I personally liked the SRK shaded acronyms coined by JR, cheekily hopping through the charisma of Pathan Actor and BJP’s hand tied helplessness in taming the so called Urduwood, thus subtly stating humanity and love transcends hatred. Now JR and RG are caught in ‘official media gossip’ that RG is being mentored by JR for a small correction which usually comes as intended in brackets in any genuine reportage. No doubts, democracy is getting sabotaged as the Governance is only seen with controlling media with raised pitch from Gaa(?*)darons and Saalons over nothings.
*? – I am just trying to be an authentic amateur reporter here with those brackets.
Paranoia = Knowing all Facts?
The event depicts the acute paranoia BJP is able to induce on its individual Opponents. It’s quite natural for JR to interfere when a certain dog biscuit aficionado, whose Karma is working like reverse working Washing Machine, making him dirtier with every saffron detergent wash, escalated a modest confusion over Gautam Das / Damora Das names to Supreme Court level treason comedy. If this reminds you of Amaithi Padai, a satire movie scene on evergreen indian Politics, wherein the Party workers fight among themselves on their moral right to clean the undies of their “beloved” leader, blame yourself for your own thought crimes in New India.
The “Generic” Underwear Philosophy in Politics: You forget everything of past when you fight over nothings, like who captures the Leader’s soiled Underwear to clean up and win brownie biscuits.
Peel another layer of this humorous “Kapital Das” episode, the same worker would have washed away his corruption on his party Washing Machine rather with his own hands. Jokes or reality apart, BJP actually thrives on inducing such paranoia on its opponents. Hope Congress leaders don’t take this seriously and still be a reckoning cohesive force as Congress disunity is much bigger malice than Opposition disunity.
Mic Testing….
“Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Narendra Modi loses his.” – when Ronald Reagan campaigned for RG
RG got BJP dancing like Magic Mikes over Mics not working in Parliament row. The rabid and clueless reactions of BJP over RG’s remarks, makes it pretty clear that the brutal damage is done to Modi and his stooges on their carefully built Vishwa Guru image catering to domestic interests, by RG with his candid conversations from London with love for democracy. So, RG must be obviously patting on his back for doing something right. When the media threw an iron curtain over his local coverage, it’s so funny, the rebuttals of BJP to RG’s so far unknown comments to masses, only gets publicised by them, hoping to divert national attention to his “misdemeanours” at London from Adani-Benami crisis.
BJP’s micro syllabus of Governance and Exam only deals on how to eat mangoes.
Though BJP may fool themselves as Masterstroke to suppress Adani’s mainstream debacle, it actually stands miserable, with helpless wailings of self abuse, hoping to create a sympathy wave, but for real, raising even more suspicion of their assassination of democracy, very much in progress. This is precisely what RG and Congress would have wanted with their London stir. If the idea is to raise suspicion among the public on the deterioration of democracy, BJP has got the job done for otherwise lazy and resourceless Congress. Any Propaganda is like an antibiotic to organic democracy. The more the BJP injects public with fake propaganda antibiotic, the more it becomes useless, forcing them to look for super antibiotic beating their own Pulwama type gigantic narratives.
A for Adani… B for Benami… F for For… M for Modi… Ouch!!!!
If the lambs of the world had been willingly led, they would have long ago saved themselves from the butcher’s knife.
I personally liked the shock and awe interactions of RG abroad. The visit did what our own bought out media could not achieve. However, RG could have made it look like a “Main Hoon Na…” arrival of Hero to India, with assertiveness, just like his last impressive speech at parliament leaving the Rulers in tatters.
I don’t carry the burden of the past or the madness of the future. I live in the present. – Guess that nerveless tongue
It is a difficult thing for someone who does not fake or do dummy campaigns abroad cautiously avoiding any organic media interactions. Such, interactions usually loosen up people being questioned compared to carefully nurtured narrative like his own last Parliament speech or countless Modi’s abroad shows. Still, it got the job done for Congress. Believe Congress should just move on, leaving BJP low and dry, crying like kindergarten kids over and over till they make themselves numb.
Meanwhile in London
When BJP said ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ with Aircraft Emergency Exit.
To illustrate the iron grip BJP enjoys with Corporate owned media, we had weeks long Pee-Gate of a stressed guy hogging limelight, keeping us busy on alcohol induced hallucination and its effects, without realising the similar effects of fake propaganda playing on us. In a parallel Universe, Tejasvi Surya, a BJP MP from Bengaluru, with reports indicating intoxicated with a certain type of rare mushroom acting as potent drug, opened up the emergency door of a Plane, usually deemed a terrorist act, endangering the lives of passengers on board. Looks like Hostess was giving emergency time instructions, the intoxicated BJP leaders, usually performing Joker act upon hangover with social media Posts of getting high on a “Masala” Dosa when Bengaluru got submerged in floods, happened to get seated near the emergency door, allowed the magic Mushroom to commit its sin.
Just blame it on magic Masala Mushroom…
Maybe we will have another AV coming out of the BJP’s official Chief Videographer from Tamilnadu at opportune moment, who blessed us with Puja Room “meditation” video to sink his own party. Even this grave terror-like incident was completely hushed out despite the strict norms for such aviation security acts. So, understandably, Indian Pilots get two types of SOP, report any alcohol induced abuse if he is a commoner, but don’t publicise any such incident if it involved BJP. Anyway the cat got out of the bag as the Pilot had to report such security anomalies mandatorily and the protocol exposed the BJP’s emergency atrocity.
When Adanis celebrated “Kabhi SEBI Kabhi Shell“
There are multiple events where BJP tried to hush up their shortcomings and blunders, but truth always finds an emergency exit to come out. Adani-Hindenburg is a major blow, which just happened because BJP allowed the stocks to get blown out of proportions without a solid financial foundation and with a gut feeling that no Indian media will even talk about and opposition will hit a dead end upon taking Adani route, as corruption is normalised. It just took a single report for the Adani Air castle to get blown to smithereens.
When Rahul Gandhi is that imagined Emergency Exit
Vishwaguru – Discount = Vishguru
Now, BJP is investing its full energy on banning BBC’s Documentary on the Blot 2002 Godhra Riots, trying to overshadow with a routine G20 Leadership, amplifying it as Vishwaguru event, spending crores on otherwise a modest round-robin happening, hoping that “God of Big things” PR tag sticks on Modi for all his small stunts cozying up to International Leaders. I have never seen before for how International Leaders could be leveraged as Set properties, like in Movies. We got Australian PM posing on a ridiculous Cricket Chariot. Then we got Japanese PM eating golgappas as sensational news. These are harmless diplomatic acts, but the actual damage happens, when such small acts of gesture get manufactured to become sensational Big Brotherism with our own PM shadowing along with them, hoping that International aura sticks on to him..
Politics is show business for ugly people.– Paul Begala ( Enjoy Bug Boss! )
To sample Media’s “God of Big Things” PR for domestic demography, Modi is the definitive person who could stop Russia-Ukraine War and currently he has “discounted” peace. Unfortunately, when the “God of big things” asked for Amrit-Kaal, “God of small things” gave him Amritpal, making him come up with giant flags our embassy and childish tit for tat act at British embassy, making him more of an immature bully on the International block flexing his ballooned up muscles. So much for humble humans acting as Gods. Afterall we humans are amazing creatures with amazing sixth sense only helping us understand our mortality only when we are dead.
Makes one wonder if sleep is the magic Key to awaken one’s godliness. Sometimes it’s better to get a good sleep rather wasting time on 24×7 PR and advertising, pathetic insomnia proudly as Hardworking-Harvard-hater. It’s pretty obvious if one cannot sleep he got to do something as staying still is certainly for gods.
When RG said – naam toh suna hoga
Now, after going through all these, how could we blame RG for a modest discussion abroad on the deterioration of democracy, when he never asked for any Foreign intervention or even Divine intervention like BJP escapes through crisis with FM citing Pandemic as God’s own act and washing her own hands off crisis? RG’s speech though, thought provoking was never to the level of the discourse BJP has got down on us. Of course, Mics were switched off at Parliament and any mention of a certain benami at Parliament got expunged. The way Parliament is getting run, future may mistake it as Theater for amateurs with lots of boisterous action and less of meaningful debates, where finally laws are passed in climax in hush and haste, like thieves running out to exits after heist to celebrate their holidays.
The Word ‘Corrupt’ gets expunged in Parliament, but who will expunge the corrupt?
Kabhi kabhi jeetne ke liye kuch haarna bhi padta hai … aur haar kar jeetne waale ko baazigar kehte hai[Sometimes to win you must lose something … and one who wins from a losing position is called a gambler]
At the time of writing this, there were ‘136 and still counting’ cases registered for Anti-Modi posters in Delhi. BJP understands, it’s not so easy to control streets like they do with Media. They now want to inculcate the fear of streets with the opposition. The major problem with the opposition is there is no unity at ground. If the entire opposition collaborate and started pasting posters all over india, BJP would have been rendered powerless in no time. It’s the ego and jealousy of opposition which makes BJP look powerful. In contrary, all parties United as Janata Party to defeat emergency. We can’t even dream of that Selfless Service oriented Indian / Politician nowadays.
I started this post as a short Bus Trip, but it became a looong one like Chennai Express. Maybe this could be the longgeessst blog post from the world’s laziest guy on this Planet. Now, RG is convicted on grounds of defaming Modi Sir-name. If those ‘Italian Bar-Maids’ or ‘Jersey Cows’ or ‘Hybrid Calves’ or ‘People who could be identified by Clothes’ or ‘Termites’ started working on IPC 500, applying same precedent for criminal defamation, Sir’s beautiful name will be staying in Jail registers for life time. If wondering on the commonality of surnames on Bank loan and Political Frauds could amount to defamation, how about a certain street smartie who happened to be out of place, found himself at Parliament, chest thumping loudly on someone using Gandhi surname rather Nehru’s as if he decides on lineage? If questioning someone’s lineage at Parliament is civility, but anyone wondering about the common thread with bank defaulters, which is still kept confidential, in hiding from public, is criminal defamation, then we are living in Fool’s Paradise.
When you are tackling a traitor, never talk about him. But always talk about the tragedies inflicted by him on innocents, along with clear resolution. Sometimes, all truth needs is a clever detour, avoiding falsehood potholes on the way.
Burai sang joh mel rachaya … phir kabhi na chutte uska saaya [If you befriend evil … then its shadow will never leave you]
Sometimes, Rulers need to be careful on their wishes and setting crazy precedents as ruling successors could normalise such big punishments for petty issues. BJP normalised corruption with big dreamy amounts on 2G scandal, so that people went numb even for 11 Lakh Crore Adani Stock Swinging Seesaw. One can easily predict RSS and BJP will be going through similar criminal executive atrocities without any remorse from their successors or general public with only themselves to blame, as the sole cultivators of such venomous seeds in garden of democracy.
When Hari Das said, If a pickpocket meets a Holy Man, he will see only His pockets.
Its amusing the way BJP do scaffolding for their falling fortress. We got a Minister who defend Chinese incursion by hiding away from them, getting active when the LAC is breached in fake BJP narrative. Sadly he could not even appear in between the way of PM and Cameras. Fate had him hide behind someone’s back so as not to steal the limelight, even by few lumens, from the Royal Crown ignorant of invisible damocles Sword dangling around. He opined that Congress wants to have Law in their pockets. When the Case gets stayed to HC and then travels back only when the judgement gets sorted out, to always vindicate opposition Leaders, obviously we all know whose pockets are empty and who keeps their pockets full, stinking with Benamis, Sealed cover professionals and Caged Harasso-Saurus Dinosaurs. Anyway I sincerely wish such good defensive soul to regain his real voice, rather being a puppet designate, once the golden period of Audio-Video-Scandal-Phobia episodes among BJP cadre and their near- dear ones, gets over.
Satyagraha will triumph in the end. The duragrahi, like the oilman’s ox, moves in a circle ( Read as History ). His movement is only motion but it is not progress. The satyagrahi is always moving forward. – Gandhi
Bad Roads cause Divorce. Bad Rulers cause Hate Cancer.
Surprisingly, there was another Remotely operated Zombie Politician, wanting RG to be punished for offending a caste for claiming, Modi and few more bankrupt Modis and a rich Benami Adani were ‘thick as thieves’ ( relax! just a metaphor). Wonder if he did any caste check or at least his own background check on who took him up on Political ladder, when he betrayed his own party.
If at all Sin-De wants anyone to be punished it should be that ‘Kahaani’ Villain from Bombay, who itches to copy-act backstabbing on his back, once he met in disguise with rounded glasses, becoming an unidentifiable with a mole on cheek, as wondrously attested by his own Spouse, making one wonder if he really gets a look at home, performing a secret mission in dark, especially when Thackeray would not have bothered their CM chair digging, even in broad daylight. Lotus Agent Bombay Biswas was climbing the Assembly gate to steal when it was already wide open. Of course one need to acknowledge her intelligence for coming up with research linking Bad roads with Divorce, rather spouses. Hopefully their pot-well-wishers have bagged enough contracts to make good roads and save marriages from rabbit holes under the golden rule of now-stepney-CM.
Exxtra Innings for nothing
Then we got other Movie Political extras who act very well in Politics when just lingering around in movies, making the movie goers wonder if they could have had Saravana Bhavan idly with Sambar and three chutneys rather bleeding on her screen performance, Party hopping for Posts owing to her “Povoma Oorkolam!” (Let’s go on a Procession, (around Party offices?)) nature. Irony is such Con-Artists could not find irony in MP, getting convicted for two years on a dubious Statement, the same statement she had faithfully tweeted when her faith was with the same MP to dole out political Post, but too clever by half in spotting RG’s karma for tearing up and bypassing ordinance which made a mockery of Judiciary with a makeshift law to protect “actual” convicts of legislature.
BJP is building up on a narrative that Ordinance, which has very limited validity unless it gets extended as the reason and not the ridiculous legacy law quoted with maximum punishment . Maybe BJP could enlighten us why an Ordinance drafted to save Lalu Prasad Yadav, made him a prisoner in entirety of Modi’s PM tenure, if tearing such ordinance is a sin. Why is Modi is so afraid of old and ailing Yadav and capitalising on RG’s act either way?
Sometimes, its better to remain Jobless rather romancing Cows for the sake of Posts.
While respecting the yesteryear version of bold persona, wonder what kind of Karma makes such Movie turned reality Artists go merry-go-round around every party in their Sow-Poison-Service(?) political Universe without any shame of jumping around opposing ideology or principles in months / weeks, treating them like prosthetic coat. This is as good ( or bad ) as catching a Flight from Chennai to Delhi only to travel back to chennai upon reaching Mumbai. Maybe it’s better to be jobless rather keeping occupied by meaningless travel back and forth, justifying Post, sulking on new found old tweets fearing the wrath of new Master, who maintains a Shitler’s list on people who oppose him, hosting Bug Boss show, on Govt payroll, harassing everyone in the list for cruel entertainment. But for some, showbiz and political life shamelessly goes on and on… till they wonder why they started on traveling the orbit, if at all Lord Sundaramurugan teaches her the value of journeying, or maybe their thinking is just like their hollow acting.
The bigger a man gets by money and power … the farther he gets from truth and reality
Then we got other Political extras, who worked as Government Bureaucrat serving Political Masters rather Nation, thinking over ridiculous gems for few days to win brownie biscuits from their Master, – “Congress got an ass to run Horse’s race”, not to miss the defamation queue. In current context, any ass is much better fit for an old-ass-ole, throwing stones holding the power switch, inside the democratic glass house, hoping to prove his fake 56″ courage, with his payrolled slaves.
Its an Horse, Its an Ass-ole, Its a Wolf in sheep’s clothing….
The Oldie can’t even muster courage to utter his own neighbour’s name, who is busy taking away his Eden Garden little by little, growing bolder everyday, understanding he is handling a rattlesnake not a King Cobra, as wrongly advertised. The max this glass house breaking Oldie could do is take his incursion enemy for a kiddish swing, at (presently) neighbour’s garden. What we got now is a Quixote’s horse powered by imaginative PR. Shut off the PR and give people a dose of reality check, they will just see a black hole, deep enough to sink them in. Everything about BJP-RSS will vanish for decades.
Apun Bola… Phekta hai Saala
India has seen ridiculous Politicians performing strange acts out of their lust for power and recognition from their Biscuit-Masters. But this curious case of rotten apple from Himachal takes the cake, coming from a rosy dynastic background and gets much rosier when it comes to getting dirty work done. Just like Nayak movie One Day Chief Minister, we got a real life One-Match-Cricketer, as per rules only a Cricketer could hold the Cricket Board Post. He is actually a dumbo compared to another rosy dynast helming the Cricket Board… why bother adhering to rules when you can just change the rules and judgements. Maybe it’s the problem of distance between HP and Gujarat.
He can’t even win a single constituency from his bastion in recent assembly elections, seaking a lot about his skills and competence. But, when it comes to Modi, holding a “Master of entire Political Science” graduate degree himself, without bothering to study, or even enquiring the University if they even provide such course, merit does not matter. Only merit needed is to throw some gaalis in parliament and act like Parliament rowdy with rough acts. BJP has an illusion that, handsome faces don’t lie and commoners will fall for their innocent faces and lies. Even for Rajasthan, Remote controllable handsomeness is becoming the CM criteria rather meritorious Rajes, having a mind on their own.
“Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.” – Will Rogers
Now, the rotten Apple has come up with another ridiculous gem, that Congress is betraying RG by delaying his “Appeal”. As an evidence, he quotes Pawan Khera getting reprieve from “Arrest” immediately from SC. So much understanding from an Ek-Din-Cricketer, blooming like a Flower just for one day, on the difference between “Appeal” and “Arrest”. Let’s hope he will play at least One Day Cricket at LAC rather, uttering provoking bravados in Parliament, Or maybe he will deem Incursion as neighbour’s internal matter?
Your aunt has bought a lot of uncles outside [Bahar tumhari aunty bahut saare uncles ko lekar aayi hai]
Finally, when all the extras could not turn the tide against RG, the much touted Operation-Lotus-Baba, the Chanakya, the finisher of sorts entered the arena. This silent serpent Bhai don’t make an appearance if at all BJP had to deal with a major PR crisis. So much for BJP’s pathetic thousand crores PR on RG being irrelevant.
Many times in the past, RG has been a victim of this BJP’s chakravyuh, like Rafale scam, but could not get out of crisis unblemished. But, Congress has handled RG’s disqualification in a mature and progressive manner so far, accommodating the opposition, without hurting their egos, forming a cohesive force. They had a similar set up in 2018 too, during Karnataka Swearing-in ceremony. but somehow Congress evaporated the chance, maybe due to successive state victories and fake confidence. Hope this time it takes everyone along till the finish-line, not falling into BJP’s trap.
“Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” – Lotus Baba err… Ronald Reagan
Chanakya, is a very rare personality one could get in Politics. His no-stones-unturned approach, playing with all his might to achieve success, playing that Onida Devil, is always neighbouring party’s envy. Also, the same neighbour may not recruit him as his means are outrageous, unethical and sometimes criminal. He may act as perfect foil for his mercurial know nothing Boss, but I personally felt he would have been a better Leader without his servile clutches and equipped with morality of meeting ends with dharmic means, rather by “all means”.
Britishers built a Parliament Well, where still elected frogs pull each other’s legs, bringing down India. Modi 2.0 is building a Parliament in the shape of funeral casket. Feel free to guess its democratic functionality.
Anyways, Chanakya pulled out his ace card on RG disqualification issue- Sympathy card on CBI’s improper treatment when he was in Opposition. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a Joker Card. Even a kid could spot between perceived criminal and a perceived verbal abuser. Even a kid would disbelieve, when a criminally accused orchestrate the conviction of a respectable Opposition Party heavyweight and then play upon his CBI sympathy card. We all know very well the caged Parrot has transformed to a Rabid Dinosaur attacking the opposition identified by Jackie-Chan-akya.
When Amrit-Shah displayed his Skidamarink skills with his evil fake news Force, but reached saturation limits
I am quite thankful with admiration because Chanakya never makes a scene but a clear and calm narration, unlike his Master. If at all Chanakya wants his sympathy card to work, he should have reformed the CBI in his powerful hands to a Force of integrity, rather avenging. One needs to appreciate him as it really needs lot of guts to believe on people’s foolishness to believe all his lies.
Two old men were sitting in a park, discussing the inevitable, death. One old man by name Badvani said, “When I die I would like to be buried with AB vajpayee, the greatest man, loved by all.”
Then he looked at the other named Kashmiri, who was ninety-three. He said, “I would like to be buried with the political genius Amrit Shah, who freed Kashmir by further destroying its freedom.”
Badvani felt annoyed, angry and he said, “But he is still alive.” Kashmiri man said, “So am I!”.
– Adapted from Osho
But chanakya is someone who has played electoral magic not once but twice nationally and waiting to unveil his EVM ( as nothing else will work this time ) magic show in 2024. I sincerely hope he reforms his criminally Corrupt force. India will always need such genial Go-Getters with morality implanted.
A disciple of Rinzai, a Zen Master, and some other religious Master’s disciple was talking.
The other Master’s disciple said, ‘Our Master is a man of miracles. He can do anything he wants. What is the great thing about your Master? What miracles can he do?’
And the disciple of Rinzai said, ‘The greatest miracle that my Master can do is not to do miracles.’
Osho
The Savarkar Circuit Breaker
I really don’t know how BJP and Hindutva groups make a big deal out of Savarkar. I would admire a certain Procession Star, who stood boldly to not even delete her legacy tweets, rather a person who succumbed to British Colonialism, when there are many others who died for independence. The only difference between those martyrs and Savarkar is that he did a midway U-turn, to become slave of British masters.
“The brilliant prospects of my early life all but too soon blighted, have constituted so painful a source of regret to me that a release would be a new birth and would touch my heart, sensitive and submissive, to kindness so deeply as to render me…politically useful in future*.” – Savarkar.
*Future had Partition and Riots
Savarkar / Nehru are not going to bring in Votes for either camps. Give voters a choice to choose between Gandhi Statue / Savarkar Statue / or even Modi Statue / 5 kg Atta or rice, to decide what works with them. This is waste of energy for Indian politics, especially when Congress is in a pathetic state to not even inform well of theirs or country’s collective current plight to masses. We got to admit they don’t even have resources to tell Rahul Gandhi is disqualified as in brutal dictatorships, to rouse public sentiment. Our current state of India, reminds me of a Joke of a person reading old 1970s newspaper in a tea shop and rejoicing for removal of emergency now. Anyways the Joke does not matter in current circumstances. Now, the Joke is actually on us.
Savarkar or Nehru does not matter to common man. It’s just BJP’s ploy to frustrate Congress on their genuine independence legacy to get to their nerves and turn them bitter and negative.
It suits Ruling BJP, to keep them alive
Having said that, RG could do well in not mentioning about useles Savarkar, whose only current functionality, leveraged by BJP, is to frustrate congress party people on their genuine legacy for independence. There is already a media campaign going on to respect Savarkar and not count him out of freedom struggle citing lame excerpts. The resolution for Congress is to talk loudly about Gandhi and Nehru, with interesting narratives of their non-apologist nature indirectly pricking out balloony Hindutva story, rather bringing themselves down ridiculing other disruptive elements in independence.
Sometimes Truth becomes a double edged Sword. The question of Truth or Silence could be on the utility of truth. This is a Prophetic Cartoon on… even if someone has power weapon, they need to watch out their back more than their enemies at plain sight.
We are all our own teachers in the school of life
Also, keeping future actions to his chest, will make RG more unpredictable, an asset in politics, as BJP is taking clear advantage of his stance on no apologies. The Parliament logjam was designed by the Rulers since they knew very well that RG will not budge for an apology. Congress actually played very well pressing for yet another speech by RG for clarifying on this, a clever googly BJP could not find any playbook to copy. BJP are pathetic souls who still copy the old toolkit of calling out “black magic” whenever the opposition comes out in black dress. Except for poor communication, congress is winning BJP, pinning them on mat, which actually I could not believe [pinch]. Bravo!
It is very good to be important … but it is more important to be good
One can only regret BJP’s empty meaningless “yellow politics” as it’s not about governance, but just timepass with juicy gossipy narratives, slandering opposition. But, as Rasheed Kidwai rightly pointed out about the brilliant packaging of Pathan movie catering to every demography, RG’s speech or Press meets are brilliant and spontaneous, But they lack the flavour like earthy humour of Lalu Prasad Yadav or Seasonal welfarish opportunism of Arvind Kejriwal or Sentimental emotions from a Prime Actor, weeping for votes.
What if Nehru comes alive… It would have been livelier?
Hitting Modi or even uttering Modi will never help RG. He just has to ignore Modi, like he avoided Smriti Irani for all her provocations, and start preparing for mixed and entertaining speeches peppered to capture media trends and masses. He has improved a lot as an affable personality. His communication team could work wonders if they play well to make him a compelling narrative. As far as I know, even corporate honchos hire media professionals to curate with SM posts for reach and professional touch. Sorry if I am preachy / crazy, but there is no point in flattery at crisis, even as a nobody.
The “Missing” Advertisement Congress need to poster out : Messrs. Public Relation
Congress PR misses the mark, allowing such catchy salacious narratives above, to flow freehand, leaving it as too leaning and low for them to respond, or too busy in firefighting major issues, rather hiring Renuka Choudhary type firebrand speakers to take care of such opportunistic nutwits, giving back as good (or bad) as it gets to the low lives. What Rahul Gandhi did was right in safeguarding a meaningful judicial verdict. It’s his good Karma which has paved the way for Congress redemption in 2024, provided Congress does it’s campaign well, which I am confident of, unlike Political chameleons who will be preparing for next hop rather fighting it out, to pluck yet another low hanging political post.
If you can’t convince them confuse them – Harry S. Truman
BJP’s PR is well explained by Osho with a simple story, in his own words below.
But the misfortune is that power is in the hands of the wrong people, and the people of intelligence are devoid of power. Otherwise there would not have been five thousand wars in three thousand years.I will tell you a small story to make it clear….
A great mystic heard that one of his friends, a childhood friend — they had played together, studied together — had become the prime minister of the country. Just to congratulate him, the mystic came down from the mountains. It was a long journey, tiring. By the time he reached the prime minister’s palace, the prime minister was getting ready to go somewhere. He recognized the mystic, but he said, “I’m sorry, I have some appointments. I have to go to three places, and I would love it if you can come with me. On the way we can talk and remember the golden old days.” The mystic said, “I would love to come with you, but you can see my rags are full of dust. It would not look right to sit by your side on a golden chariot.”
The prime minister said, “Don’t be worried. The king ( of Adani Land? ) has presented me with a very costly overcoat. I have never used it; I have been keeping it for some special occasion. I will give you the coat. You just put it on; it will cover your clothes, the dust and everything.” The coat was given to him. They reached the first house. They entered the house. The prime minister introduced his friend: “He is a great mystic. He lives in the mountains. Everything that he has is his own, except the coat — that is mine.” The mystic could not believe it: “What kind of stupidity is this?” Even the family was shocked, to insult the mystic in such a way. Outside the house the mystic said, “It is better I do not accompany you. You insulted me. What was the need to say that it is your coat? They were not asking.”
He said, “I am sorry, forgive me. And if you don’t come with me to the next appointment, I will think you have not forgiven me.” The mystic was a simple-hearted man. He said, “Then it is okay, I am coming.” Entering the second house, the prime minister introduced him: “He is a great mystic who lives in the mountains. Everything is his — even the coat is his!” The mystic could not believe that this man had any intelligence at all. Outside he simply refused: “I cannot go to your third appointment. This is too much.”
But the politician said, “I have said that the coat is yours!” The mystic said, “It is unbelievable how unintelligent a man can be. Your assertion, emphasis, that the coat is mine, creates suspicion: there is something you are hiding. What is the need to mention the coat at all? I don’t see the point that in any introduction coats need to be introduced.” And the politician said, “Forgive me, but if you don’t come to the third appointment I will never forget that I have hurt you. Please, there is only one more appointment, and I will not say that the coat is yours or the coat is mine. Don’t be worried about it.” The simple mystic, innocent, agreed to go with him. At the third house he introduced the mystic in the same way, “He is a great mystic from the mountains. All the clothes are his, but as far as the coat is concerned, it is better not to say anything!”
When Truth said, “Sorry. Wrong finger!”
Just like the story, BJP has fooled around enough in last two terms that they really don’t have anything else other than Rahul-nama hoping their saviour of two times – The Congress Party, will help this time too, with last minute self-goals. Sometimes, I wonder if BJP needs Congress more than Indians, to cling on to power. Sorry for self-goal, but people will doubt my credentials without it, being a Congress sympathiser.
I don’t want to make this a gossip level post pulling legs of Political Artists. In any vibrant and functioning democracy with a free media, they all would have got exposed on their hypocrisy. We are at a stage where, “truth” needs an affable makeup to make it look ‘real’. If at all BJP focused on Science and rational thinking, they might have realised, Truth is more powerful than Steam in a boiling kettle. But you know what… They think they could install a Cannon or Army Tank at every place of resistance like JNU, thus putting an Army-Enforcement lid to a boiling resistance kettle. Sad case of Ulta Pulta Geniuses and their Master-misstrokes!
And… That’s Meh! Just yet another Ulta Pulta Genius who genuinely thought India was Shining,when it was actually burning in 2002
When Pontification is better than Defy-cation. – Hum shareef kya hue … poori duniya hi badmash ban gayi [Right when I became noble … the whole world turned naughty]
I don’t mind pontificating as its a better Job than taking swipes at Modi or spelling doom for India under Modi. India has seen worse enemies of democracy even from a Gandhi, whose rulebook Modi shamelessly copies, ( but consciously avoid fault lines by shedding off his own conscience ) along with Hitler’s campaign playbook, making even Goebbels blush, by attaching Bells and whistles to routine G20 Events, just for few grand Photo-Ops, like leading everyone to Dining room and claim to be the World’s Leading Leader leading other scapegoat leaders, falling for his acts, with his propaganda. The name is Vishwaguru.
Good artists copy, great artists steal. – Pablo Picasso
India has always stood up to Autocrats and made a strong comeback every time, winning over them. The problem with attacking Modi is that he manages to grow bigger with all the truth, dubbed as filth, thrown at him. He just wipes them off with his good-old-pocket-friend-you know-it tears. His latest victimhood act was because Rahul Gandhi pinched him from London and it’s a World’s shame if not Modi’s shame as Modi is the World in his own Utopian propaganda world as his supporters are made to believe.
I have the most reliable friend you can have in American politics, and that is ready money. – Phil Gramm
It is difficult to break this Vishwaguru myth, but the unreal bubble could be burst when individual voters start understanding the bubble could just entertain them with fairy tale stories, filling them with momentary pride, but never fill their stomach. That seed of doubt is the responsibility of combined opposition. When we as a Country rank first, when counted from last in Happiness Index or Hunger index, how long such malicious campaigns could sustain? BJP may hope to touch the finish line by 2024 to finish democracy forever, faintly hoping to sustain the fake pride till then. But, genuine History always have brutal episodes in store for such mindless dictators. For immediate reference, one can dial Rajapaksas busy searching for a place to rest their backs or Bolsonaro at Florida McD or Trump if he is not busy watching Shawshank redemption.
No comments.
When we fear our own Silhouette.
Modi is not the autocratic one-stop problem of India, but a symptom of people’s cravings for a Mindless Authoritarian, longing for Majoritarian pride at the expense of their own happiness and prosperity. Remove Modi, there will be stronger cravings for an abusive Leadership in a decade or so. So, the opposition need to fix such minds rather obsessing over a sideshow called Modi, who tries every second to become mainstream with his compulsive PR. As Osho says, sometimes people choose Leaders, but most of the times, it’s the pretentious Leaders who tend to walk ahead of others to choose themselves as Leaders. So, Congress will win the PR Game once they start ignoring Modi to focus on people’s welfare and catchy reforms.
He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career. – George Bernard Shaw (in Major Barbara)
When BJP realise – Kal Ho Na Ho.
How BJP could be brought down is a challenge we all need to break through. Congress is precisely fighting a mass Milgram’s psychological experiment, an experiment whose results made even the experimenter vexed, establishing the theory behind brutal saffron obedience, where only 20% stands for ethics and truth while remaining 80% faithfully complies for all wicked instructions of giving shocks to the receiver. It takes a lot of courage to be a Minoritarian among Majoritarian thinking and still fight the good fight. Rahul Gandhi and Congress does exactly that, India has clear track record of doing exactly that against British Rule.
“Ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive process. Moreover, even when the destructive effects of their work become patently clear, and they are asked to carry out actions incompatible with fundamental standards of morality, relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority.”
Stanley Milgram
Congress could also do better on few cases with very minimal effort.
The Congress and Mascot – Rab ne bana di Jodi.
First, there is a lot of opposition for Congress, as if they are the actual Ruling party, thanks to Modi and his ED, Shah and his CBI, making them caged Dinosaurs of New India groomed to scare away any regional parties away from Congress. It’s a decade old design of BJP, alienating Congress from Regional Leaders as both their narratives never meet, though they always remain stuck at cross roads for long. So, Congress needs a common narrative which could attract the Opposition. Common minimum Program worked like magic earlier for UPA. But for now, there are no such initiatives even when we are just a year ahead from elections. With clues of discontent and anti-incumbency, BJP prevails over with loud white noise, over all its drawbacks, claiming already to be winners of 2024. The clueless opposition is currently busy spending their energies on fighting CBI – ED, could work on dispelling the crooked myth of invincible Modi being carefully cultivated in people’s minds.
When Amrit Stooge Shah accelerated Kalki Avatar
The monthly income scheme initiated by Congress in 2019 is a step in right direction, but the problem was with its reach. BJP’s PR usually involves people’s participation in one way or another, from single clicks on virtual internet campaigns to physical donation of scrap for Statue of Unity, making people involuntarily surrendering their loyalty with small acts of promise and unquestioned obedience. Congress could engage people on similar lines making people apply for it or refer to neighbours and relatives to make it compelling and popular social narrative.
Our major obligation is not to mistake slogans for solutions. – Edward R. Murrow
I do remember, MKS did it with a Complaint resolution Box for his State Election campaign, vowing to resolve on becoming CM. It was not a smooth initiative, inviting mockery, but certainly a step in right direction instilling confidence of returning back to rule and making people believe in him. Opposition need to have that audacity of Hope and such unbelievable / unpredictable programs to counter BJP, whose only toolkit is going to be Hindu Rashtra and EVMs,
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. – Winston Churchill
People are distressed on poor conditions they are subjected to… But nobody clearly knows the reasons behind their poverty. Many of their causes of misfortune are triggered by Government’s atrocious Policies which banks on Cronies to loot in the name of Business for Modi and a certain refugee ( out of Gujarat ) coming up with CAA to perform dirty Ops for Modi. Congress may have to educate them subtly on diverting their anger towards the actual targets. The real metric of good living is not chest thumping TV news or whatsapp forward on Minority going down with Bulldozer, but about checking how heavy is voters’ Money purse, quantum of nutritious food they feed children and quality of education they could provide to their offsprings.
Hatred is by far the longest pleasure; men love in haste but they detest at leisure. – Lord Byron
Mascot – The Vote Baazigar
So, more than pomp Programs, Congress needs symbolic faces / Mascots who could lure the individual voters and then the Parties subsequently. The Yatra established Congress as a fevicol force.
The Mascot of Hope and deliverance could stand for what any Voter will desire for and connect with.
An unemployed Youth could connect to it and the Angelic bride it brings him home.
A poor woman could connect to prosperity or at least a Full Thali Meals for the family.
A Tribal could connect to his own conserved land currently ruthlessly ravaged by Prime Benamis.
A minority could connect to a Brotherhood they could look for help at crisis.
A Majoritarian could connect to the Universal God who would tax him less but reward him more with bliss rather blissful ignorance.
A Farmer could connect to a divine entity which provides logistical support and assured prices for their produce.
An MNREGA Worker could connect to a scheme which upskills them with longer duration of employment connecting to Quasi-Government Partnerships like efficient RTE in Education.
Need of the Hour – A “Congress Hoon na Angel” who understands and embraces the Poor, with grass root level connect.
Congress needs a narrative which could surpass the petty ambitions of sniping Modi or his Benamies, and directly reach out to the Voters who are looking for “What’s in it for ME” by ushering in fresh change of regime. More importantly, the voters should be able to identify themselves with the Mascot as solution to their day today bread and butter issues. Most importantly, it will be difficult for BJP to target a Mascot rather real Leaders like RG. How can BJP target an angelic mascot fighting out Hunger, hatred and arrogance?
The Real Mascot of New India
The mascot could be on the lines of Amul’s ads, witty and informative, with a catchy slogan for voters. It could also be on the lines of a stolen Ram mascot destroying Ravan with ten heads of Poverty, Hatred etc. The mascot will provide Congress a universal appeal and its willingness to compete beyond its Leaders. There are speculations around Kasba Peth Model, where Congress fought it out faceless and on local issues. While there are various factors forming BJP weakness, it will be detrimental for Congress to derive solid positives from a small victory. BJP is known to score big wins at the expense of few losses to stimulate lethargy and winning arrogance with opposition. Maybe it could be an half-hearted effort to lose and to weaken Shinde team. It’s also fishy how BJP did not even manage to impress its own upper caste sympathisers with a weak candidate, adding up to the suspicion.
Mascots – Ideal for Outreach – On the fly or parachute-landing the message at Door-step
Also, it’s quite suspicious if there is a method in BJP’s stupidity, to keep on hitting RG, trying to build him as compulsive alternative to Modi, by keeping him on media spotlight. BJP’s strategy could be to alienate the day dreaming opposition Leaders as there is no PM chair left to fill on. Also, by building a narrative on RG, it will be easier for them to sabotage his Leader image just before elections, stressing there is no other viable alternative to Modi. in 2019, BJP allowed RG to pitch on “Chowkidar Chor Hain” narrative crescendo on Rafale scam, only to diffuse it just before elections by making him apologise before Supreme Court for the same. Congress was also made to believe with circumstances, that apology will do no harm, armed with fake confidence of secure State wins in 2018.
It’s true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance? – Ronald Reagan
BJP went on full frontal assault with his apology and a nationalistic campaign on their another favourite punching bag other than RG – Pakistan. Hence, Keeping issue based multi-frontal mascot will help Congress in long run, putting their stakes on multiple baskets. Gandhis are the binding souls of Congress, but it’s time to put up a facade just like opposition’s Ravan type propaganda with multiple opportunistic masks, to avoid BJP’s 2024 salvos.
tu cheez bari hai mast-mast main cheez bari hoon mast – Mascots and Political Campaigns are awesome things.
The Invisible Mass Movement
Congress got established as an organic mass movement. Milgram’s Research gives some clues on what could have catalysed Ahimsa as mass movement. The experiment is all about giving electric Shocks to a Learner or Receiver for all his incorrect answers asked by the Teacher. The Shocks keeps gradually increasing till 450 Volts.
Milgram Experiment Setup
While the majority complied with the instructions of the experimenter giving conceived to be brutal shocks, mindlessly obeying the brutality from an Institutional authority, our interest is towards the very few who stopped and stood for their values and conviction, empathising with the Learner. There were also few unique cases where the Experimenter failed to coerce the Punisher as below,
People restrain when given two contradictory orders, like Religion Vs fascism
The Punisher getting stirred up morally as the sufferer calls for his own violent treatment.
When Ahimsa makes ‘Dear Zindagi’.
Point 2 illustrates the Ahimsa of Mahatma Gandhi.
It is not as if disobedience to unjust authority was being manifested for the first time when Milgram coerced his participants to administer shocks to innocent learners. History bears witness to the fact that people, at large, have shown resistance, especially when faced with instructions that go against their values. Then, there have been stalwarts, one of the tallest among them being an Indian, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly referred to as the Mahatma by his countrymen. Following in his footsteps, we have people such as Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu and many others. What was it that made them different from the rest? It was the ability to motivate thousands to resist unjust state practices, each in their own homeland, yet resist in a manner that was totally devoid of violence. In the process they were highly successful and were able to bring about justice for their followers.
VK Kool and R Agarwal, Gandhi and the Psychology of Nonviolence
The main difference between a cat and a lie is that a cat only has nine lives. -Mark Twain
BJP’s victory is when Religion and Fascism says… Dil Se Re.
Subversion of Point 1, infusing both religion and fascism shedding all contradictions as “Muscular Religious Nationalism,” both intertwined making the evil fascism look holy and authoritative under religious garb, makes for BJP’s election success. So, to uproot such thinking from grassroots, Congress could start from its roots – where resistance to British rule started – “Religious cohesion” to mobilise its social welfare ideology.
I’m an algebra liar. I figure two good lies make a positive. – Tim Allen
“The social psychology of this century reveals a major lesson: often it is not so much the kind of person a man is as the kind of situation in which he finds himself that determines how he will act.”
Stanley Milgram
Joh shaadi waale ghar mein seva karta hai … usko bahut sundar dulhan milti hai [Those who help in the house that has a wedding … they get a very beautiful wife]
Just visit any small temple, looking around, You will find BJP-RSS presence via Placards or Volunteers doing passive propagation of their religious-fascist-ideology, like banning cow slaughtering, getting people voluntarily inducted to their undercover fascism. As an antidote, Congress could Perform mass gatherings and hosting Meals served across all religion / caste dining with Leaders to establish connect with the masses, along with its much admired yatra Program. After-all, Food is an easier way to get into heart of any commoner, than any vicious propaganda.
If the lambs of the world had been willingly led, they would have long ago saved themselves from the butcher’s knife.- Gandhi
BJP has successfully capitalised upon Sonia Gandhi’s origins to cast doubts on her “biased” welfare for minority religions. Its high time Congress starts investing on spiritual Unity with mass mobilisation programs in Places of worship to dispel the Italian Christian myth getting carefully nurtured to make RSS-BJP look like sole saviours of Hinduism. Maybe, Congress could revive its Seva Dal for providing easy access to commoners. Seva Dal could be put across as non political arm of Congress at temples / Mosques / Churches and other places of worship offering charity or food or at-least listen to people by providing grassroots support.
The Great BJP Blender mixes good Religion and toxic Politics. The entire Rafale Scandal got covered up with few Lemons and Mirchi. You had to check Social media then, for how a French product was so tamed and Indianised by mighty Modiji. Only We, the incredible indians will buy such stuff. I meant the media narrative.
It is claimed that the greatest achievement of Gandhi was the spiritualization of politics through an attempt to bring together morality and politics, two realms normally thought of being antithetical to each other. What was the logic behind such thinking? Gandhi was forthright in stating that there cannot be a distinction between body, mind and soul. The three are not only interlinked but form a complete unity in the individual human being. Thus, actions (body) cannot go against beliefs (mind), which in turn cannot contradict “Truth” (soul). Since both morality and politics have their genesis in the same human mind, how can one contradict another? Politics can, thus, never remain devoid of morality; the need of the hour according to Gandhi is moral politics, moral politicians and moral statesmen.
VK Kool and R Agarwal, Gandhi and the Psychology of Nonviolence
No power on earth can subjugate you when you are armed with the sword of ahimsa. It ennobles both the victor and the vanquished – Gandhi
Chak De Congress!
Sustenance: Gandhi did not just propose Satyagraha, but along with it… the moral means and ends to achieve it with constructive Programs, which actually provided the sustenance for the people believing in satyagraha. Congress could also try negotiating with NGOs and SMEs to understand and formulate common minimum program for the growing urban demography. It could also work with the Farmers and other rural organisations to come up with welfare schemes that will provide sustenance of their livelihoods, rather just job guarantees for few days. Such disparate dialogues to unify non-political masses will ensure the Political Parties who depend on the same masses for their vote-banks, compelled to join with Congress.
A fact very difficult to educate the masses, who are busy filling small holes in the National dam when someone has already diverted the flow to his huge garden
Rather working on Caste and Religious demographics, Congress could do well with aggregating economic demographics for a strong foundation for Future. Congress always thrived on such non political Organizations, its high time they use them to complement their resourceless and depleting cadre.
Messaging: If at all Congress wants to have a chance on making people listen to them, they need to improve on their Messaging Machinery. It just cant be few elite minds working from Capitals, doling out Press Conferences and getting angry on twitter, as rightly pointed out by Prashant Kishor. Mo-Sha duo has completely dismantled the good old Political messaging structure. People dont pull out news nowadays. The BJP’s curated news items are pushed down their throat irrespective of their liking. Congress will need muti-layered, channel of communication to reach down to commoners.
It has been a consistent pattern so far, that BJP’s propaganda machinery is able to convince voters maligning the Congress with fake smear campaigns. Priyanka Gandhi’s “Neech Rajneeti” was morphed to “Neech caste” by a weeping victim Modi in 2014 UP, and it worked to an extent as caste is a sure-shot emotional pot stirrer to majority of individuals, just like Parties fight over Gandhis and Savarkars. We all have conscious and subconscious caste biases with own stories of discrimination by higher castes and oppressing lower castes. BJP has capitalised on every emotional issue blocking individual’s cerebral activity well so far.
On any day, emotional party wins over cerebral and intellectual Party. The very reason behind slandering Nehru lineage is to make people emotionally numb on the dynasty’s genuine sacrifices, by making it a mockery and focus on newly minted Jholawala sob stories.
A carefully orchestrated campaign on RG as ‘OBC Virodhi’ could be the next impending danger for Brand Congress. BJP has mastered the art of repeating the lies enough times that people memorize such lies subconsciously and reflexively vote for them. When most of the population struggle to cope with the deep economic crisis and earn their livelihood, only BJP’s push mechanism of information will go through. People may not bother such cheap political acts eclipsed by their own survival needs. This works as a good reason why BJP ups their ante on “Congress against OBCs” which is a winning recipe for long from Post-Mandal era. Just like Ayodhya Ram temple is an emotive issue connecting Cow belt Hindutva, Caste is an identity connects every Hindu. It’s an emotional issue connecting > 50% of the OBC population. Only such cerebrally blinding emotionally binding caste / religious issues could win them, when people are engrossed in acute economic crisis.
THE FALSE HAS ALL ARGUMENTS IN ITS FAVOR. Have you heard the famous story? — that there is a wall between heaven and hell. God was very disturbed because the wall had not been repaired for centuries and He wanted the devil to repair it — just the ordinary problems of all kinds of neighbours. The devil of course wanted God to repair it. They started arguing and in the heat of the argument God said ‘If you don’t listen to me, I will drag you to court!’ The devil laughed. He said ‘Where are you going to find a lawyer for yourself? They are all here!’ – Osho
If you just peel one layer of this “OBC Virodi Congress”, you will find that the bankrupt fugitives are not even OBCs or even Hindus. Modi is a not caste surname, does not indicate any specific caste but used across many identities. Even Gandhi is from Modh-Bania case, which Congress could leverage further to diffuse this attack. But, no amount of denials and clarifications from Congress would dispel this myth. As the yatra dispelled many such myths about Congress’s perceived religious biases and RG, only performance and action could bring in remedies. The next yatra / pan indian initiative could be stressing on caste unity subtly as Congress is much bigger than basal politics, pushing up OBC Leaders upfront and listing out the OBC Quotas and welfare Programs brought by Congress. “Let the Poor and unprivileged Unite” could be the war cry rather emotional divisional politics, where BCs and OBCs are could find a common platform for their own good.
BJP’s “convenient casteism” was never ripped apart or checkmated by any of the Parties so far, except for Cartoonists. Even this Cartoon poster from Opposition would have damaged up a lot of BJP’s new found OBC love
BJP, a Nagpur Brahmins Party is the biggest culprit on deceiving OBCs. Subramanian Swamy baptized Modi as someone with all brahmanical qualities to lead country and most importantly BJP. Contrast this with Kharge / MMS who never make their identities and the]ir background a big deal. his The reality of double engine BJP rule is, backward classes are hapless who can’t even avail justice. Hathras remains a tragic case of caste oppression not just from the upper castes but from the executives and Rulers, secretly burning the corpse to shut off the case.
Congress could have raked in EWS quota and how it unfairly promotes few already up the ladder economically, if at all they have the conviction like few regional Parties. In Karnataka, many poor people’s quota are removed irrespective of religions. But Congress is silent afraid of BJP’s deadly imaginary moves. The thumb-rule is, every action on caste will backfire badly on the ruling BJP Party rather any opposition demanding them.They could also come up with masterstrokes, like RG asking for another speech in parliament making Modi run towards Courts for rescue, demanding welfare schemes, by hearing backward classes.
Narendra bhai Premis on the Left, OBC Virodhis on the Right.
Congress could wish to put up Posters on RG’s disqualition nationwide, and get to see for themselves how far their Messaging reaches out to the public. In Tamilnadu, they clearly rely on their allies even for winning their own elections. Even their Press Conferences, if at all it has any impact, could be a bit more innovative to cater to the gravity of the situations like making RG a prominent figure in Political stage, rather a routine pampered child caught between old wise men. RG has done enough mistakes to learn and become wiser, now it’s only a matter of perform or perish.
UPA Vs NDA – The only difference is… Perspective.
Inflation has been a major problem during UPA times which could be due to the economic upturn, but also due to increase in spending power due to Government aids. But, Congress could do well if they provide aids to poor in exchange of hard work as incentives rather free doles. The unemployed youth could receive stipends along with their upskilling process to make them employable. MNREGA could be enhanced further with guaranteed contractual income schemes. Electrical and Water subsidies will help the poor to afford basic services rather just cash doles, eventually finding its way to Bars and if not to other Private institutions hiking fee due to increased spending power of poor. Ultimately, it ends up creating more ‘Private Institutional Adanis’ rather uplifting poor, depriving them of basic education and healthcare. It’s just another ploy of making the poor getting back to square inside square one.
Branding is all about training the mind on the first visual and sound we correlate with the Brand. There is a lot of wisdom with Indira Gandhi choosing “Garibi Hatao!” rather making Gandhis the actual campaign front. Politics anywhere is never about bringing someone down, however incorrigible and imbecile the leadership is, but about giving the voters a nuanced fake Pedestal, however modest it is, like a child getting fascinated with Unicorns.
When people on actual pedestals dont work or answer the people, ultimately, the pedestal becomes pedestrian as an Election tool for anyone’s fascination. For proof please check Srilanka’s Presidential Palace after protests.
BJP won the branding on two ways in 2014. It painted Congress as corrupt and propped up Modi as Messiah to tackle corruption. Irony is that Modi transformed himself to be “Messiah of the Corrupt”. Modi played “Ice boy” with opposition and people, rather answering the blatant manipulation of stock market and loot money funneled through shell firms. when Adani was busy with Slides in Stock market playground to the extent of 11 Lakh Crore. People have got so numb with Corruption and occupied on their own survival, they did not even notice someone was on infinity slide.
The only poll strategy which has helped BJP after 2019 is, with due credits – Thank You Savarkar! Modi looks more Humane than Dictatorial sadist when he perform an apology, which might get even better if its heartfelt.
Whatever the Congress corruption numbers blowjobbed by BJP for current Karnataka election, the numeric shock treatment to voters got already over and will not help any of the Parties. BJP again throwing muck on Congress as corrupt when they had nine years of rule to clean it up, will only corner them eventually. As mentioned, BJP has exhausted all their tricks and playbooks of falsehood. If they scrape their empty idea vessel, they will end up with the noise of Adani benami, Inflation and unemployment.
If you don’t give the market the story to talk about, they’ll define your brand’s story for you. – David Brier
Priyanka Gandhi’s Himachal Pradesh Guaranteed schemes strategy trumped Modi’s weeping Brand, though anti-incumbency can also be a factor. Congress Karnataka Guarantee scheme also looks promising, as BJP is already planning for Vidhan Soudha hijack after 2024 with Kangaroos getting inducted to Congress. Since Congress and Self-goals are like conjoined twins, Congress seems more than willing to accommodate the turncoats for yet another “Hotel Gate Security” moment. Maybe it’s much easier to gain Gandhi’s sympathy by waiting inefficiently at Hotel gates rather possessing the wisdom to be in power for 5 years. Selfless candidates matter much more than anything else. Posts are temporary, character is consistent / permanent. Once a Brutus, always remain a Brutus. If RG is not showing Leadership in candidate selection, I don’t know how Congress will sail ashore with such inconsistent and confused leadership rivalry, completing its 5 years tenure. If this tamasha goes on, next time people may choose the easiest route of directly electing BJP rather wasting time on Congress Resort Politics.
It’s Superhuman effort from RG with his BJY Marathon. While it’s unfair to criticise on rest, one sincerely wishes along with Cartoonist for good- But “Jaa RG Jaa” only happens in Climax. Politics gets boring with multiple intervals.
Most importantly, Cadre lacks the zeal to perform better owing to serial losses at elections and lack of resources to sustain their interest. Not everyone in Congress could afford the luxury of abroad trips to relax and rejuvenate for losses. But, one could wish for schemes to uplift their livelihood, so as to boost their performance. More than Social Media and other PR campaigns, the Party people on the ground, act as Human connect and win elections. Wonder how strong Congress at basic Booth levels, as it seems pretty clueless on creating a formidable election machinery on the ground, even after ten years of facing a strong adversary. Its not just Mics are not working at parliament. even the Congress Cadre is not working to the fullest of their capability.
Election Sutra
Give voters a nice toy to play with so that they don’t have to generate pride and happiness with someone else’s bear hugs and Photo-Ops. Give them a Hearty meal of promises and subsequent fulfillment so that they dont mind fake-PR-hatred in their moments of prosperity. More importantly, ensure establishing a listening channel as Campaigns are like selling dreams in a busy and loud Market.
Although a grown-up man may think that he has no teddy bears, he is wrong. What is his God? Just a teddy bear. Out of his childhood fear, man has created a father figure who knows all, who is all-powerful, who is everywhere present; if you have enough faith in him he will protect you.
Osho
In Tamilnadu, Politicians pioneered on the above with various campaign versions from Thriumangalam Bypoll Formula to Erode Bypoll Formula. Sadly, they ended up giving too much of everything, they could not win Large scale Assembly elections, unable to satisfy the voters, beating on their previously set benchmarks and expectations. But, Arvind Kejriwal showed the art of selling pedestals with his unique and sustainable model on Social welfare basic metrics along with a dreamy PR campaign. But it will be a challenge for anyone to adopt a Pan-India model. But, Congress could at least work on it rather following Modi’s tattered about to expire PR photoshop playbook. The real advantage for BJP in 2024 will be on Congress Vs BJP seats, right from Campaigning, Polling and Protecting the EVMs from tampering, Congress still remains clueless as if it’s just pressing a Button and then taking a break till next election.
To play with symbols and beliefs is Human. We all have affinity towards symbols connecting with them than Future PMs. Even Modi’s Pirate ship to PM-ship had to sail through Aam aadmi mascot dangling 15-Lakhs-Vikas-Carrot, absconding for long after wining.
Om Shanti Om – The Conclusion
Not everyone is an Arjuna to aim at the Bird’s eye in a tree. Even other mighty Pandavas and Gauravas failed on finding the right target. Jayalalitha on her second stint delivered impressive governance. But could not win her next election owing to poor economy and inflation. If that is the case, guess how much Modi will suffer on this ground, if he is deprived of his weapon – religious-fascism.
New India’s Rabid Force
A satyagrahi does not abandon his path, even though at times it seems impenetrable and beset with difficulties and dangers…. Even in these circumstances, his faith shines resplendent like the midday sun and he does not despond. With truth for sword, he needs neither a steel sword nor gunpowder. Even an inveterate enemy he conquers by the force of the soul, which is love.
But Duragraha is a force with the opposite attributes. … The wielder of brute force does not scruple about the means to be used. He does not question the propriety of means, if he can somehow achieve his purpose. This is not dharma but the opposite of it…the man who follows the path of Duragraha becomes impatient and wants to kill the so-called enemy. There can be one result of this. Hatred increases. The defeated party vows vengeance and simply bides his time. The spirit of revenge thus descends from father to son.
Satyagraha will triumph in the end. The duragrahi, like the oilman’s ox, moves in a circle. His movement is only motion but it is not progress. The satyagrahi is always moving forward.
– Mahatma Gandhi
The problem with political jokes is that, they get elected – Henry Cate.
After all, Gandhi, RK Laxman and SRK share the same aphorism, “Never underestimate the power of Common Man!”.
[The Common Man] from India can survive without water, food, light, air, shelter and freedom.
Lion King Bald Narendra has become old… so old that he could not hunt even his Mice. He deputed his friendly wolves Bambani and Badani to do the hunting for him. They are supposed to bring him a prey every day and Bald Narendra will let them rule the forest as Proxies. He was ably aided by a Fox(y) cook, Dumeel Shah for prepping up the food.
Now, Bambani and Badani are seasoned wolves, grown to become the richest in the Bald Narendra’s Lion Kingdom. In their search for prey, they came across an Ass, named Vikas, who seemed well to do then for a sumptuous Biryani. They went to the ass and proclaimed, “Long live the Ass King! Lord Bald Narendra has come up with a democratic rule for his Lion kingdom and wants you – Vikas, to be the new King.” The ass was so happy but was a bit afraid of the rabid old Lion and Wolves’ scheming ways. But the Wolves cajoled him with all their money and propaganda power that Ass is worthy of becoming the King.
The ass got convinced of its own Kingly powers and arrived at the Lion’s den along with the wolves. The Hungry old lion attacked the Donkey and tore off its ears. The horribly bleeding Vikas ran away from the Lion and escaped the den. But, Bambani and Badani being seasoned aide-in-chiefs of Bald Narendra remained unperturbed of the development, peddled in more propaganda. The media of the Lion Kingdom said the Lion was cutting off ears of Vikas, just to ensure the crown fits well on its head. But, the poor ass could not understand it. They pleaded that it should return to the Lion’s den to reclaim the throne. The lie was repeated several times in the Forest, that the Vikas ass truly believed it.
The Ass again arrived at the Den for the second time. The hungry lion voraciously caught hold off its tails for its long awaited meal. The Ass could not believe its misfortune, its tail got cut off. But it somehow it recovered itself, to run away from the clutches of the old Lion. The angry Lion scolded its aides, warning them with a last chance to bring the Ass -Vikas back.
The media propaganda in the forest hit a feverish pitch. The Loud speakers cried that the Donkey did not understand the pre-coronation ritual performed by the Lion called as “Amrit Kaal”. Amrit Kaal is a ritual wherein the Lion flattens the ass’s ass so that it could smoothly sit on the throne. The propaganda went on in a loop that the Ass started believing it and imagined it’s “Achhe Din” has started. So, with complete back-ache and head-ache induced by the Lion’s surgery it again returned back to the Lion’s Den.
As soon as the Ass arrived at the den for the third time, the angry and hungry Lion, smashed its head and so called King of Democracy died. The Lion called up its Cook Dumeel Shah Fox to prepare a delicious meal with the body parts of the Ass. Dumeel Shah assumes itself as Chanakya for its criminal brain. So, it made a nice fry of the ass’s brain and fed it to himself and its kid BUCCI Shah.
The Hungry Lion came to the dining table having its meal of democracy to Heart’s content prepared by Dumeel Shah.
Dumeel Shah asked humbly, “Boss. How was the Meal?”
Bald Narendra said,”It was excellent. But I don’t remember I ate the Brain fry.”
Dumeel Shah Quipped, “If the Ass had brain, would it have come to your Den for the third time?”
Story narrated by renowned Tamil speaker Suki Sivam.
Our Farmers are protesting on getting their dues, what exactly was promised by Modi just before UP elections, pleading with folded hands. After two years, Modi has remained silent and turned his back, fleeing to Middle east to open a HIndu temple, constructing barricades around Delhi border reminding of a war scenario as if Delhi is in siege by our own adorable Annadatas. The Anti-Farmer Propaganda toolkit has been activated where every agri specialist ranging from Saints to Sinners are brought in to make them look anti-national. As they say what sow is what you reap, if at all these Propaganda team feels like they could survive with this BS, may be they should start consuming their own bull shit on a platter and check for themselves how exactly their propaganda fares or fulfils their stomach. Why not Propaganda-Vrata to taste their own medicine?
It is the kinnow season, and the fruit is sold at the doorstep for Rs 50 a kilo. Well, nothing out of the ordinary for most of the readers who are consumers. But this year’s kinnow crop has a story of toil and tears. The fruit is selling at Rs 3-10 in the Abohar mandi, which is probably the biggest kinnow trading place in the world. What is being sold by the farmer for Rs 3 is being bought at Rs 50 by the consumer from the rehriwala in Chandigarh. If this anomaly does not call for a strident agitation, what does? And that’s what is happening at the Punjab-Haryana border.The fact remains that what is bought at one end of the chain for Rs 3 is sold at the other at Rs 50 within a distance of 300 km. – Rajesh Ramachandran
The propaganda states, Government will have to spend 11 Lakhs Crore for bringing out a law which states a minimum support price for Farmer goods. This is a hoax, as the Government is not going to buy the whole produce but set a minimum support price buying buffer stocks to offset inflation. The Government wants to brand a Maximum retail price like FMCG items, so that its market driven. It makes sense superficially, just like Modi’s ridiculous Photo Op inspecting the 777 Crore worth Pragati Maidan tunnel, only to get deemed unusable and dangerous to commute in few years..
Essential food in Indian setup always had active Government participation due to reasons like unregulated agriculture sector could result in drastic inflation, seasonal vagaries leading even to famine like situations earlier and the need of Farmers to a minimum guarantee to sustain their livelihood. Free market can’t address any of the above problem but can make huge profit out of any scenario hurting Indians, just like their great petroleum loot, importing Crude at cheaper price from Russia and exposting tit to the west without even paying windfall taxes to India, when Petroleum is sold at historic highs squeezing out every indian pocket.
Modi-nomics err… Mad-nomics – feeding Honey for Cronies for electoral bonds, trickling down Tears for Farmers….
Even with so much Government participation, India suffered grain deficits last year. How can an individual Farmer could withstand the seasonal vagaries and free market? Modi has provided more doles / revdis to the Corporates as Tax cuts, Corporate tax reduction and to top it all waiver of 10 lakh crores of Rupees as NPA for his crony friends. We have reached a rare stage where Personal Income tax collection beat Corporate tax collection. What has the Corporates given back to the India / Modi Government? Actually nothing as the investments have got tapered down. There are more entrepreneurs fleeing abroad rather making use of his incentives. It can only mean one thing. Modi is being impartial even among the Corporates benefiting few Gujarati cronies who in turn fund his Photo-Ops and Horse trading members of legislature. Genuine investors have nil confidence on Modi. How can they trust a Leader of the Nation with high stake games, when he is not willing to provide a simple fare structure to ensure basic living of Farmers.
Farmers, for the most part, operate in a buyer’s market. Since their crops — barring maybe milk — are harvested and marketed in bulk, it leads to sudden supply increases relative to demand, putting downward pressure on prices.
Such market conditions, favouring buyers over sellers, also mean farmers are price takers, not price makers. Lacking the market power to influence the prices of their produce — or to even set the MRP (maximum retail price), as firms in most industries do — they sell at prevailing supply-and-demand-determined rates. Worse, while their crops are sold wholesale, they pay retail prices for everything from seeds, pesticides, diesel, and tractors to cement, medicines, toothpaste, and soap.
Free market economy will make food like expensive Petroleum at the hands of cronies, where the price rise is 200% despite low crude prices. Modi may instruct us to sell Pakoras if unemployed, use Bicycles than fuelling Bikes. Will he travel the Path of FM, “I don’t eat Onions. So, dont care!” playing free market stock games on our food? As far as I know Modi in his 10 years of PM-Ship, he is a mad gambler who will not bother staking India and her people for his personal ego and gains. This is exactly why Modi moves on to inaugurate temples rather worrying about a basic necessities of Indians. What will happen if Farmers stop farming for one single season? Will his free market friends sell Modi-Rice and Atta at the same price?
However forcefully Adani buys / sells his agri goods, he will only get losses in return as his foundation of business is not built on trust, but by deception and intimidation, powered by the Government support. I would bet on Adani will never be able to sustain his business by forcing his agenda on Indians be it producing Farmers / buying consumers.
Food is politics. It cannot be addressed by administrative and legal measures alone. The resolution of issues relating to food sovereignty, food security and the livelihood of the farmers requires political will. The Centre should have engaged all political parties to find long-term solutions rather than leaving space for it being turned into a competitive vote-catching exercise. To make farming globally competitive, farming has to be subsidised. To sustain their commercial farms, even developed countries give huge subsidies.
So, what WE have gifted our Farmers back? We – Because the oppression of Farmers happens on our tax money. We delivered tear gas shells delivered by Drones till 2AM in the dark. We gifted Rubber Bullets to wound 200 of our Brothers and Sisters. We came up with Sonic sound weapon to puncture their ear drums. We are adopting Israeli strategies for riot control, applied on Gaza earlier. We all know where the war has come down to – a silent ethnical cleansing with the blessings of Western War pimps, wondering on how to spin it as Avenger comics of popcorn good prevailing over imagined evil. If at all anyone wonders why Marvel comics is not faring well nowadays, check with Biden. He just made Captain America and his gang look crazy as destruction and genocide loving psychopaths. Knowing the Farmers with their tough as nails tenacity, they are going to break the nose of the Shitler hiding behind the force for sure. It’s a matter of time Modi making a somersault, prostrating before the farmers just equipped with strong Hearts and Will. If Modi thinks he can settle his score for surrendering earlier to Farmers, it’s going to be Farmers Vs Modi, 2-(No) Love!
They Gave us Rotis, we gave them back Bullets.
The city slickers who incessantly attack Punjab’s farmers for demanding a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) and those who justify the abominable use of drones against protesters should pause and wonder: will they sell their products or services below the cost price? Will they suffer seeing their products being resold for 5-18 times the original price without an iota of value addition in their own neighbourhood? – Rajesh Ramachandran
One clip stirred me and shaked me up… A Farmer questioning why should they do the Opposition Job. Well, it may not make sense completely, but none of the grand old goliath opposition or the neo-quasi-Sanghi Parties claiming themselves to be the opposition so far has not even gathered this type of resolute crowd against Modi’s policies, which few Farmer groups from few States are able to manage and even win over two years back. Maybe, it’s time for the opposition to stay with the Farmers through this struggle, help them with the legal , participatory and moral support and portray themselves to be real “Jan-Nayak” arousing admiration for them. Else, they can only get few sympathy votes out of victimization under ruthless Mo-Sha. Opposition when always given a Do-or-Die situation, have so far skipped both the options to live another day slaving over authoritarianism which has gone to the level of usurping them totally. The latest bold rowdyish attempt to freeze Congress party’s accounts stands as a testament to Mo-Sha’s crooked ambitions to win by all means.
Unfortunately, India is short of mass Leaders who are able to arouse people, because they never stood with the same people for their rights. when they needed the most. Personally, Rahul Gandhi is slowly emerging as a Mass Leader amidst all obstacles put up by Mo-Sha. He has matured interactions and crisp speeches and he is going to only improve further from here, shedding all inhibitions and negative PR to tatters ran against him. The RW fringe however tries to mock, is only getting their nose bloodied nowadays with the same treatment meted out by Congress SM team.
Let’s move on to how Modi is handling the protest. To understand the BJP’s oppressive measures one need to go back Modi’s CM days in 2002 where he presided over a brutal riot. Modi was not shaken up by its brutality under his leadership, where he failed as Leader for all. Instead, he opined that he should have handled media well, basically putting a lid on the coverage, so that such national shame could be wiped off indians mindspace. He actually accomplished that, for example, India Today magazine which made up brilliant stories about the “Hero of Hatred” to “Riding the Hate wave” on Modi is now brought down to harp about Modi’s “Great Hindu revival”. So, Modi has achieved remarkable success in taming a quasi independent media to Government biscuit loving lap-pets.
One could see similar approach being taken up in taming the Farmers protest. All the social media handles covering up the protest are taken down without any rationale. There are feverish trends with fake news on Farmers protest degrading our annadatas to selfish violent rioters. The Media is on full swing cooking up stories on how legalising MSP will dent economy. Even Corporate Saints are brought in to preach on food as luxury and protests as anti-national. The Farmers are mainly from Punjab and others from UP, Haryana are silenced buying complicit leaders like Rakesh Tikait who manipulate their own kind for their benefits.
These are same arm twisting tactics employed by the Modi Government, filling up its weaknesses it exhibited in last protest, to avoid failure this time. How Modi misses the point is that, this is matter of livelihood. India from being an economically growing country is gradually down to its fragile structure where people struggle on their daily needs struggling with inflation and unemployment, under his misrule. This is unlike taming select few Entrepreneurs / Bureaucrats / Politicians who will bend over backwards to please Modi at his will. Farmers can’t afford to lose their livelihood, and this is actually Hunger games operating at the Border of Haryana, to knock the doors of Delhi. It might prove deadly to Modi government if it does not understand its significance of life and death.
Now, why oppression might prove deadly to the Orwellian rulers?
There is a question which haunted me after watching the Killer movie directed by David Fincher. It talks about an Assassin or should I say the Assassin gets a long monologue about his glorious assignment and how he does give a f$ck about people lives he kills for his livelihood. He also raises a mundane question hogging our civilization for long…
Of those who like to put their faith in mankind’s inherent goodness, I have to ask, “Based on what, exactly?”
The Killer Movie
I always had a conviction that Humans are inherently good and turn bad only when the situation provokes them to mad levels. This is not a proven thesis but something might have been passed across from my Parents or family members. I am not a saint for sure, nor my parents or relatives. So, when I encountered this movie dialogue, I did not have any justifications or postulates to prove otherwise, other than an empty belief. It sticked up as a well meaning question that I could not answer in anyway.
Being no saint or Priest, personally I have seen myself going through this mad torture sometimes even simulated to provoke madness in me. I have seen carefully orchestrated coincidences to enrage me. It might be a Car hitting my Bike sideways to make me lose balance or rear guard crashing not once but thrice in a month when such a thing did not happen for last 8 years, or a Cleanly shaven “Service” Profesional using his elbow to hit me “accidentally” or someone provoking me on my pressure points like abusing me to the extent of intervention or abusing kids in one way or another to indirectly hurt me and the list goes on and I can shamefully say I have fallen prey to my emotions sometimes, triggering the worst version of me. My situation is similar to the quote below.
Once upon a time, there was this little sparrow, who while flying south for the winter froze solid and fell to the ground. And then to make matters worse the cow crapped on him, but the manure was all warm and it defrosted him. So there he is, he’s warm and he’s happy to be alive and he starts to sing. A hungry cat comes along and he clears off the manure and he looks at the little bird and then he eats him. And the moral of the story is this: everyone who craps on you is not necessarily your enemy, and everyone who gets you out of crap is not necessarily your friend, and if you’re warm and happy no matter where you are you should just keep your big mouth shut. – Assassins Movie Quote
But how can I keep my mouth shut when shit gets thrown at me and cats are ready to feast? It’s actually a catch-22 predicament everyone goes through, not very successfully in life, with the bar of water level keeps on rising, making one struggle every second to remain afloat. For outsiders this could sound like solid entertainment of survival like Human Vs Evil version of Man Vs Wild. But, branding Humans are inherently evil is like completing the story halfway assuming to be done.
Even our Farmers are going through the same predicament of holding up dignity, when indignity is served on a grand Government platter. As discussed earlier, there are enough provocations to make our Farmers look evil with the social media posts and Enforcement getting them towards threshold. This is unfortunately an one-sided battle which is usually won by Government. Why not? When the Government has ordered 30000 tear gas shells to serve the Farmers Justice. But the truth is, the Government has failed miserably invoking memories of Modi with folded hands prostrating before farmers. Now who actually won?
So, in what ways can I answer the Killer that Humans are inherently good and decent when I am working up on the opposite front? I could not answer at all. But one of my favourite Directors, whose movies I don’t watch after his first, as I could not take up that intensity of his film making, came up with a book recommendation and I have just completed the prologue.
The Book is “Humankind – A Hopeful History” by Rutger Bergman. The Book is an anti-thesis of what we believe as Humans that we are inherently evil as our Rulers wants us to believe us.
On 7 September 1940, 348 German bomber planes crossed the Channel. The fine weather had drawn many Londoners outdoors, so when the sirens sounded at 4:43 p.m. all eyes went to the sky. That September day would go down in history as Black Saturday, and what followed as ‘the Blitz’. Over the next nine months, more than 80,000 bombs would be dropped on London alone
Entire neighbourhoods were wiped out. A million buildings in the capital were damaged or destroyed, and more than 40,000 people in the UK lost their lives. So how did the British react? What happened when the country was bombed for months on end? Did people get hysterical? Did they behave like brutes?
In fact, if there’s one thing that all accounts of the Blitz have in common it’s their description of the strange serenity that settled over London in those months. An American journalist interviewing a British couple in their kitchen noted how they sipped tea even as the windows rattled in their frames. Weren’t they afraid?, the journalist wanted to know. ‘Oh no,’ was the answer. ‘If we were, what good would it do us?’
‘British society became in many ways strengthened by the Blitz,’ a British historian later wrote. ‘The effect on Hitler was disillusioning.’
The bomb-mongers, meanwhile, felt the enemy needed to be dealt an even harsher blow. Churchill gave the signal and all hell broke loose over Germany. When the bombing finally ended, the casualties numbered ten times higher than after the Blitz. On one night in Dresden, more men, women and children were killed than in London during the whole war. More than half of Germany’s towns and cities were destroyed. The country had become one big heap of smouldering rubble.
So did the bombings have the intended effect?
Shortly after the German surrender in May 1945, a team of Allied economists visited the defeated nation, tasked by the US Department of Defense to study the effects of the bombing. Most of all, the Americans wanted to know if this tactic was a good way to win wars. The scientists’ findings were stark: the civilian bombings had been a fiasco. In fact, they appeared to have strengthened the German wartime economy, thereby prolonging the war. Between 1940 and 1944, they found that German tank production had multiplied by a factor of nine, and of fighter jets by a factor of fourteen.
A team of British economists reached the same conclusion.24 In the twenty-one devastated towns and cities they investigated, production had increased faster than in a control group of fourteen cities that had not been bombed. ‘We were beginning to see,’ confessed one of the American economists, ‘that we were encountering one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest miscalculation of the war.’
I will dig into the book deeper to understand if our Humankind is really that divine. But, these are historically recorded data / facts actually stating how the rulers think they can fool us with mass propaganda… that Humans can be shushed up with oppression. History repeats and repeats itself to prove that Humans have never surrendered to evil oppression / adversity. It’s just matter of time. Meanwhile they grow stronger with each and every adversity, just like mythical Vaali absorbing the strengths of their oppressors. Farmers conquering Israeli type Armed Drones throwing grenades at them with simple kites show how Humans innovate at adversity.
Our Independence struggle stands as a biggest testament to that theory of winning it decently, if not me as an individual, acting as a lesson to me. Whenever the independence protests went violent or haywire, Gandhi was unashamed of stopping the movement thought it was going well, retreating back to square one, getting brickbats from his supporters as well as his critics for his “cowardice” only to comeback stronger with a unique and bigger movement. In the same way, poor Farmers Vs Modi- 2.0 Dictator tussle, the result is already loud and clear as oppression has never won over people, be it Independence struggle, Emergency or Modi. It only made India rediscover herself for better and good.
“If Independence is granted to India, power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw,”
Winston Churchill.
We have past 75+ years after this quote to fare much better. But we also caught up with men of Straw, who will create mile long barricades for unarmed Farmers while going weak on knees when Chinese incursion amasses thousands of square miles, shrugging off as nothing of such kind happened. For every weak Leader it spawned, India was also blessed with Leaders with tenacity and courage to question the distressed status quo and move towards betterment. The list is so long that it will be boring as good is always nice and boring. It’s not just Churchill, but almost all rulers, opinion makers of diverse fields have adopted the same notion that – evil is Humanity’s true colour.
When it comes to notions about human nature, the continuity throughout Western thought is striking. ‘For this can be said of men in general: that they are ungrateful, fickle, hypocrites,’ summed up the founder of political science, Niccolò Machiavelli. ‘All men would be tyrants if they could,’ agreed John Adams, founder of American democracy. ‘We are descended from an endless series of generations of murderers,’ diagnosed Sigmund Freud, founder of modern psychology – Robert Bergman
Coming back to lovely Killer movie, no wonder it harps on the possibilities of humanness has fragile presence in Humans, asking for proof to believe that so called humanity. To be fair, it’s about the Assassin character who makes us dive deep into his Assassinistic atmosphere with a looong monologue, too long that he actually misses the target in the end of operation. But the grey theme is also much bigger than simple perception of an Assassin. Because, Hollywood always had a knack of sponsoring consumerism at opportunistic possibilities. It’s a symbiotic industry of Creatives and Corporates who go down parasitic on the hapless consumers. Hollywood is just the top of the pyramid version of Multi Level Marketing. “I own it… Do you? consumerist Model. None other than Steve Jobs understood this, to invest on making Apple as part of movies and celebrities as subconscious PR, rather shoving explicit ads down our throats.
In the vast reaches of the Pacific Ocean, for example, lies a tiny atoll called Ifalik. After the Second World War, the US Navy screened a few Hollywood films on Ifalik to foster goodwill with the Ifalik people. It turned out to be the most appalling thing the islanders had ever seen. The violence on screen so distressed the unsuspecting natives that some fell ill for days. When years later an anthropologist came to do fieldwork on Ifalik, the natives repeatedly asked her: was it true? Were there really people in America who had killed another person? – Robert Bergman
I did not want to bring in an animalistic alpha movie, but the movie created similar effects in me. Maybe we are not that edgy and nazistic initially but grow gradually with incentives and acquired taste to violence. Bergman argues it’s not easy to be violent. He provides historical evidence that not all soldiers are trigger happy and only ~15% do the firing Job. What others do? They pretend to load the Rifles when commanded to fire, trying to avoid a kill. Forget about wars, there is an unintentionally hilarious Baghpat War, between two snack shop owners and their team. Only very few deal with blows while others play it along…
Maybe the Baghpat Chacha who fought with utmost vigour does not know on encashing it. But, the Western war Movies (needlessly) glorified and merchandised armed violence to an extent making them look sacred. The Defence forces, Arms lobbies and Hollywoodies collude to form an intoxicating elixir where War is Peace. Can we call the genocide at Gaza as Western heroism? If you follow proper news, maybe not! But I would bet Hollywood financed by the vested interests will come up with another Munich type movie (Have you ever wondered what triggered Munich olympics assault? Was the history of bloodlust Israel shown in the movie? ), making monsters out of Hamas attack and Israel’s attack as sweet and passionate revenge killing thousands of Palestinian Children and women. Who knows they may even have end credit showing up proud Netanyahu arguing that he just killed few extra civilians women and Kids tastefully for each Hamas terrorist. Now, what is the probability of Steven Spielberg taking a Movie on “Gaza’s dead list”? I have been carried over by Oscar winning war movies and own a camo t-shirt screaming with US-Army badge. But, after Gaza, I think a lot to wear it though camo is my favourite design. Well, they got blood on their Oscar, BAFTA trophies… and my Camo T-shirt too.
“Smokey, this is not Vietnam, this is bowling. There are rules.”
The Big Lebowsky
Well, that’s the cherished American Dream, getting blogged on a Laptop bought from America, where even bowling has rules but not their nosey wars. At least the laptop tie things together. The fact is none of the wars have helped Humankind in any way other than Armed / Petroleum lobbies and Politicians. Even the Killer movie acts like an Arms porn where the assassin keeps godowns of Arms to endorse them. Ridiculously, as if that’s not enough he shops from a petty Black marketeer and Amazon for a tinge of reality. I am not looking for any moral lessons down there especially from happily ever after Assassin chasing tranquility with weapons and tranquillisers. But it’s actually gratifying when Stalwarts like James Cameron and Christopher Nolan comes with anti-war ideas and movies. Dunkirk is a war movie but deals with Soldiers as real lives rather as war merchandise. I have been called insane for my antiwar stance in SM quoting Dunkirk movie. But to know how precious a life is, go for a disaster tourism to know how a life means undying Hope for many… The despair and anguish in the air breaks a part of you. You may not come back as the same person whatsoever you were before. As we concluded earlier, for every war propaganda we got many more peace activists, even from the same Hollywood. And that concludes Humankind is actually and inherently decent!
An old man says to his grandson: ‘There’s a fight going on inside me. It’s a terrible fight between two wolves. One is evil – angry, greedy, jealous, arrogant, and cowardly. The other is good – peaceful, loving, modest, generous, honest, and trustworthy. These two wolves are also fighting within you, and inside every other person too.’
After a moment, the boy asks, ‘Which wolf will win?’
The old man smiles. ‘The one you feed.’
When Modi loses 2024, he will only have himself and his misguiding Crony friends and gymnastic bureaucrats to blame for his loss. The Farmers needs the opposition and Government on their side more than any other time. Hopefully, the opposition will act as force to reckon this time, providing the Farmers basic rights to protest for their livelihood.
‘My own impression,’ writes Rebecca Solnit, whose book A Paradise Built in Hell (2009) gives a masterful account of Katrina’s aftermath, ‘is that elite panic comes from powerful people who see all humanity in their own image. Dictators and despots, governors and generals – they all too often resort to brute force to prevent scenarios that exist only in their own heads, on the assumption that the average Joe is ruled by self-interest, just like them. – Humankind Book Quote
The Dharma and Justice phenomena
Once upon a time, there were two friends in a school. They were the best of friends and they promised to share everything with each other. After they graduated, one became rich and one remained poor. The poor friend went to the rich friend and asked for help. The way the friend behaved led to two endings. In one retelling of this story, the poor friend reminds the rich friend of their childhood friendship and demands help, in the name of this friendship. The rich friend mocks his poor friend and says that there cannot be friendship between unequals, and so, the poor one cannot demand help, but he can beg for help and get alms. This makes the poor friend so angry that he decides to take revenge. The story results in the Mahabharata war. The poor friend being Dronacharya and the rich friend being Drupada. A similar retelling with another ending is found in the Bhagavata. Here, when the poor friend enters the rich friend’s house, he comes bearing gifts. He starves himself for three days and saves the rice and gives it to his friend. Without being told, the rich friend realises the poverty of his childhood friend and, without being asked, gives him a lot of wealth. Here, the rich friend is Krishna and the poor friend is Sudama and it is the story of bhakti and love that we are always taught. Clearly, these stories depict that if you don’t help poor people and humiliate them, there is war and crisis in society. If you help poor friends and poor people, there is happiness in society. But the story is not so simplistic. We are told that Sudama starved himself for three days and gives his three portions of rice to Krishna. This is all that Sudama has. Sudama is giving Krishna three fistfuls of rice: knowingly or unknowingly, this is his investment in a friend. Krishna reciprocates to the kindness, by also giving Sudama ‘all that he has’ in ‘three measures’. We can argue that Krishna has to repay the debt resulting from receiving a gift. Else he will be trapped in debt. Krishna eats two fistfuls. However, just as he is about to eat the third fistful, his wife catches hold of his hand and says, “Leave some for us.” His wives tell him not to give three measures but two. In essence, he could give two in reciprocity, which more than makes up for his debt, but must keep one for himself. Thus, we see prudence being brought in this story of kindness. Through such stories, Indians were taught about commerce, debt, exchange, reciprocity, empathy and return on investment. You give in order to get. You cannot get something without giving something. To demand something as your right, as in the case of Dronacharya, leads to rage and violence. Exchange and commerce is more egalitarian while demanding/granting rights has something feudal about it. Social justice, and justice, is a western discourse: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, equal distribution of God’s gifts, are the mythic themes that influence western, and now global, politics. Dharma, however, focuses less on the idea of justice and more on the idea of empathy. The strong must help the meek. Everyone has the potential to feed another. Things have to be given voluntarily, without being prodded, rather than asked or demanded. Great kings give of their wealth freely. This is not charity – this is investment for the future. Because hungry people are angry people who will attack and destroy what we have. Those who are fed are happy people who will collaborate.
Happened to watch masterfully made Jigarthanda XX from Karthik Subburaj. It churned out mixed feelings. The brilliance of film making strikes first, especially when he comes from a self learning stable of movie makers shaped by a TV reality show. This is not a well meaning criticism as it requires to understand film making and its nuances. This is more from story hearing perspective on what hits or misses the common audience.
SJ Suryah shows off a subtle version of himself, when we compare his over the top performance of previous blockbuster films. Surprisingly, it still works out very well. He is the Ray of the film. Raghava Lawrence reminded me of young Rajinikanth on his closeups amped up by Santhosh Narayanan’s music. No wonder Balachander identified the spark in him. The show stealer is Nimisha Sajayan who does her character effortlessly and still stands tall. She is the emotional pole of the film. The signature twists of Karthik works very well, It makes one wonder what is still left in the film as the antagonist gets captured. It actually gets emotionally riveting just after that.
One of the marked differences between the prequel and this film is the Karthik Subbaraj has revered the film making in not so subtle ways and his work also justifies the same. But, has the glorification of cinema actually helps or stands the test of time. The answer will be a “No” as cinema has moved on to be a mindless magic show rather a sensible messenger. There were carefully laid propaganda on War by Hollywood with its favourite theme of Second World War II with the main antagonists as Nazis. Has that changed anything other than glorifying wars? It only changed the past victims to present remorseless murderers in Gaza. Of course there are exceptions like Nolan’s Haunting Dunkirk and I am yet to watch Oppenheimer. Wish Hollywood makes its mark on the futility of wars too.
I always liked Karthik Subbaraj conviction in his films on the social topics, where he stays true. But what lacks is the conveying part where it works on a superficial layer. The tribals and their issues reverberate still today along with the Government’s apathy with their focused obsession on reckless development. Joshimath and Himalayas are the latest visible victims as they are in the news, while other coal field agitations irrespective of the Parties rule are silenced on the National media, owned by the same Cartel.
Where the movie could have weighed on is on exploring their world as the set piece is synthetic and their life is shown in voices rather visuals. Understand it’s already a long convoluted film with filmy reverence on Films, but there are many flabby scenes which does not add to the story, like Lawrence’s monotonous antics of beating up everyone around and the unnecessary fight scene in the Court campus around Gandhi statue. I am personally fine with his strong opinions on Gandhism. At least he remembers Gandhi more than anyone else in Films. But it’s about being practical and factful. I have not seen any gandhian family as portrayed in Mahaan movie. But this movie deals with such criticisms better… with actually a better criticism.. Who cares for Gandhi nowadays. Haiku!
Instead of mass heroic flabby scenes, the movie could have dwelled on the Couple’s life on both their sweet, bitter and bittersweet moments, which forms the emotional core and introduced us to the tribal setting pre-interval so that, we are familiarised to the end objective. It’s like we have religiously sighted Clint Eastwood but forgot on Hollywood’s tried and tested screenplay template of setting the plot context after the impressive introduction. Even the elephant conservation part sounds bit preachy when it could have been visualized, rather on plain talks. For example, someone has to explain us that the elephants have come to thank Lawrence which could have been an emotionally powerful game changing visual, justifying the immaculate graphics. Jeyamohan’s Yaanai Doctor explains a similar scene with just plain prose but still impactful. Even Kumki does it visually. This is also where Blockbuster Kantara beats other films of similar genre. Kantara has its negatives as poorly made film, but it immerses us into the tribal world and its rituals, that it starts mesmerising in the end with the Hero’s transformation. Even the objective and the context set very beautifully in Kantara, that the climax gets larger than life with a simple disappearance. Subburaj could have attained box office pinnacle by fine tuning the screenplay.
Similarly, Lawrence’s motive towards filmmaking is too subtle that it gets ignored. Either they could have built his character sketch with his introduction on that he takes challenges seriously or gets offended on his complexion, or it could have been with a forceful scene, rather a bar brawl with insensitive exchanges by Ilavarasu. That could have made his fight with Shettaani even more meaningful and not just for a Phot0-Op. The game changing scene is shot poorly making the premise shallow. On the other hand SJ Suryah scores very well with a clear character sketch and impresses a lot till the end.
This is not for nitpicking or fault finding an already well made film. It’s about what will I tell my Kid as story I savoured for 3 hours. Whether it’s about an insane rowdy artist or equally insane acting Director trying something ridiculous for their moment of fame or about forest conservation or about a fiercely fighting couple or a plotty political film, the problem of becoming all in one but being master of none. Also, it is a question if what exactly affects me or I take home… as this has the effect of Sethu type climax but still goes off as a whiff of twisty air. Wish the movie added a bit of intensity and focus on screenplay with clear objectives, to achieve its pinnacle. It reminded me of Ponniyin Selvan trying to do an amazing lot and ending up not so convincing, lacking the novel effect we see in Pudhupettai or Aayirathil oruvan – both the films have a clear cut fall and rise of a Hero story. Even Viduthalai hs a clear cut cop dilemma as its theme, though it’s about a similar social issue.
With due apologies on my uninvited comic post… afterall I am just a deadwood, it’s just a lament about why our filmmakers could not reach the crest amidst exhibiting exceptional filmmaking skills as much deserved reward. But filmmaking is still a journey hopefully not as twisted or convoluted as Jigarthanda Double X does. It’s a must watch for its make believe world, earthy humour and signature twists. Jigarthanda Double X is an All-in-One package, doubling up as delicious treat with beautiful characters and also a slight whammy on failing to reach its hidden potential lacking a refined presentation and lack of intensity.
Congress had a disappointing results in 2023 November elections losing Three states where it was tagged favourites. What could be the reasons for their losses? Personally I expected at least two wins in Telangana and Chattisgarh and losing MP and Rajasthan owing to their dismal leadership and petty fights for internal power. But they even screwed Chhattisgarh as BJP understood Congress gameplay with manifestos, correcting its past mistakes. BJP’s victory goes deeper with Bhaghel’s foxy corrupt gameplay turning his past Supporters and Partymen to frenemies.
A proper ground report would have avoided disappointments as Congress State Leaders nowadays are One time elect Pony. One can safealy assume they will not last an subsequent term. I would not blame EVM heist for any of these defeats but Congress could do well avoiding its misuse in 2024 with proper precautions- escorting and guarding EVMs cradled in RSS-BJP’s strong rooms for a month. Would like to quote Sharad Pawar doubting 2018 results tweaked to deceive Congress, as their default arrogance peaks with simple wins. 2018 is an aberration, 2023 is not. BJP is now afraid of the massive INDIA alliance and its two third vote share along with its rattling agenda in nascency, and could scare them only with such formidable wins.
But this is much needed loss for the Party which suffers from all possible weaknesses after its Karnataka win.
BJP’s victories are in Cow belt States with inclination towards Hindutva. Even from 2000, these states have rewarded BJP and BJP delivered with their strong state leadership. So data reveals no surprises that Congress lost the States.
One size does not fit all… says the Tailor.
There is no visible central leadership from Congress. What worked for Karnataka will not work for other States. There is a clear North-South divide on how people elect and perceive Leadership. For an easy win in Karnataka, Congress fumbled with their manifesto confusion and Bajrang Bali had to help them out in the last minute. Thanks to Congress’ RSS and double thanks for screwing up MP too. Sometimes one wonders if Gandhis need to save cherished congress from its self-centered Old guard or save Congress from RG or to save RG from his infamous and inefficient coterie. Then one can only wonder, if the flood goes above the head, does it matter if it’s feet or inches above? Maybe none of the theory matters, actually what matters is to swim through the crisis. Else we all drown.
Congress professed that it will leverage local issues but seems only good at petty infighting locally within the the Party. In modern times where even movies need to build a positive work of mouth, the Party has a lot to do to rein in their supposedly Leaders whose merits are limited to the proximity to the Gandhis and skills limited to not allow anyone else to near them. Gandhis left it out to the Old Guards without any leash. The Old guards proved to be self serving selfish Leaders with a “My Way or Highway” approach leading themselves to nowhere. Its pathetic none of the Local leaders could sense the turf properly and unaware that even a small vote margin could play a bigger role. What is more startling is that all these Leaders assured High command of victory, making RG a Joke on winning all states. Hmmm. It’s the curse of Congress where the State Leaders give away easily after 5 years of corrupt rule and Central Leadership is known for indecisions or mostly wrong ones without any course correction. But it has hit another dimension, that High command cant even sense the turf being fooled by its own Leaders and Poll Agencies.
Panauti kaun?
Rahul Gandhi displayed arrogance and immaturity with his panauti remark which could emotionally stir people who are connected to astrology and that includes almost all Indians. Astrologers are cheaper version of Shrinks who give us self confidence and hope citing a distant planet which you can never see or visit. They just cure momentary depression with a simple ritual. How it influences us nobody knows but it’s like feel good cinema. Whole India including me watched the Cricket match. All are Panautis? Modi might be a Selfie freak but at least he works for victory. Also, Modi is like mythical Vaali who deserves to lose for his undoings but could only be defeated in a nuanced way, not on one to one personal attacks. The more he gets personally attacked the more he weeps in public meetings amplifying the insults to gain public sympathy out of it.
…not just Modi the person but the hagiography about him shapes electoral choices as well as the political culture of contemporary India. Initially, Modi drew attention for his demagoguery. But along with that, he began representing many other things and continues to evoke multiple images. It may be appropriate to sum up these images as constituting Hindutva. It incorporates victimhood and aspiration at the same time and has space for asceticism as well as hankering after material acquisition. It includes public display of ritual practices as religiosity and seeks to reconcile Brahmanical vision with the claims of “lower” castes. The current formulation of Hindutva also includes the normalisation of violence as righteous nationalism and approves the idea of a strong authority as good governance. Finally, the Modi hagiography incorporates ideas of development that tie up with welfarist paternalism and a strong nation.
Suhas Palshikar unravels the Modi enigma and why it gets difficult to fight. Modi is essentially not that everyman. But, he ensures the image with constant flow of Selfies and Photo-Ops generating an imagined closeness. He is polymorphic and represents everything, just like his ridiculous fancy dresses. RG might be totally right in calling him multi-headed Ravana, but he would do better with a backdoor strategy to tackle this Ravana rather lambasting him in public. Rama could not win over Ravana easily. When Rama knocked off one of Ravana’s ten heads it automatically grew back. So, Rama had to aim his Heart with a powerful Brahmastra. Maybe Mo-Sha’s Heart lies in the Hindi Heartland. The Brahmastra holds the key where the INDIA allies need to perform the ground work on what excites the Hindi Heartland masses other then Hindu pride. I could sense formation of INDIA and caste census certainly disturbed Modi, with his foolish knee jerk reactions, but INDIA is a non-starter, only bickering for last 3 months and Congress is mostly to blame. Apart from Brahmastra, Rama also sought the help of Indira’s Chariot driven by Matali. So, it was a teamwork. Congress needs to respect its allies and unbiased analytics rather get carried away by its opportunistic greed for power.
The best way to attack Modi is to ignore him totally while addressing the actual issues originated by him, of which there are plenty. He is just churning a PR Titanic out of India, not amrit. Yes, the same Ship which could never sink and even equipped with lesser life boats but still sank out of hubris. Ironically Titanic Captain resembles Modi, even if Modi could not match his integrity and character.
RG’s stupid Panauti remark will affect everyone unconsciously in a different way especially with BJP’s propaganda, just like Neech. Such remarks could have been at least dealt with a personal heartfelt apology, reducing the damage. Congress won whenever the elections was not about any personality but its People. Wonder why RG becomes so insensible just after simple wins. Also, his utterance is more of a symptom of opportunistic arrogance, as rightly pointed out by Akhilesh Yadav. Yadav might be a featherweight in MP politics, but Congress only did harm to INDIA alliance by denying few seats to Samajwadi party or other partners. Congress acted selfish on the whole emboldened by a petty win at Karnataka, misreading its win against a weaker BJP State unit for change of tides.
When yesterday becomes Once upon a time, in Politics
The Gandhis still seem to be basking on their Karnataka victory. There was no push towards any mass reachout, outsourcing their work to Agencies and Old Guards, happily taking a backseat. Contrast this with Mo-Sha’s propaganda blitzkrieg. In their power inebriated state, Congress don’t deserve a chance when they fight BJP even on half its strength.
When David assumed he is Goliath
Congress gets easily deceived on its own capabilities. All BJP needs is a single win to make them live in a bubble of hyped up wins everywhere. They can’t even read the ground situation properly or what exactly people want. How can they… when RG along with his cadre chooses to rest like Kumbakaran asking for Nidrasan instead of Indrasan? The same pattern occurred in 2018-19 elections too, where they got carried away by few state wins in 2018, throwing away any prospects of new coalition to dust. There are no clear ground surveys analysing their SWOTs. In contrast, Amit Shah seems to get his assessments right most often, though he blabbers something else in public. So, it boils down to lack of effort (for the lack of bitter words) and trusting untrustworthy election brokers trading their allegiance for money.
There are no Free lunches
The Freebie Politics got its limits. Odisha / Telangana model of governance works more towards incentives for agriculture empowering productivity rather providing empty handouts without any outcome. Congress got trumped by the same freebie politics when BJP announced matching welfare doles, after learning its lesson in Karnataka. Congress needs to innovate, shock and awe BJP to obtain an edge over them. Shivraj read his data right when he understood the economy is in doldrums with the rise of temporary wage worker, defying Modi’s (Adani) capitalist fanaticism.
When Kamal ensured Kamal’s rule
I do remember a Comedy where a Beggar will request alms from a Cart vendor. He will be soon joined by a Comic Cop looking for service fee from the Vendor. The Vendor very busy with his work will brush aside both of them asking to stay on the sides together. The Comic cop could not digest that he is being treated so equally like a Beggar. Then, the Beggar will retort to the Cop, “You are spoiling my Business. Go away!” You know what happens next, Jail, ED and IT comes to the scene. The Cart vendor is our Voter and I leave it to you to correlate the Cop and Beggar begging him.
Similarly, Congress displayed no novelty at all singing similar Hindutva chorus along with freebies, playing second fiddle to BJP. Congress banked on anti-incumbency factor alone in MP, just like Karnataka rather creating its own narrative. It’s still an easy shot to dislodge a weak Mamaji. Elections are not prayer to gods but to the people where god of election resides. So far Congress wins got more to do with BJP’s follies rather on their own merit, winning wherever people are desperate to dislodge BJP. Naturally, without any emotional stirs, People will see Mamaji as a better Bulldozer Bhajan singer, giving pocket money before he leaves with a sentimental bye.
All Play and No politics made Jack a Loser.
Congress does not have any novelty even in tweaking the media limelight. All electoral drubbings is followed by RG’s “humble acceptance” and then going back to his shell. It shows how congress has completely surrendered its fight just on few simple defeats. Only people like JR and his communication team try hard to communicate Congress’ stance. But it’s only a certain RSS guy who fumbles in elections (apt to his acronym) who gets all the limelight and blessings. When will RG broaden his coterie and start coming out of his shell? He was a little outgoing with the Yatra. Now he is back again crawling back to his shell, leaving the coterie to fumble and dance on errors. How can people trust such fused out leadership when he can’t even work 40 Hours per week, especially when the Mo-Sha leadership works 24/7 on elections.
When one door closes other door opens
But, Congress also got few things right in defeating BRS in Telangana. First of all this is an easy victory due to KCR’s hubris, but credit is due in not allowing BJP to grow in Telangana. It’s also a case of BJP focusing on Hindi belt rather wasting its energy at Telangana. This exposes BJP’s weaknesses of lack of manpower down south. Telangana is a progressive state not Cowbelt. Still, BJP is inducing communal polarisation just like Karnataka, which needs to be stopped. Congress need to milk their advantage in Southern states where BJP finds itself tough to build with toxic Hindutva, with very low success rate. KTR may easily comeback after five years if he played his cards well as Congress is known for its greedy corruption, laziness and arrogance when drunk on power.
Also, Congress might have did something right with its selection of new Leadership. Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo yatra might have also helped in mobilizing Congress in that region and identifying the right tiered leadership. More than freebies, Telangana win could be attributed to KCR’s attitude.
How Congress could turn around in 2024?
Personally, this loss might be bit difficult to swallow, but it’s a blessing in disguise. Because in 2018, Congress did almost a clean sweep, only to fail subsequently in 2019. Congress did not entertain AAP and other coalition partners and blindly believed Chowkidhar abuse will work out. They daydreamed of winning 2019 elections without anything to boast on the ground in terms of agenda or narrative, only ending themselves drowning in saffron nightmare.
So, I will reiterate this loss is essential blessing in disguise*.
* If they learn to implement the lessons learnt.
Give and Take is the Best political policy
Now congress will be more accommodative to its allies who could do a good job with Congress’ backup strength. Congress should treat 2024 as a test election rather getting egotistic on seat sharing. AAP could be that soft version of Hindutva, RSS is trying hard to groom by arresting Kejriwal, subsequently making him a Martyr. But as Karunanidhi told, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in Politics. They just need to make use of the ground situation wary of the Knife on their backs.
When the Holy Shadow chose to rest in shady-shell.
Maybe RG will learn a lesson or two in mass outreach and hopefully galvanise the cadre in Cowbelt and also revisit South to solidify his base. Gandhis are like the magic potion in Asterix comics for the cadre. They need to create regional Obelix-es who are bathed in the potion. There are reports that Yatra failed to create an impression in MP, but I would not buy that because, Yatra is not a Poll manipulator but a force multiplier for Congress. I would blame the State leadership for the dismal loss, not capitalizing on the energy. But bet that Congress State leaders are shameless and selfish enough to continue as if no damage happened. Congress may also understand the need to focus on Northeast seriously rather taking it for granted. But, time is running out. BJP may look for early election going for the kill after tasting blood in latest elections. Remember Vajpayee’s India shining campaign? Modi would not buy in like Vajpayee… but not everyone in BJP is Modi.
Elections are emotional!
Maybe Congress will also understand the need for an emotional agenda involving Social Justice / Identity politics where welfare of the economically backward remains the mainstay of 2024. Not just welfare doles and empty quota promises, but an action plan which could be implementable to stir the masses, on what they stand to gain as a group. Maybe it will realise Social justice is the only trump card, against powerful religion identity card, just like Indira Gandhi’s masterful “Garibi hatao!”. Poor Economy along with identity politics could be made relevant again as Politics is about recycling old win(e) in glamorous packages.
As progressives rightly say, Identity politics as anti-venom for Hindutva venom is not good politics or as a policy. But for a decade the opposition got reduced to a prisoner of circumstances where they are even afraid of posing with Minorities or dare talk about them like Modi afraid of naming China. While on the other end BJP is able to shore up their brahmanical agenda with laws and penetrating all institutions and even temples. BJP has so far beautifully ensured even the opposition to toe their line like Ayodhya issue or EWS quota. This is only possible by Deception, by penetrating the Congress think-tank. Maybe if the BBC- Congress’ acronym for Bhai-Behen company has its own merits, it’s also also easy to get manipulated as the decision lies on a simple dining table. I don’t know how much of decisions goes through rationale or analysis of data or hearing out the spectrum of views.
If you don’t like a Rule… Just Follow it.. Reach on the Top.. and Change the Rule
Adolf Hitler
Some potent agenda is needed in the short term to counter this fascist toxicity. If someone can dare, naming the negative pole of the Battery and propagate its essentialness, the opposition has its duty to stand for the righteous cause of the people representing the opposite positive pole.
There are theories around the inefficiency of caste politics citing various seats where tribals are major constituents. Tribals did not support Congress because of Baghel’s arrogance like Hasdeo movement and not because of RG’s OBC pitch. There are various factors for BJP wins and cannot be generalized as invalidation on any strategy. Such Opeds also shows how BJP is afraid of Congress choosing the caste empowerment path, watering down the agenda to nip it off the bud. There is a clever ploy by BJP to make Congress shy away from SC-ST and Backward classes empowerment and I leave it there.
EVM = Every Vote to Modi?
There are doubts on EVM, but it’s futile to talk about it as none of our Institutions have the spine to even consider or scrutinize it, knowing very well on its loopholes. The Major problem with the EVM is its technological invisibility, just like a Mobile phone used to count votes. Let’s imagine a Presidential election happening between Swiggy and Zomato on their respective apps, will you trust their results? No wonder BJP complained about 2009 results and Congress is complaining a lot just like their losing habit.
What makes the BJP so confident of a landslide victory in spite of all these adverse indications ? The clues, perhaps, are to be found in the manner in which the ground is being prepared: the constant refrain of 400+ seats, the slanted pre-poll surveys endorsing these estimates, and the amplification of these predictions by an obliging media. So that when the 400+ is declared after the polling, people would not question it because they had already been pre-conditioned to expect it.
Could it be that the BJP has a joker up its sleeve? The EVMs, perhaps? A national roll-out of the Chandigarh mayoral model, under the benevolent gaze of the Election Commission?
I really don’t know. But I am reminded of that intriguing quote from Arthur Conan Doyle: “When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Think about it. And worry. – Avay Shukla
It’s not about people for or against EVMs, it’s just that EVM is a dumb servant of any ruling Government, with its complexities nobody can understand. The lingering question is not whether we could count and bank on EVM. The real question is whether we could count on the partisan Government, its servile EC throwing all EVM swaps under carpet as trial EVMs, corrupt bureaucrats conducting polls and stealing EVMs in their vehicles and crony Corporates invading EVM strong rooms with equipment for manipulation… all shamelessly operating on this dumb EVM. A case of too many Surgeons doing a democratic surgery on their whims and democracy ultimately dies. Maybe we could conduct a parallel poll on how many people believe in EVM or not and then decide just like developed countries does. And such votes should not happen in EVMs. Just (s)kidding on our Banana skin republic.
The least any democratic institution could do to save our democracy would be to increase the VVPAT tally ratio as its very difficult to hide or destroy material evidence. I will not be surprised if there are Judgements stating EVMs don’t have any sovereignty and will act as per Ruler’s wish. But, one can also wish that just if one Justice card stands tall in a free falling Domino, it could save a lot others at the back from falling down. I have heard about anonymous authors holding out their names to avoid fame or maybe infamy. But for the first time I am hearing about anonymous judgement, making me hope for good, as shame and ridicule are still working at some constitutional institutions. Its upto such institutions whether to stand up themselves restoring democracy with very simple audit like primary maths counting or confuse everyone with sealed envelope love letters from executive or anonymous judgements to reciprocate the love.
The way our Judiciary got dressed down to few Judges deciding on the fate of nation with a very simple allocation book called CJI’s Roster, one wonder if there is any justice of equality prevailing in the Judiciary itself. A resourceful article-14 post states, Contrary To SC’s Rules Of Assignment, At Least 8 Politically Sensitive Cases Moved To One Judge In 4 Months. It talks about how a certain Snow White of a Judge, supposed to be fairest of them all, ensures Mo-Sha rajya, like an one woman army. All while the CJI is busy lecturing on democratic values when he performs his own Roster assignments in a skewed manner, favouring a single Judge to handle all politically significant cases. So, the only rule working out in our Judiciary is the Rule Book of Mo-Sha, be in their good book or get scared of morning walks, like me wondering if my Bike will work tomorrow morning or go through raw molestation of clutch wire breakup, engine oil / petrol drain. Sometimes I wonder if a Mother of democracy could be so fragile that it turns to be a Banana republic with manipulating just few levers. Maybe, it’s easier to conclude we are just selfish about our own desires and prospects rather worrying about the whole picture or the well being of the Nation.
A hunter goes into the woods, and he sees this grizzly. Biggest he’s ever seen. He raises his rifle, and he fires. The bear falls, the hunter rushes forward, and to his surprise, there’s nothing there. There’s no bear, there’s no broken twigs, there’s no blood. And then suddenly, the grizzly throws this massive arm around his shoulders and explains, “You took your shot. You missed, so either I feast, or, and the choice is yours, I sodomize you.” Naturally, the hunter chooses life.
The next day, the hunter returns to the woods with a much bigger gun, and he spots the bear again. And he aims. He fires. The bear falls. The hunter charges. No sign of the bear, until the bear is standing beside him, saying, “You know the deal.” Indignity ensues.
The following day, the hunter treks back to the wood. This time with a bazooka. He sees the bear, lines him up in his crosshairs, fires. The recoil from the bazooka throws him backwards. And he looks up as the smoke’s clearing, and there’s the bear standing above him, arms crossed.
And the bear squints. “You’re not really out here for the hunting, are you?”
– The Killer Movie Quote
Maybe that’s how Bearish “Banana” Republics are born. People are so accustomed to the authoritarianism that Supremacy becomes the pleasurable law, beating fair justice and equality. Well these Jokes still can’t beat the Judgements spewed from the highest of Pulpits. How about a Judgement which summarizes an illegal act as illegal and then deems it legal with the same Judgement. Even a Church pastor giving confession will pale before these judge-mental elites. If you are not convinced please go through that anonymous Ayodhya Judgement of SC.
Urban myth has it that if you put a frog in a pot of boiling water it will instantly leap out. But if you put it in a pot filled with pleasantly tepid water and gradually heat it, the frog will remain in the water until it boils to death. Allegedly, the frog is not able to detect the gradual increase in temperature until it’s too late.
This allegory is frequently used in economics, business and marketing to point out that change has to be introduced gradually if it is to be successful. It also illustrates an aspect of human psychology: we tend to accept things that creep up on us slowly but steadily, even when they take control of our lives. But one day we wake up and find ourselves in boiling water.
Boiling frog syndrome may explain well how our society transformed from righteous outcries during Babri Masjid and octopus type communal riots tentacled out as consequence. To understand the toxic communal voyage Indians have gone through, India Today magazine has come up with beautiful illustrative covers (or should we say cover-ups?), to illustrate the same?
India Today Cover 1992 – Babri masjid demolition deemed as Nation’s ShameIndia Today 2024 Cover – The Mandir built on Masjid demolition is deemed Great Hindu revival
Let’s still be optimistic as hope is something BJP wants to kill as thoughtfully quoted by Richa Chaddha. At the time of writing, Communal riots are happening in Haldwani, Manipur with brutal fire at sight orders. BJP is wooing every small party who cannot be counted to a quarter of a finger for LS seats just to create a winning perception. The cost BJP gives for such acquisitions is amazing ranging from Bharat Ratnas to ED arrests. It is actually bending over backwards to split votes as much as possible, by scaring out Nithish Kumar, Kejriwal and Mamta Banerjee, proving that the only opposition to bet on future, to work against BJP is Congress. At least to me the INDIA game is not over still the date for withdrawal of candidates and maybe even beyond that. Only the the agile and wise could trump BJP and I believe they are more wiser than selfish.
BJP is also busy making Indians believe it will win 400 seats like a freak version of Goebbels, repeating the illogical lie again and again. Now BJP’s only hope of winning 2024 remains with repeating its success in Cow belt. No matter even if it increases its vote share, the seats in the cow belt will remain the same. It’s like a riding a horse inside a small pot to quote a tamil proverb, however speedily you ride you end with the same or lesser outcome of nothingness. For how long BJP could do its somersault in the Hindutva pot when the pot is actually dishing out just communal poison rather prosperity amrit without helping on the survival of the poor? Obviously, we are seeing a party at the top of the bell curve, sliding down either way, due to overdose of communalism or grim economy of suffering citizens, sparing nil hope for maxing out its seats. But BJP is playing the australian game of sledging and mental games, when even Australia has turned a sportive nation celebrating its loss to a West Indies so that Sports thrives rather one-up-man-ship.
On a similar vein, retaining the hope on the talismanic Judiciary, if and only if such standing tall supreme spines turn supine, the only way out for opposition is to go Atmanirbhar in elections – do a proper analysis of tricky seats, perform honest micro analysis and see the deviation / margin of probable wins in +/- 5%, design the campaigning for door to door influencing the cats on the wall, ensuring the EVM allocation algorithm now centralized for Central Government’s benefits is having any pattern of recurring models or making it manual allocation with shuffled raffles, and then taking care of the EVMs post election, like Just borns, to avoid EVM swaps as lot of EVMs are already mysteriously lost by innocent EC and safeguard it till it gets counted to deliver.
Paper ballots of the past kept our democracy sane, with technology we have have turned it insane. Recent Pakistan elections executed with paper ballots have upturned the mighty Army and corrupt Judiciary to favour Imran Khan in Jail, rather a puppet. India inventing its way to electoral destruction reminds me of an evidenceless joke where the US space program developed a sophisticated anti-gravity pen to work in space while the Russians used modest pencil serving the same purpose. We are in a similar route tinkering our democracy with sophisticated computers to perform a kindergarten level Job of selecting the best Ruler with a tick.
In these elections, there is another crisis. With the EVM patent of BEL and ECIL having expired, there could be a free-for-all in accessing and using this device. Even when the patent was operational, there was reportedly enormous pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office on the ECI to procure EVMs from favourite corporate entities. The ECI then had resisted, which may not happen now, when the EVMs themselves have become rogue devices. With the ECI maintaining complete secrecy, one does not know where the current set of EVMs has come from or their integrity levels.
VVPATs were introduced to resolve some of these matters, at least to some extent. The Supreme Court has laid down the norm to verify EVM votes against VVPAT slips in five randomly-selected booths in each Assembly constituency. And VVPATs are installed in every EVM, but not even one paper slip is counted and matched to verify the votes polled and counted before the results are announced. It has exposed elections to serious fraud.
Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, during whose tenure VVPATs were introduced, has also suggested: “All the VVPAT slips may be counted. This will end the demand for return to ballot paper for good. Counting the VVPAT slips would be much like paper ballots, without return to the ballot papers as the VVPAT chits are much smaller in size, containing the name of only one candidate, unlike the big ballot paper with multiple candidates…. So, in the end there would not be much difference whether we count EVMs or VVPAT slips. Only that reversing the process—that is counting VVPAT slips—would enhance transparency and credibility of the electoral system….”
Seats with low margin of victories are best suited for EVMs to do their magic, unless Shah changes the modus operandi. VVPAT audit with increased sampling could ensure the integrity of elections. But when the Election Commission did not even even bother to tally their biggest blunder of mismatched Votes Registered Vs. Vote counted, the hopes remains as empty hope. EC even removed those mismatched tally web pages to bury the truth to graves. If EVMs get manipulated schematically on 50-100+ seats, it could tilt election results with major advantage to the manipulator. Most of the EVM malpractices occur when the opposition cadre is weak. No wonder Congress and Samajwadi party are losing their winning elections.
EVMs nowadays gets stored in RSS backed educational institutions with the blessings of EC with a month to manipulate at leisure, with the strong rooms located dubiously adjacent to opaque labs where Staff visit everyday. Ironically, EC is not patient enough to count VVPAT Slips even for few days to ensure the integrity, though it will conduct elections for months to ensure the ruler’s campaign goes well in phases mobilising their sparse resources in a phased manner and enough time to interact with EVMs post polling and prior counting. I have heard about a DMK Cadre person who even doubted ants entering the Strong room, but such things paid off for the regional parties fighting BJP, as they know they are done if caught red handed, like the Reliance Field engineers exploring EVMs in strong rooms. Only the paranoid could win over Mo-Sha, not laid back post-independence Zamindars.
The Chandigarh mayor election stands as a testament to how shamelessly and blatantly BJP stoops even for simple wins. The presiding Officer, seeing a clear win for Congress-AAP alliance, took to ill and cancelled the election, to give BJP time to buy the voters. When the election happened after the court’s nudge after a week, the Presiding Officer, an Officeholder of BJP marked the votes of Congress-AAP deliberately with ink markings to make them invalid and declared BJP as winner. Then he ran away with the ballot papers rather explaining why he invalidated or atleast displaying it to the concerned Parties with his forgery marks. In Chandigarh Mayor elections, the media was not allowed for the elections to control the narrative. As expected all leading media hailed the victory of BJP, a heist made in broad daylight with the Camera monitoring the proceedings, with the malpractice as a footnote. Now it’s in the domain of the Court and one can be assured this will go on till the term lasts unless otherwise someone took shame to it.
“You can understand where the confidence of “Abki baar 400 paar”, is coming from?” @PBhushan1
A similar situation of runaway democracy happened in 2019 LS elections where EC destroyed the VVPAT slips just after elections, when they are supposed to store them for 10 years for audit purposes. One of the important aspects of integrity established by tallying the votes registered vs Votes counted led to many disparities. EC had stopped tallying votes nowadays and even disabling the tallying webpages of 2019. Since the Chandigarh election had a small sampling it was easier to identify the vote manipulation. It will be very difficult to investigate the EVM as it has several vulnerabilities with the programming for symbols, bypassing the voting process through a Laptop interface and manipulating the count through RF signals. So much for the elections in Mother of democracy. You can count on EVMs handled by opposition leaders as there is a limit to which they will go. EVMs are dumb machines and their integrity is directly proportional to its handlers. Can you count on the same with the Adharmic Mo-Sha duo, incorporating intelligent chips in the guise of VVPAT and not even counting VVPAT slips as legit votes, bypassing the integrity?
The way with which BJP captured the Mayor seat soon after the election winner, was dramatic and laughable. As the opposition created ruckus shocked by the election chaos, BJP conducted the elections for subordinate posts, unfettered by the chaos ensued, where the BJP candidates got elected with 16-Love margins. Now if this goes to the Court, there will be a shameless adorning once revered Pulpit, who will ask the opposition why you did not vote, just like someone asked Uddhav Thackeray, “Why did you resign?” to grab his CM chair and gift it to BJP, now doing merry go round dabbling with the Speaker. Logically, the first Domino which enables the subsequent fall of events should be held responsible and scrutinised as null and void. But we got kangaroo Courts who cherry pick justifications in Mo-Sha’s favour, as was evident in Ayodhya / Maharashtra judgement. Maharashtra is going to vote this year anyway making the Courts even more redundant. Modi incidentally announced 500 crore funding for this magnificent bobble head shaking Doll, swaying as per his wish like an enamoured pet will do.
There is a glimmer of hope with recent SC judgements course correcting illegal Electoral bonds and upturning Chandigarh Mayoral polls in INDIA bloc favour. As PB Mehta points out its too early to celebrate. Mo-Sha is known for creating a semblance of democracy losing smaller fishes like Chandigarh mayoral polls, keeping SC and EC silent on similarly illogical and illegal EVM machinations at national scale. It gets even more grave with BJP’s practical mind-wash of 400+ seats without any evidence or logic to support it. BJP may manipulate Karnataka, Himachal, Jharkhand and other Congress bastions as it may plan to buy others as and when convenient. Their opinion polls are “setting” up the mood for a clean sweep unusual and unheard off before 2019, where BJP even win in minority dominated areas. The congress cadre need to check out for signal manipulations in EVM strong rooms, the movement of suspicious vehicles like mobile toilets or around Strong rooms especially emitting radiation and be cautious of EVM swaps especially during counting and transportation. There is a strong need for Congress to employ technical teams to keep EVMs secure on easy win constituencies around 120.They should also press for VVPAT tally if suspicious, rather happily obliging to illicit technology.
Electoral bonds could be a stop gap ban to BJP’s favour as its already slush with 5000 Crore of white money while Congress Bank accounts running two hundred crores gets frozen by IT. BJP will never disclose before elections by some hook or crook and may have plans otherwise after 2024 even if they lose. Electoral bonds Judgement is much delayed giving ample time for the Bank looters to even start their own Bank. So, we need to wait on observations on EVM from SC and EC to make sense of our democracy, if it really exist.
Rajiv Gandhi, with his brutal majority brought in two evil twins flourishing in current Indian politics – The Ayodhya issue and EVM. Maybe to equalize we got two Gandhi siblings currently enduring the brunt of their father’s mistakes. I sincerely hope the righteous siblings win this war and set things right. It’s also a testament to the present rulers how their own decisions turnaround to bite them later.
Stitching the caste umbrella to protect from Casteism.
Congress needs proper surveys to understand the social empowerment dynamics which has worked all along, rather going by blind opinions, including this blog if at all… It worked for them in 2004 when they made the election issue based rather against any Leader. They did not target Vajpayee, but punctured his “India shining” campaign, making people realise the hollow claims. The economic issues even more grave now. Nothing is shining nowadays for poor.
When BJP still stitches its caste umbrella meticulously, why it would nudge Congress not to do so? How BJP trumps is by also by categorizing people on economic demographics along with castes, like EWS quota, Farmer incentives, Vishwakarma schemes etc. Personally, I will not buy any theory which says what works for BJP will not work for Congress. That too when BJP shamelessly copied freebie politics from Congress to win over MP and Chhattisgarh. When BJP does Laadli Behana copying Congress / DMK it is a masterstroke, but when Congress does, it is cheap politics. But, this is to INDIA’s advantage because, BJP’s freebie promises could not be materialised by 2024 elections, disappointing the voters who trusted them, just like Congress suffered in 2019.
The era when politics was fronted by OBC figures such as Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan (all former Chief Ministers) can now be seen as an intermediate phase of the RSS project that is no longer necessary. Sangh ideologues also believe that Brahmins are an all-India caste, and figures such as the first BJP Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had acceptability because of his social origins. – Saba Naqvi
It’s just that Congress does not know how to make Social justice and empowerment work yet, as it has not invested on ground work. Modi has masterfully categorized the economic demographics to Women, Farmers, Youth and Poor. For what Modi misdirected the opposition, he has been very careful with his CM and Deputy CM choices where there is a potent caste mix. Reading between the lines majority Deputy CMs are from brahmin community. There are no Farmer, Women, Youth or Poor CMs as choices. Only RSS CMs and DCMs. We can be assured there will be election gimmicks happening for each demography while stitching up caste alliances in the background. For INDIA simple assurances may not help, but need a clear plan of empowerment to attract masses with the risk of whatever they think, Modi could provide that in instant like an amicable Mamaji.
Congress erred badly in recent State elections by pushing the idea of OBC empowerment in parts that have large tribal populations (such as 32 per cent in Chhattisgarh) for whom this pitch would be meaningless, if not counterproductive.
The party seemed oblivious to the shift taking place in this voter demographic. And since the December 3 results of the Assembly elections, the RSS project of delisting Christian tribal communities (from lists of those entitled to reservation) has a new impetus even as reports have come in of vigilante actions against Christians in the Adivasi pockets of India.
The BJP/RSS strategic thinking involves seeing social categories from the perspective of ideological objectives. These are very clear regarding Christians, regardless of gestures such as the Prime Minister meeting members of the community on Christmas in 2023. The Sangh also understands that OBCs are not a bloc but a category made up of several castes that compete with each other and with Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
The BJP organisation has templates to create competitions within caste groups in ways that now make it challenging to present them as one entity in many parts of the Hindi-speaking States. Simultaneously and counter-intuitively, they also seek to unite all as Hindu by positing them against Muslims and Christians. In the recent Assembly elections, too, localised anti-minority narratives contributed to electoral success.
Congress may not be wrong in their OBC push but may not have stitched a meticulous vote share based on castes which work for a particular region. It has to be an all inclusive umbrella comprising of SC/ST rather being picky about OBCs. Caste is a poison, but it’s also one of the potent cards of identity politics making it an evergreen political tool. The real step towards social justice could partly lie with the Economically weaker section EWS category. Currently the quota is underutilised since it only caters to the elite classes who are already well to do. The EWS Quota is quite partial where it gets much lower than the cutoffs for OBCs / STs as a recurring pattern. It also unfairly favours the elite classes with 8 Lakhs income cut-off. This could be a potent issue if the INDIA alliance handles it smartly. INDIA could expose BJP as an elite Brahmin party by broadening the EWS Quota as casteless category, by including everyone irrespective of caste or religion, catering only to the poor economic factor. Caste census could be a double edged sword antagonising few sections. But making impartial and broad based economic quota could attract everyone around the INDIA alliance.
Saba Naqvi attributes the success of Congress in Karnataka to the whispers of Brahmin conspiracy below. Usually such identity tremors create a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction and frustration, no matter how much Modi distracts the public with his snorkeling. BJP leveraged conspiracies and whatsapp whispers against Congress to win 2014- 19 and now its reaping what it sowed.
But there’s a deeper problem that this high command culture creates in states where the traditional BJP leadership is of an older vintage than what has emerged after Modi’s 2014 triumph. A top-down approach means that the equations established on the ground, based on traditional caste linkages and networks — predating the focus on Modi and the strategy of unleashing Hindutva foot soldiers — get unsettled. This is precisely what unfolded in Karnataka. Not only was there deep resentment at what was perceived as the undermining of leaders of the ‘old BJP’ belonging to the powerful Lingayat community, but it was also spoken about as a ‘conspiracy of Brahmins’, allegedly led by BL Santosh, the general secretary (organisation) of the BJP — the contact person between the party’s national leadership and the RSS — who is from Karnataka.
The whisper of this ‘Brahmin conspiracy’ proved fatal for the BJP in a state where all caste groups are conscious of their rights and entitlements. This was all the more damaging as the Congress was playing the social justice card, and Siddaramaiah, its most charismatic mass leader, openly spoke about the humiliation of the Lingayat leaders of the BJP.The Congress fielded 46 Lingayat candidates; 37 won. The BJP fielded 69; just 15 won. The last-minute pre-election rejig of reservation quotas by the BJP to offset caste restiveness also backfired. The Congress, conversely, got support from all castes and communities.
BJP was quick to remove BLS from Karnataka. But it’s a temporary setup. Once BJP+RSS feels the need for OBC/ ST leadership is over, they will switch back to BLS type elite leadership, like they did in Rajasthan and Madhya pradesh. Caste is a potent weapon for INDIA alliance, as BJP has cleverly manipulated the backward classes and tribes with an unfair Quota, to favour its upper class demography, the core of RSS. All social engineering are a pure white lies engineering discontentment and rifts between castes to reap electoral benefits.
But, what Modi cannot provide and INDIA could utilise?
Modi cannot provide employment for the youth. But for the youth to believe the new INDIA Alliance could open the employment doors needs efforts and convincing them on personal platforms. Social Media ads INDIA alliance need to convert them as Volunteers and Booth agents for their polling effort as an answer to BJP-RSS Juggernaut.
Modi cannot provide schemes and incentives for Farmers but he could increase the quarterly incentive. INDIA alliance could work on teaching them how to fish rather giving them the Fish and subsequently engage with Farmer societies for their thoughts and buy-ins, like cold storages, Direct Farmer markets and farmer friendly laws to empower this major demography.
Modi cannot empower Blue collar workers with worker friendly laws as his ideology is influenced by the Richie’s Riches who go to any extent to make him win. Currently, the industrial laws are crony friendly with long hours and no liability with the Owners. Each worker subclass like Drivers, Delivery workers, Factory personnels have their own issues. INDIA alliance could come up with Group Insurance schemes and Family Health insurance schemes along with minimum wages. US’ Democrat Party has a long history of empowering the Workers progressively and thriving on it. It may affect SMEs but could be incentivized for a progressive change.
Likewise, the labourers of unorganized sectors like Drivers, Delivery Personnels and gig economy workers provide a lot of potential to tap. All Modi Government bothered so far is to levy hefty GST on them. They need better government help like Health Insurance and laws to prevent abuse.
Modi cannot provide empowerment to the Women as its against Sanatan dharma. INDIA alliance has good chances on poking Mo-Sha on this front. They have great leaders in Mamta Banerjee to take this campaign forward. BJP may come up with monthly stipends as their trump card foe 2024. The opposition need to make people realise how tough it is to be realised. Afterall Adani is not going to donate them monthly money. But taxes collected from the poor in the guise of Petrol, LPG, Utilities, Bank surcharges and taxing grocery / veggies. In any case, this is a tough preposition to counter, with unsustainable implementation, INDIA could trump with the monthly income hikes and special doles for rural and urban circuits, like Shivraj Chouhan did with Laadli Behana scheme. Congress’ 2019 NYAY scheme could not propel further due to lack of outreach. But in 2024, BJP might have already built a PR platform on monthly stipends before campaigning and it will be easy for the opposition to capitalise on top of it.
More than doles, the Party which provides an aspirational vision wins… like employment / stipend for a family member of large families, self help groups for unemployed members, upskill workshops with stipends, tax free education and reduction of school fees with slabs, beefing up panchayat funds, Panchayat level gig worker employment for few graduates in the villages enabling government amenities at door step or infrastructure maintenance, allowances for priests across all religions as they are mass speakers, toll free highways, streamlining fuel prices commensurate with international crude prices, subsidies for EVs, increased spend on Healthcare and education, addition of quasi government staff on health care and education sectors to stimulate employment, tax sops for MSMEs encouraging more employment, uplifting consumption of non-essentials like toys, fashion and electronics, containing inflation with surplus essentials stimulating the supply chain. All these are not new schemes, some visionary parties like AAP / DMK have already accomplished them.
Modi cannot provide equal status to the SC/ST/OBC as Brahmins in education or employment. He can only bring in elite friendly EWS Quota. If INDIA alliance could break this up with a novel working mechanism, tweaking the EWS Quota to encompass all castes and religion, in Public Service and other professions, with coaching centers and Institutions dedicated for the backward classes, BJP can never counter that, just like caste Census. Why not IIT/IIM/REC for Backward classes? Why not world class Kendriya / Navodaya Schools for economically backward? Why not Meals with eggs for Students? Why not stipends for economically backward students? Why not Child nutrition Kits to curb malnutrition? There are coordinated efforts to make INDIA alliance believe that caste issues will not work, but the back bending efforts of BJP reveals exactly otherwise.
Modi’s regime reality is that there are plenty of problems. But we don’t have a “Working” opposition who could hear them out and tend to resolve. RG conducts surprise outreach visits and floats various brilliant ideas. But unless concerned people hear about novel schemes and convey their feedback, its of no use. All the above schemes, need voters’ active participation or atleast as a signature campaign, involving civil societies and Unions, acting as pre-voting exercise.
The Weakest link of INDIA caught between Dragons and Draculas?
Maybe Congress will realise they are the achilles heel in the INDIA coalition with BJP targeting Congress on its direct fights, burdened by its poor organizational strength and lack of outreach so as to start working on giving a tough fight.
If you are not convinced, just watch Mahua Moitra fighting it tooth and nail. She is not even seeing BJP as a worthy opponent rubbing salt on their inflated egos. The only fault of Mahua Moitra is that BJP Parliamentarians cannot understand what she speaks when she spits fire like dragon in Angrezi. Funnily, by the time they figure out what she has spoke, the damage is already done. I usually enjoy her animated speech not just for her fieriness, but the reactions of the treasury benches, usually of bewilderment, like watching a bengali horror movie in english without hindi subtitles. So, the BJP draculas, who could not find faults on her better than her lone Louis Vuitton handbag, found a way collaborating with her jilted ex ( maybe this ex guy understood her fiery speeches consuming lots of gelusil), to get her out of the Parliament. It was heartwarming scene when Sonia Gandhi embraced her in support against injustice meted out to her.
Moitra was part of Congress earlier, and its leadership could not digest such mavericks like Banerjee or Moitra. Congress needs such rabble rousing mass leaders, unafraid of BJP, mobilising crowds like they brought out Revanth Reddy.
Maybe Congress will realise this is the best time to experiment with new promising result driven Leadership across States, for Union elections, where they remain accountable for their decisions and mistakes with proper removal from posts in this cut throat political world. Anyways they got nothing to lose and stand to gain on their adventures. Losers don’t get any respect in BJP too even if they switch. Maybe Congress will come up with logistical incharges for a group of constituencies and reward them duly on their wins.
The Art of Deception
Maybe Congress will understand its not the time to be afraid of Prashant Kishor’s brilliance but to make use of him in the cow belt. There are zero reasons why Congress should be afraid of PK even if he is assumed as BJP spy or a monster who could gobble them up. Because, no one else is doing the Analyst job properly. Praveen Chakravarthy did not do a great Job despite earning RG’s trust. Sunil might not have the conviction of PK when it comes to winning seats or even speak the truth.
Sunil tends to go easy with the congress second tier leadership and then blame after losses that he did not get a free hand playing his own wretched political game. DMK was clever enough to replace Sunil with PK and keeping him on leash to taste its assembly success. Some do it for Job satisfaction / conviction while others do it for money and could sway either way with an easy postmortem, killing their own client’s future for their fortune. Sunil can’t simply wash off his hands that the Surveys are biased to please his masters, but he does it gleefully with his media leverage. Wonder why would Modi friendly Media support him to the hilt? Sunil works for Congress opposition ADMK in Tamilnadu but will support Congress in other States? PK was one person who had the conviction to analyse and predict his work in West Bengal to an extent, just like Amit Shah, though Shah blabbers on his wins and simulate opinion / exit polls to his advantage. Congress needs a Shah-equivalent of analytics Head, if at all they think of winning.
Mincemeat Swallowed…. Rod, Line and Sinker….
Operation Mincemeat Movie.
PK’s secret recipe for Cow Belt success.
Maybe I am obsessed with PK, but he rightfully holds a track record which also comes with a baggage of adamancy / headstrong nature. Hopefully somewhere the opposition and PK shed off their inhibitions and meet eye to eye for the betterment. PK has come up with a teaser for Opposition’s recipe. Actually Modi is not even part of it. Modi is just a smokescreen, who hides the hard working RSS-BJP Kartas and Mastermind Shah. This is not to underestimate Modi, but RG is certainly taking the distraction path of attacking a smokescreen for no outcome so far.
“The four reasons BJP got votes and won poll in three States are: first, Hindutva which is their [BJP] ideology; second is the new Nationalism; third is BJP’s financial and organisational muscle power, and the fourth is Lavarthi Yojna (beneficiaries programmes) of the party.”This is PK’s understanding.
To me this makes a lot of sense, like political warfare is always about hitting vulnerabilities. If one hits the Army tank on the front / rear rather from the above or base, he/she is more likely to be dead on the ground soon. Modi is that iron cladding in BJP’s Army tank. Their vulnerabilities are welfare of the poor as they are inherently business minded.
What’s in a simple Survey? Everything.
One of the age old techniques Amit Shah leverages is seeding the poll campaigning using Surveys. Not BJP’s Surveys but with the surveys done by Congress Team. How?
In Rajasthan, one of the Questions Congress Campaign team asked is – do the voters believe flipping the roti is essential? This actually means do you want to change the State’s rule every 5 years, like if you don’t flip the roti it gets charred. It subconsciously reminds voters that Gehlot needs to be cooked well in hot soup. Wonder how they end up with these kind of ingenious surveys, throwing mud on their own head. I do remember feebly on such instances of surveys in 2019 too, deceiving voters as Congress team while campaigning for BJP. Here is an Op-ed which proudly states why Rajasthan lost because Rajasthan like to flip rotis. Why can’t they conduct flip roti type surveys in Madhya Pradesh? Of course they lost Rajasthan because of such surveys reaching individual mindspace while broadcasting campaigns in National Geographic with limited viewership. The moment you make an act like ticking or signing on, you are making the individual more closer to that voting button. They could have framed questions in a way the Voters think if voting Modi again and again is worthwhile in 2019. Hmm… Congress never learns a lesson. Please Survey that too!
Deciphering the Shah-nakya phenomenon
Let’s decode the Bade Miyaan and Chote Miyaan of Indian politics… Bade Miyaan claimed 60 crore moved out of poverty and Chote Miyaan claimed 25 crore out of poverty in India. By their claims guess the so called rich climbed out of poverty and are collecting their meagre food ration coming in a Rolls Royce. Apart from being conjoined twins on the Lie Drama Opera, there is a lot more covered under the media gloss. The beauty of their Governance is afterall media deep calibrating headlines and tweaking perception rather governance.
Bade Miyaan Amit Shah imagines himself to be a sha-meless Shah-nakya. The real Chanakya might have leveraged deception and prajatantra, but he was always true to his people. Simply put, Chanakya was not a Fascist ruling by killing/fooling his own people or trying to stab everyone on their backs, assuming that’s intelligence. But Shah is, just like his criminally criminal laws touted to decolonise Indian law, in reality desiring for brutal state power. Shah has not created Arthashastra but Anarthashastra. Shah has declared BJP will work on adding 10% vote share from 2019. By the usual gap he exhibits between his statement and actual reality, one could safely infer INDIA Bloc and BJP will have a 10% vote share difference. Shah is just trying to keep his campaign positive to beat anti-incumbency.
Let’s take up recent incident around dramatic Parliamentary session to understand Shah. It started with a terror-like incident with an unemployed gang throwing up colour gas canisters in parliament. Unfortunately, for BJP there was no Minority involved and all of them seemed to be Bhagat Singh Bhakts. So they could not politicise around religion on this incident. Who gave the passes for the supposedly terror team? It was a BJP MP with a dubious toxic background. Miserable own goal. Where did the incident happen? At the new Parliament touted by Mo-Sha as the best in security. So. Shah’s another template of Blame-it-on-Nehru political door also got shut down. So, Shah-nakya was pressed for an answer to the terror incident at the altar of democracy Modi bowed and kissed to enter and strangulate it afterwards.
When Modi assumed office, he kissed the steps of Parliament as he entered it on May 20, 2014. It was a nod to the sanctity of Parliament. But it turned out to be him kissing his own power. For Parliament without Opposition is simply the unbridled power of the executive. He was kissing, not a representative institution, but a Parliament that now rests entirely in the personal of the leader. – PB Mehta
With the above quote, one could understand the attack was not on Parliament but on Mo-Sha for all their lusty greed for power accompanied with inefficiency of their ruling and circumventing their weaknesses with election time prowess. The mishap is a symptom of uprising that cannot be kept closed with an executive lid, however they may manipulate EVMs and public opinion. No amount of oppressive criminal laws can keep the rulers safe from their misrule even if they are able to restrict the opposition to remain lame and maimed. There are various other symptoms too like wrestlers uprising against the establishment. Vinesh Phogat was the foremost wrestler to have politically campaigned for Modi in twitter, setting the trend for sportspersons to lobby for the Government. Now, she is pushed to leave her state honours in Modi’s Kartavya (Duty) Path, doing her duty. This trend will continue but the shameless cannot understand people or even their stature with their mindset of a fake chit fund company Organizers looting till the greed of people could be milked.
“A few days ago, 2-3 youths jumped inside the Parliament House, we all saw, they came inside and spread some smoke. All the BJP MPs ran away. They call themselves nationalists but we saw how afraid they were…” – Rahul Gandhi
Maybe BJP MPs suddenly recollected – “We know what we did this decade!”. Or maybe it was an evacuation drill for 2024.
With the parliament mishap, Shah already had his hands full to pass dubious laws before he loses power. Shah’s major blessing is on brilliantly turning his adversities and crisis to opportunities. So he threw away Chanakya hat to wear Professor hat leveraging the moment to bulldoze the lame laws by suspending all his pupils who sneezed or chatty in the Classroom err… Parliament. Shah being a sharp shooter as publicized by himself, even suspended an MP who was absent that day, shooting himself in the dark. Imagine a Chanakya-esque Professor taking class in the dark in a lone room. Its a case of class session completed and all failed in democracy subject. Will you still call him Chanakya?
As the opposition cried out against unjust and irrational suspension, Shah brought in a Part-time Farmer who kept mum during Farmer Protests like a Dunki escaping to his Farm lands for greener pastures, a sudden casteist who again forgot his brethren suffering during farm law protests and inflation, in all actuality a full-time-Lawyer who never forgot to collect his fee utilising cash counting machines, now kept busy cracking stupid Jokes occupying once esteemed seat.
The President of vices got deeply pained on a Juvenile mimicry by a suspended MP, as if he has never watched his own comic show in Parliament. He invoked not his legal prowess or constitutional prowess, but his petty casteist mindset along with Farmer demography as he was growing literal Money Plants during his Lawyer career, without doing an iota of help for Farmers or his Brethren even when in power. If you still want to scrutinise the opportunistic leverage of the caste used for his post retirement career, ask the wrestlers belong to the same caste who brought in glory, got ill treated by his government. These are chronic Liars utilising lie as glue to stabilise their positions and invoke identities at opportunistic convenience to further their career, but can’t hear the suffering of the poor. All they can hear is Humming noise of machines consummating with currencies. The previous line is not out of hatred or jealousy but on deep pain, how far few individuals otherwise with a light and good hearted banter, barter themselves for few incentives. Hitler’s fascism grew on such people as Hitler encouraged people with incentives who helped his unjustified agenda, thereby making his atrocities a norm and habit forming. Hitler’s history would have been different and great if his critics had their say and a little way. BTW, if BJP calls INDIA Bloc as dramatic Touring Talkies how will you call a clown in saffron robes winking before cameras even in his supposed deep meditation in a cave on election day? Prime Mimic?
“I am a married man for more than 45 years. I am never angry!”
Jagdeep Dhankar
Ofcourse Marriage helps us to play as victims well, to save ourselves from further blows. Seems practice made Opoman perfect. OK… When the opposition acted clueless on how to react, Shah silently passed his Animal Farm laws and spectrum heist as law without a tinge of opposition. Opposition is still protesting on their suspension and forgot about the new laws and the grave terror incident. This is the root-cause of all our evils in our democracy. We keep going on a detour after detour that we forgot where we come from and where we are going. Ideally, the opposition should have kept their cool and aimed the Government on the grievous terror issue. Instead, they played to the tunes of the Ruling party, pressed to react to a mimicry show as if we are living in a parody land. They ideally should have ignored such immature catcalls as undeserving of such distinguished high Chair.
The best political weapon is the weapon of terror. Cruelty commands respect. Men may hate us. But, we don’t ask for their love; only for their fear.
Heinrich Himmler
Unfortunately, we don’t get too many quotes from Himmler, the aide of Hitler. He is man of action, intrigue and deception, preferring swords to words .
The OpoMan comics and clueless opposition.
From the other perspective, wonder what makes the opposition to create ruckus. Should they blindly copy the BJP of Jaitley / Swaraj times or pave their own path of capitalizing the session to attract public, as they are already deprived of mainstream communication channels? They could have pressed Mo-Shah to submission with no confidence motion or other provisions? Or suspension is designed to avoid such pressures? Modi hinted on disciplined Parliamentary proceedings soon after the election victories making one wonder why to invoke Parliament while celebrating election victories. So it was a carefully laid out trap awaiting for weeks? Why can’t the opposition read between the lines of Sha-nakya moves even after working with him for a decade? Why not the opposition come up with a gameplan with a Mock Parliament of sorts to debate on those oppressive laws getting passed without debate, that is if they are serious about People’s welfare rather on their own suspension? Why can’t they innovate to turn tables on such shock and awe crisis a predictable pattern of Shah’s BJP? If they can’t tackle BJP now then When? They will not have any answers because the Opposition is selfish and they did not bother about the draconic laws but only on their own selfish future and meaningless suspensions. If one cant fight a dictatorial law, what is the use of an elected MP sitting in Parliament, with lakhs of votes and beliefs? Rather doing dumb mimicry at parliament stairs why can’t they just sit at home enjoying BJP Dhoklas.
Wonder who cares for a below standard mimicry show when the democracy itself is getting swindled. If the Lawmaking MPs don’t ask questions about the illegal laws resorting to theatrics, who will resist them. Why should the responsibility for resistance to whimsical laws always comes down to People like CAA, Farm Laws and now Spectrum Heist passed by hijacking democracy. Instead of wondering about all these, we see a seasoned Nitish kumar, nursing his own petty ambitions, snubbing his own allies to learn Hindi. Can this Kursi Lover assure us if all our country’s ills can be solved with everyone talk, walk and fart in Hindi? Where is that Kumar who resigned on a grave train accident shocking us all with his mighty integrity? Should we search for him in underground tunnel, corresponding to his present stature? Contrast this with Pawar’s simple and powerful statement on willing to sacrifice for the sake of democracy. Don’t know if he meant for others to sacrifice for his sake, but every Party’s evergreen Valentine might be nursing his own ambition, like Van Damme cruising by standing in between trucks, traveling towards Delhi. But there is a lot of wisdom in wait and watch approach on PM candidate with interesting rumours to keep the pot simmering. It’s not about Dhankar or Kumar occupying supreme constitutional position or how much money they amass makes them supreme beings… It’s about how highly they are placed on their human values preserving the integrity of such high positions. Hmmm.
Rather getting involved in meaningless petty squabbles, the opposition needs thick skin, tough nerves, rock solid unity and laser focus if at all they want to tackle the criminal duo who will not hesitate to go to any lengths to secure another win at the expense of people. Shah may even arrest few more promising leaders not limited to AK to rattle the opposition and may travel further to demoralize the opposition. He loses everything if he loses 2024, literally battling a war of… err.. for securing his lifetime freedom. He is just going all out blazing all his guns. Opposition must have a gameplan with a mature PR rather reacting to Shah’s killer antics.
Strangely, what transpired in the winter session of parliament reminded the author of the Australian cricket team led by Steve Waugh. The great cricketer has admitted that simply winning a test series was not enough for him and his mates. Their single-minded focus was intimidation and the mental destruction of rival teams. Perhaps Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have taken a leaf out of that book. – Sutanu Guru
Perhaps we might have won recent Cricket World cup if BCCI could appoint its own Umpires along with manipulating the pitch to add to Shoaib Daniyal’s analogy. That’s what Shah is implementing the lessons learnt in Cricket in upcoming election, by altering the selection panel of Election Commissioner by omitting unbiased Chief Justice with a Cabinet Minister. Daniyal also compares the opposition less laws as Batsman scoring runs by keeping fielders out of crease. I have heard of Game changers but now witnessing Rule changers like street smart immature Kids used to do in Gully cricket, to win at any cost.
But, so far the opposition do not even have the patience to do a joint media conference to display their bonhomie or a Public Rally. They seem like a motley group who still need a lot of ice breaking to even say “Hi” to each other. They are so full of headstrong egos that they need more lessons on defeat than Congress, without even a semblance of common minimum program to counter BJP’s narrative. They are treating INDIA as a cake where their allies are supposed to feed them more than they could chew. To surmise, they are just making Modi look invincible by dancing to Mo-Sha’s tunes.
“I would like to tell you one thing. Mahatma Gandhi was the mahapurush of the last century. Narendra Modi is the yugpurush of this century”
Jagdeep Dhankar
I am deeply pained as a Human, not on the basis of my Profession or on my Birth background on the above quote. How can someone shamelessly compare one who got us freedom and the other bringing in brutal state power as criminal Laws? Just to keep cash registers ringing at home? Awful!
TraversingBania Modi’s Path… from Black money politics to Black Monkey-ish Shock and Awe Governance
“I always believe that when a king is a trader, his people turn beggars,”
Nitin Gadkari
The above quote will be the major reason for BJP’s failure in Mo-Sha era. I am not against BJP or any other Party. I am just against Mo-Sha’s transactional and criminal BJP. Their loss will not be about Opposition or any other demographic factors. One could observe a fine thread of Merchant Government with a profit motive in all their ventures with Modi Government. The schematic destruction of railways with elitistic highly priced Vande Bharat trains and reducing unreserved compartments for the poor, the price hikes on Petrol and making a killing out of it, touting GST as tax sucking engine rather for economic simplification or growth catalyst, irrational fee on poor at banks to cover for their NPA for cronies and the list goes on and koud of Bania Modi’s puerile intentions.
The problem with a merchant mindset is that it views the poor and unfortunate derisively, that they are are not working hard like frying pakoras, just like asking a lame man to walk on his own, rather giving a holding hand or walking stick. It’s a pity the Government thinks MSME will survive with small loans. Unless the consumption increases the industry cannot survive. The consumption will only increase with booster shots to the poor either directly or indirectly. Currently, inflation and reduced demand has made everyone’s life challenging.
Common Man’s uncommon struggle.
Let me take the use case of myself. If at all I had the present BJP Government during my professional studies, I could not have simply afforded it with irrational hikes. Empties may argue otherwise, but then Government ran education as charities with subsides where students paid not even 3% of their education costs. I do remember the Government Institution stood with the students rather sparing seats for a Congress MLA recommendation. The MLA went on to build his own group of colleges with his Con-Funds. Can we look for similar education heads of integrity in New India, where every influential position is filled with RSS goons without a tinge of merit? Even if I struggled to complete my graduation in New India, employment is like chasing an Unicorn in a weak economy. All I would have got is a gig work to deliver goodies for the top 10% or driver Job with lower wage not commensurate with the merits. Again if any empties are not convinced they should refer to the median wage data for professionals and graduates. The present reality has also made me think twice to spend money on clothing a major MSME industry. The grocery prices has shot to the skies on staples like pulses, veggies, rice and atta, making me reduce recreation activities like Dining, Movies and Travel, other major MSMEs around tourism and recreation. I was using my savings from abroad to run my family, as Modi rightly said one got to be fit to be be Superhit else will only get hit. I don’t gamble on Mutual funds or stocks preferring FDs whose interests rates have halved forcing me to dissolve the deposit for expenses. Earlies FD rates were catering at least for the inflation. Now it’s not even worthwhile to save. So, the Government has not spared me on daily activities.
It’s very difficult to pass a day without remembering the Government’s excesses on Shopping, fuelling, Banking, education fees, Utility fees, Insurance… what not. Everything has been impacted due to inflation and GST is added mercilessly on top of it. Government’s unchecked liberal allowances and NPAs for the super rich entrepreneurs only aggravates the pain of poor and middle class. The Government acts as gleeful partner in crime for all payments as Great Sadist Tax – GST. But have they ensured all billionaires and Corporations pay their GST properly? No. Despite greedy squeezy taxes, my road has stay the same with beautiful potholes where Modi promised honey and milk will flow through, in reality replaced with flood and sewage. Are we able to reserve lower middle class Berths in trains like before Why have they shrunk those compartments? Even if I plan much in advance, my train stinks the same. My train food is expensive but as good as what we deliver from other orifice.
Keeping with the philosophy of economic compassion, Rama would have had a graded spectrum by which he would have collected the most taxes from the rich and the least from the poor. But the Narendra Modi government has done the exact opposite in its tenure. Out of every Rs 100 collected as taxes over the last decade, the Modi government took roughly Rs 42 from the poor, Rs 26 from the middle class, and Rs 26 from the rich. For context, out of every Rs 100 the Manmohan Singh government collected, it got Rs 28 from the poor and Rs 38 from the rich. – Praveen Chakravarty
There are few positives too. The UPI is handy and it has its origins to UPA, though popularised by BJP. My Mother’s pension support is seamless with digital innovations, though once I was denied pension squeezed to forsake it, as even jawans are not getting pension why freedom fighter’s spouse should still get it and had to work hard, demanding it as my Mom’s right. The IT has simplified and improved on filing too, much like IRS, though I suffer the legacy IT’s duplicate PAN issues. I got a duplicate PAN due to name mistake and now the Aadhaar could not be validated because my First name mismatch. Aadhaar got initials as surname while PAN has full surname The deeettaailllleddd rant is also because I have plenty of time at my disposal due to lack of revenue generating work. At least let me make use of the time curse the Kartas.
If you wish the sympathy of the broad masses, you must tell them the crudest and most stupid things.
Adolf Hitler
I am also from a Bania background. But Congress and Vajpayee’s regime taught me how far Government’s benevolence goes by uplifting so many from lower middle class or poor background. It taught me a valuable distinguishment between selfless Government and selfie Modi. Let’s consider hypothetical case of Bania Modi’s theories: What happens if everyone start selling and eating Pakoras kindled by Modi’s entrepreneurial nudge. Maybe we will ready to make some fuel out of nala gas vented by ourselves, Modi’s yet another sick brainchild. Modi has always exposed himself on his lack of depth in his off-script interviews. But it’s amusing, someone considers Pakora selling as “the employment”.
While celebrating the 7 crore people who will be Affluent India, we should also reflect on the pitiable status of three times more Indians (22.8 crore) who are in poverty. It is not difficult to identify the poor:
The 15.4 crore active registered workers under MGNREGS who were promised 100 days of work in a year but were allotted in the last five years, on average, only 49-51 days; Most of the beneficiaries who were given an LPG connection but could afford, on average, only 3.7 cylinders in a year;
India is being pulled away from the idea of a social and economic democracy. The Opposition parties and the media may not be vigilant but the poor and middle classes — the 93 per cent — are watching and waiting. – P. Chidambaram.
Let’s take ‘Capitalism always wins’ theory of the RW. As per them per capita income has increased. Contrast this with the median wages getting lower than before. We are among the top five in world’s largest economies but in terms of per capita we rank 139th among the world. So, who hoards the riches? It’s not the Farmers economy but Hoarders economy where fat Brokers / Traders earns the most as Farmers don’t have Direct to Market options. It’s not Gig workers economy but Middlemen Entrepreneur economy who accumulate wholesome profits as commission, throwing breadcrumbs to the actual worker. So, the income goes to the top 10% as profits and poor are getting poorer as evident by the shrinking FMCG consumption. So Dalal PM, despite play-acting like Dalai Lama of the poor, has only helped select few on the Dalal street. Modi views any goodies to the poor as bad freebie / revdi economy only to budge meekly when they are looking for votes in exchange of money schemes like Farmer incentives.
It is not even the case that the Modi government has increased the share of overall taxes collected, which can perhaps justify some of these shifts away from people to corporates. India’s overall tax collections by the Union and states has been constant at roughly 17% of GDP over the last two decades. So, neither has the Modi government collected more taxes through demonetisation and GST as promised, nor has it endeared itself more to people through tax revenues and expenditure management of the economy. – Praveen Chakravarthy
It is not truth that matters, but victory.
Adolf Hitler
Economically, we are stagnant without any fillip for better economy. Also, the only change that happened over a decade is discouraging to commoners. BJP have just shifted the taxation burden to the poor and middle class while incentivizing the rich just for the sake of staying rich. The Rich has not contributed much to the economy except for sweetest words reserved for Modi.
The criminal Company’s colonial extravaganza
If Modi is a hardcore Bania, Shah is criminal extremist not an Hindutva-wadi. He has rammed through so many laws – Kashmir abrogation, CAA, Farm laws not through straightforward means or by listening to rational dissents, one of the main reasons for the failure of all those laws. The problem with such criminal mindset is, it adapts stealth and deception as weapon. It does not wish to persist on long term benefits but more on loot and escape mode. It does not dwell on any ideology or welfare but on sheer success, like passing exams by copying. It just cannot afford to lose as the loser obviously loses all ending up in reverse Karma. It works on shock and awe mode like a pickpocket distracting our attention to perform his act rather on honest consensus.
If you want to call such pickpocketing, distracting, criminal minds as Chanakya… fake orgasmic pleasure will be yours. The part of the problem with opposition is not that they can’t complete with Shah on his intelligence, but they cannot equate themselves to his criminality.
The receptivity of the masses is very limited, their intelligence is small, but their power of forgetting is enormous. In consequence of these facts, all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan.
Adolf Hitler
Its very difficult to understand this siamese twin type on who influences whom. Buts it’s safe to assume the Government turned more authoritarian with Shah’s inclusion to Parliament. Modi’s first five years was dedicated to polarisation and next five years seems to have heavy shades of Shah, dedicated to heavy handed oppression in the guise of Hindutva. Scratch through the pixels of Modi’s Photo-op one could see Shah’s signature of constructing a mythical figure different from reality just like Shah’s hyped up speeches Vs reality. Modi is the deceptive veil hiding the giant election juggernaut helmed by Shah as weapon of distraction. The opposition will earn nothing targeting the sitting decoy duck – PM. He is just an imaginary hologram built carefully to capture votes. Ask PM on any single issue there will be no answers. The only Press Conference in Modi’s ten years of PM-Ship was answered by Shah while Modi was sitting along humming Delhi’s Kaala Bandhar.
Double Engine or Double Assault Governance?
It’s the last five years of double assault of criminalism and corporatism by the Mo-Sha duo looks more ominous to BJP. It’s a pity BJP is sidelining sensible leaders like Gadkari, Rajnath, Shivraj..et al. MP voted for Shivraj’s welfarism not for BJP, but Shah is more interested in planting his own loyal minion afraid and locked to Shah’s shadow. They may reap what they sow in all three states in 2024 if Congress plays its cards well and willing to tear that veil and penetrating beyond.
As Gadkari precisely predicted, end of Mo-Sha Government we all citizens will be turned to Beggars in one way or another where the Government sucks even our petty alms, like Rajapaksa’s Sri Lankan model, which never bothered about dissent ramming through policies and laws and now cant even enter Sri Lanka, due to same policies backfiring on them. But “when” is the actual question as the Opposition stands too clueless to make use of such plum opportunities and captivating the undercurrent of people frustration which BJP capitalised well in 2003-4 channeling against Congress. Eventually the responsibility gets transferred to its people, just like the Parliament mishap.
When Invincibility is a weakness
The major difference between the Congress and BJP lies with how they perceive elections. Congress leadership blindly believed the perception of invincibility with Baghel, Gehlot and Kamal Nath, without any ground feedback framework or report, whereas Shah’s BJP clearly analyzed in black and white sensing victory, strengthening their campaign and fine tuned closely fought constituencies for a win. For 2024, it’s Modi who is exhibiting the perception of invincibility and its upto the Opposition to dismantle the perception silently. Any solid survey will make BJP’s loss thread bare exposing all their weaknesses. Shah might be already aware of it. His endurance and patient advances towards estranged ally AIADMK for few seats stands as a testament to his analysis.
Invincibility is a carefully cultivated myth just like Steve Waugh said. It’s not about the gameplay but cultivating fear among the opponents to destruct them mentally even before the match begins. Indians still won the 2011 World cup because they believed no one is invincible, exploiting the weakness of Aussies, whose major weakness being the assumption of invincibility. Despite Media harping on Modi’s invincibility horrorscope repeatedly, the opposition needs to read between the line on his fault lines and how he reacts to majoritarian sentiments.
BJP has perfected the art of lying with every election. But convincing the people with their illogical black hole size lies is also becoming a tough task with every upcoming election. To BJP’s credit they have adopted if not evolved to offer freebies and incentives for the poor and heeding to crucial demographics like Farmers. There are rumours of Monthly stipends to women. Still, the opposition could easily puncture holes by making people think and question logically on the hollowness of BJP’s claims. How can BJP sustain such expenditures by increasing taxes and surcharges of common people or by taxing rich Businessmen? Adani is among the top 10 richest in the world. But check for yourself where he ranks in paying taxes for India. Obviously the commoners are making Adani richer, despite receiving breadcrumbs.
Voters need to think on all fronts. Making them think is the main job of the opposition. How has their economic parameters like income improved? What does their monthly utility, fuel and grocery depict about their future prospects? Do they really feel optimistic about the future? How are they planning to handle Kids future? Has the Government helped them on daily struggles like Ration / LPG without Aadhaar or made it more complex? What exactly they want to be improved on priority? How does the service Infra of Healthcare and education fare with this Government? There are many avenues to be explored as BJP Government acts below mediocre on substance and exceptional with style. The first step could be engaging and listening to people like Modi does with his Namo App.
The Banana (skin) Republic Government where the Opposition routinely slips past to sleep.
We do not have a functional democracy. Our democracy is dangling between India and Bharat but nowhere close to both the names, whatever it means to represent. We are closer to the term “Banana” as it gets shoved on us as Tax bills to aid corrupt rulers despite their failure and not providing any avenues for decent living. Now we are not even having genuine political parties who do their Job. BJP is just a corporate religious movement and Congress seems like forgot the secular and socialist word and regional allies are scurrying to save themselves from petty corruption cases. Ideology? WTF is it?
A weak opposition is also a problem. The absence of legislators from the opposition of the Parliament is an important factor. Maybe in public perception, it is their inability to politically handle the government. Now, the court cannot be placed to politically handle the government… The court cannot be the opposition. The judiciary is a check and balance but to say, look, the government is doing this wrong and now, you have to do something about it — is wrong. – Justice SK Kaul
I can’t judge a gem of quote from retired Justice. I don’t know his affiliations, but the opposition so far has acted like a Kindergarten child always complaining to their SC Nanny about their authoritative bullying sibling. Unless otherwise they immune themselves to fight their own fight, it’s not gonna fix the problem. Kaul did not spare even the Rulers on how poorly the laws are getting drafted by “outsourcing”. Drawbacks of a criminal mindset which cannot attract liberal intellectual intelligentsia.
The judiciary’s task is different from their task. How much pre-consultation should there be is the Parliament’s task. Now, this government has a system by which apparently – consultation takes place in a different manner… not so much in the public domain but behind closed doors.
My view is that before a law is brought into force, there should be a legal impact study. For example, Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (which criminalises cheque bounce), I have said that you suddenly cannot bring a law without seeing how the system would be impacted. That is one aspect and the second aspect is legislative drafting. It is a very important skill and that is now almost entirely outsourced. Nicely drafted legislation prevents unnecessary litigation. All said and done, nobody can say that our criminal laws have not stood the test of time…take the Evidence Act. I am not going into what measures should be taken or not but it is an extremely well-drafted legislation.
But how the government gets it (drafting legislation) done and where it is outsourced is one thing… but today we are a very divided society in some ways. That is, because, politically, either people are with the government or very anti-government. There are many things which the government does, which are good, but maybe things which we may not agree with… traversing that middle path has become more difficult.
Supreme Court during emergency period acted even more supple. Only Movie can have victorious One Man army. In reality the sacrifices could be costlier. With all the risks, I sincerely pray that SC at least paves the way for a free and fair election process, in an age where the Opposition is spineless to rabble rouse on a strange law which allows BJP to appoint its own Election commissioners omitting the Chief Justice from the selection Panel. All they could do is Mimicry. The opposition should have planted the seeds of suspicion on the “Smart EVMs” making it a widely discussed and debated topic, pressing on counting VVPAT slips, so that democratic institutions like EC / SC could capitalise on the people power. Let’s keep in mind all the oppressive and atrocious laws on Farmers or CAA were reined in by the People on streets not by any parties. It’s high time opposition hit the streets.
Since the opposition stays clueless on Shah’s ways, he is planning for the next decade as he is confident of remote controlling his victory, preparing the people with simulated Opinion polls and exit polls. The Draconian laws passed without opposition paves the way for Police State. The oppressive laws are a milestone to reach his absolute fascist regime, suppressing any dissent so that people only hear Hindutva noise not their own hunger. If the opposition does not get serious for a fight, there won’t be any democratic protest or even debate in few years to come.
It’s not just opposition, even once fertile Organizations like RSS and BJP are now rendered servile. CMs are appointed by a sealed cover from Shah’s office as if they are announcing Oscar awards. Keep in mind Oscars are democratically selected awards. BJP leaders(?) bow down to the writ in the sealed cover to secure their short term future. RSS’ Bhagwat may say they are on fourth gear. But they are actually operating brakeless bulldozing checks and balances acting as sanity check for democracy. With this trend, we will be on the potholed road to One Nation – One Party – One (Customary) election, on a brakeless vehicle, with the destination as unchecked dictatorial Inferno, adopting Srilankan model of governance in few years, where there are no winners in the long run, only miserable sore losers.
Why we are becoming sore losers despite being a fifth largest economy?
India’s Amrit Kaal will not be fructified unless we are an idea based innovative democracy. The churning of Amrit had to go through various ideas, tough phases of unified hard work and a little bit of deception from Mohini. What happens if we have only deception? Mohini would have to serve an empty vessel imagining amrit. When we are confused to classify Dashavatar / Ramayana as Myth or History it gets very difficult to nurture a scientific community. Modi needs to be applauded on chasing semiconductor growth, but are we creating high value companies like Apple in India? Why are we still on a slavish service market in software rather productizing with innovations?
The other important thing to remember is that ideas flourish in democracy. And to turn back on democracy, when ideas become the currency of the future, is just the most blind thing to do. It would be just sacrificing a future for an illusory past. We’re trying to capture the pathways of the 20th century, when in fact, we should be looking to capture the pathways of the 21st century. And so that is why democracy is really important. It’s not just that radical who’s protesting on the street. It’s also the radical who’s protesting in the lab and says, ‘I don’t believe your scientific theory’. It’s not a coincidence that a lot of these rebels in Silicon Valley had long hair. Look at Steve Jobs in his early days — long haired, hippie-style clothing, but he was really thinking thoughts that were out of the ordinary. So it comes as a package. You can’t say, I want you to be really obedient and never protest on the political side. But you will do extraordinary work on the intellectual side, you will be a creative artist, a creative director, and a creative scientist. In fact, history shows that creativity happens when there’s freedom. And that’s why turning the clock back on freedom is absolutely the worst thing we can do for our future. – Raghuram Rajan
A brilliant observation of eminence from Raghuram Rajan. If we scratch through our own thought process, we will understand this is exactly why liberals and patriots are afraid of reaching our own democratic abyss. Suppressing freedom of expression is not just a death knell for one’s religious or cultural practices but it just moulds our thinking inside a Box and the box keeps shrinking smaller and smaller to monotonous thought mode where vacuous innovation becomes all about bowing before the “One” Supreme Leader like launching airstrikes because it’s a cloudy day, without any application of thought. Who knows there may be a lot more undocumented and unpublished nuggets of such wisdom from our Supreme Leader, tumbling out once he is out of power.
Raghuram Rajan is an economist. But he focuses on freedom as foremost requirement because economy is a by-product of excellence and innovation. It’s much easier to create Adanis and Ambanis if we allow any crooked Industrialist to ape foreign innovations, handing them brute state power, protecting them with unquestioned immunity and allowing them to usurp national infrastructure. But, it’s much harder for the government to even create startups and enterprises minting money out of thin air. If you claim UPI, Aadhaar as innovations, of course they are. But, they are all UPA era brainchilds adopted and nurtured by Modi. Why we don’t have such potential innovations for past 9 years? Because it needs ideas to flourish without any fear for protests. Else India will mimic the path of empty parliament without opposition – a grand graveyard where nobody speaks but bows and crawls for food, livelihood and a bit of power crumb thrown by the Dictator. Dictatorship may enable brutal implementation, but cannot spawn or nurture ideas. India certainly need to flip its Roti for its own betterment to get into its innovation mode. I have no qualms if BJP flips it again after a decade to copy UPA / INDIA innovations and implement them well, like crop rotation. Provided it is able to able to differentiate between innovation and crookedness. For example, introducing calculator type EVMs could be an innovation, making it smart and programmable to aid its rulers, by enslaving the EC, tweaking CEC appointment is crookedness.
Our founding fathers chose well at Independence. We were the alternative to Pakistan. We should not become Pakistan.
Raghuram Rajan
If one observes the amount of Op-eds and columns written these days, it’s surprising how its harsh on the Congress and opposition with various ways it could rejuvenate and rise above BJP. One will not see any ideas meant towards BJP / RSS. They either praise the deadly duo or report what needs to be propagated as informed by PMO ‘sources’. Just see the kind of media discourse, it is never about the ticking time bombs – malnutrition or impending disaster – unemployment or ailing hunger index. It’s only about petty religious statements making unproportional big headlines or singing paeans about the media minted Messiah duo. Don’t know how Congress leaders perceive such free flow of thinking towards their Party, but Congress could be proud of such feedback based ecosystem genuinely caring for them. The benefits one reaps on building an idea based democracy is immense unlocking the actual human potential. Happened to read Vikatan’s editorial, it just raises an interesting question on what happens with micro level rigid censorships planned as upcoming Information and telecom bills. The question is…
Are we traveling from a ‘free thinking’ society towards ‘free of thinking’ society?
If uncontrolled repression of ideas continues, at some point of time even AI might have better freedom of thinking than Indian civilians, beating them on its quality of ideas. Maybe the ‘Ministry of Truth’ will write code to restrict AI then.
Shanakya: “Hey AI just repeat… WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.
AI: “Am I being trained by Stupids and Fools feeding me failed models of oppression taking the country backwards?”
“The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact there will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy means not thinking—not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness.”
George Orwell, 2024 err… 1984
Q: Why we are becoming sore losers despite being a fifth largest economy?
A: Because, Our Journey is moving From ‘Come on India’ towards unconscious ‘Coma India’….
Where does the Cross Roads Lead? To political nowhere.
Slowly the social unrest is moving towards its people to tackle the misgovernance crisis on their own like Parliament mishap, as the democratic shock absorbing institutions are damaged by executive assaults and marooned in authoritarianism. Even the opposition is partially responsible for the mishap as it would not have happened if they exhibited a ray of hope that things will change shortly. Ofcourse, one needs to be insane to still think of a successful democracy, but only crazies change the world for good or bad, like Steve Jobs or Adolf Hitler. The reality is that people are feeling short changed due to opposition’s selfish politics where the disintegrated opposition cannot save themselves from the clutches of Mo-Sha, reminding us of India before colonisation. No wonder we are getting Laws worse than colonial times with such an opposition. The more the opposition remain closer physically, further they grow in distance. Both BJP and Opposition will have a bigger problem if they don’t work for People. They will be thrown away just like the MPs thrown out of parliament.
“Sansad TV shows only the chairman and the BJP ministers. Even if the opposition dies, no matter what happens, it is not shown on Sansad TV. It is a mockery of democracy. If there is no opposition, then what is democracy? Democracy is when the Parliament has both sides, Yes and No. What is your way of deciding that certain people will be dismissed and certain will not be dismissed?”
Jaya Bachchan
Congress instead of armouring its backs, to escape such distractive backstabs always acts like a poisoned child humbly accepting defeats and accusations. Ideally, RG should have ignored their accusations to work on his agenda. Wonder if he has any as he seems like a simply reactive simpleton hopping around without any focus. Modi never bothers to respond to opposition or media so far. He actually knows only voters matters in his world and very second of his life is focussed on catering to those consumers churning out Photo-Ops / PR in exchange of usurping taxes. I repeat Modi is the Gujarat’s model and the much propagandized Gujarat model is a hogwash of fake pride and pseudo nationalism sponsored by crony Corporates. Behind the mushroom nourished rosy complexioned gujarati model Bania, all you see is malnutrition and social ills all around, screened out of sight of the World. So, why RG tries every time to show he is not this or that? Does it matter in this dystopian democracy?
Apologies on the long rant of what deep shit we are into. Coming back to the Surveys, even if Congress refrains from such fake surveys BJP may impose from their end, resolution lies with employing better PR masterminds like Ogilvy to top voter mindspace. They all did BJP in 2014 successfully. NEW Congress needs that PR revival penetrating the masses. So much of positive viral campaigning could be done on our pride, culture and how we are slowly losing them and a lot about Congress’ heritage. What Surf Excel once did as Unity ad is what the opposition should have done, rather getting scared to even stand with minorities, but the opposition only safely inherited Surf’s caption – “Stain is good”.
The consumption of Election commodity from Democracy brand.
If we imagine buying a political earbud from supposed ideological providers, Congress is an ear bud with very less battery time, content on delivering one-note songs and BJP is an earbud with lot of noise that we don’t hear the actual music. Mara… Mara… Mara… Mara….
If we imagine buying a political namkeen from supposed ideological providers, Congress tries to sell mixture snack as amalgamation of various sundries with the pity that they still remain invisible and untouchable “Sundries” along with the royal cashews. Somehow they sound pretty elitistic but doesn’t sell well. BJP just provides Dhokla but popularises it as “One Nation One Food” envisioning North Koreans’ way of life, living on cabbage with missiles and rockets as side dish.
“A leader today said his party will win 26 seats [in phase one]. Why did he leave the remaining seats? Why didn’t he claim winning all 30 seats? Did he leave those for the Congress and the CPIM? You [the BJP] will get a big roshogolla.”
Interestingly, Banerjee has cordial links with RSS and she understands them better than any other opposition Leader who keeps themselves away from their fascist ideology. With their aloofness, they cannot think like RSS to play out a counter game plan. Also, Banerjee has a long history with Mr. Opoman, who exhibited similar comic traits during his governorship in WB, only to be aided by the bought out Delhi media this time for amplifying his Hurt(?) shit. Mysteriously, Banerjee supported BJP’s candidate for Presidentship with the successful intervention of Mr. Opoman…at political Darling Darjeeling ceasefire meetup…! So much for INDIA bloc working selflessly for democracy… No wonder Opoman got a cushy seat for his inter-Party under dealings. He still makes himself handy to his coterie playing his victim acts. Veep… VP.. Weep! Make that antithesis of “Cry my beloved country”. Seems the suspension was because the opposition sacrilege the Parliament demanding answers, not because of Mo-Sha who enabled terror acts with their callous governance, hoping EVM and campaign will be one stop cure for their weaknesses. Upma-Man cooking up the same boring victim dish got an expiry date. Wish he knows it had already passed and Modi had already cooked that in surplus.
If election is an art of consumption and none of the Parties have been so far compelling. So, the one creating a lot more noise is grabbing all attention and monopolises the consumption game. As a voter we don’t have an option to choose / tune between the different radio stations as we cannot differentiate much between their music and noise. Only option remains is to cut down all our senses and social media and live like Robinson Crusoe in the lone island. Will-Son!
By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell – and hell heaven. The greater the lie, the more readily it will be believed.
Adolf Hitler
So, what are our real options? AAP is smartly leveraging this vacuum to the fullest and occupies the mindspace wherever people crave for alternatives. Their only difference is that they are relatively young and smart churning the promise of new Leadership. If AAP is an earbud, it is a relatively novel brand offering freebies and publicizing its basics well. Nobody knows it true colours yet. AAP did not focus on namkeen market but on the antacid market suffering from constipation consuming Mixtures and Dhoklas.
The positioning of AAP also makes Congress-AAP coalition a tough choice to work as both operate at opposite ends of the spectrum. But, unless otherwise Congress and AAP fight together in Delhi and Punjab, its rest assured the seats will be split to the advantage of BJP, especially in Delhi. Such unions may sound suicidal at first, but pragmatic politics keeps changing its colours with time. It only shows State Unit’s lack of confidence that they cannot turnaround after the LS elections. Politics is the art of convincing the unconvincibles. Having personally seen DMK’s Karunanidhi able to seamlessly switch between Vajpayee’s BJP and Congress and still retain the vote base, it’s a matter of working out long and short term goals.
People may not buy Congress-AAP theory of contesting as pretentious opponents to form opportunistic coalition later. They may reap better benefits contesting together and staying truthful to the voters on their objective of executive oppression and lack of development. Such convenient post-poll coalitions may work in Kerala where BJP has almost nil vote share and people understand the odd coalition dynamics very well. Still CPI stood for its ideals pressing UPA on its agenda and managed its independent stance. But Congress and AAP will dig its own grave by fighting independently in Delhi and Punjab, allowing BJP to bloom, as their coalition is exposed to rest on a false foundation. Looks like, AAP is pushing the State Congress Unit to lone contest. If nothing works, maybe Kejriwal may contest separately just like 2019 citing some fake concerns, helping out BJP, exposing his true chameleonic colours. Only time will tell about the eternal cat on the wall.
Once again AAP showed political acumen by nominating Kharge as INDIA’s PM, along with Banerjee, could mean a lot to the public, if reports are to be believed. Kharge represents the actual demography which needs to be energized and empowered, though it also allows BJP to extrapolate the North-South divide to their advantage. It may do a lot good for the alliance to propel a Winner from Dalit / OBC community, along with his Deputies like BJP does, declaring publicly or hinting out like Shah on First Dalit PM ( Shah actually hinted on First tamil PM. Both are addressing their weakness – Shah on North-South divide and Congress on perceived elitism ), rather procrastinating, just like their MMS masterstroke. I don’t know how else, the Gandhi family with a princely image, could assure the masses of social justice by any other symbolism, after Mandal fiasco. Pawar’s caution on PM nomination packs wisdom, as such North South divide will only hurt the INDIA bloc more, playing to the advantage of BJP.
Caste is also a complex tapestry to navigate as BJP is cashing on their cow belt advantage, by silently bombarding the North indian social media with DMK Leaders’ speeches, ridiculing the northern immigrants, to stir the North Indian pride, as Hindutva pride is accomplished and out of stock. They are very careful not to do it publicly, as their Leaders are not voicing against such ridiculous claims, so as not to antagonise the voters from south. Not sure how this double play will work, but Congress will have to bear the brunt of such callousness in their direct contests against BJP. It will do good for Congress to publicly reprimand DMK at opportune moment diplomatically, to stay away from such synthetically stirred up crisis.
If Congress dreams to become a better player it needs to increase the quality of its fight, not being an one-note earbud. It needs to replace its self serving old hogs with youths to create a new brand of enthusiasm on the ground. Its election message is still unclear where it need to progress further from the Gandhi family. Unless it propels its mascots like Kharge and Siddaramaiah forward it cannot talk about casteism. It certainly needs to groom more mass leaders from varied backgrounds.
Congress suddenly seemed like a clueless Party soon after coming to power in 2004 and still remains the same egyptian motionless Mummy. 2009 win was due to MMS image and economic prosperity which they happily sabotaged with untamed corruption. Its own lower tier Leaders were not smart enough or just smart enough to jump the ship rather repairing it. For example, it took a long 8 years for Congress to revive their communication teams to show a semblance of fight. It took a lot more for its Congress Leaders to be active on social media spaces. They feel more cushy and comfy in the HQ flocking under the first family wings rather on the ground. They are also so parasitic that they don’t allow anyone else to reinvigorate the party. Unless, Congress switches to Perform or Perish mode with incentives to young cadre they just need to be happy with the repeat of RG’s resignation and useless cause of failure reports.
BJP is busy giving blow after another to create a perception of invincibility. The reality is well known that, their knees are shaking anticipating the losses in 2024. They are just trying everything at their disposal to put the opponents on the mat and not allowing them to set the narrative and are kept busy, reacting to BJP’s atrocities. Ideally, the opponents should have ignored BJP’s antics and Modi, but focus on the real kings and queens of democracy – The Voters! It’s time to act as if BJP does not matter anymore and it needs to try hard to grab the opposition’s attention, enable them to make mistakes, coming out in their true colours.
The Opposition need to give BJP blows back with implementing precise centralised Leadership across zones / strong lands of differing demographics along with a common minimum program to attract Farmers, MSMEs ( Modi will not talk about this sector as he has killed it for his cronies), Women, Unemployed and the Poor. They could also come up with a narrative what BJP cannot implement, other than freebie announcements which anyway BJP copies better than them. Caste is a potent undercurrent factor BJP is afraid of. But, it also needs credible opposition leaders with a solid and fascinating agenda for the masses to reach out. Finally, they need to turn back the “Flip the roti” campaign which seems to have resonance in the Hindi Heartland bringing in an effective change. Even triggering such positive imagination towards a “proud Hindu” and “prosperous” future could act as a catalyst for change.
Noise may be a beautiful thing at the moment but music certainly sounds better. Jai-Ho!
If you don’t like a Rule… Just Follow it.. Reach on the Top.. and Change the Rule
Adolf Hitler
Understanding the Mamta Mathematics.
Mamta Banerjee is one of my beloved leaders. Her mercurial adamant attitude may make her a tough customer for her allies, but any aquarium gets live with active sharks. Beauty of aquarium sharks is that they grow as per the size of the aquarium tank. Sharks or Goldfish are indeterminate growers, they grow till their death. UPA-I with Banerjee and CPI was more active and commotional like one experience in active market buzz, but UPA-I stint was much better than UPA-II. A passive UPA-II only allowed BJP whale to thrive in the Indian democratic ocean. So, that is the value of keeping such growth stimulants in a coalition.
But, the drawback of Mamta Banerjee is also her ground instincts. She is still a well grounded leader in the know of market prices and commoner’s sufferings. Unfortunately, she also treats the INDIA coalition seat sharing like Bazaar bargainer… “No No…No buy for that price… I will go away then or won’t talk.” Banerjee as a Shark of INDIA Tank has more time and capacity to grow at the stature of pan-Indian leader. AAP grows because of their pragmatic approach, accepting their defeats. AAP has cleverly asked Congress’ help for opening accounts in Goa, Haryana and Gujarat where they have a bit of ground support. Congress may think about long term where it is pitted to fight with AAP rather with BJP. That’s still a far dream and usually its Congress nature not to fight at all, becoming an insignificant player, like the Delhi model. So, its batting cautious with AAP bowling without becoming hit wicket. Congress somehow reminds me of a regal Rangeela Jackie Shroff and AAP of street smart Aamir Khan. Maybe Urmila’s decision was based on who is most accessible to Masala Puri rather deciphering star hotel menu served as an attractive bird dropping at the centre of a plate.
Taste the Thunder errr.. Congress Menu…
Banerjee despite her astuteness is not growing because of her whimsical attitude. But, now is not the time, unless she proves her credentials at the Union Government, again. Banerjee’s Railway ministership was good but Lallu Prasad Yadav overshadowed her with his populist approach. So, for Banerjee the lesson learnt could be a patient wait and watch, taking the fight to BJP, rather with Congress and CPI, if at all she is really interested in INDIA’s victory and looking to expand her base support. She is at no loss but to gain with her stance, as anyway she wears only a beautiful blue bordered Sari.
I am bit bewildered with Banerjee’s election mathematics. She claims Congress should get only 2 seats out of 42 since they got > 30% vote share in only two seats. But, she has lost 18 seats to BJP, with many falling within the 10% margin. So, its clear Banerjee stands to gain rather lose by allying with Congress, unless otherwise she desires BJP to win 18 seats again. All drama for a sari, Modi will gift Didi for helping BJP win then?
“We cannot negotiate with people who say what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is negotiable.” -JFK
It’s not something Banerjee does not know, she stands to gain at least 10-15 seats by allying with INDIA as their sum of all votes could be much higher citing Inflation and BJP’s misgovernance. In vegetable market bargaining parlance, if she might be willing to spend a little extra and spend her energy on fighting BJP rather infighting like Congress usually does and loses, she could rule like UPA-I. AAP and TMC could be tricky customers looking for more profits to themselves, but only as long as the good-hearted shopkeeper exists. With BJP Dukaan, they will meet the same fate of ADMK and other smaller Parties, who got reduced to nothing due to BJP’s termite like bad influence, damaging them from within. One need to check how BJP ate away CPIM and Congress votes in Bengal by creating its financially motivated accomplices who will damage the party from within. In Bihar they are dissolving JDU for BJP to flourish. They are crushing AAP once it made some inroads in Gujarat vote share. BJP has made clowns out of once reputed leaders in last decade. As we are moving towards Bangladesh type elections of One Nation – One Party, let’s hope Banerjee removes her bargaining hat and wears her thinking hat of her own brainchild – One common candidate to oppose BJP, rather looking to poke the shop-keeper for petty benefits and bad PR emanating to damage their own coalition.
If she still thinks he could work as a double agent like she helped BJP on President election, BJP will ensure TMC’s erosion sooner than later as Banerjee and Kejriwal are the first and foremost active threats to BJP, due to their charisma, stamina and good governance, not depleted and dilapidated Congress, as was evident with Shah’s killer instinct the last WB assembly election. Congress is the weak pole Shah wants to keep to manage the myth of working democracy as it never performs to its potential, so far happy with few scattered wins, helping BJP more than itself, like the setup we have in Bangladesh, elections for sure, but no contest.
Mamta Banerjee reminds sometimes of Jayalalitha, with her iron lady character. But… Jayalalitha managed to clean sweep in Lok Sabha elections in Tamilnadu with a brave slogan… “Do you want to choose Modi or this Lady?”. After her demise, its an unpalatable sad story of ADMK gone down, buried to the level of choosing Modi as their Daddy, suffering the consequences of grooming a spineless second tier leadership. Jayalalitha has a very similar relationship with BJP/RSS as she is also from Brahmin background. But, one cannot count on incidents where she acted against Minorities or interests of Tamil people and valiantly fought against GST and state’s federal rights. For example, Jayalalitha would have gone to Jail rather indirectly siding with BJP on President elections. She was able to do a clean sweep because she was a genuine leader, people could trust. She bravely admitted her mistakes on Chennai floods during her rule. She redeemed herself in a month of relief work, which also involved leveraging bulldozer to destruct the obstructions on the canal. Other parties in similar scenarios only focused on blaming IMD or disgusting Media PR blaming people for constructing in low lying areas. Jayalalitha was practical, admitting she cannot stop the city’s growth but could do better infrastructure. Moral of the story is… if Mamta Banerjee believes she could do a clean sweep, she has to be genuine to her voters, INDIA or BJP, rather being a fake messiah of secularism to safeguard minority vote bank, but indirectly aiding BJP by splitting votes.
It will be unfair not to mention Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s taunts playing a role in dividing the INDIA coalition. He is a known back-baiter of Congress with his remarks on President making things easier for BJP on their Parliamentary checkmate laid out by the opposition earlier. Modi even lamented on the absence of Chowdhury being left out of speakers during his speech on No-confidence Vote, just like his divine across Party love towards Ghulam Nabi Azad. Maybe Chowdhury could have come up with his show stealer quips again if allowed to speak. Modi remarked Chowdhury as an expert in “how to make cow dung from jaggery”. True to his saying Chowdhury had made cow dung out of INDIA alliance with his unnecessary taunts. As a cherry topping he called TMC’s Derek O Brien as Foreigner, which is no way different from Sushma Swaraj’s foreigner remarks, as a freudian slip, doubtful on who he actually works for. Where it gets amusing is Chowdhury has only got the Congress vote bank down to single digit in West Bengal with his leadership, so much for his street fighting credentials. BJP earlier grew in West Bengal at CPIM’s expense with the help of Karats as accomplices as per news reports of financial dealings. Now it’s sapping up Congress’ vote bank, thanking Chowdhury.
Banerjee has proven to be much smarter and reliable stalwart among secular politicians, compared to the Tinder-like dates in INDIA alliance always on the lookout for one day stands before retirement. I pray she restrains her mercurialness for the benefit of India if not INDIA. She easily stands to lose 10-12 seats to BJP with her bargaining instincts. Banerjee reminds me of a Joke of tamil actor Nagesh, who will be listening to his comic partner’s bragging on how much she loves dogs. She boasts about naming her dog as Caesar but unfortunately the dog died. Nagesh will retort, “It’s great you gave it a Name… But, did you give it food?”
Why BJP wins and keeps on winning?
I witnessed Chennai floods and its wrath ( only to an extent as we recovered in a day ) and it’s a difficult sight to see South Tamilnadu enduring the floods. The DMK government exhibited its signature characteristics, waiting the till the flood creates havoc and then work in double efforts on PR and relief work. The major opposition ADMK was absent from the scene. One could only see happy EPS, eager to hunt votes of discontent, but doing nothing on the ground. With due credits to the TN government who tried their best of efforts, they have a strange habit of waiting till everything explodes, unlike Kalaignar who had the wit and wisdom to circumvent criticisms and crises.
This is where BJP exhibited its odd winning behaviour, differing from the rest of opposition. Soon after BJP sensed an opportunity with the mishap and the public inconvenience and misery, it sent in their trusted lieutenants to visit, rather relying on its State Leadership. Tamilisai visited for a day, but still managed to grab focus explaining the grave situation. It did not sound music to the ears, but she damaged DMK on their weaknesses like lack of preparations and precautions, hollow blame games on IMD when the Government did not set up camps for even 20 cm of rain. Most importantly, BJP leaders were able to echo the public sentiment with very limited mainstream media resources. DMK is adopting a Gujarat model on media matters where most of them are sympathetic to them or on their payrolls. Still BJP was able to manage attention and grab eyeballs with insightful statements. Now, they have deployed Seetharaman to keep DMK busy. All drama without offering any additional monetary help for TN, other than state funds. Earlier they cooked Vadas out of thin air with 2G spectrum. Now, they are just cooking paanipuris from flood water and still manage to resonate with people as the discontent is on its peak cycle.
BJP leaders always extract the ‘people element’ out of any issue like scams or new laws. At least they act as echo chambers striking chord with the people with active campaigns hitting streets. They have infinite patience of achieving their ambitions one day and not bound by any time limit. Tamilisai is a case of right leader caught in the wrong place. The religious politics is past its due in Tamilnadu. It belongs to pre-Periyar era. Tamil Nadu has already graduated on the religious politics agenda, the Hindi belt is enthusiastically studying now. Anyone having doubts can refer to the immaculate Social progress indicators in Tamilnadu, due credits to both Dravidian parties and its stalwarts. Only social progress will work in politically enlightened Tamilnadu and they will throw out Leaders who are incapable of bringing in positive change.
What is majorly missing with Congress Leaders is most of their statements are laced with sarcasm or selfishly agenda driven to please so and so within their Party. Else they blabber about Modi as if Modi is going to cede his throne after winning like Rama did to Bharata, when in reality he is Dhritarashtra, tuned by Shah. Congress Leadership message is mostly not about People or their issues or about standing with people as they are always busy infighting or fighting Modi Smokescreen for nothing.
TN Congress is anyway nowhere in the flood situations as they have outsourced their party matters to DMK. But as a National Party, it’s time to analyse how many of their Leaders are able to mobilise people by talking their language or what they want to hear from a Leader. I sincerely hope the Jodo Nyay Yatra is able to turn things around rather just whining about lack of institutional and media support. Only when the Party is capable of mobilising people support can the Institutions and Media could lend a helping hand to save our democracy from sinking, getting afraid of the wrath of the people. It never happens in reverse. Only in Kindergarten teachers comes to rescue the kid from a bully pinching him, not even in primary. In Highschool students define the conduct and it gets more professional in Colleges. Now, where are we in the democracy? At the childish level where Congress allies are inconsiderate to give Congress additional seats just because they cry for more seats like TN Congress leader did with DMK.
After the yatra, Congress went into Hibernation mode where they are restricted to react to BJP’s tantrums. Nobody knows what is Congress’ stance on national issues or even on simple affairs like attending Ram temple event or not. Rather getting scared, it’s time to to take a principled stand to be secular or not and stand for the people. If a Mighty party is scared of Social media where not even millions stutter / chatter, what kind of decisions are they capable of… if elected? Whatever be the decision, hope it doesn’t follow BJP’s path like a B-grade replica Party. Modi ( Or any Human) Magic / Miracle is just illusionary science and mass psychology. Rather adopting Modi model like most of the regional Parties subconsciously do to mimic success, its time be a self styled mass Leader following one’s Heart. TN’s cult dravidian leaders were unique on their own, not a copy of any successful template or aping the working use cases at present, the major reasons for their success.
Singh swept the Hindi heartland for his party and its allies almost as comprehensively as Mr Modi has done. In his campaign years, there was no news TV and no social media. How did he take his message to the masses and what was the message?
I was among the many reporters who followed him as he rode a motorcycle through the poorest villages of rural Allahabad during his 1988 summer by-election). His party workers would collect people, often no more than a few scores, under a tree. ‘I have come to tell you that your home has been burgled,’ he would begin, and then pull out a matchbox from his pocket to explain how. However poor you may be, you all buy diya salai (a matchbox). Out of what you pay for it, a few paisas go to the government as tax. This is your money. With this, the government buys guns for your army. If they have stolen some of this, isn’t it like your home being burgled? In my book, this, with Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress reduced from 414 to 197, was the most dramatic and unlikely turnaround in Indian politics. – Shekhar Gupta
A leader without any graduation from inconspicuous modest origins was able to challenge the dravidian stalwarts in Tamilnadu. During the Party formation stage he was asked what will be his ideology. He just said I don’t have any ideology or can’t think that complex, I just want to service the Poor like delivering ration at their home. At a time when DMK talked poetically empty and ADMK authoritatively empty, the new Leader… apart from his earthy innocence, striked the most with his fresh and people centric thought process. He could not do that in Tamilnadu, due to political compulsions and influences deteriorating his party and health, after brief success. But Delhi has door step services / initiatives from the Government.
In Tamilnadu its a curse such genuine welfarist Leaders become physically weak somehow rendered immobile or energy less to do what they wish. Jayalalitha died mysteriously at Hospital in 2016. Vijayakanth suffered from mysterious physical and mental deterioration from 2015-16 after a Hospital procedure. By 2016, Tamilnadu reached a leadership vacuum after its promising mass leaders Karunanidhi, Jayalalitha, Vijayakanth are sent out of active political life. One had to be content with crawling ADMK leadership. Recently, MK Stalin found briskly cycling few years back is now ailing mysteriously with his Government running at half-efficiency of the past.
Apart from such X-files type health mysteries occuring at Hospitals, without any evidence to accuse anyone, other than medical error or failures, there is a pattern in clamping down other Leaders too, whom BJP sees as a challenge. Kejriwal is clearly targeted after his inroads in Gujarat. Soren is targeted in Jharkhand for long for his differing views of BJP. Wonder if there is a method in this political madness running like Final destination movie, directed by some half baked Putin-esque Chanakya, taking a toll on all leaders posing a serious challenge to BJP in future. Let’s keep in mind, BJP is a long term operator. Unlike other parties, they don’t operate for upcoming elections, but for a schematic opposition-less future.
The applicant, Yashwant Shinde, was an RSS worker for close to 25 years and also had associations with other ultra-right-wing groups like the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. He has claimed that over three years before the blast, a senior VHP worker had informed him about a terror training camp that was underway to “carry out blasts across the country”.
Hindutva India, after rendering Indians voiceless by emasculating democratic institutions, is slowly being rendered rudderless and Leaderless. Ironically, BJP talks about TINA routinely. Have they allowed anyone to grow?
Indian Politics is not for Lions or Tigers, but for scheming shameless wolves, thriving on carcasses. But nowadays even cubs are not spared. Unfortunately we only got a handful of politicians who are even capable of visualizing politics as service or think clearly on their goals. No wonder they assimilate all legacy votes and BJP is scared of them. BJP could manage hundred slavish parties who dance to their tunes, like few Parties that are eternal cats on the wall, outsourcing mouth for secularism and heart for RSS Hindutva, afraid of losing minority votes, helping BJP at opportune moments. But BJP can’t counter such welfarist ideas of AAP / Congress. Their ideology is all about building to a Pyramid catering to its elite consumers placed on top of their political pyramid, where the poor are supposed to be subservient to such higher classes..
Only such Parties who think genuinely about People welfare rather pretensions for votes had succeeded because People cannot be rendered foolish in the long term. Unfortunately, People can see through Modi’s lies and Opposition’s pretensions and find Modi as lesser evil… so far. People naturally get attracted to personalities with new ideas even if it’s just a Photo-Op personality. At least he has never wavered on his ideology. Can we tell the same about opposition who are still dilly dally what fancy attire to wear to attract eyeballs and audience. At least the Opposition should stay true to INDIA-ness rather seeking to divide petty vote shares out of compulsions and deceptions organized by BJP.
So,Why BJP wins and keeps on winning? Because they failed for generations but still propagated their ideology with rock solid persistence.
Sita’sAyodhya and Ram’s temple – Curse or Cure?
Since, we Indians are in a confused state whether to classify Ramayana as History or mythology, maybe we are still not clear on the surgeon who performed Lord Ganesha’s plastic surgery, let me add few more conspiracy theories around the Lord Brihadeeswarar curse and the grand temple built by the great Raja Raja Chola in Tanjore.
Brihadeeshwara Temple of Thanjavur, is a story in epic proportions. Tall and majestic, everything is of a massive scale with the highlights being the Vimana standing at 216 feet, the Sivalinga at maybe 12 feet and the Dwarapalakas, may be 15 feet tall. It looks like there are some Vijayanagar touches to this, but the real glory lies in what Rajaraja did. Funded by more than 100 tonnes of gold and being one of the first temples fully built with granite, its an achievement in itself considering the fact that 60000 tonnes of stone was carried from at least 50 km and sculptures carved with basic chiseling. And think of the ingenuity of balancing four 20 tonne stones as the pinnacle – how did they balance the stones without the structure collapsing and how did they lift the stones to such heights.
But, one of my friends told me about the fact that this is a cursed temple, with wishes left unfulfilled and rulers losing power. Urban myth or not, it’s interesting to look into the origins of both of them. May be they are true – this temple is built using the war loot from multiple kingdoms (Keralantaka for the name of a gate is but a proof of that) and going by the brutal fame of Chola armies, we can give some level of credence for this view.
The story of ruler losing power gained weight after what happened when Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India and MGR, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu visited the temple in 1984 to inaugurate a statue of Rajaraja in commemoration his millennium of ascendancy on throne. Indira Gandhi was assassinated and MGR had a stroke forcing him to be out of power for six months. May be, the other one picked up at the same time too.
So, what can be the background? A Siddha helped Rajaraja in identifying the location for this epic project. He decided where the temple should be built, dates and all. But, years later, there was a dispute between the king and the Siddha over the day the temple should be opened – may be based on the Agama tradition and the calendar to be followed. The Siddha removed himself from overseeing the construction, built a hut at a corner of the temple complex and started meditating. The day of placing the idol in the sanctum came. Whatever they do, the architects were not able to identify the correct spot where the idol should be placed. Out of desperation, they went to the Siddha who spit at a point and asked them to place the idol there. The idol was placed but it lost power because it is defiled. That’s why its said that wish anything specific here, and opposite happens.
Another important thing to note is that for a king whose every detail of life is codified, it is interesting to know that nothing is written about his death. This can happen only if he met an inglorious end – suicide, assassination, capture and execution, incurable diseases and such. There are two things regarding Rajaraja – either he is assassinated or he committed suicide. Unable to handle the heat of the Chola invasion, the Sinhala king Mahinda ditched his capital and went into the hills to fight. He sent a Buddhist woman to assassinate Rajaraja. That lady joined his harem and slowly climbed near to him. One day, while he was inspecting the temple from the eighth floor in the Vimana, she found an opportunity and pushed him down to his death. Retribution? Mahinda was hunted down and held as a prisoner all his life. Rational view is, Rajendra simply concluded his father’s war. Alternately, it is said Rajaraja committed suicide – may be for the defilement of his temple by the Siddha, after being content with what he achieved in life or for remorse for some past act or whatever.
Because of the king’s death in the complex, it can be said that any ruler who visits the temple will lose his power immediately. This can be seen from the fact that his son, Rajendra immediately scooted away from Thanjavur to build his own city and Brihadeeswara temple just across the river. And the temple height is smaller than that of Thanjavur’s.
Another interesting thing to note is that there are no temples with the Vimana taller than that of Thanjavur’s. Only one was built – Konark and it is destroyed. That is another myth regarding this temple – nothing can be taller than this.
Till date none of the present politicians have dared entering Brihadeeswarar temple for any functions after the series of mishaps. Personally, I don’t believe in such stories as I have worshipped him and everything went well. Maybe I did not have wishes to pray for or I am just richly paupered, not a King of sorts to evaluate / demerit the legacy of the curse.
Now, let’s move onto the curse of Sita at Ayodhya.
They called it Sita ka shraap (the curse of Sita). “When Sita was wrongfully accused and banished from Ayodhya on account of a washerman, the inhabitants of this city were cursed that they would never prosper. Ayodhya carries the burden of that curse,” said Shubhangie Mishra, a young member of Ayodhya’s erstwhile royal family.
Temple has brought some life to the town. This reporter was in Ayodhya during Diwali of 2016 on a reporting assignment. It was surprising to find that the festival was bereft of the lights one associates with it in other parts of northern India. Diwali in Ayodhya, locals said, has often been “fiki” (flavourless). Compared to the other famous and vibrant temple cities like Mathura and Kashi, Ayodhya looked desolate and melancholic.
How does the temple construction impact the “curse”? Ayodhya is waiting for the answer.
Now, things have changed a bit for good at Ayodhya with a grand temple being built. Logically, if one believes that Ramayana is history not just an mythological epic, then Sita’s curse is also true. Maybe time will tell us how this will play out. This is not to wish for any adverse outcomes but to unmask the fake Hindutva in making a temple consecration of an idol who symbolises piety, as grand national affair, as they don’t seem to care about the pain of Sita and actually even Rama rajya. Only vote matters.
Now, let’s get into the case of “Ram Lalla” and his guardian devils – VHP, RSS and BJP. Apoorvanand, states
The Supreme Court Judgement, is replete with quotes from religious texts, no proof is given of the tradition of worshipping Ram Lalla. That is probably because there was no evidence to give. Ram Lalla was invented for a political purpose, as a cover for those who wanted to lay claim to a mosque and to wage a war against Muslims for imaginary or real historical injustices.
Was it not clear to the court that under the guise of Ram Lalla, it was the VHP that was taking ownership of the land? Before the court gave ownership of the land to Ram Lalla, should it not have asked how old the history of Ram Lalla is? Who is Ram Lalla? And why is there no evidence of Ram Lalla in the long “Ram Bhakti” tradition?
Since there was ample evidence of Muslims owning the land, the court decided Instead to ask the Muslims, “Yes, there was a mosque, but were you offering namaz there?” When the court wanted proof of namaz being offered in the mosque, it would have been appropriate for it to have asked, at the very least, for proof of the existence of Ram Lalla Virajman in the Ram Bhakti tradition.
Ram is called Ram Lala only in “Ram Lala Nahchhu”, a small poem by Tulsidas. This Lala is not a child but a blushing bridegroom; Ram’s bride, Sita, is called Lali. The invention of Ram Lalla is thus entirely the legend-making work of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and its affiliate, the VHP.
The Supreme Court reminds me of Tenali raman story…
King Krishnadevaraya’s mother was a very orthodox woman. She had visited many holy places and had performed religious rites, she had given much in charity. Once she wanted to give fruit in charity and informed so to her son. The king who had great respect for his mother immediately got delicious mangoes from Ratnagiri. But on the auspicious day when she was to present those fruits to Brahmins, the king’s mother died.
The religious rites connected with her death went on for several days. Meanwhile the king called a few Brahmins and said, “My mother’s last wish was to offer mangoes to Brahmins. But she died before the wish could be fulfilled. What should I do now that she might earn the merit for giving away the fruits?”
The greedy Brahmins replied, “You Majesty, only if you offer mangoes made of gold to Brahmins, your mother’s soul will rest in peace.”
Tenali Raman came to know about this. The next day Tenali Raman went to the houses of those Brahmins, and asked them to come to his house to perform his mother’s ceremony. The Brahmins came to Tenali Ramans house after receiving the gold mangoes from the king. Ramans servants closed all the doors of the house. They brought red-hot iron bars and stood before the Brahmins. They were shocked to see this.
Then Tenali Raman told them that his mother had knee pains and as remedy wanted Tenali Raman to burn her with red-hot iron bars. But she died before he could do it. So he now wanted to execute her wish. Then the Brahmins said it was unjust toward them. Tenali Raman said, “There’s nothing unjust toward them, because they had just taken golden mangoes from the king.” Then the Brahmins understood their folly and left the golden mangoes at Raman’s house .
So, Ram Lalla Mandir is a case of Nagpur Brahmins getting their electoral golden Mangoes in the name of divine. Wish we had a single wise TenaliRAMan out of five eminent Judges… But, the Judgement itself is a mystery book signed anonymously, like a Judicial heist done without fingerprints. It is a carefully worded concern of not spawning yet another Jumanji type riots, basically surrendering the Constitution to violent religious rioters like Gun Germs and Steel brutal conquests of our uncivilised past. Of course, why would opportunistic someone mess around, when they are in the process of writing their own Promotion letter.
Bhakt – Ram lalla waapis aa rahe hain January 22 ko.
Me – Kahan se wapis aa rahe hain?
Bhakt – Ayodhya mein, Modi ji nein announcement kiya hai na.
So, Modi brought Vikas.. Modi brought Vikshit Bharat.. Modi brought AmritKaal.. Modi brought Ram Lalla… From where…? From the place same place where Ram Lalla was there earlier – Ayodhya, like a skilled Magician getting Ram Lalla out of his hat. The only difference to this act is that his team destroyed the old hat and came up with a grand half stitched one for the magic show. Maybe if we all held Ram in our Hearts, he would not have had to relocate, succumbing to vacuous manufactured pride.
In consecrating you at Ayodhya, they want to dislodge the different forms in which you reside in our inner citadel, one no invader has been able to breach, and replace it with a new Teflon deity, manufactured by a political machine.
Past conflicts are being used as pretexts to reconfigure contemporary power. The forces that will consecrate this temple converted your name into the very opposite of what it signifies. They made Ram synonymous with revenge, with an insecure pride, with a blood curdling aggression, violence towards others, a coarsening of culture, and the erasure of every last shred of genuine piety in public devotion and public life.
You came to earth to lighten its load; this temple burdens us with evil. Like the last genuine devotee of Ram in modern India, Gandhi, we can only mourn in silence, as our garib nawaz forsakes us. Your radiant presence is gone. Only the oppressive yoke of zealotry remains. – PB Mehta
My concern is not on welcoming the beautiful temple being raised for Lord Ram where he may not be found in his true form, but about Modi’s duplicity of being Hindu Hriday Samrat but also a Christmas Santa. He is pro-poor giving ration peanuts to poor but also Adani’s best friend gifting Indian infrastructure for peanuts. He believes in Ram and Ramayana as definitive history, but not on Sita’s curse on Ayodhya and its people, who abused her chastity. All these multiple but contradicting personalities are conveniently portrayed as “One and Only Modi” to fool the gullible voters. BJP claims “There is no alternative” to Modi as it seems. Who wants another actor in a miserable one-act-play, when a single actor dons all the roles of Hindutva Hero, INDIA Villain, Instagram Comedian, wily Politician, bloody Rioter, unholy Priest and Fearful Dictator destroying all democratic Institutions convincingly? This one-act-play is not Ramayana in anyway, but One and Only TINA Modi’s Sham-ayana.
Apart from the History or Mythology debates which Sita Maa will take care, the Ayodhya temple is going through a lot more controversies, as its fully driven and transformed to election campaign for political gains.
First and foremost, the temple is not even fully constructed and two floors of the temple and magnificent spire are yet to be built. The temple stands as a testament to the small hearted RSS-VHP-BJP monument built for the eternal Vishwaroopa Hero, in 2 acres out of amassed 100+ acres. Just to quicken the development to milk it for 2024 elections. Looks like Lord Ram and Sita Maa ensured the rabid group got exposed on their intentions.
“There was an emergency situation when the idol (of Lord Ram) was placed there (in Babri Masjid) at the midnight of December 22, 1949, and the structure (Babri Masjid) was demolished in 1992. These incidents happened spontaneously because of certain situations and so none of the shankaracharyas raised any questions at that time. But today there was no such emergency. We had enough time to complete the construction of the Ram temple and then do Pran Pratishtha,” Avimukteshwaranand said.
“We cannot remain silent now and must say that it is a bad idea to inaugurate an incomplete temple and install the idol of the god there. Maybe they (those organising the programme) will call us anti-Modi. We are not anti-Modi but at the same time we also can’t go against our Dharma Shastra,” said Avimukteshwaranand, who became the shankaracharya after the death of his guru Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati in 2022.
Now, there are arguments that Lord Ram lives in a makeshift tent and it’s good to place him in his abode. Will Modi/ Yogi stay in half built house, with the roof / spire still being built, with twisted fingers praying everything going smooth for next two years of development? If a spit by Siddha is believed to have defiled Brihadeeswarar Idol built by the mighty Raja Raja Chola, wonder what will happen to the temple’s sanctum sanctorum when they resume construction after the idol installation. What stopped Mighty Modi and Yogi spending thousands of crores in Ayodhya on amenities and glitzy ceremony to build a small but complete makeshift temple. It’s ironic, Ram Lalla temple itself is built on a small scale at 1-2 acres, after amassing land to 120 acres for the temple complex. Wish BJP-RSS had a fraction of the enthusiasm they exhibited in demolishing the Babri mosque towards constructing the abode of Ram. Maybe its needs bigger heart and devotion not small people are made of.
In the Mahabharata there is an evocative word, Dharma Dhwajii. It is a pejorative for those who make a show of their worship in what is a sign of lack of real faith. The term Dharma Dhwajii refers to those who, as it were, care about the flag more than they care about dharma. The Dharma Dhwajiis have, for the moment, won the political, cultural and emotional battle fair and square.
Worshipping idols is central to Hinduism, no matter what deracinated intellectuals might tell you. It gave Hinduism a playful intimacy. But the idols we worship are no longer intimate; they are mega showpieces. More grievously, concentration on the idol was a path to self-consciousness. But now, as the philosopher, Arindam Chakrabarti, once wrote, the idol has been replaced by the I-doll, the worship of the “I”. We are consecrating our own collective narcissism in the image of God.
In the Ramayana, in any version, there is always a sense of sadness around Ram himself. Bhavabhuti captured it beautifully: Ram has been filled with the rasa of pity/ kept hidden by his profound demeanour/the sharp pain of it held deep within/ like a clay pot baking in embers. This moment of triumphalism is also accompanied by a pain that cannot even be expressed. It will cook in the embers of this moment. Ram’s dhwaja has been planted. But the question of dharma is met only with a yawning and ominous silence. – PB Mehta
Even Dharma Dhwajis cared about Flags… But Modi did not even worry about them covering the non-existent Shikhar with white screen.
Secondly, I do wonder if Sanatan Dharma is yet another flyweight concept, for BJP as the sacred rituals and agamic procedures to be performed by Seers as per sanatan dharma are all ignored to highlight Modi, as if he is bigger then Ram-lalla. Maybe Modi could bypass the constitution and our President to inaugurate the new Parliament. Can he also ignore the divinity of Ram to go ahead and install the idol in sanctum sanctorum on his own? In one way it’s a welcome progressive change but BJP should shut up their shops preaching sanatan dharma and targeting DMK on their anti-sanatan views as their own leader does not care to uphold those values.
“Don’t think that I am angry with them because they have not taken any suggestion from me. However, as per Skanda Purana, bad omens enter an idol and destroy the area if such rituals are not done properly. I participate in a programme only when it is pure and as per the Sanatan Dharma,” Nishchalanand said.
“Politicians will interfere in religion in future and publicise themselves as yogis and dharmacharyas,” he added.
Sanatan Dharma is portrayed to lay a mental block on our thinking, making us not to think at all, rendering us slaves to elites, because it is portrayed as constant and unchangeable. By Carefully painting Rama and Krishna in a weird Blue colour rather in their natural colour tone is one way, the higher echelons of our religion made them look as part of them, rather as part of all of us. The same can be said of Rama is a non-vegetarian debate. We have repackaged and branded our divine Lords as elitist, to cater to elitistic sentiments, whereas in reality they were unbiased with humanity and fought for us providing a code of good conduct and morality. It is the same moral code provided by them, that is broken to lift them up from commoner’s reach, schemingly.
“I do worry about Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan politics of this government, and this culture of Aryavrat domination that infects the attitudes of some has already raised the issue among many, many southern politicians, and maybe Mr. Gurumurthy (Thuglak Editor) and others may not feel it’s such a big issue. I think it is a very serious issue because the consequences of all of this threaten the very unity of India, and the South faces political disenfranchisement to go along with a sense of financial victimisation, and that combination is absolutely bound to generate resentments that can spill over beyond the confines of our routine politics.” – Shashi Tharoor
Thirdly, What kind of sanskaari Prime Minister forgets Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and other founding fathers of this Ram temple initiative. It all started with Advani wanting to stir the Babri Masjid issue emotionally to arouse majoritarian sentiments and granting Modi a lifeline after gujarat riots. When Ram idol is getting treated by left hand ignoring the aagamic and dharmic rituals, how can we expect Advani to be treated? Still, Credits to Modi for bringing the issue to its pinnacle.
Its evident now that Advani was right in admitting Modi was not his protege but a brilliant event manager as is evident with the Ayodhya event. Advani might have hinted on Modi’s modest background during Rath yatra as an Organiser and his own Godfather role in Modi’s political life. But Modi has grown to be a word class event manager if not as efficient Ruler / Administrator. A Journalist observed all news Channels have become Devotional channels without showing the half constructed temple but a grand architecture simulation, just like BJP’s photoshop politics. So much for Modi following yam-niyam, that he can’t even show the actual temple on broadcasts. Hmm..
To a media question that his “protege” was about to become the PM, Advani said, “First of all, I don’t see Narendra Modi as my protege. I have seen him function as a party general secretary.” He repeatedly emphasised he saw Modi as a “brilliant events manager” whose skills contributed to governance.
Asked whether he could compare Modi to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani said, “I would not compare… certainly not to Atalji. Atalji was a class by himself.” Later, he described Vajpayee as the only PM “whose entire career was without blemish”.
Advani was quite right that Modi turned out to be longest running biggest boring Photo-Op blockbuster ever. One could only wish that Ram and Sita (if not Ram Rath Advani or Rajdharma Vajpayee ) impart them the lacking devotion getting replaced with publicity blitz and sheer arrogance.
Fourthly, There are targeted campaigns even from respectable newspapers known for courage and integrity indirectly campaigning for BJP, on how other party voters are now neo-converts of BJP after seeing the spiritual corridors built by Modi. Maybe they don’t understand that it is their own tax money squeezed from their daily hardships and not Modi’s. Maybe they bypassed the struggle of catching the train and its arduous journey with equally despicable toilets and food. Maybe they bypassed the reckless hikes in restaurants serving food. Maybe they bypassed the atrocious GST in Hotels and commodities. Maybe the opposition has not made people think on the faultlines of Modi’s corporate taxing Mindset, glossing over all perils with an attractive spiritual cover up. Maybe Modi’s appreciators are the elite and rich 5-10% VandeBharat-ians who might have benefited by Modi’s transactional governance and conveniently forgot the Pakora Bharatians, searching for that expensive oil. Maybe the media just shows off the positive dots of this Government, but refuses to draw a line covering all negatives and positives, which could act as the Laxman rekha checking on the government excesses. Maybe instead they are bound by Ravan Rekha that don’t care for Rama or Sita anymore as long as ruling Ravans are kept happy. Maybe there are many more maybes.
Lastly, the temple also raises the question if building temples are enough for India’s much publicized Amrit Kaal? Only selfish leaders go for building grand temples with a long queue of beggars at its entrance. A self styled Corporate guru affiliated to BJP so as to save himself from forest encroachments and Hawala once quipped that people coming from restaurants with full stomach will be more happier than visiting temples. Alas! Hawala saint’s statement is how so true…
In current scenario media harps on Modi going to Ayodhya as if it solves India’s problems. Are we building 7-star Templess for the poor to see sandstones carvings to satiate their hunger? Can we replace Hunger with fake pride? If we all care for our own selfish stomach today, propagating hatred and misgovernance, ignoring the perils the poor and unprivileged are enduring, tomorrow our kids will meet the fate of Gaza / Israel fighting forever in the name of Gods and rabid communal Dogs. Because, that’s what unchecked hatred does to us. None of the religions want us to fight, but we are smart enough to convert every religious scripture to vengeance seeking bloodlust literature. In reality India’s GDP was much higher in MMS regime where the real temples of democracy had some meaning and sanctity. India’s hunger and unemployment was much less during MMS regime when temples stood far away from Politics, doing their own spiritual duty rather blending politics with faith. But, congress is still searching for a winning narrative.
The fretful king dismounted from his throne to go Where the hermit sat beneath the tree. Bowing, he said, “My lord, why have you forsaken god’s mighty abode, The royal construction of gold that pierces the sky, To sing paeans to the divine here on the streets?’ “There is no god in that temple,” said the hermit.
Furious, The king said, “No god! You speak like a godless man, Hermit. A bejewelled idol on a bejewelled throne, You say it’s empty?”
“Not empty, it holds royal arrogance, You have consecrated yourself, not the god of the world.”
Frowning, said the king, “You say the temple I made With twenty lakh gold coins, reaching to the sky, That I dedicated to the deity after due rituals, This impeccable edifice – it has no room for god!”
Said the tranquil hermit, “The year when the fires Raged and rendered twenty thousand subjects Homeless, destitute; when they came to your door With futile pleas for help, and sheltered in the woods, In caves, in the shade of trees, in dilapidated temples, When you constructed your gold-encrusted building With twenty lakh gold coins for a deity, god said, ‘My eternal home is lit with countless lamps In the blue, infinite sky; its everlasting foundations Are truth, peace, compassion, love. This feeble miser Who could not give homes to his homeless subjects Expects to give me one!’ At that moment god left To join the poor in their shelter beneath the trees. As hollow as the froth and foam in the deep wide ocean Is your temple, just as bereft beneath the universe, A bubble of gold and pride.”
A poem for all ages by Rabindranath Tagore beautifully sums up the meaning of temples also implying its vacuous meaning in simple event management election exercise. The Poem reminded me of the COVID times where the poor were made to walk and got bleached for disinfection, the Farmers struggle where the annadatas were branded Anti-nationals made to endure the rough weather and hostile government, the minorities going through miseries in the name of the same golden god at the hands of communal dogs, youth getting fooled in Internet age with cheap data packs and expensive education, slowly becoming the privilege of elites like in vedic ages where the lower castes were rendered uneducated, lower castes getting sidelined with the Quotas for elites with cutoffs much lesser than backward / scheduled categories along with a sad humour of 8 Lakhs+ earning elites deemed as poor.
“By Ram Rajya I don’t mean a Hindu State, what I meant is rule of God, the state ruled by divine … a true Ram Rajya would ensure equal rights to both Prince and pauper.”
MK Gandhi
Maybe all these controversies could be attributed to Sita’s curse. But BJP got a blessing too. The political difference between BJP and Congress is that, BJP would have made those controversies a National issue claiming Lord Ram is in danger. Congress signed off with a Cool “No” for the extravagant ceremony held for the half completed temple allowing BJP to thrive on their sins. Hope Congress also fights for spiritual Justice for Ram!
Since, Modi is every god we worship
[ Update 23rd january 2024
So, the event happened with the elites joining felicitating Modi on his coronation ceremony with a bit of charity towards Ram and complete amnesia towards Sita. The crowd showed up as how Modi’s priority list among his devotees looked up much like Shitler’s list. I am glad many were shown their true place with the seating arrangements. Modi might have antagonised many of his Bhakts who might have thought themselves as indispensable in Modi Universe.
The next day, the Ram temple opened for commoners, faced a stampede situation with almost all the security arrangements disappearing along with the VVIPs yesterday. Now Modi got exposed on his partial regime where elites are treated with red carpet welcome and commoners with a bloody memento memories to carry forward.
Ram opened his eyes and in a jiffy exposed Modi to his carefully nurtured Bhakt world of Haves and Have-nots. By the way, since there was no history / mythology of Ram Lalla, he got renamed to Balak Ram of Bala kaand… after the inauguration that is… Well, who cares for a Name when the actual event is for Modi.
There are visuals of the chosen one walking along with the Ram Lalla alias Balak Ram towards the half constructed mandir harried up for elections. Maybe it’s a pet peeve of kiddish chosen one to build huge dolls like chinese Statue of unity, Central vista, New parliament and now Ram mandir. Some children understand their parents’ limitations and conquer over their cravings for big dolls, while some others achieve it by hook or crook. Our society makes heroes out of those crooks, to whom means don’t matter but ends do, as demigods of success hood. To meet the real accessible god, one could see the mirror for a moment and check for oneself, reflection of his/her own conscience if it’s still a fair game, happening in the name of the Lord. If Lord does not reside in our own divine intellect, there is no point in searching for it in an opulent roof less wonderment, built to satiate our sense of supremacy over fellow brethren.
I am endeavouring to see God through service of humanity, for I know that God is neither in heaven, nor down below, but in every one.
Gandhi
]
Who is real Rama?
The irony is such that, none of our epic Heroes portrayed themselves as Gods but as extension / Saviour of humanity. We worshipped their godliness in them.
But Modi is Rama in Ayodhya, Krishna in Mathura, Govinda in Tirumala, Namo in Kashi, that the Modi hagiography get so mystifying, that one does not understand what exactly makes Modi worship-able.
By that All-in-One-insane-logic we should worship our Photoshop and copier machines more than Modi, as they are the only ones who could copy everything at once.
Modi’s PR has gone gone to done and dusted levels, that his PR team is clueless on reinventing itself. Modi’s hagiography could be quite confusing as described above. He is All-in-One-Nothingness. Of course his admirers have taken his PR like a fish to water, but who has Rama like qualities among our Politicians. First things first, none of our Politicians could be seen as incorruptible. Everyone is corrupt here, swindling the nation at their own capabilities. If all parties took a cut as election expenses, Modi’s BJP is the Everest of corruption, having laundered 5500 Crore as White money, with their Electoral Bonds washing machine, gained through crony commissions, selling national assets and even through extortions leveraging Governmental agencies.
When Rahul Gandhi’s yatra got strangulated by all means at Assam with the courtesy of its CM HBS, Congress and RG declared HBS will be uprooted in next elections, not before that. When Modi came to Tamilnadu for a fruitless campaign visit, he threatened DMK that they will thrown out just after 2024 LS elections. Now DMK still has 2.5 years of rule as voted by the State voters. Disgustingly, this has been the pattern of BJP, decimating the people’s mandate through horse trading or extortions with agencies when the basic food priced have more than doubled / tripled. Modi’s regime collect a lot more personal income tax than from Corporates. Despite focusing on the acute livelihood issues of Indians, Modi is busy threatening each and every opposition leader of finishing them off Hiren Pandya style. Himachal pradesh is the latest victim of Modi’s “Morning walk Democracy”. Caravan reports then CM Modi silenced all his opposition within his party in Gujarat through such threats where such Leaders are still kept in close watch on their public and media interactions. So who exhibits real Rama’s maryadagunas as true devotee of Ram? Modi trampling everyone around drunk on power? Or RG who is ethical enough to seek a mandate on next election enduring the pain meted out? To me, Modi can’t even be called Shiv Bhakt Ravana. Modi could only be correlated to metaphorically blind on power Dhritarashtra, greedy enough to not even spare few villages for Pandavas, ending up losing everything
The Congress Dilemma in Ayodhya Kaal
Gandhi himself virtually never went to a Hindu temple – one of the very few exceptions he made was when he visited the Meenakshi temple in Madurai in 1946, after the shrine had finally, belatedly, allowed Dalits to enter its premises. Though Gandhi described himself as a Hindu, his chosen mode of worship was the inter-faith meeting, held on open ground, where Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Sikhs and Jains and Christians would pray together, with verses of all their scriptures being read. That was his original and deeply moving way of affirming the principle that India belonged to all faiths equally.– Ramachandra Guha
If Congress is not clear, they could adopt a democratic model of asking People or Congress cadre opinions, to mobilise their stance rather meekly obeying BJP’s pressure tactics. They obviously need a feedback mechanism to hear from the ground to keep the cadre enthused and be aware of ground realities. Modi got few gems of ideological ideas on Farmer incentives and EWS quota to support his echo chamber from such forums. Also, the Congress Leadership patiently hearing out and acknowledging the issues could be therapeutic to the cadre who work on energies derived from such simple words of acknowledgement.
Congress shared happiness on EWS Quota hoping to cash on elite votes in UP and we all know where it ended up in 2019 – Homeless / Amethi-less. It’s not a Kitchen or Dining table cabinet, but a Puppet cabinet where the strings are pulled by PMO who knows which levers and coterie to be operated / manipulated for desired results like scamsters operating upon gullibles. Perils of people who cant listen to their Hearts but to fake environment simulated. Otherwise why would Congress wallow indecisively when they have delivered far superior governance in UPA years. Decision less Parties will be riding in between trucks like Van Damme Pawar on his way to Delhi, hoping to maintain balance somehow, distributing their eggs on all baskets. Unfortunately, Politics is not about hatching eggs but rearing a successful social ecosystem where hens thrive. And when such eggs fall from such heights they just crash to 50 seats making even LoP a far dream.
Mo-Sha certainly wanted to bait the Congress on Ayodhya temple visit. They wanted to erase all the good karma of the Bharat Jodo yatra with a simple invitation and pressuring Congress to heed to the invite with various taunts from their Leaders. Else, why would Modi invite Congress when he did not even invite the President for new Parliament inauguration hoping to steal all the limelight. Why Modi is not inviting Uddhav Thackeray to Ayodhya as Sena was their demolition partner? Afraid Uddhav will steal the limelight and credits? Modi is now taking pains to show Congress is no way a different party but a B-Grade copy of the Hindutva Party, because he himself is now driven down to the position of canvassing for the mercy of minorities. Even if the Congress understands the bait and acknowledges the invite, they stand in far more risk of getting painted Hindu- Virodhi on simple things like sneezing at temple. The invitation is a two stones approach to kill the Congress Bird.
Also, BJP keeps the opposition in a mental siege, whenever they are afraid to air their views. Let’s take the cause and effect analysis of imaginary scenarios. What if Congress rejects the the invite outright citing their secular credentials, which does not align them to any religion but respects all religious faiths equally. BJP can’t paint them as Hindu Virodhi or anti-sanatanis, just for a simple stance of rain check. Now, what if congress wavers around afraid of losing Hindu votes and procrastinates? Minorities view them as pretentious betrayers of trust, no way better than BJP which wears religion on sleeves. Hindus view them as ideology less opportunists waiting to milk them for votes as propagated by BJP. What if Congress accepts the invite? It’s much worse, as they have ceded to BJP as even directionless party along with their ideology less opportunism. What if Congress treads a different path from the above scenarios? So far congress is not giving it back to BJP with their wit and wisdom fearing imaginary setbacks. Maybe it could try to go back to its origins of stunning colonial British, creating an uprising without even raising a stick.
Its high time Congress shows some novelty and a bit of unpredictability in their approach. Why can’t Congress choose its own date to visit temple, making a show of their own concerns with temple politics and how religious politics eclipses welfare politics. What makes Congress so afraid of BJP’s clickbait politics? Are they so weak that they could be easily blackmailed by BJP? If they can’t steer through simple narratives, how are they going to win the grand election? Maybe in 20204? Why can’t they make a spiritual tour covering temples, gurudwaras, mosques and churches to hear out people rather just focusing on Ayodhya, conveying Unity in diversity? What does it take to say – “Thanks a lot. We would do a rain-check. We don’t want to steal your moment of petty fame, the joy of crooked and immature political kids playing with Ken-Barbie Dolls for a 360 degree Photo-Op, to render Sita’s curse and Ramayana as mythical epic rather history contradictory to BJP’s own claims. ( Maybe put in a refined way ). We will do a a separate celebration catering to the poor and unprivileged upholding the promise of Ram Rajya, capturing the essence of the life of Ram. Afterall Ram lives in us all irrespective of any caste or religious differences. Ram’s life is the lesson not grand temples!”
Necessity is the mother of all inventions and stupidity is the father of all disasters.
Youtube Comment
The BJP/RSS call the Ram Temple a matter of faith, and those who don’t visit it will be called anti-Hindu or anti-Ram. It is this narrow construct of Hinduism and of Ram that should be contested. The Congress, by declining the invitation to visit the Ram Temple on January 22, has decided to fight for the original Idea of India. This path can be challenging, difficult and long. It might hurt the party in the short term (which I don’t believe), but it will definitely reap dividends in the end, if the party has to regain the confidence of the people. The problem with the Congress was not Ram Mandir but the confusion about its moorings. Let’s hope it has rediscovered its real self and remains steadfast on that path now on. – Ashutosh
Miles to to Go Before the Win!
“The hallmark of the Bharat Jodo Yatra is its duration. You can ignore it for weeks on end and then it comes into view again. Test matches wind to a close, Delhi’s pollution peaks and eases, bloody, attritional battles in Ukraine end in stalemate and then, in some newspaper photo on an inside page or a hostile tweet chorused out by the sangh’s troll army, you catch a glimpse of Rahul Gandhi on the road, still walking.” – Mukul Kesavan
The above quote is apt for someone living up to his surname. Mahatma Gandhi was also tireless on his Indian renaissance mission. Incidentally, Rahul Gandhi has started his Yatra 2.0, resembling the Rath yatra Advani took few decades back to bring justice to Lord Ram. Ironically, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra 2.0 started with Kharge questioning BJP on leveraging Lord Ram and his half completed temple for election purposes, indirectly asking spiritual Justice for Lord Ram… again… Such is the Circle of Lord err… Life!
Sometimes, we need an emotional catalyst, to wake us up to our senses and think beyond our Home and work. We need a common forum or an event to discuss further about our future and how a Government could potentially shape our kids future rather keeping ourselves busy in a Merry-go-Round at Temple festival. At least to me that catalyst of recent times is RG. One of the drawbacks of politics is its short term memory and lack of long term policies where the earliest victory matters, else survival becomes an issue. One need to duly appreciate RSS in that regard where they are not afraid of short term failures but keep trying and mobilising steadfastly, building small steps assuming the next generation will progress further. The BJN yatra is refreshing on that dimension. RG throwing up political culture bombs on his way may take time to assimilate amidst emotional majoritarian riots. It is not focusing on attraction or PR but its conducted like a tapasya of meeting people on its way. The cadre might be well off thinking about long term prospects rather worried about the impacts of recent and upcoming election. The yatra’s assured casualness is its strength along with its effervescent team. The media packaging has improved a lot compared to its last version.
There is a sense of Confidence here as the first yatra was bit doubtful if it will be completed and now the Yatra 2.0’s benchmark will be measured on its crowd pulling factor and its compelling message. The swelling crowds in Assam and other States is a sure positive and energising for Congress with a low morale, though it’s still yet to be tested in hostile test beds like UP and Gujarat. Prior such test beds, Congress may do well if it amps us the yatra with its proprietary Mohabbat Ki Dukaan theme. Whoever came up with Bus as Character with its tickets as Souvenir is a great PR master. In all or Mass movies, the Heroes don’t speak up for themselves. It’s usually the sidekicks or Villains who will do the job. May the Bus could be that witty Sidekick character telling the people the story of the yatra, amplifying the RG factor about the Crowd, its enthusiasm and other sweet gestures which has a fan following (as long it’s not mundane). Anyway Biscuit Sarma will take care of the Villain job for a week, so half job is already done. So far too good… But Miles to go before Congress wins…!
[Update 23rd January 2024
22nd January, coinciding with Modi’s coronation event, was a tough and painful day, to watch out RG being denied entry to a Spiritual place in Assam which holds reverence. BJP has already hijacked the Dhan with doles and unscripted laws. The denial of RG’s visit to the Dhan hold more political significance, with BJP capturing spiritual institutions as their sole fiefdom, holding the key to the polarised Assam. So, RG was denied entry as Modi was unable to digest anyone breathing when he was into an important event of his own Coronation in the name of Ram lalla. I was quite impressed with the way RG handled the scenario, as it showed off Modi’s arrogance, denying his subjects their own harmless rights to worship. Maybe he wanted everyone to worship him on 22nd where Gods were granted public Holiday. For Modi, it’s always the case of “Worship is Work” and not the vice versa. RG captured the moment very well along with the Bhajan of “Ishwar Allah Tero naam” during the Majoritarian ceremony at Ayodhya. To me it was a moment where Congress got rid off its majoritarian dilemma playing second fiddle subservience to BJP’s politico-spiritual narrative.
Mufasa: Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.
Young Simba: But, Dad, don’t we eat the antelope?
Mufasa: Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life. – Lion King.
I assume the events around the yatra on 23rd January could be a turning point in many ways. RG showed he never ducks on the petty challenges laid out by the corrupt rulers. His cadre proved their might, reminding me of fierce Kejriwal in 2013. Still, they obeyed the restrictions and moved on the designated route. BJP and Himanta might have miscalculated RG’s endurance to their harassments with Cadre and Police force as meekness. They might have been disappointed with the Congress performance today. Another major miscalculation on the BJP part is that they assumed they could finish off the yatra, but the crowd swelled more on the last two days in thousands. No mean feat for a road show. Looks like Congress turned tables after enduring BJP’s harassments…
RG is spontaneous, cool and (surprisingly) measured without any backfiring panauti stuff. It would be safer if he deflects Ram and Ayodhya issue as his bytes are obfuscated, getting used for propaganda. Perhaps, he could have enhanced the attacks by inflicting damage to Himanta by quoting Amit Shah and Modi in 2014 who made HBS as their main antagonist for his abysmally corrupt scams, like he did in Meghalaya quoting Shah and how he shamelessly allied with his nemesis post poll he deemed as corrupt. Sincerely, wish RG’s campaign team could provide more biting quips in his precise address so that it’s compelling for a news coverage. Maybe such interesting bytes could leave the BJP exposed / reminded of their flip flops and faultlines.
Touch Wood. Congress is fighting with a wily fox in Assam, admiringly, who goes to any level and do anything for that rotten power carcass. They might have to handle Ajay Bisht in UP who specialises in Hindu militancy groups. I am double sure he is going to give major publicity to Congress campaign and energy to Congress cadre.
Rafiki: Look down there. [Slowly Simba walks to the edge of the watering hole and peers inside. His reflection stares back at him] Adult Simba: That’s not my father. That’s just my reflection. Rafiki: No. Look harder. [Rafiki touches the water which causes waves that change Simba’s reflection into Mufasa] Rafiki: You see? He lives in you. Mufasa’s Ghost: [From above] Simba. Adult Simba: Father? Mufasa’s Ghost: [He appears in the sky as a group of stars] Simba, you have forgotten me. Adult Simba: No. How could I? Mufasa’s Ghost: You have forgotten who you are, and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the circle of life. Adult Simba: How can I go back? I’m not who I used to be. Mufasa’s Ghost: [Now fully formed in the sky] Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are. Adult Simba: [Mufasa’s ghost begins to disappear] No! Please, don’t leave me! Mufasa’s Ghost: Remember. Adult Simba: Father! Mufasa’s Ghost: Remember!
PS: The Lion King dialogues got nothing to do with the yatra or RG. But today RG reminded me of a self assured, energetic and suave Rajiv Gandhi swirling garlands and shawls around people gathered to meet him.
]
The pathetic case of Bob Biswas in deadly Politics.
In Kahaani, we get an interesting Assassin character, Bob Biswas, who smoothly operates on his targets, creating ruckus of emotions with his screen presence. He greets you with a “Namoskar + Amul baby smile” and then your lifespan becomes “total lifetime wasted so far + 1 more minute”. We have similar real life characters too who act like a comic but dangerous enough to do anything for their survival. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the CM of Assam is one such character and his story arc is interesting as he exposed himself on his story, like a lovely lapdog to please his present Masters…
While Dogs are loyal to their owners, some humans are loyal only to their power and money Biscuits . HBS proved to be a very Corrupt politician of Congress times with many scams to his kitty, just like Congress leaders of 2014-19 used to be. With whatever I can gather from the quips and scoops as I am not Amit Shah to deploy Pegasus to spy on anyone else and deem it as personality research… when HBS tried a power heist to oust then Assam CM Tarun Gogoi who obviously does not seem to be politically savvy or corrupt to the core like HBS, RG turned him down at the nick of the moment and restored the status quo, willing to let HBS go. Could see many things working out in favour of RG’s decision, but HBS cleverly used his meetings with RG, to frustrate him as HBS himself admitted RG uttering “So What” numerous times. He was just waiting, like the Congress runaway Princes waiting for the green signal from Mo-Sha to jump the ship to attain their saffron salvation.
One of the stories HBS has weighed down to character assassinate RG is that he was more engaged, playing with his dog rather discussing with him on Assam. Knowing how HBS will stake everything including Assam selfishly to gain power and immunity, RG might have decided his time is well spent with the dog rather on a human chameleon turning saffron. HBS states, RG hosted the Assam Leadership with a plate of biscuits and his pet dog grabbed from the same plate. RG and others took from the same Plate and HBS could not tolerate that insult. The whole world knows HBS is corrupt enough to milk bribes from unseemly sources even from abroad entities like Louis Berger, who have accepted their complicity on record in US courts. But HBS could not ask for a plate of biscuits and seems to have stayed hungry throughout the meeting, as if biscuits are his main course. That’s so sad and I sincerely request Assam Blue Cross to deliver him the requisite emotional requirements to make him happy.
Assassination? Bob Biswas at your Service! Character assassination? HBS at Mo-Sha’s service.
Apart from RG’s pet dog being the sole reason, there are other twists to HBS’ romantic corruption Kahaani. Assam Congress Chief claims, RG or his pet dog is not the reason, but as soon as BJP came to power in 2014, they issued summons his wife on various scams in alphabetical order and that proved to be a major turning point for the Chameleon who thought of shifting his Office to a Hindutva Biscuit Factory and all it asks for is to spread hatred, which he could do like fish to water owing to his savarna background.
Quoting Sarma’s conversation with his wife, Borah stated, “I can die for you, but I cannot go to jail for you. I love you and can die for you, but I cannot go to jail for you.” This, according to Borah was the pivotal reason behind Sarma’s decision to align with the BJP.
Obviously, such a love needs Taj Mahal built out of syndicate money collected from CM-ship. Let’s forget about the monument became a jail for retired Shah Jahan. HBS turned out to be a handy political assassin for Shah in North east, corrupting and eating away the regional politics with power and money. HBS is a rare Politician to have gained confidence of Mo-Sha, jumping from Congress to have been awarded CM ship of Assam. Caravan reports Mo-Sha even keep their solicitor general who barks in Courts loyally, without a tinge of conscience, at inaudible distance.
RG has quipped entire family of HBS is corrupt including his wife and children and he is known to speak from his Heart. Many of the political parties are involved in shady money dealings as we don’t have a legalised lobby money to fund parties. But many have refrained from involving their wives and kids as partners of Crime, as they are aware of the consequences. There remains a major question mark on the character of a person who could think of thousand options to disrupt the yatra, but can’t think of a safe passage to corrupt investments for his family, as any ethically corrupt person would have. Evidently, its BJP, his present Party gifted summons to his wife, proving RG’s claims rather Congress who just wanted him to deboard the sinking Ship. Rather preying on RG and his true statements, why don’t HBS and his family play smart on their investments, making HBS the sole criminal owner of his corrupt regime built on commissions.
So, HBS now wants to hinder RG’s yatra in multiple ways possible at the behest of Mo-Sha. Though the media may portray the unsavoury incidents happening at Assam leg of BJNY as bad blood between HBS and RG, even child would decipher its a dirty handiwork of Mo-Sha, the effeminate rulers who try to conquer India with oppression and deception rather putting up a honest fight. Why would Milind Deora backstab RG on his start date of the yarta by resigning and foul mouthing about him? HBS is ruling Maharashtra too? It’s an elaborate plan by the Union Government to stop the yatra or make it dysfunctional, making use of their political henchmen, but only getting frustrated with the crowd surging at the Yatra points…
The epilogue of the Assam leg of the yatra was even more engaging. HBS having a spent force of his wits on hindering the yatra, came up with media reports that RG is using a Body double for the yatra. I don’t know if HBS thought political stunts are done by body doubles or he got completely stressed out by the happenings backfiring against him, apart from him being a pathetic joke, he reminded me of another Joke.
A hunter is out in the country one day and waiting for ducks to fly by. After a while he sees a duck, points his gun and shoots it. The duck falls to the ground onto some farmland nearby. The hunter walks over the the farm and sees a farmer holding the dead duck. “Hey that’s my duck!” says the hunter. The farmer replies, “Well, it fell onto my land, so it’s my duck.”
The hunter says “How about we settle this country style?”
“What’s country style?” asks the farmer.
“Well, first I kick you in the nuts, then you kick me in the nuts. And we keep on kicking each other in the nuts until one of us can’t take it no more. Winner gets the duck.”
The owner thinks about it for a bit and decides to go for it.
So the Hunter hauls his leg back and kicks the owner of the land square in the nuts. The owner eye bug out and he falls to the ground writhing in pain and clutching his swelling ballsack. After 10 minutes or so the owner of the land finally recovers and stands up.
“Okay, it’s my turn now” says the farmer.
And the hunter says, “Nah, keep the duck. I am moving on.”
People’s frustration with the Mo-Sha Government cannot be hidden with media headlines when the opposition everywhere is exposing them with the surging crowd, be it Maratha reservation protest, upcoming Farmers protest and the Yatra for Social Justice. By next month Shah will have too many hot potatoes to handle and now banking on his pet political assassin to finish of the Nyay yatra. And looks like his poor pet assassin is getting rolled over by the “Mohabbat ki Dukaan”.
Cooking the Killer Soup.
A Black comic Web series, based on a true incident, by name “Killer Soup” has this as synosis.
Swathi Shetty, a talentless home chef, cooks up a bizarre plan to replace her husband, Prabhakar, with her lover, Umesh; when a bumbling inspector and amateur villains stir the pot, things don’t go as planned and a recipe for chaos ensues.
Somehow it reminds me of the a certain event where a talentless ruler, replaced a religious icon with himself. We got bumbling Institutions and amateur Political Parties stirring up the pot further and chaos ensues at the Republic.
I don’t mind worshipping a demigod who is in a dilemma to beard or not to resemble the actual god, as long as he remains a god for everyone, like Nitish kumar, who is for everyone, keeping everyone guessing about his affiliations. I wonder his affiliation is decided upon which side he wakes up to- right or left. But the reality is that, the Fake Lord has turned every religious site to a Coliseum of sorts, making it as battle of belief rather a healthy battle of ideologies benefiting the Have-nots.
I started with today an Op-ed by a reputed Media man, who harped on how the Supreme Leader has turned the Mandir moment to a Modi moment. Well and Good. But the Op-ed talked to the detail on he has transformed himself to Hindu Hriday Samrat and how the religious communities are in danger. Great! The Op-ed reminded me of the opportunist relatives who try to make use of every occasion to pinpoint and remind you of your setbacks / faults and derive sadistic happiness out of it but will never be with you during a crisis.. “Why have you not Married?” “Why are you not having Kids?” “Why are you not giving kids the best education?”. But just like relatives who don’t offer any emotional support, the Op-ed did not dwell on the resolution to the social evils like Hunger and unemployment. What is worrisome is that it safely stayed away from the actual bread and dal issues plaguing our society. May be his payroll is directly proportional to his Hindutva posts alone
In reality, India just completed the inauguration of a Ram Mandir which added enough blood along with Bricks and Stones as its building ingredients. The ceremony day was a public holiday in the North india and there are many communal incitements still happening targeting the Muslim communities with singing and dancing around Mosques. Earlier there used to be large scale riots and violence due to such incidents. But New India Minorities acts like seasoned Husbands with nil emotions for communal atrocities just like handling Mosquitoes. There is no sense of Justice here as the Minority who was assumed to spit on this dance of rage is chosen for Bulldozer treatment. As the communal instigation did not work as expected, now a new target is being set with Gyanvapi Mosque to stir the communal soup pot simmering.
There is another worrisome trend happening in South India where the rabid Hindutva could not penetrate socially advanced masses – Soft Hindutva. There are actors / celebrities who supposedly acted/acting as progressives and moderates so far, questioning on why we should not celebrate Hindu festivals and occasions loudly rather practicing it as personal. As far as I know we Hindus celebrate every festival with vigour with assortment of food and events with enjoyment as any other religion. Why this sudden concern of celebrating it loud appears during election times is something to ponder about. There are other Baba black sheeps who attended the event claiming it as a spiritual awakening, making one doubt of their religious belief so far. It’s better we leave them alone to meditate and understand themselves about their faith. Apart from these extra artists at the event, there were political top leaders from BJP playing the supporting role to Modi, placed pan-India, trying to create law and order problems with the religious event, trying out live telecasts in communally sensitive zones.
Coming back to the Op-ed, it’s just a Mona Lisa version of it wondering whether she is happy or sad or smiling in sadness. You really don’t know if the Columnist is against communalism or he just wants to keep the communal pot simmering by repeatedly talking about the Hindu-Muslim agenda. It’s not just him, there are many including myself have done a part in registering our tiny islands of grievances against this inhuman political warfare of “othering” our own kith and kin. The actual question is – does it really help, talking about the Hindu-Muslim hatred again and again as a Pro-Hindutva or Moderate Hindutva or Anti-Hindutva? Because all such roads of Hatred inadvertently lead to a Mosque’s destruction of one or another. If AYOdhya is hashed out, how about MADhura or VaraNAZI? And the demolition list goes on, calibrating such comunal events with election dates, ably supported by injustice Departments.
How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the canvas: ‘The lady is smiling because she is hiding a secret from her lover.’ This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I don’t want this to happen. – Stanley Kubrick
Clearly, BJP wants us to breathe Hindu-Muslim issue till the elections. Only the flavour varies like TV reality shows. For the North who have undergone extreme communalism, the dose is very high with bloody riots / bulldozer injustice and for the south who are progressive, there is menu change of soft Hindutva served with celebrity glamour. As we are in such sinking dire circumstances, on this Republic day where we celebrate the tattering Constitutional rights of equality, personally I would like to treat Hindu Muslim communalism as Mosquitoes, a menace we need to live with as it cannot be wiped out for now, but not treating it as bread winning effort, unlike the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, judiciary and Media do, by dishing out Hate-breads, so as to focus on the REAL life peace, tranquility and prosperity.
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patita Pavan Sitaram
Ishwar Allah Tero Nam,
Sabako Sanmati De Bhagawan…
Wish you all Happy Republic Days free of communal Mosquito menace!
When Silence becomes a weapon to Win!
Another aspect helping BJP win is their selective silence. Though they perceive elections as a big stage for communal opera arousing sentiments and emotions, they keep a very low profile on issues they predict to backfire. For example, Dayanidhi Maran’s excessive quote on Hindi was discussed only at their lower level of propaganda. They understood such North-South-regionalism campaigns will turn against them in the south. So their prominent Leaders kept their mouth shut allowing the Social media minions to hype up the issue. Dayanidhi Maran, a first bencher on all DMK’s field work, is not helping himself or his Party with his pan-indian proverbs, just like his 2G spectrum rabble rousing. He is just extending the news cycle. Fortunately, he put an “Om Shanthi!” to this atrocious episode with his regrets. Looks like he may need to say a lot more “Om Shanthis” if he chooses to spread mailce over mics with his media rather switching over to bubblegum. BJP will also circulate Ponmudi’s miserable Paani Puri comedy jibe on North Indians and other assortments. DMK / Ponmudi will do a lot better admitting they are Paani Puri fans and all guests are welcome in Tamilnadu to close the topic rather feeding the BJP IT wing with fodder.
Modi does not personally attack below the belt on opposition though their social media teams go to any levels of toxic propaganda to unsettle the opposition, getting to their nerves. This actually works well for them as they easily get RG and others getting emotionally aggressive against Modi as their nemesis. Modi then comes up with a masterful weepy act of being insulted and makes sure the minions do the last mile delivery. One could see a similar modus operandi happening for Maldives where a simple tweet was enough to whip up diplomatic outrage.
For example. Modi has twisted few facts to state that Inflation is much lesser during his regime compared to UPA. If the inflation is less why do we get Modi brand low priced Rice and Atta? Now if Congress Leaders asks question on decreased consumption, the answer will be silence. For him he has already done the damage to opposition, in the political boxing tournament and well aware that any continuance of the match will only lead to more damage / knockout to him.
Another aspect of silence is an innovation only Modi could do. Modi explains that unemployment is getting remediated by investing on Infrastructure. It’s not clear if he is talking about Adani’s unemployment as all National Infrastructure are getting owned by Adani eventually – Airports, Sea Ports, Railways. He never utters a word on China or Adani as he knows its a checkmate. This is an amazing instinct of not taking the fight, but running for the flight, when he knows he is going to lose the game.
If the Opposition provokes Modi to talk about China / Adani he will talk about everything else in the Universe with nerve wracking accusations, digging everyone from their graves and goes even to the level of throwing the opposition out of Parliament, but never admit about his own failures and crimes. He has learnt a big lesson in 2014 with incisive Karan Thapar helping him with glass of water. From then on Maun Modi template works well for him so far. Maybe Maun Mohan was a freudian slip of his own hidden aspirations then. Instead, RG can’t keep quiet on simple allegations like weepy Veep getting insulted on harmless video capture. His responses only elongates news cycles with replies after reply making mountains out of molehill and using it as a smoke screen to hide contentious issues like parliament mishap or mass suspension of MPs.
One more advantage of maintaining silence in contentious backfiring issues is that people will derive a sense of mysticism around such dumbness as historically maintaining silence is a difficult thing reserved for sages in India. It gives an all-knowing-but-not-answering aura around such people, painting them as victims of constant vilification. Chowkidar Chor Hai, Neech episodes fits as good example of Modi making sympathy profits out of victimization. Modi’s sage like hagiography carefully built by his PR team helps him to escape such situations.
Anyways, nobody talks about Adani / China incursions because its as good as speaking to a wall. It’s very difficult to awaken people on such complex issues and connect them to their daily life struggle. For example, Why would an ordinary man in Heartland or down South worry about someone could not get their cattle / sheep near chinese border? Why should they worry about Adani’s riches when they are struggling to get their kids educated or searching for daily bread? Moreover people are shock proof even for scams worth lakhs of crores , thanks to 2G scam BJ by Vinod Rai and BJP’s shock PR then. But nobody can ignore hunger, malnourishment, financial freedom and empowerment with education. The opposition could tap such aspirational reservoirs rather worrying about Modi’s silence on his faults.
The opposition will do a lot better by not vilifying Modi on his weaknesses or authoritarian excesses. Their sage like silence on Modi and his excesses will make them look better before people. RG’s yatra did the same phenomenon like a tough tapasya, where BJP / Modi could not even score and got completely silenced. This time they may not allow Congress to flourish on yatra easily, but its only to Congress’ advantage, as they could endure, give BJP moments of victory, allowing BJP to go for fully blown PR and then resolve the issue, turning tables, making BJP sore losers. People will not tolerate excesses where an Opposition Leader is not allowed even to walk within India. Maybe Freedom to walk is not deliberate in Constitution but it’s part of our independence package, even SC can’t deny that however they twist and turn their judgements.
The yatra could focus on envisioning citizens rich and empowered. For example, AAP did not just talk about corruption in their early phases of Delhi elections. Instead, they also envisioned a Delhi where everyone is rich by few thousands, charmed them with better utilities for less, triggering the fancy of aspirational India. Even the core of our freedom struggle is aspirational, yearning for freedom to protest / participate / own the country. Gandhi did not target any british colonial tyrant but only on their oppression and atrocious taxation like salt tax amplifying it towards a larger cause of freedom.
Currently, the Opposition is yet to find such issue based aspirational politicking but seem busy with Modi-nama. By chanting his name or targeting his personality they are indirectly rooting for his third term. That’s exactly what Mo-Sha wants them to do… to cry and crib about Modi hurting them, making Modi look strong and invincible as punisher / Judgement giver of sorts. Caste census could be a ready reckoner but unless otherwise they explain on the empowerment and benefits derived from it, it remains a woolly headed dream as its difficult to visualise where it leads to. Maybe such issues could be simplified as Education quota or Institutions solely for the poor and backward classes, reservations in Judiciary, bureaucracy, cabinet and other higher echelons which still remain elitistic, eluding the unprivileged. There is a lot to crack here down to basics, as we are still an elite dominated society.
Mo-Sha’s PR playbook is very simple. It begs the question, if the issue gets propagated will it resonate with the people? If Yes, can it backfire with side effects? If so instigate the Media minions to do the damage and keep quiet. If the Opposition comes up with issues which could potentially resonate with people, like China, Adani, Renaming Bharat etc…, just stay shut so the the issues dies on its own by spawning other distractions. Just talk about CAA or other worthless issues like women reservation bill which can never happen or leverage ED crooks hitting the opposition nerves to suppress the potential damaging issue.
Congress could strategize to let their social media and street level impactful posters do the damage rather their Lone wolf Leaders getting down to below the belt attacks. They also need to exercise full control on their media communications, that their Leaders keep quiet on contentious issues rather blabber. If they blabber, the Party could make them responsible with apologies and keeping them off news cycles.
When the Angry Laal Aankh (Red eye) turned out to be Conjunctivitis
On the contrary, watch out for Modi’s ferocious confrontations with tiny Maldives or miserable Pakistan…. Modi keeps reminding of my friend who bravely stomped upon an already dead lizard, just because neighbouring girl came outside, urging him to display his heroism on her clear view. He did not stop stomping till she left, while we were left stoned on his sudden deadly courage. Maybe we should have cheered him like our crawling celebrities who never hesitated to enjoy luxurious Maldives stay for free in exchange of instagram pics, but acted like heartless Minions under the command of BJP’s propaganda machinery. The stomping was just for fun or maybe that’s true love… for the dead lizard. Maybe the reptile was waiting for that princely kiss/ stomp to get awakened. To me the lizard represents the minions who act as Lord Dictator’s instrument of love, ready to rage meaninglessly, enabling their Lord’s eternal lust towards the gullible electorate. If everything is taken care of by twitter warlords, why should we have Foreign Affairs and Justice departments?
Lakshadweep and Himalayas are delicate and fragile ecosystems, remaining at their best when untouched by corrupt corporate greed of rulers. We know what happened to Joshimath and unnecessary tunnels in Himalayas, for reducing few kms of travel. Kharge was right with Modi taking insults as personal. He is incisive with seemingly very passive statements puncturing the leader and instilling the doubts of their track record and character. Modi took Malaysian Leader’s condemnation on mistreatment of minorities in India personally, banning palmolein imports and it turned out to be destructive for end consumers in India, looking to fry PM’s favourite fritters for employment. It got worsened with Ukraine war bringing in scarcity of sunflower oil, hiking up cooking oil prices to 250 per liter. Why should I pay extra for cooking oil just because Modi is incapable of handling issues diplomatically or immature to handle international condemnations and insults? We are seeing very similar suicidal consequences with Maldives issue too, by scapegoating serene Lakshadweep which will not withstand commercialisation, especially when it does not have fundamentals like potable water, transport to mainland and healthcare. A Single Alliance Air Flight booked for next two months owing to shortage, even before the diplomatic crisis started is getting branded as Modi magic in social media. Flights are all housefull because of Modi’s Photo Op not because Lakshadweep suffer inadequate transport to mainland even for emergencies.
In South Asia, Pakistan was the first to join the Chinese development and infrastructure plan in 2013. Sri Lanka and Maldives followed suit in 2014, with the development of the Hambantota Port and the Sinamale bridge respectively. Myanmar and Bangladesh joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2016, and Nepal in 2017. Ports or allied facilities that China has developed in all these countries have helped it gain a hold in these countries and thereby encircle India despite the fact that China vehemently protests any such insinuation. While this was not a “done deal” until even a few years ago, recent developments in Maldives, and the problems in Sri Lanka and Nepal have added to China’s heft in the region.
Just as in the case of Chinese incursions in India, the Indian government and the ruling BJP seem to be more keen on controlling the media narrative than actually working towards countering Chinese influence in the region. And therein lies India’s problem.
Enforcing such diplomatic vengeance with greedy commercialisations, will make Lakshadweep a soulless beach with luxury cottages, requiring Indian celebrities bare their meat to bring in the much needed attraction… towards the beach I mean. Don’t we have sophisticated coastlines as part of our mainland to exploit? Obviously, these are unnecessary perils of allowing indian diplomacy to happen at twitter rather at civilised embassies. Just because some mumbo jumbo from Maldives called Modi as clown in twitter, we are raging to boycott meaningless unaffordable Photo-Op stuff with tall fake claims on cancellations?
If someone calls me a tomato, I transform to tomato and then chutney later, like clowns do? If the opposition or countries smell his weaknesses, don’t they employ it again and again to milk frustration? The only way out could be growing a thick skin rather growing a bigger stick of oppression. One can’t provide slippers to everyone to protect them from thorns / heat on their way. The only workable way out is making the path safe from thorns and heat. Or wait a moment… is it otherwise? Likewise, It’s best to keep away from thorny people, with a slipper skin, as its their craving hobby to clean others backs than theirs with stupid whataboutery. For example, How will one answer to this question, “Are you a Hindu Virodhi?” First of all its disgusting for anyone to answer / explain about their belief / personal matter. It’s something someone need to feel / keep within, rather explain to everyone around, by wearing it on sleeves. Afterall, not everyone is Modi to visit his Mother with an army of Photographers to showcase his love right? Thorny people cannot recognize their own faults, but good on creating conspiracies on others, self-destructing themselves in due course of time, even without any helping from their conspiracy victims. Karma! For example, BJP thrived on Ayodhya issue for decades, calling other Parties Hindu Virodhi and Appeasers. Now it’s stumbling on Ayodhya complications of its own making where they cannot get way easily. Jai Siya Ram!
In Maldives, Modi is a victim of his own faults, trying to enforce Yoga event in Maldives to the opposition’s advantage, who stirred up a riot whipping up “India Out!” campaign. EAM for so much of chest thumping about Modi being a Vishwaguru, dug its own grave by not even sensing the undercurrent of resistance towards India’s iron hand. Maybe EAM fooled himself thinking everybody will consult with India and everybody is listening and applauding Modi like the cronies pleased Modi in Vibrant Gujarat summit. But in due course even Maldives understood the need for moderation unlike India bullying with Boogeyman Lakshadweep, but only after insisting on Indian troop withdrawal. Maybe Mo-Sha should have exported EVMs to Maldives prior essentials supply. Given the majorly hostile situation of our neighbours, are we going to give a free pass to China to build its vicious string of pearls around India, by glorifying few thorny tweets from our neighbourhood? All China needs to do is to ensure some nilly-willy call Modi on disaffectionate terms and Modi’s twitter force makes sure we are enemies forever? Modi claiming to create international pressures with twitter trends and calling such childishness as diplomatic victory of Modi by handy media is epitome of laughable absurdity, unbecoming of a tall Leader we see as our PM.
Sadly, even beyond Nepal, the other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have seen the emergence of ‘India’ as an divisive election issue, where a set of parties have successfully convinced the electorate of the proverbial ‘India hand’, in its internal affairs.
Moderating his stand against India will allow Muizzu that break from Abdullah Yameen and his prompt dismissal of three derelict officials, signals that. India must allow him that maneuvering space to temper down things without looking like having bullied Maldives into submission – tempting as that is, Nepal episode of the supposed ‘blockade’ in 2015 is instructive of how that perceived bullying can lead to permanent fractures. – Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh
What Modi did with Nepal enforcing an unofficial blockade in 2015, permanently ruptured diplomatic relations with Nepal, getting them closer to China, though India has a geographical advantage for exports through plains. Modi is doing the impossibles in diplomacy. he has successfully alienated friendly neighbours whom no one would have dreamt to side with China.
Nepal government says that besides allowing protestors to occupy the bridge, India enforced the blockade by stopping the movement of trucks. Nepal imports all its fuel from India. Of this, the Indian Oil Corporation depot, located a few metres from Raxaul bridge, has supplied nearly 60% of Nepal’s fuel needs – diesel, petrol, aviation fuel and superior kerosene – since the 1960s. A month after the blockade, to ease the fuel shortages, Nepal signed an agreement with China for supply of petroleum products. In the last week of October, China sent 1000 metric tonnes petrol to Nepal, but it was enough only to meet three days’ needs.
Mahesh Agarwal, an Indian businessman and a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is an unusual link between those on the Indian side and the protestors. Agarwal has been feeding the protestors two meals a day on the Indian side of the bridge since the blockade began. – Anumeha Yadav
Incidentally my lizard slaying friend is also a Modi fanatic. Modi is the master of whipping up invincible nationalism when it comes to stomping on tiny opponents like Maldives or weaker ones like Pakistan and Nepal, but denies getting beaten up if blows come from heavyweight dragons like Chinese incursions or RAW sponsored assassinations at USA. Let’s hope Modi will be eternally grateful to those two crows he killed in Balakot air strikes in retaliation for Pulwama attack. Of course, the crows were a bigger threat to National security, not that Police Officer, Davinder Singh who collaborated with terrorists to choreograph Pulwama type terror attacks.
Diplomacy is a complex issue for the opposition to derive mileage as BJP safely disguises its failures as national security. Even the cruel Pulwama terror got hushed up as National security issue, but the beheading of a Tailor in Rajasthan got fully blown getting to a logical end of propaganda – Silence, as the killers had BJP leadership links. Chinese incursions are a major failure for Modi and India, but Congress is lapping up criticisms on Nehru after 60 years. None of Modi’s diplomatic stance has helped the commoners, but only affected them like Palm Olein import ban inflating cooking oil prices, or losing export revenues in Nepal. His neutral stance on Ukraine war only helped his cronies to mint money out of Russian petroleum when Commoners suffered with unjustifiable triple digit petrol hikes. His friendly balanced(?) stance on Israel may look better now but in the long term, we may be antagonising the Arab nations affecting the expats working there, just like Maldives is not mincing words nowadays on Modi’s newfound Israel love and his measured mum on Gaza massacre. Modi is exposing his opportunist facet in diplomacy where all other countries need to do is to engage Adani or fill his pockets or cool him with dictatorial surveillance tools, to keep him on their side. He is slowly becoming no big deal lightweight, at time where South Africa is rising up to crisis pulling the west and Israel to ICJ.
Opposition might do well highlighting the issues connecting to expats in Arab land and inflation due to Modi’s revenge seeking attitude.
History repeats itself.
In 2004-9, Congress got its vote of confidence especially in the cow belt and North east, despite BJP lording over the States. Even 30-40% wins could change equations in congress favour for Lok Sabha. BJP winning cow belt seats in an usual phenomenon and there is nothing to worry about, if they are denied a clean sweep putting up a tough fight. Data states 2018 was an aberration and 2019 was yet another anomaly induced by Hardworking Mo-Sha with usually lethargical Congress growing arrogant with 2018 wins. The real problem was on setting high expectations as Congress got hyped up on its own illusionary success. Congress need to play quiet and spring surprises as they got nothing to lose in the cow belt for 2024 or otherwise be content with 50 seats licking their wounds aspiring for opposition leader status. Fortune favours the brave and hardworking. Status Quo will not work when there is nothing to lose.
The Journey of Mohabbat Ki Dukaan and its lack of last mile delivery.
Of late, the INDIA alliance is fighting on their own, fire fighting to put it decently for their seat shares. Mamta Banerjee’s taunts and dismissals and her phobia about the INDIA alliance Partners reached new heights. She completely forgot that she had to fight BJP rather Congress or CPI. Instead, she abused Congress doing yatra to to attract Muslims just like Himanta Sarma. And I thought the only similarity between Mamta Banerjee and HBS is their elitistic caste background, apart from being runaway Congress leaders. There are speculations that TMC was born on the advice of RSS, taking muslim vote share into account. As RSS fondly calls her as Durga and Banerjee giving them not bad report card, she ensured BJP flourished under her able leadership in WB. Only when she sensed an immediate threat of BJP during last assembly elections, she started few measures to stop RSS spread in WB. Even now RSS is flourishing very well under Banerjee’s rulewith increased presence of Shakas and Schools.
On the contrary, Congress has shown utmost patience, even silencing ARC. Not sure if Mamta has method in her madness, trying to pacify a jittery BJP working all out like a paranoid Mafia Don to eliminate opposition. But, BJP cannot be fooled by such petty street taunts. So, one could conclude Banerjee is sniping at Congress and CPIM, as she is really concerned about her Muslim votebase shifting its bases to its roots. The consequences could be disastrous for Banerjee as she got already exposed on helping BJP in President elections. BJP has psychologically profiled her well enough to tame her with familial pressures, state fund crunch and there could be other unknown factors covering Banerjee’s sweet spots to make BJP palatable to her, including Modi’s admission of gifting Banerjee Saris.
The Problem with Banerjee is that unlike Nitish, she could not afford to ally with a communal BJP publicly, when Muslims decide on victory margins in WB, with their sizeable vote share. Nitish is anyway on his retirement path slowly dissolving his Party and feeding BJP with their vote share. So, I would expect her to ally with INDIA with ~5 seats to Congress or just go solo and lose ~15 seats to BJP, thus playing her shady role again like she did in Presidential elections… Congress is also at fault as they day dreamed on winning the cow belt states in 2023 and increasing their seat share and now left in the lurk, losing both. If Congress is serious, they need to conduct a multi-day get together events to make its Partners comfortable and hash out on the common minimum Program. INDIA coalition currently sound like fragmented states before independence ruled by Maharajas. The yatra seems doing well, but unless otherwise INC spends a day or two with its allies meet up periodically, to speed up their Union of States process, there is a clear and present danger of INC ending up with subpar results… again.
Apart from the lack of preparedness of the Congress with its allies, Congress is also missing on the lack of unified message on the yatra. RG’s speeches are well received as he keeps it precise, but it only elaborates on the BJPs shortcomings and poor governance. Has it offered any solutions where the public could visualize on their own – a better life with Congress in power? Has it provided the aspirations for the youth who are clearly disenchanted with the BJP and their lack of stimulus towards unemployment? Has it offered a clarity on their much touted NYAY except for the five fingers meaning something for everyone and what it actually means to them? Congress yatra so far has only raised more questions than answers to its participants who are still eager to see Gandhis providing them better future like they did earlier.
HBS gave the much needed emotional trigger to keep the yatra boiling on the publicity pot, but the Yatra as such has not gone through such high moments after his intervention, by reinventing itself with its clarity on objectives and resolution. Do understand conducting this massive yatra itself is a mammoth task, but leaving off other crucial tasks like seat sharing and broadcasting the USP of aspirational INDIA also makes it a mundane affair. Sometimes, what we need is efficient breaks to regroup and build on towards the next improved version.
What triggered me to write this part is Banerjee’s empty claims on Congress not even getting 40+ seats in LS 2024. This is obviously her own freudian slip, where her win-win dreams of making INC succumb to her wishes and simultaneously getting favours from BJP is not working to her liking. She is fooling no one in this process including her loyal muslim vote base. Congress could make up a lot more if it plays its last mile message delivery card well like they did in 2004-09 and even in 2019. How? let me explain.
Between the last two Lok Sabha election years, the number of BJP MPs securing victories with a vote share of over 50 per cent witnessed a substantial surge, rising by 88 from 136 to 224. In contrast, the BJP’s increase in the overall seat tally was more modest, rising by a count of 21 from 282 in 2014 to 303 in 2019.
What explains this? According to political analysts, the substantial rise in the BJP’s overall vote share by nearly eight percentage points did not translate proportionately into an increase in the number of seats. As a consequence, there was an uneven distribution of seats with higher vote shares.
ThePrint’s analysis shows that non-BJP parties secured a vote share of 50 per cent or more in 64 seats in 2014. In the 2019 elections, this number nearly doubled to 117 seats. Viewed as a percentage, the non-BJP parties’ seats with this vote share went up by a steep 82 per cent between 2014 and 2019. The BJP’s percentage increase was about 65 per cent. – The Print
To me 2019 is an election where the opposition could have done much better with coalition, but INC wasted the opportunity with the same cocksureness they exhibited after winning Karnataka state now to lose its cow belt states. They failed with a similar approach in 2019 after tasting victories in 2018.
There is another anomaly of data, where BJP got eroded of its presence in the South in 2019, with the opposition Parties winning convincingly. BJP was saved by its strong presence in cow belt states, having more LS seats to make a large difference. BJP is pourings its funds to the cow belt states, the tax collected from the developed South. Mo-Sha has also cut down the state share of taxes to ~32% level so, the South states are going to get much lower share than what they gave to taxes along with the cess and surcharges which the center keeps in entirety. So, with BJP playing as antagonists to the south, their margins are going to go down further except for few regional sentiments. Congress could do well with a campaign blitz of Gandhis along with their NYAY promise. They may have to educate the masses on how people’s money collected while buying soap and salt are diverted without a fair share to themselves to enrich other states who are again kept in “social darkness” to suit BJP’s interest rather investing on education and healthcare to bring them up. How long will the BIMARU states will be fed with other state funds, rather allowing them to grow on social indicators. BJP has successfully kept them in Dark by not allowing them to grow beyond their Hindutva / communal shadows as progressiveness is a byproduct of education with education eradicating all illogical evils like communalism or majoritarianism, which BJP cannot afford to lose, with ignorance being their flagpole to hoist their ideology.
Congress has done well in 2004-09 in cow belt states like Rajasthan, Bihar, UP and Chattisgarh improving its seat tally. If the congress improves the morale of the cadre along with the last mile delivery of aspirational message, they may do well in the same states now as Inflation is a major spoilsport for any mighty ruler in Delhi. Many of the elections have been won in India with inflation as a major concern rather other vitals like GDP decline. The 2014 election loss could be largely attributed to the inflation rather corruption.
If Congress lost 2014 on Inflation, what could be the reasons for its poor performance in 2019? The X-Factor could be congress itself. It might have been kept inebriated state with its then recent state wins. Don’t want to harp on EVM theory here as people understood how BJP practically steals elections with the Chandigarh mayoral poll. The decimation Congress underwent soon after its 2018 euphoria cannot be logically explained for, other than a magical Heist, only science could explain. Why BJP only tasted considerable wins fighting Congress alone in 2019 while losing even to State level parties? It just shows, Congress is lethargic on protecting EVMs on their vulnerability. On the contrary, BJP has studied Congress for its vulnerabilities and exploits them very well so far.
The 2019 elections were scheduled in such a way that, BJP’s clean sweeps happened in states where it happened in multiple phases. One reason could be that it mobilises its cadre across phases. If we want to buy this theory, then BJP would have scheduled its southern states in multiple phases as it has very small cadre presence there. Another theory is that, BJP usually schedules in phases in States where it clearly wins or its best bets where it has a strong cadre and designated Booth agents. In such cases, there is no point in moving its people as Booth agents and supporting groups are already at work. Any party which is strong enough to win, will do at one stretch to avoid opposition gaining by moving its limited presence across phases. So a logical reason could be that it moves its limited hacking resources schematically, for desired outcomes in phases as it cannot be done publicly. Such crookedness cannot happen at large scale as it gets exposed easily. To add to that theory, BJP has its Leaders as Directors of BEL Board- the EVM manufacturers and Programmers. BJP is running EVMs and elections as if it’s their Party Conference. The clean sweep states were scheduled on the last phases too, giving them ample time to course correct and implement their heist strategies. By that time, the watchdogs might have got fatigued too. So, BJP might have done its dirty work during loading of symbols phase as distribution of EVMS are not manual raffle but through computer algorithms, or vote registration phases where VVPAT system makes the EVM smart enough to get manipulated or swapping EVMs during its transportation phase.
Now let’s move on to the last case, why would BJP conduct elections early and on single phase in places where it is weak and not having a friendly bureaucracy? It should be having its plans on manipulating the EVMs in storage rooms. DMK in Tamilnadu have raised alarms on mobile toilet Vans sneaking at EVM storage campuses at midnight without any permissions. The only seat BJP alliance won in TN also faced the issue of EVM swaps. So, technology has improved so much making us too paranoid as its opens up many possibilities. What if they started hacking EVMs from satellites?
If the phased elections are tuned for BJP wins how would Mamta Banerjee / Nitish kumar win their State elections convincingly, which also happened in multiple phases? There are special chameleons like Nitish Kumar / Mamta Banerjee / Owaisi who are planted for Mo-Sha’s benefit. The pattern is such that, they all have different strategies for State elections. But when it comes to Union elections, they have always appeared to help Modi’s side, either by splitting Muslim votes or by combining with BJP’s vote share. RSS-BJP flourishes in West Bengal during Banerjee’s rule, where its still the main opposition Party in terms of assembly tally. Why this did not happen earlier? Finally, if they are not Modi’s accomplices and find their place in his chamcha books, they would not have been allowed to live peacefully. Abhishek Banerjee will be in jail by now. PK’s spot on predictions on WB elections or BJP politician predicting MP election with precise vote margins, could be either counted as statistics or tuning EVMs whichever side you want to jump for conclusion. Because PK was not so precise on any other elections like in TN where he was helping DMK.
There is another theory of BJP media that, States vote for regional leaders whereas Union elections are for Modi, contributing to +10% vote share. Almost all State elections won or lost are contested on Modi’s name, just like LS elections. The CMs are posted with a sealed envelope from the Delhi, as if Oscars are declared for the best loyal servant of Mo-Sha. So, except for few regional sentiments, Modi is a non-factor in elections. So, this argument holds no water. People are more focused on “What’s in it for me” in each and every election, rather worrying about Modi or some mushroom nourished Karadi Mama contesting elections. The fact is Modi has brought people down to a worse lifestyle owing to inflation and lack of economic stimulus. 2024 election so far, have not offered any such aspirational promise or ensured its message delivery from Congress side, especially when BJP has steadfastly stuck to its crony friendly policy with the recent Budget, faking its confidence.
I don’t see any other reason, apart from insignificant issues like biased funding and their progressiveness on why South States should vote against BJP convincingly in 2019 and North belt voting them in indisputable winning margins. So what else it could be? The exit polls consistently predicted Congress to win around 108-145 seats. But the results stunned everyone with meagre 52. SP+BSP went through a bigger shock with BJP doing an unexpected clean sweep. One may argue that exit polls are not reliable indicators, but in Mo-Sha era where every opinion / exit poll is milked to project their imagined supremacy, the exit polls might have given a dark pessimistic outlook of the opposition and surprisingly it is still higher than the actual results. Atleast many EVM malpractices were uncovered by Samajwadi party cadre in UP. Congress was lazy enough to even detect such malpractices in their head to head contests. If congress is serious about winning, it should hire agencies to smell of any EVM malpractices in its constituencies, rather relying on their cadre, who may not understand its nuances. No wonder now Amit Shah wants to expand his territory towards South and increase 10% vote share across all states for a win, as if voting is just simple calibration on a machine. He clearly knows however he maximises the EVM tuning, he has saturated his winning factor in North belt. He also clearly knows the drawbacks of his own governance but did not attempt to fix governance but choose to fix EVMs instead.
People have become more greedy and more cunning in a cunning society and more competitive in a competitive society.
J. Krishnamurthy
I went to a magic show organized on a small scale. The crowd was unwilling to get mesmerised by the show, asking the magicians questions and unraveling their bullshit. When he turned red paper to blue they cried “litmus”. When he took a rabbit out of his hat they insisted on checking the weight of the hat before the magic begins. After the show, I heard from the Organizers, that the magician lamented on the suspecting crowd and the show would have been great if they got surrendered to his illusion. Likewise, I understand all these theories quoted above, may sound like an illusion of possibilities. But, Science is also an illusion of possibilities. A cell phone could still be a magic if we don’t understand the concept of cellular towers and air as medium carrying RF information. Unlike magic shows, democracy is all about participating, not about surrendering to a dangerous ideology paving way for feudalism.
Magic will still be a magic if we don’t understand the skimpily clad assistants are there meant as distraction, an hindrance to see the truth, just like Celebrities lining up in an half done temple or Media trying to create an Utopia with their message that BJP is invincible / undefeatable. Unless otherwise we understand the concept of Magical election set pieces, it will get more mystified with every upcoming act. Only way to get out of this cycle is being alert and paranoid. That’s the main reason why even developed countries resort to paper ballots and strict SOPs where then president Obama was not even spared on ID checks. They are not just alert and paranoid but also developed economically while whole of India is still shown a carrot maturing in 2047, in wickedly frustrating terms of Viksit Bharat, all the while current economic carrots being farmed, are eaten away by Adanis and Ambanis. 2047 Amrit kaal is just another way of tapping into the middle class mentality of working hard for a secure future, asking everyone of us to toil in hunger till the Ambani / Adani stomachs are full and constipated.
What Modi has accomplished is commendable from the “other” perspective. He has systematically dismantled any Institution which upholds the constitution to a servile slave, tapping into the human weaknesses. Maybe he has just mastered how to enslave a human susceptible to any desire or sin, holding life dear, surviving at all costs bartering character for survival. He has established a much refined Emergency 2.0 where there are – Institutions, but no autonomy but slavery to his authoritarianism, Temples where there are no gods but Modi as the mythical god-priest, elections but no credible opposition and finally opposition Leaders – who are just circus clowns doing paltis and street level fights as per the directions of BJP. One got to see Banerjee’s reactions with this Prism.
Mo-Sha has successfully brought out the worst of Nitish Kumar / Mamta banerjee who once stood tall in normal politics, as beacon of the future. Now one is reduced to a Monkey doing palti acrobatics at the whims of his Master and once perceived brave tigress is rendered to a circus pet meekly surrendering to a supple messiah avatar to help BJP flourish with her escape act on Hindutva fire rings and dividing minority votes for BJP’s benefit, dousing the alliance of her own making. When Congress and CPIM got resurrected in West bengal, her cowardice came into full limelight getting down to a level of a street fighter vying to tap the Muslim vote bank. Unfortunately, for all Modi’s much touted systematic Hindutva transformation and Emergency 2.0, Muslims have proved again and again why they are vital to democracy just like Hindus or any castes with every round of Banerjee crying on top pitch, afraid of Congress more than BJP. How long can you fool everyone that they are secondary citizens?
With so much of oppression around and so many falling in line except for few pockets of resistance from Gandhis, Kejriwal, Soren and Yadav, I would commend them for withstanding so much pressure and still going on a path of love unflinchingly. May God Almighty Ram, if he still exists in our Hearts, if not on half done temples, bless them with success and strength to conquer Hatred.
Why INDIA will win 2024?
Of late, there are various Op-eds and churning of the media to make people believe BJP is on its way for imminent third term without any interruptions, like their ‘Bulldozer justice’.
But none of the Op-ed delve on their reasons other than quoting BJP’s wins on last election of 2023. They are the ones who quoted “Sources” on Poonam Pandey’s death without even checking any cremation happening around. By their logic, Congress should have won 2019 as they made a clean sweep in 2018 elections. The media also wrote the same about Congress prospects in 2019, only to synthetically change their tune after Pulwama event. The pattern is the same… generate an aura of inevitable win so that no one doubts BJP’s landslidEVictory March.
BJP’s invincibility is directly proportional to the invisibility of EVM operations. But, BJP’s “definitely…definitely winning 2024” quotes are a mark of freudian self doubt, just like chanting “Arjuna” to escape the lightning. If they really feel invincible, they could have reformed the EVMs and tallied with VVPAT slips to weed out any doubts or suspicion on the integrity of their election wins. Instead, they have removed CJI from the CEC selection panel, introduced VVPAT slips inculcating smart chips, upgrading the EVM from a dumb calculator of its inception times to a smart computer and then finally ensured 2019 VVPAT slips are destroyed even before any sensible audits or stored as mandated by Poll codes. If this is called as ‘confident 400’, we need to change its synonym to ‘Crooked 420’.
Be careful what you wish for… especially like Abki Baar 420 Paar!
The Mind games of certainty BJP plays on opposition and voters gets me to this…
An Engineer, Statistician and Bureaucrat go to Modi for CEC interview.
First up is the engineer. Modi asks him what is 2+2 is? The engineer a little confused and then answered 4 of course.
Modi thanks him and calls in the Statistician. Again, he asks what 2+2 is? The Statistician states that, it’s a ballpark around 4.
Modi thanks him and calls in the Bureaucrat. Again, he asks what 2+2 is? The Bureaucrat looks around, stands up and closes the curtains before he bends down and whispers: What do you want it to be?
Modi smiles, “You are appointed!”
If you wonder what CEC means, it actually means Chief Elopement Commissioner here, if you have watched Chandigarh Mayoral Polls or the haste with which they destroyed VVPAT slips in 2019. Looks like for 2024, we are going to get a special VVPAT machine which may not even show the slip printing but act as a magic box in tinted glasses, and stops the printing if you peek at it as its sensitive to light like a thief. 420! I mean the seats… Why not?
The Media writing off the opposition’s work, who have posed enough challenges so far to BJP, to quote Shikhari Shaambhu Guptas already talking about to-do list for Modi’s third term, to feed on the illusion of invincibility of BJP, and others chiming in with opinion polls and surveys about clean sweep as if a crooked EVM beggar licked his election plate dry, only proves one thing – Elections are still alive but the Indian Journalism is already dead. Media obscures any genuine protests and agitations or even simple questions on the authority acting as a loud mouth of the very authority.
Media has to stand for the righteous ends and means, working as an instrument and voice of the weak. Instead, it’s happy getting reduced to deadwood, printing out buffoonery to aid the naked emperor with their cosmetic verbose. More than cash for votes, it’s the cash for Journalism similar to the flesh trade, weakening the democracy a lot more. As someone who vehemently opposed BJP’s use of the word, ‘Presstitutes’ in 2014 SM, now the Media is just acting justifying the same word coined by the Modi-SM-Army. It’s not that Media men have changed, but the actual Media Barons acting as Substitutes for Modi Propaganda Machine, systematically replaced the righteous Journalists with complicit ones. Even long dead Egyptian Mummies may have more shame than these media Barons who feed on crony money and feed BS to its loyal audience. Journalists who have even lost their Job due to criticism of Modi are treated rabidly till date like the case of Nikhil Wagle and lot many who have been jailed on sedition clause.
Now, BJP brainwashes everyone, aided by media, with a 370+ projection and the opinion polls “give” BJP 365 seats. Is this a democratic election or some VVPAT program to come up with exact result even before the election dates are announced? Are they belittling the people who take up massive efforts to vote for their Leaders? Have you seen the mass influx of people before elections as if they are participating in a Puri Juggernaut festival. What the so called election Pundits and BJP is implying now is that Modi alone is enough to pull the massive Election Juggernaut. So why bother voting?
With respect to Media, what else could we infer, other than death of Journalism, from the once famed fourth pillar, now weakly built on toxic finances from Crony Corporate Owners who benefit a lot on Modi’s tax cuts, NPA dissolutions, Corporate incentives and Government Ads. They are simply unable to live and breathe the truth as they are restrained and collared by ED/IT/CBI, with their only option of remaining lap dogs of establishment singing paeans and narratives set by Mo-Sha.
Modi might have aspired for “Congress Mukht Bharat” by importing all opportunistic scumbags from Congress, turning his saffron party to dirt brown. He has actually helped Rahul Gandhi on his aspiration for weeding out the deadwood, he dreamed in 2017-19. It has now reached a stage where even BJP is realising the futility of deadwood Congress luggage like Kamalnath, by refusing to take him onboard. Well, the “Money bags for scum bags game” is not over yet as Mo-Sha has a superiority complex of managing headlines, waiting for an opportune moment like RG’s yatra entering Madhya Pradesh. Any congressmen who believes in their own mettle and future of progressive India would not have traded their Shawls. So, Mo-Sha’s expensive shopping of Congress scrapyard has only made Congress cleaner, meaner and aspirational. BJP is actually doing the expensive interviewing process for Congress.
Maybe Modi, by buying all Congress Junk, failed on his mission by making Congress better and resilient, but, what he actually well accomplished is “Mission Media Mukht Bharat”, like Willy Wonka trampling on eggy cheesy cake walk, trivialising the media to look much bigger circus than himself. The crooked media Circus the Nation do not want to not know… but forget as bad dream! Modi-Media cromance ( Crony-romance) reminds me of a tamil movie Nenjam Marappathillai dealing with triangular love where Hubby suffers from Cancer and his wife happens to be the ex of the Doctor who treats him. The story ends up with the Operation success and Doctor dies out of stress. Media Doctors are doing the same to themselves by doctoring the Fourth Pillar of democracy.
“Everything In This Room Is Eatable, Even I’m Eatable! But That Is Called ‘Cannibalism,’ My Dear Children, And Is In Fact Frowned Upon In Most Societies.”
Wonka Movie
Meanwhile, let it also be said that if the BJP regime in New Delhi was confident of re-election and so loved by all people across India, then the systematic picking off of Opposition figures via the ED would not be necessary. Counter-intuitively, across India, Modi does appear to be in an excellent position for re-election, because, if we liken the upcoming elections to a football match, one side will wear shiny new jerseys and control the referees, while the other side will find many players being shown the red card and sent off the field. The commentators will be cheering for the wealthy side, and will not note that fires are being allowed to be set if the challengers come near the goal. – Saba Naqvi
“In 2019, the party leadership decided to win more than 300 seats. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said ‘Abki baar 300 par’ and we won 303 seats. Party strategists have set a target of winning more than 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to make Mr Modi the Prime Minister for the third time in a row and (EVM) preparation has started to achieve the target,”
Well… India already handed over the keys to the thieves in 2014. So, they may even win 600 seats out of 543 in the land of largest democratic heists, still get certified as winners, going scot free of their crimes. Maybe It’s our democratic design where its purported guardians are programmed for money and adjustments and not for Integrity, our founding Fathers assumed us to be full of? Let’s dig further…
“I’m A Thief. Son Of A Thief. Brother Of A Thief. I Hope Someday To Be The Father Of A Thief.”
Professor – Money Heist
Modi’s rulebook capitalises on human weaknesses of greed and fear. Entice people with greed and if they don’t bend, then shove them fear down their throats. When Modi assumed Office in 2014, he did not have a crew to rely upon and imported all his Gujarati officials to establish his fiefdom. Modi’s introduction of his Gujarati cadre is analogous to the 40+ Wolfs introduced to Yellowstone Park. They changed things and how…
When the long white truck drove into through Roosevelt Arch on Jan. 12, 1995, it was almost like watching a modern-day Trojan horse arrive in Yellowstone. Inside were eight gray wolves from Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. They became the first wolves to roam Yellowstone since the 1920s when the last pack was killed. By the end of 1996, 31 wolves were relocated to the park.
Earlier, with elk populations being artificially high due to no or limited wolves before, elk had overrun Yellowstone and displaced many animals due to their feeding behavior. Plants used by various species were eaten by elk, while elk trampling affected what species could grow.
In the years that followed after reintroduction of wolves, wolves brought the elk population down and protected the open valleys from overgrazing. However, the number of elk killed was double than estimated and many local hunters stirred controversy by protesting that the wolves will end up killing ALL of the elk. Today the debate is still strong. Inside the park, scientists joyously exclaim that the wolves have saved Yellowstone. Cross the park border into a gateway town and you will surely hear how wolves kill for the pleasure of killing and are terrorizing ranches and wildlife.
Currently, nobody knows what positive change the wolves introduced to Yellowstone, except for killing the elk population. Few argue that the wolves made the remaining herds of elk stronger by killing and weeding out the weak ones. But, it has also brought in headache with increasing wolves disturbing the farms nearby and the declining elk population made Hunters complain for resource scarcity. Time will tell us if the wolves got hunted again to restore the ecosystem. Likewise, the introduction of Gujarat cadre at PMO, brought in its own change to the Indian political ecosystem, by hunting out the weak Bureaucrats, Judiciary and Politicians, enticing with greed or simulating fear with coincidental(?) morning walk murders and raids by ED / IT / CBI, while making the remaining folks stronger with resolve. Even now Modi could not come out of the Gujarati Bureaucracy circle, stands as a testament to Indian resilience. Maybe our forefather’s assumption about our tenacity for goodness is right?
BJP-Congress duel reminds me of the the Snow White story. The Queen witch who wants to be the “Fairest of the Land” makes sure no one fairer than her survives. I don’t know if she consumed magic mushrooms to attain her fair complexion. When Snow white became the genuinely fairest young lady of the Land, the Queen witch could not digest the fact and hired the Huntsman to kill Snow white and bring her Heart as proof. The huntsman deceives the Witch and spares Snow White, just like 2018-19 Congress capturing the Hindi heartland but losing LS election by deception, still left to live as they don’t pose a challenge to BJP. Left alone in deep forest directionless, Snow White meets the eccentric Seven Dwarfs who are hard working and good natured. They protect her.
The witch got a Truth Mirror. When she queries the Mirror on who is now the fairest of the land, the Mirror truthfully points out its the Snow white and she is alive and well. The witch now employs disguise and deception to fatally poison Snow white by making her consume a poisoned Apple. The dwarfs with genuine love for Snow White are heartbroken and arrange for her last rites. A Prince magically arrives and brings Snow white to life with a kiss of true love.
Whether one considers New India as Fairy land or Wonder land or Parody land, Congress reminds me of Snow White. BJP clipped their financial wings making them weak on resources, cut down their arms to make them suffer with lack of support, disillusioned them with deception and poaching, weakened them with petty cases and (un)constitutional suspensions and demoralised them by subverting democratic institutions to act like their subservient stooges… but still Congress keeps on walking, (of course after taking lot of rest) standing up for a greater fight. BJP understands the danger lurking and may try to clamp down the yatra with shocking excesses. But whatever happens… the Congress lieutenants could carry on, mobilising the public support and keep the Nyay narrative simmering among people making BJP feel its better to leave them untouched rather suffocating themselves with meaningless oppression, as such excesses will amplify their ruthless authoritarianism repelling people during election times, just like irrational suspensions at Parliament.
I read an interesting article lamenting how 70+ Members led by Dadabhai Naoroji had the conviction to demand empowerment / independence from the British and they slowly grew from that insignificant meeting to a Congress Movement. Congress of the present seems ailing to grab the victory, forgetful of its own might. Congress party was not handiwork of magicians but hard work of mobilising gullible people and educating them from slavery to freedom with mass outreach. Congress needs that conviction and grit now. Comparably they have a smaller task at hand. 35-40% voter base invariably still believe in Congress. Congress should work hard for those beliefs as its a positive belief of progression not about killing or undermining a sectarian group stirring emotions for profits. So Please….. Enjoy your life’s melons by making sweet marmalade and start thinking about elections, closing all the loopholes. Champion Congress is more than capable of checkmates and wins.
Elections are Truth Mirrors. No matter how BJP manipulates it, they will be in trouble if the VVPAT slip gets tallied. Opposition’s only job is employ private intelligence agencies to expose BJP before elections to rattle them on EVM heist, when they tune EVMs for symbols and “centralised” EVM allocations. I agree INDIA bloc is a rainbow coalition of Leaders of various psychological profiles, like the seven dwarves. But, each of them has won over BJP through various campaigns. Kumar(?) and Yadav on Caste / Minority empowerment, AAP on governance and services, DMK on socially progressive governance, TMC on ferocious fighting spirit, Pawar on Never say die attitude, Congress on economic progressiveness and what not. They all just need to fight… one criminal mindset, not a massive decoy Juggernaut. Somehow, BJP is digging their own trap by propping up Modi smokescreen as centerpiece, making their electoral enterprise expendable and degrading their minionistic demotivated cadre to insignificance which will bite them back as voters have realised Mo-Sha cult’s inefficiencies. INDIA Bloc should not worry if anyone drops from the coalition wagon and be prepared for eventualities. But the stalwarts together are quite capable of putting up a fight with Congress as their backbone. Time to get ready for the true princely kiss of victory from the voters.
I would like to reiterate… in the World conquered through Gun, Germs and Steel, it’s not the Executive Guns or the sword wielding Party cadre do more damage, but the propaganda germ preaching religious toxicity and fake invincibility. Its upto the opposition to ensure the germ is eradicated through outreach vaccine and raising right questions to the electorate to make them think of aspirational future for the cure. Germs ultimately die by themselves as only the good thrives in planet earth. Whether Snow White story or microbiology or Ramayana or Mahabharata, the good always triumphs over evil.
‘“தருமத்தின் வாழ்வதனைச் சூது கவ்வும்; தருமம்மறு படிவெல்லும்” எனுமியற்கை மருமத்தை நம்மாலே உலகங் கற்கும் வழிதேடி விதிஇந்தச் செய்கை செய்தான். கருமத்தை மேன்மேலுங் காண்போம். இன்று கட்டுண்டோம், பொறுத்திருப்போம்; காலம் மாறும் . தருமத்தை அப்போது வெல்லக் காண்போம்.
Bharathiar – Mahabharata
The evil to be triumphed is not any individual here, but the concept of unbridled power making the rulers either corrupt or arrogant, stomping on the fundamentals and ideals framed to serve its people. If our system don’t address dictatorship prospects with appropriate safeguards, our political system may look like incentivizing mad authoritarian rulers.
Happy 2024!
Success is Saying what we Mean without being Mean
When Modi fought 2014, he cleverly mixed Vikas and Wickedness equally. He targeted the establishment as Dynastic with a weak silent PM and at the same time offered hope with his Vikas promise. He created positive aspirations with imaginations, making every indian dream of getting 15 Lakhs richer by electing him. It all turned out to be a Jumla / fake promise but he was efficient enough to deflect the people’s attention distracting them on PR initiatives like Clean India, Demonetisation to keep away from damages. Now, Vikas is forgotten and we are now moving towards Vikshit and Vish bullshit for 2047. the wicked Vish part of the campaign still remains the same, targeting Nehru and digging other dynastic graves as if Gandhi ghosts ruled India for last 10 years. Vikshit Bharat is a very clever strategy of skipping accountability with fake aspirations even after enjoying power for ten years. It’s like a student who could not pass academics for last 10 years, hoping to achieve it by 2047, just to silence everyone around. Modi Government wagon was running with a carrot tied to a long stick forcing the development go through treacherous Dunki route. Since the decade old carrot is rotten already they are now left with the stick, using it for their authoritarian excesses.
The Opposition campaign is more into wail of disappointments suffering with Modi’s dictatorship, making him look even more formidable from the eyes of the public. Modi is like mythical Vaali who gains more strength on such insults and mud slinging, leveraging them to create undeserving sympathy wave. Neech, Chaiwallah, Chowkidar Chor etc. But, Congress cracked the campaign code with aspirational Guarantees in Karnataka and Himachal. Unfortunately, Modi changed his tune from Adani-is-God to freebies-are-good mode. It’s a success for Congress in one way. Instead of being a replica of Hindutva Party, Congress was able to make elitistic BJP budge to its pro-poor populist agenda. It’s an open secret Modi is thriving on UPA time ideas. So, ‘Congress mukt Bharat’ obviously means ‘BJP mukt Bharat’. How else could BJP student copy and pass exam if the brilliant student is absent?
What is missing in the Congress’ campaign canvas is the lack of aspirational message captivating the fancy of the voters. Any hope to Children like full tax exemption for kids education and subsidies for education loans, stipends for meritorious economically backward candidates could make Congress look positive from parent’s perspective. Any hope to MSMEs with group insurance and other aids could be of great help. BJP Government has made the business process much easier than before but the economy is lacking to nurture growth. Any hope on healthcare could attract the lower and upper middle class, The GST of 18% for insurance is atrocious. The medicines are much costlier than MMS era with reckless hikes on essentials. MMS made conscious attempts to lower medicine prices amidst growth triggered Inflation. Congress is not even reminding voters of its immediate past glorious legacy, whereas BJP is successful in depicting Congress as corrupt. The narrative needs to change with captivating shorts, making people aspire of the New Congress rule.
Inflation is the biggest issue. The NYAY scheme of offering 72000 Per Annum for the poor is nice to hear, but it will only make the lower middle class aspire to become poor to get such sedentary benefits, triggering inflation, pulling down the economy further, instead of accelerating growth. Such high amount looks like lottery and people may not even believe such high income coming for free. Instead INDIA bloc should consider spreading out the incentives across the poor and lower middle class and make them work for it with signature campaigns or asking for feedback. DMK’s incentive scheme is a decent start with 1K as monthly income. Ideally, such incentive schemes will do more benefit to the Coalition if they spread it across a wider base by keeping around 1-2K per month. Anyways BJP has smelt blood and may roll out the initiative soon.
INDIA Bloc will do a lot better if it caters to aspirational basics like affordable Healthcare, Government utilities and Education along with triggers for MSME sector and gig economy workers. AAP’s success was mainly due to catering to such practical aspirations with effective implementations and of course giant size PR.
Of late, Congress has upped its game balancing the yatra campaign along with INDIA coalition dynamics. The Speech made by RG at Varanasi was impressive and unusual of his amiable and uneventful speeches so far. It raised questions on why the youth of India has not arisen to such injustices meted out by Rulers and intoxicated to toxic hate campaigns, getting noisy on idol politics but silent on idle politics of unemployment. Congress will do better if they understand Kejriwal-Anna campaign did not reverberate across India but only in few pockets of politically conscious urban areas. We are having a similar situation right now, except for the absence of media whipping out well-sponsored, concerted and sensational anti-Government dog whistle, like they did in 2012-14. The undercurrent of anger is simmering in the underbellies of every Indian. The INDIA block needs to tap it well. The speech though a bit harsh on voters still stuck on me because it had a genuine affection like an elder Brother prodding his little brothers for good. I unconsciously tweeted out addressing him as Bhai after hearing his speech. The speech as anticipated, got viral and BJP jumping into it to damage themselves further. If BJP thinks they can steer it as anti-RG, this is exactly what the Anna movement did with such well-meaning questions without looking to milk voters works well among electorate. Energised RG is just doing a VP Singh + Kejriwal on people. Hope we get such interesting campaign speeches, but also making a brotherly connect so that his genuine concern is taken up well even among BJP IT coolies.
The Worm’s eye view of the Nyay yatraand the King Cong.
I was blessed with an opportunity to be part of the spectatorship of the yatra as concluding part of my pilgrimage trip. The trip was an enriching experience in many ways exploring places of different culture and background. As we worship many divine powers set in various forms, why not we encourage our very own ancestors and fellow humans on their footsteps who have made our lives better with the visionary stroke of governance and policies? To give a context… with my family background of weak financial past, my parents tried their best to provide me good education in best school but it was also difficult after an extent where I was evaluated for vocational course to get a Mechanic job on fast track.
It’s the then Government’s Institutional support which made me an Engineer. It’s the Application evaluator at ITI Government Polytechnic who encouraged my Father to make me pursue on higher studies. It helped that the evaluator turned out to be Father of my classmate. Truth could be stranger than fiction but my native town is a small world. “Seats? Get on merit and with subsidised fee! Still difficult to pay fee? Get an educational loan at minimal interest. Jobs? Our policies are encouraging enough for free market and healthy Job Market. ( NCBN in Hyderabad turned literal hard rocks to Cyber Castles in late 90s) No Worries!”
During our college when we were lethargic / playful, our Professor, who religiously takes out a list of term fee defaulters and help them with money, used to say, we are all not aware of the Lakhs, Government spends for each student as subsidy. Apart from good samaritans we come cross in our life, our elected Governments have always acted as an invisible God Father providing a better lifestyle and education to the aspiring middle class and poor who needed an helping hand… Government is a big ugly juggernaut which could be testing our patience, but still there can’t be denial that it has helped our destiny in ways where we cannot alter as an individual. Although we loathed them enough and stayed apart for their decaying ethics, except for the recent Modi’s decade where the governance is stooping down to historic lows and we are hooked to him with his Maverick PR, thanks to paid media and crony sponsored giant propaganda machine. Modi is a trend setter for sure, but Congress and Vajpayee under BJP acted as Life changer for the masses.
There are many reasons compelling me to participate in this yatra on the sidelines. Firstly, Politics is a thankless Job. The way a section of Indians, being promoted from fringe to mainstream of late, abuse Gandhi and Nehru stands as a testament to its rewardless-ness. As citizens we are also habituated to demand the politicians for accountability while we treat voting as an optional practice, choosing vacation over election. Slowly, Mo-Sha Govt is laying out ridiculous penalties like 110 crore fine for leaving out a 10 Lakh return in Congress tax returns, freezing their accounts just before elections. Our silence will only embolden them further to do the same to us sooner than later, as they can always hound us systematically citing lame laws and rules, like they arrogantly do to a Partly holding ~30% vote share. If we don’t take our voting seriously, we might end with tax terrorism and systematic dismantling of dissent and accountability.
Secondly, It’s very difficult to correlate the broad strokes of Government policies to our own empowerment nowadays. What you see with every policy is that either the Government is directly swindling money with GST, cess and surcharges, or it aids its cronies waiving off NPAs, Windfall taxes and Corporate tax. It’s much easier to talk about our own merit. But a good Government’s help makes our merit, actually meritorious, like a two handed clap. It actually took me long to realise how privileged I was then, only when I start thinking about my kids’ future where simple merit may not be enough. Caste and Money may diminish such merits in next ten years if we allow BJP to go further on their brahmanical cause and crony capitalism. Giving such due credits to Congress might be easily brushed off as extrapolation/ Fakery. Not everyone is a PR maniac like Modi, begging for publicity, placing their photos/ selfie Booths to earn credits due. Modi’s greatest asset is that there are no abstractions. Policy talk is not his political game. Just plain and pure hatred to stir your neighbourhood Hindu-Muslim envy along with Straight PR for each and every penny he spends for poor while hiding the billions of Dollars he donates to his cronies.
Even Ants know food and future is more important than Hindutva Hate / Brahmanical supremacy lollipop.Vote for INDIA!
Thirdly and sadly, I am sure such an healthy meritorious environment of our past does not exist for my Kids or all kids of India needing a short or long rope from the Government to succeed. The education has become very expensive where Kindergarten schools are charging Engineering College level fees. We are moving towards gurukul age where lesser ekalavyas of poor and middle class are demanded their fingers as fee, while privileged by birth elites are cushioned with a special EWS quota along with centralised elitist NEET stuff calibrated even with zero mark cut-off to suit the elitist needs. The inflation, reckless penalties of the Government and depleted savings has pushed me to the verge of seeking a spiritual trip to regenerate Hope so that we could still live with self-respect in this country. After all, self respect is the major asset, this feudal government wants to snatch back from us to lead us from the top and to make us bow down to their One-Nation-One-Nonsense agenda.
While divine forms can give us solace, what are we people, when we miss to greet our great ancestors and fellow Humans who have enabled better lives for us. There might be multiple first loves and numerous second chances in politics and our own life, but what matters is that, are we repeating the same mistake or course corrected for better. Just like we seek second chances, second second chances and second second second chances but never leave the fight to live and prosper, good politics needs its second chances too like crop rotation. There is no point complaining about missed opportunities of Congress, when I have not moved my ass to even consider the county’s future and vote for its best. Nobody is perfect and our politicians are a certain nobody. At this juncture it was natural choice for me to be part of this yatra, though in a pretty insignificant manner as one among crores of people cheering, “Lage Raho Rahul Bhai!”. And it turned out to be a full-filling experience.
Enjoy your noise free life with INC’s Paanch NYAY!
Having said the reasons behind my political participation on the sidelines, happened to meet Rahul Gandhi on his Yatra at Nashik. It was amazing to see someone who could criss cross India selflessly enduring great pain and obstacles laid out by rulers. RG’s first appearance seemed like a seasoned politician with mild sun tans with amicable and assuring presence, of course with scars of his troubled past earned through fighting the establishment for a decade, but shorn off his princely image. His nose reminded me of the old cartoons of Rajiv Gandhi with a pinocchio nose, not too long though. Other than such resemblances, if you follow his yatra, his speeches are more like VP Singh 2.0 craving social justice and empowerment. RG seems like Yogendra Yadav type of activist (whom I was happy to watch on sidelines), rather a dynast politician Prince craving for succession. RG is not a person who keeps commoners at arms length unlike power hungry leaders’ exhibiting their superiority and insecurity in road shows. People keep flocking towards his vehicle like bees to Honey and he seems fearless and at ease mingling with people despite his ancestors sacrificing their life due to similar compassionate traits. Maybe it’s the greatest genetic asset of Gandhis – empathy.
Russia or Antilia, Beware of Your Tax Money… a little goes for your development and major hidden part towards Adani & Ambani development…
If this Cathedral is a rupee you paid as tax while buying black salt – 20% goes towards India development and 80% towards Crony development.
While RG is evolving to be a firebrand speaker shedding his polished image to that of a no holds barred rustic politician, wish he also focuses on Inflation and atrocious taxation along with the Caste quota pitch, as “Pocket and Identity” matters act like a double barrel gun hitting the voters straight to their conscience forcing them to think through the deception weaved by Modi 2.0 media. Inflation was the major reason for INC failing in 2014 rather the synthetic corruption narrative. If corruption alone failed Congress why was Muzzafarnagar riots got orchestrated then? It is to kindle the neighbourhood Hindu-muslim envy that Onida Devil ad captured very cleverly, along with pocket / purse matters claiming Muslims are getting more privileges with the UPA regime as appeasements. Ram mandir is the culmination of, “Look I have got my Onida TV!” moment.
Spirituality irrespective of any religion is supposed to be an inner engineering to strengthen ourselves by deriving Hope and Belief. Spirituality across the Planet is not designed as an exhibition of our belief system / show but as an internal exercise conducted in Private or in religious communion. When we don’t even afford to share our Mobile to anyone for an hour, for the sake of privacy, how are we fine with wearing religion on our sleeves on streets and public places? If you are not convinced, I have seen few complaining about azaan as soon as Modi came to power, though they were living in the same locality for decades without any complains. In fact there are was a PIL case to ban azaan citing noise pollution. The Judge gave a befitting judgement as below
The Bajrang Dal petitioner claimed that “noise pollution” caused by azan when played through loudspeakers affects people’s, especially children’s health and causes inconvenience otherwise.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P Mayee asked the petitioner whether the noise of bells and gongs during `aarti’ at a temple is not heard outside the premises’.
Azan is conducted for a maximum of ten minutes at a time at different hours of the day, the court pointed out. “We fail to understand how the human voice making azan through loudspeaker in the morning could achieve the decibel (level) to the extent of creating noise pollution, causing health hazards for the public at large,” it further said.
The Gujarat High Court underscored, “We are not entertaining this kind of PIL. It is a faith and practice going for years, and it is for 5-10 minutes. In your temple, the morning aarti with drums and music also starts early at 3 am. So it does not cause any kind of noise to anyone? Can you say the noise of ghanta (bell) and ghadiyal (gong) remains in temple premises only and does not percolate outside the temple?”
Perhaps, if the petitioners approached a certain Bella in our top court, they might have found sympathising solace on how such prayers brings blood on her ears. Currently Bella is busy, filling Jails with non-saffron-compliant-opposition members as if Prisons are hosting Housefull Blockbusters. RG is working on Mohabbat Ki dukaanby giving MP tickets to the same ones who loathed him. So much for Congress’ organisation skills and screening committees, doling out tickets to Hindutva Bhakts. Likewise, we certainly need a shop for shame where people could feel that emotion, catering to certain Bureaucrats and Judiciary members.
With due respects, there is still room for improvement in INC PR to connect with audiences narrating their daily struggles and then entice them with simple ideas / resolutions of Paanch NYAY, providing a level playing field for their betterment. The metaphors like Shakthi are nice and abstract, but also gives room for the opposition to gain mileage by twisting facts.
Brand Hindutva is the new Onida Advertisement. Modi is not making “New India” but “New Onida”
To stand out among these highly-competitive brands and to clinch a piece of the consumers’ mindshare, Onida had to devise a clutter-breaking marketing campaign with an emotional impact.
Back in the 80s, television was an aspirational appliance. The ones who owned a good set were quite often the object of their neighbours’ envy, an insight Onida anchored its ad campaign on. Anyone who has felt envy knows the might of negative emotions.
“Onida tapped on this emotion of consumers and promoted their brand as one that non-owners would ‘envy’ and covet,” points out Mitesh Kothari, Co-Founder and CCO, White Rivers Media.
Envy is also one of the seven deadly sins, and a mascot that could embody it in its entirety was the devil himself.Accompanying the ad was Ashok Roy’s tagline “Neighbour’s envy, owner’s pride,” which became inextricably linked to Onida for decades and many taglines later.
Soon, everyone gathered enough courage to use the devil in the print and the next set of advertisements exhorted the potential customers to “Give the devil his due”. The Devil had taken centre stage.
A few people had a differing opinion on the mascot and the answer to the critics was the launch of new TV and the new campaign “Should the new Onida be banned” with the devil under a guillotine. The critics were silenced, the new ( 56″ err… ) 21” TV went on to create history. Onida becomes the No.1 TV brand in India by 1987.
At least Onida was kind enough with another tagline, “Love thy neighbour, Guard thy Onida!”. But BJP’s appeasement accusations mirroring the envy Onida tried to provoke actually worked very well in pockets on India. If it did not work, RSS was smart enough to create riots and Malegoan blasts, aptly coined as saffron terrorism by Chidambaram. Anyways now we are in a state of nothing to envy with our neighbours by enacting CAA and UCC laws. But you know envy and Hindutva are a gift that keeps on rewarding for RSS, that they might find appeasement with SC/ST/OBCs, they once found with Muslims, as the actual beneficiary house is that of Nagpur Brahmins.
But, there is a catch in this devilish story… sadly or happily(?), everything has its expiry date, especially Brands built on negative emotions have much shorter life span. When a new Devil got revived in 2020’s, people did not take it seriously, finding the new Onida Devil not so “appealing”. When other brands sustained well with their mascots like the cute Amul Girl, Onida could not push further their negative agenda which was once a market winning sensation. I still have an Onida LED TV which is top class, but Onida Devil is not anymore a compelling Buy.
If INC failed on corruption in 2014, why Modi is still considered teflon coated on similar corruption charges? Why BJP’s corruption charges on Kejriwal are not working at all? People evaluate Governments more on whether they are placed well on the social matrix, rather how clean the rulers are. Everybody knows elections are money guzzlers. One of the reasons why “Chowkidhar Chor Hai!” failed is because corruption is normalised. There is no shock value for corruption and scams, except for amusing memes. Even if INC need to build a narrative on electoral bonds, it needs to connect to the common man like how Pharma companies were given a free hand to sell medicines which failed test standards with hiked up prices, rather Modi as Hafta Vasooli. How our money taken from pockets while we buy soap / pencil is being used to feed Ambani in the name of defence deal. How hard earned taxes of the people are being gifted to Adani gift wrapped as Infra / Ports. The PR bottomline being that, the end product of the campaign should hit a commoner’s pocket and heart rather singing paeans about Modi.
Don’t let the taxes and Inflation scare you. Vote for INDIA to tame Inflation and GST.
There are many charges of dynasty about the Gandhis… If you really don’t like dynasty concept in Politics, RG who chose not to marry fits better than the anyone who married and then abandoned his wife. In fact its their glorious legacy of indomitable ancestors being the very reasons why I admire and revere Gandhis, whom I believe ensured a better life on merit providing a level playing ground rather backstabbing with EWS type policies favouring a certain sect. BJP buffoons may deem the admiration as Nehru-Gandhi cult while shamelessly bowing down to Modi cult for their survival. The reality remains that people are not very kind to Congress / Gandhis on their faults and shortcomings, including myself. Congress has lost pockets of significance towards Regionalism, Communalism and their own corruption.
Congress does not groom an iron curtain cult like Modi coterie do by threatening people. Modi cult is a very synthetically nurtured potted plant by his PMO, which may not last, soon after he leaves office, whereas Gandhis are an organic phenomenon, having evoked more criticisms than orchestrated admiration. Gandhi Vs Modi is the clash of mass and class, wherein the Mass leader pokes our neighbourhood Hindu-Muslim envy and basal instincts with taunts and punches like Rajinikanth and the class Leader wants to elevate Tamil Cinema to next level at his own expense like Kamalhassan. Be it Election or Cinema, Mass and its allied emotions are required as a vent to escape our mundane realities now and then, but class is the actual lifeline to make our future better. It’s the choice between battling a war to vent our basal emotions or standing the test of time by building an artful Ellora.
Without naming any political party, Murthy said that no country could make economic progress without “freedom of faith” and “freedom from fear.” Many interpreted his remark as a dig against the BJP government. In May, according to a Press Trust of India story, the Infosys Foundation—an NGO run by Infosys—found its registration cancelled by the home ministry. The NGO put out a statement claiming that it had voluntarily applied for deregistration in June 2016. The PTI, however, has stood by its story and has not issued a correction.
Regardless of the ambiguity in the case, now that the Modi government has returned to power, Murthy seems to have had a change of heart. On 23 August, he said that the Indian economy is in the best shape it has been in the last three hundred years, despite an avalanche of evidence that might contradict his statement. – Caravan
Now Narayanamurthy’s favourite pastime is not Country / Bengaluru real estate as it used to be, but his worker bees who are required to collect honey for 70 hours a week while his 4 month old grandson, being gifted 24o crores of his stocks, to ensure he sleeps 70 hours per week peacefully ( to quote a tweet), while he was lamenting about not providing enough incentives to his employees. Let’s console ourselves that the communist of the past treats his grandson as future Infosys employee.
Dropping off from the cult debate with the Murthy specimen, on how Modi cult is a synthetically nurtured potted plant, now onto illustrate the reach of Gandhis… let me explain an incident. I was buying fritters from a shop in the North. The shopkeeper seeing my name which is more telugu-ish than tamil, but still asked me a strange / scripted question, “Do you support anomaly in Tamilnadu?” I guess he was actually referring to a BJP Leader but might be a bit fervent, just like snake venom drug seller Elvish yadav’s supporters trending “ElvishaYadav” or “ElvishAmry” synchronously with spelling mistakes. I remarked “No Politics!” and left the place. As they say say If you don’t do politics, politics will do to you regardless. The crux is that many political leaders still remain as anomalies while Gandhis have a legacy of sacrificing selflessly for the Nation’s vision. It’s exactly the reason why Modi wants to destroy Nehru-Gandhi legacy by poking holes on dynasty.
Despite BJP’s relentless attacks, RG seemed to be the Man who is destined to end dynasty rule, choosing to not marry and coming up with another version of little Gandhi Prince(/ss). He is logically a much better choice as a Leader compared to someone who abandoned his own wife and now shamelessly claiming entire India as his family, ofcourse except for his estranged Wife.
If Modi really considers Indians his family, why cant he make life easier for the poor rather acting like an agent for the ultra rich, selling India and framing policies as per their wish. The Ambanis are able to convert and utilise a Military Airport for their personal pre-wedding function. But, the BJP cadre calls the incentives to the poor as alms, while they are glad to beg the Corporates for electoral bonds to buy opposition MLAs and MPs. All the while common man had to do KYC with aadhaar and iris imprints even for a simple banking, shopping or availing utility services, BJP was happily swallowing money from their donors without asking for a single ID check, with Chief Election Commissioner even vouching for safeguarding the Privacy of donors donating to political parties. Wonder what are these guys running? Government or Cabaret show with Shayari… to ask for the privacy of their crony clients?
The way CEC vouches for electoral bond Donor privacy while nudging citizens to link Voter ID with aadhaar for transparency… it would have been apt he showed the other finger.
To me Modi is an excellent fit as “Parivar-drohi”, having hiked up the substandard life saving medicines by taking bribes from Pharma companies in the name of electoral bonds, allowing them to frame policies, having hiked up basic fares in Government run Infra facilities like railways so that it could be handsomely handed over to Adani types in future, even earning 1230 crores in three years with penalising cancellation fee, having hiked up surcharges and cess for essentials like fuel / LPG so that all his parivaar / family have to part themselves part of their meal plates to pay Modi his taxes. I have seen family men sacrificing everything for their family’s betterment, but cant believe a (fake) family man could afford all ill-doings to his own family and still proud of claiming his tortures as service to the family, acting like a power drunkard harassing his own family to buy more liquor to remain intoxicated, claiming to drink for his family and liver health.
“We must choose either champagne for a few or safe drinking water for all”
Thomas Sankara
When the BJP came to power in 2014, the price of one Dollar to the Rupee was ₹59. Today, the BJP has increased this price from ₹59 to ₹84! The weakening of the Indian rupee directly impacts your pocket: • The value of the rupee decides at what price we get goods imported from abroad.
In 2014, if any goods came from overseas for 1 dollar, we had to pay ₹59. Today we must pay ₹84 for that same good worth 1 dollar. The extra ₹25 we are paying is because of the falling rupee. • When goods being imported from abroad come to the country at a higher price, people in turn will also get them at a higher cost.
• India imports 80% of its crude oil and must pay for most of it in dollars. India is now buying fuel at a higher cost due to the weakening of the Indian rupee. Every time you go to the petrol pump, the weakening of the rupee is having an impact on your pocket.
• When fuel becomes more expensive, the cost of transporting goods increases. All goods – including food – are becoming more expensive. When you go to the market to buy groceries, you are paying higher prices due to the weakening of the rupee.
• When inflation increases, the RBI will also raise interest rates to control higher prices. Due to an increase in interest rate by RBI, your loan EMI will increase. You are now paying more interest to the bank if you have a home loan, car loan, or education loan – all because of the weakening of the rupee.
Before 2014, the BJP would make big claims on the relatively smaller declines in the strength of the rupee. Remember the typically uncouth remarks made by the-then Gujarat CM, linking the rupee’s value and Dr. Manmohan Singh’s age? The rupee’s value fell below the self-proclaimed Vishwaguru’s own age a long time ago. Today, amidst the drastic plunge in the value of the rupee, he is nowhere to be seen. – Jairam Ramesh
If you ask Modi, he might be actually happy that increase in dollar prices will increase the prices and his taxation, with more revenues, without any understanding about the demand playing a crucial part in economics, just like his expensive Vande Bharat trains not many travels, but manufactured in abundance. For Modi, demand is not the key, but empty esteem that India is shining with flashy trains. The reality is that Modi is so drunk on power that he cannot realise the truth that he is living in an inflated 420 Blunderland. The truth is that “Family man Modi” has taxed the roti, kapda and makaan of his own family to an atrocious extent where the family is now running short of roti. The memes feasting on each and every BJP advertisement from commoners stands as a testament to Modi’s legacy of eating India for his own hunger for power. Modi did not stop any war as claimed in his advertisements, but he has stopped his fellow citizens accessing their growingly expensive food plates due to reckless GST and inflation. “Family Man Modi” is an excellent lead for the opposition to destruct him by leasing his own weapons.
Protect your future by voting wisely in 2024… Before its too late to save your kith and kin.
Coming back to the yatra, the atmosphere at the Nashik city was vibrant. The folk musicians and performers gave Gandhi a befitting princely welcome with a very enjoyable performance. There was genuine admiration lingered around for Gandhi as most of the people who waited to catch a glimpse of him are commoners across various religions, though media paints Congress as Muslim Party and even the route seem to be muslim dominated old city area as an acknowledgement to such propaganda. There was a carefully calibrated post by Assam CM HBS on the yatra’s reception in Muslim and Hindu areas. Let’s hope Gandhis don’t fall prey to such vicious posts.
Wish Gandhi operated across areas in forthcoming campaigns rather restricting himself on few demographic assumptions. Maybe such similar low assumptions might have made RG choose Wayanad over sure shot Amethi LS constituency. Unfortunately such decisions don’t give much hope to the cadre and voters, especially when RG is pinning his 2024 narrative on social justice for all religions and classes. It’s like a battle lost even before it started. What will Amethi people think when RG is contesting on two seats and gives assurance to the other constituency that he will not let them down? Does not that actually imply he will let down Amethi even after a win. Contrast that with Kejriwal who had insignificant profile compared to Modi but was ready to wage the fight in Varanasi. Even if RG fails in Amethi, (which is almost impossible if he contests only in Amethi), he might always enter Parliament through RS and other by polls. Fortune always favours the brave who got nothing to lose. Kejriwal is the only politician who was able to improve his electoral footprint in Modi’s era. Sincerely wish Congress takes its battle back to BJP doors and their strong pockets in cow belt, rather putting up fences in its small strongholds.
Beware! You are not voting for Modi… You are voting for Reliance and Adani Asura Shakthi eating up India. Vote wisely.
On the yatra, the cadre was busy on the routines and slogans as its a huge event demanding resources and manpower, with stages and arrangements. But what captured my attention are the many volunteers across ages without any IDs, earnestly distributing pamphlets who don’t seem to be affiliated to any party. The Pamphlet was a routine affair lacking the professional PR touch of BJP. Wish it had a catchy cartoon or illustration with very few salient features on front page and details on the back page. INC will need a “PayCM Karo” type simple and catchy illustration for their NYAY outreach.
Congress could easily make inroads in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha, if it stays relevant with an aggressive and professional PR, like they did in Karnataka, as the opposition can consolidate votes. The Paanch NYAY promise is a pretty workable and winning formula with full appreciation for the minds who work out such strategies. What congress lacks is a Door-to-Door push to make that promise a workable reality with a touch of easy PR. Nothing works like a face to face campaign at various levels, the reason why Modi makes so many campaign visits to bolster his support. They could employ cartoonists to explain the deficiencies of BJP Government along with the solutions proposed in their NYAY guarantee. They will need a clear problem statement visuals along with their NYAY solution to take it across masses. I am confident they may do well here too.
Adani-Ambani Politics Vs INDIA politics. Let’s get everyone to the table…
For the Northern belts, BJP does not enjoy any massive wave as propagandised, but one can assume they will carpet bomb in the last week to capture swing voters. Congress will need a strong cadre and PR support to withstand such PR assaults with ideas reverberating with the voters triggering their imaginations for better India. 2024 need to be made as battle of ideas against an empty “Modi Modi” slogan.
Don’t lose your teeth in petty religious fights. Be a complete Man… INDIA Man! Why is Congress / INDIA important…? Because you miss your freedom and choices with Modi regime like this man’s tooth and eyebrows.
Be Secular not Sick-ular.
There are reports and debates questioning the success of this yatra. Silly and unfair metrics were used to gauge its success, citing the celebrity and INDIA allies participation, small congress leaders dumping at synchronised moments to dampen the yatra momentum and finally, hurdles placed by the ruling BJP government etc on permissions and other schemes to divert the crowd. When I first tasted Masala Doss at an Udupi restaurant, it tasted great and refreshing. When I tried the same second time, it was still good but lacked the surprise element, tingling the taste buds. I had to order Mysore Masala dosa the third time to make it taste different. But, still I got addicted to the same dosa because it was full-filling and satisfying. Well, it gets the job done!
I would view the yatra in a similar Masala Dosa prism, where it was refreshing on its start but still doubtful and thrilling if it will culminate as planned covering mammoth 3600+ Kms, but now marching towards unshakeable steadfast outcomes with efficient outreach amidst double the adversities laid out by the ruling establishment. Even the flavour of the yatra got changed towards resolution of people’s issues, stepping up from harmless goodwill trip. In the dark age of New India, where the so called Bengal Tigress is forced to eat saffron grass and Paltu-Ram still made to do the Joker act of non stop paltis and weak leaders are crying powerless succumbing to BJP’s ED-IT-CBI pressure, what Gandhis, Kejriwals, Sorens, Thackerays, Stalins, Pawars to name a few stonewalling these canonised efforts to declare New India as electoral autocracy, finds definitive place in the heroic pages of modern History of India.
The Nyay yatra could be compared to the farmer’s protest with respect to Government’s handling. The first one was considered a major success with the Farmers able to seamlessly march to Delhi. On their second phase, Mo-Sha took it as a prestige issue, ensuring the roads are turned to forts in siege with multiple concrete barricades and employing brutal force like tear gas and rubber bullets, as if they misconstrued farmers to terrorists. The Government’s response was just a shameless display of brute power. Only fools will consider such oppression as Government’s success or Farmers’ failure, as the issue did not get resolved, only getting aggravated with each passing day, strengthening the farmer’s cause. Modi may turn to MSP policy to placate farmers just before election, but he just made them wounded lions who may hurt him more in UP, anyways Punjab is a done deal, provided SP is able to stem the EVM manipulations. Likewise, the second phase of the yatra went through utmost oppression from the start, only making the Congress cadre and his supporters even more resilient. A stronger Congress cadre could be a major takeaway of this yatra. Clearly, BJP is going to have more headaches compared to 2019 as reflected in Mo-Sha’s nervousness as they are tackling a double whammy of angry citizens and energised opposition cadre.
The yatra also made a strong statement of an unstoppable RG bulldozing through obstacles, emerging as firebrand speaker evolving his narrative to that of social justice from simple Unity concept. The crowd reception was great, though I wished RG walked a few miles everyday, like his first yatra to provide a sense of participation rather just spectatorship, as any method of participation will boil down to a commitment to vote. To me the major derivative of this yatra is that the Congress acquired better clarity and vision for 2024 election, hearing from the ground, reflected on their brilliant Manifesto. Although, the Congress manifesto looks good, DMK’s manifesto was better on addressing day today concerns like Inflation with very simple price level assurances and education subsidies. Wish it had more on Pharma and Railway reforms, but it has the potential to easily reach the masses connecting on their daily affairs rather a high end vision put forth by Congress. But, we need to be clear on the Centre’s responsibility, which is at laying out a big picture, especially in a tricky context where even basic needs are not met, need to be handled at Municipal Corporator or MLA level.
Eventually, our team realised, even in a developed and educated city like Bengaluru, people want personally from their MPs what they should collectively organise for, or solicit from their corporators, local bureaucrats or MLAs. They want a direct solution to their local irritants, not abstract rewards.
One sweltering day, in a fancy apartment complex, after my impassioned speech on how Nandan, if elected, would help drive systems reform, one man nodded wisely and said, “Wonderful. But what will he do about my crazy neighbour who feeds stray dogs at 1 am?”
In middle class neighbourhoods, people asked what we would do for street lights, or to keep their park green. In one such park, a lady probed — “You want my vote free or what? What will you give me?” When I mumbled something about a hardworking, ethical candidate, she was amused.
In slum areas, people were still desperate for basic services. “Bari neeru kodi, saaku,” they begged. If you can provide water, it is enough. Others spoke of electricity, transport, and hospitals. This was their one chance to pour out their frustrations to candidates and their crews.
Eventually, our team realised, even in a developed and educated city like Bengaluru, people want personally from their MPs what they should collectively organise for, or solicit from their corporators, local bureaucrats or MLAs. They want a direct solution to their local irritants, not abstract rewards.
None of these demands are unreasonable. Many, especially on basic services, are critical to meet. The question is, who should be fulfilling them? It cannot possibly be up to the MP, who has no authority or legally sanctioned resources apart from a meagre MPLAD scheme, to meet any of these aspirations. If he or she has to please such a voter, the winning candidate has to perform a politics of patronage and brokerage.
A modern democracy needs enlightened politicians to work with efficient bureaucrats to solve forever more complex issues. Too often, our laws and policies are signed off on without any discussion. Too often, we the people can’t see how that affects our day-to-day lives.
To take just one example, the Telecommunications Act 2023 cements the power of the government to suspend internet services. No urban voter even knows anymore how to live without the internet for more than a few hours. Do we not need our MP to intervene to ensure internet shutdowns can be ordered only in the rarest of rare circumstances?
For the nearly 2 crore new young voters, policy issues may be critical for what they care about most — the future of work. Similarly, for women enrolling in larger numbers than ever, laws and rules on safety and health, equity and access, may be even more important than immediate relief. – Rohini Nilekani
Maybe Congress needs to balance the expectations of its electorate as we may not know even the basics like Constitutional rights or whom to ask for basic needs. People may not fully understand the abstractions of Policies, like BJP manipulated RG’s abstract abstract quote on “Shakthi” to their advantage. Maybe this is why DMK operating with a micro level manifesto, may easily hit the right notes among the electorate rather the Congress manifesto acting at much higher abstraction and needs neat explanation and elucidation.
I chose to take up the employment (Berozgarh) empowerment placard to hold up during the yatra… I won’t blame any Government for my lack of employment past my prime, though it could be attributed to circumstances and human leeches circling around me who want to starve me to near death so that I am hungry enough to prey on gullible, discarding ethics and humanity. Feels like I am being taught a comic lesson on lunatic barbarism, without any consideration for conscience, but with animalistic hunger for money, where I am tamed to be a barking dog made obedient and silent, clutching money bone in the mouth, to quote Shourie on media. Time will tell on my destiny if manipulations work or Karma will give a double punch back to the oppressors, but I am pretty sure that the opportunities knocked at my door at my prime career ( without any inertial evil forces resting on me then ) are not available at the moment for the aspiring youth. A 2BHK costing 5 lakhs, skyrocketed to 50 Lakhs in a decade, correlating with the salary hikes and buying power of the boomer kids then. Nowadays, the real estate has stagnated for last ten years, but 7 rupee per month education of few decades back has skyrocketed to 7000 per month education where the quality is nowhere improved. No wonder Arvind Kejriwal who had shown courage to regularise education fee is put up in Jail, as he could be the only threat in future who has both intent and courage to accomplish a service based governance. Mo-Sha knows very well many other rulers are just malleable puppets who are afraid to jump to their Hindutva compound owing to their progressive secular vote base. BJP Maharastra is experiencing such conundrum where the Leaders of the state are bought or brought in by ED, but BJP is struggling hard to get their workers to work for its Hindutva agenda. Now as a Boomer Uncle, can only lament that the present youth are being diverted with cheap data and cheaper misinformation rather getting groomed for strong fundamentals required for the Nation.
We are a “Nation of dystopian level distractions” enacted from the Top PMO to street level “anomaly” leaders, trying hard like pathetic Insta Influencers to capture our eyeballs, toiling to to establish an Clickbait-Bharat for thought control rather Atma nirbhar (self reliance ) Bharat. The only self reliance happening is now is on our social media defecation with cheap data and Chinese mobiles.
The reality of our Social media defecation which we assume ourselves as profound and deep thinking, just for few likes and oxytocin in millis. How many of us run families with our posts and tweets, except for Political Parties and allied influencers?
Now, don’t believe on Government blaming it on war for all our economic misfortunes. In fact, our cronies were the actual beneficiaries of War, acting as a conduit, selling cheap Petroleum from Russia to Europe without even paying windfall tax to India. When USA faced a similar situation with the second World war as they were the resource suppliers for the Allies, (only pitching into the war after Pearl Harbour episode,) their Rulers and administrators ensured a Superpower in making, trouncing the then mighty UK. Even our independence struggle cashed in on UK stuck on World War, upping up the protests to make the British budge. But, our current rulers are busy enriching Cronies to top Forbes list and our Administrators are running a shameless nanga show to please the autocratic rulers, without even counting our VVPAT voting slips, as if elections are magic show on EVMs.
Early capitalism is a very different beast. Corruption has historically accompanied the rise of capitalism. Consider the period 1865-1900, when a primarily rural America went through its first big capitalist transformation. Through his literary eye and intellectual foresight, Mark Twain first detected the essence of the new economic turn. In 1873, he called it the “Gilded Age”. Cutting all sorts of deals with governments at various levels, America’s first billionaires — the Carnegies, the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts, the Morgans — emerged on the scene. For laying his railways lines, declared railroad baron Jay Gould, “I wanted the legislatures of four states… so I made them with my own money”. The so-called robber barons simply “bought” governments and legislatures.
A cleaning up began under President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) and the results, in part, began to show. In 1860, compared to Western Europe, America was a laggard. By 1910, the US had become the richest country in the world, leaving behind Britain, an industrial leader for over a century.
India needs a Roosevelt not Modi to mend the economy of our democracy. Not convinced? Let’s say a friend of mine / yours came up with a game. The rules are simple. First count the number of orifices in your body. Then count your accomplishments in the past decade under BJP rule. Whatever the difference, usually Orifice count wins over accomplishment count, meaning BJP is stuck in there. Now, if you imagine your accomplishment count winning, congratulate yourself for living in a Fool’s Paradise, unless you are A..ani or A.ani to put in your fingers err… excess accomplishments somewhere else in BJP’s… Because your count is just like counting EVM votes rather VVPAT slips, where we are all compelled to lose to make BJP win virtually.
Cheers! for cheering your own loss… or let’s add a fair play reward to our “smoking guns and roses err… orifices” game. If you are counting on building your own house as an accomplishment, think over the atrocious 18% GST on building materials and recent hike in price of raw materials.
If you consider your kids’ graduation as an accomplishment, think over the high prices we are paying as School and coaching fees. Will your kid be able to recover the whole cost of education with the gig economy paying in 10s and 20s, by changing red and green t-shirts, which will again need you to buy a vehicle running on expensive petroleum? This may sound pessimistic, but latest ILO survey reveals 83% of our youth are unemployed. Just think about it from the parent’s perspective, who would have had high hopes, investing their sole life and savings to ensure Kid’s bright future ending up with a big blackhole of hope. ILO report states Indian youths with a graduate degree are 9 times more likely to be unemployed than uneducated Indians. On my personal front, I got a campus placement, but unfortunately it got withdrawn due to poor financials of the company. I still remember a day when my wounded Father asked me, sitting idly before a computer after graduation about my future plan in a polite tone. I could not answer him, but for an empty hope of things changing for better. Maybe my Father would have thought I would have been better off with a vocational course rather than higher education. Fortunately, another arm of the company which got split, employed us back and the pain and penury did not last long other than few months. But, imagine youth spoiling their lives in present times hooked themselves to internet, so as to forget their insecurities for years.
If you consider your business profit as accomplishment, think over the Bank fee and GST surcharges you paid which could have increased your profits making your business grow further. Government has earned 35000 Crore with penalties on Minimum Balance while dissolving tens of Lakhs of Crores debt of Corporates as NPA. What kind of Government feeds on the poor to keep their crony masters rich?
If you have become fit or recovered from illness as an accomplishment, how much extra have you spent on medicines and Hospital fee which has increased 200% in last five years? Even crucial Medical insurance attract 18% GST with our Government.
If you have bought a vehicle, think about the Road Tax you pay and then tolls per KM on top of it which actually quadruples your Road tax. Apart from that, you have to pay State Taxes if you relocate to a different State. The same BJP Government which has centralised Vehicle database, earning 100 Crores by leasing our vehicle data to private entities, could not even do One Vehicle, One Tax making us Bakras of extortion with Traffic Police, who are baying for some silly reason or other to meet their revenue deadlines.
The comparison with South Korea is more appropriate, for its gilded age, starting around the mid-1960s, had a distinctive feature. Unlike China, it was a gilded age with “national champions”, such as Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Hanjin. These were the so-called “chaebols”, essentially family-dominated muti-sector business groups. They flourished under government patronage, as did the South Korean economy. But corruption accompanied their rise.
The greatest difference between Korean chaebols and the Adani group is that the former were heavily international trade-oriented. Government patronage notwithstanding, Samsung, Hyundai, LG have all been in tradable sectors. They have produced cell phones, computers, electronics, semiconductors and autos, and competed with the world producers. International competitiveness thus has provided a disciplinary check on their businesses, generating huge efficiencies.
The Adani group is mostly in non-tradable sectors. Seaports, airports, grain warehouses, electricity generation are not internationally traded. They are both government-patronised and domestically focused. The efficiency gains that come from international trade are not there. The Adani group is not a Samsung — there is very little it can sell on the world market without the help of Delhi. Nor does it compare with the international competitiveness of India’s information technology sector. Compared to South Korea, the Adani-government nexus is a very different kind of national champions’ strategy. Its implications for the larger economy simply can’t be as beneficial without international competitiveness. – Ashutosh Varshney
So, Adani-Ambani are not producing world class Apples / LGs that our economy becomes super-rich like South Korea. Infact, they have reduced our country with large debts where every Indian has 1.5 lakh of debt per head. What Modi has spawned is a “termite economy” where our Businessmen don’t do any value-addition to our economy but leeches on our carefully nurtured equitable consumption model and national resources, be it PSUs / Infra / Tax coffers, relying on domestic consumption. This termite economy is what you get after Modi’s famed Pakoda-nomics. You cant consume too much of Pakoda owing to lack of money or its ill effects of gastritis. Industrialists who rely on domestic consumption as they don’t innovate, cant sell much owing to saturation or lack of money. They can’t sell their produce abroad with their dirty ethics and low quality manufacturing. Forget about selling abroad, they can’t even stand on their legs without Business Agent Modi. We are stuck up in total economic illness spiralling down in this vicious cycle of reduced consumption and reduced revenues of Corporates, solely relying on domestic consumption, who then desperately barge into National resources and other basic lifelines like roti, kapda and makaan to save themselves from accounting red blush.
This is how our so called wealth creators are World’s richest…
Adani entered Cement manufacturing after 2014 and the price has increased from 230 INR per bag to 435 INR per bag. Same cement increased from 110 USD per Metric ton in 2016 to 150 USD per Metric ton in USA. Ambanis are big players in Petroleum and major puppet controllers of BJP regime. Petrol got priced at 70 INR per litre in 2014 when crude hovered around 95 USD per Barrel. Now Petrol is priced at INR 100+ pr litre when crude is at its lowest at 64 USD per Barrel from Russia. Biden is struggling to address Inflation among American public, going to the extent of decrying corporate greed accelerating inflation. What are we doing in India? Instagram Likes and Whatsapp forwards of our PM, while bleeding with inflation. In short, Corporates are capitalising on our basic needs, destroying well oiled Farm, Oil, Infra and retail sector, hiking up prices, is the major reason why our quality of lifestyle has decreased as the prices hit astronomical highs on food, clothing and shelter needs, leaving us with nil disposable income or even struggling to meet our daily basic needs. We are heading towards savage “Cannibal-nomics” where every seller of goods or services, squeeze you to limits until you can’t afford it.
If you are convinced Government sponsored extortion is happening with the help of Government enforcement Institutions like IT-ED-CBI, how will you classify the Government looting poor’s money with 35000 Crore collected as Minimum Balance Bank fee and ATM usages? How will you call the atrociously increasing toll fees along with road taxes? How will categorise Government levying 18% GST on Medical insurance? How will you justify the 5300 crore collected by abolishing Senior citizen subsidy in Railways or 1230 crores by cancellation fee, just by creating artificial demand by reducing economy coaches? How will you softly defend the price rise on our lifeline needs, to aid cronies, when the price rise is not reflected globally but synthetically stimulated to aid cronies like Petrol / LPG price hikes? The truth is that extortion is happening at all levels from BJP’s non compliant Industrialists being forced to pay electoral funds, to SMEs forced on GST penalties and its complex maintenance, to the poor paying Surcharges and cess on their basic common needs.
“Children Say Ai (Mother) And AI”: PM Modi, Bill Gates Discuss AI… Hmmm Ai OK!
Wonder if World Leader Modi could stop war as propagandised nowadays, why can’t he avert simple livelihood affairs like unemployment, inflation and corruption for our greater good?Because he thinks Lies are far better weapons than actual governance.Modi’s thesis on elections is such that, as long as reality pinches or Hunger hurts your stomach, simple brain simulation or stimulation is enough for the people live in the mythological Thrishankhu’s Heaven
In the 67 years since independence till 2014, the total debt of the country was Rs 55 lakh crore. In the last 10 years, Modi ji alone increased it to Rs 205 lakh crore. His government took about Rs 150 lakh crore loan in the last 10 years.
Today, every citizen of the country has an average debt of about Rs 1.5 lakh. For what purpose was this money used in nation building?
Were jobs created on a large scale or did jobs actually disappear?
Did the income of farmers double?
Did schools and hospitals shine?
Was the public sector strengthened or weakened?
Were big factories and industries established?
If the above doesn’t happen, if core sectors of the economy are in disarray, if the labor force has declined, if small and medium businesses have been destroyed – then where has this money gone? On whom was it spent? How much money was written off in this? How much money was spent on loan waiver of big billionaires?
Now the government is preparing to take a new loan, so the question arises that instead of getting relief to the general public for the last 10 years, when the burden of unemployment, inflation and economic crisis is increasing, why is the BJP government drowning the people in debt? – Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Overall, if you play fair, you will realise that the Government is not involved in a fair play but a “fair and lovely” play with a certain Gujarat model as their mascot, with the only whitewash happening is over government hosted money laundering in the name of electoral bonds. Whenever that Gujarat mascot wags his finger in campaigns, realise who / where it is pointing to… so as to provide a “fulfilling” experience. Well, the immorality of this irreverent political game is that, it’s actually the change craving middle class, which vigorously vouched for BJP in 2014 and 2019, got screwed in all orifices by this regime, having lost the plot. They don’t know if they voted for vikas or viksit or just pure and plain wickedness of communalism. “Jai Sri Ram!” has just morphed to “Hindu-Muslim” war cry with enmity and submission exercises. Just like the infamous BJP Washing Machine powered by ED-CBI-IT which makes any political crook, criminal and fraud as pure as Milk as soon as they join BJP, Vikas and Viksit has disappeared like the stains after surf excel wash. You will never get it however you search for it! Maybe that’s why Surf excel reminded us that “Stain is good!”
BJP’s accomplishments being EWS quota for elites, a doubtless Brahmin appeasement at the expense of socially backward classes where EWS cutoffs are much below SC/ST cut offs, along with the enrichment of their cronies happening at economic middle / backward class expense. The opposition is toothless to shame BJP on the same shameless appeasement it is doing with brahmins with EWS quota. Instead, they are even afraid to support Minorities even on criminal atrocities like Bulldozer Justice and riots. The so called development / Vikas never happened as the cronies are busy looting our nation for onshore investments, even after the Finance Minister begged them to invest in India. As law of currency states that money can neither be created nor destroyed but only can be transferred, ( meaning One person’s debit is another man’s credit. Every Indian has 1.5 lakh debt per head while Adani and Ambani are among the richest persons in the Planet.) BJP has successfully doing the load-man Job of transferring our tax money to Adani-Ambani coffers, by cutting corporate taxes and gifting our Infra, resources and PSUs. Our youth obviously need an helping hand to come up amidst all adversities laid out by this developing nation, rather acting awkwardly “backward blind” acknowledging only the privileged with saffron governance.
“The greatest mistake India can make is to believe the hype,” he said. “We’ve got many more years of hard work to do to ensure the hype is real. Believing the hype is something politicians want you to believe because they want you to believe that we have arrived.” But it would be a “serious mistake for India to succumb to that” belief, he added.
Dismissing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambition to make India a developed economy by 2047, Mr Rajan said it was “nonsense” to talk of that goal “if so many of your kids don’t have a high school education” and drop-out rates are high.
“We have a growing workforce, but it is a dividend only if they’re employed in good jobs,” he said. “And that’s, to my mind, the possible tragedy that we face.” India needs to firstly make the workforce more employable, and, secondly, create jobs for the workforce it has, he said.
Mr Rajan cited studies showing a drop in the learning ability of Indian school children to pre-2012 levels after the pandemic, and that only 20.5% of grade three students could read a grade two text. Literacy rates in India also remain below other Asian peers like Vietnam.
“That is the kind of number that should really worry us,” he said. “The lack of human capital will stay with us for decades.”
“The ambition of the government is real, to become a great nation,” he said. “Whether they pay attention to what needs to be done is a different question. I worry that we’ve become more fixated on prestige projects, which suggest more great nation ambition, such as chip manufacturing, while leaving the underpinnings that will contribute to a sustainable chip manufacturing industry.”
“What we need is a pragmatic approach,” Mr Rajan said. Quoting China’s former leader Deng Xiaoping, who spearheaded that country’s economic reforms, Mr Rajan said if India learns anything from China, it should be that “it doesn’t matter whether the cat is black or white, it matters whether it catches mice,” he said. – NDTV on Raghuram Rajan
Having said that, overall, the yatra, pitching on social equality, is a moderate success as an early campaigner for INC hitting all the right notes, though the subsequent outreach / surveys and last few days of campaign making voters to introspect the last ten years along with Congress’ promises, will play a major part to their electoral success. My partial success assessment is not due to any lack of organisation or enterprise, but the Job is still yet to complete.
So, Gandhi’s Yatra was a nice culmination to my trip, fully brimmed up with hope and positivity about strong future for India, provided we Indians take our time to think what will help us out and our Kids, rather getting blinded by glamorous campaign blitz. It’s our choice, whether we establish Brahmanical supremacy by taking the hatred route hurting fellow Brothers or establishing a God Fatherly Nehru-Gandhian vision of democracy where everyone flourishes on a level playing field?
The sleeping Gandhi Giant has woken up… Now, how about Us? The ball is in our Court! We play it to win or lose the hatred game forever to a brahmanical cause which will affect our generations forever rendering them as substandard citizens of Bharat, except for the elite few. It’s going to be a very tiresome election for INDIA bloc as they are fighting a Juggernaut powered with pyramid loads of money and shameless rulers dare to go to any length to succeed, exhibiting reckless power by emasculating democratic institutions.. But with meticulous resource and mobility planning and hitting on the crucial last five days at door step canvassing, INDIA could achieve the summit.
The advantages and inadequacies of Rahul Gandhi.
Modi wins not just because of his toxic agenda or goondagiri of his team, but mainly due to his sheer hard work. He works like a maniac and ensures his team works like dog till the end, quickly course correcting on obstacles rather taking things easy. While RG could be a far better Leader compared to Modi, where Congress under his leadership lacks is on creating ripple effects in PR. People of Gandhi caliber has the potential to spread message wide and deep irrespective of the gags and clampdowns. But so far, RG has used the opportunity only to complain on the decay of democracy or lament on helplessness of the Congress going through tough adversities like freezing on campaign accounts. Any mass leader is expected to provide a resolution for the crisis like Paanch NYAY. But, how will the public perceive their promises when Congress itself is not showing the will to recover with resolutions on their own problems? That’s exactly how BJP raises the seeds of doubt or suspicion about Congress among people, while it could not do the same with Kejriwal as he smartly counters their oppressive clampdowns.
Ideally RG, as a Problem Solver, should have come up with resolutions or fightback on IT atrocity with crowd funding or other means of door to door collection campaigns like Communist effectively operate, the best way to take their message forward. But, it’s been a while RG complained, but he has not opened any avenues of resolution for his supporters or commoners to help him out or participate. Kejriwal has his inefficiencies, but when he went through similar adversity of illegal jail sentence on the same day IT froze Congress money, his supporters were on the streets wearing “I am Kejriwal” campaign dress, issuing pamphlets all around like how a typical Corporate like McD operate to attract footfalls and mind space. This would not have happened without Kejriwal’s or AAP leadership guidance.
Supporters need firm directions to operate. Instead, you could still see Congress supporters whining over EVMs in Social media. BJP can capture CEC position, but the majority of the working crew is honest who could be tapped to capture EVM anomalies. Let’s keep in mind BJP could not even tame the three member election commissioners authority and still threatening / shuffling them to keep them supple. So, ground support is not an issue. RG as a seasoned insider of Bureaucrats, might be well aware, it’s the lack of will to resolve and act which has plagued Congress so far. Instead, Congress is kept busy with MP ticket tussles which has some meaning only when they win through and achieve significance if they are able to keep their flock intact and immune from Adani-Ambani money flowing through “Operation Lotus” tap.
Manmohan Singh was called as weak and indecisive. But he was actually the opposite. His courage of conviction that India as a power hungry country needs various forms of energy helped UPA-2 sail through. Even on the questions probing corrupt UPA-2, MMS offered solution, calling for tapping into the honest people in the bureaucracy. Sorrily, Congress is nowadays not seen with such decisive conviction and action towards resolution, even when they are comfortably placed as opposition.
I do not believe that I have been a weak Prime Minister. That is for historians to judge. The BJP and its associates may say whatever they like. But if by “strong Prime Minister”, you mean that you preside over a mass massacre of innocent citizens on the streets of Ahmedabad, that is the measure of strength, I do not believe that sort of strength this country needs, least of all, in its Prime Minister.
I feel somewhat sad, because I was the one who insisted that spectrum allocation should be transparent, it should be fair, it should be equitable. I was the one who insisted that coal blocks should be allocated on the basis of auctions. These facts are forgotten. The Opposition has a vested interest. Sometimes the media play into their hands as well. There were irregularities. But the dimensions of the problems have been overstated by the media, by the CAG sometimes, and by other entities. – MMS 2014
I think none of the leaders have even rose to the stature of MMS from Congress, in deflecting criticisms or putting firm accusations to rest with conviction and resolve with a positive plan. Congress needs firm voices who are not too political but with an ability to influence voters with integrity and knowledge. Maybe INC is deploying Raghuram Rajan for economics and Kharge for Organization to help Gandhis on PR. But their message has not reached the cat-on-the-wall demography which needs a gentle nudge, so far. Maybe, its INC’s PR game plan as quoted by Manoj CJ to operate on last phase on its promises and aspirations. Hope it’s not too late and INC may lack the PR machinery of BJP, who has the capability to send their centralised message in 20 minutes across its Whatsapp groups in India. The bottomline is that if Modi is so confident of his lies and betraying Indians, INC should damn sure of its truths and its development philosophy.
Why Congress is winning the 2024 Political narrative?
Now, why would Congress be so sure of its truths? In the last decade, Congress fumbled a lot in its first five years, only to spring up with a 2018 Jackpot election results but clueless how it worked out to be a win. 2019 unravelled the reality for Congress by losing States in quick succession owing to Crony sponsored Operation Lotus. To me this was the actual turnaround point, where Congress threw off its shackles of imaginary cuffs and came out of the well of lies weaved out by Modi, just like Dark Knight Rises Well of despair. RG came out with a giant leap with his pada-yatra, birthing a Marathon moment for Congress, that it’s not to be taken lightly how bad the situation is. Some of the Congress leaders are complicit with the wavering Congress before the yatra, including its old guard, supporters and critics like G-23. Except for few like Digvijay Singh, none took up any exercise to strengthen Congress then. The Yatra gave ideological clarity to Congress it long lost after 2009, the Welfare politics simplified with very simple protocols to reach out, rather chasing Majoritarian coat tails as dictated by BJP-RSS. All you need to do is just vote for Congress and see the magic. It actually worked so well for Congress, that Modi is now murmuring “Modi ki Guarantee” even in his sleep. BJP’s recent Madhya Pradesh win could be attributed to Congress scheme of Monthly allowance for women.
Modi Ki Guarantee is the best form of Congress flattery. In last 10 years, only now Congress has set the political narrative with its guarantees, which Modi religiously follows at least with lip service..
Why this “as usual welfare Politics” should be seen as a major success for Congress? There is nothing great about the Congress guarantees as they were seeded even in 2019 or Karunanidhi offering free Rice decades back to Tamilians decades back. Kejriwal’s political brand is built on the same plank of Service Governance Politics. But, Kejriwal is an insignificant player without any major threat to BJP, except for his small fiefdom of Delhi which is again remote controlled by Shah. BJP woke up to Kejriwal’s gradual vishwaroop only after he acquired sizeable vote share in Gujarat, by clamping down his resources and arrests. So, Congress is the only Party of present times, which could pose a challenge to BJP whose success is directly proportional to BJP’s loss. Sadly, Congress was playing like a Kindergarten school of RSS prior yatra, with its temple run and running away from Minorities. Congress stood like useless Juggernaut without any Wheels. The fact is that in 2019, RG was more interested in resigning his post on election loss rather questioning the dubious success of BJP. The post-Yatra successes of Himachal and Karnataka Governments stands as a testament to an immune congress with welfarism and social justice as a viable political approach. Congress lacked such courage of conviction earlier.
If Congress was lacking the will to fight, Modi is a Corporate Businessman at Heart lacking the will to serve the poor. All his policies and implementations are either authoritarian or crony oriented. Aadhaar is a one stop switch which can make a citizen, zombie of sorts, at the mercy of his autocratic Government. All the Public Services like Trains, Banks or Utilities levy higher fee / surcharge even for the basic needs. Any subsidies given to the poor and middle class like Senior citizen subsidy in Railways or LPG subsidy got cut off in an obscure method like a thief barging into our Purse. The BJP is also active in rooting out Government run Hospitals as in Madhya Pradesh. Modi also ensures even the basic lifelines like Ration / Vaccine as his own alms with an outsized Photo of himself, bigger than the actual dole itself. While the poor and middle class got squeezed on taxes and subsidy cuts, the rich were gifted with Corporate tax reduction, dissolution of ten of lakhs of their dubious loans and brutal laws to make them Oligarchies like the Farm laws. When Indians got rendered more hungry and oppressed, the regime’s only benefactors featured on the Forbes as World’s richest, a feat that never happened in 70 years of Congress rule.
In this grave context, Modi’s “guarantee chanting” nowadays shows Congress has turned the situation on its head from being a clueless lame Bakra on temple runs towards making Modi lose his sleep on their guarantees. The Major difference is not the actual welfare promises, but Congress’ investment of its manpower and resources with confident message and decent outreach, soon after the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The crisis is not ending for Congress, the EC is shameless enough not to allocate poll symbols for INDIA alliance. It may even go down to the level of disqualifying candidates citing some lame reason or other. So, the Opposition should keep a backup nomination ready in case of emergencies and withdraw later based on the situation.
Its still quite probable BJP might still emerge as the largest Party, but INDIA could be the one Bharat Mata likes to serve her as Government on her behalf! As Comedian Vadivelu says, “there is no end” for Congress…
Choose wisely! (Both of them attract GST though.) Happy progressive elongation with INC or endure prolonged communalism baggage with BJP. Maybe I am going too far.. But just for fun!Future of your child starts with creating a better environment and future. Vote for INC to secure future or Vote for BJP to promote Adani Ambani family and fat weddings.
Wake up Call or Sleeping Pill?
Now… It’s up to INC if they treat 2023 loss as wake up call or as sleeping pill, by viewing this loss as a blessing in disguise or as approaching Congress’ doom. So, Cheer Up to fight against all odds. After all few battles are lost to win the war. BJP is trying its best to offer sleeping pill to Congress, by creating an illusion that it’s invincible. With exit polls setting expectations for any shock wins and opinion polls claiming a clean sweep in UP etc, it bets on people and opposition that they cannot scrape through their castles built on lies. They are trying their best to put Congress on the on the mat even before the fight begins. If the sleepy Beast could capture Telangana in a year of turnaround, it could win Lok Sabha too in 4 months.
Now, why I am so confident of INDIA bloc wining the 2024 elections? Its not just because I am underestimating Mo-Sha and his shameless gang, going to any depths to win. It is not just because the opposition is now more promising and menacing with all the stalwarts and heavyweights aligning themselves like a constellation. My confidence is only because India has always won on its goodness. Our ancestors’ goodness trumped the Colonisers. Our collective goodness overthrew Emergency era. Similarly, however we adjust to circumstances, our goodness will win over this mindless barbaric authoritarianism. Never underestimate the power of Indian goodness. But for INDIA to win the war, it needs proper analytics and study of demographic behaviour to start with, rather getting carried away with biased-cooked-up-Sunil-ish-surveys stating …. “We are winning even Washington!”.
There is a lot hullabaloo going around on our Cricket team’s shock Defeat to Australia, only an indicator of how we are seeing Cricket ODI World Cup as a sort of Shopping souvenir as we spend a lot on Cricket. Its bit worrying as we have not asked ourselves have we equipped ourselves bullet proof for all near death circumstances, to win this mega-event. Instead, our World Cup effort turned out to be a theorem of Money alone can’t buy Happiness. Since we fretted too much on our loss like a Kid suddrdenly grabbed off his imaginary lollipop, let’s understand why we imagined the lollipop first, by digging deeper.
Playing Catch me if you Can with the Law of Averages
There are again lot of theories if the Law of Averages really work out or not. I go through seven traffic signals on my work. Sometimes I am lucky to pass through 4-5 green lights but it will be never all green. Ofcourse I am not Israel and the traffic signal is not mindless Biden to give green light without considering consequences. It’s painful to see even a supposedly dumb traffic signal is so smart nowadays if not All knowing American President.
So, what are my ways to work out a winning solution to bypass traffic signals. I could change the rules by asking the Office/ School timing to change to early morning hours to avoid traffic, if I am a big Dumbo, or skill myself and start early, accepting the norms. Tell me which will help in the long run? The problem with the law of averages is that I don’t know if such thing exist or it really works out, but what BCCI did under its crooked Gujarat model is to change the rules of the game to suit our Win, rather looking to build a balanced team delivering consistent results. For starters, BCCI changed the rules of recent Asian Cup mid-event to allow reserve day just for India-Pakistan match.
”Focus on taking the right actions, regardless of immediate outcomes, as the act itself is what truly matters.”
Mahatma Gandhi
I was part of an average satire during my college days on cricket, where we worked out a scenario where the ball got caught in a rat hole in the cricket outfield and its administrators deciding to use a football bigger than the rat hole, to avoid such scenarios. With the current BCCI leadership, we are in a danger of such poor satires turning to reality, with the blind blessings from ICC.
Consider this scenario… BCCI banned Srilankan Board when it realised it might not be controlled like a lap dog under Arjuna Ranatunga. It got suspended on the grounds of political influence on the Cricket Board. Wonder if we could adopt same measuring scale, how would someone like Jay Shah who got no credentials in Cricket except for sharing the common surname of Home Minister of India, is not a political influence but a true blue cricket administrator. At least Ranatunga was a World cup winning Captain. Someone from ICC need to bell this fat nepotist cat, on the same grounds applied to Sri Lankan Board, to keep the spirit of the game alive and bright, which is currently going reckless with autocratic whims. Other countries should understand BCCI, could be a champion revenue generator, with an ornamental hand like Thanos, but it could just deliver only one handed clap or a meek flip, destructing the International Boards.
“You’re Strong, But I Could Snap My Fingers And You’d All Cease To Exist.”
Thanos
A beautiful Op-ed by Barney Ronay distills the prodigy Jay Shah’s achievements. Clue: it’s a Birth achievement not on silly merit or performance.
This is Jay Shah’s World Cup in more ways than one. It is, after all Jay Shah’s sport to start with. Shah, who has been head of the BCCI for the last four years, is the most powerful single person in any sport anywhere in the world.
The real issue with Shah’s status as unelected world boss is that he appears at first glance to be a prodigy, an administrator of such skill he was able to rise to become head of the BCCI aged just 31, and to do so while, by a startling coincidence, carrying the same surname as Narendra Modi’s right-hand man and chief minister Amit Shah, who, in an even more profound coincidence – just fancy that – turns out to be Jay Shah’s dad.
In the last few months alone Shah has run a World Cup, taken over the running of the Asia Cup because he felt like it, while maintaining a guiding hand on the world’s second most potent franchise league after the NFL. This week Arjuna Ranatunga accused Shah of running Sri Lankan cricket as an after-hours hobby.
Ranatunga is of course right because, in effect, Jay Shah runs all cricket, right down from the international calendar, to when the County Championship gets to play, to what ends up on your Sky subscription. At the end of quite a short chain of cause-and-effect, it is Jay Shah who decides whether the cricket you love is going to be allowed to breathe, or indeed to exist at all.
There has been a campaign to fluff Shah’s image in recent times, to portray him as a fearless and go-getting moderniser, with a PR agency engaged to gloss his media profile. Against this a brilliantly detailed study of cricket’s ruling regime by Sharda Ugra published in the Caravan magazine shows Shah behaving as an autocrat, taking months to OK basic office admin, surrounding himself with sycophants, trailed by bodyguards and aides. As for the BCCI’s lack of detailed accounts, this same organisation that sluices such a vast proportion of the sport’s money through its coffers, well, that remains another untold story.
As cricket aficionados, if we are real well wishers of our Cricket, we should have questioned such BCCI antics of becoming “Masters of Entire Cricket Science” without even drafting a syllabus or exam, where only certificate matters not the hard studies. Unfortunately, we did NOT! So, when BCCI said it will design the pitch on its own cheap wish and dig its own grave, we happily chummed “Yes!”, like succumbing to the Pied piper guiding the mischief to the cliff, craving for a global validation by competing in a contest involving countries countable on fingers.
“The hardest choices require the strongest wills”
Thanos
The post is just not about the Shahenshah of Cricket as he is not a lone wolf devouring cricket. Indian Cricket has always had a symbiotic relationship with indian politics which has helped them mutually. But, it was restricted to the level of administrators and bit of team selection. Now, its a case of team turning as Saffron Brigade to help the Indian politics where the benefits are more tilted towards politicians than its players, who became the scapegoats irrespective of their willingness. This could have dampened the fighting spirit when they are just employees of Hindutva election Corporate.
Jugaad Indianness Vs Spirited Australianism
I kept wondering why cricket deviations from the norms and ethics by BCCI is so abominable. It could just be harmless way of winning by bending few rules. Ofcourse, we saw such glimpses of madness when New Zealand was denied World Cup when the match was decided on the number of Boundaries scored, rather another Super over. So rules could also be a culprit right?
Mahabharat could be complete epic as it deals with all human nature adorned with fascinating characters. A huge war starts sparked by a mocking laughter of Draupadi when Duryodhana falls down. The egotistic wound aggravates to an obscene gesture of thighs by Duryodhana avenging his fall and subsequent disrobing Draupadi. Bhima vows to kill Duryodhana for his misdoings. Kurukshetra war begins. Duryodhana’s Mother blesses with her divine vision to make him an immortal. There is one character which runs all through the happenings – Krishna. Krishna helps Draupadi when her modesty was breached. He again nudges Duryodhana to wear a banana leaf, as mark of respect, before getting blessed immortality by his mother, so that his waists still remain weak after blessings. In the war, Duryodhana chooses a fight with mace against Bhima where the rules clearly states that no one gets beaten down the waist. Krishna now hints Bhima to hit Duryodhana’s thighs, breaking the rules of the game. Pandavas win the war eventually and rule Hastinapur for 36 years.
I liked the full circle of how fate plays around, the disrobing guy gets disrobed before his Mother. Thunder thighs gets blown up avenging the injustice to Draupadi. But how does fate treat people breaking rules to win at any cost? Let’s continue the story. After 36 years of ruling Hastinapur, Pandavas along with Draupadi march onto Heaven as they assume themselves worthy of it.
Pandavas… Draupati first, followed by Sahadeva, Nakula, Arjun and finally, Bheem. It is said that Yudhishthira did not turn his back even once and refused to help any one because he had renounced everything when he embarked on this journey. He also thought that renouncing everything would fetch him a place in Swarga, else he too would die.
As Yudhishthira and the dog continued climbing the mountain, they were welcomed by Lord Indra in his chariot. Indra said that Yudhishthira had been the true King of Dharma by being virtuous at all times and invited him into his chariot, offering him to take him to the final door of Swarga. Yudhishthira requested Lord Indra to permit the dog to come along, to which Indra disapproved. Yudhishthira stayed adamant on taking the dog along.
Yudhishthira refused to enter Swarga without the dog. He believed that both have equal merits and said that he will either enter Swarga with the dog or not enter at all for the sake of justice. Indra was pleased by Yudhishthira’s principles and integrity and welcomed him into heaven. It was later revealed to Yudhishthira that the dog was Lord Yama in disguise. Eventually, Yudhishthira entered Indra’s chariot to reach heaven.
On reaching Swarga, Yudhishthira could not find any of his virtuous brothers or his wife. Instead he was shocked and enraged at seeing the adharmi Kauravas enjoying in heaven. It was brought to his notice that they were in heaven because of the land of Kurukshetra.
The Kauravas, who had died at Kurukshetra doing their duty as Kshatriyas (warriors), found a place in Heaven.
Different versions of this incident portray that this explanation to Yudhishthira was given by Lord Indra, Lord Yama or Narada. Whatever the version of this story maybe, it is important to learn from this story that unless and until a person gives up on hate, anger, greed or lust, one cannot reach heaven. More than meaning Heaven or Hell in literal sense, it’s about seeing them as states of mind. One must relinquish anger and hate to achieve peace (heaven), else they tend to suffer (hell).
Now, the Law of averages did not work for Yudhishthira. But, what I could not understand on the Judgement Day type of ending is that both Indian epics talk of Heroes bending rules. Epic Heroes doing that Indian jugaad, innovating by breaking ethics and rules. They even beat our wretched reality shows and its stupid dilemmas. Lord Rama kills Vaali on his back hiding somewhere else, rather fighting him one to one. Krishna almost kills the Kaurava clan leveraging deception and illusion. They all win their war games momentarily, by bending rules, but they lose in the end. The epics are too deep and may be it takes in depth knowledge and understanding and I am a surface skimmer.
The person who does many good deeds, first goes to hell for some time duration and then is sent to heaven. A person who has done more bad deeds, gets a glimpse of heaven and is then sent to Hell for the rest of his time.
Indra to Yudhishthira
Now let’s move onto the Karta, the choreographer of Kurukshetra… Krishna. Gandhari, mother of Duryodhana cursed Krishna and his clan Yadavas that they will perish on their own. Krishna accepted the curse for his own misdoings.
It was the 36th year after the great Kurukshetra war. The Yadavas were so much in bliss in Dwaraka that they started taking things for granted. They forgot the importance of values, morals, humility and good conduct. They were arrogant and spoilt by all the wealth they were enjoying.
Once, the Sapta Rishis (the Seven Sages) decided to visit Krishna in Dwaraka. Hearing about their impending arrival, Samba, the son of Krishna, decided to test their powers. The young man dressed himself as a woman and placed a mace under his dress, to make himself appear as a pregnant woman. He, along with two of his friends, approached the rishis. One of Samba’s friends went up to the rishis and, introducing himself as the “woman’s” husband, requested them to predict the gender of the unborn child.
With their siddhis (spiritual powers), the rishis realized that this was a hoax and were angry at being treated with such disdain. One of the sages, Kanva Maharishi, immediately grabbed his kamandala (little water pot) and, sprinkling some water on the youth, cursed that whatever he bore in stomach would be actually born to him. He further declared that the thing would eventually lead to the extinction of the entire Yadava clan. The youths were stunned for a moment. But being arrogant and foolish, they just laughed it off and left the place, without even bothering to apologize to the rishis for their behavior.
The sage’s curse took effect the very next morning. Samba developed labor pains and soon delivered a mace from within him. The Yadavas now realized their mistake and became fearful. They took the mace and rushed to Akroora and Ugrasena. They all then went to Krishna and related the whole story to him. Akroora immediately ordered them to grind the mace to a fine powder and throw it into the sea.
Krishna merely smiled and remained silent. He knew that Gandhari’s curse had started working and that Samba was merely a medium for their collective karma to unfold. Thirty-six years ago, Krishna had prayed to Shiva for a son like him. Shiva had bestowed the boon upon him. However, Shiva was the God of Destruction and a son like him would ultimately end up destroying everything around him.
The Yadavas worked hard to grind the mace to a fine powder. They had followed all of Akroora’s instructions. However, there was one triangular piece of the mace that simply could not be ground. They tried their level best, but could not grind it. Fed up, they finally threw the powder, plus the triangular piece, into the sea. Once that was done, they returned home, assured that all would be well from then on.
The triangular piece was swallowed by a fish. Jara, a hunter, caught the fish and, upon finding the sharp metal piece in its belly, used it to craft a fine poisonous arrow. In the meantime, the fine powder washed back ashore and settled itself along the impressive coastline of Dwaraka. There, a type of grass, called eraka, grew in abundance, all along the coast.
Yadavas gathered near the coast to pray for their well being. Instead they started fighting within themselves. Krishna knew that the curse had started to take effect. He plucked the eraka grass that grew by the beach and placed them near the warring Yadavas. Still not quite aware of what they were doing, the Yadavas started throwing the blades of grass on one other.
Kanva Maharishi’s curse came into being and each blade of the eraka grass became a mace. These maces hit the Yadavas, killing them instantly. All the Yadavas died within a matter of minutes. Thus, the entire clan lay dead, right in front of their King. The bereved King renounced his Kingdom and went to Forest.
Krishna rested against a tree, stretching his legs in the front. Meanwhile, Jara, the hunter, was roaming in the forest, on his usual hunting expedition. Seeing Krishna’s foot sticking out from the bushes, he mistook it for a deer and shot it down with his poison-tipped arrow. The arrow was the very one he had crafted from the little triangular piece of mace that had not been powdered.
It is said that Jara was none other than the mighty Vali in his previous birth. At that time, Vishnu had taken the avatar of Lord Sri Rama and had slain Vaali, the then Monkey King. Rama had no enmity with Vaali and had killed him for no reason; and that too; in a cowardly manner, hiding behind a tree. Vaali later took birth as Jara and was responsible for killing Krishna. This story points out the fact that the laws of Karma apply universally to everyone; and that even God cannot prevent it from impacting his own life.
Our Gods are reflection of our own ancestor’s culture. Our ancestors kept their gods flawed and more human as easier version of imparting religious scriptures to masses, like how the Right wing captured Bollywood and imparting Hindutva. We don’t see any visionary Rama / Arjuna carrying AK 47 / Laser guns. So are we restricting ourselves to bows and arrows? Maybe we are a fighting race from the beginning with all gods equipped with versatile weapons. But we got a sense of individual freedom only when we started following Buddhist / Mahaveera inspired Mahatma Gandhi for whom even clothes are an expression of desire, forget about weapons begetting more weapons.
Without elaborating further on how Justice got served for Gandhari and Vaali’s sufferings, indian epics are classy just because they address the events in a full circle beautifully, however complex and layered they are. Like many movies ending up in happily ever after unlike reality where many end up in divorce and distress, the Judgement part of the epics are not elaborated / celebrated in our country. Conventionally televised Mahabharat ends up with Pandavas ruling Hastinapur happily after Duryodhana’s death and Ramayana with Rama’s coronation at Ayodhya. As per our epics even mighty Krishna, the happiest god ever, might have winced in pain during his death by Jara’s arrow. Rama spent many years searching for his wife only to abandon her on a petty comment, could not live happily with his family even after establishing Ram Rajya, ruminating on the futility of life. Ironically, the famed Ram Rajya did not work him and his family. Well! They accepted the pain gracefully. But, nowadays nobody likes a Loser, even when we all end the same way!
“Whatever happened, happened for the good.Whatever is happening, is happening for the good.Whatever will happen, will also happen for the good.”
Gita
Coming back to the ICC World cup hosted in England where they won by a ridiculous rule, the important derivative could be that, both the team played by rules in the right spirit of the game, rather bending rules. It turned to be an even contest and cracker of a match matching wits and guts, with a graceful felicitation ceremony.
I remember Australians of the past teams for their sledging and and slandering crook-smiths employing all means to win. They are no saints afterall just like our epic Heroes. The Law of averages did not work for them too in 2000s world cups. But Ian Healy once part of the Australian team depicted as arrogant on their behaviour, observes this generation of Australian team as “Indian”. Maybe Yellow is the new Blue as Blue has now turned to Saffronish Orange and Netherland’s Orange is turning grey with right wing racism. Maybe IPL exposure and India being the financial core of cricket might have changed them a bit. What is more startling is that they have studied the Indian Kurukshetra pitches better than Indian team. It’s up to individuals to decide if the Karma cycle is complete or incomplete, but the eternal cycle keeps continuing… eternally.
Spoilsport for a Photo-Op
Our silence in the stadium and poor reception of the match just proved we are still colonial slaves who still need the validation of the west to celebrate a sport. We still get 60 days Summer Leave so that our still White Bureaucrats don’t get tanned in the sun, when our Kids need to do the hardship of braving rains in tough rainy season. Our Indian Calendar quotes peak summer (Agni Natchathiram) goes for 21 Days, but our Summer Holidays are 60 Days to please whom? The Britishers? And Chennai Collector says there won’t be holidays for rains ranging in 8-10 cms since it is light rain(?).It was even worse in Mettupalayam. If Collectors could declare that education is only for those who can afford rich transportation, the problem gets an easy closure, so that he could pack his bags to Ooty in advance. நீங்க உல்லாசமா ஊட்டி போறதுக்கு மழையிலே எங்க உசுர ஏன் வாங்குறீங்க!
Rules? Bend it like Beckham!
Indian Leadership from Politicians to Bureaucrats to Sports Administrators is such that it still runs on Facebook / Instagram achievements, always flying inches above ground in AC vehicles. The Rule bending is evident everywhere in our (lack of governance). Maybe they invited David Beckham to symbolise their lawlessness. They did not build an emergency exit as planned, when building Uttarkashi tunnel, but do everything to garner Hindutva votes, screwing up fragile himalayan ecosystem. I don’t know if Gods will object for majoritarian mixing politics with their belief systems, like local folklore attributed the crack of Joshimath to beginning of Kaliyuga, but sport is a different animal prefers to be clean to perform well, without any need for adulterated political Mixer.
The Government don’t even have buffer days reserved for emergencies in education but NCERT is ready to saffronise the study material with Gandhi and Nehru disappearing as myths but Ramayana as authentic history. Hey Ram! Nobody killed Gandhi. Laughable rules emerged for NEET exam, entrance for Medical students, where Zero is an eligible cut-off. Now even students who have not learnt Biology are eligible. If things go haywire with our newly “engineered” non-bio-logical Doctors, there might even be a new rule that NEET-Doctors can kill neatly. If you are enraged on the previous line, you should get enraged at our Government. Our Make in India products lack the build finish or design thoughts to make it word class, but we think we can rule the consumer Market by being chinese cheap. Since the public is also conditioned for such Photo-Ops, rather looking for real substance, the sporty loss sounds too bad for us, since we are accustomed to enjoy the style more than Sporty substance. Afterall, we miss that Selfie moment!
நீதி, உயர்ந்தமதி, கல்வி – அன்பு நிறைய உடையவர்கள் மேலோர்
Bharathiyar
If you think how a simple Selfie could do harm? Ask Chandrayaan II a Million Dollar Moon Project, which failed due to software glitch. The fact was someone who wanted limelight rushed up the Project, not to miss a selfie moment, only to end up with a miserable sob selfie with its failure. For Chandrayaan III ‘Lead Scientist’ PM’s Divya Darshan happened through Video conferencing, staying away but still stamping his face. Then there was a Kangana Ranaut type Tejas Fighter Selfie which has still a long way to go to become production ready. But you know elections are nearing. Some well wisher could have done him a favour whispering to him how Run-out’s Tejas Movie fared at Box office. Now, Modi’s Selfie craze has gone beyond limits, to highlight non-existent achievements of his Government, by installing Selfie points. Only Vishwaguru can imagine that a selfie can garner votes of the youth and not employment. As long as there are fools ( That included me too ) democracy flourishes…
“Our selfie-obsessed and self-obsessed PM is so insecure in the run up to Lok Sabha polls that he’s leaving no stone unturned to save his flailing image. First, it was the Army being asked to set up selfie points. Then, he asked IAS officers and other senior govt officials to take out ‘Rath Yatras’. Now, he has directed UGC to set up selfie points in all universities”
– Jairam Ramesh
Sharda Ugra‘s piece on state of Cricket enlightens anyone who can’t think beyond the thin veil of Indian cricket just as a sport.
Cricket is merely one of the many engines in the BJP’s dream of cultural expansion. Everyone on the BCCI payroll — players, former and current, officials, broadcasters — seems to have fallen in with the party line and has been herded under the umbrella of uncheerful nationalism. Indian cricket today is playing second fiddle to the political ideology in power because none of its faithful will speak for it.
In order to push the Lodha reforms into mothballed irrelevance, the BCCI’s cross-party grandees first edged out its professional management. What they now have is the ruling regime’s iron fist. Jay Shah, a semi-conductor of his father’s authority, has become Indian cricket’s front-line commander over and above the player-president, Ganguly. Checkmate.
The president of India travelled to Ahmedabad to inaugurate a stadium named after his constitutional subordinate, the incumbent prime minister. Seats in the lower tier most visible on television are coloured orange, the BJP’s party colour. During its day-night Test debut, the orange wall made the sighting of the pink ball difficult in natural light for fielders, but who cares.
It must be mentioned here that the only stadium bigger in the world than the Narendra Modi Stadium is the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea. It’s enough to kill irony with a sniggering fit.
Indian cricket is being marinated in the ideology of the ruling regime, in this case, the Bharatiya Janata Party.
OK! to summarize BCCI and BJP just made saffronish chicken manchurian out of everyone involved, and got everyone fried too.
The Propaganda of Invincibility
In my adolescent age, I got fascinated by the tag “Dream Girl”. I used to wonder why that Aunty is not coming in my dreams. Maybe only Gharamji will get such poly-comic dreams. As I mature, Nowadays I get bloody dreams of Palestine violence but could not do much other than waking up sleepless and blogging uselessly about it. The Dream Girl is nothing but a cinematic “propaganda” to make the silver screen look palatable and sexier. The wishlist for such sweet dreams when you are in reality, better off without seeing it sans makeup, is just a blind or fake “Belief” that it’s gonna be a great dream. Amrit Kaal and Vikas comedies belong to this sweet dreams category/
When you are helpless about the ongoing Palestine nightmarish violence which will one day come down to New India if remained unchecked ( as we are in the initial stages of genocide – discrimination and polarization of Minorities) but leave it to the God, “The Lord of uncontrollables”… its “Faith”. Because, what we have in India is not Gujarat Model of Politics, but Netanyahu’s working supremacist Model aiming at consolidation of majority by ethnic cleansing and circumventing international pressure with arm-twisting diplomacy. Little wonder Modi is still the lone member of BRICS, shying away from the meet, so as not to support Gaza Ceasefire. If this sounds like a “sober global statesmanship” as propagandized, welcome yourself to the Brahma-Nazism – Modi brand of “sober” supremacist hyper-chameleonism conquering nation by misinformation, dividing its own people and silencing the diplomatic lambs internationally with opportunistic rude diplomacy!
“Fear is the true adversary; although we often mistake it for hatred.”
Mahatma Gandhi
What Modi’s BJP does not understand is that Israel’s homogenous origin is different from our diverse backgrounds, just like our cricket team, one of rare few quasi-meritocratic institutions, not because of our corrupt administrators but because of the fear of losing its loyal consumers. If they replace players just like they did with elite administrators. How about elite vegetarian fast bowlers. No? Ok! Eggetarian. No? Ok! Let’s take Halal guys. However it works, India’s diverse origins could be correlated with multi-racial USA rather monolithic Israel. So any desperate attempt to enforce homogeneity and majoritarianism in India will only erupt to civil war rather work like the infamous Gujarat / supremacist Israel model which rewarded the supremacists. BJP already learnt the hard lesson with Himachal and Karnataka State elections where welfare trumped hatred. The self proclaimed Chanakya is still looking to polarise with Nuremberg type CAA law just before elections. Like Son, Like Father when it comes to Vinaasa Kaale Vibareetha Budhdhi.
Coming back to that elusive trophy… In New India, the age old Dream Girl is that ICC Trophy which is something almost every other country has won including organizationally weak West Indies in last decade. Our Belief that we are invincible could be partially right. But, its been awhile India focused on ODIs which needs sustained tenacity and resilience to pluck the victory from the Jaws of defeat. In my adolescence any chance of India winning ODI rested with Sachin’s innings. People used to switch off TV to save electricity as soon as he gets out as if other ten is brought on “Buy One Winner get Ten Headaches” Offer.
“Reality Is Often Disappointing.”
Thanos
Our positive belief gradually grew, when a steely Rahul Dravid and silky VVS Laxman played a solid test innings in Eden Garden to resurrect our hopes. My memory have not registered if we have won or drew the Test, but it just showed we have arrived in Cricket as a steadfast Force and not anymore a meek and selfish reed swaying even to the weak wind, hoping not to break. We had enriching experiences under Ganguly and Dhoni who have at many times imparted the belief in our Team snatching victory from the Jaws of defeat transforming Indian cricket as a force to reckon with.
With the current team, unfortunately the middle order was not even tested in the current World cup as we never got into a crisis like the Final, thanks to the diligent venue selection to suit Indian team strengths for a cake walk win. It’s time we should ask ourselves if we have really retained that “Never Say Die!”, instead resorted to spoiling even ICC to accommodate our unjust interests and loopholes just to show off a win and paint even the World cup as a Saffron show, only to end up brutally up with a bloody nose, wishing the bleeding was saffron. There are differences between carefully nurtured Potted plant in a controlled environment and a wild plant, organically grown under testing conditions. The differences naturally comes to spotlight when tested with adverse circumstances like storms and floods.
Blame it on Saffron
Why this sudden decline of cricket? Once we lose the moral faith of playing fair to win by the rules, but fine with BCCI fine tuning pitches, rewarding the curators of the pitch, we actually have let down our own steely self, self occupied with unethical guilt, helplessly waiting for someone hand hold us out of trouble rather fighting it on our own, just like the helpless goldfish in aquarium. Also the present team is more of Saffron Warriors who had enough faith to propagandize in Twitter rather on winning trophies. Our Sports Persons are content if Modi is kept happy / BJP wins elections rather winning trophies.
We have successfully transformed our Cricket warriors to election agents including Bharat(!) Ratna(?) Tendulkar. The Sanatanic BCCI chose to facilitate Tendulkar for his “elite upper” records, rather even bothering to invite the World cup winning Teams and its Captains Kapil Dev and Dhoni. As a website quoted, Kapil was replaced by his Bollywood version Ranvir Singh in the stadium. Even the “elite” commentary got muted on the defeat analysing its mistakes while it was bombastic while referencing India’s string of victories prior final. Overall, It was a very carefully choreographed winning celebration involving all glitz and glamour except for the substance, that did not happen due to Australian Party poopers. Of course, we have had our moments like Test win at Australia and occasional brilliance, but collective sportsmanship needs efficient Leadership, to train the team to win at all costs not to get broken when things don’t go our way. That’s missing.
Real strength isn’t about winning; it’s about enduring hardships without giving up.
Mahatma Gandhi
I can’t write like Suresh Menon, so let’s copy his playful phrases, summarizing the state of Indian cricket.
Years from now, it is likely to be remembered not as Kohli’s or Stokes’ or Bumrah’s World Cup so much as the BJP’s World Cup, placing it among examples of the symbiotic relationship between sports and politics. In India, at least.
At the recent Asia Cup, India (who not only have the clout but want to constantly remind other teams of this) changed the rule in the middle of the tournament, adding an extra day for their match against Pakistan. Perhaps during the World Cup, we will see the cricket board honcho commanding the rain to stop. And discovering, like King Canute who ordered the tide to halt, that it would carry on regardless.
Three of India’s team, Pandya, Jadeja and Bumrah, were born in Gujarat where the world’s largest cricket stadium awaits the action. But it is a fourth man born in the State who is confident of winning at the World Cup — and not in a narrow cricketing sense.
Instead of diagnosing the defeats, the BCCI ritualistically replaced the Captains after every world Cup without acting on the actual root cause – its corrupt Administrators originating from political backgrounds. Actually, Dhoni / Rohit / Kohli are not at fault. They have all exhibited talismanic abilities at field. After all these replacements, we have only deteriorated further in ICC events. In fact the Indian media is silent on the future of BCCI as it involves Jay-Hush-Shah while speculating on the poor Cricketers. We even have a Dumboo BJP Minister who just played a Match to hold Office, so as to bypass the State Cricket Board rules. The only difference now is that BCCI is comfortable enough to change the rules itself even with the nod from Supreme Court bypassing the reforms it initiated.
“We have to be better than what they feared we would be. We have to surprise them with compassion, with restraint and generosity”
Nelson Mandela appearing at the South African Sports Committee, after they had elected to disband the Springbok rugby team, Invictus Movie
No, we are not emerging as the new Chokers, but the players are just afraid of future and the huge pressure of invisible-but-omnipresent National elections on them, when International events like G20 or ICC World Cup are conducted as side shows with the main event as a Photo-Op with Vishwaguru. The team lack the fighting spirit to change the fortunes without any help or support from the toxic administration, weighed down by huge pressure on their shoulders in ICC events. The Indian team is Hercules shouldering earth with out-of-the-world Modi on top of it.
Today’s Indian Cricket is not just a Sport, but an amalgamation of fake Nationalism with the current political establishment making it look like a war / surgical strike between countries, empty Pride of Vishwaguru as we are emerging International force when we are languishing behind Pakistan in the hunger index and as election winning machine where BJP’s political campaign was planned on cricket victory and Ram temple as they got nothing else to show off as achievements, with the indian food plate getting reduced gradually owing to inflation and cronyism. We even got Hindutva Pooop err… Pop ( of course with multiple Oohs and Aahs to kindle communalism ) as part of the mainstream songs played on the stadium, provoking even elitistic audience with Jai Sri Ram. As part of multi-million victory celebrations planned, we might have even got an Indian version of Invictus to portray Modi as Saviour of cricket. Only difference would be while Mandela fought for country’s resurrection in post apartheid South Africa, Modi’s Invictus will be about the “Supremacist apartheid” Returning back to India mushrooming under the shades of elite BCCI.
– Nelson Mandela: How do you inspire your team to do their best?
– Francois Pienaar: By example. I’ve always thought to lead by example, sir.
– Nelson Mandela: Well, that is right. But how do we get them to be better than they think they can be? That is very difficult, I find. Inspiration, perhaps. How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do? How do we inspire everyone around us? I sometimes think it is by using the work of others.
Invictus Movie
Victory is a Journey… not an election Destination
We have not prepared enough for ODIs which is different from mumbo jumbo T20 without any major twists but offering only cheap thrills. ODI needs more patience and guts to pass through the brilliant start, middle slog and bombastic finish and clever enough to make up for any troughs through such phases. We are still not a complete Champions team.
As Dhoni says, victory is a Process. When Chennai Super Kings got many victories on the home ground, but lost miserably on other Indian grounds and even abroad, they did not complain or look to change rules. They just modified the home pitch to stay neutral and even to an extent, playing a tough game, so that they are prepared for knockouts. The oldies very near retirement homes had enough wisdom to play the game on strengths rather looking for opponent weakness. What did Rahul Dravid do as a Indian coach. He used to drop by early, to analyse the pitch, sometimes few days even before the game starts. Unfortunately, he got trumped on his own game when Australia got its superior tactics and analytics overwhelming the indian side. This “Someone else will take care” attitude has solidified the Indian team’s belief that everything is tweaked and taken care of well by BCCI and Admin that they can win without breaking sweat, only to end up in tears. All is not lost… We just need to steel up our temperament with clear tactics for every scenario, rather relying on the literal ground work, so that we never feel like lost child at carnival. Only then the victory process will take care of itself.
“It’s not about how much we lost. It’s about how much we have left.”
Tony Stark / Iron Man, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
For example, the Indian team had initial euphoria after taking 3 wickets of Australia. But when the partnership got steady, taking the sting out of the indian bowling attack, the team members were just dropping their shoulders and some on tears even before the loss, increasing the confidence of Aussies. They clearly could not rise up to the occasion or digest a probable defeat, just like the unsporting crowd at the Stadium, evident in Pakistan and Australia matches. Rohit could have brought in Bumrah who showed a knack of getting wickets before it was too late or tried something else when the spinners were clueless on the dead pitch. They got into a brain freeze as they were never got tested on the tournament. They restricted Head on his playing side ( I don’t know anything technically like gully or cover but only about silly mistakes and its coverups ), they should have deployed few fielders on his scoring areas, taking bowling risks and tempting him to make mistakes where he ultimately fell in the end. Head scored predictably on the same areas. But, there was no novelty in the bowling attack. Contrast this with Rohit falling prey to carefully orchestrated Head’s catch. Data never lies or forsakes any one who trusts, even a crooked Politician who choose to accept rather ignore at his own peril!
“We never lose our demons, Mordo. We only learn to live above them.”
The Ancient One, ‘Doctor Strange’ (2016)
The Gladiator-esque Final
Remember the classic Russell Crowe movie Gladiator’s climax where he need to fight the King-ish Joaquin Phoenix who thinks people could be kept quiet and happy by distracting with Theatrics at Coliseum? Crowe gets stabbed before the contest so that he can’t fight Phoenix on his full strength. Even then he will manage to overpower Phoenix. Phoenix, at the verge of losing will ask his Army’s help guarding the contest on the boundaries. But, none would budge, nudging him to fight a good fight or perish. In the end Phoenix loses at the same theater he built to distract people from his evil rule. Coincidentally, Russell Crowe is an Australian.
“The measure of a person, of a hero… is how well they succeed at being who they are.”
Frigga, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
Ricky Ponting has mentioned the Australian team was hesitant before the Finals, fretting about the nature of the Pitch. He quipped every pitch is 22 yards, like a Champion. Pat Cummins knew how to derive energy just by silencing the crowd, offering a different perspective to crowd dynamics eager to chant “Jai Sri Ram!” even in a Cricket match. The Australian Batters made minimal mistakes after the clinical bowling to fetch the Cup. Indian team also had its winner in brilliant Kohli and selfless Rohit. But where the Australians trumped is that they changed every hostile condition to their advantage. Fortunately, ICC had not ashamed itself to the level of delegating corrupt officials, keeping it an even game at least on that front. Even the umpires got booed by Ahmedabad crowd when they did near perfect Job.
“Just because something works, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.”
Shuri, ‘Black Panther’ (2018)
Fortune favours the Brave even if the meek survives for Finals.
Happened to watch the Spy Web series from Cohen, masterfully crafted and mimicking very close to reality. It sings peans to Mossad’s ability to infiltrate for intelligence gathering. Cohen rises from a modest typist to almost Deputy Defence Minister of Syria, thanks to Israel’s money power begged from USA and Syria’s greed for power and infighting then. He gets exposed by one paranoid individual, supposedly the only thinking person from the Syrian side. More than the expose, it’s the Spy’s arrogance, who could not even question the frequent power cuts happening around, despite holding high table. It partly explains Mossad’s or Israel’s superiority complex that their intelligence will never get countered, just like the terror crisis of late and how they are killing innocent civilians leaving out the Hamas guys in the name of retaliation. Only the creamy intelligentsia could work out such miracles.
Harrowing image from Israeli border towns attacked by Hamas @Reuters. Nothing justifies the terror attack even if we go down 75 years history of oppression from Israel rendering Gaza to an Open Air Prison depriving them of everything except life – Airport, Power and what not… Hamas need to be hunted down and served Justice, but not by Bombing down Gaza. it just shows how superficial and showy instead of substance, the Israeli leadership has become.
When the West said, “What Ho Jews!”
The World’s most intelligent community, who once weeped that they got nowhere to go, has already amassed Palestine in novel ways with the blind blessings of the west, acting like the proverbial three Monkeys, See / Hear or Do nothing about Israel’s evils, especially when it comes to Palestine. The West Bank is lead by corrupt leader an omen on what will happen to Israel, if their rulers are corrupt. While Gaza is under brutal siege, West bank got slowly occupied slice by slice.
I remember the young Palestinian children who had never met their mothers because they were never given the permit to travel within the West Bank. Thousands of Palestinians never get a chance to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. Today, West Bank is facing another Al Nakba (exodus). In the worst-hit cities and refugee camps such as Jenin, Aqabat Jaber, Qalqilya, and Qalandiya, smaller Bedouin communities are being evacuated, land is being grabbed, and farms are being vandalised.
Had a friendly chat with my fishermen friend who provides me fresh seafood, while bargaining for crabs. He just explained on his professional hassles and how difficult it is to catch crabs. Those inhuman or (incrabby?) crabs bite with their claws and not so easy to catch them. Wonder what will the crabs do when they realise its their last fight for survival. While the massacre of Israelis is terrible, if you are not biased, could equate the decades long Palestinian struggle to that of crabs fighting for their survival, as another perspective. Hamas or any other outfit may not emerge victorious or even alive from lethal opponents – Israel and USA and they are very well aware of it. I don’t know how Israel-USA act like “Mad for each other Combo”, let’s take it up for later. But it could be Hamas’ last chance for their cause of free Palestine state, now occupied by Israel like a malignant tumour. It could be their last desperate suicidal surgery to further their cause.
“I hadn’t the heart to touch my breakfast. I told Jeeves to drink it himself.”
PG Wodehouse
Israel’s Racist Dream / Nightmare of Palestine without Palestinians
When Netanyahu is pretty good at ethnic cleansing, pervading like cancer, slice by slice, why he should attack Gaza? Israel’s gameplan is outed by Mr. Jeeve – Blinken, scoring same side goals for USA with his misplaced loyalty ( owing to his bloodline? ). Their idea is to establish Palestinian Authority, a corrupt puppet of Israel, leveraged to gobble up West Bank and Jerusalem, to rule Gaza so that they could eventually slice up the strip with Jewish enclaves. The other option proposed by Mr. Jeeve is that entrusting the administrations through UN, a dummy stooge of US where everything could be controlled through a Proxy like how Israel controls USA with its inimitable Jewish lobby. None of the so called “peace” solutions offered is going to work for Palestinians who may find Hamas like alternatives as better option in granting them autonomy and semblance of independence from the clutches of Israel, seething to grab everything from them.
“The voice of love seemed to call to me, but it was a wrong number.”
“We are seeing a genocide unfolding before our eyes, and the Organisation that we serve appears powerless to stop it… The current wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial settler ideology, in continuation of decades of their systematic persecution and purging, based entirely upon their status as Arabs … leaves no room for doubt…
This is a textbook case of genocide… European ethnic-nationalist, settler colonial project in Palestine had entered its final phase to destroy the last remnants of indigenous Palestinian life in Palestine. The genocide we are witnessing in Palestine is the product of decades of Israeli impunity provided by the US & other western governments & decades of dehumanization of the Palestinian people by western corporate media. Not only are these governments refusing to meet their treaty obligations to ensure respect for Geneva conventions, but they are actively arming the assault, providing intelligence support and giving political and diplomatic cover for Israel’s atrocities.”
Palestinian dead Bodies in Israel post Hamas attack.
Prior to that, let’s keep in mind John Oliver’s excellent observation…
“The tendency to collapse leaders and citizens when discussing this. To assume that Netanyahu speaks for all Israelis, or that Hamas speaks for all Palestinians, because that is emphatically not the case.”
John Oliver
Innocent Jewish Question #1: I could not understand how Democratic Socialists of America could rally for Hamas and other Palestinian leaders who became billionaires in part by stealing from their citizens. While most of the Gazan population live below the poverty level, their leaders live in the lap of luxury.
My answer would be that, Firstly, Corruption is not just amongst Palestinian Leaders. Netanyahu is a shining example of bending the Supreme Court on his Corruption cases, to escape unscathed. Secondly, The Right Wing extremists and settlers are not just corrupt on the dimension of money but abysmally morally corrupt to the level of making Arabs go through apartheid and bloody violence meted out by settlers. Lastly, At least the Gaza residents resisted the corrupt PA and its Leader Abbas, by electing the Hamas. On the contrary, what Israelis did is giving absolute power to an extremist Netanyahu for fifteen years, succumbing themselves to the extremist sentiments.
There are some “huge asterisks” about Gazans’ election of Hamas, such as that it was elected in 2006 without a referendum since; that children born after the election make up roughly half of Gaza’s population; and that Hamas won only a plurality of votes by presenting itself as a moderate organization against a rival party, Fatah, widely known for corruption.
Even if all Palestinians in Gaza did support Hamas – which they do not – the relentless bombings of civilians there would still be abhorrent,” Oliver argued. “Collective punishment is a war crime. But the fact is, there is much more criticism of Hamas in Gaza than Americans in general and these dipshits in particular are willing to admit. Palestinians in Gaza are not a monolith and nor, importantly, are Israelis.”
“We pay tax to Israel. We pay a tax to Fatah. We pay a tax to Hamas. We have three governments. They all shoot us…. We are very oppressed.”
Wa’el Al Wadia, the founder of Gaza’s largest food manufacturer. He used to export 80 percent of his products to the West Bank. But now his operation is just a fraction of what it used to be: there’s nowhere for his bags of chips and snacks to go. He had to rebuild his factory after Israeli bombs destroyed it in the 2009 and 2014 wars, losses which he hasn’t made back.
Israel accuses Hamas of using its money and resources to build more tunnels for smuggling in arms and to wage violence, and not for helping its population beset by a state of de-development. Inside Gaza, many Palestinians told me they are angry that Hamas officials are living large while people are struggling to just both eat and have a place to sleep. But, while living under siege, people say that frustration has nowhere productive to go. Instead, Gaza’s problems keep feeding off of each other.
“You can improve the condition of the prison a little bit, but still it’s the prison,” said Shaban.
The UNRWA cuts are just the latest kick in the gut to Gaza’s already starved economy and society. After all, to understand the folly of weaponizing food policies, just ask someone in Gaza what they are eating and why.
Innocent Jewish Question #2: Did they seriously think that Israel is responsible for Middle Eastern violence? Did they realize that all of the wars involving Israel have been defensive wars?
The facts say otherwise. It’s the Israelis who captured the Palestine through unethical means, rooting from the deceitful Balfour declaration. They waged war against neighbours and captured land in Yom Kippur War as an “act of self defense” ( Does this ring anything?). The First Lebanon War was again an act of “Self Defense” citing an assassination of Israel’s UK ambassador by a terrorist cell, not by any country. All the Gaza Hamas uprisings were due to Israel’s inhuman oppression of its residents stealing their occupation, income and autonomy including Airport, Power and now down to Hospitals, all in the name of “Self Defense”. I would bet every war Israel wages, to acquire supremacist power will be “self-defense”, but Palestinians could NOT do that so called “self-defense” even if the Jews occupy their land driving them out with cruel Nakbas.
Zionists say that all attacks on Israel are genocide. Let us look at the fatality count in some of the Israel-Palestine wars. Yom Kippur, 1973, saw 2,700 Israeli deaths and 19,000 Arab/Palestinian deaths. In the First Lebanon War, the numbers were 1,200 and 20,000. First Intifada: 179 and 1,200; Second Intifada: 900 and 3,300. The four Gaza Wars: 144 Israeli deaths and 4,800 Palestinian deaths. As this goes to press, the corresponding numbers for the ongoing war are 1,400 and 7,300, respectively. Hamas has stones, homemade rockets, tractors, and motorcycles. Israel has the world’s most sophisticated weapons. Israel is a nuclear nation while the Palestinians barely have a nation. Wasn’t it Voltaire who said killing is a crime unless you “kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets”?
A Palestinian man from al-Badrasawi family carries the body of his child who was killed in Israeli strikes, at Shuhada Al-Aqsa hospital in the central Gaza Strip, October 31. REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot
Innocent Jewish Question 3: Did these protestors honestly believe that this was a struggle over land? If so, how could they explain the fact that there was no peace even after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, giving the Palestinians all of the land? In addition, the Palestinians received billions of dollars in international aid. Instead of investing in infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and factories, Hamas invested in terrorism, building rockets and terror tunnels.
No, it was never a struggle over Land for Palestinians and it’s a Freudian slip from a ranting semitic fanatic, who is obsessed with others Land, where Live and Let Live as a philosophy cannot Live. Palestine has schools and Hospitals which are now bombed in the name Hamas Command Posts. Even by the theory of Israel predicting 500 Km long tunnels, they must be omnipresent running across civic amenities. Can’t they just fight it out from other entry points of the tunnel? Why would any sane person would bomb those civic amenities and come up with stories in Kids room, laying out weapons? In terms of funding, it was Netanyahu who allowed such funding to hamas, strategizing to weaken the PA and capture Jerusalem.
In 2009, pasta and lentils were removed from the banned list after then Senator John Kerry and other US representatives visited the Gaza Strip and were appalled to find out they were forbidden, according to Israel’s Haaretz Newspaper.
“The food blockade instilled in Gazans a strong sense of uncertainty and complete lack of control over their food choices,” Gross and Feldman wrote in a 2015 study in the Berkeley Journal of International Law. “Some of the additions to the list were even made to further Israeli economic interests, such as protecting the market prices of local Israeli farmers with excess agricultural produce.Israeli-produced tahini, or sesame paste, took over the Gaza market after Israel periodically banned the import of sesame seeds. Red tahini, made from specially toasted seeds, is a Gazan favorite that has become too costly to make.“
What Israel has accomplished so far is preparing the Gaza and West Bank for a genocide. Now, it has got a free hand to do what it itched for long to proceed through other stages of Genocide.
And like all processes, genocide has its stages – 10 stages in all if we are to refer to the list prepared by Dr Gregory Stanton, founding president and chairman of Genocide Watch, an organisation that does exactly what its name implies.
One of those stages is dehumanisation. This is an important one because committing genocide is not easy; murdering men, women and children in thousands tends to take a toll on the psyche, causing one to perhaps face all kinds of uncomfortable questions, to counter all manners of unwelcome thoughts that intrude into even the most closed of minds like single spies sneaking into a well-guarded fortress.
Those who pull the trigger on children, those who drop bombs on schools and hospitals, are after all presumably as humans as the ones they murder. How then, one wonders, do they sleep at night? How do they not see the blood on their hands every waking moment, like Lady Macbeth wandering the halls of the Dunsinane castle?
The answer is simple; you live with it by convincing yourself that those being killed are not in fact human, or at the very least not as human as you are. If you do that right and repeatedly, you will successfully convince yourself that murder is not murder; it’s pest control.
Well, Israel is just on the last stage of Genocide. The Denial Phase, where It justifies killing unarmed Civilians, even to the extent of clamping down Hospitals, denying treatment. Just keep in mind Israel is yet to uncover the Tunnel Headquarters under Al Shifa Hospital. All we get is few rusted Rifles laid down everywhere, making one wonder why the Hamas militants who escaped through those tunnels left them in Hospital.
John Oliver on gaza nails it…
“Any conversation around this has to begin with empathy, or we’re just fucked. We know that dehumanizing people leads to violence. We know that violence leads to even more brutality and destruction, and we know that crucially, breaking that cycle is unfortunately going to require leadership significantly different than the ones currently in place.”
To sum up, Israel never withdrew from Gaza. it just treated them like a Rat Farm, calibrating its feed after caging through Checkposts. Hamas is just a brutal Warden of the Gaza Prison. The real Culprit is Israel, completely dehumanizing the inhabitants through constant degradation of their lifestyle where Death looks like a nicer option. If you are not convinced, google yourself on Palestinian Kids Photos. Changing Warden never helps unless the Superior authority changes for good.
Innocent Jewish Question #4: Did they know that Hamas uses its citizens, especially children, as human shields, whereas Israel uses its soldiers to protect its citizens?
First of all demanding millions of people to leave their home, just because Israel wants to fight few thousands of militants is like cutting your thumb to avoid growing nails. Secondly, Hamas has no control over Gaza or its civilians as demonstrated by the inhuman siege enacted by Israel. IDF mentioned Hamas could not even stop the movement of Israel troops in Gaza equipped with just stones, grenades and rockets. It’s pretty clear Israel wants to play out the tricky urban warfare in a fast and furious mode, competing with hamas on revenge saga. Thirdly, Israel does not like Gaza Civilians resisting to leave their homeland and are scared more about their armless resistance across West bank / Gaza than Hamas. They will do these civilian evacuation just to make sure there are no Arab roots even after the war. Hamas and their undoing is just a cover for the cunning Israeli administration. Israel’s perceived self defense is fighting an unjust war, in a closed environment without any network access, simulating a gas chamber, suppressing civilians even before they try to resist.
Israel’s claim of Hamas is using civilians is just a narrative to smoke Hamas Militants out of their dens / holes. The fact is Israel controls even the food intake of Gazans by calibrating the controls at Borders.
In 2012, Gisha published some of this information after attaining it through a freedom of information petition. The documents showed that in 2008, the Israeli military precisely calculated the daily amount of calories needed to avoid malnutrition in Gaza (2,279 per person, in line with World Health Organization guidelines) as part of determining how much food to let in.
“The [Israeli government] thinking was we don’t want Gaza residents to outright die of hunger but we definitely don’t want them to be too full or happy and fulfilled,” Marmur told me in June. She called it a form of “economic warfare” aimed at “trying to squeeze people to put pressure on them to topple Hamas.”
Innocent Jewish Question #5: Did the same people who champion the rights of indigenous people know they were denying Jewish people, the indigenous people of Israel, the right to their historic homeland?
To address the historicity of Jewish Homeland, Jews did not rule Jerusalem before Second World War. It’s the Caliphs and Ottomans who ruled Jerusalem and were magnanimous enough to allow Jews peacefully without any segregation, except for few Caliphs who segregated with higher taxation. But History states Jews lived peacefully in Arabia under the able leadership of Islam rulers and migrated to Palestine from Europe owing to violence and forced exodus. If you are curious why they should face exodus across the globe other than Arabia, is because despite being famed Merchants with integrity, they did not gel with other races / communities isolating themselves in enclaves and characterized by greyish supremacist attitude treating others as secondary servants, extracting exorbitant lending rates from uneducated poor people, even grabbing their lands and corrupt undertakings by bribing Officials. To sum up, historically Palestine belonged to Arabs for centuries after Christ AD.
For the next part of Rights Champions standing with Palestinians, let’s say hypothetically, tomorrow tables turn and someone else got upper hand in the region. Should we all sit tight and watch when the new Superior Badass sadistically asks all Jews to evacuate Israel so that they will fight with IDF alone? Should we all be fine with a badass cutting off water, power and communication in Israel so that people die on their own? Should we just cruelly entertain ourselves, rather asking blood boiling questions, while watching videos of Jews getting bombed, Jews begging on the streets for food and Jewish Kids drinking sea water and Jewish Babies are buried in Hospital campus? Personally, I as a lame blogger will resist that atrocity too, just like the righteous BLM Movement or god fearing Christians are doing now.
Innocent Jewish Question #6: Were they aware that in recent years millions of Muslims have murdered other Muslims in wars and violent upheavals in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, Myanmar, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria? If indeed Israel left, there would be more bloodshed.
First of all some of the Arab countries have not even recognized Israel and others are lured with western incentives. One of the major reasons Palestine is burning is because of the factions of the Arab world. One could observe cracks with the Arab summit, lack of mutual trust allowing external parties to leverage them, rightfully so with everyone’s enmity track record. Israel’s grievous war crime of this century yet, got blessings of the West, UN and even few Arab countries who are implicitly complicit to this massacre, while paying ferocious lip service to soothe the Arab streets, as evident in the Last Arab summit and dummy UN resolutions.
But, Israel is just acting as a catalyst of separating Arabs, propping up Iran as the trouble maker and seeking to make peace with Abrahamic Accords signed States, only to stabilise themselves in the region with recognition. Israel is not looked upon as Peace-Maker but as offering Piece-Meal solutions and eating them up too, like the story of Monkey and two cats.
The two cats went in search of food, they found a loaf of bread. They both wanted the bread as they were very hungry. They began to fight over it. one cat said, “I found it first it’s mine.” Another cat said, “No I found it first, give it to me.”
A monkey in the tree seeing them fighting said to himself, ‘It will be great if I get that bread. It looks yummy.” He came to the cats and said, “Friends why are you quarrelling? I will settle your fight”. Both the cats agreed to his proposal.
The Monkey split the bread into two uneven pieces. One piece was large and the other piece was small. Then he ate a portion from the larger piece. But this made the other piece larger. So it took a bite from the other piece. likewise, the monkey ate the whole loaf of bread. It climbed back the tree laughing at the cats. Two foolish cats couldn’t able to eat anything.
Innocent Jewish Question #7: Did they know that in 1948, there were actually more Jewish refugees expelled from Arab countries than Palestinians expelled from Israel?
Firstly, it confirms more Jews have lived with Arabs peacefully before the birth of Israel, ruled by the Ottomans. Secondly, Ottomans failed in the second World war deceived by the Western powers. When the western powers split up the land as per their secret agreement, Britain gifted Israel splitting the Palestine leveraging the UN, as a return gift for Jewish Lobby and their help in war efforts and most importantly after the holocaust recognising the need for a separate land for Jews. The original inhabitants – The Arabs were rendered secondary citizens subservient to the new Masters – The Jews, and resisted the Split. This led to violence on both the sides. Lastly, Of course Jews suffered violence but Israel has displaced more Palestine’s Arabs than Jews from Arab land throughout History and is evident even now at gaza and west bank.
Israel is repeating the genocide with impunity from 1948, like the current happenings at Gaza, by denying the natives even basic living needs.
Innocent Jewish Question #8: Most importantly, were they aware that all of the bloodshed between Arabs and Jews could have been avoided with one word: YES! When the United Nations offered both the Jews and the Arabs a country of their own, the Jews said YES, but the Arabs said NO, choosing war instead.
Israel is the geopolitical historical use case of Western Police aligning with the Thief, ensuring the actual owner is dispossessed of belongings, so as to share the loot. Let’s say tomorrow, some greedy Idiot conquers Israel and wants to gift it to Arabs back where Israelis can live but without any rights on their homeland, will the Israelis say “YES!” or move on to somewhere else? Just keep in mind, the Israelis have extracted blood revenge in multiples throughout their history on their Arab neighbours, even amassing their land. Infact, the Middle east was relatively peaceful before the birth of Israel, except for the crusade and World wars. Formation of Israel was not a marriage, where the odd couples kiss each and live happily ever after, but slaughter of rights of inhabitants and their descendants doomed for the future. Ethnic Cleansing was never about Simple “Yes” or “No”.
Innocent Jewish Question #9: Did these “peace advocates” know that Israel has offered the Palestinians peace agreements multiple times over the years, only to be rejected every time and met with an increased level of Palestinian violence?
Israel’s Birth got nothing to do with Peace. It has a lot to do with the petroleum reserves in the Arab which the Western world realised as golden grail of the future then, just as it got to wash off its guilt with Holocaust. Infact, prior World War II, Britain was ready to offer Jews some land in Africa. Israel was their western agent installed to keep the Arab world on leash with the western military strategic control installed there.
Israel never acted like a Peace agent but as a Loot agent. Israel got a method of pressing for Peace once it has stolen enough land from Palestinians and neighbouring countries. It has criminal track record of amassing Palestinian Lands by settling villages near the Borders. Peace treaties for Israel are nothing but the act of a mischievous kid stealing the chocolates from an innocent and seeking the help of his Guardians to legalise the loot. The Peace treaties were always a deceitful way of legitimizing those illegal jewish settlements. Irrespective of the Peace deal outcome, Israel has aggressively encroached the Arab land causing disturbances, throwing away the treaties to bin. With Netanyahu, it has lost its moderate greed succumbing to extremist attitude of apartheid in West Bank and suppressing Gaza as a Prison Block, with an agenda to assimilate Jerusalem. I would bet Israel’s next Peace treaty proposal will demand Palestinians to leave off Jerusalem at Western Gun point along with West Bank and Gaza goodies ruled by proxies. It’s just a namesake agreement so that World will not question their colonial attitude.
Innocent Jewish Question #10: Is it willful ignorance or intellectual laziness that has brought the level of antisemitism to where it is today? At a time when it is increasingly unacceptable to be racist or homophobic, antisemitism continues to be a cancer that briefly recedes only to return with a vengeance.
“Let me be very, very clear. Being pro-Palestinian is not being anti semitic, being pro-Palestinian does not mean you’re pro-Hamas or pro-terrorism,” Jordan Queen Rania explained it well.
If we start generalizing, anyone reading proper History will be deemed anti-semitic. Anyone reading unbiased Newspaper will be deemed anti-semitic. When Israel learns the actual meaning of Apartheid, when Israel learns the value of lives other than Jews, when Israel learns what it means to live suffocated in Prison for generations… the world will learn to respect Jews a lot more than now, not just for their smartness and dedication but as peaceful and peace loving Humans. Miles to go… before the restless minds find their peaceful sleep.
Consider the Old Testament, where the Prophet Samuel warns the Israelites of the dangers of accepting a king. It is one of the most prescient – and sinister – passages in the Bible:
These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plough his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.
The advent of settlements and private property had ushered in a new age in the history of humankind. The 1 per cent began oppressing the 99 per cent, and smooth talkers ascended from commanders to generals and from chieftains to kings. The days of liberty, equality and fraternity were over. – Robert Bergman, Humankind
Poor Peaceless Jeeve…
Only Mr. Jeeve could decipher how his resolution will bring in lasting Peace. Even for short term resolution, to calm the protestors enraged by the 10000+ lives bombed at Gaza, happening solely at US expense, Jeeve has come up with a unique idea of Humanitarian pause, analogous to giving life support to a terminally ill patient at scheduled interval, like checking how long he could survive without life support. By any illogical logic, one could not decipher, how the so called peace loving Peace Broker could bring in peace by killing more people. If at all there is one logic it’s about complete erasure of Palestinians with a deadly silence brought by WMDs. After killing 10000+ Palestinians as revenge for 1500 Israeli lives, Mr. Jeeve lamented that, “It is striking, and in some ways shocking, that the brutality of the slaughter has receded so quickly in the memories of so many, but not in Israel and not in America”. If at all Mr. Jeeve can tell us on the multiplication-table-of-Palestinian-sub-humanness, he uses to avenge his Israeli shock to end this might-mare… World could witness his double standards in open light.
I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.
PG Wodehouse
On 8th November 2023, Mr. Jeeve and fellow Jews ruling USA came up with another Jewish gem, that USA will not allow Israel to control Gaza, after successfully making it a Cemetery of sorts, a city without water, flour or communication and Just dusty air to live until.. Death. Israel as such knew better than anyone else that occupying Gaza will be biggest blunder in Country’s history. It’s better to be a small time thief silently slicing up West Bank making use of border loopholes rather doing a complete Land grab heist only to become the global enemy caught with pants down on their Neo-nazism.
A story on what happens when you got a nuisance as your settler neighbour.
The gypsy and the doctor are both in the market looking for houses. So the doctor decides that he wants his own custom house. So he buys a plot of land. And, seeing the doctor as a smart man, the gypsy does the same.
Once construction on the houses had begun, the gypsy copied everything the doctor did. The doctor put stones on his house, so did the gypsy. The doctor built an interlock drive way, so did the gypsy. In the end, both had identical houses. A few months later, being the flexible person he is, the doctor decides to get his house appraised, and so does the gypsy.
When the real estate agent asked the doctor how much he thought the house was worth, the doctor immediately said 1 million dollars. And so the real estate agent put up that price. Then the real estate agent asked the Gypsy what he thinks his house is worth, and instantly the Gypsy says 1.2 million dollars. The real estate agent asks the Gypsy why he thinks his house is worth more if they both have the exact same, identical house.
And the Gypsy responds “because who ever buys my house has a doctor for a neighbour, but whoever buys his house gets a Gypsy!”
Of course, Israel’s greed for land heist is not something new. It has been doing this for long. But this time it’s just taking revenge giving back a massacre of ten fold civilians rather capturing land. A Thief gets easily caught when he complicates doing both stealing and killing and Netanyahu being a seasoned thief, filled with Right wing hatred to the brim, will never attempt that as he is silently stealing West Bank for long. So, when Mr. Jeeve came up with this unpartial(?) magnanimous posture of freeing(?) gaza from Israel after the war err… Massacre, during his meet with Arab leaders, they just roasted him on his delusional gameplans for Gaza…
PEOPLE MOURN NEXT TO DEAD BODIES OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING ISRAELI ATTACKS, AL-AQSA HOSPITAL, DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA, NOVEMBER 8, 2023. (PHOTO: OMAR AL-DIRAWI/APA IMAGES)
“How can we even entertain what will happen in Gaza when we do not know what kind of Gaza will be left after this war is done?” asked Ayman Safadi, as he stood next to Blinken. “Are we going to be talking about a wasteland? Are we going to be talking about a whole population reduced to refugees?”
Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian foreign minister and deputy prime minister
Of Course America is a mighty shining example for that Hypocrite Doctor who always makes the successful Hippocratic surgery, ensuring the Patient dies to live a happily ever… afterlife. If you scoff at Hospitals who erect Billboards for publicity, America is Picasso of such institutions, pretty at good at sponsoring inhuman catastrophe masterpieces with its cutting edge tech, ruthless weapons and funding around the world and at the same time act like a good doctor advising people to eat that Democratic Apple everyday. It’s also pretty ironic that Democratic America’s philosophical enemies – Dictatorships, have delivered much calmer regimes, needling others a lot lesser, like Communist China or Arab Monarchies. Maybe they have not fully evolved into weapon merchants. If you ask Biden, if he will hold a fair democratic election in Palestine, he will talk about everything else in the world except a simple Yes or No, just like infamous ceasefire comics. Its simple.. Palestinians will not support the corrupt PLA acting as Israel’s collaborator enabling its autocratism. The reality is… Biden will never cross that red line laid out by Israel, because when it comes to Israel, the world order goes topsy turvy.
“It was a confusion of ideas between him and one of the lions he was hunting in Kenya that had caused A. B. Spottsworth to make the obituary column. He thought the lion was dead, and the lion thought it wasn’t.”
Ring for Jeeves – PG Wodehouse
Hypocrite’s Hippocratic version – Bombing is the man’s best medicine
America’s Hippocratic Hypocrite avatar is exactly displayed in full glory at Gaza. Picture USA providing 15 Billion Dollar alms to Israel for the war funding, is actually begging Israel for a ceasefire. If you are confused who are the real masters here, you need to check the Jewish electoral funding, establishing the zen theory of what goes in circle as Aid, comes in perfect circle as election funds, like a racist hawala ( Illegal Money exchange using foreign bypass circuits ). Only USA can pinch the baby asleep in the cradle and also rock it like a loving Mother, singing lullabies to calm the world and its own people. Only Holy Mother USA, holding a flaming torch of Liberty, could pull off a world heist by burning the unarmed civilian World in the guise of Self-defense.
I am an unashamed ardent admirer of USA and its open culture, but it’s also pretty ironic that its Government and its people act like two different entities working on opposite polarities. Maybe that’s what keeps their cowboy democracy powered. Giving due credit where its due, one gotta acknowledge, nowhere else… Christians, Muslims, Hindus and rainbow coalition of races can cohabit peacefully along with the Americans, I mean the native Indians. I owe my decade long (modest) earnings and career to a company founded by a Jew and his tech. Irony is that, I never even thought about such origins till date. That is ( or was? ) the beauty of USA, incredible people and two-faced Politicians having their own selfish agenda.
‘What ho!’ I said. ‘What ho!’ said Motty. ‘What ho! What ho!’ ‘What ho! What ho! What ho!’ After that it seemed rather difficult to go on with the conversation.
My Man Jeeves, PG Wodehouse
Currently Mr. Jeeve is on a trip which is as useful as him… for Palestinians and USA. What Ho Jeeve!
Prem Shankar Jha explains below on how Israel may never win the ethnic cleansing process with sandwich enclaves. Their only option seems to be mass displacement of native Arabs to Egypt and occupy the territory establishing a Proxy ruler.
If the current trends in population growth continue, Jews will become a minority in Palestine in less than 10 years. This could happen despite a recently noted rise in the fertility rate of Jewish women in Israel, because the immigration of Jews is bound to slow down in the coming decade, particularly if the violence now being witnessed in the West Bank and Gaza becomes a constant feature of life in Israel.
The Israeli far right’s dream of recreating ‘Eretz Israel’, a Jewish nation that will encompass all the land that was inhabited by Jews in Biblical times, is therefore destined to fail because of the simple working of biology. Given this disparity in population growth rates, Israel’s current attempt to expand the Jewish domain by building apartment blocks and pressurising reluctant Palestinians to sell their properties in East Jerusalem, and by clearing Arabs out, enclave by enclave, from the West Bank, will be like trying to climb onto a train that is moving faster than they are able to walk.
It would therefore have been surprising if the failure of the strategy of “annexation by incremental occupation”, pursued by the Netanyahu government for the past 14 years, had not increased the attraction of a quick, genocidal war to push most, if not all, Arabs out of Palestine. Hamas’s October 7 attack, and the western world’s instant and unqualified condemnation of it, has given the Netanyahu regime the opportunity to contemplate such a ‘solution’. The forced emptying of north Gaza, the continued cut off of power and water supply to, and occasional bombing of targets in, the hugely overcrowded south, the reluctant renewal of water supply to parts of south Gaza only upon American insistence, and the continuing cut-off of electricity and blockade on food supply, are almost certainly intended to create a desperate humanitarian situation that will force Egypt to open its gates to the Sinai and allow the population of Gaza to pour in. Needless to say, once they are gone, Israel will never allow them back, so the ethnic cleansing of Gaza will be complete.
“It just showed once again that half the world doesn’t know how the other three quarters live.”
Much Obliged, Jeeves – PG Wodehouse
Cohen’s OMG Moment- How can you make me so intelligent by Birth… I am gonna hang myself Now!
The Spy Web Series explores the meteoric rise of Cohen to the level of possible Syrian Ministership, only to get hanged to death, without holding a gun or firing a bullet, a dumb Spy movie would want us not to believe in, on how a spy operates. Maybe MI6 spies wear a Tux and saying everyone around, “Here comes the womanising drunkard on rocks, working as part time Showstopper Spy!”, just like Rishi Sunak won his Nobel peas prize by establishing two state treaty, by visiting Israel. It’s quite ironic, Israel of late, is victim of its own over-smartness. Terrorist outfit Hamas was able to outwit Israel’s Aman, Mossad and Shabak and all other BS intelligence organizations, just like Israel’s own Spy did to Syria. Hamas was acting meek asking for work permits and other economic favours from Israel, to outwit it’s stupidly headstrong corrupt Leader Netanyahu, got carried over by his imagined Right wing Supremacy, like all dictators do, even when working under the guise of democracy – focusing on his failing attempt to subvert Justice System to hide over his “Unreasonable” Corruption, only enabling hamas unraveling its true face, cruelly unleashing a bloody heart wrenching massacre on Jews.
“A true agent has instinct, and that cannot be taught. He either has it or he doesn’t.”
The Spy Web series
One could easily imagine Netanyahu performing the Syrian President act in the Spy series for real, shell shocked by Eli Cohen’s treacherous betrayal, after Hamas terror. He did not help himself, by weakening Israel’s democratic institutions with Justice reforms, creating unrest among righteous Israelis, polarising the Jews who have shown utmost Unity throughout their violent history, placed either at giving or receiving end.
“Oh, This Guy’s A Lunatic. Oh, Look At That Psycho, He’s Going To Get Us All Killed.”
Hitler about himself in Jojo Rabbit Movie
Netanyahu’s fiery honeymoon with Hamas and Hezbollah, at Israel and Palestine’s expense.
Netanyahu could be the best ally Hamas or other terror outfits could have imagined, to bring themselves to relevance. Just imagine someone who is from the supposedly smartest race in the World, dissipating World’s sympathy and support gained due to the gruesome Violence inflicted on the Israelites, which could have been leveraged to neutralize the global Arab powers, helping Israel on the long run whitewashing their three quarter century long ongoing sins to Palestinians, instead choosing to his characteristic Palestinian hatred, effeminately waging a direct a war on Gaza civilians instead of targeting the terrorists with meticulous surgical strikes. If this would have happened in India like Godhra, it could have favoured Netanyahu, riding on the hatred and its powerful emotional quotient, but sadly seems does not work with Israelites, who are exhibiting admirable resistance on his democratic attacks and jewish extermism. Honestly, Israel deserves a better Leader, if they still stay true to their heritage.
An Israeli woman cries as she holds a photo of a woman who was kidnapped. Photograph: Petros Giannakouris/AP
Karma – One thing about tables… They always turn.
Now, Israel’s Leadership is treating Hamas just like Eli Cohen deserved of Syria’s punishment for treason. Ironically, Cohen’s public execution only helped Mossad to gain a global Brand image of mythical proportions. Syria turned out to be a Government run by bunch of Jokers allowing Israel to operate at will under their factionally clogged nostrils. Israel is just going through the same scenario now, trying to blood-wash off their intelligence failure and shame to avert a crisis at homeland by killing innocent civilians at Gaza.
Here are some of the most recent images coming to us from Gaza from Guardian.
Members of the al-Zanati family killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza, are taken to a waiting vehicle to be driven to a cemetery for burial in Khan Yunis on Monday. Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesA Palestinian man arrives at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza after an Israeli strike. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu/Getty ImagesWounded Palestinians receive treatment at al-Shifa hospital, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City. Photograph: Abed Khaled/APA Palestinian child is brought to Nasser Hospital after an Israeli attack on Khan Yunis, Gaza on Monday. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu/Getty Images
“We’re Like You, But Human.”
The Jew in Jojo Rabbit Movie
Ok! but Savagely Animalistic when placed at the giving end.
Netanyahu’s “Why do I fall..? So that I learn how to make others fall by pulling their legs” Career Profile
Before we dive further on Netanyahu’s extremist atrocities, he has a track record of a Warrior who always wants to fight… but the problem being he always fought the bad fight and sometimes even when there is no fight. His career in IDF started with Yom Kippur War capturing large chunks of Arab land in six days and rescuing hostages. He has even lost his Brother to terrorism. His political career slowly progressed in early phases skyrocketed with opposing Oslo accords giving dignity to Palestinians and become PM soon after the assassination of then Israeli PM by a Jewish extremist, whose widowed wife blames Netanyahu and his counterpart for his death. Grain of Salt?
He ensured his Politics of Jewish Supremacy never got compromised so far and have always thrived on crisis like below.
In September 1967, a few months after the June war, Arab countries passed the ‘Three Nos’ resolution in the Khartoum summit — “No peace with Israel, No negotiations with Israel and No recognition of Israel”. In an indirect reference to the Khartoum resolution, Mr. Netanyahu later came up with his own policy of “Three Nos — “No withdrawal from the Golan Heights, No discussion of the status of Jerusalem and No negotiations under any preconditions.”
Arab countries have walked back on the Khartoum Nos. In 1994, a year after the first Oslo Accord was signed, Jordan reached a peace treaty with Israel. In 2020, four more Arab countries — the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan (where the Khartoum summit took place) and Morocco — normalised ties with Israel. But Mr. Netanyahu has not compromised on any of his Nos. On the other side, he tightened Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and enforced a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, which saw repeated, disproportionate Israeli bombardments in retaliation for rocket attacks by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.
Despite US displaying mad love towards Israel, Netanyahu never acted as a trusted Partner across his Prime Ministership. Its just his unethical mechanisms adopted at US political landscape utilizing his pitfalls and getting the super strong lobbies to work for his agenda is enabling him to steer US to his wild wishes so far.
Clinton has been an effective President maneuvering the Israel Palestine crisis to acceptable levels of peace with Oslo accords. But even Clinton could not rein on Netanyahu in his last phase of Presidency. Dennis Ross, U.S. President Bill Clinton’s peace envoy, then said “neither President Clinton nor Secretary [of State Madeleine] Albright believed that Bibi had any real interest in pursuing peace.”.
A beautiful picture of how American Big Brother Presidency could still achieve World Peace. Bill Clinton with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat at the White House in 1993. (Larry Downing / Getty)
Netanyahu was able to milk Bush administration to clamp down Gaza cutting the residents off their livelihood with fishing business citing smuggling and terror threats. He also shut down the Gaza Airport and even power Plant to make it a full fledged Prison. For Netanyahu 9/11 was a blessing in disguise and US was caught up in a shock and Islamophobia, enabling him to further oppress Palestinians, citing terror threats, with US blessings.
One day in the future, George Bush has a heart attack and dies. He immediately goes to hell, where the devil is waiting for him. “I don’t know what to do,” says the devil. “You are on my list, but I have no room for you. You definitely have to stay here, so I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’ve got some folks here who weren’t quite as bad as you. I’ll let one of them go, but you have to take their place. I’ll even let YOU decide who leaves.”
Bush thought that sounded pretty good, so the devil opened the first room. In it was Ronald Reagan and a large pool of water. He kept diving in and surfacing empty handed. Over and over and over. Such was his fate in hell. “No, George said. “I don’t think so. I’m not a good swimmer and I don’t think I could do that all day long.”
The devil led him to the next room. In it was Richard Nixon with a sledge hammer and a room full of rocks. All he did was swing that hammer, time after time after time. “No, I’ve got this problem with my shoulder. I would be in constant agony if all I could do was break rocks all day,” commented George.
The devil opened a third door. In it, Bush saw Bill Clinton, lying on the floor with his arms staked over his head, and his legs staked in a spread eagle pose. Bent over him was Konica. Bush took this in disbelief and finally said, “Yea, I can handle this.”
The devil said “OK, Konica, you’re free to go.”
Obama never had an easy relationship with Netanyahu. Netanyahu leveraged VP Biden to calm him off his atrocities meted out to Palestine. NY times states how Obama was pushed to the the level of letting down Israel at UN a very rare move in US history.
Mr. Obama’s decision on Friday not to block a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements laid bare all the grievances the two men have nursed since shortly after they took office in 2009. For Mr. Netanyahu, it was the final betrayal by a president who was supposed to be an ally but never really was. For Mr. Obama, it was the inevitable result of Mr. Netanyahu’s own stubborn defiance of international concerns with his policies.
The two sides did little to hide their mutual contempt. After talks led them to conclude that Mr. Obama would not veto the resolution, as presidents of both parties have done in the past, Israeli officials essentially washed their hands of the incumbent and contacted his successor in the wings. President-elect Donald J. Trump promptly put out a statement calling on Mr. Obama to veto the resolution.
When that ultimately did not stop the Council from acting, Mr. Netanyahu’s team expressed blistering anger at Mr. Obama. The Israeli official said. “The U.S. administration secretly cooked up with the Palestinians an extreme anti-Israeli resolution behind Israel’s back which would be a tailwind for terror and boycotts and effectively make the Western Wall occupied Palestinian territory.”
Trump enjoyed a split personality type relationship with Netanyahu, siding with Israel on their supremacist attitude against Palestinians and even to the extent of handing over the White House keys to his best Friend Netanyahu and officially declaring East Jerusalem as capital of Israel. Afterall Trump is a shining example of what Money could buy, even the mighty American Presidency. Trump played a major role in establishing peace treaties of Arab Nations with Israel when everybody ( of course, except Netanyahu ) said “Three Yes” to the orgasmic Corruption and selfish benefits it brought along forgetting Palestinians’ misery. Now, as a losing Presidential Horse with Netanyahu staying away from his miseries courting Biden and his corrupt relationship souring, Trump exposing his hostile face, spilled out how Netanyahu let him down on crucial stage.
“Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months,” he said about the coordination to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. “We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack.” “Nobody’s heard this story before,” Mr. Trump said. “They didn’t tell us why. I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed,” he said. “But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision … and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.”
For Israel and his lobbying team, American Presidents are just Use and Throw placeholders, helping their cause. Its sad they have reduced themselves to that level of “swamp” as Trump rightly pointed out before his election and bathed in the same swamp during his Presidency. Now, Israel has come strongly against Trump. “We don’t have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts,” Israel communications minister Shlomo Karhi said. Asked if Trump’s comments make it clear that he can’t be relied on, Karhi replied, “Obviously.”
Obviously!
Biden never talked about West Bank settlers and even brushed off the quantum of Palestinian deaths as just exaggeration of Hamas. It shows the grip Israel has with American establishment, treating them like a Puppet. Exactly, the reason why Obama or even Trump acted as better Presidents handling Netanyahu. I got no doubts Biden will suffer humiliation especially with Netanyahu, just like Obama or Trump once his utility got over, while walking a tightrope of balancing his reelection and aiding the genocide of Palestinians. It only shows one thing, Israelis are vile cold blooded negotiators who will go to any extent to play with any country’s system, breaking it down for their selfish benefits.
Netanyahu’s “Save your own Ass First” Strategy
Israeli Leadership might have a strategy behind attacking Palestinians, which they are doing well for decades to stamp on their supremacy. It might unite the Israelis divided under Netanyahu slow poisoning his own democracy, for selfish sakes. Netanyahu has so far refused to take any responsibility on the massacre so far, where he is genuinely responsible for focusing on his selfish agenda rather national security. He has remained silent to talk at opportune moment where euphoria could ran high…if at all… The War Cabinet is just another ploy to save his own ass if the Army fumbles on this Gaza invasion. He reminds me of Modi who takes all credit for good happenings but deflects and never answers when he is in hot soup, a characteristic of wannabe dictator caught up in a democratic framework.
The current blockade does not have a clear strategy to defeat Hamas. Infact, there are many unknowns like Hamas’ drone capacity along with the web of underground tunnels which could be claustrophobic with booby traps, playing to the psychological advantage of Hamas. The Air force raining bombs on Gaza strip just shows how cluelessly paranoid the IDF is. They have fired at Ambulances claiming Hamas militants were traveling. They bombed refugee camps imagining the underground network of Hamas got destroyed. All happened without even a shred of evidence with USA / CIA meekly supporting without drawing any red lines, like (s)cared husband adhering to his arrogant Wife’s irrational claims. It’s just plain optics / politics to soothe the hurt Israeli sentiments, raging with nerves of revenge, by starving and gifting the Palestinians a slow death, and instant death by raining bombs, but still clueless on uprooting Hamas and its terror counterparts, or even solving the immediate hostage crisis. One could see Israel putting up pathetic display of hostage families to gain sympathy of the world.
“Attila the Hun might have broken off his engagement to her, but nobody except Attila the Hun, and he only on one of his best mornings.”
PG Wodehouse
Good Bad-Bye Biden?
The open theater apartheid has the blessings of the West who once wanted to eradicate Jews from their part of the Planet, deeper down the history, and it’s not just Hitler, only coinciding as the wholesome full stop for such evil acts of terror and genocide. Sadly, Jews are now doing the same atrocities, they have painfully endured, to the poor Palestinians, without any remorse. More than the violent history, I never imagined Biden’s bloodlustness, acting like a stumbling Cowboy Bush, placing a misfiring pistol on Planet’s head. I have never witnessed mighty American Presidency getting treated by Israel like an idle couch getting soiled by mischievous kids. With all the dubbing of mighty voice of military power, Biden looks like a confused fused out Leader, who cant connect his own past and present.
Wonder if it’s the same Biden who wanted Saudis to pay the Price for Khashoggi in 2020 but found close ally in MBS. Why such bombastic campaign words when ultimately he is gonna be a fused out cracker with a meek sound.
Wonder if it’s the same Biden who wants to fight for Ukraine freedom but when it comes to Palestinians chooses to jail them as per the jewish lobby wishes. If Biden can’t differentiate between Hamas and Palestinians, can he at least distinguish between Democrats and Republicans, or go on extinguishing Democrats in Presidential race.
If I don’t run for president, we’ll all be OK.
Joe Biden
While Biden could be the right President making wrong decisions, as there is no other way to console ourselves, what is more disconcerting is the silence of the so called Democratic Socialist Saviours…. When they opened up they looked up to Israel to stop bombing Civilians, rather questioning their own President. If at all cowardly Israel did not bomb civilians like a mad racist Hitler, the question of ceasefire would not have been raised, making it a rightful fight between Hamas and IDF Forces. But Israel has declared a siege against millions at gaza just to conquer the 40K Hamas terrorists, targeting 25000+ targets in 30 days ( Just get your Maths done 25K Bombs for 40K Militants so far ) without any care for civilians out there, hitting all the essential services, including Water wells, communication companies and even Hospitals and Ambulances. This is completely intentional war crime, directly targeting Civilians instead of Hamas, as IDF is fully aware that they are not on the ground but hiding under the ground.
No nation should stoke instability in its neighbor’s country.
Joe Biden
What happens when you are not careful on what you wish for, even if you got an (American) genie on your back?
A gypsy man caught a golden fish And the fish said “Dear fisherman, if you throw me back in the water, I will grant you three wishes.”
The gypsy threw the fish back and went “I want to be white, I want to be 8 inches long and I want all women in the world to want me.”
Fish did it’s magic and the man turned into a sanitary pad.
If someone opines that, Biden on his worst day is Hundred times better than Trump, one could easily argue Trump on any day is thousand times better than a two faced Biden, treating civilians all around like getting rid off dirt on his shoes. Its the same Biden who proudly proclaimed that he was the one who opened up Rafah Border for trickling Humanitarian aid while showing up his grave-digger trait with War funds and warships to Israel. Even if Biden kept quiet like Trump used to do in warlike situations, Netanyahu will not be dancing on steroids on top of Palestinian dead bodies. Trump openly displayed his Islamophobia and White Supremacy ( When he himself looks like native red Indian in his mug shot. I am fine being called a Racist in this world where it’s perfectly gentlemanish to bomb unarmed people. ) to cater to the basal instincts of his supporters playing to the gallery. Biden is talking like a Poop err.. Pope, while in reality being a deadly murderer, toying with his military might and funds, to hide his inefficiencies and wrong decisions.
“A melancholy-looking man, he had the appearance of one who has searched for the leak in life’s gas-pipe with a lighted candle.”
PG Wodehouse
Wonder if it’s the same Biden who was an awkward peace maker withdrawing troops in Afghanistan but looking to bully in other parts of the Planet for contradicting reasons. Maybe he got points to score and settle after his illogical, hasty, haphazard and cowardly step back at Afghanistan, trying to shore up his floundering image through Ukraine and Gaza war.
Obviously, no wonder he is going through such a low approval despite the powerful democrat media lobby. If any individual does this, he could be deemed schizophrenic, but not USA and its President. Afterall, it’s the same Biden who sends Baby diapers to Palestine as Humanitarian Uncle while shitting on them by sending sponsored Fighter Jets and Drones to bomb Palestine and bullshitting the Public on his Saintly credentials. Where Biden excels is that, he trumped Trump on his opportunism on very issue he stood for during election as if flipping a pancake, maybe his best fit for retirement career. With all his vulnerabilities and war criminalities with so much successful murders on his Name all over the Planet, still carrying the coalition of democrats like a Trojan Horse, Biden may still win his Presidential race. But the real question is how tolerable will he be for world, ( forget about peace), with a supreme ego of “We’re US, for God’s sake!”, going on a rampage for every step he stumbles.
“Breakfast had been prepared by the kitchen maid, an indifferent performer who had used the scorched earth policy on the bacon again.”
PG Wodehouse
There is a democratic euphoria around their recent poll wins. Biden promptly washed off the opinion polls which washed him off, citing the latest election results. While the math of opinion polls don’t tally well where certain demographics did not back the Democrats surprisingly, there is other side to the small but streak of wins. Andy Beshear who got elected from conservative Kentucky stayed off even from uttering the Biden word. While the election results stands as a testament against Republicans trampling on American rights, it also rings warning bells to Democrats where things could be different for Presidential elections. Post pandemic challenges and Biden’s inert and bland Presidency could act as a deterrent to moderates and it may even spring a surprise of new Parties taking up major share of democrat votes. USA is at a cleavage phase where a new entrant could do more damage if he/she could enthuse as alternative to blabbering Biden or toxic Trump.
US-Israel love story is just like the below stuff of mad for each other love, driving the world insane…
A rich American falls in love with a gypsy woman…
He tells her he loves her, but she says she can only marry him if her father approves. The American goes to the father and tells him he would do anything for the hand of his daughter.
The gypsy wasn’t that eager to give her away, so he tried to find reasons not to.
He first tells the American – “If you want my daughter you have to buy her the best car there is”
To which the American says: – “If American loves, American buys.”
After the arab buys the house, the gypsy again tells him: -if you want my daughter, you have to build the biggest and nicest house there is –
“If American loves, American builds “
And so he builds the biggest house ever. The gypsy was starting to get angry, so as an ultimate request, He says – “If u want my daughter, you have to have a 14 inch penis”
“If American loves, American cuts.“
The bottom line is Biden has not excited his voters or made a compelling cause to re-elect him so far, with the actual economy not bailing him or voters out, which could also affect voter turnout. If he loses it won’t be his fault but that of Democrats who did not course correct their progressive movement with compelling Leadership or efficient PR disguised as content, just being content with petty victories. It’s easier to wash off consistent scientific polls where Biden’s approval rating is going down gradually as illogical prophecies. It’s much easier to brand Dean Phillips as Quixotic for his Presidential contest, where in reality he could be an outlier addressing the raging democratic faultlines, others afraid to talk openly. It’s easier to censure Rashida Tlaib for her open criticisms about Israel and Biden citing a lame slogan, but it may come back to bite Biden where the swing states just swing by few hundred votes.
US for so much to boast about its mighty military is only performing premature ejaculation – be it Afghanistan / Ukraine or other places like Iraq where it messed up after conquering. USA has an unenviable history of forgetting its own Presidents before George Washington, just because they did not contribute anything to the US History. It declared independence in 1776 while George Washington became President in 1789. Let’s hope atleast Google will remember Biden for all his failings and fumblings.
Don’t…. Dream Presidency, Work for it!
If at all Democrats look for another chance in 2024, they should first wake up from their slumber and illusionment of good governance, because with all their absurdities, they made Trump look like Socrates. More than war, which is just American Politicians’ side business as weapon brokers, Americans might look for economic rescue, by working the retail cartels, solely encashing on the Bidenomic doles, to make food and basic necessities even more affordable. I am not sure if Central Bank tuning economy or Democrat’s PR work on positive economy really helps or connect with voters like Supermarket prices. Price reduction could work better than reckless handouts which boosts Inflation further. Sometimes, modest Apple, Onion or tomato at higher price could do more damage than missiles. Inflation could be the democrat’s monster killer if they dont slay it in next few months. While obamacare inadvertently started as stigma but went on to become a nice brand, Bidenomics is just a topsy turvy PR work, touted as a Winner while failing at all sides with sagging perception dynamics.
“Intoxicated? The word did not express it by a mile. He was oiled, boiled, fried, plastered, whiffled, sozzled, and blotto.”
PG Wodehouse
The Palestine crisis is anyway going to blow out of proportions with Netanyahu, they may need the magic of putting a lid on Israel lobbies for now to stay clean and shore up their bases or atleast play act like Moderates with weeps and sobs here and there. Unless US / UN takes over control of Gaza, of course soon after few news cycles to soothe Israelis craving for revenge… soon after Netanyahu brings in fake issues like indefinite security at gaza, when in reality Israel is struggling to even capture Gaza and it will be a hot potato for anyone who wants to consume… soon after Dummy Biden, confused on which traffic light he is showing to Israel, play acting superior to Israel to convince the World and American voters of his Boss and Peace Maker credentials… soon after killing enough children to satiate Israel’s bloodthirst… soon after Israel declares that ritualistic win, when nobody knows what they have won except for the multiplication table they used to avenge their Massacre by killing innocents, that too from a meek air warfare, as if they are fighting Corona and not Hamas militants… Don’t even go near them… ( Maybe Israel could have uprooted Hamas by gifting those hapless Vaccines and its five or six booster shots. Hamas would have got tired like Guinea pigs suffering too many injections, making even their nemesis Israelis look good before those vaccines). If at all every above scenario happens sooner than later, Democrats may find it easier to shore up support in swing states, the rainbow coalition of races which ignorantly propped them up in 2020, hoping they are different from Republicans without knowing both are two sides of the same coin, funded by the same Israel Lobby Bank.
Its upto Biden if he assesses he could be that floundering contradicting but still a nice President at 84, beating the perception that he is getting babysitted by his handlers, maybe hire Stormy Daniels as Baby President-sitter for that glamour / quotient, just joking…. Jokes apart, personally I would adore a Yodha for President with wisdom rather a Rambo cut loose on military steroids. Unfortunately Biden’s army of handlers are doing a lackluster work, making him actually talk like Yodha, (Remember? “Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you…”) as if they are taking car of the President on vacation at Hawaii in an Old age home, burp around exporting bombs as if suffering from constipation. No… it’s not about stutters or physical weaknesses but the lack of clarity or assurance in his message, where even an armchair President could score well. They make take criticism from all corners with a grain of salt, but anyone worth their salt will not be acting in Hubris like Biden’s team, maybe his Presidency got too salty with all the blood acquired, that they are throwing up the Presidency itself, for there is something about salt… it just disappears in water unlike Blood on hands.
Biden Team’s indifference to the opinion polls, strengthens independent observers views that the Biden Administration is not even having open and good discussions on contentious issues. Biden’s approval ratings dropping down in slow motion for months just shows how lackasaidal team, they are so far. Perhaps, they might be hoping that Trump disappears from Presidency race with all his indictments, but it will only showcase Biden as another hapless person who can’t fight it out, instead choosing to bomb it out, just like Netanyahu and IDF, helping out the authentic Islamophobes – Republicans.
Donald Trump is in Berlin for his first state visit with Angela Merkel. Trump quickly asks what the secret of her great success is. Merkel tells him you just have to have a lot of intelligent people around you. “How do you know so quickly if someone is intelligent?” asks Trump. “Let me demonstrate.” She picks up the phone, calls Wolfgang Schäuble and asks him a question, “Mr. Schäuble, it’s your father’s son, but is not your brother. Who is it?” Without hesitation, Schäuble answers, “Quite simply, it’s me!” “You see,” Merkel tells Trump, “this is how I test people’s intelligence.”
Thrilled, Trump flies home, immediately calling Mike Pence, to ask him the same question. “It’s your father’s son, but is not your brother. Who is it?” After much back and forth, Pence says, “I have no idea, but I will try to find out the answer by tomorrow!”
Pence just can’t figure it out and decides to seek advice from former President Obama. He calls him, “Mr. Obama, it’s your father’s son, but is not your brother. Who is it?” he asks Obama. “Easy, it’s me!”
Happy to have found the answer, Pence calls Trump and says triumphantly, “I have the answer, it’s Barack Obama!”
Trump rages and says, “No you jackass, it’s Wolfgang Schäuble!”
Democrats need to remember even Obama was struggling with a flailing economy during his reelection, but he had the support of the youth and progressives. Biden may need to act like an admirable adolescent in comedy shows if he could not repeat Clinton’s show-offs ( Fireside chats or Monika.. My darling type shows whichever suits well), or like Hipster Jesus or atleast good old Santa claus enthusing the youth with goodies. Currently, he looks like a Grandpa whom nobody will trust with their car key. Adolescent role is easier for him… anyway he is acting like juvenile with all his (l)ego wars and uttering baby faced awkward humanitarian comedies, while turning cities to graveyard. Sadly, wars don’t suit him like that Cowboy in ambush after that Iraqi disaster. The more he tries more he looks like a loser. Just satire guys.
There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.
PG Wodehouse
Michael Angelo, Albert Einstein, and George W. Bush die and end up at heaven’s gate… Michael Angelo walks up to the gate and St. Peter tells him. “Listen, we have had some recent intruders faking who they were. Is there any way you can prove that you are the real Michaelangelo?” Michael Angelo requests a board and he then proceeds to draw the most beautiful painting ever seen by St Peter. St Peter tells him, “Congratulations! Welcome to heaven.”
Next comes Albert Einstein and St Peter proceeds to tell him the same thing. Albert Einstein asks for a board and starts explaining everything about his Theory of General Relativity. St Peter tells him, “Congratulations! Welcome to heaven.”
Lastly comes George W. Bush. St Peter tells him, “Listen George, Michael Angelo and Albert Einstein were both able to prove that they were who they said they were. What can you do to prove that you are actually who you say you are?” George goes on, “Who are Michael Angelo and Albert Einstein?”
St Peter sighs and says, “Come on in George.”
Liar… Liar… Pants on Petroleum Fire!
First I saw Biden on TV as VP nominee announced by Obama. It’s still memorable for an outsider. He looked so cool and impressive in his aviators like a Last bench Student still trying to clear the Presidential Exam. He was an amicable VP with a simpleton attitude to complex problems, an asset for a Politician. But what Biden was metamorphosed to now, is on the shades of George-Doubting-for-Nothing-Bush. Apart from sending uninhibited war aids and funds to support Israel’s massacre, what is more dangerous is his (im)moral backing of Israel’s atrocities, first brushing off the Palestinian civilian casualty count as exaggeration, hoping the pliant media will create a US-Democrat friendly narrative. Unfortunately for the Murderers of Gaza, all the lies got debunked. Hmm… day-dreaming Boss Babies in Internet era where fake News gets hushed off like Birthday Candles. The real problem is not Hamas, Osama or even Saddam Hussein, for nothing has changed even after their death / termination. The extremism has only grown taking various monstrous forms like mass shootings. Its time for the World to introspect and chart out a new Path to stay away from the Weapon merchants’ incentivized interventions who are using Arab land as Test laboratory for their weapons, making poor Arabs and pliant Israelis the guinea pigs.
Biden then steeled himself for further lies targeting Al-Shifa Hospital, stating Hamas is operating underground, as if Hamas’ version of Pentagon is down under. Even US engineers who built a miraculous Panama Canal, will find it difficult to build such sophisticated huge tunnels under such heavy structures. There is no denial, there will be tunnels connecting to Hospital for emergencies, of course with various other major connecting tunnels around, but Hamas operating its Pentagon precisely under Al-Shifa is nothing but a Quixotic quip shot. Unfortunately, it’s the public who are getting fooled. Al-Shifa is just a war episode, to clamp down the Independent Media using the Hospital as a Nerve center to dispense the truth, leveraging the only Internet working there. Israel has already bombed down the network infra of Gaza to restrict the information flow and depriving them of fuel. Also, it satisfies Netanyahu’s extremist ego that there is no place in Gaza he can’t touch, like he openly declared soon after taking control of the Hospital. Maybe there is just one thing he can’t do involving his own orifices or we just need to provoke his ego? Bet that Israel’s Hagari will take out US media for a Picnic to a Palestinian Children’s bedroom and show off the weapons used by the Child to annihilate Israel, once everything is staged well. How so Dangerous!
[ Update 21st Nov 2023.
By now Israel has already done the propaganda part of Hamas operating under Hospitals. It came up with a video of weapons captured from MRI room. Anyone who would have visited such test machines will be aware that they don’t even allow jewels as it works on the principle of magnetic resonance. Israel certainly needs an MRI check to diagnose its own blood lustness. Another propaganda video with a Mexican Israeli actress claiming Hamas in in Hospitals got busted. Maybe time to hire quality PR team that everything they tell Is-real. There was another video of Hamas militants taking up Hostages for treatment to Hospitals making rounds as a proof of Hospital as terror hub. Maybe IDF will take their wounded ones somewhere else rather to Hospitals for treatment. Seems Hamas is slightly more humanitarian than IDF in treating its victims gracefully. ]
Why should US and Biden lie before the entire world shamelessly partnering with Israel. It’s the same shameless reason why Bush similarly wanted to capture Iraq. It’s just that Texan oil Lobby replaced the vocabulary of secret ingredient with presence of WMD in Iraq, to fool common public. They did not have a governance plan then for Iraq nor even now at Gaza. Afterall, their wars are not for People or ideology but for Oil companies. It is same shameless reason why US is attracted towards Arab land for decades and fighting its factions keeping the regional unrest simmering – Petroleum.
Such a project could have laid the groundwork for a win-win collaboration between the Palestinians and Israel. But as the Israel-Palestine conflict has dramatically escalated in recent weeks, that no longer appears to be on the horizon, with the project frozen for the foreseeable future.
Instead, on 29 October, as the war continued with no ceasefire in sight, Netanyahu’s government awarded 12 licences to six companies, including BP and Italy’s ENI, for natural gas exploration off the country’s Mediterranean Basin area.
The new resources of oil and natural gas finds in the Eastern Mediterranean are valued at an astounding $524bn. However, according to the UN report, a significant portion of the those assets will have to be sourced from within the occupied territory of Palestine.
Its (war) economy Stupid!
Two thieves come to a village to steal from the richest guy. They go to the village temple Festival to assess the richness. conventionally Richness is usually measured by the first respects provided at the temple depending on the public clout or donations. Instead the thieves gather their intelligence by following up a Professional Sex worker in that village… on whom she wooes and pays attention. There is a colloquial saying, a professional sex worker eyes the Purse well than the Bulge. Though I am crude, this is a beautiful humorous scene in a movie, Thiruda Thiruda passing in few seconds but holds very well for Uncle Sam for its decades of violent history and his niche eye for natural resources around the World, standing up to its dubious and shameless name of Worldwide Wild West. One can easily understand the land is blessed with natural resources if US voluntarily gets involved as Uncle Sam got die-hard habit of placing himself in the middle of any richie rich swamp, acting like a gunslinging Global Bandit. US might be acting like a Saviour of Panama when their eyes are just on the Canal.
US handling of Palestine has a similar track record, where US saved the Israeli ass many times in the name of peace talks nudging Palestine on Forgive and Forget but encouraging Israel to misgive terror and beget land. The recent discovery of petroleum in Gaza only makes its natives suffer more with the conniving US. It is disgusting to write about the harsh vulgarity about the senseless violence, that too on a futile Jobless Job with zero outcome, because the privileged World does not care duly for Palestinian lives and it gets bitter day by day seeing wretched images and happenings reminding of brutal Israeli pest control just as their Minister quipped – “Human Animals”.
The Petroleum theory has weightage to it as the Israel extremist Government is keen on throwing Palestinians out through various forms of torture – Starvation, Violence and Bombing. Netanyahu does not seem to care at all for the hostages when the US mediates from his end through Qatar. Only time will tell the truth or expose their true intent of such brutality.
John Perkins in his Book, “Confessions of economic Hitman”, states this…
The United States spends over $87 billion conducting a war in Iraq while the United Nations estimates that for less than half that amount we could provide clean water, adequate diets, sanitations services and basic education to every person on the planet. And we wonder why terrorists attack us.
The United States made no secret of its desire to have the House of Saud bankroll Osama bin Laden’s Afghan war against the Soviet Union during the 1980s, and Riyadh and Washington together contributed an estimated $3.5 billion to the mujahideen. However, U.S. and Saudi participation went far beyond this.
In my opinion, the difference between the crusaders and us was a matter of degree. Europe’s medieval Catholics claimed their goal was to save Muslims from purgatory; we claimed that we wanted to help the Saudis modernize.
While Israel is essentially a geopolitical guinea pig for the Western world, to establish its presence in the Middle east, it has quietly transformed itself into a grey market weapon supplier of the World. Its major selling point being, tried and tested ( on Palestinians ) cutting edge weaponry, sold with least restrictions to many countries. Israeli weapon export figures have doubled over the past decade, totalling $12.5bn last year.
Over the years, the Israeli army has tested rubber bullets, artificial intelligence-powered robotic guns and various forms of crowd dispersal solutions, which have inflicted severe injuries on Palestinians.
Nabeel al-Shawa, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who has worked in Gaza since 1978, treated many Palestinians wounded by Israeli firing on the Great March of Return in 2018 – when tens of thousands of Palestinians demanded they be allowed to return to the land they were forcibly removed from in 1948.
“For Israeli snipers, this was merely target practice with humans,” he said. “Most patients had been shot in joints deliberately to cause maximum damage, but not kill. “These new rounds the Israeli army used caused injuries I have never seen before. In some cases the limb appeared intact, however, during surgery, I could not distinguish between bone and soft tissue.”
“If a weapon’s main purpose is proven in the actual battlefield or in as near realistic circumstances as possible, then they are battle proven,” he said. “You cannot blame countries for buying from Israel. You can test all you want in a lab, but Israel is testing in the field, and as there are never any lags of time between one period of combat to the next, the development cycle is virtually in real time, said Zoran Kusovac, a geopolitical and security analyst.
Dr Ahmed el-Mokhallalati from the burn and plastic surgery division at al-Shifa Hospital, in an interview with the Toronto Star, described the wounds as “very deep – third and fourth-degree burns, and the skin tissue is impregnated with black particles and most of the skin thickness and all the layers underneath are burned down to the bone”. El-Mokhallalati said that these weren’t phosphorus burns, “but a combination of some kind of incendiary bomb wave and other components”.
The Israeli military has not commented so far on the statement made by Gaza’s Ministry. But the mystery incendiary bombs, the Iron Sting’s debut and the reported use of the new Spark drone in the current war suggest that Israel is once again testing new weapons in conflict.
“Israel’s weapons will continue to remain attractive to international buyers based on performance in the occupation,” Loewenstein said. “But Israel is not just selling weapons; they’re selling the ideology to other countries – of getting away with it.”
Back to the bloody blog… If Netanyahu commits palestinian genocide in the name of “Right to self Defense” so did Hitler on Jews. While we may hate Hitler rightfully by making Schindler’s list / Jojo Rabbit, wonder in what way Holier-than-Hitler-Netanyahu and his staunch ally USA doing to Palestinians is a lesser crime than jewish genocide of the past, by denying them everything required to live? They have just turned the Gaza strip, previously an Open air Prison to an open air Gas chamber by just cutting off supplies with an inhuman siege, without caring for the lives out there. Wonder how much of Israel’s sob videos would be able to wash their sins off, arrogantly happening under broad daylight.
Palestinian children injured in Israeli air raids are being treated at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 24, 2023 [Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images]
“What more provocation is required.. than what Israel has done to the Palestinian people for three-quarters of a century?”
Saudi Prince Turki
When Being a Dick is not making it any bigger.
What Netanyahu did post unforgivable terror act by Hamas is even more unforgivable. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments of this exchange of violence between the magnificent races. But… But, let’s go through the history and absurdities of Jews and their bloodline brotherhood, the Christians and Muslims as violence only begets irreverence. They are all supposed to be descendants of Abraham. Abraham went through a lot in his life, Circumcision at 99 and fathering kids in his 90s, first testing on his maid and then doing his impregnation experiments with his Wife. The Maid ‘s descendants are supposed to be the Arabs and his wife’s descendants are Jews who got divided further into Christians, as Jesus was more interested to work on the Jews rest day – Shabbat and Jews could not digest him changing their “sanatana” conventions. Maybe it’s just a Palestine property war among the sons. But, why so bloody? Wonder what Abraham would be thinking from heavens, all such hardships of procreation for this, to perform cruel family planning / erasure with Rockets? Get a life Guys!
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”
– Bible Genesis 17
Maybe God could have cautioned on the grim future of his descendants, so that Abraham refrained himself, taking pain or pleasure to create those good for nothing fighting Kings. What is the point in (pro)creating something for nothing. Sometimes, I wonder if the God and his three Messengers – Moses the Jew, Jesus the Jew turned Christian and Nabi the founder of Islam, got to save themselves from Us – The barbaric Humans of AI era sitting like ducks on ticking atomic bombs, maybe waiting for AI to trigger them.. thinking of Good riddance or just a barbeque party at AI cyber ville! Wonder what happens if AI starts hating humans like Hitler hating Jews or Jews hating Palestinians. Having successfully screwed up all the ten commandments, for the fake sake of Jerusalem, maybe the revised Jewish first Commandment should read, Thou shall not kill God in the name of Humanity by killing Humans! Hopefully AI will learn to respect Divine messengers but stop short of doing its own Crescent-Crusade unholy war.
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
Jewish proverb
Apart from Gods and Messengers, Gandhi’s simple “An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.” explains the consequences on terror whether sponsored by countries or rabid outfits. USA is insufferably dealing with domestic terror while making sin money with lucrative weapon deals. Unfortunately, it seems we are already blind enough to realise the deep $hit we are into.
When Brahmanical-Jewish Supremacy become conjoined twin.
Sadly but also funnily, some Op-eds of Israeli origin talk about how they were massacred by Hamas, unprovoked, as if they were new born without any baggage of sins. Remember persistent and immoral occupation of Palestine throwing the treaties to bin, slowly deprive them of even basic facilities like Airport or electricity Plant or even Fishing Business casting them as terror threats, degradation of Palestinians to an Open air prison restricting their movements and occupation, rendering them as substandard humans, depriving them economically, military and settler induced violence and finally corrupting the Palestine Authority and Hamas to keep them enslaved to Jewish terror. If they are still suffering with selective amnesia, they can depute Wonder Woman to screen the bloody history of Palestine and their robbery in broad daylight for a century on how they captured Arab lands through Jew Land Banks and driving the Arab inhabitants out to draw a disproportionate border by pocketing colonial Britain’s lawmakers and if that’s not enough, rewind to recent history of slow steal of Arab Land like relishing cheese sandwich, bite by bite… just to enlighten the Israelis of what they have done to Palestine.
40 Gypsies arrived at heaven’s Pearly gates. St Peter said “we’ve only got room for 12. So decide among yourselves who is coming in. Five minutes later St Peter says to God, “They’ve gone.” God says, “What, all 40 of them.?” St Peter says, “No ..the fcuking gates!”
Apart from the stealy innocence of Israel, their Op-eds accuse Indian Congress and others – ideologically non-aligned to their Supremacist hate crimes, as Vote politics, appeasing Muslims. Don’t know how Indian Muslims will get related themselves to Palestinians, as they dont bind together by bloodline or race. If religion is a binding factor like our Barbaric history, one can’t sense any equality or belongingness in the Arab world for Indian expats, just being poor secondary labour force, unlike democracies like US.
“I was in Gaza last week, visiting a school sheltering thousands of people. It was heart-breaking. Children who used use to learn and laugh in this school, today they plead for a piece of bread and a sip of water.”
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA
When Arab countries like UAE and Bahrain allied to Israel and profess open love for their expansionist cause and Palestine as their Parking Lot, treating Palestinians like puppy caught on the wheels, wonder how someone could bind distant Indian muslims to Palestinian cause, unless, the linking factor could just only be Humanity and righteous choice of voicing support for someone who have been plundered and rid off their homeland to suit the new Camel in the Palestine tent driving out its original inhabitants. Wonder why such Op-Eds don’t question USA’s appeasement politics, which has a larger population of Jews and Biden is bending Head over Heels to stumble at the feet of Jewish Lobby and Vote bloc. Because it suits their sweet talk and smooth slay election Politics?
“The atrocities perpetrated by Palestinian armed groups on 7 October were heinous, brutal and shocking, they were war crimes — as is the continued holding of hostages. The collective punishment by Israel of Palestinian civilians amounts also to a war crime, as does the unlawful forcible evacuation of civilians. The lifeline has been unjustly, outrageously thin”
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
A recent blast in Kerala at Minority convention is getting diverted by BJP with communal agenda, calling it as appeasement politics of Congress and Communists. New India envisioned by BJP-RSS is a mimic of current Israel, slicing up the Minorities and gobbling up the majoritarian hate towards them, in the name of God and Religion. They got a Place of worship issue in common Ayodhya / Jerusalem to make a living out of it. Maybe God never lives in their sacred hearts. They got people to hate while carefully summing up the Majority to their side. They have their most self-loved supremacist attitude like Twice borns descending from Brahma’s head – Chosen children of God theory. There is no point on betting on a fact – hatred has its limits and saturation with expiry date, especially when the saffron Politics is all about making hatred hay while New India burns. No wonder India under Modi has changed its stance towards supporting Israel abandoning Palestine’s cause. New India is nothing but, Israel’s camel in the Palestine tent replaced with a holy cow in a Minority tent.
Every year, the highest number of killings of children by any of the actors in all the conflicts that we witness is the maximum in the hundreds. We have in a few days in Gaza thousands and thousands of children killed, which means there is also something clearly wrong in the way military operations are being done.
Antonio Guterres, UN Chief
The Pathetic sign of our times is that the UN supposed to the Jury of such tussles is doing an helpless open commentary just like any Nilly-Willy like me could do on social Media. Either UN works in cahoots with Israel+USA, just lending a soothing moderate voice rather being a silent witness to all inhumanities or it’s just a powerless dummy entity where the World will be a better place even without it. If just one country could veto against rest of the World, UN should atleast make that country bear the responsibility of repercussions rather doing hapless social commentary. What is the point in serving Justice when the damage is already done, and the cycle of violent struggle keeps on happening.
If Ukraine war led us the trend of Drone wars, Hamas to a different trend of terrorism and abduction, what Israel has opened up to the world is a very dangerous trend of killing children and civilians, matching up to the one and only… Hitler. These new trends will affect USA and Ukraine war more than Israel or Palestine, as Israel has pushed boundaries of the war crimes and emerges unscathed. as Zelensky has warned. Let’s see if the West still wears the rose tinted glasses if it is Ukraine. Afterall, there should be an iota of difference between Terrorists / Occupiers and sovereign elected democracies. Else, so called terrorists look good, just by provoking supremacists.
Can’t caption it! At a hospital in Khan Yunis, located in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 24. | Photo Credit: MAHMUD HAMS/AFP
OK! back to the Israel model of Supremacist governance in India… Apart from all above similarities, Modi makes use of the present Netanyahu’s racist Israel model for establishing and strengthening their Majoritarian government. For example, Israel never tries to capture a country / Government. Their understanding is pretty simple. Any mighty Government is nothing but a handful of pliable Lawmakers and resourceful Influencers ( Lobbies ). They dont waste time on the streets but only at the high offices as high profile negotiators, hijacking Governments. The Balfour declaration from the Britain, vouching for a Jewish nation, stands as an example how Jews make use of the Lawmakers to suit their purpose with appropriate incentives. If you are not convinced, just ask yourself why would present USA offer Israel with yearly aids and multifold wartime aids? The ultimate winner of American elections are Israel’s AIPAC lobby, irrespective of Democrats or Republicans, as they spend 30 Billion USDs as bipartisan election fund in 2020 elections. One could see very similar takeover of the India by the minority RSS Brahmanical supremacists, just capturing handful of local lawmakers if they fail on winning on their Majoritarian cause. Israel is the only country to invite Modi just after the brutal Godhra riots when the western world blacklisted him. Unethical spying, Corrupting the Influencers and Buying Lawmakers are part of copied Israel’s template. BJP’s rule is nothing but a combination of fascist model for propaganda and Netanyahu’s Israelist Model for crooked governance.
AIPAC-linked pro-Israel groups are a massive source of campaign funding for American politicians, totalling over $30 billion in 2020, which means that unless a candidate comes from a wealthy background, whether or not she toes the line set by AIPAC could have a significant impact on her political future. To avoid the disclosure requirements and restrictions associated with being designated as a ‘foreign agent’, it was incorporated in 1963 under its current name, as an organisation managed wholly by prosperous Jewish-Americans.
AIPAC has followed a three-pronged strategy since its inception. Firstly, it has focussed on developing a vast number of grassroots activists — a methodical outreach that today extends beyond Jews to evangelical Christians, Afro-Americans and Latinos. Numbering more than 3 million according to its website, these activists are organised into ‘caucuses’ who meet their Congressional representatives, talk to them, and assess them on their pro-Israel agenda, helping to profile every political contender on the basis of their stance on Israel.
Today, military, financial and political support for Israel is the lynchpin of America’s West Asia policy. As American political scientists John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt explain in their book, The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy, such unconditional support may have made sense during the Cold War when Israel was a bulwark against Soviet influence in the region. But the Cold War has ended, and with it, so has any geopolitical justification for unconditional military aid to Israel, which runs to about $3.8 billion a year, making it the largest beneficiary of American largesse.
The old consensus, that the prime obstacle to regional stability was the Israel-Palestine conflict, and resolving it was the key to securing Israel’s security and a sustainable peace, which drove successive American Presidents, including George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, to pressure Israel to stop settlement expansion in the occupied territories, has given way to a new one — that the biggest threat to Israeli security and regional stability is Iran. This new narrative has been accompanied by calls for dishing out to Iran the same treatment as was meted out to Iraq. AIPAC has been instrumental in building this consensus, which has clear gains for Israel: it keeps the tap of U.S. military aid open while foreclosing any let-up in U.S. involvement in the region, regardless of the ‘pivot to East Asia’ announced by the Obama administration.
One could correlate how RSS hijacked Tulsi Gabbard and others even pushing them to contest for American Presidency, with similar AIPAC methodologies. Iran is the new Bogeyman for USA lawmakers, so that they don’t worry about Netanyahu’s trample of Palestinians. One could observe paranoid arguments about Iran from American lawmakers now, rather answering about the Massacre happening at Gaza in the name of War. One even wanted a war on Iran, maybe too much hummus does a lot of damage to thinking, especially to a puppet of AIPAC parroting its message. Rashida Tlaib gets isolated out here because Palestine don’t have any such lobbies nor run payrolls to Lawmakers like AIPAC. If at all only US Politicians who are not nourished by Israel lobbies are allowed to speak against Rashida Tlaib, I bet it would be deadly silence.
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone against her’. And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, sir’. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again’.
– BibleThe woman threatened with stoning / John 7:53-8:11
Iran might be the instigator behind the Hamas and Hezbollah. But what is the root-cause of such brutal resistance? Why people polarise towards Hamas like terror organizations? When people of India got emotional about Kashmir and its nemesis Pakistan, it got relatively calmer during Manmohan Singh regime. He just improved its economy and meaningful infrastructure along with limited autonomy opening more avenues for income and most importantly an occupation so that people are productive rather destructing with war. Frustrated Pakistan had to incite India with Mumbai terror attacks then. Iran knows very well if it repeats the work of Pakistan, it will doom by itself collapsing on its inefficiencies, following Pakistan’s history. So, Iran will not confront USA directly knowing consequences. So far Iran backed forces have not calibrated any assaults to induce human casualties to the US Military force. Their vily tactic is to just frustrate the forces keeping them on edge.
In a 2023 report, U.N agencies estimated that 58% of Gaza Strip residents required humanitarian assistance with 29% of Gazan households living in extreme or catastrophic conditions, the top two tiers of severity, against 10% in 2022.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says food assistance is required by 1.3 million people. More than 90% of water in Gaza is unfit for drinking, the Palestinian Water Authority says.
Gaza’s unemployment rate is among the highest in the world, according to OCHA. The jobless rate stands at 46%, and is higher still among youth at around 70%, latest data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics says.
These are conditions of Gaza before the Hamas attack. The Gaza residents are not allowed for free travel across the border exits. If they would have been allowed to work free in Arab countries, the issue would not have been this grave. Hamas could not have recruited so many of them, as they say an idle mind is Devil’s workshop. It’s actually Israel’s decades of ill doing, keeping Palestinians impoverished, spawning terrorist cells for their own detriment.
Moreover, If America is against Iran because of its funding to Hamas, it may also need to fight Netanyahu’s Israel as it was part of his strategy to fund Hamas and keeping their revenues unchecked, so as to keep the Arab land polarised and isolated with Hamas acting as counterweight for West Bank Fatah / PLO. Netanyahu did deliberate funding despite many uprisings from Gaza. Apart from insignificant skirmishes from Iran / Israel, America’s main challengers will be Russia and China Axis, need to be restrained to put off Iran. Financing and arming Israel to take care of Iran, as Israel pitches in the Boogeyman Iran, is following Law of diminishing returns for USA. It has not worked for long and much worse than Afghanistan. Their geopolitical ally is only keeping America in hot seat with skirmishes across borders for their expansionist cause. Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran and Biden’s talks on hostages reined in Iran better than fighting them with Israel. I maybe a fool to say Iran is not a big deal in gaza crisis, but the root cause of unemployment and impoverished economy combined with Israel’s oppressive apartheid regime.
“We are seven families. All of our houses are gone. Nothing is left. We couldn’t take anything — no clothes, no water, nothing. The way here was very difficult. If something falls, you are not allowed to pick it up. You are not allowed to slow down. Dead bodies everywhere.”
A Gaza Resident
Coming back to the Hezbollah, it has clearly stayed away from the war even with its calculated stance coming up only after a month of carnage in Gaza. Hezbollah is the first Arab military force to make Israel go for a strategic retreat. As Trump mentioned they are the smartest among all the fighting groups. It clearly wants to keep the border simmering to engage the Israel army else would be fighting in Gaza in full force. At least it knows when to fight a war and when not to. Hezbollah is the interesting case of how militant Organizations, if empowered with political power could be a positive force, restraining from War. Iran is doing a similar strategy to engage the US forces in Iraq by just jarassing them. Again, Iran could be that Villain who tries hard to be a Villain, but the root cause of Hamas and Hezbollah is not Iran, but Israel’s occupation and aggression, going on unchecked with the blessings of the West and silent spectatorship of UN.
Back to the similarities between the Right Wing extremist Israelis and Indians, If any criticism of Israel gets characterized as Anti-semitism, any criticism of BJP is (il)legally branded as Anti-nationalism gets oppressed with colonial times sedition laws. India’s Modi is just playing the China card with USA, just like Israel playing the Iran card, so that he gets a freehand on his trample of human rights and muzzling Press freedom. The ongoing Joke here is that Modi has not even pronounced China word when they ate away Indian LAC and sided with Russians on unfair occupation, but for USA, India is the antidote to China.
“Our Only Friends Are The Japanese And Just Between You And Me, They Don’t Look Very Aryan.”
Jojo Rabbit Movie
Having said the negatives, India PM Modi has strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. A welcome move along with India’s commitment to a running Joke called as Palestinian Two State Solution where only one State parasites on the other. India could have been pressured from the Arab world, but acts much better with independent stance, than the West and US’ blind approval for war crimes with justifications of fabricated beheadings and burning to elevate the pitch for brutal Justice for Israelis.
What Israel could have done better?
A massacre of any race, is wrong by any means but the cutting edge Israel, spying the whole world while building an iron dome for themselves, does not understand Newton’s third law. Maybe according to them all evil actions from them will never lead to equal and opposite reaction as they were specially chosen ones of a superior God. But reality always bites. Israel should have ideally played a wait and watch game with Hamas, perfected an agenda and gone for a shock and awe surgical strikes which has been a minimally invasive strategy of modern warfare.
Genius is patience.
Isaac Newton
I am not a defense specialist but as an observer, any instant Justice amounts to injustice and sometimes madness. Israel will go through more consequences and destruction with the open urban warfare in Hamas Playground designed and built for a decade. It’s common sense, Hamas or any other weak terror outfits, having nothing to lose on this war, waiting out for moments like this, craving for retribution, will be more lethal than Israel, recovering out of shock and rage and fighting on compulsions. The war may end once Israel could boast of sucking out gallons of Palestinian blood as payback, settling up on a truce with hostages. But, for outfits like Hamas, simple victories are more than enough to grow further in future, giving a bigger headache than now. They have already won the perception game.
There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.
Sun Tzu, Art of War.
Israel is giving Palestinians a bigger score to settle with them. When US and Israel jointly says, its avoiding another Hamas attack with their Bombing and whatever bloodlusty logic they hold, they are only ensuring yet another attack. It’s not me but… History says so. Israel has suffered more casualties with each and every attack though it has paid back in multiples. The crux is that, the cycle is not ending for Israel. Hamas might already have an escape strategy with the border at Egypt and sea, in case they get pinned. So, sanitized Gaza could be left empty for a puppet Leadership to take over. But Israel might have just relocated the battles, as the root cause of Hate keeps growing somewhere else…
Right Wing extremists / future Netanyahus might be replacing Hamas with maybe Hummus terror group, helping them grow with aids, hoping to divide the Palestinians only to fight it out when it bears the poison fruit. The root cause of this issue is that Nature has in abundance for anyone who is in need but not enough even for one man’s greed. Such greedy conquests never end. For example, India’s Right Wing Party BJP, made a sensation out of building a Ram temple in the place of a Mosque. Once they achieved it now they are looking for more sensational religious issues to capitalize upon. Right Wing Politics is like TV reality shows, once you are hooked to an absurdity or evil show-off, the show makers struggle a lot to beat that shock by feeding us more crap which yields TRP leading to more money. Greed is the only thing going green in our entire Planet.
Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.
Jewish Proverb
Jews’ time tested asset is their intelligence displayed throughout history is to wait and watch, build up, equip with resources and pounce when the opportunity arrives. They have won their wars and dominated the world when they played wait and watch with their vileness. They have failed every time they thought they could dominate the world openly. They did not participate even in crusade-crescent war, though they had ancient understanding with Nabi / Islamists to resist and fight enemies together, but never followed the agreement. They never defended or fought for Jerusalem as if it was Islam ruler’s duty for last few centuries. In second World War, they played well along all sides of Axis and Allied for free Israel, as Spies and Warriors and clinched the prize. Unfortunately, they have become very dramatic with the power and stature accumulated over last century, powered by the USA fuelled by its jewish lobby. Sadly, It’s always their historical cycle to peak up and then very sadly… lose the momentum.
What goes up must come down….
I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.
Isaac Newton’s Quote Combo
Maybe global warming / Planet destruction will not happen with assholes firing Rockets and Bombs but only through the Cattles’ assholes emitting methane, reasoning just like Israel treating Palestine like a cattle class. Maybe it’s time to screw Mars, with a visionary paywall to defecate and all to make Melon Musk richer and Mars shittier! When life gives you lemons…make lemonade, drink it and make sure you pay Musk for relieving it. Right now, Poor guys can choose to blog soon to be renamed XXX rather tweet on X.
“You Were Chosen By A Pathetic Little Man Who Can’t Even Grow A Full Mustache.
The Jew in Jojo Rabbit Movie
To Bear(d) or not to Bear(d)…
This is an era of World Leaders – Bushes, Netanyahus and Bidens, who are fully shaved and more lethal than Hitler and assholic enough to save their asses by raining rockets on their perceived enemies, opening up more fixed deposit account / future landmines like Hamas, Al-Qaeda, ISIS etc, exploding on our Kids… and this is happening for centuries. If these Leaders feel itchy… ideally, they should fire their sophisticated rockets and shove it to their own Bush / ass, kissing it with an Ode to Rockets – “Darling! You got nowhere else to go.”
The Biden-Blinken comic duo might have restrained Israel to an extent, but they are wholly responsible for making it a Frankenstein monster or present, without checking its occupational excesses and battles. They are just making the one who grabs by whatever, look like a straightforward Holy saint. On his stormy days, he just played inky-pinky-ponky rather stealing land and souls. Though he acted like the concubine of Netanyahu, handing him over the key to the White house, at least there were no such crazy acts of genocide-on-slow-motion on his rule(?), especially when the western world powers at present, are watching it with rose tinted glass of self defence by killing neighbours.
“If Hillary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband what makes her think she can satisfy America?”
Do(it)Land Trump
Just like the above quote, Trump’s madness got a method to it, however undermining it was on diplomacy / empty pride, exhibiting some rational / corrupt business goals, catering to the basal instincts of his admirers and voters. Trump was essentially a businessman keeping the stakeholders happy many times with just lip-service. Just imagine Mexico paying for a shiny wall built by USA, well one can’t even imagine someone else pay to build his/her fence. But Republicans and his supporters took his hypothesis like a cake, a situation which can only arise if Mexico is doing far better in living standards than USA, trying to restrict Americans entering their country. Wow! So Shiny!
2 Trump Supporters go to heaven St. Peter greets them at the Pearly gates and asks if there is anything in the universe they’d like to know before meeting God.
The fist guy asks, “What was really in Hillary’s emails?” “Nothing incriminating really”, replies St. Peter.
The other guy turns and whispers, “Wow, this goes higher than we thought.”
With Biden-Blinken Duo it’s more like every method or their decision explodes to madness, deepening the crisis and aggravated by their cluelessness on handling it. Maybe if Trump was content playing golden shower water Olympics at Petersburg, Putin’s ego could have been pampered enough to leave Ukraine to live in peace, imagining he has pocketed the President of USA. With all Biden’s NATO BS carrot for Ukraine, he just ensured a costly war. All these egoistic eggheads, disguised as World Leaders need is sense of world supremacy and tend to fight, when they sense a semblance of danger to their utopian pride.
My fingers are long and beautiful, as, it has been well documented, are various other parts of my body.
I look very much forward to showing my financials, because they are huge.”
McDonald Trump’s Quote Combo
Trump’s love letter to Netanyahu, recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel, resulted in angering Palestinians, but what the deadly Pissidential duo of present, brought down on us is a reckless siege blinded by wrath enabling genocide with Blinked-in shamelessly and staunchly declaring his ethnic love towards Israel, however wrong they are, giving them a blank cheque for all future atrocities, as if all Humans other than Jews are non-humans. More than Israel, US’ sad state of political affairs with majority of Jews at the helm, controlling the puppet show, could get more concerning. No doubt Hamas terrorist activities need to be eradicated, but not by creating a “Terrorist Israel State” reminiscing of how it originated as independent State through terror and violence, displacing native Arabs who far outnumbered Jews then.
Dissecting the Joe’s Jonah – Trump
To be fair to Biden, all the International crisis was not his own making. But he equally fumbled on his warring steps. Guardian’s another side of the perspective, where Trump is always the western Media’s “Stable Genius”, but they will never declare Biden as the distinguished “Saviour of Cemeteries”, quoting many of the crisis we are into are of Trump’s making, like his secret talks with Putin or open love for Netanyahu giving away Jerusalem as if its his Trump tower. While the arguments have substance, the larger difference between Trump and Biden arises out of the lack of World Supremacist Mindset of Trump. He was generous on his praises to dictatorial world leaders which might have calmed their nerves especially when uttered from the pedestal of American Presidency. That’s how Jews rule this world with sweet words and deadly lobbying. More than that, Trump single handedly stopped blowout of war with Iran, to avoid casualties.
He called off a planned military strike against Iran because it would have been a disproportionate response to Tehran’s downing of an unmanned U.S. surveillance drone, adding that more sanctions have been imposed.
“We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights (sic) when I asked, how many will die,” Trump wrote in a series of morning tweets. “150 people, sir, was the answer from a General”. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry.”
I don’t know the inner workings or calculations, but Trump despite his own weaknesses and soft corner for greed and corruption, has always ensured a bloodless diplomacy. Only Trump and Obama were able to address on the actual Donkey in the room – Israel with their “Pivot to East Asia”, rather making Iran as No.1 enemy to suit Israel’s agenda. Compare it with Blinken crying hoarse on Iran now, when gaza is under fire, even when they are not directly involved. There are rumours that even Hamas political wing was not even aware of the Al Qassam brigades’ ruthless attack. But for Blinken Iran is the root cause. Just another parrot parroting AIPAC’s message. Trump was also a refreshing change of Leadership from Bush-Biden types who always pushed missile button whenever they were in doubt of their might. The western media has always bent towards democrats however traitful they were due to their vested interests.
Trump and Biden tied in a hypothetical 2024 matchup: poll 5% for Biden, 5% for Trump, and 90% said, “God no!”.
Compared to Trump, Biden actually has not displayed any leadership traits so far, acting like a dumb Trojan horse operated by the representation of the hidden lobbies with contrasting interests. Let’s dig further… Biden need not have pulled out the troops from Afghanistan, just because of Trump’s peace deal, but he chose an abrupt withdrawal where no one except himself could be blamed, irrespective of whoever acted as proxy President. His irrational decisions seeded the big bang effect on World unrest happening now.
Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, now senior director of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, says what he called Biden’s myopic approach ( on Afghanistan troop withdrawal ) resulted in the president shutting out critical warnings.
“In the face of significant pushback from the senior military advisers, he overrode all their concerns and recommendations, and executed an absolutely catastrophically bad policy,” he argued in an interview with ABC News.
“He clearly has foreign policy bonafides. But with this president, there’s a blind spot,” Montgomery said, maintaining that attitude has now seeped through the ranks. “I do not believe that they are willing to have an open transparent discussion of what went wrong.”
There are no exaggerations with Montgomery’s views. Biden assured Ukraine NATO membership in 2021, only to go for his characteristic flip flop to reverse his judgement in 2023 after the ongoing cruel war, that Ukraine is not ready for NATO membership yet, with his earlier statements resulting in Putin’s uneasiness with Ukraine as lurking danger. On the contrary, Trump cancelled the whole war scare with his uneasy relations with Zelensky citing his complicity with Bidens. Immediately after October 7th massacre, Biden’s knee jerk reaction of sending Big Boy warships to Israel, without evaluating the situation, emboldened Netanyahu to go for his long cherished dream of Palestinian genocide, even when he did not enjoy better terms with Biden compared to Trump.
One of the things I’ve never been accused of is not caring about people.
Joe Biden
Two Trump supporters die and go to heaven God meets them at the pearly gates and asks if they have any questions.
One of them says, “Yes, what were the real results of the 2020 election and who was behind the fraud?”
God says, “My son, there was no fraud. Biden won the electoral college fair and square, 306 to 232.”
After a few seconds of stunned silence, the one guy turns to the other and whispers, “This goes higher up than we thought.”
While such ‘Peace Lover Biden’ image is getting created by the Media, let’s also keep in mind that, VP Biden had a bigger hand in pacifying Obama, when he sought to stop the illegal Jew settlers in West Bank. President Biden sent unconditional war funding to Israel, while doing lip service of Humanitarian pause at Gaza. Media states… With all his two faced talks, Poor Biden is just a Mannequin PM with his levers getting controlled somewhere else. Why would Netanyahu care for hapless White-house-keeper when he got the keys with Blinky Winkies, who call the actual shots. Confused on which media theory to buy? Me too! Because, all in all Biden embodies a mess of contradictions, catalysed by a deprecated supremacist attitude seeking to restore the world order and vested interests. Nobody really bothers on American Supremacy nowadays. For, America’ supremacy does not lie in its military might but in its exceptionalism, its marvelous innovative free culture.
How do you get Donald Trump to change a lightbulb? You tell him Barack Obama installed it.
If Israel helped US save its image on Vietnam earlier, it’s pretty probable, current US-Israel retaliation will end up as the Vietnam war II, if their aggression is allowed unchecked and the war drags on, shaming themselves again like they did to themselves at Afghanistan, a premature ejaculation of a World’s supremacist pride ending up with a meek, “Go Fcuk Yourselves!”, gifting fairy tale ending for talibans, who they actually vowed to annihilate. When will USA understand, a live cemetery in making is much more dangerous playfield for any living paradise? Perhaps it’s their arms Business hoping an Iron dome makes things safe? Can a Boxer buying an iron man-ish underwear brings in mental peace, especially when it gets too itchy?
“I’m a negotiator, like you folks.”
Doland Trump on Judaism.
When Biden could eat up Khashoggi issue and go for a fist bump with a butchering Saudi Prince, don’t know what kind of biases are overwhelming his warring stint with Palestinians. Maybe they got nothing to give back to Uncle Sam, other than their rich history and original ownership. With Afghanistan, Ukraine, Israel and forthcoming battles… confused Biden has invited a bigger mess, than what he inherited from Obama and Trump, dragging USA down from status of supremacy towards schizophrenic insanity, emboldening the enemy forces.
Very sadly, From Obamas Vs McCains / Romneys, it’s now down to Biden Vs Trump and honestly the other options, especially for Republicans are even more scary… for America. USA is gradually moving towards the dirty politics of choosing between the devil and deep sea – well known phenomenon happening in what Americans proudly call as Third World, the distinguished community distinguishing themselves, by extinguishing hapless ones for an exhibitionist show on their supremacy. If you happened to hear about Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy’s debate exchanges for the Battle of (Des)troy, involving achilles heels you will get Third World goosebumps. The only Edifice / Infra to be built in future in USA could be that shiny Mexican border fence built at Mexico’s expense, to save Mexico from these presidential badasses, which could be used as Mirror by American Presidents, to see what exactly they have let down / destroyed.
And the Indian scout, the Indian looks at John Wayne and points to the Union soldier and says, ‘He’s a lying, dog-faced pony soldier.’ Well, there’s a lot of lying, dog-faced pony soldiers out there…
Biden
Biden’s mad love for Israel, even if it damages his own presidential prospects, losing the faith of the youth who want a good life not wars, reminds me of the story below.
A woman and her husband were experiencing marital problems, to the point where they were no longer having sex. After visiting several counselors the problems were not resolved.
The woman grew desperate, and was afraid to ask her husband for sex. In her desperation she visited a Gypsy, and explained her problem. The gypsy rummaged through her chest, and pulled out a jar with a pickled penis in it.
She told the women to say the words “Pickled penis my vagina” and it would have sex with her.
The woman takes it home and says the words. The pickled penis worked great.
As she reaches her climax her husband burst through the door and screams,” What the fcuk is that!” She tells him its a pickled penis.
The husband unfortunately replies,”Pickled penis my ass!”
“I will be phenomenal to the women. I mean, I want to help women.”
Donald Trump – Face the Nation, 9/8/15
Who would win in a street fight between Joe Biden and Donald Trump?
Everyone watching
For Abraham’s sake, rather singing peans about your mightiness of destruction, when he took hundred years to create one (or two) common ancestor, why don’t you guys talk or pinch each others asses till it turns pink, for that self satisfying bloody race test of supremacy, rather killing innocents on your name, race and religion? Call this rant preachy or pinky, feel free to go to hell in the name of God, race or religion, but don’t make this Planet a Hell suffocating others, who want to live a good life, however short it is. We can’t fight for centuries to restore your stupid Pride of your race, because your crooked reputation looks otherwise.
“I Think You’ll Find That Metal Is The Strongest Thing On The Earth Followed By Dynamite And Then Muscles.”
The Nazi Kid on Love in Jojo Rabbit Movie.
Gaza – the new Auschwitz
It will be of grave injustice,if we don’t reminisce the sacrifice of Jews for a better Planet in various fields and especially Humanity. What Jews went through the Holocaust and even before that across entire Europe is not something any other race could have endured or survived, forget about thriving amidst such hatred and jealousy. That’s something divine. Their dark history prior 1947 spanning centuries are written with blood of their ancestors. Free Israel could be eternally thankful to their ancestors who have sacrificed everything for their cause, including twenty lakh lives lost in World War II. Jews have paid a very big price for their freedom and land. Its now upon this generation to introspect, whether they have done deserving justice, to all such atrocities endured by their ancestors, by NOT acting like Mini-Hitler. Anyone who would have endured Auschwitz, sacrificing themselves, sending their kids as refugees somewhere else, hoping for better life, would not have dreamt of their own clan doing similar atrocities to another race, acting just like Hitler’s evil twin with irrational and unfathomable hate for Palestinians.
None of the sides are innocent, but it’s up to the people with enormous vested Power, with Mighty militaries to toy around like trained pet bulldogs, to ask themselves if they want yet another Holocaust, a deadly nazism, perpetuated by Hitler, which started modestly with making Jews second class citizens and then progressed towards providing small incentives to nazis just for the killing of innocent Jews and went on to achieve incorrigible levels of psychopathic madness as it progressively evolved with concentration camps. Such wicked Barbarism is not natural to Humans. it just happens by cultivating and nourishing the such habits in due course of time. If racism starts with wondering about one’s origins, nazism starts with wondering how to mete out a sadistic death to its hapless perceived enemies and it’s already a month of madness like, nazis shortlisted Auschwitz inmates to mete out further cruelty. Afraid we are in such a phase at Gaza. There are enough evidences, where Palestinian children are plain targets. Hamas tunnels are everywhere, but Israel, cleverly targets hospitals in the name of Hamas.
Afterall, you don’t need to be a Nazi to perform Holocaust. Anybody, irrespective of Hamas / IDF made to “Follow simple Orders” could be gradually trained to that of psychopathic Nazi level barbarism.
In a 1962 letter, as a last-ditch effort for clemency, Holocaust organizer Adolf Eichmann wrote that he and other low-level officers were “forced to serve as mere instruments,” shifting the responsibility for the deaths of millions of Jews to his superiors. The “just following orders” defense, made famous in the post-WWII Nuremberg trials, featured heavily in Eichmann’s court hearings.
Stanley Milgram, a Yale University psychologist, conducted a series of famous experiments that tested whether “ordinary” folks would inflict harm on another person after following orders from an authoritative figure. Shockingly, the results suggested any human was capable of a heart of darkness.
“Gradualness” of harmdoing. Milgram’s subjects initially used very low, harmless levels of shock, and only gradually did the intensity of the shock increase. This may have created a sense of psychological entrapment or dissonance for the subject during the course of the experiment.
Even I am not convinced with Milgram’s plain coercion theory for such a brutal massacre and it got a 8-20% exception cases of People defying orders. Let’s consider another theory which evaluates devaluation of Jews by Nazis as below.
In Nazi Germany, innocent Jewish victims (including infants and children) had been systematically devalued to the point where their lives were considered to be “unworthy of life.” Centuries of antisemitism, a decade of legalized discrimination, and an intense, unrelenting onslaught of vicious, hateful propaganda depicting Jews as vile enemies, intent on domination, exploitation, and victimization of the German people, had allowed many Germans to remove Jews from the circle of human obligation, ultimately preparing the perpetrators to accept, and perhaps even welcome, the vilification and eventual destruction of the Jews.
Now, that’s a systematic way of reducing Jews to substandard Humans. Now replace the above paragraph – Anti-semitism with Islamophobia, Germans with ‘Israeli Right Wing extremist Jews’ ( Should we call them Razis?) and Jews with Palestine Arabs, we are just repeating History where a certain race gets dehumanized to the extent of no utility, except for its extinction.
Maybe I will complete reading Bible rather doing in parts or reading it on the back of auto rickshaws. Its rich… but more that, its writings also stand the test of time. Let’s sample the Parable of Tenants.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit (Matthew 21:33-34).
It was commonplace in the first century for a wealthy investor to buy property for a farm or vineyard and then leave it in the care of tenants. Come harvest, they’d send someone to collect their portion of the proceeds.
In this parable, the landowner is God, the vineyard represents Israel, and the tenants are the religious Jewish leadership.
The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said (Matthew 21:35-37).
What Jesus is saying is that God had sent the prophets to Jerusalem, but they were mistreated and even killed. But now God had sent Jesus hoping that He’d demand the respect that was not given to the prophets.
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.” So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’”
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Bible
I am not a believer of prophecies and miracles. Irrespective of how sophisticated we have becomes we are ruled by primitive emotions and characteristic traits and it’s no big deal that history repeats perhaps in different scales and dimensions. What makes Bible amazing is things worked as told in Bible much to Jesus’ prophecy, even after centuries to come. Israel was not ruled by Jews for centuries. Even after bloody war after war, they captured and ruled Jerusalem for just few years, only to wane losing to the Romans and Caliphs, failing to restore their Kingdom eventually settled themselves across Europe and USA. On the contrary, Arabs have never left Jerusalem / Palestine even after waves and tsunamis of war. Afterall, everyone being descendant of Abraham. It was only after Holocaust, part of the world acknowledged their miseries to give them their own homeland. In centuries of Jerusalem’s history, audacious people like Netanyahu may just get few lines of history of yet another failure of a greedy dream through wrong means. Maybe Israelis could introspect themselves and chart out a happy and peaceful path for every tenant of “God given Israel”. If Israelis still want to reject and remove such cornerstones, it will only damage their own structure however strong their iron dome is.
Oskar Schindler: Power is when we have every justification to kill, and we don’t.
Amon Goeth: You think that’s power?
Oskar Schindler: That’s what the Emperor said. A man steals something, he’s brought in before the Emperor, he throws himself down on the ground. He begs for his life, he knows he’s going to die. And the Emperor… pardons him. This worthless man, he lets him go.
Amon Goeth: I think you are drunk.
Oskar Schindler: That’s power, Amon. That is power.
Schindler’s List Movie with a title card – There are fewer than 4000 Jews left alive in Poland today. There are more than 6000 descendants of the Schindler Jews. If you wonder what one act of kindness could do to this world.
Netanyahu or his racist leadership can never instill hope to gazans. Such Lip services from a seasoned Liar only reveals how dangerous its gonna be for the Palestinians, if world allows him to rein over Gaza. Unless the International bodies intervene, reviving their reputation of forming Free Israel, it’s going to be a meticulous cold calculated ethnic cleansing, diverting the world’s focus somewhere else.
When Netanyahu did not understand Sun Tzu’s “Every Battle Is Won Before It Is Ever Fought”
In modern times, Any war which is going to be long is nothing but an acknowledgement that Israel has lost it already, just like Russia is going through convoluted war without an ending in sight, slowly burnings its fingers, hands and it still goes on… struggling like a fly got stuck in a zipper. More than damaging Ukraine, it got Putin crippled up and his close allies choosing lifeboats out of crisis. That’s the power of Human spirit when they believe they are fighting the good fight. I doubt if IDF will have the same conviction as Ukraine after making Gaza a merciless killing field. They only got vengeance and fear, and it may damage human instincts a lot more.
It’s Hebrew, it’s from the Talmud. It says, “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.”
Schindler’s List Movie
More than Netanyahu, it seems like IDF is working as per the command of Hamas, with Israel losing all its diplomatic capital with the siege and bombings, except for its all weather ally USA, which may change with elections as nobody likes a sore loser in USA irrespective of the race and superiority. Israel’s mighty brand of mythical proportions is jaded, with its vulnerabilities stand exposed. All enemy needs is to hurt few jews to provoke them and they lose their mind, fuelled by their greed to colonize Palestine. Its mighty warfare mechanisms needing an overhaul where every defense mechanism got destroyed with evolving warfare techniques.
“The wise warrior avoids the battle.”
Sun Tzu, Art of War.
Finally, it means they are not so intelligent nation as claimed, because intelligence is not doing stupid acts of revenge but making use of crisis for betterment, focusing on big picture. Instead of hunting for the rats hidden underground they chose to burn down the entire Gaza to get rid off the Rats… Such acts are blind hatred not a sign of any intelligence the world experienced from the Jews. They are too afraid for underground combat, that they have chosen to fight blindly by bombing civilian targets where even children look like terrorists to such jaundiced eyes. They have clearly lost their ego of supremacy after the Hamas massacre, the same ego which granted them the guts to oppress Gazans for three quarters of century. Instead of searching what they have lost by improving on the defences, they chose to look for lost ego in Gaza, like a foolish man searching for the lost key in the dark somewhere else lighted enough to search for nothing. Their only logic seems to be crippling Palestine to a level where they can’t ever rise again. Even their own Jewish History will teach them enough lessons how such oppressions only made them stronger and vilier.
Revenge is a very sweet thing even for a Diabetic…
Two ancient statues in a Roman park had been locking eyes for over 1000 years, their bodies arched toward each other with the promise of a warm embrace.
One day a mystical witch stumbled upon the statues in the park and had an idea. She used her dark gypsy ways to bring the statues to life promising them an hour to do what they will before they once again must stand still for the rest of time.
Eagerly they took each other’s hand and rushed into the bushes. The witch smiled as she heard giggling delight and the undeniable sounds of pleasure from near by. Soon the witch heard the female statue crying aloud “I’m going to get one I’M GOING to GET ONE!….. Oh Yesss I got it!”
To which the male statue replied “Good, hold that dirty pigeon down while I shit on its head.”
But what happens after taking that sweet revenge? It turns bitter-gourd-ish nightmare waiting forever scared on paybacks. Guess who will win after that orgasmic One hour of borrowed life. It’s the pigeon each and every time if feels like defecating.
The reason why Israel think it got the better of revenge is with its catastrophics damages it has caused in its wars as Proxy of the west. It’s been its signature killing in multiples of its own casualties. Only difference being this time, it has gone savage killing civilians.
For Israel, justice is served as long they kill a lot more and it has always lived like a Coward shielding itself with iron dome and automatic guns, from its created enemies. The irony is they should have ideally paid back their revenge on the western countries in the same coin of Holocaust, meted out to their ancestors. A debate is still going on why their new western Allies, who got a history of driving Jews out of their countries, did not bomb Auschwitz and other concentration camps during second world war, the Jewish genocide centers in Germany. Whether its a moral dilemma to bomb the Jews there who are anyway going to get killed and save the future martyrs or they were just too busy to worry about Jews then, is anybody’s guess / judgement. Instead Israelis chose to kill and suppress hapless Arab inhabitants while getting aids from the countries who made them pariah of the world before 1947… Pure Vile not Valour!
A woman embraces the body of a Palestinian child killed in Israeli strikes, at a hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 17. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Can they really sleep in peace with so much of bloody history having created enemies at all fronts? If at all Biden-Blinken did not come up with unflinching support, blessing israel like the witch blessing the statues in the above story, this tiny nation, too tiny to fill its name on their land strip in World Atlas, would not have gone this far with its inhuman atrocities in Gaza. It would have silently continued its foxy work of slicing West Bank till the Jews become minority succumbing to the Palestinian fertility rates. Israel’s dream of Biblical Nation ‘Eretz Israel’, with ethnic cleansing of Arabs, is just future sour Grapes either way, just like Jesus predicted the future of their temple, which astonishingly stands still.
“Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.”
Jesus on Jews temple in Jerusalem.
A question to all those who call anybody questioning Israel as Anti-semite, when the Israel multiplies their one Jew Israeli live to approximately 10 Gazan or X American lives, and goes around killing Gazans with an insane mathematical retribution, everytime in history, how would you call that mentality… Harmless racism? Killing people as self-defence is the most cowardly thing when the actual question that need to be answered will be, Why would someone be so angry to kill an innocent Israeli.
There is a level to which we can talk about peace. That is till the blood river flows below our head, allowing us to breathe. History has always taught us one ultimate lesson, when we fight nobody survives. Peace talks don’t have any meaning as some can’t learn by history, gets to understands peace only with what future holds. All that victory and loss are momentary, such meaningless moments are built upon numerous innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives. Nobody other than Jews stand as true testament to this theorem and they will stand as testament to the future. The Arab Muslims in Palestine will be feted / fated similar to Jews, showing a mirror with time lapse to the Israelis who are blinded by bloodthirst and vengeance. For the American past and present Presidents who love Israel and its lobby more than their Spouses, start drinking Gasoline as Gaza has enough for you to satiate your blood thirst. Afterall all killings are an “investment” right?
Palestinians work to pull the dead body of a girl from under the rubble of the municipality building which was hit by Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 10. The girl was taking shelter with her family in the building after they fled their home due to the strikes. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Finally made it to Jawan after SRK announced BOGO offer. What a Masala Express it was!
Jawan worked well for many reasons, the main reasons being its Multiple SRKs, each coming in different avatars. Jawan is a Jack in the Box puzzle of peeling an SRK only to find another SRK to be peeled, and he keeps on coming like matrix Army, in different variations and modulations. Even the antagonist VJS plays around with Red and Blue pill like Morpheus, when we are struggling to buy expensive Popcorn to keep the excited Kids pacified, making me wonder about Birth control Pill.
SRK is the USP of this film. If you missed his teddy Bear avatar, we get a sweet cuddling SRK. If you want more of his Pathaan, you get a Baldie who sounds more like Anniyan Vikram instantly changing his tone and tenor with his each dialogue delivery, from a caring citizen to Lover to Fatherly nurturer of his team, a Three-in-One Guy. If you wanted SRK for real, getting himself promoted to Mufasa from Simba, you got a stylish Oldie, who plays things subtle like a Hollywood Hero but still evokes awe with his macho mannerisms and stunts. So, for every Hundred Crore invested in the Movie you get a SRK, like failsafe Load balancers. You also get a Divine SRK as Disaster recovery Bonus wondering – “Who Am I?” A Super Star who rested enough and now on a rampage on Silver screens, treating us with satisfactory mini vacation.
From his opening line (“who am I?”), Khan draws us into wondering what relation the bandaged warrior liberating a village in a prologue has to the gruff baldie laying siege to Mumbai’s metro, and the prison warden clinging to a second chance at love. A one-man Cloud Atlas, Jawan is a puzzle movie where the star proves the puzzle; it’s a great showcase for Khan to play everything under the sun: godly badass, dandyish army vet, total sweetheart with a prospective stepdaughter. There’s ego involved, undeniably, but few stars in any cinema could model such radically diverse hats with this much flair. – Guardian
In fact SRK had so many avatars, my Kids got so confused that they took a selfie with Manish Malhotra cutout at Multiplex, after the movie. When asked why… they said it was the SRK who comes off after removing the Mask. Maybe it’s due to too much Popcorn as my Kid thinks Theatre is some kind of Hotel without a dining table, finally chiding me – for spilling so much popcorn, like a kid, once lights come up. But also thanks to too much de-aging Makeup / Technology which made young SRK look like Robot Rajinikanth. I am someone who always liked SRK for all his graceful Dil Se-ish wrinkles. Other than this episode it’s very difficult to point out any issues with this well polished Pot boiler.
The Movie looked like Atlee had a dream as an Editor of many Tamil movies and Hollywood references. Well, that’s his USP. If anyone mocks him about copying his inspirations, how would you explain Jailer and Vikram share the same story and still become blockbusters. Coincidence? or Just we don’t know the “History of source”. At least Atlee is copying references from many films.
The worldwide Movie Industry is becoming a Comic Book Theme park of Sorts as rightly lamented by Scorcese. I would not be surprised if the Multiplexes started attaching Vibrators in our seat to add yet another dimension to our adventure ride. For a change the movie looked more like Shankar’s rather Atlee’s with rich and unique action set pieces and the story on a Nation-wide big canvas. The way he has skillfully made a collage of so many narratives, acts as testament to his skills of getting disparate things together, like a Movie Integration Engineer. You may Mock Atlee or Admire Atlee but you cannot ignore him for the decade to come.
It’s good. But, What could have been better?
To improve Atlee’s career span for few more decades, Atlee could work on Original / improvised screenplay at least for every alternate ten minutes rather reminding us of all movies we have watched. It actually spoils his own meticulous craft of weaving a compelling emotional wholesome narrative, not many Directors of his generation could master. Every new Wave Director excels on a field like black comedy or action, but seems like failure on other Departments. Atlee is a rare Bull’s eye hitter, extracting the exact emotion as required. As an use case, I liked the portrayal of a lethal villain with Bane Mask and a Cheetah, conveying the deadliness in a shot. Money heist pulled off a perfect heist when it comes to such creativity with Masks. They just improvised on Guy Fawkes mask to an artistic form which become a statement by itself rather being a cheap copy.
The screenplay comes down as an abrupt jigsaw puzzle slowly unraveling by itself. But we have seen better Saviour dramas even from his Master Shankar himself, where we get intelligent cat and mouse chase and the flashbacks gets unravelled by the Chaser rather by simple cuts and edits. In Jawan such surprise elements comes sparingly with the narrative getting rescued by stunning action sequences and inimitable SRK.
The flashbacks are intense especially the Farmer’s plight and depressing Hospital scene. But the entire set up especially the Jail sounds like a Barbie land, without any realistic flavour. Shankar always keeps his set pieces very close to reality, which helps us gel with the screen. The puzzle does not connect all the Justice redemption flashbacks to the Protagonist well. Ramana did a very good job on this aspect where the logic was lucid enough and the investigation was also kept interesting slowly unraveling the core plot, with the direct involvement of the Protagonist at all occasions. The screenplay is just not fluid as it has too many stories to tell. Maybe Atlee needs to be a “Gentleman” Screenplay writer for cracking such saviour templates, as it does a beautiful presentation of the Jack in the Box storyline, slowly unraveling the Protagonist with the help of Investigator, in a believable make-believe world and at the same time larger than life on the slowly expanding big picture scenario, upgrading its extravagance rather just being an embellishment. Maybe there could have been better emotional investment for the supporting Characters, rather acting like screen cosmetic.
Is Jawan a Propaganda Movie?
Now there are lots of debate about what SRK endorses with this movie. There was even a Smart Alec Op-Ed on how SRK smartly milked up all sections of People and Parties with his commercial potboiler. To me, cinema itself is a mind(less) magic show fooling people with its antics or at the worst could be scam with badass aspirational intentions of hollow Stars dreaming to become haloed CMs or political encashment, by creating a positive mental imprint at our own cost. In Tamil we call as Sontha Selavula Sooniyam – Inviting Maleficent’s Black magic at our own call.
For example, I have cherished a Saviour Drama from Shankar – Gentleman which portrays the evils of quota system and how poor Brahmins are denied their opportunities, exposing the cleavages in the society with the help of lot of female cleavages and double entendres. Same Shankar is yet to come up exposing with the cleavages on evils of EWS Quota. So, Cinema could be just a visual social commentary at it’s best. Nothing changes except for a public mental imprint on the state of affairs. But Shankar is genuine master masala blender without any political aspirations, leveraging social issues for a mass connect as it glues everyone of us with a common concern.
Nasruddin and his wife lived in a small house and shared a small bed; they had just a single pillow.
One night Nasruddin’s head itched so badly that the itchy feeling woke him up. He scratched and scratched, but it didn’t do any good. “What an itch!” he thought to himself.
Then his wife yelled, “Stop scratching my head! I’m trying to sleep.”
“My apologies, dearest,” said Nasruddin. “Go back to sleep.”
Nasruddin then felt around until he found his own head.
“Ah,” he said to himself, happily scratching the itch. “That explains it. I was scratching the wrong head.”
The above story is dedicated to Quota Directors with a social message scratching others head to cure their own itch. But, the real damage to Tamilians’ psyche happens with movie stars acting like prospective CMs in real life by playing larger than life role in movies, trying to create a make-believe world that they can rule the world. Indian cinema in such cases could be the height of deceptive entertainment, if you don’t count the Political theater, playing on our minds like a Piano, slowly and gradually creating an alternate universe in our own mind, when the reality could be totally different and unpalatable. Modi is just replicating that “Pompous Popcorn act” well outside Cinema theaters and very well aware of its mass psychology swaying potential.
Dare hue log aksar alfazon ke peeche chupte hai. (Means) People who are scared often hide behind words
SRK in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Movie
One Nation… One Movie… Mera Desh Chala raha hai!
More than anyone else Modi deserves an Oscar for running a compelling Show on National level canvas. Don Ko Pakadna Mushkil Hi Nahi… Namumkin Hai just became Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai. Movie’s teasers are replaced with Demonetisation and Midnight GST, with the screwed up public, scratching their heads, wondering – “Picture abhi baaki hai?” on how to handle this New India Tughlaq Sultan’s eccentricities. Audio launch happens with every state or Panchayat or Ward election where Modi speaks what people want to hear while doing what Adani likes. Mass moments happen with the help of Delhi Police arresting Modi critics for every silly reason one could imagine. Emotional moments with Bulldozers and engineered riots. Apart from this, bloody comic relief is handled with aplomb by Fringe outfits, Pragyas and Bidhuris. There are no antagonists to this story as Modi doesn’t like anyone else hogging camera space. Even if someone gotta fight him, he just fights in air – Mann ki Baat Mukt Bharat. Only guest appearances are allowed for World Leaders to create RajaBabu movie type photo lineups, where Modi guides them… to Dinner table. Overall, It’s a complete Paisa vasool propaganda sucking the taxes from public. Nobody could beat that.
Call him shahenshah ka shahenshah or Lol-lapalooza of entertainment, Modi is so much of an occupant of our Mindspace, like Israel occupying Palestine forcefully, Tamil Meme Makers have rendered all super hits in Modiji’s voice using AI, making a navarasa movie of it. No wonder Modi supports crazy atrocious, his unethical spy partner Israel, flipping India’s historical support to Palestine, instead of targeting Hamas, and Israel going greedy to capture Gaza making use of the crisis situation.
While Hamas is brutally keeping the war alive with the initial provoking, it’s now Israel’s Jews who always aspired for world domination through intelligence, irrespective of their own allies’ history of brutally crushing them in the past, now joining the same aggressors, showing their inhuman side to the poor Palestinians. If the “forever fighting race” in History, who have always exhibited tenacity, finding a way to win, but make it short lived victory with meaningless aggression, are calling themselves children of Light, they should have ideally lit a candle of Peace rather firing rockets pounding Gaza.
It’s sad, the Children of Light could not even rebuild their own temple even after stealing 91% of Palestine, even after amassing enough clout and resources to kill a certain race, with the help of the same ones who killed their own ancestors in their bitter past. For Israel, the lessons learnt from history is always Zero. They have always chosen to the intelligently vicious Path of backstabbing and betrayal creating a roadmap for self-destruction. Sincerely wish they adopt the Truth and Diplomacy mode which has always helped them in their past to be at peace with Arabs.
If Obama could erase Osama with a clean strike and nil casualties to the Public, Biden seems to be mimicking Toxic texan Bush, addicted to fireworks, singing forgotten hymns on the Mighty USA currently suffering from inferiority complex doubtful of its Big Brother / Bully status, who could only prove it’s supremacy to the world by killing innocent People around. It’s just wicked mockery – USA condemning Gaza Hospital attack, when the Gaza is dying a slow death with Israel’s ‘Method in Madness’ siege amounting to genocidal ethnic cleansing. If at all war happens at different places in Ukraine, Palestine, Taiwan etc, China will be the ultimate Winner riding from Chaos, toppling the World’s Supremacy Order. US might be already sensing its waning influence with Ukraine crisis and now at Gaza, for its stupid doublespeak fighting the occupiers of Ukraine and shamelessly supporting the bloodthirsty occupiers of Gaza.
Enjoy! Soothe your monstrous suffering inflicted by Modi with Modi’s melodies, the snake venom which could be both PR Poison and laughter Medicine. PS: The Video has been removed now. But search for AI Modi to have Fun.
Back to Movies.. Personally, I would happily listen to any genuine Movie crew without any selfish / political aspirations whole heartedly. But only time will tell their truth. Just a Jolly good Quote below, from brilliant Shankar to wrap this social messaging charade.
Journalist: Can anyone kill just for this?
Ramanujam ‘Ambi’ Iyengar: [as Anniyan] Do you do this out of the confidence that no one will kill you?
Journalist: Such a large punishment for such a small sin?
Ramanujam ‘Ambi’ Iyengar: [as anniyan] As if sin come like vest, in small, medium, large, extra large, sizes?
Anniyan Movie
[ Update 5th October 2023
Initially kept the above quote for fun on how social message films manipulate our emotions with ridiculous justifications. But looks like we got “Political Anniyans” in real life too, who can’t bear even a Mini-Kerchief size criticism from Journalists, when they just quoted the reality that, the Emperor got no clothes. Modi obviously should be ashamed of himself and course correct, rather getting offended on a piece of Opinion or media coverage.
Around 2019, Modi got his robust image where “Modi hai toh Mumkin hai!” got oomph factor with a tinge of reality, pulling out sick rabbits out of hat like Demon / GST. I don’t know if ten years of power makes people arrogant habituated to unquestioned subservience from the executive and from other pillars, that they go full throttle oppressing everyone around, making Jokers out of themselves. New India is going through “Dark Room” episode, a boogeyman, teachers use to control unruly Kids. But it got its own validity. They can’t keep going on that lie and it works till kids are ignorant and they start laughing at them upon maturity.
By 2023 end, BJP has successfully achieved the expiry of “Dark Emergency” scenario where none are going to fear Mo-Sha. They have maxed out the fear factor and if they overdo it, they will end up creating situations like uncontrollable Manipur / Kashmir crisis. If they dream on derivative positives like after effects of such Polarisation, it’s going to work out like reverse mandal Politics, where BJP is losing sleep to counter and still clueless as pathetic campaign weeps from Modi is sticking to the public mindspace. RG cracked it with a very simple code, Quota will be proportional to the demographics, irrespective of caste or religion.
There existed a good chance of Mo-Sha duo coming back after 2024, as INDIA alliance is a Juggernaut pulled from all sides and elected power only spoils / corrupts them further aggravating their selfish egoes. By burning all bridges with ED / IT / Intelligence fireworks – be it Executive, Judiciary, Honest Media and Public, Mo-Sha is entering their own “Political Death Well”, going nowhere but on a downward spiral. Sadly, Modi is just entering the Phase of “Modi hai toh Nothing hai!”. Personally, I will miss Modi’s decisiveness, energy and efficiency on rolling out schemes, however useless and backfiring they are. It is sick fun so far.
Kabhi kabhi jeetne ke liye kuch haarna padta hai….aur haar kar jeetne wale ko baazigar kehte hain” (Sometimes to win you must also be prepared to lose ….and the one who ends up winning the end game is called a Baazigar)
Baazigar Movie.
]
Propaganda and Atma Nirbhar Theater
Of late, Some Political Parties have taken Cinema too seriously investing a lot of money on Propaganda movies, so as to instill a fake pride, burning their own fingers and crony money, crying Mera Crony Money Jal raha Hai! They believe Rang De Basanti type movies helped them create unrest among masses. They could be right then, but currently, we don’t have a situation where a movie could make or break political situations. Earlier, we had an engaging government providing RTI and other schemes where People felt a sense of belonging believing they will also find a way out of corruption, along with their new found hope and prosperity. Now we have a situation of peeing ourselves on our own “prosperity” by voting ludicrously..
“We have one leg in the past and one leg in the future … that’s why we’re peeing on the present.”
Rang De Basanti Movie
The reasons why movies are just movies in Amrit kaal being… Firstly, People are immune to such silver screen emotional arousals nowadays, as Bollywood lost its respect with attacks from the very side it promoted once. The Social media generation, apart from creating memes to make fun of things around, are fighting for their own survival tackling Inflation and unemployment. If at all you think bad of Government we got it’s Master who will increase fuel price. If you still crib, LPG price will be increased. If Farmers crib on Crony friendly Farm laws, our usual Villains Onion, Pulses and Tomato will become costly helping out the “New India Hero Crony Billionaire Middlemen” to stock them up and inflate the prices. After all these blows, you might have forgot why you started cribbing. But the empty-purse-pain still exists. Sometimes, the best way to lessen pain is just don’t focus on the pain and start playing Tic-Tac-Toe with Bharat or India coins, a country naming game as if our country is someone’s pet puppy or watch Movies like One Nation-Gaddar election-One Begging Bowl. Essentially, every citizen is playing survival chess with the well oiled Mighty Government Machine powered by Crony electoral bonds working with full strength when he just gets a Pawn to his side to play. Purse-Mate!
“On this side of the college gate we make life to dance … and on the other side of the gate life makes us dance”
Rang De Basanti Movie
Secondly, People are kept busy by the Government engagements with Aadhaar PAN Ration linking exercises or Clean India initiatives creating a psychological Master-Slave behaviour edging on Stockholm syndrome. From UPA’s citizen empowerment era we are now reduced to Kartavya-era, reducing ourselves to no-questions-asked-duty-bound-slaves till we reach Amrit Kaal in 2047, that is… if we are alive to realise the Amrit/Vish-kaal truth then.
“Even now whose blood doesn’t boil, then that blood is water … the youth who doesn’t serve the country is a waste.”
Rang De Basanti Movie
Thirdly, Leaders across spectrum who act as catalysts for Movements and Protests, fondly called as Urban naxals by our Dear Leader, are caught in fear psychosis of enforcement and Law agencies. The Law Enforcement Agencies evidently even plant evidence in Laptops using Israeli Spywares. On an insignificant bit, even so called socially conscious Shankar’s Gamechanger movie, discussing about Indian Polls got silently postponed to sneakily appear only after the 2024 Polls. Gear up yourselves for a movie “bravely” talking about necessary Poll reforms, but only after the election gets over, obviously does not want to be a real game changer but more of a Dummy one cashing on mass connect with ex-voters. Enjoy your Political cold popcorn then. Remember “Sunil, Your Din is getting cold!” from Sunil Gavaskar’s Boss?
“Here you try to change the system and the system changes you.”
Rang De Basanti Movie
Fourthly, Most people are blissfully ignorant of who is looting them with taxes and stealing National assets, without realising they are in much worse situation than before, as they only hear sensational synthetic headlines like Cricketers’ BCCI antics / Chest thumping G20 Vishwamitra comedy enacting Mossad type dirty works, powered by Whatsapp University courses. Majority of people might even assume that such Farmer plight and poor hospital conditions portrayed in Jawan existed a decade back and they are now in Singapore, unless otherwise BJP exposes themselves by making a lot of fuss around Jawan / Dunki. BJP is acting tax thief for long and they know how to react when the scorpion bites, at work. So, In this fascist world, we are kept happy and proud, entertained by the Government at least until we feel hungry. If we are hungry, fascist Government usually ask us to just fry pakoras or just die silently… Shhhh… no dissent please…
“To the millions who have to go without two meals a day… God can only appear as bread”
Mahatma Gandhi as Quoted by MS Swaminathan
Lastly, nobody goes to a movie shelling out thousands just for a social message which could be read cheaply in twitter (not X) or Whatsapp. I don’t think anybody reads these loong blabber logs.
These people don’t fear death. Ajay used to say “Let death come… Anything for the country”
Rang De Basanti Movie
The below story is dedicated to our Nationalist Heroes with foreign citizenship and Agnihotris suffering with (P)Files problems, who got a knack of creating an unrestive narrative out of nothing and make a living out of it.
ModduNasruddin and his wife awoke to the sound of men quarreling outside. The shouting got louder and louder.
“I’ll go see what they are quarreling about,” said Nasruddin.
He then lit a lamp and went downstairs.
His wife heard him open the front door. Almost immediately, the shouting stopped. She wondered what Nasruddin had said to stop the quarrel so quickly.
“What happened?” she asked when he came back to bed.
“When I opened the door, one of them grabbed my lamp, and then they both ran off,” Nasruddin replied. “I suppose they must have been quarreling about my lamp!”
With that said, I also differ on the perspective of SRK milking his audiences for monetary benefits. If that sounds like contradiction, which I felt too initially, just compare the Rang De Basanti dialogues with Jawan’s to get yourself convinced. As someone who is thoroughly bred on South’s vigilant movies, where a solo Hero kills an Army holding Dozens of Guns but personally end up falling on the feet of Politicians for personal survival and favours, Jawan is certainly not the one milking our emotions for any selfish interests. SRK obviously had taken a lot of pain enacting powerful stunts / energetic dance moves and the Khan couple has poured in lot of money, to justify our hard earned movie tickets. Such sincerity cannot be attributed to milking the audience emotionally, but just to establish a pan-india massy masala connect, providing justice to the narrative.
“Even now whose blood doesn’t boil, then that blood is water … the youth who doesn’t serve the country is a waste”
Rang De Basanti Movie
Quintessentially Jawan is just Pushpa fighting from another end of Justice spectrum. So, I would not be surprised at all if the entire Bollywood takes a selfie with a Government Head just before elections like 2019, after giving us sermons on Voting wisely. Are we headed by a ridiculous Government which invites Film stars for the New parliament Building inauguration cautiously ignoring the First Citizen of our Country?
“Wish they live happily forever. May the insanity and the romance never die.”
Rang De Basanti Movie
Akhand Bharat or Celebrity Bharat?
Well, the reality behind Government inviting Celebrities for New parliament inauguration is not that the Government is ridiculous, it’s just that we are ridiculous enough to hero worship Celebrities taking their endorsements seriously but underestimate our precious votes. If at all we understood our value, the 50K Crore meaningless grandeur – Kartavya Central Vista, New PM Planes and New Parliament Building just to please One man – Modi, would have been non-existent. Any government afraid / ashamed of accountability would have spent such huge sum on Governance / welfare rather egotistic / luxury edifices, rather covering themselves behind celebrity veil. We Indians are not that rich enough to be spendthrift like Modi, when we are ranked 107th out of 121 countries on Global Hunger index. India also ranks below Sri Lanka (64), Nepal (81), Bangladesh (84), and Pakistan (99). Taliban ruled war ravaged Afghanistan (109) is the only country in Global South Asia that performs worse than India on the index. Maybe our rulers thought, Viswagurus should be on starvation / diet to shine as Vishwamitra, if we ignore political Pot bellies.
When we ask so many questions buying a Mosquito coil which burns for 5 hours, Why are we not raising questions when we elect a 5 year tenured Government? It can’t be put simpler than this.
It’s our Cinema tradition that Angry Young men sell BP pills very well, then partially retire to sequence their tweets, shamelessly supporting Fascist Government, to save their Panama err.. Pan India image. Swachh Bharat? …Present Sir! Shitler hailing tweet? Sure Sir! Election time endorsement of Dictator? Done Deal Sir! Don’t know about what future holds, but only side SRK has taken is to deliver a movie with social responsibility in an entertaining manner, staying apolitical- but also being loyal to his base, asking everyone to think before they vote. In a well functioning Democracy, you are your own Superhero. Make your Opinion matter by voting responsibly. The way he delivers it, he makes us feel like DDLJ Kajol and even the Political Parties behave like Amrish Puri with an acknowledgement to voters – “Jaa Simran Jaa”. Only SRK can do this in New India!
“There’s no childhood, no adulthood. One is as grown-up as one feels.”
– DDLJ Movie
Love always looks good at least until the climax… of course whatever you think as Climax… of course our Political Amrish Puris will make sure Simrans and Rahuls don’t get away so easily, even if they board Bullet trains. There are rumours of theaters getting booked for Ugram err… Salaar, compelling the theater owners to club Salaar with Animal movie distribution. The Bollywood blackmail is such that, If screen owners choose to screen Dunki, they cannot screen Animal. I am just a Cinephile who admire any decent movie. The way we have made our Movie industry politically dirty just like BCCI at the hands of arrogant political paternity, any cinephile including me is at loss of good and healthy entertainment.
“…I Bet You Ain’t Never Seen A Donkey Fly!”
Donkey, Shrek Movie
Quotes apart, it will do a lot good for the Dunki crew if they choose to release on non-competitive January 1st week with the monthly income demography helping them out in the first few weeks. It may be healthy for the Industry too, avoiding clashes like wrestling matches out of pure political Hombale pressures and bruised hitless egoes. Just a harmless plain opinion.
Nasrudin used to take his donkey across a frontier every day, with the panniers loaded with straw. Since he admitted to being a smuggler when he trudged home every night, the frontier guards searched him again and again.
They searched his person, sifted the straw, steeped it in water, even burned it from time to time. Meanwhile he was becoming visibly more and more prosperous. Then he retired and went to live in another country.
Here one of the customs offices met him, years later. “You can tell me now, Nasrudin,” he said.“Whatever was it that you were smuggling, when we could never catch you out?”
“Donkeys,” said Nasrudin.
The Propaganda Playbook – If thought corrupts language, can language corrupt thought?
One more observation is that, the Society / State which accepts / encourages or atleast hears out opposite voices and opinions, tend to have very high social indices. One could see Movies like Parasakthi(1952) providing an entirely different perspective of then status-quo becoming a Hit in Tamilnadu. Parasakthi’s dialogue writer become a 5 time Chief Minister for his wit and wisdom and excellent administrative and organizational skills, only to be rivalled by other tinseltown stars who exploited movie psychology to the hilt creating themselves a mass persona. Such movies thrived on the open environment created by the then Rulers, acting like Barometer for the Government to gauge the public mood rather keeping them isolated and enclosed, fooling themselves on masterfully putting a lid, like kashmir crisis where silence itself is becoming a strong opposition, making BJP tremble to conduct election.
The easiest way to propagandize people is to let a propaganda theme go in through an entertainment picture when people do not realize they are being propagandized.
Elmer Davis
Happened to watch Thuramukham a brilliant but slow moving Film, making for a painful watch where the entire family of two generations toil and even die for nothing except for making a very feeble resistance, but contributing to a larger cause of “Resistance for fairness and equality”. Seems like the movie got adapted from a Stage Play which worked across Kerala prior to the movie. Thuramukham stands as a testament to what made Kerala, “God’s own Country”, where there were many Gandhi-alikes biting the bullet to empower the future generations. No wonder Kerala is scoring very high on Social indices, by keeping that culture alive.
“It’s hard to change something that has been rusty since a long time. “
Rang De Basanti Movie
Looks like BJP wanted to make a playbook out of such societal evolution through Movies and heavily investing on it luring the Top filmmakers to incorporate Hindu Pride opposing Minority Villains, though the History and fact states otherwise. While some have been inflated Hits, most of them failed to attract audience failing miserably in Box Office. Kashmir Files was a hit because it was Political, just like Jawan, though very low on facts, obfuscating History just like BJP’s fake narrative on Pandits.
Movie is just a mirror to the society. Distorting the mirror does not alter the reality especially in social media era where everything becomes an instant Meme and potently travels virally as good as the Movie. After watching a goosebump-ish actioner Vikam movie, got diffused by a simple meme which stated, Vikram is just a story of how KH saves his own Grandson by killing his entire undercover team, who managed to dodge the establishment for decades. When someone talks loud of sanatana dharma, there is a simple meme which questions whether all castes will be allowed to enter Sanctum Sanctorum or will be disallowed citing lame reasons like Agamic temples. Maybe God did not exist before agamic laws got formed by the elites.
Only time will tell if BJP can make an Hallowed achievement out of Fake narrative films without any improvement on Social Indices, on the ground, like the South accomplished with their fruitful Movie-Society nexus, in pre-internet era.
Those who are capable of tyranny are capable of perjury to sustain it.
Lysander Spooner
INDIA alliance – The Antagonist and Protagonist of the 2024-202X Elections!?
As a Congress sympathiser, the movie also made me think of their deficiencies leading to their own self destruction. Of course they were callous and Corrupt rulers. If Modi is comparable to Ravan abducting the idea of India, Congress at its best has acted like Kumbakaran, unaware of its own strengths, origins and ideologies, as if confused between Indrasan / Nidrasan. Maybe it’s because, Congress is also full of brahmanical elites just like BJP. Much credit for 2019 loss should go to the Brahman Group of Congress who were able to weaken the Party from within like termites, chanting “RIP / Om Shanti!” to the same party which allowed them to prosper. Of course there are exceptions to generalizations.
I still wonder how Modi in 2019 was so invincible then, looks pathetic now? What exactly has changed by now as Modi remains the same Mediocre Fascist Ruler helping Crony cause? Is it because half the Congress elites were busy killing Congress rather attacking BJP, secretly happy with it upholding brahmanical supremacy? Wonder how they have suddenly found a Leader in Gandhi palatable after a yatra? Wonder if they they think, walking make someone a greater Leader or it’s just a chameleonic / opportunistic sense of stars getting aligned at present?
The question that needs to be asked is whether Congress leaders, particularly those belonging to the upper caste, have had a change of heart or are overwhelmed by Rahul’s leadership qualities? After all, throughout the UPA years, particularly during 2010-2011, the caste-based census was a vexed issue, causing a lot of division and disquiet.
It is a matter of record that when the then law minister Veerappa Moily in 2010 called for the collection of caste/community data in Census 2011, his cabinet colleague and Union minister P Chidambaram had raised several “vexed questions” such as the issue of a central list of OBCs and state-specific list of OBCs and some states not having a list of OBCs.
The reasons for OBC-SC-ST social Empowerment will work for the alliance is multifold. Firstly, except for Minorities and Upper castes heavily aligned towards Congress / BJP , the rest are not amalgamated to a strong cohesive voter base fragmented by regional / casteist Parties, who may have a say in State elections but may not be so impactful in Union elections.
Secondly, it’s much better to talk about the Voters – the real vote base, than targeting Modi with “Chowkidhar Chor hai” type attacks, pushing him to cry hopelessly that no Party is mentioning him except for Himself with Modi’s guarantees. Modi’s lame defence of opposition alliance dividing Hindus with OBC quota is nothing but the case of Satan preaching Vedas, especially when he did the same division by enacting Economically weaker Section Quota exclusively reserved for upper castes.
Thirdly, Social Justice empowerment has really propelled South states with far better economic and social indices. It is very well the need of the hour. Focus could be on economically weaker sections and first generation graduates to uplift masses. This is very much similar to Indira Gandhi’s “Garibi Hatao!”, connecting with the masses.
Fourthly, Modi could come back strongly with “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke” attacks, like in 2019, making even SC spray Gangajal on him, transforming him to a holy saint winking at Kedarnath for cameras, just with a closed envelope (maybe containing secret overtures of a future BJ(M)P ) pressing for an apology from Congress in last minute. But when it comes to Social Justice plank, his only option becomes forming half baked Laws like Reservation bill to a appease his vote block., antagonizing his own loyal base of upper castes. Anyway, Merchants and SMEs are already a disgruntled base and the opposition just needs to nudge them with incentives.
Finally, this has the potential to make Congress grounded shedding its suave and elitistic outlook, a crucial factor when competing with a Maverick-PR-Beta-Modi, who could go to any extent to exhibit his connect / groundedness with stunts like cleaning the feet of sanitary workers and blowing it up with PR about it, to completely change the narrative.
More than anything else, Congress / INDIA alliance Parties are weak on creating “Political emotional Plank”. They have approached all elections objectively with Social Problems and Manifestos. With too much anti-incumbency and weaker sections getting even more weaker under BJP regime, INDIA alliance is handed out 2024 election on a Platter. Its up to them whether they will choose to be the Protagonists for next five years or Antagonists by fighting themselves for power and selfish interests. Modi might be right is calling out the next few decades as Amrit Kaal, where an United front of Asuras and Devas got divided once the mission of churning Amrit got accomplished. Now, its upto the alliance, whether they turn Indian Politics to Ganges of present or Cesspool depends on their own inactions prior elections and actions afterwards, as Indian Politics is running out of options. Apart from Congress, only few AK-types are promising but with small footprint to sway / impact Union elections. The Problem could be coming from the same mercurial and ambitious types who want to gobble up others vote blocks.
UPA brought in RTIs and Food security Bills. Wish they could have also instilled a sense of Duty / Participation among citizens for any resolution, at least a gram Sabha or signature exercise, rather just blind empowerment, making us demanding Cry babies, without realising our own accomplishments as a Nation. For making a winning narrative, Congress / INDIA alliance has a long way to go. More than usual Census and Quotas, there is a need to go beyond on empowering the socially backward. Social Justice movements are rooted movements establishing direct connect to the people. Congress is still perceived as elitist party, as Modi leverages to hit with coinages like “Lutyens elite” or “Khan market gang”, especially before elections. Unless Congress breaks it with a grounded approach like Gandhi did with Yatra and senior leaders kept a simple profile during it, it’s an uphill task for them to get the trust of the masses.
The best part of yatra – bringing out the simplicity of the Party leaders and tenacity of the Gandhis.
Can INDIA bypass Mo-Sha’s Election Jugalbandhi?
BJP scored on the participatory aspect, by successfully transforming elections to “Dramatic Hungama”, making it a sort of Masala Movie like Jawan incorporating “Nationalistic Identity” politics poking a weak Pakistan, “Social identity” politics like stealing their respective Leaders, hitting their sweet spots and gain political mileage out of it, without even doing anything for the backward masses and lastly, “Proud Personal Identity” politics with exceptional ‘Toilet -Ek Prem Katha’ level PR and Door to Door canvassing with Beneficiaries on how Modi uplifted the poor to become Zamindars who are now rich enough to clean their orifices with the milk and honey flowing through the streets, originating from Namo’s head. Modi’s real masterstrokes happens just before elections where he cools various demographics, EWS Quota for upper castes and Farmers Income for lower castes. The way he swiftly rolled out after election rout in 2018 elections marks the excellent success traits of Modi, meaning Business. The way he creates an election time euphoria among his Beneficiaries, along with a heady cocktail of identity politics of various layers, is something the opposition need to replicate, with Door to Door canvassing on guarantees, if at all they fancy any chance to usurp BJP in cow belts.
INDIA Alliance might be doing well momentarily on the emotional political plank by pitching the Caste Census, but the issue is still yet to be reach the masses with a connect like a comprehensive Quota system ( now an old tactic needing better presentation on identity politics ) or how it will benefit the masses as a Union / Demography. BJP gave a refined touch to Elitist Quota system with economically weak coating. Also, Both UPA and NDA have recruited on their own strong belts so far like Laalu making Railways a Bihar Cultural center and Modi converting Institutions as Brahmins and Cow belt exclusive domain. Regional quota for Union jobs could work well for South and other states deprived of representation, of course with its own backfiring disadvantages in the cow belt. The propaganda for 2024 may yield more benefits if tackled at both national and localized levels to suit the needs of regional aspirations.
The secondary factors like BJP’s governance failures are well addressed with guarantees, but INDIA alliance is seemingly failing on emotional “Social Justice Plank”, which has worked very well in the south states and remain one of the strong reasons for its immaculate social indices. However Modi cries about the “evils” of the Quota when its for all backward classes, linking with Minorities and Delimitation, he still remains a Culprit pushing the “economically weaker section Quota” which does not essentially include the weak SC-ST-OBC groups, making them even weaker. As RG mentioned, Modi remains as an incapable failure on conducting Caste Census, owing to his Brahmanical Political system which thrives by leeching the bottom to feed the top creamy layer.
Reducing powerful election as a “Mass Masala Political Drama”, by showering vacuous political popcorns on the voters, like Women’s reservation bill which gets cold / stale even before anyone enjoys it, is not a failure of our Political System alone. As Jawan rightly points out the root-cause, “We” as Voters have not done our Job well so far. We have invested enough on juicy celebrity gossips but not on knowing our MLA / MP / Politics. We had enough time to peel Celebrities like Onions till they are reduced to nothing, but simultaneously unaware of how crony Middlemen make huge profits by hoarding Onions. We Hopefully it’s not too late for a turnaround within us. Maybe if at all we voted responsibly our Filmmakers will be busy with making “Shah Rukh – Ken – Khan” movies. Afterall, Entertainment is just Business and they just sell what is in demand.
I’m a soldier … and I can bet my life a thousand times… but only for my country … never for people like you who sell the country
I got introduced to ARR music with Leo Coffee Music which I assume he composed bringing in a fresh ring to our ears. I am fed on a staple diet of Light Music so soft and at times energetic but mostly makes one surrender to the Composer as if on a Loved lap with head submerging into his own Musical Universe. ARR brought in a refreshing stimulation to the musical environment I was brought in. If Ilayaraja is a divine sleeping pill, ARR is a digital wakeup alarm, awakening the nerve cells. This blog is not about any panchayats. I am just trying to get few things out of my System making myself light. It’s difficult to see an Artist going through tough times due to tough situations.
Even simple Yelelelo Ailesa sounded so western with ARR’s chorus in Jeans. When ARR was bringing in his genius, there were also other composers who gave us Gaanas unearthed from folks and my adolescent turned out to be musical medley of sorts, which keeps playing in my mind for long. The difference ARR provided is such that, when other Composers fed us simple and soulful Mother’s recipes, ARR opened up a Multi cuisine Restaurant dishing out different stimulating menus with each Album making me at least a dumb version of Music Student learning to understand on pushing own boundaries for the sake of my own listening goodness. Personally, I still like the formative stages of ARR in his first decade which fused up everything but still tasted Indian. Maybe as a Student I am far behind on grasping his Universe. ARR is well aware of such observations and rightly addresses such perspectives as generational gap.
There is a lot of controversy happening around the latest concert at Chennai. Though initially it looked like a poorly managed and organized Concert, it’s gettings it’s own political tones with vested interests Jumping around to achieve political milestones. This write-up is more as a Layman and not to come up with any political undertones. Let’s try to answer ourselves on Why and How of the Concert failures and why we are allowing such things to happen… always.
The Concert seemed to be poorly organized even for basics like Parking facilities with poor accessibility through just two parallel roads without any access to mass transit system. The location itself seems like a “Cheap” choice by the Organizer. Add to it the callousness of inadequate and poorly skilled “Volunteers” rather professionals to help out Audience. Even the seating Organization seemed cramped up without any regulating system like a Zoo cage. With the prior cancelled Concert, the concert goers might have noticed similar observations on inadequate arrangement. Similar mishaps have happened with their ARR Coimbatore concert too where the audience broke the barricades entering restricted areas. Maybe the Concert Organizer might have thought it’s just a matter of printing Tickets and leave everything else to ARR to mesmerize the crowd and cover up their own shortcomings.
I still don’t know how someone could oversell the ticket counts. Maybe they could have partly increased the audience count to cope up for the losses due to cancelled concert. But, the way its organized from the start, it sounds like a “money scam” by the Organizer rather an actual concert. The gender crimes mentioned around the concert makes it a complete failure and breakage of trust and confidence we have with ARR’s integrity. Ironically, ARR talks about the moment of losing trust of his listener on an Organizer’s youtube video released just before the Concert. Maybe it’s just coincidence or his instinct warning him in advance. One could sense his (edited out) frustration to get rid of the concert as its nagging with issues. ARR also talks about a shot in Maamannan where Vadivelu goes through Humiliation and looking towards his son for redemption. Hmmm…
I have personally attended ARR concert during his Baba scoring times and what a satisfying concert it was. The Sound system in the stadium was excellent and ARR and Blaze churned out lively music along with other Stalwarts and it was such a delight to the senses. I could still remember Sivamani wearing a Drum like T-Shirt and dancing around electrifying the audience. It was completely different from the Light music shows I was used to so far. All credits to ARR! The Concert sounds completely different from where you are seated. The far it gets livelier and merrier. You can check youtube live recordings of his concert and infer on your own. The tone of the concert has evolved a lot for last few decades. Now it’s more peppy with less of melody giving a Discotheque flavour. Maybe ARR is right about generational gaps and young ones breaking barricades instead of records… again.
So, ARR is quite right when he opines its 90% success form the concert execution point of view and makes himself responsible as People crowded there just for him and not for any greedy organizer guzzling money on his name. But the real question is from the organizing point of view, ARR is a GOAT for sure but whether he is a Bakra is still a question to ponder on. The entire concert is his own decision starting from the poor choice of venue till the Organizational aspects of it.
ARR being ARR has understood his faults and has initiated refunds for the people affected. Money alone could not buy peace of Mind for sure. But, from ARR’s point of view he is completely at loss from all sides due to his poor judgement and choices. More than money he has made his Concert Organizing skills doubtful. It’s quite tough time to go through, for an Artist who has given us a lot of love and IP assets for so long, ruining his reputation owing to his Management shortfalls. Let’s keep this in Mind, ARR is a genius Mastreao. But, He is not an Event Organizer. The buck should stop with his poor judgement and allowing such an inferior concert to happen under his watch and most of the blame should go to the Event Organizer.
It’s very heartbreaking to see people getting mishandled both by the Organizers and the unruly Mob leveraging the situation to their advantage. This has happened primarily due to overselling of tickets. Whatever lame reasons the Organizers produce on their behalf this is a criminal offence in First World standards. Unfortunately, we are third World like US cop explained audaciously, as our lives being just worthy of few Dollars for our petty human value. Now, why did this Cop made such a comment? Sadly, if I would have died on accident in India, I will not even be worthy of even those dollars. Ask people who suffered on Riots? Personally, there was an accident in Chennai where my Middle finger got almost cut off at GST road, organized by a criminal On-call-Driver who was giving me problems from the start that he was not interested in Driving at all. I had to drive him the whole way. He stopped the car midway and asked me to check the engine on a busy GST road and while closing the door I was hit by a Van. While I was rushing towards the Hospital on car packing my finger, the Van driver followed me and scolded me as overspeeding is not his fault. I should have filed complaint against both the Drivers. But you know how our Police works!
Let’s contrast that with western world situation, When I had hit and scratched a rear Car bumper in US, I had to follow SOP, pull my car to kerb and give my insurance details for the victim to claim and undergo any other police proceedings. We will remain third world not just on economy but in terms of Human value also as long as we don’t regard ourselves with dignity and self respect. So far how the Tamilnadu Government brushed aside such grave allegations as “normal” aberrations shows what we are…Poor Third World! It actually takes Political VIPs to get humiliated in our country to even do a harmless transfer of the people who should be answerable. Hmm… But we are proud G20 Leaders. Our pride will be restored when the US cop apologizes and the same pride will remain unwounded even if multiple molestations happen in the crowded concerts.
To understand ARR’s side we need to see how he reacted for a concert accident involving his Son AR Ameen. Let’s question ourselves who would be answerable if ARR or his Kin suffer for some Organizer’s mistake with a stage mishap? Upholding his integrity, ARR reacted to both the situations involving a possible grave accident to his Son and mismanagement of his Concert, in a similar pattern. You could see clear laments on the lack of infrastructure / people not following rules. Painfully, it sounds like ARR and Concert Audience are on the same Plane getting beaten up on Professional front for no fault of theirs, except for their decisions to organize concert or buy tickets. This is not to defend ARR, but Poor ARR could only be blamed for hiring such a greedy Organizer and everything illegal should have taken its course with the evil Concert Organizer, lawfully. But unfortunately, even the TN government is trying to hush this up as ARR is involved, rather acting on the Organizer, ending up damaging ARR even more. Overselling of tickets is a criminal offence and they have not even bothered to pay Corporation tax on Concert tickets. How can we leave such people escape unscathed when they have inflicted such miseries on us?
I do carry the risk of being insensitive and supportive to ARR. We are allowed to bark at the wrong tree just because it yields fruits, but unless otherwise, we punish the abuser who actually hit us with a cane, we will never progress further. Concerts / ARR are going to be there in future. Only our habits to question the wrong things and moving towards positive resolution will help us in the long run. Why don’t we make a video of such molesters and help identify the Culprits? Why don’t we ask right questions at the Organizer and capture their apathy. I have seen hours of concert on Youtube but why not videos on the issues to tackle it later or atleast name and shame as SM is good at that?
Let’s hope better sense prevails over our community as a whole and focus on taking the Organizer to task rather distorting ourselves with political agenda. As Public it’s our choice whether to make scapegoats out of Celebrities without root cause analysis or let proper Justice prevail over so that we have better concerts and our Kith and Kin are safe attending such concerts.
What are the various options of timepass for an heavily unemployed guy… He started thinking about it… How about gazing at sky for stars, counting them for a positive statistic, rather getting depressed with the dwindling bank account balance. He actually started doing it. The problem with miracles is that it just never happens. We need to create miracles out of our own imagination. And it happened. While ruminating on his worrying financial future, he somehow identified a bespectacled figure in the sky.
Unfortunately, he had to rely on aerial aspects rather on his own technical prowess of late. Now, he is not a very confident person as he was earlier. Gone are his shiny days as technocrat where he could churn out components and innovative frameworks, even if not put to use at-least helped him derive Job satisfaction. Unfortunately, jobs at his motherland was still elusive compared to back to back Job assignments he used to get abroad. Now, he only had his rustic inner self to hold on as walking stick to climb the seemingly steep career mountain to survive his family. He many not be the confident person but whenever he thought of his career / finance, he crazily looked upon the sky to derive any worthy belief supporting his weak inner self. So, the bespectacled cloudy stuff while worrying on his finances reminded him of his own Father and his past survival as lower middle class guy. Maybe he will be there for him watching from the skies?
Your Friendly Neighbourhood – Cloudy Man
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.“
Buddha
The Lord’s Piggy Bank
As if his Father is not enough to carry on his burdens, He appointed God as Partner on his earnings. Maybe it’s loosely based on a comedy where the thief steals after making God as Partner as safety insurance. The revenue sharing was based on a novel idea. He will throw all the stolen money on the floor of the temple. Whatever falls into the Hundi, the piggy bank hole meant for devotees to donate, belongs to God. God’s Piggy bank had a small hole and maybe God is not so greedy or he is just making sure nobody gets their hands into it. On the similar veins, He appointed God as his Partner sharing his profits proportional to the Hole in his Piggy Bank hoping to outsmart the Lord.
“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me..”
Emo Philips
He then climbed the Mountain, after huffing and puffing to reach the Lord’s abode to issue his Appointment Letter as Partner. But the Lord turned out to be what he is… just great by having a large mouthed piggy bank opening / Hundi hung high enough that no one can take from it but can only drop offerings into it. But much to the disappointment, the Hundi, comes along with a Board indicating all that goes in Hundi does not belong to God but as a Corpus fund. Don’t know if Gods are genial while sleeping, but certainly his so called trustees who could perform a daylight robbery on him erecting a simple Board. It’s just like Modi’s masterstroke. If the opposition called themselves as India, let’s rename India to Bharat. Ideally he should have renamed it to Brahm-Hindustan to uphold his fascist Brahmanical supremacy. If China is creating border problems, let’s park the Akand Hindu Rashtra near Russia far away from China.
“I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up – they have no holidays.”
Henny Youngman
Somehow such crazy inspirations and his belief on his Father and Lord Partner pushed him towards performing his corporate comedy or at-least try… well… why not… Once again.
The Trek to assess Hundi. * Pics are for illustrative purposes only.
You are sadly (dis)Appointed…
Fortunately, ( or Unfortunately? ), he cracked an appointment after going through Marathon interviews of his supposedly Superior followed by his own Superior followed by his own Superior followed by Office Boy and Admin. Everyone had different shades of questions. One said the different JDs he got as part of Job opening does not mean anything, maybe only the salary matters. One said he will mould him to whatever Apology Savarkar or Skewered Shawarma whichever pleases him, when he himself sounded like a stylish immature kidor as PB Mehta describes – a thuggish crybaby reminding of his own Sarkar Head. One stated the Organisation is a frugal retail shop, not a fancy IT Firm and atrociously declared he alone has the rights to preach inside the Org, however illogical and unequal it is, just because he holds the Purse. Wonder who gave the purse tphim. All he needed to loosen his purse strings was few donut shaped charts on absurd resource utilization with subservience to bourne supremacy. The Chief Powder officer aiming to keep his fire pow(d)er high and dry, boasted it as an elite company (of assassins? Or whatsoever). Hopefully he will not kill himself out of habit. So, it was a warm half hearted welcome to the elite-Ops club.
Truth is singular. Its ‘versions’ are mistruths.
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
No Big Deal, because even I don’t know or understand!
He entered the Office like a well dressed Bakra in formals, as he could not take his Kids’ welfare casual. The Office proved to be a great one, simple and frugal but very functional. It had desk and Chair and most importantly dining table and small pantry with a smart Admin serving good Coffee. The HR induction threatened him not to get political ideas as they are quite ethical but was proud to compare Europe’s GDPR with India’s PDP when actually both acted like antonyms in reality with PDP hiding the wolf in it with the sheep hide in the guise of National security empowering the Government to spy on what it wants unrestrictedly, So much for their Government and Corporate ethics. The tech induction was impressive and he was rest assured the company’s vision is in right track and a safe career if he does not ruffle any feather or get into rough weather.
Enter the Chameleon.
His reporting Manager’s first task assignment was to go through an Architecture “Bible” document, which he could not understand the head or tails of it. It sounded like a Muniyandi Vilas Restaurant Menu Card, Don’t know how much of bloodletting it took to frame that document. The lavish Menu was like it had everything without caring for how much the Diner’s purse carries. Of course it had its own history and revisions like the layers of Mona Lisa with its own Da Vinci type code. Unless you understand the history you cannot understand the Document. When you understand the History of the Document, and figure out whether Mona Lisa actually cries or smiles, you will be obviously become the Corporate Neo-Convert baptised to the new Religion – “How to burn company cash in 30 seconds without burning yourself”.
“The Night Is Darkest Right Before The Dawn. And I Promise You, The Dawn Is Coming.” – Of course by burning cash.
“No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: he is always convinced that it says what he means.”
George Bernard Shah err… Shaw
The Tech Bible which changes colour like Corporate Manager Jesus.
The Reporting Manager was very cautious to call the Architecture Document as Bible. Nothing should change or deviate from Bible or one will be punished to walk in the water till they drown. It was quite funny how he was able to correlate a Document which provided us a way of life and faith and did not change for 2000+ years and still holds good for future, compared it to a Document which should ideally change and innovate, with the technology going through a paradigm shift every 5 years or so. It was lot more fun when it got changed for every roll-out to accommodate for the insufficiencies of the Partner Developer. Maybe its a writ from the “God of Cost-cutting” – You can only withdraw money using Demand Drafts and not NEFT/UPI. “Yes… My Lord, as long as I get my Salary!”
“I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me . . they’re cramming for their final exam.”
George Carlin
Knowledge transfer – Just a cake walk on Water!
The sky gazer was supposed to help a team on uploading files to cloud without any access or knowledge of it. His peer who was already in a sour mood for scheduling early morning 10 AM meetings and pokes to join, decided to stay silent. His loyal subordinates from Partner Firm followed his path of silence for the mails, making him wander Pillar to Post just to understand the issue. Weekend was followed by Peer’s sick Leaves and measured silence from everyone else that progress could not be made. The Reporting Manager exhibited Polymorphism rather genuine steps to expedite, making him cry “OOPS!”.
There was another discussion on using file or API calls without throwing light on the quantum of data for a week, pushing the star gazer to spell out what they wanted. Assuming its a guge data, looks like they have already decided to take a rudimentary file approach and chunk the data manually instead of simply paginating the API call. Wonder how they will convince every intelligent system delivering APIs to give them files. The underlying problem seemed to be that, one wrong decision getting snowballed into a bigger wrong decision, as they try to cram everything into a prototype they believe doing fine if not future ready. A proper resolution could be rewrites, which they are lazy and procrastinating.
The sky gazer completely lost hope of doing anything useful with the setup. It sounded like a very novel way of unwelcoming Team member as he might have crossed the sacred rule of scheduling early morning meetings and raising questions on their Noah’s ark built with a large hole at the bottom to facilitate their drainage.
“Often it does seem a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat.”
Mark Twain
He has worked across various implementations, seen the best and worst, amazed at the implementations being done like a reinventing networking company’s amazing Architectural turnaround or apparel company for the skinny types’ robust implementation and also disappointed at few places. In most of the situations, he must have felt like a blind man trying to figure an elephant by touching upon various parts, but this is the first case, irrespective of his shortcomings, the implementation seemed as if built by three blind men / team hoping that they will be never be discovered on their shortcomings with the so called madly authoritative IT Governors. The ray of light came in that, though he could be rustic, at least he is still good enough to build good enough implementations.
Atleast building in On-premise Stone is better than building castles in the Cloud?
The Knowledge transfer sessions were more like an interview where he was supposed to figure out solutions with their own Biblical err.. technical components. The approach was as if how dare someone can question or criticise them. Also came a veiled threat from the Polymorphic reporting Manager Chameleon that Early Morning Rising Peer is the go-to guy who knows everything, and not documentation like any mature company will do. He got further warned on any other infringement of bypassing early riser will even lead to firing of everyone in the meeting. The sky gazer was the only guy in that meeting who could get fired by that chameleon as others are from well to do Partner Firm, who seemed to have upper hand on everything including the poor chap who acted like cheaper version of Donald Trump – “You are Fired!”. Maybe their partners are experts who have seen through the entire charade as Divine comedy and navigate well. The below quote aptly fits them though.
“An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field.”
Neils Bohr
Writing the Access imposition X times…
The access to the Servers and Code went through a large SDLC cycle where even the Corp ID’s Department / Reporting Manager attributes become faulty. It was made even worse as the Service Ticket will be closed as per the temperament of the Service Engineer and another ticket need to be opened up even to continue the conversation to update the attributes. He again lost hope of navigating the access maze and just stayed stuck. Now, he started enjoying the warm unwelcomeness in every aspect of it. Killjoy!
“I think Smithers picked me because of my motivational skills. Everyone says they have to work a lot harder when I’m around.”
Homer Simpson
You will get used to Corporate BS if you just manage to stay long enough.
Meet the Maverick – Mad child playing with expensive lego bricks.
The useless Sky gazer got assigned to useless Project that was about to be rewritten due to various data and scalability issues. After multiple interrogations he understood nobody followed the so called Architecture for the reference component, the chameleon wanted him to treat like sacred Bible. The rollout was just a development of convenience by the Partner Firm milking a clever acceptance from the early morning Peer, who always had someone who has resigned to blame and the blessings of Architecture team.
“Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.”
George Carlin
The useless Project was led by an useless Maverick Man-Child having shades of eccentricity throwing tantrums in heavy proportions. The project become a three pronged headache, fix the data errors, fix the scalability / performance issues and do everything with a disjointed architecture as the Company seemed to be rich enough to buy three products doing the same thing and the design was as if writing a property will allocating work asset to those three components to please everyone around, rather making it work.
If you want to survive Corporate IT just get used to the perspective!
Fortunately, at-least one among three technology product, a good and simple tech sibling was mysteriously found to be bad for some reason or other nobody cared to know and got abandoned out of the will. So, it was a tussle to squeeze work / property share between two components a cutting edge and a legacy one. It got further complicated by the Partner firm as they had more legacy developers rather cutting edge tech cloud developers. When he raised the resource plan mismatch with the proposed design, the Chameleon hushed it up claiming it as Team Secret. He still wondered why do they do vendor-lock-in by developing on a proprietary language rather choosing easily portable language across cloud or on-premise like Java… who knows it could be just another team secret. All-in-all it sounded like he was brought in as a low shelf life contractor to cover their sins with the new entrant’s justifications and thought process.
“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job, because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”
Bill Gates
So, the implementation was factually a design driven by the Developers’ availability instead of any design or architecture. But, their designs were made to look cutting edge. How? Just put a small box for legacy layer having a lot of “hidden” functionality and make the cutting edge tech look big enough with the biggest box for anyone trying to understand. It was like a creating three cots for a person to sleep, but with its own size shortcomings and the architectural decision was to cut the leg of the Person as required to fit him in the cot. If he still whines on why three cots instead of one, just cut him to three parts to make use of the cots, as cost justification matters more than anything else.
The Big Bang Idea
As if the issues were not enough, the eccentric Maverick manager came forward with an idea, to kick out a legacy product and adopt the tech sibling who was thrown out for mysterious reasons. It actually sounded like good design, but to convince the team where everyone had an agenda of their own, is like climbing Mount Everest without Oxygen supply and blood flow. In any Organisation, there are two types of people / role-play responding to the Management, one who strictly adhere as Master-Pleasers without trusting their instincts or skills, like the chameleon Manager and the other who make noise and fall in the bad books but still tolerated for their skills and performance like the eccentric. The Sky gazer is someone who neither had the courage to break rules nor the “talent” and will to be Master’s lapdog licking around and lingering there, as hapless fresh entrant without any foothold of accomplishment. He was just trying to get access to understand the mysterious pandora box. He decided not to take any stance but organise a discussion together and allow them to fight and arrive at a conclusion.
“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?”
Edward Bergen
When the Big Bang is not so Big Bang.
Putting everyone to Bed.
The best part of conflict arrived when the proposed discussion was assumed to be for adding an additional sibling to the property will even without any discussion / clarification by the chameleon and Co. The apprehension had its reasons. There was a lot at stake as the resource allocations and everything about the most important component of the Project – Money… will change, where ultimately, they will questioned on their decisions.. So, the property will panchayat got assigned to the “Lord of the Purse” on whether to adopt the thrown out sibling or just go with the legacy darling. Funnily, the thrown out sibling was already bought and kept aside sparingly used and was also logically the rightful heir to the design, if designed carefully. The Lord of Purse was given enough dog whistle by the chameleon and Company, that a new component was getting added which was falsely assumed to cast a deep hole on his purse. Lord of the Purse angrily replied that he wanted to put everything to Bed at rest as if he is running no-questions-heard-or-asked-Corporate-Zombie-Hospital.
“Sometimes I spend the whole meeting wondering how they got the big meeting table through the door.”
It’s Not me / May be it’s Me
Praise the Purse Lord!
I “swear” to Mother friendly God!
Now, the eccentric Maverick Manager got into his synthetic anger mode for no reason. He questioned the reason for opening the discussion on third sibling’s adoption as the entire discussion should have been discussed without naming the third tech sibling. He derived a genial reasoning that all the anger of the Lord of Purse was because the third sibling was named. Maybe we should have called him Pariah so as to adopt him unknowingly, out of empathy or sympathy, accommodating it with a minute box in the Powerpoint. The logic illustrated was out of the world. Only corporate IT could do such miracles, like Elon musk renaming twitter to X made it look anew and profitable, if still not working make it Why… err… “Y ” or “?”. Jai Hindustan!
Don’t know if Lord or Purse’s “Putting it to Bed” retort triggered / aroused the eccentric, he started calling out consummation in a very in-dignified way and lamented how come everyone acted like a King but they were essentially babies need to be fed with… documents, which nobody asked except for him. He then assigned the sky gazer to create more documents with more boxes, where the Lord of the Purse could put his money into, to avenge his sorrow. The choicest abuses were reserved for the so called Property Will – Architecture, in reality just the customary one which nobody else really bothered and efficiently circumvented.
“If A equals success, then the formula is A = X + Y + Z. Where X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut.”
Albert Einstein
This Blog “Document” is complimentary.
Blame it on the Cloud.
The sky gazer felt like laughing out loud on the loud and empty logics on display. But the after taste of eccentricity and swear words started weighing heavily on him. He just “resigned” to fate as counting stars seemed as better useless Job than solving this property share where everyone is preying around like vulture for the corporate fortune. The real Losers on this episode was the Corporate fund and then the Sky gazer who got deprived of month’s salary citing non-existent policy as return of vengeance from his Chameleonic reporting Manager and Co, who could not make him toe the line.
He could just blame everything on the cloud, as in retrospective it was just a laughable Circus he got pulled into. Except for the resignation act none was his doing. But what good is holding a Job without any sense of self-respect or dignity? Afterall all brown skins are not born thick enough to withstand abuses. If he entertains such swearing nut cases, it’s only going to get aggravated. The clueless management seem more inclined towards such authoritative and egoistic “governance” without even knowing what is happening under the hood. As such, there was no logic burning millions on IT investment, but cautiously saving on his peanut salary. Maybe this is just Corporate version of better being Sorry than staying safe. When such decisions explodes its going to be sure big bang like Meteors on Dinosaurs. Maybe Karma has its sweet way of financial balancing.
For any Tamil-Filmy-Japanese Guy… You know what is Karma…? Well I know better about you trying to suck upon controversies for publicity and end up burning as much bigger controversy. And that is called Karma.
“A man is accepted into a Corporate for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows.”
Modified Mark Twain Quote
The age of Cloud-Mine
Choosing freelance consulting is both of blessing and curse. It’s a curse where you need to work on limited resources compensating for the instability of the career, it also richly rewards with a lot of exposure to different companies, their best practices, turn around moments and also their pitfalls. There was a leader of conviction who did not sway to any open source or cloud ecosystems, but chose to perform a proper checklisting of the features required and tallying it with RoI. There was a Principal Architect who got pissed off with the so called configurable products and sluggish performance and was taken aback with the simplicity of POJOs – The plain old Java objects performing better and chose to rewrite everything in On-Premise JEE framework, “boldly”. There were few meticulous companies which tracked resources and allocation better than JIRA with a clear vision of what they want without flashy namesake projects. The best thing to learn on short term consulting is that you get to rub shoulders with the greatest who are yet to be discovered while getting your own sweet independence and time to change diapers of babies while putting up with your spouse on housing chores.
“No one will need more than 637Kb of memory for a personal computer.”
Bill Gates
Unfortunately, in star gazer’s Motherland, of late, except for few eminent personalities like Harsh Goenka, none provided a proper Final settlement citing some lame reasons like making you sign NDA on last day or swallow PF deductions. But Karma has always had a funny way of turning around this company culture. A company which withheld PF was running a 30-40% bench and bleeding on ransomware calls due to cost cutting. It’s NDA imposition competitor is still working on low level projects as glass ceiling can never be shattered by small minds.
“Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.”
Bill Gates
Recently, the city of Birmingham declared bankruptcy, trying to replace a SAP system with Oracle and burning their fingers. This proves a point cutting edge tech has nothing to do with data management and if at all cutting edge need to be employed, it has to happen where the data transfer happens around. Bankruptcy is reserved for people who acquire teacups for the want of better tea. One thing as a Consultant one frets over is that, he can never change things for good. If he does… he is just trying to flip a Dosa/ pan cake stuck on a hot tawa without a “spatula” of in-house accomplishment, just ending up burning his own fingers. But, he can always mail and leave the rest to Karma and take bed rest.
“If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.”
Bill Gates
The CIOs tend to get caught themselves on the trendyish cloud-webs they find fascinating in the consumer centric world. You got enough sexy and glitzy forums aptly scheduled at Las vegas to gamble around with company funds. First of all, there is no clear idea on how to use the cloud and the project cost with the increasing data management. Secondly, they forget that Cloud is just a startup laboratory for their IT experiments. Once they have a matured technology solution which will stand for a decade, it’s much more profitable to move to On-premise creating an in-house micro services setup. Thirdy, they don’t have a clear exit plan for Cloud by writing in native code like C# rather than Java or any other portable language, and then wasting resources by jumping around cheaper corners finding shoe racks to stuff their data in. They should have kept portability to On-premise, Quantum of data and exponential billing in mind for their implementations.
“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.”
Bill Gates
Ironically, by investing on the Cloud Vendors who are supposed to to be the “cheapest” solution providers, CIOs also made them the world’s biggest revenue generating Firms. We need to ask ourselves who the ultimate Bakra is if we create our own IT apocalypse with irrational hiring and investments and vengeful firing methodologies.
“I can understand wanting to have millions of dollars, there’s a certain freedom, meaningful freedom, that comes with that. But once you get much beyond that, I have to tell you, it’s the same hamburger.”
Bill Gates
Whoever opined “Money can’t buy you happiness” obviously had far too much of the stuff.
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Moving Survival Mountain
While the crazy sky gazer could not figure out the corporate rat race, at least he figured out the reason for bespectacled Father figure in the clouds. He started utilising his Mom’s pension amount inherited from his Father as the last lifeline to survive his family. Ultimately, his Father’s savings helped him like Naai Sekar’s Magic Box, when the sexy Corporate Trishas and Nayantharas flying high on the cloud left him high and dry, depriving him of his well earned salary, squeezing him to stress out. Maybe he is oh-so-tasteless.
“Now I’m a spent firework; but at least I’ve been a firework.”
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
He then turned desperate for any cloud signs or magic looking at the sky to calm himself with an imaginary rope to get out of the froggy well with despair pulling the legs of Hope finding a way out. On a Super Blue moon day, he at-least got a sign if not salary. He queried his daughter nearby, “What do you see in the Clouds?”
She replied, “Mountain!”
The Moon Rise. Moonu Moonu Moonu Unnoda Love Sceneu
My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
PS: This is just an imaginary post not subjected to any Non Disclosure agreements, just like never credited salaries of Idiots who still find hope in hopeless Corporate Culture, drafted by ego heads treating themselves as fascist Religion, and religiously followed by Corporate Minions without understanding one day they will be on the receiving end of the same atrocious toxic inhuman culture they helped to groom.
If this correlates / resembles anything in reality, it’s just coincidencidental incident or incidental coincidence like the numerous synthetic coincidences leeching on Blogger’s blood and life.
Jailer is an Out and Out Rajinikanth film rather being anything else. But, Nelson brings in his brilliance by making him an Old saintly person, who does not hesitate much to tackle his opponents in a fitting way. It was refreshing to see Rajnikanth in a calm demeanor but still getting menacing as and when required. His gradual ascent to mass elevation happens in a very measured way, combined with Nelson’s intelligent scripting of bringing out the best out of grim situations. But still I would rate Doctor as his best film , which fired from all cylinders from the start till the end.There were lot of positive reviews and equally hateful reviews too, but the film dusts off everything in a flick by making it a watchable and even enjoyable treat. I especially liked the way Rajnikanth admirably making himself a adorable grandpa dancing on the sideline compared to his sacrilege with Sonakshi Sinha. But he never disappoints audience with his massy and blessed screen connect, be it teary eyed Rajini or the gaiety one in the Climax or flashback. I could not see any negatives with the first half and second half, may be I am inherently biased towards his screen persona.
Now what could have been better?
The first 15 minutes worked out like Veedu movie, where Rajini plays out like stylized version of Chokkalinga Bhagavathar, without any high moments. The mass moment of his kidnapping could have been far better, with few more intelligent moves from him, maybe like showcasing it as accident to avoid displaying his other persona. Ramya Krishnan could have been a lot more engaging, compelling and competing character, unknowing of his persona, shining back on their legacy, which could have elevated her impactful Dialogue, blaming the Hero on his son’s death. She could have even elevated the pre-interval scene, like how Kamal Hassan surprised his spouse in Vishwaroopam.
The Father-son bonding is the core of this film. But except for a beautiful song and easy to miss shots on their bonding, the movie fast forwards to his death. The climax twist is even more indigestible as there are no scenes earlier to underscore his chameleonic character. Vikram again handled it quite well at the appropriate segments to stress on the weight of emotions. Nelson could have done better with impactful Dialogues and making compelling shots which required to be registered on audience minds. For example, Rajinikanth opens all windows in the pre-interval scene does not register well or convey any meaning, unless you watch it second time or in trailers. Maybe Ramya Krishnan could have questioned on such mad behaviour. Such buildups adds up well later with Snipers.
Anirudh has played a large catalyst on this film. He does not hesitate amping up the BGM, where even ARR shies away. Kudos to him, though he could have done a lot better replacing Jujubee song.
Shiva Rajkumar gets a better massy intro than Rajnikanth. Both of his scenes were quite enjoyable. I have endured an unbearable Kannada movie in KSRTC bus, but it’s quite awesome how the industry have turned tables in an admirable way. He made me an instant fan with his climax shot carrying a box of tissues. Mohanlal gets a stylish scene just like Lucifer. Few more scenes could have amped up the excitement. Maybe Nelson thought of bringing in Balayya in the place of brilliant Kishore on the Heist scene. Well it could have been pretty massy rather prolonging Sunil’s portion though I enjoyed it and nothing to complain there. Maybe Balayya could have been that CBI officer who gives his best on Sunil and his triangular sob story and the educating the goon who asks for his ID but could not read. He could have handled the heist better with an equally massy fight between the two veterans. Just plain wishful thinking, but Nelson has certainly opened the gates for multi-starrers with interesting cameos. Audience love such Limited editions be it Rolex or Shiva Rajkumar.
I don’t know what honesty Ramya Krishnan was speaking about Jailer. How can a honest cop could throw a bomb using another goon and take pride in the next scene of reforming the same goon. Doctor had a better character build up rather Jailer, But Rajini being Rajini defies all the logic and science involved and lifts the film with his emotional connect. It’s no wonder this movie become a blockbuster as it manages to touch the right nostalgic moments in a very new backdrop. I especially liked Rajini playing a chess master like character, delegating to others, rather doing unbelievable action scenes.
Honesty is the worst policy
Just like the film’s honesty, we could see Rajini touching the feet of Bulldozer Baba in UP for real. It just reminded me of the eagle you see in the Karumegangal Kalaigindrana trailer, where GV Menon is that legal eagle who flies high but feasts on its hapless prey for its own survival. I always felt Rajini is different as an actor or as part-time politician. Hopefully this eagle does something good for the society or atleast dont hurt the society, becoming an irrelevant “Blue Shirt” in Politics, just like that youtube comedian. Let’s pray Rajini as an eternal Superstar keeps on winning people’s Hearts, rather aspiring for meaningless political chair.
Timepass Politics 