Vision Of A Slow Reader

Finished another novel, another journey. Entered a new world through the cover, exited from the other side and saw a parallel universe through the pages.

Reading has always been a hobby but, unlike many others, I have never considered myself a 'fast' or a 'quality' reader where people tend to finish a book within a few days while skimming through the pages. Other day I was going through the posts in a reading community I am a member of and I was rather astonished to see that, just 4 months into 2020, and some people have already devoured as many as over 30 books which accords the book a reading time a mere 3-4 days.

I never understood their ways but I am a slow reader, for whatever it's worth. I, and many others like me, take our time to traverse through a book and stepping through the pages. But that does call for a thought as to whether being a slow reader is causing me to miss out on something and whether I should be striving to clock up the numbers on my shelf. Sometimes, I do lean toward it but, on a deeper thought, I end up trying to put my finger on what it is that pulls me toward the old ways. I find that it is the journey rather than its milestones that matters.

Whenever I start on a book, I look at it not as a mere bunch of pages but a bunch of characters standing on the edge of a portal and extending their hands, thereby, inviting me into their world and, despite myself, I drift into a different reality while resigning to my wanderlust for an abstract journey.

Slow reading provides me an opportunity to envision their world from my eyes. It allows me to embark with them on their travels, share the shade of a tree, share their sorrows and happiness, make some friends and loathe some others. It allows me to be a part of their reality while, consciously, escaping mine which I cannot do otherwise.

Every person has multiple shades to his/her personality and I need to slow down and stare into his/her soul to know better and, unless, I do that, I would be missing out on the relish of analyzing the character's true self.

Awkward it may sound, impractical it may be but I, at the cost of numbers, chose to be an active part of their world rather than racing past and getting a hint in the blur.

They frown upon a dreamworld but there is a different joy altogether in stepping into one with open eyes. When I step beyond the last full-stop of the novel, I have finished not a book but a journey. I look back and, once again, see the characters standing on the opposite edge of the portal but, this time, they are smiling at me and waving goodbye. I look at them for sometime, smile back and, then, tear my gaze off to look for another journey and new friends on the way.

MTC

The Price Of Mahatma

Recently there was a news that the soil soaked in the blood of the Father Of The Nation was auctioned and was bought by someone overseas. The most interesting part is that the Govt. of India chose to sit quiet and there is no step as of now to recover this priceless piece of relic for the country. I was not surprised that it didn't surprise me anymore. The people who do not respect the nation in the first place, there is no point expecting any respect for someone just named "Father of the Nation" !!!! Technically and legally neither the seller nor the buyer can be said to be at fault. They were well within their rights and, moreover, they not being Indians, they cant be expected to feel with the same intensity as an Indian can do. But we certainly expect from the Govt. that if they have come to know that a price has been set for the blood of Gandhi, it is their bounden duty to secure it for the nation. But, as also expected, no action has been taken as of now. It makes me remember the incident a few years back when some other belongings of Gandhi went under the hammer and the seller categorically stated that if the Govt. of India requested him, he would be happy to give them to India but no step in my knowledge has been taken as of now. Well, on a closing note, nothing else can be expected of the politicians of our country who find Sachin's Ferrari comparatively more important than the sword of Tipu Sultan when waiving the custom duty is concerned !!!! We can only hope that one day the belongings of this country return to us for, being the national honour, its We The People who exercise the right over them as our politicos may not be worried about the honour of their country on the world stage but we certainly are.

Welcome 2012

31st December, the last day of the every year, last day before the beginning of a new year and the last day before the start of new hopes and resolutions and 31st December, 2011 is no different.

The only difference which can be cited can be the fact that this year has been one of the most momentous years in the recent past, be it the recent Lokpal fiasco which died its own death at least for some time due to the fact that RS failed to pass it or be it the failure on the part of the Government to restrain China from barging in our territories or the failure to rescue the Indian hostages from the clutches of the pirates. So much for the national front.

On the international front, this year brought the demise of many a dictatorship the world over and rise of the sun of the people's might.

In short, this year laid the foundation for the changes for many years to come.

With all the hopes and aspirations of new and better things coming our way, here we are biding adieu to 2011 and opening our arms to welcome 2012.

Wishing a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year to all my readers.

MTC

Anna's Lokpal

Lot of hue 'n' cry and an unprecedented public support for Anna Hazare's movement for the Jan Lokpal Bill. One fine morning, an obscure and unknown Anna Hazare makes a demand for Jan Lokpal Bill and decided to go on a hunger strike unto death. Whatever followed would go down in the annals of history for all times to come.

No doubt, the public outpour in support of this old gentleman was not for nothing. Public was, indeed, tormented and fed up of spineless and hopeless politicians of this country, but what they did and the way they did brought down from the pedestal the dignity of their demand and reduced the entire effort to a cheap arm twisting tactic.

When Team Anna started, their only humble demand was to have their Bill presented in the Parliament along with the Government's Bill and Parliament can choose any one which it feels proper. Seeing the support in their favour, they got excited and demanded that all the formalities should be waived -- it should not go to the Standing Committee and should directly be tabled, if Parliament session expires, it should be extended. They even went to the MPs and took their signatures on the undertaking that they would support the Bill in the Parliament. Now they asked for a written undertaking from UPA that it would table the Bill and would support it as well and would get it passed in the Parliament. Even if their DEMAND was justified, by no stretch of imagination can the content and the mode be justified. Whatever they may say, Anna has set such a precedent in this country that whenever any influential person would want to have any demand met, he would resort this mode. We should not forget that this is the public which has made temple for Amitabh Bachchan and worships Rajnikant. With due regards and just as a wild guess, if tomorrow, any of these two decides to sit on a fast, would the support of the public and the pressure on the government be any lesser ? NO !!!!

Coming on the contents of the Jan Lokpal Bill , as a lawyer, I can say that they are nothing but an emotional outburst of the people. Clause 8 of the draft Jan Lokpal Bill deals with the functions of Lokpal. According to the same, Lokpal would be authorized to initiate action against the Government servants, if found guilty under Prevention of Corruption Act, can order dismissal of the authority as well. We need to stop here and analyze the existing law. Dismissal, suspension etc, being the disciplinary authorities, can be ordered by the appointing authority of that Government servant. To counter that, they have demanded that, for the purposes of this Act, Lokpal should be deemed to be an appointing authority and disciplinary authority both. Legally, appointing authority is that under whose signatures and orders, the officer was appointed. Since, it was not the Lokpal who appointed the officer, he cannot be the Appointing Authority and, since he is not the Appointing Authority, he cannot order dismissal. So this demand of theirs goes on the legal footing which means its ILLEGAL. Clause 8, amongst others, further gives the power to the Lokpal to cancel the licenses or blacklist the private companies etc.

It is provided in the Bill that Lokpal would be empowered to ISSUE SUCH DIRECTIONS to the Government authorities to make SUCH CHANGES in their work culture so as to reduced the possibility of corruption and public grievance !!!! No wonder if tomorrow a direction is issued to the Cabinet Secretary to have a member of Team Anna at its heels to as to have its actions monitored to reduce corruption !!!!

Section 197 of CrPC which deals with the prosecution of Judges and Public Servants and prohibits any action by the Court without a previous sanction is sought not to have any effect on the proceedings under this Act and the requisite permissions would be deemed to have been granted the moment Lokpal grants the same. So technically, Lokpal is equating itself with the Government of this country.

Lokpal can issue search warrants, he can conduct and raid and conduct searches, can break open the locks of the doors and cupboards where he has a doubt of any illegal possession. Under Clause 10 of this Act dealing with Evidence, Lokpal would be having all the powers of a Civil Court while trying a suit under CPC, 1908 and would also be a deemed police officer.

It is clear that Lokpal under this Act is usurping the role of all the wings of the Government without giving a heed to the fact that Constitution of this country clearly mandates a SEPARATION OF POWERS. They want the Lokpal to play the role of the Executive, the Judiciary, the Police, in short, an all powerful entity, nothing short of a parallel government.

Investigation on a judicial or a quasi-judicial is possible if the complainant ALLEGES MALAFIDES. I do not see a reason why one would not make a complaint to the Lokpal alleging the same in case he has lost a case, even if he was bound to lose and, as a result, there would be a enquiry upon every judgment passed !!!! They do not realize the amount of pressure this would exert on the members of the judiciary given the fact that one dash of the pen of the Judge can topple the fate of a person for all times to come. Coming to the judiciary, they demand that the requirement of seeking permission of the Supreme Court before even registering an FIR against a Judge should be done away with. This without even going in the history and knowing the reason as to why this was introduced. They demand that members of higher Judiciary should be under the Lokpal. Amongst other things, the most basic of all is that members of higher judiciary are a CONSTITUTIONAL POST and not a government service and the medium of dealing with their misdemeanours has always been different not only in India but in any country. They seek to bring the Government servants and the Constitutional functionaries at the same podium which is not justified in the first place.

In the light of the above, rather than strengthening and refurbishing the present system, what they are asking is a monolith, a monster to be created to devour all others. They want all the institutions and functionaries to be eclipsed in the shadow of Lokpal without realizing that this is India. Here the authority gets corrupt even before it is appointed. God forbid, if Lokpal gets corrupt tomorrow, there would be nothing but catastrophe !!!! Moreover, for this one Lokpal, amendments would be required in innumerous legislations which are already present.

Arvind Kejriwal of Team Anna recently made a statement that if any political party is genuine about fighting corruption then it should vote in favour of all the provisions of the Jan Lokpal Bill and get it passed. Despite their denial, this attitude and behaviour is nothing but a cheap arm twisting technique and nothing short of a BLACKMAIL.

People of this country, before following anyone like a sheep, which they have always done, also need to understand and analyze their demand and its repercussion on none other but themselves.

Judgment Years

With all the commotion around the world on political scene - be it Egypt, Yemen, Italy, Libya or, for that reason, even our formidably hopeless Indian politicians - when watched closely, one thing is clear that the year 2011 is a tough one for all the mongrels all over.

I, more often than not, reiterate this to my colleague that days are hard for those who lived their days while leading those of others into long, sleepless nights !!!!

The insatiable problem with the power-drunk politicians is that they do not take a look at the past when entering into the slippery world of politics and do not learn a lesson from the same. Be it Egypt, France, Italy or any country whatsoever, recorded history has it that whenever power has moved beyond the hands and reached the head, leaders have received a heat of power of the body politic - In Egypt, royal family was held captive, massacred and granaries broken open, in France, Louis XVI got his head chopped off and played around, in Italy, Mussolini and his mistress were shot dead and hung on the meat hooks !!!!

Power is easy to get but all the more difficult to be successfully wielded. It can never be saddled on a free will. For it to sustain, both of them need to merge into one and be there in unison. But first move will always have to be made by the power.

According to me, the best politician would be the person who would be the least political in his approach. Serve the people in a true sense and you would not even need to go out to ask for the votes or support !!!!

Leaders of today have failed to read this simple lesson between the lines and are paying the price for the same. I do not know about the Judgment Day up There but certainly 2011 and, I hope subsequent years from now on, prove to be Judgment Years here on earth.

The "Action" Of Inaction

Well, it feels good to be home, aint it ? After being away from my blog for months together, I am back tonight at, ummmmm, 11:30 PM, 14th June, 2011 !!!!

Getting to the point .. Indian sailors freed by the pirates about a YEAR of being hostage with them yesterday. No one can believe that the Government didn't know of this fact for all these months but the people of this country came to know of this incident only about 2 months back. Government kept it hidden for the reasons best known to it. We would have been content had the Government got 'em back. Any responsible Government of the world would take all the necessary steps to get her people back and, if need be, even go out of her way to do the needful. But the Indian Government, rather than taking action and getting her people back, simply slept over the issue and, even when the matter was brought before the public by the media, the Government shamefully resorted to Red Tapism and the buck kept on passing from Ministry of External Affairs to Ministry of Shipping to the owner of MV Suez and the matter nearly died its own death and the cries of the families were buried under the tombstones of files.

There was a complete lull in the atmosphere about this incident till yesterday when the news was flashed that all the sailors were released. But they were not released for nothing. They were paid their ransom. According to the news, the understanding was that the major chunk would be paid by the shipping company and the rest would be shared between Indian and Pak Governments. As was told to the media by one of the family members of a sailor that, here too, Indian Govt. kept quiet and they were losing all hopes when Governor of Pak's Sind province called them and assured them of help and they collected the major part and paid it off.

The only thing expected of the Indian Govt. now is the dirty political games over this incident and the false back patting of themselves.

One thing is clear that a common man is very COMMON and, hence, is not paid heed enough. Had it been a rare species like some politician or even someone of its family, I am sure that entire GDP of the country of that year would have been spent on that useless creation !!!!

Lately, there was one more news that China is constructing a damn on river Brahmaputra which is gonna divert the water of the river and which which would endanger the very existence of Assam and other neighbouring states. On this also, rather than taking a strong stand against China, Minister of External Affairs said that he is awaiting the REPORT and then they will be able to take APPROPRIATE steps !!!! If we could be apprised of your APPROPRIATE steps Mr. Minister. I think you have forgotten the incident when China walked its way into the country, stepping right on your b@#ls and painted the stones red. We cannot remember any steps taken by you then except baseless explanations. So, if not then, what on earth can you do now, you morons ?!?

9/11 happened 10 years back but every year the people gather on Ground-Zero and remember those who laid their lives. After killing Osama, President Obama said "WE DON'T FORGET". As for us, all I can say is "WE DON'T REMEMBER". We don't remember those three soldiers who were literally chopped in Kargil and we kept quiet, we don't remember our soldiers of 1971 war who are languishing in Pak jails and we just believe Pak's words that they ain't there, we don't remember 26/11 and now we also don't remember that apart from these 6 Indian sailors, many more are captive in the high seas !!!!

I wanna warn the Government that Egypt, Yemen and Libya are no more the Countries. They are now the symbols of the fires in the people's hearts which flare up whenever the Governments tread the wrong path and stomp on the patience of the people. The only thing left for the Governments to do in those cases is to burn and perish in the heat, giving way and becoming a history.

Democracy is not the WORD. Its a CONCEPT which is not supposed to be read, rather understood and followed, and whenever some Government forgets that, it is reminded of it by WE THE PEOPLE !!!! I need not say that I am foreseeing that.

MTC

Will Be Back

I agree that I have been away from my blog a bit too long, some MONTHS to be precise.

If blogs could forgive and forget, I would not mind apologizing .. :P

But as they cannot, all I can do to compensate is to come back soon.

MTC