People Of (h)ANG (ov)ER

I was visiting my dearest friend when the Peace Rally at Gateway of India
was going on. He was furious when I said I could not go as I was attending some
urgent business matters. (He is going to kill me as soon as he reads this)

Well I don’t think I was much wrong in my stand. I am as much angry, anguished
and furious as a common man on the street but at the same time I believe this should
not be a short term hang over of the anger. As citizens there are a lot of things that may be we take for granted. We always emphasize our rights and privileges but are we equally aware of our rights? Its very easy to blame politicians but how many of us are
ready to sacrifice our hefty paying jobs to serve our nation? Well very honestly even I will put my career first. At the same time one has to ask the politicians a simple question
“How many from your family are serving India through Arm Forces, Civil Services or are graduate from premier institutions like IIMs and IITs?

We, Indians are always passionate about various issues that touch us, that’s appreciative but bad thing about it is our memory, which fades very quickly. Be it sports, entertainment or social issues, we will always forget many things without actually considering their consequences.

I have nothing against gathering of people at Gateway of India but let me ask you how many of enthusiastic protestors are going to join politics or Civil Services? Even handful of them would do the job. At the time of elections we will all sit at home blaming that we don’t have a good enough candidate to vote. There is an interesting E-mail being circulated about our right of not to vote, why there is no mail which will
encourage a new team of politicians? There were few funny slogans as well; one which said where was “Raj Thackeray and His Marathi Manoos”? This just shows how immature even our anger is let alone our social movements. The some of the people who showed on that day, believe me will show up against these Policemen to protest some encounter!!!! Where our Human Rights activists? Where are Minority Organisations now? Why Politicians like Gujarat CM love to make fun of themselves? When will kerala CM learn to truly respect our Martyrs? Why some people have to worry about their makeups and Colour Combinations while visiting such rallies? When will we all start using the RTI Act ? May be WE don’t have answers to many questions around us but when will we all learn to question every injustice on us?

May this all will finally trigger some much wanted actions from Government but hopefully it will give us at least handful of dutiful citizens which are critically required.


N.D.K. NIKHIL


N.B. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING LINK
http://www.rtiindia.org/

Terror Strikes......once again

The unfortunate chain of events continues on "26th"

It had been a long time since I had posted anything but this is something which shattered all my laziness. May be its anger and anguish that has resulted in strong reactions but the incident has raised a lot of questions, well may be those won’t be answered or even worse they will be forgotten.

First and foremost it raises the question of protection of our coastal borders. It’s a shame to see what had happened on 12th march, 1993 was also routed through the sea.

The main issue which will be lingering in everyone’s mind is the soft stand our Government has taken regards Cross Border Terrorism sponsored by our neighbour. If USA can take such swift actions to eradicate Taliban what has really kept our Government behind? Well may be simply diplomatic reasons are good enough answer. Even after suffering so through the hands of terror much our Mumbai Police still fights automatic guns with .303 last used in "SECOND WORLD WAR" (!) may be just like our old and outdated politicians our entire infrastructure is also belongs to that era. Where are those "Human rights activists" who cry loud against actions of Police and Military Personnel.

May be at last our Politicians will wake up now. But may be “WE” as citizens should also realise our duties. We can’t have Police Forces everywhere so one needs to ask question whether we are enough vigilant? Answer to which will obviously "no" Those forces which are working against our nation are ones who are pretending to be amongst us whether we make an active effort to isolate them? And finally I think the time has come to remove Anti-National elements which are hiding in our own land.

My thousand salutes to brave lions of our Country who became Martyr while performing the duty which will make generations to come proud and which will give Indians an inspiration to fight the battle against terror. The time has come for a common citizen to fight the battle. We may not have guns in our hands but we have our Votes, As the Loksabha elections are just around the Corner, if we use our votes properly I think only that will be the true tribute to our Heroes.

Let us all unite in this fight.

Bharat Mata ki Jay!!!!!

N.D.K. Nikhil

Mi Marathi

Its called "sons of soil" i.e. you always belong to where you were born. In this context, I don’t blame Jaya Bacchan when she called herself “ U.P. wali” but the statement to come from a respectable citizen and an MP, I think its totally shameful and should be condemned. It was funny to see various Marathi News Channels making Raj Thackeray a hero and Hindi News Channels just taking an exact opposite stance. Also, it was good to see many Marathi politicians now using Marathi in their press conferences. Amitabh Bacchan expressed apologies immediately, but I wonder what his stand would have been if “The Last Lear” was not to be released during this period. Even then his diplomatic words were “IF we have hurt sentiments then we are sorry!"

India is unique not in its plurality but the way all diversified units have integrated. But the question remains how far independence or isolation one should have within this system. Simply put - how much can someone be possessive about his own culture within our National Integrity. The battle of Marathi & Non Marathi raises this question once again.

In principle, one finds two extreme views, however practically one has to always take the middle way. In this ongoing battle, it’s funny to see some Political Parties taking mileage out of it and others taking a very cautious approach by just standing on the by lines.

It’s now said that MNS leader Raj Thakeray had no other option to project his political image so he had to go back to the very issue on which SHIVSENA has worked and thrived so well. As far as the Parties like Congress and NCP were more or less acting as spectators. The Big B was involved by MNS and the saga is very famous. Between this the fight of Abu Asim Azami and Raj Thakeray is very entertaining. By the way what is it with Mr.Azmi, does he opposes for the sake of it?

Having said all this there are some basic questions to which I have to find answers. First of all we are in a typical environment where despite all the diversity, we all have to work together for our National Progress. But with this in mind whether we should remember our regional culture or not. When Mr. P. Chidambaram wears his traditional outfits to attend Parliament, isn’t thatbeing parochial or making some sort of regional statement?

But the main issue is when there are so many people moving within the country then how one is suppose to protect regional culture? It baffles me, that if we have a OFFICIAL language (and NOT National Language) then why is that our IAS officers are forced to learn regional languages? (Apparently an IAS officer does not get an increment if he has not learned the local language!!) Also when we have to protect our culture, is it not necessary to use those languages as much as we can? When we go to countries like US and UK we are forced to write an English language test! So even they are bothered about their own languages!! Our politicians have always lacked the vision to see into the future and that’s why I think those who are not supporting the language issue are not realizing that if this continues a day will come when many of our languages would be extinct. I fail to see why is that if you insist speaking in Marathi its such a huge issue, it’s a common sense that whenever one changes his environment he has to adapt accordingly. So when one person shifts from UP, Bihar or any parts of the country he has to learn to respect the culture of the place where he has chosen to reside and vice versa. No doubt our Constitution gives us right move and reside in any parts of the Country. But I think it has to be our duty to protect the diversified culture of our country.

It’s funny how people are giving stupid comments regarding this issue. One of the Local Leader of Samajwadi Party said (rather sarcastically) why not make Marathi a National language? I never heard people like K. S. Singh (Mumbai Congress President) and noted advocate Mr. Majid Menon use Marathi in their interview!!

When Hindi was proposed as our National Language, South States made a great opposition to it. Although it was more of political opposition rather than cultural one. It raised one important point, one which still does not have a proper answer- Do we make our regional languages extinct for sake of having a national language? We have to respect the local languages not merely to protect those languages but with each language, a distinct culture is also attached.

In the debate of “Marathi” name board episode, it garnered a lot of attention and I don’t know where is the problem if one has to use the language of local people who give one his bread. It’s ironical that people from all over country come to Mumbai to earn their livelihood but they seem to have no respect towards local culture and traditions. Marathi people have embraced not only people from across the country but even their cultures; take the example of Dandiya of Gujrat, Durga Puja of Bengal etc. But when debates surrounding use of Marathi arises then it makes me think if Marathi gets its own due in its own Land!

You cannot force someone to embrace culture but one has to at least show some willingness to adapt to his surroundings. With single aim of being noticed at global stage, let’s not forget our roots, let’s not forget our culture and let’s not leave these languages to rot and die.

N. D. K. Nikhil

Someday you have to start...so today is someday

They say you have to fight to your worst fears....so may be this my attempt TO WRITE. Well I honestly dont know what I am going to do with THIS BLOG but I think this can be an exciting venture.

I also don't have a proper agenda on to write about. But it will surely be some lazy and angry thoughts. So while I am more and more confused with ever rising inflation as it makes my economics look even uglier. We have bypoll elections today in THANE, since I must vote however I don't understand whom to vote cause it really doesnt matter when all WE really want to be is silent spectators.

I think its more than enough for today. Its just a beginning, atleast I hope so!

Regards

N.D. K. Nikhil