जीवन सत्य

THE BASIC TRUTH OF LIFE

“LIVE as if you have to die tomorrow and learn as if you have to live forever,” said Gandhiji।

Life is purely a temporary phenomenon. The only thing that is true after life is death .But the greatest surprise on this earth is that people always remain blind to this basic truth of life. Here also I write down this basic truth how Lord Buddha explained to a lady. When the lady approached him to give life to her dead child, he promised it on the condition that she should bring a handful of rice to him from a home where no death had ever taken place.This simply explains that death is the only one truth in this earth after birth।

The world is just like a stage where we have been sent to performs our roles and God Almighty is watching us. The curtain will drop one day and the balance book of our deeds will be checked.

BJP to blame, not politics of terror

The third consecutive victory of Congress in Delhi under Shiela Aunty's leadership has prompted many to say BJP lost the battle for trying too much to politicise terror? L K Advani and Rajnath Singh, champions of BJP's campaign against UPA government for going soft on terrorists, had chosen not to attack the government during the Mumbai mayhem. Rather, they had stood beside the government on the poll eve.

Is the poll verdict a mandate in favour of Sheila's good governance?

Many will agree there were severe discontentment against the government for many reasons. Be it for the fast reading electricity meters, failure in tackling price rise of essential commodity, poor law and order, or BRT corridor. The popular poll planks of bijli, sadak, paani have become no better in the gullies of Delhi. People are still disgruntled for the lack of basic amenities in most parts of the National Capital except Central Delhi and a handful of posh colonies. Each and every year of last decade has witnessed water riots in forget the rural areas, even modern colonies like Vasant Kunj and others. Power crisis is yet to recover except the region that houses the babus. Every other day you come across with news of fatal accidents due to pot holes or bad patches on roads. Was the traffic smooth on Delhi roads in last couple of years? Was the media not crying all out against the mess caused by the BRT corridor?

The civic life has definitely improved in last decade. But resident welfare bodies, social activists and the change in economy have a lot to do with this regard. The poll verdict was rather, more because of the failure of the BJP top brass in getting the faction ridden party united in once used to be its citadel. Post Madan Lal Khurana, the party affairs were stage managed by late Sahib Singh Verma. Despite troubles in initial years, Sahib Singh could successfully take control of the party affairs slowly, but steadily. When he was fast emerging as the unchallenged leader of the Delhi unit after Vajpayee's reluctance to back Khurana any more, the former chief minister passed away. And that was the time when the BJP top brass should have thought of Who next?

Throughout her career as chief minister, Shiela Dikshit faced more opposition from her own party members than the BJP. Delhi voters were never convinced of BJP as the Opposition in the state assembly except on very few occasions. The lack of decision making of the BJP top leadership, absence of projecting anybody as the leader much before the elections helped in stoking indiscipline in the state unit. Leaders of same rung were not willing to accept each other. And poor Vijay Malhotra became one more victim of political intolerance.

-- Soumitra Mishra

WAQT NAHI

Har khushi Hai Logon Ke Daman Mein,
Par Ek Hansi Ke Liye Waqt Nahi.
Din Raat Daudti Duniya Mein,
Zindagi Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Maa Ki Loree Ka Ehsaas To Hai,
Par Maa Ko Maa Kehne Ka Waqt Nahi.
Saare Rishton Ko To Hum Maar Chuke,
Ab Unhe Dafnane Ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.

Saare Naam Mobile Mein Hain,
Par Dosti Ke Lye Waqt Nahi.
Gairon Ki Kya Baat Karen,
Jab Apno Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Aankhon Me Hai Neend Badee,
Par Sone Ka Waqt Nahi.
Dil Hai Ghamon Se Bhara Hua,
Par Rone Ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.

Paison ki Daud Me Aise Daude,
Ki Thakne ka Bhi Waqt Nahi.
Paraye Ehsason Ki Kya Kadr Karein,
Jab Apane Sapno Ke Liye Hi Waqt Nahi.

Tu Hi Bata E Zindagi,
Iss Zindagi Ka Kya Hoga,
Ki Har Pal Marne Walon Ko,
Jeene Ke Liye Bhi Waqt Nahi...

Why cry foul against Achuthanandan?

"If it had not been (Major) Sandeep's house, not even a dog would have glanced that way," is what Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan had to say about the family of slain NSG commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The Communist leader's remarks came after the slain major's father refused to meet the Kerala CM as he didn't want to politicise his son's death.

The NSG commando, who was engaged in rescuing hostages of the Mumbai siege, laid down his life while trying to save a NSG commando. At a time when the Unnikrishnans are trying to cope with the death of their young son, was there any need for the Kerala CM to display such scorn?

Achuthanandan was advised at the Bangalore airport not to move to Unni's house who felt the leaders were there to get political mileage. Also, if the Karnataka CM could visit them earlier, why the CM of his home state took so long? Finding time out of a busy schedule to fly to Bangalore was a lame excuse for the major's father. However, Achuthanandan, on advice of some of his aides, went to meet Unni's family. While the aides kept Unni busy in convincing to allow the leader into his house, the CM made a back-door entry. He garlanded the slain major's photograph and expressed grief.

Unni was livid at knowing the CM had befooled him and was expectedly furious. The CM along with his group had to make an exit.

The entire nation sympathises with Unni. But does becoming father of a martyr qualify a person to scold an elderly person? That too, who was there to sympathise with him on behalf of his home state? Why Unni didn't spurn the Karnataka CM? Why to single out Achuthanandan? Is it possible to pay an early visit every time a major is killed by terrorists? Was not Unny aware of the fact that a soldier might have to face such an unfortunate fate?

I do not mean to under estimate Sandeep's sacrifice, or of any other soldier. I salute the people who sacrifice their every now and then to let us live safely. But isn't it a fact that a soldier is aware that he may not return alive from each and every operation? Is it a fault of a CM to visit one such soldier’s house a bit late. I suppose the CM's subsequent remarks were not meant to the slain Major, rather to the father. While condemning his offending remarks, one must appreciate his honest expression. He, unlike other politicians, did not shed crocodile tears. Rather, he failed to conceal his anger and frustration out of the humiliation meted out to him. I am sure any ordinary man will do that at his age.

We should feel happy to get such a chief minister who has the guts to confess to his guilt in public later.

-- Soumitra Mishra

Internal Attack

About 500 Marathi families were threatened in Hariyana yesterday to leave the state by local youth. The victims were wondering who would save them now? Raj Thackeray? What is their fault? They are here for there livelihood, nothing else.

We are all Indians. And as an Indian, everybody has the right to move anywhere within the country. It is our birth right. Nobody has the right to stop north Indians staying in Mumbai. If people from north India start thinking like MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who will protect Mumbaikars in north India? They are also snatching jobs from local people.

In our country there are lots of more serious problems like unemployment, illiteracy, poverty, social and religious prejudice which require patience and hard work. But some politicians create some imaginary bogey to attract vote bank. This self-destructive mentality hampers development. It is even more dangerous than external threats. Internal stability makes a country strong enough to progress. Don't break the country for the sake of political interest.

Our body consists of several organs. Each and every organ has its own respective work to do. If one organ refuses to co-operate with others, then it definitely will lead to some critical situation. For example while eating we use our hands to carry food into our mouth, teeth to chew and liver and pancreas to digest.

Our country consists of several states which are adjoining each other, just like a chain. Each state needs to cooperate with other for progress of the nation. Time has come we all Indians have to wake up and spread the message of LOVE throughout the nation and defeat such destructive designs.

Rape, Religion, Revenge

A 29-year-old nun from the strife-torn Kondhamal district of Orissa had filed an FIR that she was raped by some 40-50 people on August 25 last and the Father of the church, she was working for, was also stripped by the same group. But the local police resfused to act prompt. Rather, the minority Christian community had to bear the brunt, followed by the brutal murder of Swami Laksmanananda Saraswati till they got shelter in the refugee camps.

The infamous incident not only ashamed the state, but the mankind. The international leadership urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop such inhuman acts asap.

The national media stood to the occasion by exposing how the major Hindu extremists were out to destabilise communal harmony, acting against the ethos of their religion -- peace and prosperity. But in the process, what did not come to the notice was that the police had in fact sent the victim for medical examination 28 hours after the alleged rape. (The report has not yet been made public.)

The nun and the elderly Father duo disappeared soon. While the elderly father Thomas Chelan hails from Kerala the 29-year-old nun Agne Barwa is from Sambalpur district of Orissa.

After the Prime Minister Mr Singh was approached by world heavyweights to control the anti-Christian riots, the Centre spent no time in making clear to the Navin Pattnaik-led Orissa government to either control the violence or face action.

Orissa police went to Kerala to seek help from the complainant. Though they failed to find the Father and the nun there, they arrested six of the accused who had fled to Kerala from Kondhamal district after the incident to earn their bread and butter. Police also sent the clothes of the nun for forensic examination to Kolkata to gather evidence of rape.

Later, the duo told the media that they fled Orissa only after they lost faith in the state police and would cooperate only if the case is handed over to the CBI. The Orissa government protested this and deposed before the Supreme Court of India that the state police Crime Branch is competent enough to handle the case. The apex court refused to order for a CBI probe into the case and instructed the complainant to cooperate the state police.

The duo are yet to travel to Orissa and identify the culprits in the TI parade without which police cannot make any progress in the case.

According to 'The Samaja', the largest and most trusted Oriya daily newspaper published from Cuttack, the cultural capital of Orissa, a senior government official who is involved with the investigation of the case said: "The forencsic test report does not have any evidence of rape or forced sex. Report of the medical examination, 28 hours after the alleged rape, also denies any rape or forced sex by more than one person. There were no signs of any injury caused by rape or forced sex in the private parts of the nun. Rather, it was evident that the complainant had indulged in sex with one person with her consent in the previous 24 hours. There was no evidence of she having sex with more than one person. The sperm collected during the examination was of either an old man, elderly person or an eunuch, said the two female doctors who had conducted the test. The test report also says the complainant is not new to having sex."

The senior official further said to the newspaper that the police sent the clothes for forensic examination after the medical examination report failed to point towards any rape or forced sex. However, the duo's reluctance to cooperate the investigating team despite the apex court's instructions, and continued absence from the state since the incident despite number of requests, indicate there is more than what was presumed to be, so far.

Moral Thoughts

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.
Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.
Even the smallest candle burns brighter in the dark.
Knowledge speaks, wisdom listen.
You are never fully dressed until you wear a smile.
The weak can’t forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Anger is momentary madness, so control passion or it will control you.
To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.
Be your own judge and you will be in peace.
Today’s beautiful moments are tomorrow’s beautiful memories.

India consistently inconsistent

After producing 627 runs in Chennai in an innings a week ago, all eyes were on the second Test in Ahmedabad. The hosts entered into the match with high in confidence. Skipper Anil Kumble chose to bat first after winning the toss. But to utter disappointment, India were dismissed for a paltry 76 in 20 overs, couldn’t stand even for one session! There was a little bit of grass on top of the wicket. But so what? We have just defeated the world champions in their own den. And nowhere than Perth, one of the fastest wickets in the world.

After the day's play Harbhajan came in to the media conference to take the flaks. "Everything went wrong for us. It was not the bit of grass to blame but the absence of red clay. Our strength lies in spin. We have a bunch of upcoming seamers who are world class. Nevertheless we win Test matches due to spinners. That is our traditional strength."

But who is to blame? Everybody cried foul after the Chennai track produced 1498 runs for 25 wickets. Might be, even the curator himself was not sure if weather would permit the game for five days. And the very next game saw a track without any red clay in Motera. Is it the curator at fault or the team management? It was a conscious decision by the think tank to bat first if India wins the toss. So, did overconfidence cost the team or lack of application by the Indian batsmen?

Everything went wrong for us is what Harbhajan had to say. It was just a matter of playing a session for a couple of hours. But the same team could not stand for two overs to lose a Test match, not much ago. A part-time bowler Clarke claimed three wickets in five deliveries to seal the win for Aussies in Sydney. Of course, it is cricket. We have to move on. We cannot hold back ourselves for what went wrong in a match.

There is still an opportunity for the hosts, if they can repeat the Kolkata comeback in 2001. India must get some early wickets on day two and play for the next two days in the second innings to turn the match. That is the only way out for the hosts to take the match into their stride. South Africa have 147-run lead and six wickets at hand. Both Jacques Kallis, unbeaten on 60 and AB de Villiers 59, look dangerous in the middle. Mark Boucher is yet to come in apart from the tail enders who should never be under estimated.

Can the experienced spin duo of kumble and Harbhajan do the trick for the hosts? Irfan Pathan, selected ahead of Md Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, has to play a definite role too. He must justify Kumble's decision to replace Tendulkar with himself than Kaif who was an ideal choice. The team has to pull up their socks or else, India deserve to be called 'consistently inconsistent' as seen in the last decade.

-- Soumitra Mishra

Scorecard

Time for cricket fans to rejoice

Cricket lovers rejoice. Good time ahead for you. After a tense Australian summer that was in news more for controversies than cricketing reasons, the indian team is finally off to a season full of matches in next six months. The South Africa team is in india to play three Test matches. Then starts the one-and-half-month first edition of the Indian Premier League. The cash-rich tournament, to be played in eight venues in the cricket crazy nation, will have all the first rank international cricketers in action. The rebel indian Cricket league has entered into the final phase of the second edition of the tournament. One more tri-series of the ICL is set to follow in a couple of weeks. The Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy are scheduled to follow the IPL final on June 1. Hence, no dearth of cricket for the fans and serious lovers of the game.

To add to their delight the maverick Virender Sehwag produced one more triple century last week against South Africa in Chennai. While most were aprehensive about the game to take place at the Chepauk stadium as weather was most likely to play spoilsport, to aurprise to all, the game lasted for all five days a nd produced 1498 runs for only 25 wickets. Although the wicket disappointed many as wicket failed to offer any turn even at the last leg of the five-day match, spectators were entertained to the most by Virender. Rahul Dravid became the third Indian and the sixth in cricket's history to reach 10000 runs in Test cricket. But the match ended in a tame draw. However, all eyes were on Mohammad Kaif, the replacement for injured Sachin Tendulkar for the second Test. But to utter surprise, he was not selected in the playing XI by captain Anil Kumble who preferred all-rounder Irfan Pathan to the once touted future captin of the Indian team. Kaif had an excellent season in domestic cricket. The young lad from Uttar Pradesh has to be patient for some more time to earn an Indian cap. Also, the same for southpaw Yuvraj Singh, who despite all the support from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, failed to prove his worth in the team in India's sojourn Down Under.

When I was drafting this post, Dale Steyn ripped apart the Indian batting order to dismiss the hosts for a paltry 76 in the first innings of the second Test match at Motera in Ahmedabad in the first session of the opening day. Steyn climed a fiver for only 23 runs in eight overs. Kumble must be cursing his cricketing sense to ignore Md Kaif who could have played the role of saviour with Rahul Dravid at this juncture. However, South Africa went for lunch with one run for no loss. I will provide the developments once match resumes.

Scorecard

ICC must earn Trust of cricket world

The International Cricket Council (ICC) did not take easy certain comments by the legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. What provoked the world governing body at its working committee meet in Dubai last week was Gavaskar's criticism of certain decisions during the Sydney Test between India and Australia in January.

ICC argues one man cannot hold two posts - that of a journalist to earn his bread and butter and an honorary post in ICC. The top bosses feel both do not jell well.
Is it because they are scared of the truth being revealed to the world by none less than an ICC official who is in-charge of modifying rules for better governance of the game? Or is anyone in such a position not allowed to vent his ire publicly?

If an honest commentator cannot become an ICC administrator, how can a public leader or lawyer, or for that matter, any honest dignitary who is supposed to tell the truth to the public, hold another position in the ICC or any other governing body, at the same time? The 'one-person-cannot-hold-two-posts' rule should apply to all. Does the ICC want only people who will toe their line, or else put them in the line of fire?

Did not the BCCI and the Indian team management complain for the same after the match? If back home, one billion people and even a majority of Australians viewed the same, how did hell break loose when Sunny opened his mouth?

One school of thought believes occupying a position in the ICC and speaking against officials of the same organization is deplorable. Should responsible people keep mum for the lust of power? A judge cannot criticise a system he is part of? Malcom Speed and IS Bindra can speak their heart out only in the in-house meetings?

When Mr Benson consulted opposition captain Ricky Ponting if Michael Clarke had cleanly taken the catch, Sunny asked should the umpire consult the batsman too? Is the same person honest if he fields and he turns a liar when he comes to bat?

Mike Proctor, the match referee of the series, could believe the words of certain Aussie cricketers in the absence of any evidence, who happen to be whites. But the same official refused to believe the Indian cricketers who are revered globally.

Gavaskar criticized the conduct alleging bias towards the Whites in article in a newspaper. The ICC officials did not approve of it. The learned members of the ICC executive committee must go through the entire article before drawing any opinion about the author, instead of reading the headline only. Being a professional journalist, I know headlines are finalized by the editorial staff, not by the author of the article.

Gavaskar is the head of a committee which is supposed to look into the current practice of officiating the matches. Who knows better than him the rules? And if it is raised by a commentator on a TV channel who holds a position in ICC, how does it harm the image of the organisation? If an official's criticising an umpire harms the body, does not it damage when an official is reprimanded or gagged to tell the truth?

Rather, in the emerging cricket world which turns to be more competitive day by day, transparency will earn trust of the people for the ICC. After all they may not be legally liable to the people but morally, at least.

-- Soumitra Mishra

Transformation of a Print Journalist

When I joined Indiatimes.com in 2000 most of my friends in the media industry were skeptical about the move. Nobody, even to some extent myself, was sure if the dotcom boom would survive and script a promising career for journalists.

I imagine there were only a few hundred web sites in 1994 and about 20,000 in 1995. Netcraft reports there are over 100 million web sites today, growing fast. It was tough for me to convince my friends I was not wrong to switch over from mainstream medium to dotcom. I used to tell them: “Think of how strong the TV medium has emerged! Fifteen years back, TVs were limited to living rooms of affluent people. You can find one each house today. It is the reach of TVs that has made it stronger. Ten years down the line, digital medium will be there. Bet it!”

People are no longer ready to wait till next morning to learn what happened the previous day. Nor do they want to store newspapers and magazines. Websites have out dated them. This is a choice between KNOW NOW and NO NOW. RSS feeds make it possible to consume far more information at a faster pace than would otherwise be possible for the human brain. This is strengthened by Podcast and PDA, thanks to Blackberry. That said, many people experience a new level of information overload once they begin reading feeds. I am sure post 2015, launching of a national newspaper will be as rare as a Grand Slam in pro tennis or golf.

Sometimes I wonder what will happen to the habit of reading. I still need a newspaper before going to my toilet every morning. Old habits die hard. What about the new generation. They are hooked onto web. They spend more time with PCs or cell phones than any other tools. Web rules everywhere, be it dating, music, movies, masti or magic. Undoubtedly, the best source to stay updated today. I won’t be surprised to see newspapers turned into Web 2.0 models, the city Yahoo, in the near future. Gannett — which owns USA TODAY– has already turned its community newspapers into “Information Centers”. They deliver content to any device using multimedia information gathering tools. In fact, their readers are generating more content for them. The media brands are today forced to open their content to the masses. They don't mind tie-ups with once rivals, rather than fighting tooth and nail to protect old business models. The recent example is Metro Now in Delhi.

A company called Narrowstep is doing today what was originally “promised” in the 1998-1999 internet boom. Web will bring one million or more TV stations to users in coming years. Yahoo had paid $5.4 billion for Broadcast.com in those days for the concept. Of course, the idea was ahead of its time. Major telecom operators have already rolled out commercial IPTV (Internet protocol television) services where you buy television signals from their existing phone lines instead of the traditional cable or DTH (direct-to-home) operator. The rapid growth of infrastructure and high-speed broadband services are going to power digital medium the strongest in the race, not in the distant future. It's just a matter of time only. However, going by the fast growth, the installed base of PCs and adoption of Internet in India leave a lot to be desired.

The media barons today emphasize on generating content that can cater to both online and mobile VAS industry. With half of India’s population below 25 years of age and tech-savvy, there is huge potential for the medium. This has encouraged manufacturers to come up with more affordable cell phones with bigger screens, higher resolution and more storage space.

Cell phones are handy and very personal. India's mobile data networks across operators are amongst the best in the world. With mobile internet accessible nationwide soon, what else can be a better option to update you? Where were you when the terrorists attacked Mumbai? Did you miss it even by an hour? It will never happen if you have a cell phone with net connectivity. And the phone’s multimedia capabilities drive the desire to create and share the content. The online medium is growing fast and reaching new frontiers. Wait and watch…

-- Soumitra Mishra

What in Store!

We all know digital medium, the most powerful medium emerging today, will drive the future. Let us all share our thoughts about its emergence, strengths and weakness and ensure it serves the mankind.

-- Soumitra Mishra