniform die in action or get injured the political masters that may be rush to announce rewards, gas agencies, petrol pumps etc, and then the moment the dust settles on their graves make their families, parents wives run from pillar to post, adding insult to injury.
The country wants its political leadership, both in government and opposition, to set aside their partisanship, and for once give their soldiers their due and show more respect to their standing. In today’s, troubled times, when we keep calling upon them not just for external dangers but also internal ones, let us not shed crocodile tears but offer real rewards. And please, please, Mr. Modi and Mr. Advani don’t come when a city is battling terror to score brownie points, when you can very well wait for the operation to finish. Our soldiers our not beggars, don’t announce one crore compensation like alms.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
ONE MORE RESCUE OPERATION
‘Suraj is dead’, was the one liner which one of the leading news channels gave soon after the hapless boy was pulled out of the bore well in which he had fallen into 52 hours before. Not the first child to fall in and not the first to die. Ever since, the widely televised rescue operation of ‘Prince’ was covered live, many more have fallen in, only to come out dead.
The public is exhausted of the nail biting suspense of watching and hearing of such agonizingly long operations and their subsequent failures. They are tired of grieving and they are tired of helplessly wringing their hands as by-standers. Like one of them, I too had tried to block my mind by switching off the TV, only to toss and turn all night and getting up in the wee hours of the morning to once again switch on the idiot box in the wane hope of hearing a happy ending. But, it has almost always been sad news.
But more than grief, now it is outrage and anger; anger at the abuse and callousness that we as a nation and as adults show to our children, especially poor children.
Is there never to be any accountability? And what is this entire hullabaloo about havans and yajnas being performed all over the country by a generally apathetic citizenry and the vulgar compensations doled out by equally unsympathetic governments? Money to shut the mouths of victims groveling in poverty! A small price for children they can anyway do without!
Is that all we are capable of? Will the laws and law makers of this land always let the perpetrators of such crimes go scot free? Will those responsible never be hauled up and their faces never shown to the public? Will criminal charges never be pressed against such offenders, whether individuals, organizations or governments? Why don’t the media follow up after the child is dead? Why don’t they expose such criminals?
Because, most of the victims belong to the poorest section of society. Their parents are daily wage earners; labourers who toil all day and their children, wallow by the sides, in heat, dust, rain or cold depending on which time of the year it is. No crèches, no day-cares, no ayahs or helps to watch over them while their parents toil to earn a few rupees to put food in their mouths at the end of the day. Parents, who can perhaps only watch from a distance and the corner of their eyes, as they dare not antagonize their contractors.
Are we to blame the children then for straying away and falling into death traps? Or are we to blame their parents for not taking good enough care of their wards? Can we even begin to imagine what it would be like for a toddler to be stuck in an eight inch diameter hole, in the darkest possible pit deep in the earth without light, food water; even without the familiar faces of those who love him/her?
And what about the huge cost involved in extricating these children? Who will bear it? Not the culprits we can be sure. And what about the loss of innumerable man hours, of the common and not so common people? People who include locals, government officials, doctors, engineers, army men and not to mention the media, watching these spectacles. And not to forget the man hours wasted by millions of viewers who sit glued to their TV sets, unable to do anything else because they just can’t get the distressing images out of their minds. And what about those who even get badly injured in doing these risky operations? Who will bear their pain?
And what about the huge amounts of equipment which are moved to these sites from other assignments, like cranes, earth movers, ambulances, trucks, army vehicles, staff cars etc, etc. Who will bear the cost of these?
No one in particular, but, everyone in general! At that moment of course, everyone wants to wear the Good Samaritan halo and enjoy even a little bit of glory; like the colonel who was basking in media attention, giving sound bytes to a hungry media.
The public is exhausted of the nail biting suspense of watching and hearing of such agonizingly long operations and their subsequent failures. They are tired of grieving and they are tired of helplessly wringing their hands as by-standers. Like one of them, I too had tried to block my mind by switching off the TV, only to toss and turn all night and getting up in the wee hours of the morning to once again switch on the idiot box in the wane hope of hearing a happy ending. But, it has almost always been sad news.
But more than grief, now it is outrage and anger; anger at the abuse and callousness that we as a nation and as adults show to our children, especially poor children.
Is there never to be any accountability? And what is this entire hullabaloo about havans and yajnas being performed all over the country by a generally apathetic citizenry and the vulgar compensations doled out by equally unsympathetic governments? Money to shut the mouths of victims groveling in poverty! A small price for children they can anyway do without!
Is that all we are capable of? Will the laws and law makers of this land always let the perpetrators of such crimes go scot free? Will those responsible never be hauled up and their faces never shown to the public? Will criminal charges never be pressed against such offenders, whether individuals, organizations or governments? Why don’t the media follow up after the child is dead? Why don’t they expose such criminals?
Because, most of the victims belong to the poorest section of society. Their parents are daily wage earners; labourers who toil all day and their children, wallow by the sides, in heat, dust, rain or cold depending on which time of the year it is. No crèches, no day-cares, no ayahs or helps to watch over them while their parents toil to earn a few rupees to put food in their mouths at the end of the day. Parents, who can perhaps only watch from a distance and the corner of their eyes, as they dare not antagonize their contractors.
Are we to blame the children then for straying away and falling into death traps? Or are we to blame their parents for not taking good enough care of their wards? Can we even begin to imagine what it would be like for a toddler to be stuck in an eight inch diameter hole, in the darkest possible pit deep in the earth without light, food water; even without the familiar faces of those who love him/her?
And what about the huge cost involved in extricating these children? Who will bear it? Not the culprits we can be sure. And what about the loss of innumerable man hours, of the common and not so common people? People who include locals, government officials, doctors, engineers, army men and not to mention the media, watching these spectacles. And not to forget the man hours wasted by millions of viewers who sit glued to their TV sets, unable to do anything else because they just can’t get the distressing images out of their minds. And what about those who even get badly injured in doing these risky operations? Who will bear their pain?
And what about the huge amounts of equipment which are moved to these sites from other assignments, like cranes, earth movers, ambulances, trucks, army vehicles, staff cars etc, etc. Who will bear the cost of these?
No one in particular, but, everyone in general! At that moment of course, everyone wants to wear the Good Samaritan halo and enjoy even a little bit of glory; like the colonel who was basking in media attention, giving sound bytes to a hungry media.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Death of Humanity By Preeti Singh
Many months ago, I had been flipping channels, thoroughly bored with no decent entertainment ever being available on any channel, when suddenly I saw a man sitting comfortably, cross legged, holding a light to the corner of his shawl. For a moment, I did not understand what he was trying to do. Then, horrified, I realized he was trying to immolate himself. The action was slow, and there was enough time to stop him. But, instead people watched and the TV camera panned on him in a leisurely manner, waiting for him to turn into a burning torch.
It was a performance being enacted for the news hungry media; anything, to get a byte to shock the viewers. After all, nothing sends the TRPs soaring like fear and horror. Strangely, the whole episode had no shock value for those who were actually there and seeing it first hand. It was just another tamasha to be watched and then move on. He was not another human being just like them, who perhaps, in his desperation to get some empathy for his plight had announced this step. He must have hoped somebody would care, at least the people around him; commoners, media and the arms of law would save him before he actually took the drastic step.
A similar incident took place some months ago when one hawker in Punjab immolated himself in full public view. It is the last resort of utter helplessness of an ordinary citizen, when he cannot find a single ear to listen.
To ensure, such an incident never takes place, the authorities, panchayat, relatives, friends should not only make all attempts to thwart such an act, but also to take him into safe custody, since, there is prior information and is to happen in a public place. At the same time, whenever someone announces his/her intention to immolate himself, concerning authorities should help in negotiations with the people/organizations that are driving an individual to commit suicide; a suicide, after all, all he/she is doing is to draw attention to his unresolved issues.
Secondly, all those (including media) who stand around waiting and watching at the scene of crime and allow such an act to be performed, should be arrested and convicted for abetting suicide. It is the moral duty of one citizen to not allow another to kill himself before his eyes. Not like this at least. It is not as if, he had a gun in his hand. They could have overpowered him, even before he poured kerosene/diesel over himself.
But no, all those who stood around, merely watched out of curiosity and some even got irritated when he did not get it right the first time. They even expressed doubts on the quality of the diesel used. It was not just a crime against one person, but against humanity. What have we come to?
Today, somebody’s father, husband, son would have been alive.
The local thanedar should be held accountable and be booked for dereliction of duty. After all, all such immolations take place with due notice. It’s just that the lives of ordinary people don’t matter to anyone.
And lastly, the media should be taken to court for showing such footage, again and again. In not doing their primary role, that of the fourth estate, which demands they prevent rather than record such incidents, even if they can. Do they realize how many more children, teenagers, impressionable and depressed people they are pushing on the same course by the visual depiction? It is despicable, how some channels are so desperate for viewership, they will show anything, however gory and terrible it maybe. They were busy making commerce out of an individual’s grief. It is not just highly irresponsible journalism, but, also, complete human decadence.
The court could take suo motto cognizance and send notices to all those who were present, especially media and police, for not stopping the man from killing himself.
The Information & Broadcasting Ministry should devise some guidelines for TV channels, whereby, they do not cross the Lakshman Rekha, since; they have failed to regulate themselves.
And lastly, all those who were harassing him, asking for bribe and not talking to him, should be brought to book. After all, there is no smoke without fire!
preeti_tej@hotmail.com
It was a performance being enacted for the news hungry media; anything, to get a byte to shock the viewers. After all, nothing sends the TRPs soaring like fear and horror. Strangely, the whole episode had no shock value for those who were actually there and seeing it first hand. It was just another tamasha to be watched and then move on. He was not another human being just like them, who perhaps, in his desperation to get some empathy for his plight had announced this step. He must have hoped somebody would care, at least the people around him; commoners, media and the arms of law would save him before he actually took the drastic step.
A similar incident took place some months ago when one hawker in Punjab immolated himself in full public view. It is the last resort of utter helplessness of an ordinary citizen, when he cannot find a single ear to listen.
To ensure, such an incident never takes place, the authorities, panchayat, relatives, friends should not only make all attempts to thwart such an act, but also to take him into safe custody, since, there is prior information and is to happen in a public place. At the same time, whenever someone announces his/her intention to immolate himself, concerning authorities should help in negotiations with the people/organizations that are driving an individual to commit suicide; a suicide, after all, all he/she is doing is to draw attention to his unresolved issues.
Secondly, all those (including media) who stand around waiting and watching at the scene of crime and allow such an act to be performed, should be arrested and convicted for abetting suicide. It is the moral duty of one citizen to not allow another to kill himself before his eyes. Not like this at least. It is not as if, he had a gun in his hand. They could have overpowered him, even before he poured kerosene/diesel over himself.
But no, all those who stood around, merely watched out of curiosity and some even got irritated when he did not get it right the first time. They even expressed doubts on the quality of the diesel used. It was not just a crime against one person, but against humanity. What have we come to?
Today, somebody’s father, husband, son would have been alive.
The local thanedar should be held accountable and be booked for dereliction of duty. After all, all such immolations take place with due notice. It’s just that the lives of ordinary people don’t matter to anyone.
And lastly, the media should be taken to court for showing such footage, again and again. In not doing their primary role, that of the fourth estate, which demands they prevent rather than record such incidents, even if they can. Do they realize how many more children, teenagers, impressionable and depressed people they are pushing on the same course by the visual depiction? It is despicable, how some channels are so desperate for viewership, they will show anything, however gory and terrible it maybe. They were busy making commerce out of an individual’s grief. It is not just highly irresponsible journalism, but, also, complete human decadence.
The court could take suo motto cognizance and send notices to all those who were present, especially media and police, for not stopping the man from killing himself.
The Information & Broadcasting Ministry should devise some guidelines for TV channels, whereby, they do not cross the Lakshman Rekha, since; they have failed to regulate themselves.
And lastly, all those who were harassing him, asking for bribe and not talking to him, should be brought to book. After all, there is no smoke without fire!
preeti_tej@hotmail.com
Monday, March 24, 2008
IT MATTERED
when i was
very young
i didn't know
being a girl mattered
but as i grew
i knew it mattered
at eleven i became
a woman
you know how
i couldn't play darkroom
and i couldn't sit
close to him
to read comics
something within protested
after all
i felt like a kid
and
was still flat-chested
but i was a girl
and
it mattered
at seventeen
i wanted to give
my opinion
but they said
i was still
too young
i tried to be
a girl and a woman
in the struggle
i lost
my identity
Preeti Singh
very young
i didn't know
being a girl mattered
but as i grew
i knew it mattered
at eleven i became
a woman
you know how
i couldn't play darkroom
and i couldn't sit
close to him
to read comics
something within protested
after all
i felt like a kid
and
was still flat-chested
but i was a girl
and
it mattered
at seventeen
i wanted to give
my opinion
but they said
i was still
too young
i tried to be
a girl and a woman
in the struggle
i lost
my identity
Preeti Singh
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