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!

Before you share on Social Media

Source: Google Search

We carry the world in our palm and we know what is happening in the world within minutes of an act. The power of social is immense, but there is a grim line that gyrates between sensational, responsible and funny!

Think of FakingNews.com - purely funny. It presents unverified information for virality. Knowing that it is an outright lie, we laugh and even share some of the updates. Here are the recent ones>>

• BREAKING: SIT requests SC to allow it to hire Arnab to investigate black money offenders. SIT members are really impressed with the way Arnab is able to grill his guests every night on his show.

• BREAKING: Bangalore based IT company introduces “Work-from-Bus” as traffic takes a turn for the worse. A popular tech startup in the IT city has started a trendy way for employees to work, as most of them often fail to reach office on time.

Being bombarded with information in various social touch-points, we are often taken with the sensational aspect of it. We do not cross check it but start becoming a part of a spree that allows for mindless hooliganism.

Most recent example is mocking Pakistan over gender issue. Pakistan has emerged as the world's second-worst country in terms of gender equality, according to the annual Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum. Detailed information brings forth additional shocker - India's ranking fell from 101 out of 136 countries last year to 114 out of 142 countries this year.

Read the full article here>>

I noticed people responsibly sharing their thoughts on the gender issue while using Pakistan gender ranking news to substantiate their point - which is a good strategy. However those who mocked Pakistan need to move beyond comparing apples to oranges philosophy. What should bother us more? In such a scenario, I think India deserves a bigger mocking for not being able to sustain its position forget scaling up the ranking. This was just one example, but there are instances where we join the herd - without thinking much about what we to say. There are times when you can stay quite, it doesn't hurt.

Author's Note: Do you #Google (cross-check) any information (presented as a fact) on social media ? And even if it is a valid information, do you share the thought to bring out a sensational aspect of it or responsible aspect of it?

P.S.: The point to ponder is whether we even realise if we are made to like seemingly responsible story for a sensational purpose.

In praise of NaMo - Narendra Modi.

BJP won India's 2014 Union Elections, or did Modi win? Would it be synonymous to say so?  My Facebook feeds are full of 'in praise of NaMo'. I do not have any reasons to say why he should have not won.

When George W. Bush was elected as President of America for the second time, I was sad that Americans are so ignorant that they choose someone who would further the international oil diplomacy surfaced in the form of Iraq war. Americans are ignorant people. They think that the moon is made of cheese and if you tell them that it is not they will not agree, instead argue with you.

The political arena is a dirty place. The PR machinery backing Mr Modi was just a little too aggressive.
Check the image below:

Source: Logical Indian Facebook Page
Apparently, #BJP had done some cost-cutting when it came to pay for 'skilled' graphic designers.

Don't miss to visit the official link attached!
http://www.bjp.org/en/media-resources/press-releases/charter-for-varanasi-by-shri-narendra-modi

Too many media houses means too many opinions. Sometimes PR machinery goofs up. Modi Refused to Talk about Gujarat Riots, check the video here, where he walks out from an Interview with Karan Thapar.

For people to justify his wrong doings during the Godhra riots, just because he brought development to Gujarat make me feel that Indian's are putting themselves too much into Modi's shoes - ranting & chanting NaMo. And please do not compare two wrongs to justify that the wrong Modi did was still a better wrong than wrongs done during the 1984 Sikh riots. 

I wish he will take India as a secular state, where existence of any religion is not under government's watch.
I wish no Ram Mandir is constructed at Babri Masjid site, make it a memorial for Ayodhya riot victims
To all those religious people out there, who I might have offended, I believe in just The Facebook God!

Author's Note: Good Luck Mr Modi! And Please answer questions raised in my previous post, Modi - The Prime Time Indian Tamasha.

P.S.: I wish we see India where if someone we love did something wrong, we can go upto that person and tell them. Be it those who burnt Sabarmati express, or those who burnt Best Bakery - It was wrong - paving way for a man eats man world!

P.P.S: A little ride on the memory lane, I expect something similar coming to Modi. 

Babri Masjid Verdict (बाबरी मस्जि का फैसला)

बाबरी मस्जिद का फैसला आने वाला है, हो सकता हे इस फैसले से कुछ विवाद हो,विभिन्न धार्मिक पार्टी उकसाए, मंदिर और मस्जिद की बात करे, तब एक बात याद रखना की दंगो में मरने वाला ना हिन्दू होता है ना मुसलमान वो सिर्फ किसी का भाई , बेटा , बाप या किसी के घर का चिराग होता है. कोई हिन्दू या मुसलमान नहीं होता है और इसी इंसानियत के नाते एस मेसेजे को ...जितना हो सके फैला दो और बचा लो बेगुनाहों को....

The verdict for Babri Masjid will be out tomorrow i.e. September 30, 2010. This verdict will lead to controversies, religious parties will come forth, and may lead to riots. Remember that whoever dies in riot is neither a hindu or a muslim.. The person who sacrifices his life ts some one's brother, son, father or the bread winner of a family. For humanitarian reasons, please spread this message, and save the innocents.  

Author's Note: Waiting for a peaceful verdict. Refer to the story here, which says that the political parties have started crafting their strategies for the verdict.

Sports overpower politics

The classical examples where sports overpower politics. 

All in office were pumped up, staring at the TV screen, applauding each time he hit the six! While sitting on my chair, I turned back and tried to understand, what is it about? Ok thats Sachin and whos the other batsman? Is that Dhoni, Sehwaag, ? Could not really make it out. Sachin Tendulkar overpowered the Union Rail Budget 2010. His 200 not out score, a first double century in the 39-year history of One Day Innings (ODI), tendulkar now has 46 centuries in ODI and 47 in Test.

Frenzies took over in my office and everyone started betting who will fetch the lead story in next day's match - Mamta Banerjee's Rail budget or Tendulkar's scoreboard. I preferred to stay out of conversation as I am no more a cricket fan. 

And now the run down:

The Economic Times - Delighted Sachin, spreading his arms, face held up to the skies, thanking the almighty for hitting the record

The Financial Express - Mamta with folded hands with an update on Union Budget

The Hindu Business Line - picture of a shady politician, who cannot even pronounce the names of places where she is going to provide rail connectivity, no Sachin on page 1

The Indian Express - Top part of the page has the Tendulkar! Mamta figures in at the later part of the page

The Times of India - Sachin Tendulkar on the front lead

Hindustan Times - My sister hinted, its no mamta didi. Tendulkar fares

Happen to catch up with a school mate in the morning, his opinion, "Di you know Rail Budget to har saal aata hai, Tendulkar rocked, he will make up in the headline." 

I remember how madly I use to love cricket when I was in 9-12 standard. Every new addition in the team was added to my crush list. I had minuscule details of the match held last and discussed it with my pals. I hated when people criticized Rahul Dravid , coz I had a sort of evergreen-crush on him.

Author's Note: Also I happen to analyze, why do we have a dedicated Union Rail budget, that comes a few days before the Union Budget and not a dedicated budget on infrastructure, poverty eradication, education. All other issues except for Rail and taken on in a single day - that is generally the last working day of February. The practice was started by the British rulers to reach every nook and corner of the country, and it was being followed later by Indian policymakers. This idea was well reflected here .

About the headline part, Sachin Tendulkar rocks!