Ordinary people's Extra-ordinary resolve

I tried to pen down the weekend after the devastating earth quake on march 11th 2011.
As I was trying to write something after a long long time, I found it difficult to articulate many things.
Sorry if its too long.

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Ordinary people's Extra-ordinary resolve
- 11th March 2011

I grew up hearing a lot of Japanese quality and religiously practised punctuality. When I landed in Japan exactly 10 years back, I was surprised, the stories I heard when I was young, were true in every word and spirit. Its not just the people, but nature as well. The four seasons will take turns with such an accurate timing.

March is usually the fag end of the winter, but in recent years, thanks to all of us all over the world, the climatic changes are too visible in Japan. Last year after 40 years, it snowed heaviliy in Tokyo during April. This year, there were snow falls in the beginning of march.

On March 11th, It was another routine bright friday morning. I as usual was rushing to the meetings. After an unusally long break, I had a meeting in Ibaraki around 1 pm. I finished the morning meeting and rushed to Ueno station at around 10:40 am to take the 11 'o clock train.

At the stroke of 11, Hitachi Super express heading towards Iwate in North eastern Japan started off with its first stop in Mito, followed by Katsuta some 150 KMs from Tokyo. I got off at Sawa and heading towards Sawa factory. Had the routine chat with my engineers and after the usual pleasantries with the purchase dept, the meeting started exactly at 1:00 pm. It went on for about 2 hours and at around 2:46 pm, there was a massive earth quake.

Earth quake is no stranger to Japan. We live with it, day in day out. Usually, it will be the ceiling and the hanging lamps that will show signs of quake. But, this one was different. The first signs were on the floor. And with every passing micro second, it multiplied manifold and the customer started panicking. I told him, that, isn't it usual and it will reside in seconds, isn't it? But, the customer shouted, NO... Its different. RUN... By Telling this, he just rushed outside pulling me along with him. We came out and were shocked to see the cars and the massive truck full of load staggering from side to side. That was when, I realised the gravity of the situation. Immediately, I turned to the building and was schocked to see that, the building started developing cracks and the walls started pulling apart. In the last 10 years, I have never seen such a massive earth quake. Usually, a quake will last for a few seconds, and the tremor lasting for a max of 10 or 12 secs. But, this one seemed to be never ending lasting for over 2 minutes. "Porumaikku udaranam, Boomi thaai. Adukku thann, en ponnukku Janani-nnu per vechen" aana, ava kovappatta, thaangadunnu annikku thaan unarden.

The employees of the company were visible shattered and were dumb stuck. One by one, they came rushing outside. Within seconds, they started asking every team and modules to assemble in their locations outside the office in the evacuation area. They asked everyone to check if the immediate member sitting next to him is there. Next, they asked them to check for the members in their row. They then asked them to stand in the same order that they sit in the office. And finally, they took a head count. This happenned in seconds and they confirmed that every single member in the whole company which houses more than thousand employees were evacuated with no injuries to anyone.

While they were counting and were checking each other, a massive second quake hit and the building partially collasped. Computers and printers from the 4th floor were falling down. People started calling their families, obviously concerned about their family's well being. But the telephone network was completely jammed and blocked.

My family was in Tokyo, wife and kids were supposed to be back home from school by that time. But, I couldn't check. For over an hour, I was continuously trying. But, couldn't connect. Tried sending SMS, but in vain. And finally realised that the mail in my phone was working. No idea why the GSM was not working, but GPRS was. But, who cares, I sent a mail and she replied immediately. All three of us were safe. I realized the power of technology and the value of investing in an iPhone. I shared the GPS Location, shared pictures, videos etc in seconds. And above all, I could use VOIP application and call India. I called my parents, in laws and my brother about our safety as they will get to know within secs, thanks to the 24X7 TV channels. For the first time, I couldn't call my wife in Tokyo, but was able to talk to my family in India.

The radio in the cellphone was informing us about the earth quake and the areas that were affected. The earthquake occurred at 14:46 local time in the western Pacific Ocean, 130 km east of Sendai, Honshu, Japan. Its epicenter was 373 km from Tokyo. Multiple aftershocks were reported after the initial magnitude 9.0 quake. A magnitude 7.0 aftershock was reported at 15:06 local time, 7.4 at 15:15 local time and 7.2 at 15:26 local time. Over a thousand aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater have occurred since the initial quake. [Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Sendai_earthquake_and_tsunami] More than the total number of shocks that will happen in a decade.

So, I was there wondering what to do next? I had no idea of the scale of damage it had caused. Immediately, there were warnings of Tsunami and everyone was telling not to venture near sea shore or even upstream rivers, as this location was 8 kms from the sea.

I had 5 engineers working in Ibaraki. 2 had fortunately left a week back and there were 3 left. I thought, I should check their homes before I head back to Tokyo. I asked for permission from all the customer heads and took them to their houses. Their houses were ok in the exterior but were totally messed up in the interior. Everything was affected. The shower, mirror, kitchen, bedroom and even the door fell down. Thank god it was not at night and no one was sleeping there, or else, it would have fallen right on their forehead. There was no water, gas electricity. Everything was automatically triggered and was blocked to prevent any further damage due to fire. We thought, it is temperory and everything will resume in a few minutes.

And I told them that, If it is ok, lets go near station, look for a good restaurent, have good food and then, I will leave. It was a long walk for about an hour before we reached Katsuda station, which was a good 7 kms from there. And then only we realised that the trains are not working because they need to check the tracks completely before they resume operations. We tried for any bus or taxi, but none of them were ready, as none of them were sure about the status of roads and the bridges.

On the way to the station we realized that there may not be any restaurents and we tried to get something to eat for dinner in the convenience store. But, they were not working as they need power to use their register. We were desperately searching for one and finally found a small convenience store, they were working. B'cos they were using the age old technology... hand counting and no computers.

That night we spent around 9 to 10 hours on the streets. It was biting cold and the toes and fingers started paining from freezing. I usually like winter a lot for the cool breeze and the serenity it brings. But, that night changed my perception of winter. I understood the kind of winter life a homeless in Japan has. We found a hotel nearby and thought of checking in for the night. But, they were closed as there was no power. But they allowed us to sit in the lobby for the night. They even provided us with a blanket.

It reminded us of the nammalwar, Peyalwar and Boothathaalvar story. The blanket was enough to support one person with full comfort and luzury. With two, they can cover themselves from neck to toe. With three, they can barely manage to it and cover themselves from their hand to knee. We three were sitting and covering ourselves. In a few minutes, "Anda perumale vanda madiri, naalavada oruthan ulla nerukkaraan..." Ippadiyaga, anda irava kazhichom.

The receptionist in the hotel told that usually, there is a bus from Katsuda to Tokyo and the first bus leaves at 5:40 am. So, I didn't want to miss it as I had a class from 8 am in Tokyo on all weekends. I didn't sleep at all and at the stroke of 5:00, I took leave from the 3 guys and left to the bus stop. I waited there for over 2 hours. There was no sign of any bus. I enquired the police station near by and they told me that, the roads were broken, bridges crashed and the broken train tracks and above all the roof of the station itself crashed down last evening. And there is no way, I can leave now. That was when it really dawned on me and I started planning long term. I enquired if there is any evacuation area or any support available. The police man gave me directions for a near by elementary school. I went there.

It was like an oasis in the middle of the desert. There were a lot of people, food was available, water was in plenty and above all, we could use the blanket. I called the 3 guys and was glad that they were still there in the hotel lobby. I asked them to come there immediately. They came there in no time.

There were over more than 300 japanese in the evacuation area. But, there was pin drop silence. People of all age group. kids, youngsters, elders ... But, none of them cried, no traces of pain or fear on their face. Immediately after the quake, the roads were flooded with people and cars. But, you can see the classic Japanese order and compassion there. The signals were not working due to power cut, but none of the automobiles moved. They restrained themselves from taking the "Me first attitude". It was an amazing view. At the junction, all the four sides were flooded with cars, but none of them moved. They requested the other side to take the first turn. This is the kind of next generation, I would love to build. Even if it takes decades together or even a rebirth, I would like to work towards this kind of a society in India.

Similarly at the evacuation center, the new born babies and the young mothers were put to utmost test. With the biting cold in the winter and a few fires to keep yourselves warm, there was nowhere for the young mothers to go secluded to feed their babies. In front of their fellow citizens, they were feeding and what can I say about this society? Words fail and heart takes over. I have never cried in my life, even when my beloved grandparents died. But, this scene pushed me to the brim of my inner strength. It was paining and was crying deep inside me. The country and the people who gave me everything were torn apart and were struggling for their basic needs... Forget about food and water, there was not even a safe warm place to cover themselves and feed their kids.

It was more than 20 hours I had my last meal and was feeling very tired, hungry and thristy. And the sight of the food distribution at the evacuation center was like dream come true. We stood in line and when my turn came, they asked me, which one do you want? They were distributing plain rice and a mixed rice. As I was a vegetarian, I preferred the plain rice, even if there is nothing to mix. But, I was for a surprise, when the rice was ready made dry rice and if we put hot water, it will turn into hot fresh good smelling rice in minutes. But, due to lack of fuel, they had only this rice and cold water. They asked me to open the packet, remove the preservative and put a cup of cold water. Asked me to wait for 2 hours before it turns out to be rice. That was the longest wait for me in front of food. It was mouth watering and was left with no other choice but to wait. And after 2 hours, when I finally ate it, it was the most delicious food I ever tasted in my life. Amritham-na epdi irukkumnu annikku thaan therinjuthu...

Konjam kooda moonjiya sulikkaama, the ward office officials were distributing everything. I requested them for the price to pay. They said, that it is free and were very sorry that, they could only give this at this moment. They were preparing the toilet in the middle of the wonderful clean school ground. Dig a long wide hole and placed a couple of metal sheet to prepare a toilet. Split it into two with a flimsy white sheet and switched on a motor operated lamp. I offered to help them in digging. But they kindly refused and told me, that, we are very sorry for the inconvenience and at this moment, this is the toilet that they could provide.

All these were provided by the city ward office officials. A panchayat equivalent of India. They knew how to handle such calamities and they were prepared for such a massive evacuation and support. There was total order and no one claimed any credit for doing it. Karnan-ma pathi namma padikkarom, aana evvlo per kadaipidikkaromnu ketta theriyaadu. Aana, inga, idathu kai kodukkarathu valathu kaikku nejamaave theriyaadu. Anda madiri, every one did their part.

For example, the workers and owners from the super market brought their foods immediately and gave it to the officials. The officials just distributed it to everyone, with no favor or fear. No influence or bias towards any local or foreigner. The telephone companies especially the NTT, made the public telephone free. Again, you see an order in front of the public booth. Its free and you can use as much as you can. There is a huge line in front of it and people use it only to say hi and their where abouts to their family. Noone took anything more than a minute. What a display of compassion towards other souls.

I have been to this place for over 5 years and have seen a particular old shop closed. But, suddenly, that day, it was open and an elderly lady was distributing some bread to the passers by. The convenience stores were giving their left over food for free. They could have charged a heavy price, but they didn't. There was a huge line for over a km in front of the petrol bunks. They could have charged a heavy price, but they didn't.

The third day after the quake, the city officials in the evacuation center were running out of supplies and were kind of looking out for more thro' each and every source. I realized that, its time we left and allowed the local people to get better care. But, the trains were still not yet ready, bus was not operating. The city official told that, it is going to be atleast a month's time before the trains start operating. So, we had to make our next move.

Also, the nuclear power plant just another 80 kms north of this evacuation center was fuming and this place started getting scary with the kind of information that was coming in. The bridges were damaged and the tracks were broken. So, the options left were to find a taxi that can take us to the location from where trains operate towards Tokyo. But, to get the taxi, we were told to walk to the next station that was some 10 kms away. So, I requested the 3 guys to get their passport and pack few of their dress and get ready to travel. I was planning to take them to my home in Tokyo.

They went ahead to their house to pack. I went in search of a taxi. After a while or walking and losing a few of them, I finally negotiated and got hold of a taxi. He was willing only to take us to a station called tsuchiura. If he travels too far, the risk of he not getting petrol to return back was high. So, He promised us only yo take till tsuchiura. Got on the taxi, went to their house. Picked them up and headed towards Tokyo.

This way, we changed taxi in the same way a couple of times and after 7 hours of travel, we reached a station called Toride, closer to Tokyo. Trains were operating from here. From here, we had another couple of transfers and reached my station Nishi-Kasai. From here, it was another 20 mintes walk and reached home - Sweet home after 10 hours of travel, the longest ever from Ibaraki to tokyo. We reached my home on Sunday night.

By the time I reached tokyo, I was in for a surprise. The roads and pipes in Tokyo were uprooted from the ground and it was the first time I could ever see my place in such a mess. But, on top of this, the nuclear scare had taken a different turn. All my fellow foreigners were planning to mass evacuate and go back to India. In the middle of all, the next morning was bright and sunny. I woke up to the sound of the kids in the near by kinder garnen, next to my home.

In the middle of chaos and foreigners fleeing, the kids displayed hope and the dawn of the next generation Japanese. I was reminded, Hope is the pillar that holds the world. How true, these kids had realized it, when are we going to?

In the whole, exercise, the display of order, process, patience, perseverance, tenacity and compassion was mind blowing. I have lived in this counrty for over a decade and I was all along thinking that, the salient feature of this country was analysis. They go to the root of every problem and always come out with a sustainable solution and was under the impression, that their strength was root cause analysis. But, I was proved wrong. The strength of this country is the patience. Patience at the face of adversity, the patience to undergo pain with a smiling face. If only, we can inculcate this to our next generation, we can be sure of having a sustainable future. Nothing can shatter us as a society / culture.

Best regards,
Murali Manikandan S

Confused Man - Mohan Singh, NAM, Mush in Havanna

NAM, MMS-Mush and Havanna

Prime Minister Man Mohan singh's decision to skip the UN general assembly and participate in NAM summit that too in red havanna is a blunder of sorts. NAM has already become irrelevent. Our former external affairs minister Mr.Natwar might claim that as long as NATO is alive, NAM is relevent. But the truth is NAM is a chunk of anti americans shouting irrelevent slogans satisfying their fake ego. Unfortunately, we created this mess and we still claim it a success story.

In the 50 year long infamous history of NAM, I can't even think of a single achievement worth mentioning. Not even a single war thwarted, mediated, nor any dispute between member countries solved, not a single conflit avoided... So, what is it for ? Did it help any of the third world African nations or any of the South americans nor we south asians. The summit gave the world a chance to see a deteriorating Fidel Castro. Look at the bunch of crooks who participated in the summit, Raul - castro's brother, Musharraf, Ahmedinijad (Iran), Bashr-al- Azad (Syria), Hugo Chavez (venezuela) et all. And the result, anti american slogans all the way. That was all it fetched. And a much hyped handshake between our MMS and Mush.

This has given way for a joint anti terrorism aparatus. The initiative for this Indo-Pakistan anti-terrorism co-operation mechanism is ill-advised, ill-timed and ill-conceived. Its like a sheep asking the wolf to help in combating the loss of its kids at night. First of all, MMS should have told that he is skipping the NAM summit b'cos it would mean sharing the dais with Mush. We should have insulted and cornered pakistan. At a time when the west is realising that the pakis are playing a spoil sport, dual game in the name of "war against terror", we are handshaking and saying, lets patrol together.

Oh Mr.MMS, I once felt proud and happy for you becoming the PM. I thought Rajiv was the dumbest PM ever India had. Now, I have started believing that if Rajiv was the dumbest, then, you are the meakest India has ever seen. And your advisor Narayan... Oh, the less said the better. India feels the loss of Mani dixit when his services are required the most.

For God sake, Pakistan is a theocratic State founded on the belief that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together. We may call ourselves a secular state, but the Pakistanis look upon us as a Hindu State. If Manmohan Singh think that a State with such beliefs will genuinely co-operate with us against jihadi terrorism, then, he is living in a fools paradise. Someone, please tell him.

And look at Mush and Ahmedinijad, they went on to the UNGA. Ahmedinijad took it as an oppurtunity to proclaim that they are right, their nuclear option is atone to the right to exist and Mush told that India is the mischief and the problem creator in Kashmir. On the other hand our MMS lost his oppurtunity to roar back or even to gather support from other countries for his pet project civilian nuclear coop with Americans.

And I don't know why the G15 meeting was held in havanna, for cuba is not even a part of that group. Oh!!! A bunch of baffoons.

The only meaningful meeting that was held in this recent visit was the IBSA. The south-south corridor cooperation between India, Brazil and South Africa held in Brazilia.

Thank god the UPA didn't dump it thinking that it was the idea floated by Vajpayee.

On the whole, other than costing the ex-chequr a ton, PM's recent visit didn't fetch India anything meaningful.

- Murali

Kargil Day

July 26 is Vijay Divas, the day we celebrate our victory in the Kargil War.
The day the Indian soldiers helped us hold our heads high.

The Indian Army lost 600 soldiers. Six hundred families lost sons, husbands, fathers.

But, The country won back its pride.

The country owes each one of these families. We Salute you. Jai Jawan

- Murali

India needs to be ruthless in its vengeance

Guys,

Here is another one.. I know I am bombarding you with similar messages. I may be boring you with the same feelings... But, neverthless, it had to be done. It had to be said. Unless we do it, it will become like what zidane told yesterday.

Zidane told that, if he keeps quite, if he feels sorry, then, whatever the italian told about his mom and sister will become true. So, he is not gonna feel sorry, he is not gonna apologise...

So, no matter what everyone feels... it had to be said. ..

Look at what Israel has done yesterday. They have bombed Lebanon. Why lebabnon? Weren't they at hostility with Palestine? Yes, the palestine terrorist organisation, Hamas is hiding in Lebanon using civilians as shield. They took 2 army men from Israel as hostages. What did Israel do? Negotiate? No. They don't negotiate with words across the table. They negotiate with bombs in war front. They take the war to the enemy ground. U use civilians as shield. Then, everyone is guilty. We consider everyone as military and bombed the 3rd country which gave them shelter, killed their citizens, destroyed their only good international airport.

This is how a self confident nation conducts itself. Not by taking about peace and tellign that, we should go to the roots of the problem to wipe out terorism.

How on earth can we wait on the shores to reside for the waves to take bath ? Is it ever possible? From time immemorial, there have been devils. You can't wait for all of them to turn good.

Talkign about war is highly unfashionable now a days. So, when I say this 3 letter word, people look at me with distaste. But, How on earth can you create terror in the terrorists mind? Everyone is talking about peace, about dialogues, about sending more busses, more business, more bla bla bla..

There is no single prominent voice to take punitive strikes. No voice to use the UNSC's announcement yesterday to get Dawood Ibrahim back here and punish. I feel so ashamed of our political leaders.

When hamas thought that, "Ok, Sharon is gone. Israel has become meak. Now is the time to strike them and bring them to knees." And look how Israel has responded? They have take punnitive strikes and have given a clear message that, don't mess with me with terror. You are the one to suffer the most. Do it at your own risk.

What is wrong in admiring such self-respecting people, huh ? No amount of Vedanta will help here.

Murali


India needs to be ruthless in its vengeance

Shishir Bhate

July 13, 2006


As a child, I rarely fell asleep without listening to my grandmother narrate 'good-over-evil' stories from religious scriptures. Her dramatic story-telling ability held me enraptured as she described how gods took on the demons and crushed them. With 330 million gods to choose from and a near-perfect memory, her bank of stories was inexhaustible. At school, I learnt 'moral science,' which primarily consisted of religious tales of divine domination over wickedness.

I was in love with these godly heroes as they vanquished the forces of evil, mercilessly mowing them down. It took me slightly longer to realise that the magnitude of violence that lurked in religious anecdotes could hardly be matched by anything human. Yet I continued to be enamoured of Krishna and Christ alike.

For, to an impressionable mind of a child what mattered most was a sense of fairness, of justice. My mind, then, could not fathom what made people malevolent; all I believed was that the evil-doer pay the price for his sins, dearly.

Many moons have passed since then, but my love for Krishna and Christ is intact, and I still believe that evil should never go unpunished: the more severe the punishment, the bigger the deterrent it is for future violent acts. Or, I should say, the inevitability of punishment is the biggest deterrent.

However, there is nothing inevitable about India's resolve to wipe out terrorism.

But let me come back to the present. A day after the blasts, I boarded the first-class compartment of a Mumbai suburban train. It wasn't bursting at the seams with passengers, like it normally does, but I couldn't discern fear on the faces of my fellow passengers, only a weary cautiousness. Their voices, however, were laced with anger.

The snatches of conversation that I could hear centered on the Indian State's 'impotency' at fighting terrorism and what it should do to destroy terrorists. But the common man does not have the right to influence the State's policy towards matters as important as these, does he? So what if he has the right to vote governments to power.

India, time and again, has failed to wield the hammer against the lowly terrorist, often letting its citizens down. And despite what our leaders would have us believe, we are a soft State: a fact fully understood and exploited by terrorists.

After every such attack, the political establishment makes some threatening noises, hails the spirit of the civilians, holds aloft the pennant of peace, even launches buses to inimical nations, and then sits tight on its backside till the next wave of bombs rips the stuffing out of its citizenry. Then it is back to the same idiotic idiom.

But the common man, who actually bears the brunt of terrorism, has a different view, as that train ride told me. India needs to hit them where it hurts the most: squeeze the breath out of their networks, starve them for funds, take out their leaders (who we claim to know are hiding in this country or that), smash their hideouts, terrorise their associates.

No sooner is such an opinion voiced than human rights groups, 'saner' elements in the political firmament, self-styled negotiators and strategists jump into the fray to say: 'No, no, we should engage these 'people' in a dialogue. We are a peace-loving nation and terrorism needs to be resolved through peaceful means, through tolerance, through negotiations, abiding by international laws.'

We are told: 'We need to fight terrorism by understanding what triggers it and then remedying the situation. And by making 'them see reason.' Reason, my foot! The next thing you know' that bloke will be stuffing a dynamite stick down your throat and lighting the fuse.

Many people agree that international terrorism cannot be brought to an end only by the use of bombs and military might, but neither can it be ended with mere talk. What is needed is a heavy dose of ruthless action to go hand in hand with tactical and strategic negotiations.

The nation should be ready to negotiate, with the underlying condition that if there is any terrorist act against its citizens, there will be hell to pay.

This is not some original thought. We hear it all the time. The common man says:


Strengthen the infrastructure and the intelligence network.
Educate the society on how to remain alert and control panic.
Set up crack commando groups -- comprising snipers, specially trained and equipped assault teams, state-sponsored combatants -- who will engage in unconventional warfare.
Dry up the terrorists' sources of funding: drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, playing on international stock markets, donations.
Keep a hawk's eye on hostile locations and smash them up.
Take out leaders of these organisations, no matter where they take refuge.
Tighten the nation's borders even more, except maybe for trade.

Not an easy task, but not impossible either. The might of the Indian State is hardly something to scoff at. Disuse of power is worse than its misuse. It is time for Indians to roll up their sleeves, spit on their hands and get to work.

The one-track 'mature, gentile, peaceful' way of unraveling this menace only ends up in making the nation appear impotent. Just because the citizens are brave and spirited doesn't mean they have to keep suffering.

The common man wants a strong message be sent out: if any Indian is harmed in any manner, we will hunt you down and exterminate you, no matter how fast you run or where you hide.

The terrorist has no human rights; he loses them the instant he points his gun at humanity. He is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention and international laws of war should not apply to him. Since he chooses to live by the gun, he deserves to die by it.

Sounds uncivilised? Like out of a trashy thriller? Maybe. But ask the newly-wed girl whose husband was blown to pieces in the blasts, ask the old widow whose only earning son will walk no more...

India needs to be ruthless in its vengeance. The inevitability of punishment could nip many a hostile intent in the bud.

Which brings me back to grandma's tales. Not one of those stories ended with the demon getting away unpunished. Not once was justice denied. But since then, the concept of justice has changed for me. No one wants justice, everyone wants a decision in his favour. So why not the common Indian? It is time we were given our slice of justice.

But can we do it? Or will the nation have to wait for divine assistance: a Krishna or a Christ to deliver us from terror?

Anti-Brahmanism should stop!

We need a foreigner to tell us the truth ... Read on... This is from one of my most favourite journalists, who won the natchiketa award for investigative journalism.

Anti-Brahmanism should stop!


June 15, 2006

The first article published by rediff on Brahmins as an underprivileged community, brought a flurry of reactions, mostly of surprise: "What, Brahmins as toilet cleaners, coolies, rickshaw pullers, priests earning less than Rs 150 a month... How is it possible, we always thought that Brahmins were a rich, fat, arrogant community?"

Many Brahmins and other upper castes expressed online their relief that someone was speaking about their plight, that for once they were not attacked, made fun of, ridiculed. Of course there were also a few hostile e-mails, accusing the author of upper casteism, of anti-Dalits bias.

One would have thought however, that at a time when reservation was the hottest journalistic topic, the media would have seized this story and made it its own. After all, isn't impartial journalism to show both sides of the story?

Don't you think, for instance, that the discovery that all 50 Sulabh Shauchalayas (public toilets) in Delhi are cleaned and looked after by Brahmins -- traditionally the task of the lowest of the lowest caste -- and that this noble institution was started by a Brahmin, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, makes a wonderful story, both for the print and electronic media?

That is what I believed, at any rate. So when I discovered that the Art of Living Foundation was conducting workshops for all coolies, irrespective of their religion and caste of the Delhi railway station -- and that quite a few of them were Brahmins -- I thought I could share this story and the Sulabh Shauchalayas scoop, with a few journalistic acquaintances, who would jump on it with glee. Unfortunately I was very wrong.

Initially, some young journalists were enthusiastic and joined us in our investigation. We expected the story to hit the headlines soon and be taken up by the entire press, hungry for something different than the strike of the medicos, or Arjun Singh's adamant attitude. But nothing happened.

We called them day after day, proposed some more data, but still no story came out. Then one of the young journalists, working for one of the largest media outfits in India told us off the record that the sub-editor, backed by the editor, had killed the story in true journalistic freedom.

The second scenario we encountered was stone silence: the star anchors, bureau chiefs, editors of national English newspapers whom I personally contacted, either did not return my calls or were evasive.

Third scenario: Downright hostility: "You're a right winger, a pro-BJP-RSS journalist" etc. What does truth and investigative journalism have to do with the BJP (who by the way did no more than the Congress for the Kashmiri Brahmins, for instance, when it was in power)? I don't know.

Some journalists, initially willing to do a story, backed out after some time under the pretext that the data was not solid enough. Not solid enough? Does flimsy and unchecked data ever stop the Indian media to publish slanderous stories in the recent past?

Then, I came to the conclusion that more than fifty years later, the Nehruvian culture which directly brainwashed two generations of Indians in certain thinking patterns, has survived today. Actually, you have to go farther back than Nehru. For Jawaharlal was a true end product of Macaulay's policy of creating Indians who would be Indians by the colour of their skins, but British in their thinking. Thus, the English outlook on India survives today in India's intellectual class, particularly the journalists, who often cast a Westernised, anti-spiritual, pro-minority, anti-majority, un-Indian, anti-Brahmins and other upper castes -- look on their own country.

It is true that Nehru started from a positive volition: How to solve India's huge class and caste disparity? How to appease a Muslim minority which ruled India ruthlessly for ten centuries and was not ready to be ruled by those who were for a long time Islam's pliant subjects?

But Nehru went overboard. He made the paupers of yesteryear the saints of modern India, allowing some states to literally hound out Brahmins and other upper castes. He twisted history and thanks to docile historians, made of cruel Muslim invaders and rulers, the benefactors of medieval India.

He went to the extent of excusing the razing and sacking of thousands of exquisite temples all over India, by saying that Muslim invaders such as Babar did it because these temples were full of hidden gold and jewels, damning again indirectly the poor hapless Brahmins, who were beheaded by Muslim invaders, crucified in Goa by the Portuguese Inquisition, vilified by British missionaries, and morally crucified today by their own brothers and sisters.

It is true that Brahmins may be paying today for the excesses of yesterday. In ancient times, as Sri Aurobindo wrote: 'A Brahmin was a Brahmin only if he cultivated the spiritual temperament and acquired the spiritual training which alone would qualify him for the task.'

But once Brahmanism became hereditary, arrogance, complacency and casteism became rampant, ultimately bringing the downfall of Brahmins, a downfall which the Dalai Lama defines (for his own people) as Black Karma.

Thus, thanks to the lingering influence of Nehruvianism, 'Brahmins' remain today a dirty word, even in the face of reality: that Dalits have considerably come up since 1947 in Indian society, that no nation in the world has done so much for its underprivileged (India had a Dalit President -- did the US ever have a Black President?). But the intellectual elite of India, which never mentions these facts, continues to hide its face in the sand like an ostrich, refusing to see the reality.

And rampant anti-Brahmanism and upper castes, first used by the Muslim invaders, then by the British colonialists and missionaries, is still in vogue at the hands of Nehruvians, Marxists, Indian Christians and politicians in search of the votes of Dalits and Muslims, which combined together make and unmake prime ministers.

Yet, Brahmins and other upper castes have played an invaluable role in Indian history, as Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, the founder of the Sulabh Shauchalaya Movement remarks: 'Society sustained the Brahmins and other upper castes earlier, who upheld the Hindu scriptures and Hindu culture. Today Hinduism is on the decline day-by-day. There is a lack of ancient knowledge. No political party has objected to reservation thanks to vote-bank politics. People have a very short memory. They have forgotten the contribution made by Brahmins to our society.'

And who says that Brahmins and other upper castes are anti-Dalits. Some of India's top avatars, saints and gurus were of low caste and are still worshipped today by all upper castes. Valmiki, the composer of the Ramayana, was a fisherman; Ved Vyasa, the epic poet of the Mahabharata, which also contains the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible of Future Humanity, was the son of a fisherwoman; Krishna was from the shepherd's caste. And are not today's Amritanandamayi or Satya Sai Baba of low caste birth? Don't they have millions of Indians, many of them from upper castes, bowing down to them?

Anti-Brahmanism has to be stopped!

This inter-caste war, triggered by the politicians' greed for votes, has to be defused.

FACT, my Foundation, which conducts exhibitions on persecuted minorities, whether the Kashmiri Pandits, the Christians, Buddhist Chakmas and Hindus suffering in Bangladesh at the hands of fundamentalists in Bangladesh, or the Tibetans facing a cultural and spiritual genocide in Tibet, decided to take things in hand.

We started, with the help of a few dedicated friends, a film on Brahmins and other upper castes as an underprivileged community. This film will lead to a photoexhibition and hopefully to a book. All testimonies and documents are welcome.

The future of this country lies in a unified India, where all castes will find their just place, where all will feel Indians first and belonging to this caste or that one, after.

Nenju Porukku dillaiye

What is it that can justify the killing of scores of innocent civilians ?

What is it that they are trying to proove?

This is what I call a LATENT HATRED !!!

When I say, you guys think that I am a Hindu fanatic, a fascist etc etc etc and what not...

I wrote sometime back ... after the Gujarat riots !!!

[[[ machan, Riots are a mere symptom of antagonism against a community *perceived* to be getting more than the rest. Hindu rioters could be created by politicians -- but no politician can create the required fury without the ammunition given by the repugnant mullahs and the loathsome "secularists." You can throw into jail the entire Sangh Parivar for Gujarat. But what next? Can you arrest every Hindu who resents the inequality in laws and vents his ire in his own devious ways...? ]]]

This is how people like me are getting antagonised. There is no point in telling that the masterminds were far away from our shores. Why blame them, when the logistics and the execution was done by the locals. How were they able to do it without the support of the locals? I am not telling that they were all muslims. But, they MUST have been predominantly MUSLIMS. I have to use this word... Yes.. I have to...

On January 13, the Anti Terrorism Squad arrested Maulana Ghulam Yahya, the imam of Haj House masjid on the charge of harbouring three militants from Jammu and Kashmir with links to the Lashker-e-Tayiba. The ATS alleged that the imam was a link between Salauddin, the Lashkar commander in Kashmir, and the three arrested militants -- Mohammed Ramzan Abdul Wahab Haji, Kurshid Ahmed Abdul Gani Lone and Arshad Hussain Badru Hussain. So, how can I Ignore it like the GOI !!!


Nenju Porukku dillaiye Inda Nilai ketta Manidarai Ninaithuvittalal.
Anji anji vaazhvaar ivar anjaada porulilai ulaginile !!!


Idu namma ellarukkum daan. Unmaiya pesardukkum, mathavangala punpaduthiduvomonnu bayappattukittum irukkardu naala kadaisila anubavikkardu yaar theriyuma? Naama daan.

Prevention is better than cure.

You guys may again hate me for this.. But who cares !!!

In the whole of Mahabharatha, One shakuni was enough for the downfall of all the other good souls. And One surpanaka was enough to bring down the whole good hearted Lankans. But, it had to be done. They had to be killed. Good souls too have to be killed for the survival of the DHARMA.

And in the whole Mahabharatha, One Krishna was enough to assertain DHARMA.

Inda puraanatha ellam sonna manasula yearaadunnu theriyum... enna pandradu... Manasu kekkala !!!

I am not giving any solutions.. Its just an outrage ... once its ok.. twice... its acceptable.. but, not like this.. year after year ... What the **** are we doing?

Its not just the GOI or the GOM that has to be blames.. Each one of us has to be blamed. The govt reflects the aspirations and the ambitions of the majority of its citizens.

Now you see what we will be doing? We will again be giving statements.. that the perpetrators of this heinous crime won't go unpunished... bla bla bla.. ya ya.. I know.. like the perpetrators of 1993 are still being punished right !!!

Its not enough that we build our economic might. We need to build our security too.

Utterly devastated,
Murali

10 things I hate about India

This is an article from a french journalist "Claude Arpi" who wrote the book, "India's Self Denial". In this article, He has listed down the ground reality of what is India Today. Though he loves India like any of us (Or should I say more than us?), he has his disappointments too. Here they are.

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/jun/22claude.htm

Many years ago a friend of mine wrote a book, The Wonder that IS India. Both of us have lived more for than 30 years in the Land of the Bharatiyas and share a love for this nation. When he showed me the manuscript of his book, I had pointed out that his representation of India was too rosy and suggested one more chapter -- 'The Horror that is India'. I think he did.

I have the same feelings for India today: 95 per cent is good, but there are some aspects that I am still not able to swallow, even after all these years. I have listed ten of them. Even if it does not change anything, at least some of my frustrations will be released while penning them down.

Before I begin, I must first say that during a recent visit to France, it was a pleasant surprise to see that India's image is fast changing in the West. When I left France in the early 1970s to settle in India, my family and friends considered it a shocking decision. To leave France, a 'developed' country and emigrate to the end of the world to a 'land of misery' populated 'by elephants and cobras' was unimaginable!

I was told that for a student in France today, it was of great added-value on his CV, if he had undergone training or internship in India. This 'Indian' wave has been reinforced since Mittal Steel tried to purchase Arcelor, the jewel of the French steel industry.

Though the nation has grown and matured over the last few decades, unfortunately not all domains have followed the same evolution.

Here is my list of the 10 things I still can't 'digest' about India:

1. Power cuts: While typing this article, the electricity board cut off the power supply. The reason -- a storm last night which lasted for 15 to 20 minutes. 'As a precautionary measure' the officials very compassionately disconnected vast areas from the network in the night and the following morning.

Being in rural Tamil Nadu, these officials want to protect us from broken wires due to fallen trees (it could electrocute passersby, they say). While I appreciate their reasoning, I was surprised to see that during the cyclonic rains in New Orleans last year, though thousands perished, electricity was not switched off. Indian officials will tell you that the US is a rich and developed country, not comparable to India. Where is the connection?

2. Indian babus: One could write volumes on the famous babus of India. They run one of the largest bureaucracies in the world, but have not been able to change their mindset.

A particularly bothersome aspect is that their laws often come from antiquated rules and regulations that nobody knows of. The consequence is what we call red-tapism, though for them it is 'implementing the letter, the law of the land'. But what about its spirit? In any case, the law has always to 'follow its own course'.

A few years ago, a diligent minister found hundreds such laws and regulations dating back to the British. In the era of modern technology and communications, this is preposterous.

Another aspect that irritates me about the bureaucracy is that babus never respond to letters. Probably they consider themselves to be the government's servants, not 'civil' servants and therefore find no need to reply to ordinary citizens.

3. No access to historical documents: Though a better understanding of the history of the subcontinent could be one of the keys to disentangle difficult problems such as the Kashmir issue, today nobody can access primary sources. They are locked away in the vaults of the Nehru Memorial Library or the almirahs of South Block.

All those who have tried to access historical documents since India's independence will tell you that till the end of babudom, one bureaucrat or another will ensure that you do not access the dusty files. Without fail, you will be courteously informed that India's security and integrity will be endangered if these precious documents are opened to the public. It is sad that Indians are not entitled to study their past (though they can always visit archives in the West to know more about India!)

4. Discrimination against the white tourist: Something particularly irritating for a 'white man' is that wherever he goes in India, he has to pay a special rate. Whether he visits the Taj Mahal where the 'white' tourist has to cough up Rs 750 to see the mausoleum, or a national museum, or even hotels or airlines, there is a true racial discrimination.

Rates are often ten times higher for those who have a 'white' or 'yellow' (Japanese) skin. Those who have made these rules do not understand that this policy harms India's image.

The desire to make a quick buck from the so-called rich tourists leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of the visitors who in any case would have spent their budget during the stay in India. To my knowledge, India must be the only nation in the world implementing these separate rates.

5. Paranoia about maps: Another strange thing in India is the paranoia about maps. Several years ago I visited the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. One day I was invited to the office of a local tahsildar. To my astonishment, the poor babu did not have a map of the area under his jurisdiction. He only had a vague sketch of the district. When I expressed surprise, he explained that maps were 'classified' and only the army was authorised to use them.

Is it not foolish to believe that the Chinese do not possess detailed maps of Arunachal? And what about Google Earth which is now available the world over?

One can only be surprised by this 'official' paranoia about maps. India is today a great power; technological advancements have occurred in the world during the past decades and will undoubtedly continue to occur and India has no choice but to accept them and make the best use of them.

A year ago, the Union Cabinet approved a new National Map Policy, but unfortunately, the mindset of the implementers remains the same.

6. And photographs: The paranoia is not about maps alone, it extends to photos, particularly of the sites under the Archeological Survey of India. A friend told me of her nightmarish experience while doing research in Chennai and the number of forms she had to fill to take some photos in a museum. Though one pays in hard currency, one has still to justify why one needs a particular photo. The poor researcher is looked upon as someone trying to 'steal' the national patrimony.

In contrast, a few weeks earlier, I visited the Louvre museum in Paris which receives tens of thousands of visitors every day. All of them were happily clicking away at statues, paintings, art artefacts (it is only prohibited to photograph the Mona Lisa for security reasons) and amongst them, a great number of Indians, perhaps the most frenetic clickers. This is understandable, as they have to compensate for their frustration at home!

A French television crew told me about their adventure while trying to shoot in a fort once occupied by Rajaji (C Rajagopalachari). Before leaving Paris, they had planned a short sequence at the fort. They dutifully applied to the Indian embassy for permission. After paying a hefty Rs 5,000 they were given a stamped and signed permission. When they arrived on the spot, the local official told them: "No way, as your permission does specifically mention it, you are not authorised to shoot with a stand. You have to go to Chennai (150 km away) and get the permission duly modified. No problem, it will take you a day only!" They left disgusted, the fort will not appear in their film.

7. Politicians: The topic of politicians is an easy one. Everything appalling and more can be said of them and one will still remain below the truth. In their defense, they are part of a system which is uniquely based on votes.

To win votes, one needs money and all compromises are permissible to get the required funds 'to serve the people'. It is true the world over, but here like in many other domains India excels.

8. Neglect for the environment: Another frustrating aspect for me is the lack of care for the environment (though it has been recently improving). While Indians are the most conscious people as far as personal hygiene goes, there is very little civic awareness or concern for the environment.

Education could help (for example for disposal of garbage or plastic bags), but it is often government policies such as free electricity for farmers, incentives for asbestos sheets (one of the most carcinogenic material) or chemical pesticides which harm the environment the most.

9. Traffic: I hate the Indian traffic (with its absence of rules). Each time I return from a visit abroad, it is a terrible shock. It is difficult to comprehend how there are not more casualties on the road. A friend explained to me that the multitude of gods in India probably protect their flock. The fact is that there are no law enforcement authorities (most of the police force is busy with VIP duty).

In France and elsewhere if the cops were not around, very few would follow the traffic rules. Extremely severe punishment for breaking traffic rules has a strong dissuasive effect. Here in India, you can always get away with a few rupees.

10. Corruption: It is better to not comment.

Please allow me to add a last point: the number of 'holidays' taken for a myriad of family 'problems', (marriages, engagements, funerals, etc.), cultural, local or religious festivals (of all faiths: India is secular), then you have bandhs, hartals, riots, strikes (India is the only place in the world where the government sometimes calls for a strike), etc... The worst are 'French leaves', absolutely unknown in France.

Apart from the above, India is an incredible place and I have never regretted, even for one day, to have settled here.

Muslim Appeasement at Sky high

Kishen Kak on Double standards

Between 1986 and 1992, at least 93 temples in Kashmir have been documented as destroyed by Muslims ( www.kashmir-information.com/Atrocities/Temples/index.html ). Neither the Government of India nor the Supreme Court of India nor any Nehruvian secularist felt any need to intervene and prevent the destruction of Hindu shrines and cultural symbols.

In early 2005,.in the historic temple city of Madurai, some 250 temples (including those a century old) were demolished, following a High Court order, by the municipal authorities. Neither the Government of India nor the Supreme Court of India nor any Nehruvian secularist felt any need to intervene and prevent the destruction of Hindu shrines and cultural symbols.

In early 2006, following due notice and a High Court order, municipal authorities in Vadodara demolished 42 temples. Neither the Government of India nor the Supreme Court of India nor any Nehruvian secularist felt any need to intervene and prevent the destruction of Hindu shrines and cultural symbols.

On May 01, 2006, as part of the same demolition drive, and following due notice and even an offer of land in exchange, a dargah was demolished, and Muslims reacted with an orgy of violence, including arson at the sessions court because it did not stay the demolition of the dargah. Four persons (both Hindu and Muslim) were killed. The Union Home Secretary spoke to the State Chief Secretary, the National Commission for Minorities intervened with the State Government, and the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs rushed to Vadodara to later declare that "the Vadodara administration could have avoided the demolition of the dargah in view of the people's sentiments". A few days later, though the local situation was under control and the Union Home Secretary said the State authorities "are doing their job", the Government of India filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court promptly stayed the High Court order and the demolitions. Among the government arguments that the Supreme Court found persuasive were that this is an "intrinsically sensitive" issue and "that the order if permitted to operate will result in grave and serious consequences on the law and order in the State and may have adverse repercussions on the 'secular fabric' of the nation as a whole". It is to be noted that the High Court order had been to "take immediate steps for removal of encroachment of religious structures on the public space without any discrimination" and this is exactly what the authorities had done. All affected religious communities cooperated, except the Muslim ( The Hindu ;Daily Pioneer; Images ; May 3rd; Hindu ; "Vadodara incident-free as Army stages flag march", The Hindu, May 5, 2006).

..... more

A day earlier to the dargah demolition, Muslims massacred 35 Hindus in J&K. The Prime Minister of India was concerned enough to issue a statement and the Union Home Minister said that such killings will not derail the peace process. Neither the National Human Rights Commission nor the Supreme Court of India felt the killing of Hindus by Muslims warranted their intervention.

For full information visit vigilonline.

This is what is appeasement. Not able to take tough good decisions over muslims on national security and societal safely is a result of 2 things.

The public fears the muslim and the govt appeases them for loss of vote bank.

All these will go on and on and on ... All that is needed for the triumph of evil is that, good men do nothing.