Bans, Boycotts and Bharat (India) (B on Day 2 of A to Z Challenge 2015)

It was somewhere in the midst of Ban and Boycotts for Bharat (India) - A facade my country has started to don lately.

Here is a quick recap of bans on creativity and choices we make as individuals.
(This is not comprehensive list and in no order of preference):

1. India's Daughter was banned because it projects bad image of India. BBC was sent a notice by the Indian authorities and the documentary was taken down from the internet.

Un-ban our choices, Un-ban our freedom
Source - Google 

2. It was in the midst of a Beef Ban (cow slaughter ban) imposed in Maharashtra as Cow is worshiped by Hindus (majority religion in India) and Indian authorities are presumably stepping towards Hindu theocracy (overshadowing India's secular constitution). Cows will receive legal protection and mug shots with identity proofs are being created. The ban is likely to be extended across the country.

3. It was a ban that Un-freedom Movie was subjected to for focusing on homosexuality as it can promote unnatural passion.

4. Kalki Koechlin's 'Margarita With A Straw' cleared by Censor Board with only one cut - of a 12-second kissing scene. It is a film about a woman with cerebral palsy coming to terms with her queer sexuality.

5. The word Bombay beeped out of Mihir Joshi's songtrack 'Sorry' because it is 'offensive' to use primitive nomenclature (Bombay) for Mumbai. The track is a conversation between a father and his daughter and I wrote it after the Nirbhaya Gang rape case in December 2012.ay

Here are the lyrics of the song:

I am sorry sweetheart

This is the world I am giving you today. 

It is the same thing no matter what you read… 

From Delhi to Bombay. I wish it was different darling...

Wish you could feel nice and safe. 

But the world’s gone crazy, I don't know what to say’
6. Amendments to Section 66 A of the Information Technology Act was aimed at banning my liberty to speak my mind online. Thankfully the Supreme Court of India rendered it unconstitutional. And I am relieved as my Facebook updates will not invite an arrest order from the authorities on grounds of offensive, while I attempt to show my dissent.

7. Creators of All India Bakchod Roost were forced to take down the video from Youtube as it breached Indian values. Outcry over creative cinematic ventures like Haider, PK are not alien to Indians. And even the infamous movie 50 Shades of Grey made to banned items in India.

As I write this post, I am enraged. I have a question for those who support these bans and promote boycotts in the name of our nation. So as individuals, what are we (we refers to those who are impacted by these bans)?  

Are we heading adolescence?
Are we rash bunch of brats who are to be disciplined?
Are we incapable of making decisions?
Do we have to project a regressive face of development to the world today?
Do we really in need of writing a oligarchy for generations to come?
Are we a nation where people need to be fed on the right idea of entertainment, food, religion and music?
Do we have hold years old values paramount and fail to walk with the times?
Do we really have to be controlled for the choices we make as individuals?

THE ANSWER TO EACH OF THE QUESTION LISTED ABOVE IS A BIG LOUD SHOUT OF A 'Damn NO'.

My nation Bharat (India) is becoming all about Bans, Boycott, Bigotry. We do not need this? We are able enough to make the right choices as individuals. And we are liberated enough to make the wrong choices. Do not make decisions for me. My soul suffocates and curse you.

Ban mongers - If you do not like it, choose to avoid it. Please do not make decisions for me. I do not need your wisdom!

Author's Note: Impose a blanket Ban on Injustice, Hypocrisy, Corrupt, Bigots, Small Thinkers, Shallow Minds, Sexists, Rapists, Crime, Violence...

Ban the wrong. Ban it today - you need not ban anything else! I detest those mindless bans that take away my freedom of making choices, my freedom of deriving solace or getting a high to bring out my creativity.

P.S. Bans, Boycotts and Bharat (India) on B - April 2, 2015. My second post for the A to Z April Challenge.

5 Saal Kejriwal - A Thumping Victory

Not always do you feel this happy, do you? All the AAPtards (AAPians) say aye!

Source - Google Search

A thumping mandate to AAP means reaching to next level of responsibility. It cannot afford to get in a shell of arrogance, overconfidence and shamming personalities. Personally I have had a disconnect with the way any government functions - old fellas shouting in assembly, breaking benches, mics, and creating nuisance. Many of us feel so gloomy with the thought of being face to face with a politician. AAP brings a new face to politics - happy smiling fellas - talking of democracy, new age governance, no corruption and all those fancy promises a Delhite wants to live.

Debate is on whether it is a loss of BJP of not. I would have given benefit of doubt to BJP if it was a close election. But a thumping mandate surely speak a lot. Just 3 seats that go into the kitty of BJP (who projected Modi as the face of campaign) against 67 seats bagged but AAP. I see this as Modi's loss (being the face of BJP during the campaign) than Bedi's loss, who became the face just 2 week before the campaign.

Here are some of contrasts between BJP and AAP:

• Modi's monologue vs Kejriwal's dialogue
• Image shamming tactic by BJP vs Smiling (easy-talker) AAP spokespersons
• BJP's vague vision vs AAP's agenda for Delhi
• PM doning 10 lakh fashion grandiosity vs a Mufflerman as Delhi CM
• Religious intolerance vs discrediting religion from governance
• BJP's 9 months into power vs AAP's 49 days
• BJP's hush campaigns vs AAP's apology
• BJP's donning as protector of women by making them stay indoors vs Kejriwal's CCTV plan
• Modi's achievements front page Advertisements (which are pegged as violation of election commission's guidelines) vs Volunteers with Jhaarus and AAP Caps

Better quality of life wins over than religious derision and ill treatment of quite protesters (I am referring to Cathedral incident). I found many people tagging non-capitalist leadership spread of AAP as a threat. But hang on - the real threat is a real criminal, a mass murderer, a rapist, a person who carries a crime on his cuffs. A socialist, an activist, a democrat, a feminist, etc are ideologies not crime. While capitalist agenda should be followed, the government must not become a machinery to feed the corporate and suffocate humanity.

Author's Note: I would leave you with this thought:
Rape laws must be pegged over IT acts (do we need 5 years for that?)
Uniform Civil Code over Hindu Rashtra (do we need 5 years to put this in place?)
Disability pension for armed forces must not be scrapped (especially when we get so patriotic about Army keeping us safe)

P.S.: An Aam Aadmi has been made into a khaas aadmi by the Aam Aadmi of Delhi. 
I am not going to be a blind follower. Hope ‪#‎AAP‬ sticks for long. Stays honest and true to its core values. Delhites are not easy to fool. Congratulations ‪#‎Aaptards‬ ‪#‎Aapians‬!   Make AAP deliver and keep pushing the Aam Aadmi Party towards best governance. It cannot afford to flounder!

Madras Cafe - Review

One man's terrorist is other man's revolutionary. 

This topic has never been spoken about in the Bollywood space, and thus I wanted to watch it. The movie revolves around the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the LTTE (referred to as LTF in the movie) connection and the role played by RAW. It captured the sentiments of an Army Man's wife, it carried the message about how businesses run countries' national policies, it can become a nasty game. Politics is nothing but the information game and reinstating who is powerful in a region.

West wanted a strong hold in Indian subcontinent and India wanted to avert it, thus decided to intervene in Sri Lankan civil war during the 1990s. It showed failure of Indian military power, world's 4th largest military power to a revolutionay, Anna Bhaskara.

An army man confessing that the killing could have been averted. Although it was not clear to me how could it be averted?

Nargis Fakri role as a war correspondent, Jaya, was real, and her acting was far better than it was in Rockstar. Although I liked her in Rockstar as well.

John Abraham as Major Vikram Singh was naturally a hero. The movie was projected from his narrative perspective. I find John picking up on serious roles as a great decision. Even in Shootout at Wadala, I liked his role.

The songs are just great, I changed my hello tune to one of the songs from the movie Madras Cafe, Mera Kaun hai...

Author's Note: If you can see blood bath, become a war correspondent, and if you will puke when you see blood bath become a romantic novel writer. This though might be reflected in later posts.

P.S: I still have the image of Rajiv Gandhi's assassination intact, as we watched it on TV. And for a 7 years old me, it was something thrilling, full of horror.

P.P.S: This reminds me of an incident about one of the top business houses in India. There was a negative story about the business house carried by the Forbes Magazine. The Corporate Communications head was being targeted at by the company management for providing sensitive information to the media. Based on mere acquisitions, he was house arrested for 2 months, and threatened by the mafia. He ended up committing suicide. This is not an old story, happened recently, something like 2 months back. But there is no action that can possibly be taken against the company, because there is no proof.

Reservation Relaoded

The advent of reservations.. We know all that SC/ST/OBC/ Gujjar/Jat/ Muslim/Christians/General Category  story, lets take a look at a refreshing reloaded version!

Reservation Part 1: The implementation of Direct Taxes code was not taken up in the national Union Budget 2012-13. In addition to Income tax people are forced to pay more service tax as well. Despite surge in inflation, there is a gap of equivalent appraisals. Rupee's value against Dollar is uncontrollably high and the value of gold is shining everywhere than on page 3. Sad we are forced to read all these bland news everyday!

Reservation Part 2: 
Your daily SMS limit has been reserved to 20 per day. This has been decided by the government as a lot of SMSes, degrading the government, were doing the rounds. And like an abla naari, she had to protect her integrity!

And the funniest of all is the Reservation Part 3: Seemingly agitated with the stride of protests in the Indian national capital, the administrators have  decided to go aggressive with their autocracies. Now that the police was done with the implementation of section 144, and knowing that amending one of the fundamental rights to protest is not possible, they have another nasty trick in place.

Excerpts from the Times of India Article posted online..

But with Delhi Police reportedly proposing to restrict entry to the grounds with barriers in the wake of recent anti-corruption protests at the site, and seeking to impose visiting hours citing security reasons, this way of life seems threatened.  

Complete article is available here

Be it any activity, crime, of a call to call off corruption, the government doesn't think about the ways to solve the issue, but sadly endorse LIMITED ACCESS! With this the sick though they have come a step ahead of its ways of 'reservation'.. Reserving our right to visit places in our own country.

Author's Note: This government does not let a pout of fresh air come in.. I don't want the government to be a nagging neighbourhood aunty. It want it to be someone with the style and pleasant personality as a 5 star waiter!

DMRC and the Women's Coach

It came as a blessing in disguise! All the ladies were happy that they will have a comfortable journey. The coach is comparitively less crowded. But, I was particularly upset about a ladies coach, considering that I would not be able to catch a glimpse of hunks around... It was rare to spot a hunk though! As time passed I realised that the ladies coach has more reasons to be upset about. 

I started getting use-to the comfort, and finally away from the uncomfortable gaze of those unpleasant men,who find it macho to pass that knowingly unknowing gesture. I remember fighting back, where the entire gamut of men reply, lar ke aayee hai ghar se (she must have fought with her family memebers)! or Kuch to nahi kiya usne madam (he did not do anything, Madam). or the guy hinself shouts  maine to kuch nahi kiya, kya kiya maine bolo? (I did not do anything, what did I do? can you tell me?) Yes I do tell them, I reply back, wanting to paste a tight slap on their faces.. Now, women are away from those insensible lot.

But don't assume that girls are good either. Its equally uncomfortable to listen to those aunties and and tolerate those ill-mannered girls, who refuse to move in to accommodate those standing on the platform, keep commenting about thenew generation girl-kind and what not! More so is the tendency to not letting others to deboard, but howling inside the train. No one is willing to leave their seat at the sight of an old lady. Men hoard inside the coach, and when you confront them, they fight back. there is no mechanism to complain about such lot. 

And what about the general compartment! The decent men are offended, and the other lot has garnered a licence to misbehave. The moment you get off the train, they try and brush off, as if now that they have been segmented, they have every right to misbehave. If at all a female enters, they start taunting them that they should get into the women coach. Huh!!!

Also about those who were punished to sit-up for some 50 times or so.. That was all the more disgusting act. What makes the authorities to humiliate the violators of law, what can allow them to punish them do such an embarrassing act? OK, so they have got inside the women coach, but then don't we have decent ways to punish, charge fine, or whatever?

Why segment the two genders? Isn't it socially challenging us and a tendency wherein the two equal parts of nature should be sensitised to behave and travel cordially?

Author's Note: Now the authorities are planning to add two more coaches to the trains, lets see how the six coach fare! Also there would be a connectivity between Mandi House and Central secretriat,  promising plans but humiliating Crowd Management Strategy... Sigh!

Riches and the Poor

So how many of you know about Salman Khan's comment on Mumbai attack on 26/11 2008? What is your opinion on the entire crisis? And the aftermath!

The moment I held newspaper in the morning today, I could relate his statement to something which is highly terrorising and has been instigated by the state. Guess what? 

Lemme guess what would cross your mind, Maoists? Naxalites? Attrocities? State turning into Mafia? Land Acquisitions? Upset Tribal society?

No, none of the above, perhaps some of the above can be related to it.. True, when Salman Khan talks about the hype created as the rich were targeted. Attacks on poor is rarely of interest to anyone. Influential people make the world dance to their tunes. Its the poor who are subverted. 

Usmanpur flooded! Otherwise the city of Delhi would have been flushed. I can recall, every year such stories grab the headlines during monsoon. The State of Haryana releases water, which leads to flood threat in the capital. But in the meantime some other poor village is flooded to save who? Moreover we have a better argument to support the flooding of small villages. You see Delhi is holding CWG 2010, a big international sports event. Delhi cannot afford to project such a miserable situation, especially after thousands of athletes have backed of due to threat on Security, Health (read Dengue) etc. 

So much so drill runs have started on the dedicated lanes in the city roads are being reserved for the tourists. You see to save them from the harrowing traffic that we Delhites encounter everyday. 

How many of us? read females come across instances of inappropriate gestures, harrasment from random men. I dont think any of us would be an exception to this. These men belong to each of the segment of society, be it the affluent or the others. They seem to have been thinking that they have all the rights  in the world to insult a woman. Behave guys, otherwise soon we will get to learn that a dedicated transporation system has come in place to ferry the tourists.

My point is to begin with the floods, why the city has never considered saving and using this water? Why is it that water shortage news hogs the headlines and why do we always flood the areas where the poor reside. Furthermore, does the government ever compensate the flood victims? I am clueless about it. Save water, makea mechanism to do that, we have this opprotunity now, rather than doing it when we are head on with the crisis.

Second issue is the comment by Salman Khan, I feel he has said the truth. Why did he apologise then? Probably because this byte was given to a Pakistani channel. And BJP did not help but tap this opportunity to strengthen its hindutatva agenda.

CWG 2010, I am really happy that these games are happening in India. It will bring in prosperity and beautification of the city is already visible. But my point is why is it being done to receive the foreigners? Why did the government never think about the capital before? Why is the civil society being taught to behave now? I, as a citizen of the nation, of the city, have to be treated with if not equal, but more respect. Because I am again amongst those who, in the near future would be voting under section 49 (o).  

Author's Note: People here criticise, probably that is what I am doing through this post. No one seem to be convinced that CWG could happen in Delhi, around three weeks to go for that. No one could take a democratic remark by an actor, ultimately he had to say sorry. No one heard the villagers, who had their houses flooded! Isn't it cruel and violent?

P.S.: Islands of prosperity cannot sustain with the sea of deprivation