So, its 21-12-12, my birthday!

Surprise on this day!

This is 2012 for Me!

      After few of the most memorable events of my life in 2011, the 2012 started on a sedate note amidst a lot of ‘quivering’ thoughts ‘wavering’ in my mind on the preparation front, my career, etc… (Background: I was not in a good shape, or more precisely, in a disturbed frame of mind then). So, to switch-off  from this mood, I went to my cousin sister’s home at Nizampet  for celebrating Sankranti and to spend time with my favorite ‘kids’ - 3 T’s (Tanisi, Tisya and Tushara), who can easily cheer me up.  Adding to that boost given by 3 T’s, on the very night of Sankranti, I had received a message from..........

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............Between all this, my dad, mother, sister and I were involved in the construction and planning works of our ‘home’ - my favorite place on the earth. Daddy was about to retire in June and so, we had planned to move to our home in such a time that my dad’s retirement coincides with our shifting. And thank God! Everything had happened as planned. Our house was reconstructed beyond our expectations and plans, thanks to the contractor. Soon, we had called on a function (house warming + Dad retirement) to celebrate these events. In the function, I felt very proud listening others (father’s colleagues and family members) speaking about my father and his values. That was one super-duper event. Quietly, my sister bid good-bye to the strenuous job in Axis Bank, soon after which, our house had treated us with a gift - my sister was appointed the Mandal Agricultural Officer (Gazetted – A.P. State Govt.). But, the happiness was cast a shadow in form of her posting location. It was in a remote mandal named, ’Madnur’ (Nizamabad District) – which was on the borders of A.P. A grave injustice had been done to my sister while giving the posting. :( Unable to digest this, my sister got into a depression – which she had  able to overcome only after my father’s and my repeated sayings and pleas – now, she is coping well with the location and job, though we are trying our best to get her transferred to a nearest place. My father accompanied her, which I term, ‘post-retirement adventure’ by staying with her at Bichkunda (HQ). Daily, I and amma used to call them and enquired about their daily routine...................

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.......................Hope I succeed in my endeavors. I wish good luck to myself. None except me shall be responsible for whatever happens to me in these two years. Adieu 2012, Bienvenue 2013!!

Is India’s unity being undermined by its diversity?

                “Ye Wahdat Hai Kasrat Mein Har Dam Aseer, Magar Har Kahin Be Chugun, Benazir!” – Meaning, the unity imprisoned in diversity is unique in every form and shape. India as a nation has a wide range of diversity in its geography, religion, language, social/class status, ethnicity and the other derived forms associated with these distinct factors. Despite these diversities, the nation stands ‘united’ – with its status as the world’s largest democratic state and its constitution as the sacrosanct to its ruling/functioning. As every other nation, it too has various ‘problems’ to confront with, significant of them being corruption, providing the basic amenities, poverty, etc…

Historical View:

The reasons for partition of Pakistan from the British India can mainly be attributed to the differences in the ideologies of two political parties (Indian National Congress and Muslim League) in the name of religion, but not necessarily the divide between the people as such. Because when one considers the significant events related to the Indian Freedom movement like non co-operation movement, khilafat movement, protests against Rowlatt Act, movement against Simon Commission, one could always witness the Hindu-Muslim unity until the point of rejection of Jinnah’s demands by INC in 1928, which accidentally was the first crumbling step that paved the path to partition.

The ‘Unity’hood:

Pre-independent India was united in its struggle for independence. The post-independent India is no less! It has always been united whenever its sovereignty was questioned (Wars/Terror attacks), whenever there is an internal threat to its administration, [the wide-spread public furore over the Lokpal Bill issue] and more recently, when it’s Government failed to protect its citizens [the Delhi gang-rape case became a hood under which the whole India stood united against the heinous crime].

In not only these national causes, but also through various channels and programs, India becomes united keeping aside its wide range of diversity. The political system of India, i.e., the parliamentary form of Government has its representation from all parts of the country [MPs/MLAs]. The education brings the students under a single platform with the universities admitting students from various parts of the country (NITs/IITs/IIMs and other universities). With various opportunities in the employment sector, people migrate from their native places to subsist their lives in other parts of the country. Despite being moved from their native places, they have the warm of feeling of being in India. This is the good part of showcasing the unity among the people of India to the world. Sports make Indians united, for every citizen cheers for India, their country, and not for any particular sportsperson. Cinema and other arts portray a vivid form of unity in the Indians. Likewise various other channels like media, civil societies, etc… bring the Indians under the unity-hood and depict the universal stand of ‘Unity in Diversity’.

The wrongs of Diversity:

Religion, Region, Caste are the three major indicators with which an Indian is identified in India. These are the very indicators that separate the Indians in India. There were umpteen incidents of communal violence in the post independent India, right from the time of partition 1947-48 to the current 2012. There were various separatist movements across different parts in the country demanding a separate state for its people due to different reasons [Ex: Gorkhaland, telangana movement and others]. The caste became a social barrier for the primary institution of the society, i.e., a family. It is prevalent in the case of marriages, which is, of late, leading to the gruesome ‘honour killings’. It is prevalent in the divide between upper caste and lower caste people in the form of ‘reservations’. Though the 42^nd amendment (in 1976) has infused the words ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’ to the Preamble of its constitution, due to the aforesaid indicators these words are fast losing their relevance.

Despite all these challenges, India as a state remains and shall remain unbroken. The aura of ‘Indian (ness)’ flows through the heart of every Indian. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us”. And that is “Unity”.

ఓం శ్రీ గురు రాఘవేంద్రాయ నమః ఓం

సుమారు పన్నెండు-పదమూడు ఏళ్ళ క్రితం, అనగా నేను హై స్కూలు చదువుతుండగా, మేము ఇంట్లో మా ఇష్ట దైవం అయిన శ్రీ గురు రాఘవేంద్ర స్వామి పూజ చేయించుకున్నాము . దాని తర్వాత మళ్లీ ఇప్పటికి (తే. 8-12-12) కుదిరింది. మా కొత్త ఇంట్లో కి అడుగుపెట్టిన 6 నెలలకు ఈ పూజ చేయించుకున్నాము.

ఆ రోజు మా అతి దగ్గరి బంధువులను మాత్రం పిలుచుకున్నాము. ఇంట్లో భోజన తదితర కార్యక్రమాలు బాగా జరిగాయి . 

An answer to the ‘emotional receptor’ in me! (Re-modelled English version of నా లోని ‘ఫీలర్’)

Disclaimer: I call myself an ‘esoteric weirdo’ by choice and probably also because most of the people around think me to be one. But this write-up is totally the other side – the inside Raghav - which I call, ‘emotional receptor’. To find out why, read this! After reading, whether to call me with either of the two or with any other title, not precisely ‘title’ (Article 18 abolishes titles to Indians) or not to call me without any ‘nickname’, is purely your choice (Use your Article 19).

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The definition of a cinema can be understood, in its simplest form, as a medium of entertainment. After watching every film, probably because of the genre of cinema that I do watch or because of the ‘insomniac critic’ inside me, there will be a ‘feeling’ ignited in me, which might be anything; It can be either my patriotic feelings, or my ‘criminal’ (here, ‘criminal’ pertains to Raghav’s dictionary) thoughts or my ‘thinking and philosophical’ feelings or any other feeling in me! The crux of this long statement is that a film acts as a fuel to my feelings. The same happened after I watched “Talaash”, when the thinker in me found the answer to what is the quality that I like the most in a girl!

The character of ‘Simran’ (portrayed by Kareena Kapoor Khan) has revealed the quality that I look for in a girl! I like girls who shall be able to express their feelings openly, clearly and passionately (focus on ‘express their feelings’). Generally, most of the girls will not express their feelings for whatsoever reason. Instead, they either indulge in back-biting, or play safe or if that feeling is a hindrance to them, they try to shift their focus onto other inconsequential thing, pushing off the real feeling or in very less cases, sacrifice themselves. Now, you can easily guess to which kind of girl I am referring to – obviously, who does not fall in any of the aforementioned categories – a girl who expresses her feeling (hold on for the moment on, ‘how?’) and tries to find a solution to it.

A 'strong' feeling is not built in a day or two. It will evolve over the period and over loads of trust, and will not leave you until your death unless a miracle happens or a catastrophe occurs. That strong feeling can be any of the famous ‘feelings’ (love/hate/jealousy/vengeance/anger/etc). So, that may be the underlying reason why I like ‘heart-to-heart’ talks rather than ‘mouth-to-mouth’ talks. The good thing about these ‘heart-to-heart’ talks is the ‘expressive openness’ between the two. The openness in expressing their feelings may be either direct or indirect. But the feeling shall be definitely expressed. Obviously, none shall have a problem in direct form of expressing the feeling, but when it comes to the indirect form of expression, it depends mainly on how well the other person is able to receive it. Some might take it the correct way and some may not – which again leads to misunderstandings! I don’t intend to criticize the indirect form of expression because in some grueling situations, you are to bound to use it.

So, my point is that I like to talk and give importance only to such kind of girls because even if you do something to them with a great deal of effort, it doesn't pain you, and instead, you will be happy for doing so. Ain't it strange, but it’s true, trust me! There were few dialogues in the movie told by Simran: (translated to English) - “when a girl disappears, there is none to care about them, Sir” and “what difference does it make when you disappear or not, if you are not even in the census, Sir” – These strong emotions in the heart of a prostitute were expressed in a subtle manner. Needless to mention, what caught my attention is the way they are ‘expressed’! Over all, ‘Simran’ is the apt result that I Talaashed out from this ‘Talaash’.

నా లోని ‘ఫీలర్’ - (Telhinglish version)

General గా, సినిమా అనేది జనాలకు వినోదాన్నిచ్చే ఒక మాధ్యమము. నేను చూసే type of cinema వల్లనో, లేకపోతే నాలో ఎప్పుడూ జాగరూకుడై ఉండే ఒక critic వల్లనో, నాకు ఏదైనా సినిమా చూసిన వెంటనే, నాలోని ఏదో ఒక ‘ఫీలింగ్’ ignite అవుతుంది. అది నాలో ఉన్న patriotism కావొచ్చు లేకపోతే villainism కావొచ్చు, or intensive thought processism కావొచ్చు. కాని కచ్చితంగా ఆ సినిమా అనేది నా ఫీలింగ్ కు fuel లాగా పని చేస్తుంది. నిన్న చూసిన “తలాష్” సినిమా నాకు ఎలాంటి అమ్మాయి నచ్చుతుందో అన్న question కు answer చెప్పింది.

ఆ సినిమా లోని ‘Simran’ character (portrayed by Kareena Kapoor Khan) నాకు చాలా బాగా నచ్చింది అనడం కంటే నాలోపల దాగి ఉన్న some desired qualities కి ఆజ్యం పోసింది. నాకు feelings ని బాగా express చేయగలిగే అమ్మాయిలంటే చాలా ఇష్టం. General గా, వందలో తొంభై మంది అమ్మాయిలకి strong feelings అనేవి ఉండవు. దారి ఎటు తీసుకెళితే అటే వెళతారు. ఒకవేళ వాళ్ళ feeling కి ఏదైనా ఆటంకం వస్తే దాన్ని ఎలా remove చెయ్యాలో ఆలోచించడం మానేసి దాన్నుంచి safe side అనే ఇంకో వైపు కి ఎలా వెళ్ళాలో ఆలోచిస్తారు. దానికి కారణాలు ఏవైనా కావొచ్చు.

ఒక strong feeling అనేది ఇవాళ వచ్చి రేపు వెళ్ళిపోయేది కాదు.. కాకూడదు. It lasts forever irrespective of situations. ఆ feeling కి పేరు ఏదైనా కావొచ్చు (love/hatred/jealousy/anger/etc…). అందుకే నాకు mouth-to-mouth మాట్లాడే అమ్మాయిలంటే చిరాకు, Heart-to-heart talks యే నచ్చుతాయి – అలాంటి వాళ్ళ కోసము ఏం చేసినా ఆనందం తప్ప మరొకటి ఉండదు. వాళ్ళు reciprocation కూడా మనము అంత దిల్ పెట్టి చేసామో అంతకంటే ఎక్కువ దిల్ పెట్టి చేయడానికి ready గా ఉంటారు. ఈ bond/feeling ని కొంతమంది అమ్మాయిలు express చెయ్యరు; కొంతమంది direct గా express చేస్తారు; ఇంకొంతమంది indirect గా; but express చెయ్యకుండా ఉండడం కంటే పెద్ద suicide ఉండదేమో ఎందుకంటే వాళ్ళు express చేసేలోపల రైలు పట్టాలు దాటి వెళ్ళిపోయే ఆస్కారం ఉంది కనుక.

So, నేను కొంతమంది తో మాత్రమే heart తో మాట్లాడగలుగుతాను and వాళ్ళకి మాత్రమే ఎక్కువ importance ఇస్తాను. Superficial గా ఉన్న వాళ్ళతో superficial గానే ఉంటాను; నా భాష లో ‘superficial’ అంటే నానా terms & conditions ఉన్నాయి లెండి!  But, అందరితో ఒక లాగ మాత్రం ఉండను. Almost సర్వ జీవకోటి ఇలాగే నడుచుకోవచ్చు కాని దీన్ని substantiate చేయ్యగాలగడమే, what I call as ‘expressing’.   

‘తలాష్’ సినిమా లో ఒక dialogue నన్ను కదిలించింది. “ఒక అమ్మాయి sudden గా కనపడకపోతే ఈ లోకంలో ఎవరూ పట్టించుకోవట్లేదు సార్!”. ఒక prostitute మదిలోని ఒక strong emotion ని express చేయించిన తీరు Reema (director) ప్రతిభ కు నిదర్శనము. “जो गिनती में नहीं, उसका गायब होने से या रहने से क्या फर्क पडता हैं साब?” –  ఇలాంటి strong emotions ని express చేయగలిగే అమ్మాయిలంటే నాకు చాలా ఇష్టం; చాలా తక్కువ మంది ఉంటారు అనుకోండి! ఒక విధంగా ఈ ‘Simran’ యే నా ‘తలాష్’ కు answer!

“What is the mental state, you like in a girl?” అన్న question ఎప్పుడూ నా మదిలో rounds చేస్తూ ఉంటుంది. And, నా answer vague గా ఉంటూ ఉండేది. But, now I am clear on what kind of mental state I like in a girl, thanks to “Talaash”.

నిన్న ఒక article లో చదివాను, “women are the last colony in the world” అని ఒకరు రాశారు. ఒక  thinking citizen గా ఈ statement కి నా answer ఒకటే – ఎప్పుడైతే ఒక నారి emotional గా strong గా ఉంటుందో అప్పుడు తను అనుకున్నది definite గా చేయగలుగుతుంది. So, “emotional aspect” of a girl is the key to her success or to that matter, even her failure.

P.S.: While I am writing this, “Jee Le Zara” and “Jiya Lage Na” are running through my ears.

The Fetters to Indian Public Administration

‘रोटी-कपडा-मकान’- these are the three ‘basic’ needs that the mango people expect from any form of Government. It is the duty of the Government to fulfill these necessities of the people, for which it needs to devise and put in place, a ‘system’, as is popularly known. This ‘system’ is nothing but the ‘public administration’.  The Government or rather, the nation prospers, only when this ‘system’ is functioning rightly and is able to deliver its duties in an earnest way. These are just the basic needs; for a nation to progress in the world of LPG (Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization), its administrative system needs to be competent enough to tackle any problem or threat from within the nation or outside. The term, ‘good governance’ can be justified truly in a nation, where the public administration is skillful and strong enough to dispose the problems.

In the largest democratic nation, and where its bulkiest constitution is the sacrosanct to its ruling, public administration grapples with various threats which have been time and again, hindering the nation’s progress and in the future, may become a blot on its democratic system, if not controlled and eliminated.

The first and the most significant issue to be addressed is the ‘corruption’. One way to tackle this menace and to bring probity in public life is to create a transparent process of governance by implementing various recommendations suggested by administrative reform and law commission reports in the right earnest. This can only be possible by a strong political will. The other way to control, if not eradicate, this camouflage is to develop the conscience of the people in not encouraging corruption. The job of an administrator is to develop this conscience through various methods like arranging awareness campaigns with the help of the audio-visual media, and spreading the word through various technical gadgets, for instance, a small SMS via mobile can do wonder these days!

There is a popular perception that, “In the era of post-independence, how can India progress when one-third of India is fighting against India?”  There are many internal threats, of which, ‘maoism/naxalism’ holds the lion’s share, in fact, perceived to be the “greatest internal security threat”. The administrator’s path is blocked by these maoists in catering to the needs of the needy. The steps to combat this are: one, to eliminate the maoists, but it has yielded no results and to add to the woes, the innocent killings in the name of counter-insurgency are on the rise; two, to bring down the vast gap between the rich and the poor, protect the interests of the tribals, win their confidence and take back their leadership from the claws of extremists, by doing so which, the maoism shall be on the wane.

Of late, the noteworthy and emerging challenge to the administrators has been the ‘implementation of a public policy’ due to the ‘pressure politics’ played by the politicians on them. In the wake of the recent Coalgate scam, the 2G scam, the NRHM scam (U.P.), etc… the accountability of bureaucrats has come under severe scanner. Article 309 is being misused by the executive, and in order to get the ‘blessing’ hand of the politicians on them (with regard to their appointments, promotions and transfers), the officers are indulging in collusive practices with them and pushing the objectives of a policy to the back-door. This can be checked by creating autonomous personnel boards as proposed by the NCRWC (National Commission to Review the Working of Constitution) to look after all the service terms of the civil servants. The idea is not to take politics out of the bureaucracy but to put a check and balance on the unhealthy and destabilizing influences in the administration.

Apart from these above major threats, the public administration is put to nose by the activism of media and civil society. And the judicial re-activism, is only adding to its wounds, which can be checked only by maintaining transparency and accountability in the governance.

Whatever might be the ordeals of these threats, India still stands tall in being the largest democratic state in the world. What it needs is a toning mechanism in addressing these problems and to pose a bigger threat to the super powers in the world. The hegemony of the Indian constitution needs to be always protected, for which, the channel is a proper and free-flow public administrative system to ensure welfare to its people.