JNU: All that anxiety and fuss

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I am amazed how things take turns, and get twisted in our country. How thinking varies with caste, community and gender. The thing that's unfair is equally unfair for every single individual. It can't be categorised or enhanced or reduced differently for different people.

This JNU thing has created an uproar. Actually, to the extent which, I think, was not necessary. This is a topic that I tried my best to avoid. But couldn't.

What happened?

It was not anything unusual for JNU. They are people with amazing energy. But, disturbance started with some slogans that some students were shouting (And there's no doubt about it). Slogans that were not in good taste, and certainly not in the favour of our nation. It doesn't mean that the whole JNU was burning in this "Aazaadi"thing. It's not that difficult to understand that it's not about entire JNU. It's about a bunch of destructive anti-social, anti-national (Not aunty-National) elements. 

Then, out of nowhere, strange voices emerge in support of JNU and the problem that reeked of danger, seemed to tamper the sense of security, takes a back seat. Some called it idea, freedom of expression and Brunch (Hindustan times) called it intelligence!

Well, idea is a broad term, and can cover various things. Anything. From something constructive to destructive. In a place like college/University, ideas must breathe freely but don't you think it should be "constructive ideas"?

Then, "Freedom of Expression". In India, this term has evolved massively. But again, I'd say, it's a constructive term, and one cannot get away with "I-Am-Free-To-Do-Whatever-I-Want-To-Do" attitude in the name of 'freedom of expression'. With this meaning, anything and everything can fall under this category. Even those posters against Kanhaiya Kumar. Can one approve that? Certainly NOT!

I somehow felt that targeting Kanhaiya Kumar was a kind of distraction. It is important to know that: If not him, then who? Nobody seems to know. Not even JNU leaders who speak in a signature tone and style. It is like that filmy crime scene that happens publicly but nobody accepts that he/she was present there and has seen that happen.

Supporting what has happened at JNU doesn't make one cool or supremely intellectual. It's a serious issue and needs to be investigated thoroughly. If everything is clean, what could be better than that?

It's not an unusual thing if someone tries to damage the peace and integrity of our country. It happens quite often and engulfs several precious lives. If anything seriously dangerous happens, everyone starts blaming the Government and our security system very conveniently.

And Now!

When Kanhaiya Kumar is back, everyone is behaving like he has returned from the Border after a huge victory. As if he is a freedom fighter and the Government is like British rulers. It seems that opposition has taken this term quite literally. They think their job is just to oppose. Anything is fair for political benefits. And, it's so immature of BJP to react to Kanhaiya Kumar's speech like this. Media is vying for his interview! (Well, one can easily understand the competition of coverage. If they can show live telecast of serious and dangerous attacks then it is cypher in that comparison! After all it's a number (TRP) game)

It seems that everyone is unnecessarily portraying his heroic picture. Something he might have expected. To evolve as a revolutionary or politician.

Who is he? Student? No comments. Politician? Maybe, and it's okay. Revolutionary? A good thing to be but someone please tell me what this revolution is all about? What is this fuss about "Aazaadi"? Which kind of Aazaadi JNU students seek?

Is comparing Narendra Modi’s married life with Gautama Budhha’s an offence?

Yesterday, I was having a political discussion with someone, which turned into a debate.

“How could Narendra Modi NOT mention his wife all these years? How could he leave his wife in the lurch?” The girl, I was speaking with, said.

“There are lots of people who choose to get separated (For various reasons). I think, it’s better than living in a bad, sad or abusive marriage. Many bollywood celebrities have left their wives for other woman and remarried. I think it’s their private affair and it should not be taken as a national affair.” I said.

“No, no. If a man cannot take care of his family and wife, how could he take care of our country? If he doesn’t respect his wife, how could he talk about the respect and security of Indian women?” She countered.

“If a man gets separated or divorced, it doesn’t mean he disrespects women. There could be many internal reasons that we do not know. It’s not like Mr. Modi had tortured and left his wife in the lurch and indulged himself in a steamy affair or remarried. If you see closely, even Gautama Budhha did the same.” I said as an example.

“Aree, ye aap kahan ki baat kahan le jaa rahi hain. Ye to ekdum alag baat hai. (Oh, you’re going off-track. It’s quite different.).” She sounded taken aback and raised her voice a little.

I don’t understand how is it different.

The other day, I caught a serial called “Budhha”, running on the television, in which Siddhartha (As Gautam Budhha) returns home, many years after he left. Everyone seemed delighted and ran to greet him at the entrance of the palace. But, his wife Yashodhara was so angry and upset with him that she refused to greet him and said, “Wo bina bataaye mujhe chhor kar chale gaye the, ab agar unhen mujhse milna hai to wo yahan aakar milen.” (He left us without saying a word. Now, if he wants to meet me, he should come here to meet me.)

Sidhhartha’s mother said, “Ab use maaf kar do, Yashodhara. (Forgive him now.)”

I don’t know how authentic this serial is, but if you think from the point of view of a wife and (especially) a little son, it is unfair. If you bring a child in this world, your prime responsibility is to look after her/him.

When we think about “The Gautama Budhha”, this act of unfairness becomes “sacrifice”. And since Narendra Modi (He might have his own reasons to leave a family life. Fair or unfair) is a politician, and now our PM, we can easily make his act of unfairness (From the point of view of Yashoda Ben. Oh, see the similarity in name!) whirl around as a national issue and declare it an offence.

Here, I’m not advocating Mr. Narendra Modi or his decision regarding his marriage. I cannot think of demeaning the stature of Gautama Budhha. I’m just expressing my thoughts and I want to ask you:

How these two decisions are different from each other?

And is comparing Narendra Modi’s married life with Gautama Budhha’s an offence?

Why Mr. Arwind Kejriwal disappointed me?

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Few years back, when I saw a movie Nayak, I found it very dramatic and impractical but on 28th December 2013, when Mr. Arvind Kejriwal took the oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi, it seemed surreal and the movie Nayak reeled in my mind again.

Arwind Kejriwal undoubtedly created a huge impact. Anna Hazaare was indeed the real face of 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement but I think, Arwind Kejriwal arranged and managed that protest so skillfully that it turned into a revolution.

We all know about the Indian Emergency Period 1975-77. Many of us have not witnessed that historical event but I think Jan Lokpal Andolan somehow recreated that effect to some extent. It was a rage for change and I salute the people of India especially Delhi for their energy that made this revolution a huge success! The whole aura said that “Yes, the condition of our country is surely going to change. Yes, that time has finally arrived.”

I’ve really admired Mr. Kejriwal for his thoughts, zeal, determination that reflected a genuine sense of patriotism. 

People started analyzing and judging him as the CM as the expectation was giant. People forgot about the last government and expected magical change from the new CM. Other political parties did not lose any chance to pull him down which was inevitable. I really thought it was too early to judge him and he needed some time to do something substantial. The pace he took for making announcements seemed effectual.

But now, when I/Delhites look back, we surely feel a bit confounded and disappointed. He somehow shattered the expectations and hope of so many people.

I wonder why Mr. Arvind Kejriwal disappointed me. I’ve analyzed that:

He goes overboard while making statements thus losing the credibility of his own words.

He said he won’t join politics ever, he made his own party in 2012. We thought probably it was a right thing to do so we totally ignored the alteration of his words.

He said he’ll ‘never’ give/take support to/of any political party. He made the government with the support of Congress, the most corrupt political party, according to him. Again, we thought it was the right thing to do and he must get a chance to bring some change. We ignored.

He said he won’t take ‘Sarkari Bungalow’ but he took one. We ignored as it was totally justified for a CM of Delhi. But now, even after resigning, he did not vacate it. I felt bad.

He said, he won’t contest LS elections, now he is planning to contest against Mr. Narendra Modi, hoping to create the magic as he did with Ms. Sheila Dixit.

He said he won’t give LS tickets to the sitting MLAs but now, Ms. Rakhi Bidlan gets one.

He went overboard while making promises.

Now, I can’t ignore.

He has the tendency to leave things midway and reflects instability.

I think, his resignation as the CM was very disappointing and irresponsible.

There’s a saying “Busy without Business”. Some people have the tendency to look very busy while they don’t do anything substantial. His 49 days tenure reminds me of that saying.

I don’t think he has done a commendable job as a CM. you may ask ‘what do you expect in just 49 days?’ I would say ‘who asked him to leave things midway and resign?’

It’s not that you have thought or said something and it has to be done right then and there. You have to be patient and should struggle and Mr. kejriwal knows that very well then what was the hurry?

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He just want to create uproar and instigates people to participate…always. People were always with him but a serious government doesn’t run by doing “Dharnas”. Being the CM of Delhi, his dharna and protest on Somnath Bharti’s case was again irresponsible and disgraceful. Action is always better than shouting!

He thinks ‘He is always right and everyone else is always wrong.’ His teammate and friend Mr. Kumar once said an idiom that ‘Jua khelna buri baat hain, main kheloon to aur baat hai’ it goes aptly with Mr. Kejriwal.

Moreover, the enthusiasm he shows regarding investigation against other political parties diminishes when it comes to his own party. He decides if they are wrong or right.

He makes false statements to glorify his deeds. 

He always accuses others, sometimes without any proof. Before joining politics, he had many documents as proof against corrupt politicians. Everything took a backseat when he got powers.

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He sometimes uses disgraceful language, following the footsteps of many other political leaders.

He said Republic Day Ceremony a VIP tamasha and later found sitting there among the VIPs.

He believes in show off.

His outer appearance! Yes, it matters, especially when you’re at a supreme designation. That irritating muffler. That oversized jacket! Huh! He is an educated, well-known, well-to-do personality. Being an Aam Aadmi doesn’t mean you can’t look presentable and tidy.

His regular takiya-Kalam "Main bahut chhota aadmi hoon. Meri koi aukat nahin hai." is hammering!

I have no interest in politics but I felt that Mr. Kejriwal made the Indian politics interesting. I started to track the ongoing movements of Indian politics during Delhi elections. He seemed different. He exhibited tremendous truthfulness and hope. People of India and Delhi extended tremendous support. He got a golden opportunity to shine and help India shine but I feel he missed that opportunity.

Let’s see what happens in Lok Sabha Elections.