An unfamiliar India

The fascinating relation that is shared between Indians and a variety of animals is woven integrally into the mythological and cultural heritage of India. The Vedic age for one records the mention of different Gods and Goddesses taking the forms of animals.  This fairly popular gimmick has lasted over the centuries.

The different avatars of Lord Vishnu famously known as the Dashavatara ranges from Mathsya, a fish, Kurma, a turtle, Varaha, a boar etc. Following this tradition legends and myths evolved around certain familiar species. The Brahminy duck for example became the permanent symbol for fidelity. This deep rooted belief of the sacredness involving the existence of animals was deep-seated in a sense of identification. This was made more prominent by the Hindu-Buddhist theory of transmigration.

 India has gained the title of a developing country from a severely under developed one and thus she had to make a long and tiring socio political and economic journey. Not a religious one though!

In June 2003 the media developed a deranged frenzy around a nine year old Santhal girl. Pictures of this dark complexioned profoundly smiling tribal belle had captured the first page of several papers. The reason behind this madness was well another proof of the deep seated perpetual love or shall I say respect for the search of a better word for the bond shared by Indians and animals:  this girl was convinced by the elders of her tribe, the Khanyhan tribe to tightly lash the wed lock with a local stray dog lovingly called, Bacchan!

However disturbing this might sound, it is not particularly surprising. The tradition of marrying off young girls to different animals is quite popular among the mostly uneducated tribals of India.

These dogmatic religious stigmas are pulling back the Indian collar in the way to attain an absolute and all rounded development, by a treacherous hand.

The question that arises here is what can be done about it. The answer I am afraid is in the negative. This has been going on in this subcontinent for centuries and is not vaporizing any time soon.  With time and the spread of extensive awareness these redundant religious anecdotes might be eradicated.

This is that part of India that I am not very well acquainted to, not that I had ever had any inclination to mend that thought.  Being a 21^st century girl I often do not let the beliefs of tribal India rain on my parade. It is true that their colourful costumes, fancy hairdos, numerous piercings, hallucinating images inducing alcohol and mystical music did enchant me, but their beliefs were more or less fabled hocus pocus as far as I was concerned.

Never did I think that it was possible for me to witness something so hauntingly similar in my modern city life.

Early one Saturday morning the beginning of my much awaited weekend was disrupted with the continuous ringing of the door bell followed by heavy pounding on the door. It was my cook, Namita mashi(aunty). Her orthodox mother in law was forcibly getting her daughter, Kajol to marry a cow! The reason according the very distressed Namita mashi was simple. Her mother in law had promised the Gods in her prayer that if her alcoholic son succeeded in not touching a bottle of alcohol in a fortnight she would get her granddaughter to marry a cow, which is a very important animal under the jurisdiction of the Hindu religious beliefs!

The cops were called and this blasphemous episode was put to an end.

This incident jarred me to my very boots. The predominance of the superstitious stigmas surrounding the relationship between Indians and animals was forcibly made clear to me in a confused span of 30 minutes!

The importance of being “littered”

The earsplitting sound of cars honking in Kolkata’s summer heat seemed to merge with the loud song blaring though the speakers of the cab I waited impatiently in. I poked my head out of the window every now and then, willing the signal to turn green, and asking the cab driver to reduce the volume: “Dada please volume ta ektu koman (Sir, please turn down the volume).” No effect; none at all. And then, everything happened in the span of a fews seconds.

SPLAT!

A plastic takeaway cup from KFC barely missed my face, but succeded in creating a fancy pink pattern on the cab’s door before falling lifelessly on the street. I poked my head out of the cab with a strong purpose, but before i could react, the traffic lights changed color and my cab zoomed past the others. I was quivering with anger, but was not remotely surprised.

Littering the streets is nothing new in Kolkata. This incident took place when I found our school’s “Keep Calcutta Clean” walks alarmingly redundant. Somehow, after being a part of these campaigns for over a decade, I had developed a very strong opinion about people who litter the streets. Initially, I thought my opinion sprang from the deep anger I felt every time I had to put on those plastic gloves and go out with the mission to clean the streets. However, I later realized that it was more than just that.

These campaigns had ingrained in me, a sense of civic responsibility..

When I moved to Bangalore, I found no difference in the littering department here. The locals here as well were littering the streets with full responsibility. “Moyla” (garbage in Bengali) had just become “kuppa” (garbage in Kannada).

 I have always found it difficult to believe that a developing country like India does not have an anti-littering law.  Nearly every street corner is piled with heaps of garbage. Finding garbage on the streets is not something that is exclusive in India alone. However, the difference between those countries and India is that India is in no position to fund the mass clean-up of the streets that are so heavily littered.

It is often assumed that the uneducated part of the society alone litter. I beg to differ here. The KFC cup that was flung towards me in Kolkata was thrown from a pretty expensive-looking car.

The reasons behind littering can either be lack of awareness about diseases that can spread because of the gunk found on the roads, or it can be attributed to lack of basic civic sense. Either way, it is shameful. It even seems as though people here are a little too dedicated towards littering the street rather than clearing them.

The only solution to this bizarre psyche of people, seems to be the establishment of an anti-littering law, which not only should extract a heavy fine, but also punish the offender severely. This alone can ensure hygienic and dirt-free streets in the near future. 

Times they are most definitely changing as, contrary to what children were once taught, cleanliness is no longer next to Godliness!

Beginning of a new end?

CBS News quoted President Obama saying, “most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda”, on the not so tragic death of al Qaeda’s veterinary leader, Osama bin Laden. Since the very decisive day of bin Laden’s allusive death on the 2^nd of May 2011, the entire world has been chanting a very similar mantra of questions: Will the al Qaeda continue to spread terror despite the demise of its hero? Will this diabolical group avenge the death of their beloved leader?

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, a senior fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center told the NYDailyNews.co, “It’s not the death knell yet, but they are wounded. They’re hurting. This adds to the adverse things they are facing- the decreased attraction of their ideology, a diminishing capacity as an organization and now most importantly, the lack of a unifying element.”

Rumour had it that Laden’s superior influence over the terror group was gradually flagging with the lapse of time. But in spite of this rumour turning out to be a precursor of the absolute truth, the Obama led government vouched not to rest their case till they destroyed the Osama “reign” perpetually.

Laden’s Egyptian deputy Ayman-al-Zawahri was declared the new leader of the prominent terrorist group under discussion here. In response to this delayed declaration of Zawahri’s coronation by the al Qaeda, the New York Times reported in June 2011, “led some counterterrorism analysts to see signs of power struggle at the top of al-Qaeda.”  

Comparisons between Laden and Zawahri sprang out of closed doors and suddenly became the latest topic of a universal discussion. Although it is believed that it was Zawari’s brain that tailored the main  output,many believed that Zawahri did not have the charisma Laden possessed that attracted several young Muslims to volunteer as Jihadis and be Laden’s staunchly devoted foot soldiers.  New York Time confirmed this view when a report saying Zawahri has “little of the iconic stature of bin Laden” was published.

The debate about al Qaeda’s future raged on with the advent of several impactful articles showing up in every noticeable daily, weekly or for that matter monthly magazine, website or periodical. This created an emotional turmoil in all the nations.

The setting up of the terrorist training camps by the al Qaeda to train their new comrades about the “art” of explosives and automatic weapons  in the hazardous precincts of rural Pakistan gave the then currently drifting arguments a different angle.  This new toxic move of the al Qaeda gained nothing but severe antagonism. 

Abdeladim K. a young Moroccan can be sighted as an example here.  The Telegraph accused him and two other militants of “taking his orders from a higher official in the terror network based on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.”

The so called end of the al Qaeda can be traced to the Arab Spring as well. The sudden change in attitude and the dire shift in ideologies marked the event. 

Laden has often been referred to as the “bogeyman” by several people as he probably held the first position in the hit list of the US.  The US might have successfully eradicated this terror infusing bogeyman but that does not rest the case that the al Qaeda might not strike back to retaliate the tragic demise of their choice leader. This being said, universal caution should be maintained against this promiscuous panic inducing group.

To feel or not to feel...

What does it actually mean to be an Indian? Does it mean that one must practice secularity although fundamentalism is the new trend? Does it mean one must follow traditions because it is to be followed even though honestly a huge portion of the population in India does not care? Or is it o be part of a so called “movement” which has reduced the concept of corruption to the most trivial bribery!  

I honestly do not know. I have grown up hearing my grandfather, whom I lovingly called Dadai, talk about the little part that he and his brothers and sisters had played in making India independent.  The proud manner in which he used to recount his childhood expeditions thrilled me. As a child I would curl up on his lap and listen to all his invigorating adventures and wish to be a part of that world, a world in which people actually knew the meaning of the word Indianness, a world in which one would earnestly swell up with pride and declare to the world that they are Indians, not because they are made to hypnotically chant, “Jai Hind” or “All Indians are my brothers and sisters” as a child.

 I could relate with the pride that Dadai felt. It used to make me feel proud to believe in the existence of that country that had also been deeply glorified even in my text books.

But as my childhood fantasies, revolving around the various heroic deeds of the freedom fighters started wearing off, I realized with a sudden deep rooted sadness that my being proud was as nostalgic an affair as was Dadai’s taking part in the movement.

My realization, that the India that we are all so used to being proud of, is not really there anymore. When asked if I feel proud to be an Indian, I am quick to answer ‘YES”. But then I think if it is the general trend of today’s Generation X.

In today’s scenario where Arundhuti Roy is a criminal because she said that India occupied Kashmir should be finally given liberty, Anna Hazare is a patriotic hero because he reduced corruption, in a country like India to minimal bribery; it is not so difficult to answer the question: Is Indianness forced on you?

I still enjoy watching the Republic Day parade or for that matter the Independence Day parade. My heart swells with pride when I hear the national anthem being played. I jump with joy when India wins a cricket match. I smile profoundly when Mahesh Bhupathi wins a set. But is that enough?

I doubt that.

After a prolonged self scrutiny I came to the conclusion that yes I would be honestly proud of the Indianness that has been bestowed upon me by default had I been a part of Dadai’s India.  But knowing my country the way I have recently began to know her, I think my answer would be quite different.

My being candid here will definitely offend a few sentiments but when I cannot talk openly about my political and religious beliefs and inclinations in the fear of being called an anti Indian, I would very  un- doggedly say that yes in this respect  my Indianness is to a certain extent forced upon me.

Hopefully a time will come when things would start going back to as it was. A reverse gear will set in order and India shall be free from all the dogmatic mental chains that are currently clutching her fragile neck. 

However much I might not relate to his policies, here I think my thoughts will be best reflected in his words:  “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama.

Doesn’t matter if you are black or white or umm…coloured!

As a student myself I can well imagine why any Indian student will want to go abroad to pursue his or her education and then a carrier. The reason is simple. It’s not because we do not have good universities, here in India but firstly because the choice of universities is limited and secondly the opportunities which great us after pursing a particular stream is well if not zilch, it is exceedingly restricted.

Several students have in the past traveled long distances away from their homes in search of a perfect education that can help them secure a future that is prosperous in every dimension. The relation our nation shares with several others seemed to deepen with this exchange of bright minds.

Australia for example is the third largest earner in the international student sector, which is only behind coal and iron ore earning them a colossal amount of A$18 billion in 2010, as stated in the Toronto Sun.com.

Elaprolu Jayachandra, Anuj Bidve, Alok Gupta, Nitin Garg and many more Indian students have faced the worst fate imaginable to mankind within a few months of setting foot outside their own country. All of them have been victims of reason free murder. This has made the world think deep about these attacks: where they just random attacks or where they driven by racial motives?

Whether these attack where dictated by the racial difference is hard to say as the circumstances under which these murders were committed say otherwise. International students in India have also faced a fate similar to Elaporlu and the others. Rapes, murders, mobbing etc are worries that every international student has to some extent learned to live with. Despite of all the arguments that can be sighted it is a fact that Nitin Garg was a victim of pure racism in Australia. This attack had ignited a diplomatic catastrophe damaging the national student sector of Australia.

But then again if we look closely with in the rugged boundaries of India, we will witness several atrocities faced by Indian students. In this context the mention of Shiv Sena and their rage against the students who migrated to Mumbai is worthy of mention.

How is the Australian scene different from the Indian scene then? The answer is simple it is not much different. True it is not like two sides of a same coin but it is not very different either.

Our concern should not be restricted to Indian students placed abroad. It should be about the entire student community. This concern should be universal. Without being preachy it is safe to say that the governments of every nation should buckle up and start taking these atrocities faced by students in a much more serious manner. 

All the students who have faced death in the lieu of wanting a perfect education have been survived by their friends and family. An incident like the ones that have been heavily prevalent worldwide now makes one lose faith completely.  In times where the world is facing various other political and diplomatic emergencies it is maybe not such a good idea to start losing faith irrevocably.   

Definitely not DEMOCRACY!

“I deeply resent my book being used as a political football; what should matter to you more than my resentment is that you come out of this looking not only Philistine and anti-democratic but opportunistic.”- In his heartfelt letter to the then Prime Minister, Mr.Rajiv Gandhi in 1988, Salman Rushdie expressed his views and philosophies in a very emphatic manner. 

Recently owing to the controversial Jaipur Literature Festival the past is being revisited, the past that screams of how India has shunned her own set democratic principles and turned fundamentalist.

The issue of banning a book, sometimes paintings or for that matter the author of the book or the painter is not really new to the Indian democracy.  Prominent names like Farag Foda, Taslima Nasrin, M.F. Husain and Naguib Mahfouz are examples of the Indian intolerance when it comes to the showcase of artistic or literary work.

Salman Rushdie’s fourth book The Satanic Verses was banned by the Finance Ministry on the grounds of religious “blasphemy” in 1989! This magical realist was immediately shunned by society.

In his letter to the then Prime Minister, Rushdie was found explaining in details how the contents of his book had nothing to do with any of the blasphemous charges that he was charged with. The ban of Rushdie’s book is an annulment of the Right to the Freedom of Speech Act.

Soon enough the Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict calling for Rushdie’s death. This decision of Khomeini was rigorously backed by the Iranian Government till 1998.

Salman Rushdie was forced to go underground after all his attempts to rejuvenate the basic facts of his book were lost on everyone and with the Muslim community thirsty for his blood. It has been more than two decades. India is changing her image into a highly progressive country. But in the recent case of Salman Rushdie and the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, this progressive country took several steps backwards into a rigorously regressive domain.

In his Twitter account Rushdie was quoted writing, ‘Rajasthan police invented plot to keep away Rushdie' I've investigated, & believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry.”

Thus, ended the episode of Rushdie’s visit to the Jaipur Literature Festival.  But the end of this highly controversial affair marked the beginning of several callous criticisms. According to many, the political parties did not want their Muslim voters upset right before the voting season especially in Uttar Pradesh, which will lead the elections.

Several writers including the likes of Taiye Selasi and Chetan Bhagat made comments. While the promising Selasi was found saying, ““I never expected Mr. Rushdie not to come”, Mr.Bhagat on the other hand smugly notified the Press that, “Let’s not make heroes out of people who have been banned. They have been banned for hurting people. They shouldn’t be banned but they are not heroes. You can say Muslims are backward, aggressive. That’s fine. But they are right to get upset when their gods are attacked. I wouldn’t like it if my gods are attacked.”
This shocking statement made by Bhagat makes one think. Is it just the Muslim community’s aggression, the political leaders egotistical intentions or for that matter intellectual brevity or is it more or less the dominant mind set of people?
While this question remains unanswered it is now a fact that Rushdie will not be attending the Jaipur Literature Festival. Although the authorities of the festival have declared that the festival will be inaugurated with a video speech by Rushdie, the prominent fact that India has abandoned her democratic philosophies is but obvious. 

A Noble Dilemma: Music isn’t Poetry…

In October 2010 this year’s prestigious Noble Prize was awarded to             many deserving candidates from different fields of work. The name missing from that highly esteemed list for the past few years was that of Bob Dylan. It was Bob Dylan, who brought the entire nation together with his popular song which instantly became a raging anthem universally, Blowing In The Wind. His iconic song “The Times They Are A-Changing” is held responsible for igniting the musical movement during the Vietnam War. The thermometer of Dylan’s fame climbed an unimaginable height specially in the teenage domain, especially with the teenagers who believed in the doctrines of peace and anti war. Dylan made musical ballads a precious literature. His immaculately rhymed verses have been compared to the work of many literary geniuses. Rumour has it that Dylan’s name has been nominated several times for the Noble Prize with the same outcome every year roughly since 1996. The debate every year since the first nomination rests in the fact that many don’t include musical lyrics in the genre of poetry. This ongoing debate results in many diverse opinions.  Although some are of the opinion that song lyrics can only be completely realized when performed, I choose to differ. Just like many others out there I personally feel that music and poetry are soulfully linked. Music cannot be disregarded and put away into a dark enclave. Music is the universal language of the soul - understood by all, and moving in all its majesty and capacity. It moves the soul like nothing else can. It is completely unfair to ignore this form of art when it comes to deciding the winner of the Nobel Prize.  Dylan gave the rock version of music a new political agenda. It was no longer just a love lyric, it was now a beautifully rhymed socially stimulated version of soul steering music. Dylan himself has avoided this question repeatedly when asked, although we find him mocking the whole debate in one of his songs entitled I Shall Be Free. No. 10 where he says, Yeeppi! I’m a poet and I know it, Hope I don’t blow it. This great song writer cum poet has changed the line of thought of many generations with his motivating lyrics. Bob Dylan’s music has been a great influence in many people’s lives including mine. I fail to realize why his musical masterpiece is not considered as good literature by a certain sect of people. Good literature is not necessarily restricted in the printed classroom texts. It can be found anywhere. It according to me is ridiculous not to consider Dylan’s lyrics as literature…it is even more asinine, to not consider this hugely talented man as a laureate. Whether the Swedish Board will ever be capable of correcting their negligence or succeed in balancing their obdurate stream of thought in realizing the true potential behind this store house of talent remains a mystery. But in the common man’s journal Dylan is a true winner. He believes in him and trusts him when he infamously says, “Anything I can sing, I call a song. Anything I can't sing, I call a poem". All that we can do is hope that in the impending future our musical idol will receive his due.