Tainted legacy

April 14th, 1891 saw the birth of a phenomenal social reformer, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, born Bhimrao Ramji Sakpal in the town of Mhow. A person who was condemned to live the life of an untouchable, for the sole reason of being born in a ‘mahar’ household. But this bespectacled and brilliant man not only defied social ethos and rose in society, he also paved the way for giving a new lease to life to millions of his kind who were shunned by society. His actions have been hailed by some and despised by others. Though what he stood for is beyond the lowliness of debate. Babasaheb Ambedkar has become a classic example of greatness misused for petty purposes of today’s politicians. Flowing with the tide is the general expectation of a man, but going against the tide for what is right is the true test of a man. It is the fundamental right of any individual to safeguard his integrity, which sadly was not respected in the society Dr.Ambedkar was born into. Imagine not being allowed to drink water from a common tap, not being allowed to sit in the same class as your batch mates, or for that matter imagine not being addressed to while in class. Dr.Ambedkar faced this and much more. He brought about the necessary change in society and has etched himself in the time-line. It is not surprising then, that Dr.Ambedkar refused to suffocate in the religion that was responsible for his misery and converted to Buddhism. Along with him, so did 5,00,000 supporters of his. His fight for the oppressed has given him a legendary status amongst the people he helped prosper. But are his mottos still remembered? Dr.Ambedkar today has become an icon of dalit power. His name adorns various institutions. A great pride for any person. But the misuse of his mottos has also become legendary. The caste system is something every Indian considers shameful today. Modern India has washed the dark stain. Yet, we have people who drag us back in time by using the word ‘caste’. Reservation by way of caste has become the most annoying factor for most qualified persons. The deserving are held back due to the pettiness of a few myopic people. Is this what Dr.Ambedkar dreamt of? Dr.Ambedkar's political philosophy has given rise to a large number of Dalit political parties, publications and workers' unions that remain active across India. This was necessary no doubt, but only for a given time. With the passage of time these elements have become the viscous force affecting India’s progress. Reservations in terms of economical background are necessary, but not on terms of caste. The age where the son of a butcher remains a butcher are long gone. The rise of a man must be due to his own effort, Dr.Ambedkar is not a shoulder to be clambered upon. Our constitution had the clause which stated reservation as a temporary measure. The father of our constitution wanted to empower the downtrodden, not transform them into a bunch of creamy layered and favor demanding vegetables. The words may be harsh, but even the people we speak off here will agree with these words. Knowledge and skill cannot be made a mockery of for the purpose of a vote bank. The sooner this is realized the better. Only then can we call our future truly bright.

THE HYPE SURROUNDING YOUNG POLITICAINS

George Bernard Shaw had once quoted, “If age was a criteria for commanding respect, the stones on the pavement of London command most respect.” Though Mr.Shaw was completely accurate in his analysis, it does not mean that an omelette must be served raw.Let us face the harsh fact folks, most young politicians today, are thriving on the images of “ pappaji” and “mummyji”. Those who rise in politics through hard work and dedication are not even close to young when they finally attain a position of some influence .To add to that, most people with their integrity to safeguard, give up politics when they see its true face.We are well aware of the filth we are submerged neck deep in. The phrase, ‘Money talks’ has not been implemented anywhere as shamelessly as in Indian politics. The list of cons of Indian politics is never ending. India as a nation has suffered mercilessly under greedy and power hungry politicians. Nehru’s message, “Our dream is to wipe every tear of every eye, that may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.” has long been lost into oblivion. The work done by our country’s leaders has seen a steady decline and the tears and suffering of the common man have been amplified.To add to this scenario today, we have the young politician. The charm and charisma that radiates from their erect posture and practiced gait, the polished English emanating from their mouth and the ever welcoming smile on their face, have become the characteristics of today’s young politicians. The face of Indian politics is rapidly changing, no doubt. But are their methods changing? They carry the same failed agendas of their mentors and use the same vote bank politics. The people of India are not seeing an overhaul in their political system, they are merely seeing nepotism take over rationalism.Other young faces in Indian politics include those of filmstars. After living a life of luxury by dancing for the people, they now desire to live a life of greater luxury by making the people dance to their tunes. Here again, it is their on screen persona which attracts voters not their deeds, which are too few to speak of anyways.The era of workers of society being elevated to the pedestal of politicians has long gone. Today’s clean shaven faces in politics boast of degrees from universities like Oxford and Harvard, they are blissfully unaware of the ground realities of their own constituency. The silver spoons shoved deep into their throat chokes their ability to understand the plight of the common man. Are we to expect a person who does not understand the problems to find a solution to them?May god save my nation!

WHAT CLASSES CAN DO TO YOU

This!” says Rashid, rolling a joint with furious speed, “it’s my third today,” he clarifies. I look around perplexed, his public display of weed is giving me slight shivers and I don’t want to be rounded up by men in khaki, jus waiting to shove their sticks……………..anywhere.I leave Rashid in his artificial bliss. Though he still maintains it’s completely natural. I return to my television deprived home. An aspect which serves as a constant reminder to me of my classes. It was a beautiful day I remember vividly. I was watching some random movie on the television, and in came the beauty responsible for giving birth to me with a single sheet of paper in her lovely hand, she then flung the:1) Sheet of paper at me2) Television on the floor.Then left with the same haste that she had entered with.My jaw dropped so low, I had a hairline fracture (exaggeration). I looked at the smooth, shiny piece of paper mamma dearest had flung at me. Damn! No wonder she was behaving weird, it was my report card from my classes. Looking at it I myself was aghast, wtf!!! I can’t possibly get 33%, I am not sooooo dumb at least. Then it hit me (this time on the ribs); these champions had counted tests I was absent for as 0/40(and not clarified it anywhere), I mean, not that being absent is a good thing, but going to class seven days a week after getting up at 5 a.m., and what do u get in return for it?? An enclosed class (which would have qualified as a gas chamber by the U.N), and a wise old moron trying 2 shove something into your brain with large mouthfuls of bad breath. To add to that there is occasional volley of insults aimed at you from the wise old bugger. All in all my point is, IT IS DIFFICULT NOT TO FALL SICK (at least mentally).I did try to explain the little fact that classes don’t know the difference between ‘0’ and ‘absent’ but it was to late. I prayed that every shard of my broken television must poke the ass responsible for my report card; even better would be if it went through and through.Home, was not something destined for me soon; I bumped into Jiah, my ex-girlfriend. She said during the course of our discussion that she was still single, I asked her why and she replied, “All the guys I know and meet go t some or the other class, and I don’t want to have a break-up again for the same reason.” That was a stab, a real deep one. I went red with embarrassment. How on earth can I ever forget what classes did to my love-life? With all the waking up early, homework, travelling and overall stress they caused, (making me turn to fags was another cause) in the end it I just couldn’t ‘get one hard enough’!! “You can keep that sponge of yours,” Jiah had said before walking away. And I just couldn’t stop her, because I had my chemistry book in one hand, yes you guessed right, the pressure from classes made you study even while making love. But damn, why dint I drop that stupid book?? I would have been able to button up my jeans faster; and more importantly stop Jiah!! Some piece of garbage called Jiah and she walked away. I wondered now that I am out of classes why not ask her out again? Oh yes!! I will be visiting the chemist soon.

A Letter From A Lover

Dearest darling Prerna,With every breath I take, u seem to be moving further and further away from me. Aye! Your thoughts burn a hole in my heart. I can still vividly remember the day you dumped me. “Its over, there is no future for us,” you had said. I rejoiced, celebrated, boozed, screwed. But now I know it was all for nothing.Do you remember the day I had got bitten? I hollowed and bellowed, but you just refused to let go, your teeth kept sinking deeper and deeper. That had confirmed my worse suspicions momentarily, “You bitch!!” I yelled. I swear ill take that back if you come back to me………..along with my passport, to which you had so easily helped yourself. Yes, I did read the note, “You not getting away so easily mister.” ‘Balls to her,’ I had stated! I am too broke to go anywhere in any case. But it is not the passport I want, I swear. You are the one for whom my black heart beats. The same heart you so mercilessly called black, the day I chased your mother’s dog out. Come on be rational, your mother needs a walking stick, not a dog to guide her. But you would never pay heed to my words, would you? Your calls completely stopped for an entire week. Alright ill correct myself, your missed calls stopped for an entire week.But most importantly let me clarify one thing, ‘there is nothing, absolutely nothing going on between me and Cherry ( Real name Chandralekha Chinnaswami Iyer), I mean all the speculations of me being in love with her are nonsense, I just stay with her, that’s all.’ And honestly I don’t give a damn when I hear about your fling with Cyril either. I know you couldn’t have slept with him, for god’s sake, he smells of horse shit. Plus Cherry has told me on numerous occasions that I am much better than him. And trust me she wasn’t in a position to lie.Forget it. Lets not talk about Cherry or Cyril. The time I honestly miss you is while having my meals. The “spoons” all around me keep reminding me of you. My house feels so silent without your moans, yells or swears. My neighbour had begun to take pity on me, quite often infact, until her husband found out. ‘Sigh!!’. Now my fight for the top is confined only with my boss. He’s giving me a tough time, especially after Cherry dumped him, not that I forced her to, but he fails to realize he is just not good enough.I saw the picture of Cyril putting that ring on your finger. It did make me jealous for a while, but then I smirked realising that Cyril would be better off giving finger-rings rather than going for the real stuff. You see, that sissy just isn’t man enough. I am sure you must have realised that by now. I am quite sure you realise he is humping you just to spike me, don’t you? Do you remember how two years ago I had been selected for a promotion above him? He is just trying to take revenge for that. Never mind he is a lot more successful than me now, but I am sure this bone of contention still persists in that vindictive vegetable.Do you remember the time you almost broke your nose. How I had sat and nursed it at seven in the morning. Alright, alright don’t begin to fret, you know I hadn’t done it intentionally, in fact I had told you not to wake me up early, but as usual, u had refused to listen. That reminds me of your nature of being accident prone, like the time the bike had gone over your foot. I swear I dint know you were standing there. Or for that matter…never mind let’s forget about it.Bottom line.................come back to me.

Holy Shadow

In the heart of the city of Pune lies the majestic Dagdushed Ganpati. A beautifully carved idol surrounded by an even more beautifully built temple. But honestly, temples and idols of shinny beauty have never fascinated me. What I write about today is the dingy by lanes which lie adjacent to this gorgeous structure. The notorious red light area, which supposedly ropes in all the sins of Pune. To a civilised man the prostitutes adorned with excess of talcum powder and mascara, represent symbols of vile and evil deeds. But are they not human? Is their crime so grave that we must refuse to acknowledge their very existence? If selling your body is a crime, isn’t selling your soul an even greater crime. I sincerely doubt that any respectable person in our civilised society has abided by their ethics with such loyalty that he has never committed any act considered sinful. The prostitute standing in that lane is not a monster; contrary to popular belief, they do not pull you inside the little shabby hutment where their business chamber sits, you aren’t forced into that smelling single bed, you patronise it. Under the temptation of a screw, the offensive place does not seem so offensive any more. The prostitute sits there at her business spot every day not because of some sort of hierarchy, but because of the customers who come to her. Personally, I find hierarchy and nepotism greater evils in society than doing honest business, even if the business is that of the flesh. Oh! But how could I have forgotten: it does not take longer than a few minutes and an ejaculation to transform a man from a sexually rearing beast into saint on a holy cause does it? This world has seen numerous professions from hunters, to warriors, to politicians, to into-tech professionals. But a profession that man remembers from time immemorial and a profession which still persists and persists strong, coincidently happens to be the one we are most ashamed of. The desires and lust of man has been the same through out generations. Prostitution is not harming any society anywhere in this world, because of the simple reason that it as in grained in society as basic aspects like language are. Does the solution to the problem of prostitution come from developing successful relationships? Actually is it really a problem? Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey are a few examples of countries where flesh trade between adults is permitted. Legalisation of prostitution paves the way for keeping greater tabs on the profession and helps treat it as any other profession, making it susceptible to legislation. The transparency that legalisation will bring about, will ensure that underage girls will not be forced into it. Further advantage of it is the removal of middle men or as they are more commonly called: pimps. This in turn will safeguard against exploitation of commercial sex workers and goad them into mainstream civilisation. It will mean eradication of discrimination prostitutes face at the hands of society. Our small gesture, of acknowledging their meagre existence will reinforce a human’s right to live.