Raksha Bandhan - The Beautiful Festival That India Is So Lucky To Have

India is really so lucky to have a beautiful festival like "Raksha Bandhan", the festival that highlights the invaluable beauty and sanctity of brother-sister relationship.

The relationship between a brother and his dear sister is one of a very special kind, just like the one that exists between a mother and her child. It is a relationship that is based on unconditional love and affection, along with a beautiful bonding that knows no end. It is heavenly and divine. 

I pray to the Almighty that nothing can sour the sweet relationship that exists between a brother and his sister, anywhere in the world. I also thank the Almighty for blessing me with some of the best sisters in the world, whose love, affection and support have been the source of such a great strength in my life.

The Bodo-Muslim Clash In Assam – Another Outcome Of Inter Communal/Sectarian Animosity

What we experienced in Assam's Kokrajhar and Chirang districts is really so painful and embarrassing for all of us. So sad that even the 21st Century India is witnessing riots and sectarian clashes, which dent our pride of being an emerging economy to a great extent.

However, the real issue is not the denting of our international image (though that is undoubtedly a crucial issue). What is more painful is the fact that while we have been successful in touching economic achievements and technological expertise, we have failed to cure a serious grass root level ailment – inter communal/sectarian animosity. And as a nation that claims itself to be progressive and modern, it is a great failure for us.

The riot has brought under scanner the effectives of Bodoland Territorial Council, with many people including Bodos highlighting how and why the Council has failed to achieve the objective for which it was formed.

It is indeed very important to analyze Bodoland Territorial Council, identify the loopholes and address the same. However, what is also important is to identify the factors due to which we are failing to wipe out inter-communal/sectarian animosity, and then wipe out those factors from the root. Otherwise such unfortunate incidents will continue to take place, no matter whatever steps are taken on the par of the government.

In this context I will like to highlight one thing. Some people have raised this point that the clash was a result of illegal migration from Bangladesh, which has resulted in a huge number of Bangladeshi Muslims in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District. Well, illegal migration from Bangladesh is certainly a serious problem. However, it must be noted that Bodos have expressed their displeasure over the presence of a number of non-Bodos in that area, without showing any specific grievance on the presence of alleged illegal migrants from Bangladesh. It means that they are averse to the presence of all non-Bodos, irrespective of the fact whether they are illegal migrants from Bangladesh or from India (in fact Assam) itself.

And yes, steps should immediately be taken to address whatever gaps and deficiencies that exist in the Bodoland Territorial Council. The government has to be very serious in eliminating every drop of grievance from the minds of our Bodo brothers and sisters, so that they never have this feeling that Bodoland Territorial Council is just a showpiece without any ability to deliver. After all it is known to everybody that if the government fails to address the grievances of our Bodo friends, then it will give a huge scope to Bodo insurgents to enhance their so-called struggle for a separate Bodo state.

May I suggest something? Is it possible to make a law wherein no non-Bodo will be permitted anymore to buy a land or house in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District? I am not suggesting that the government should ask all those non-Bodos to leave who have already bought lands and/or houses in that area. I am only suggesting that no more non-Bodo should be permitted to buy land or home in that area. Personally I feel that permitting non-Bodos to buy properties in that area is severely diluting  the effectiveness of Bodoland Territorial Council. 

English Language – The Global Lingua Franca

The English language is undoubtedly one of the most precious possessions of the modern human society. It is the English language that helps to create and strengthen a feeling of unity and oneness among the various communities and nations across the world, by facilitating international communication and interaction. It is this language that ensures that a man from China in Asia can communicate and interact with a person from Burkina Faso in Africa, or a gentleman from Argentina in South America can chat with a guy from Germany in Europe. 

It is this language that helps develop and preserve global unity, understanding and co-operation, in every field ranging from trade & commerce to science & technology.

Hats off to this spectacular Global Lingua Franca!

“White Lies” – The Simple Yet Captivating Short Film That Touches Your Mind

Was lucky to come across other day Mr. Rajarshi Mukherjee, a law student by occupation, and a short film maker by passion (for the clueless - a short film is one with a duration that does not exceed 45 minutes).

It was a new experience to know about short film, a specific genre of movie, and a really enjoyable experience to watch "White Lies", a nice short film directed by Rajarshi himself. In fact, I watched the movie on his laptop, sitting beside him (that was also a new experience, i.e. to watch a film siting beside the director of that film). 

I really loved the movie - the story, the script, the narration style, and the acting (incidentally, none of the actors is a professional). It is undoubtedly one of the best movies that I have seen in my life. And while I loved everybody's work, I will like to offer a special note of congratulations to Arinjay and Sukanya. Especially Arinjay has done a marvelous job. 

The story is about a young Kolkata lady named Isha discovering her husband Subodh to be secretly spending time with a female colleague, which is followed by a husband-wife spat. Emotionally upset, Isha decides to leave her husband for good, and comes out on the road. While loitering on the road with a disturbed mind, she is lightly hit by a car being driven by a young college professor named Amit. Amit takes Isha to his home for few hours, so that she can take some rest and get OK. Though initially a bit uncomfortable, Isha gradually opens up, and tells Amit about her spat with Subodh and the reason for the spat, and her decision to divorce her husband.

Amit calmly listens to her. Then he tells her about how he himself had cheated on his wife, and how she forgave him and gave him an opportunity to start it anew.  He tries to convince Isha that Subodh deserves another opportunity. Isha is so touched that she changes her mind, and goes back to Subodh, who was already repentant and was eagerly waiting for her return.

Well, there is something more in store for the audience even after this happy ending. After Isha goes back to Subodh, the audience finds that Amit is still a bachelor. He never married, and there is no question of cheating on his wife in the first place. He actually cooked up the story to make Isha changer her heart. It was this twist that I personally liked the most.

I have fallen in love with this "short film" category of movies, and will look forward to more such movies. And all the best to Rajarshi for all his future projects.

The Charm Of Being In A Government Job

Working for the government has a charm of its own, which can be felt only by the concerned people. A person working in the corporate sector may enjoy a heavy pay package and a glossy lifestyle, but he can never access the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment enjoyed by a person working in a responsible government position.

In the corporate sector you only work for a particular organization and its owner, always remaining confined to directly or indirectly working for the enhancement of that organization’s business profit. You might enjoy a high salary and other attractive perks, but you end up working only for a particular individual (the owner of the organization) or a particular family (if it is a family business).

In the government job you get the opportunity to serve the common people, either directly or indirectly, which offers you a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure. At the end of the day you can go to the bed with a happy mind that you have done today something valuable for an ordinary person. Once you fall in love with such a work, you will never enjoy the dry and insipid work that only entails profit/loss/market share, etc. of a corporate house.

Moreover, in the private sector you often have to report to a boss (a CEO, an MD, a Manager, etc.)  who has been there only because he is related to the owner family, though actually he does not have the required competence to be in that position.

But in the government job your boss will always be a government servant himself, who has been there by his own caliber. Yes, sometimes his appointment to that position might be questionable and even controversial, but at least no body can say that he has been there only because of his family connection.

I have not tried to make a comparison between government and corporate jobs. Both types of jobs have their own share of attractions and pitfalls, and both offer room for talented people to display their competence.

I have only tried to highlight some points which make me love the government sector. That’s all. I have also had exposure to the corporate sector, and have enjoyed my stint with it as well.

Walking – An Easy But Effective Exercise

While I have had exposure to, and regularly practice, many forms of exercises ranging from Yoga to free hand exercises, I have always had a special feeling and weakness for walking.

I feel many will agree with me that it is really a very easy but effective exercise. Unlike many other forms of physical exercises, walking can be started and practiced by almost every person irrespective of body fitness level and age. In the cases of Yoga and free hand exercises, you will find it very difficult in the beginning if you do not have at least a certain level of body fitness. It is only after regular practice for at least some weeks that you will start feeling comfortable with the exercise. But in case of walking, you can “customize” it in terms of your fitness level, such as 10 minutes walk, 30 minutes walk, brisk walk, walking at a moderate speed, etc. And slowly but gradually you can enhance your “walking routine”, with an increase in your fitness and endurance level.

This explains why even lazy people usually do not shy away from walking.

Another good thing about walking is that you do not need to keep a specific time of your day free for it (like keeping the early morning free for Yoga). Rather, walking can be easily “inserted” in our normal routine, like having a walk with your colleague for some time while going back to home from office.

Moreover, walking is an exercise which can be done while “socializing”. For example, you can have a walk with your friends, chatting and gossiping. It will be just like having a nice time with your friends, with the touch of a fitness exercise.

And just think of the benefits you can have in return of a regular walk. You can elude so many problems, such as blood pressure, diabetes and heart problem. And it is not only the question of eluding health problems, but curing them as well. I have found many people to be able to “shed off” their health problems (such as high blood pressure) courtesy regular walk. And I have come across at least a couple of aged people who are very fit for their age, not because of any lofty fitness regime but simply because they have remained serious about their “walking regime”.

I have been in love with walking since my childhood. I love to walk whenever I get the opportunity, and I always enjoy it whether I am in a picturesque hill town, a captivating sea beach or on a crowded pavement lying along a New Delhi street. I do Yoga. I do free hand exercises. And I enjoy all of them. But for me walking is like that sweet little daughter, who always enjoys the special affection of his Dad which her elder brothers can never “snatch” from her.

The Shockingly Surprising Experience At Noida Police Station

Today (20th March 2012) I had to visit a police station in Noida (U.P.). While I have nothing against the police personnel whom I had to interact with, what I found shockingly surprising was how every official work in a Noida police station is conducted in Hindi, with absolutely no option for English (even if a work entails a visitor who is not conversant in Hindi).

Despite being not very fluent in Hindi, I was forced to communicate with the officers in that language, as I was flatly told that I was not permitted to speak in English as "Noida comes in UP". Despite telling the officers that I cannot read Hindi, I was made to read a document written in that language, which I had to read with the help of an officer. Finally I had to write and submit a statement, and the officers told me that they could not permit me to write it in English, as they would then need somebody to translate it into Hindi (are those police personnel even unable to read English?) Ultimately I again had to take the help of a policeman who prepared my statement on the basis of what I said.

Do the Noida police people have any idea how terribly inconvenient the situation is for people with no or little command of Hindi? Even if it is OK to have verbal communication in Hindi, isn't it too much to expect a person from a non-Hindi speaking region to be able to read a document in Hindi, and then prepare his own statement in that language as well?

I just have one dream. One UP police officer needs to visit a Calcutta police station for some reason, and he is forced to read and write documents there in Bengali, while being told that neither English nor Hindi is permitted, as "Calcutta comes in West Bengal".