Commonwealth Or Common Wealth

Lately, I have been thinking on this PROJECT quite a lot as to whether it should be called Commonwealth 2010 or Common Wealth 2010 ?!?

Proud moment it was when India got the opportunity to play host to the Commonwealth Games 2010. It was, as well, an opportunity to strengthen our international image by hosting the Games successfully and gloriously. But, Indians being Indians, cracks in the preparations were visible right from the start when the news came out that the Capital was being just dug up here and there.

According to the schedule, the stadia and other buildings were to be handed over to the Committee in the start of August, 2010 for the final decorative works but, now when about only 55 days are left, even the construction is not complete much less the decoration works. It was there in the news the other day that the swimming pool for the games was constructed and then they realized that ITS NOT ACCORDING TO THE SPECIFICATIONS and, hence, it was to be redone. Was there any harm in being careful right from the start so that we could save time and extra expense now? Elevators are not done till now. All that could be seen were niches in the wall. Roofs are leaking. One can very well imagine what is going to be the spectacle once the games start. And before the Games start, the athletes would need the stadia for the practice also. Even if they COMPLETE the work, can they assure it would be of the international glory ??!!?? NO !!

Complete grip of corruption. We had reconciled with the fact that in our country, corruption is as much a part of the lives as is food and water but at least they could spare the national honour from being crushed in the clutches!!! But for our leaders, only thing that matters is their own self. Country is just the ATM machine for them.

The budget for the Games is about 1 Lakh Crores !!! According to Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, this much is not even budget of various States. Several crores have been spent on raising a massive balloon with modern gadgets installed and other several crores have been spent in importing that from the UK. Guys, these seasonings look nice when the basic work is complete. Wish you had sense enough to realize this.

Athletes have already started backing out. Some country has denied to participate if the preparations are not according to the specifications. Australia clearly said that they are sure they are not going to get anything and if they do, it would not be up to the mark and that they may have to stay at the top of a building with no elevators. UK is sending MOSQUITO REPELLENT with their athletes !! What the hell?!? Does it not give an idea of our reputation outside already ?

Seeing all this, still politicos are SURE that this is going to be the best Commonwealth ever !!! If this is so, why Kalmadi goes on back foot when questioned by the journalists and Gill utters shit in the Parliament on such a sensitive issue? When opposition starts to nail the Government on the corruption, Sanjay Nirupam of Congress, rather than answering the allegations, in turn gets down to point the corruption of the opposition. Our PM and Sonia are not heard at all till now. They say that the issue is being politicized, but I say that after so much the Government has done, opposition is completely justified in coming to the fore and these politicos need be completely nailed.

We Indians are already not respected outside for thousand reasons and after this seeming disaster of CWG 2010, disrespect will be amplified all the more.

I wanna ask the Government that what on earth have they made of this country ??!!?? You make a mockery of yourself, its your own life but you have no right to compromise the honour of WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA internationally. You may have distanced yourself from the country but we still are a part of her. And remember, we just ELECT you but don't ASSOCIATE ourselves with you. So we would really appreciate if you kindly leave us alone.

MTC

A Tale Of A Soldier

The other day, I was surfing through a website which showcased the works of various photographers. While surfing, I came across the work of one Mr. Todd Heisler which was named Final Salute. I casually clicked on it and what passed my eyes tore me till my soul and raised questions which are still unanswered but are raised more often than not !!!

He captured the MOMENTS BETWEEN THE MOMENTS of a ceremony called Final Salute which is performed by the US Army in which the body of the deceased soldier is ceremonially laid to rest by an Honor Guard of the US Army. "Moments Between The Moments" mean the Real and non-ceremonial ones where the emotions of the family were captured by this gentleman.

He captured many families but laid emphasis on the then pregnant wife of late 2nd Lieutenant James Cathy who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, Katherine Cathy. I swear that the tender moments between the wife and her late husband's body shook me completely. The picture in which she keeps their wedding flowers, his favorite perfume and an ultrasound image of their unborn child in the coffin, the image in which she touches her belly on the coffin of her late husband, image in which the body of James Cathy is being taken out of the plane and the one in which Katherine is sleeping beside the coffin of her late husband the night before her burial for she wanted to sleep with him "One Last Time" are, although, concerning one family but are the tale of all families all over the world which have someone in the forces.

When I came out of the office that night, for me, everything ceased to have any meaning, everything was still. I was constantly thinking that whichever the country, the emotions are the same, tears flow with the same intensity, be it India or US. The politics around the world pushes these young men in the wars and conflicts and, in the end, what remains is the crying wife, parents and orphan children while the politicians marvel or brood at the materials gains or losses.

I understand that wishing to have a warless world is a far cry and there is no point wishing that but, at least, we can refrain from having worthless conflicts like the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq or the constant conflict between India and Pakistan for a little piece of land. By doing this, we can prevent another Lt. Saurabh Kalia (a soldier killed during Kargil) from being butchered and help another Katherine Cathy from giving birth to a child who can see the world on his father's shoulders.

I urge the leaders to think of that mother who so wishes that her son rises up and fights with her, the father who would do anything to have his son argue with him or the wife who would trade the world for that one kiss of her man. But that would never happen because that son and the man has been sent for an eternal sleep, a sleep to let u be awake and see the glitter of yer material WIN !!!

MTC

India and Kashmir

War is on for the last over half a century for this piece of land under the sun which we call KASHMIR !!! I cant remember any other reason except this for the conflicts with Pak. In fact the policy of Pak is centered around this Heaven On Earth !!!

But looking at the scenario, we can realize that Kashmir is more a prestige issue for both the nations than a part of country. In India, whatever laws we draft, we have a separate mention for it. Kashmir has its own Constitution (if I remember correctly). They have been crying AUTONOMY for donkey's years now. They, themselves, don't want to be a part of this country.

In the latest development, people there have been fired at by the Indian police for shouting anti-India slogans and creating ruckus. In this incident, about 14 people have died. I am sure this will flare up the issues more.

I suggest rather than fighting over a piece of land which doesn't want to be a part of us, we should do some introspection as to how to pacify the situation and, if that's not possible, let them go !!!!

Let them FIGHT Pak by themselves. They came to us only because they could not do the needful. If they think they are capable, let them give another try !!!

MTC

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Bhopal Gas Tragedy verdict came out. Long awaited for sure. But, now we realize that it better should have been in wraps. At least, we would have been saved from this feeling of shame that we have now !!!

For the governance of this nation, 20,000 deaths and 25 years of constant suffering of the future generations are equal to just 2 YEARS !!!!!!! I don't understand how the Judge could even say this !!! Justice Ahmadi says that it was according to what law provides. Probably His Lordship has not heard that JUSTICE IS MUCH MORE THAT MERE CODES AND PRECEDENTS. By no stretch of imagination is this justified.

Anderson, the main culprit, was let outta this country by the State plane and then the reason is given that it was for the security reasons !! As it was in a debate that if it was necessary for the security reasons to take him outta Bhopal then he could have been kept anywhere else but why outta Country ??!!??

They are having a DEBATE whether this verdict should be changed. It took 26 years for the judgment to come out and would, surely, take 26 more for it to be changed or even more since the matter is actually decided !!!!

I think they are quite a fan of Joseph Stalin who once said "ONE DEATH IS A CASUALTY AND THOUSAND DEATHS ARE A STATISTIC " . Here we had 20,000 !!! So nothing to worry. WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA (The opening lines of the grand norm of the nation, The Constitution) have again been made to realize that the Government is By Us and For Us only on the papers.

Even the Bhopal Memorial Hospital that was created only for the Bhopal victims, now, treats only the rich and powerful. Recently there was a news that a lady who was a victim was denied by the hospital and she later died.

I suggest they read a bit of history in free time. It is engraved on the soul of the bygone era that whenever the Government has crushed the people more than their endurance, the governance and those responsible were granted their tombstones, be it Louis XIV of France whose head was chopped off or Benito Mussolini who was shot and later hanged by the meat hook or the Egyptian revolution !!!! I so wish that people of this country wake up now and bring the revolution. Its long awaited guys.

Beware u buggers. Fear the future.

MTC

Another Denial

Phew .. Over a year has passed since I have been contributing my pictures to National Geographic viewer section for their daily selection and not a single one published.

You would think I am crazy in thinking about a publication with NG. But it is a different story as NG has a viewer section where amateur viewers submit their pics and out of them, 12 pictures are selected daily.

I would have had no issues had all the pictures been worth. I dont say all are crap but some of them are so shit that you feel like jumping off the cliff, what with one bugger sending his passport size pic and the editor happily selecting that. There are many more examples to that.

By the virtue of the fact that I myself have been an amateur for some years now, I can at least make out if a particular pic is a bit worth. On the other hand, considering the other pics which have been published, comparison becomes all the more easy.

Yesterday I sent another pic which I thought could make it. But no !!!!

What to say !!!!

MTC

Sally Of Surrogacy

There are times when you are two persons in one. I mean it !! This is what I am right now. Just read a link on website of TIME magazine dealing with the surrogacy in India. (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1993665,00.html?xid=thepage_newsletter)

I really didn't know what to say to that. Whether to agree or disagree !! May be a mix of both. The layman in me tends to drift away and the Lawyer in me asks "What's Wrong" ?!?

Technically, and legally, they are 2 consenting adults who are getting into it and the child is being taken care of by one of them. This happens all over the world in normal course and no cries about that. Fair enough. Just that it is being done for money. But then, they are not doing anything illegal.

Layman in me gets pained by the article because it states that India has, lately, become the surrogacy capital of the world because Indian surrogate mothers are readily available and cheap !!!!!

Though, it is none of my business but if we get into the depth of the issue, it does become a matter of concern. Surrogacy is entered into by the woman, of course, not because of her will but because of her circumstances, be it US or India, and I am sure of that. She may consent to enter into a physical relationship but no woman would like to get pregnant with the child of the man who she does not love and doesn't even know, in the first place, and then give away the child who she nurtured for 9 months !!!! Even a pros will not agree to have the baby of the customer unless forced by some dire need. And when we come to know that India has become the surrogacy capital and that the surrogate mothers here are readily available and are cheap, it feels like a slap on the face of the woman and the nation as a whole.

One can think of 2 reasons - Either such women are of a weak character and they are ready to do anything for money or they are so crushed by the circumstances that they are bound to get into such a thing to sustain themselves. I am dead sure that first reason is certainly not the one !!!!

Surrogacy, though morally unacceptable, is going on all over the world and in some countries its even formalized. The thing that is a big shit is the fact that we are the frontrunner in such an activity and we are such because the women are so forced by the circumstances and are ready for much less money.

Like discussed above, they are bound to get into this because of the circumstances and the circumstances didn't crop up by themselves. The system of this country must be faulty somewhere. Somewhere there must be some lack which is causing all this and the lack lies in the political will and in the indifference of the leaders towards the plight of the people.

Moreover, such a thing is being treated as an INDUSTRY !!!! In order to promote, medical tourism, India legalized commercial surrogacy in 2002. It is expected by Confederation of Indian Industries that this INDUSTRY would generate about USD 2.3 Billion by the year 2012 annually.

Every thing has boiled down to money and profit.

In a country where the scriptures say that Gods reside in a place where woman is respected, women are forced to sell their womb to sustain themselves.

Nice Evening

Last evening, tired of all day of sleeping and TV, I got out in the night to have a stroll in the gallery. I must say it was a lovely climate. Cool breeze.

Night light and the broken clouds presented a really beautiful picture. I took my camera and snapped a few pics. Suddenly, I remembered to experiment with a LONG EXPOSURE (a technique in which the shutter of the camera is kept open for longer duration and the camera is moved so as to blur the picture intentionally). I tried that and I must say that the result was satisfying.

One more nice picture and one more acid test....PHEW !!!!

Lets see.

MTC