IT ALL STARTED WITH THIS RAIN.....

There was a time when my evenings were restricted under the shade of my umbrella near river banks. Solitary evenings turned to an addiction for me. Every day I noticed a forlorn man, may be stepped into his late fifties, smoking a pipe. One day I went and started talking to him. Within no time he understood the pain behind my crestfallen face and my mournful voice, which I tried a lot to hide. Our relationship complemented each other and we started getting closer. One day he inquired the reason behind my lonely evenings. I looked at him, smiled and told him, “man this is my story…”
It was because of that incessant rain that I took shade under my neighbor’s thatched roof, waiting for the rain to stop. So after making sure that no-one is watching, I slid my hand through the window and snatched a big sheet of paper and ran home covering my head. The moment I reached my house, I saw a girl coming running behind me, yelling. “That was my drawing sheet”. Confused, I turned the paper and realized that she was right. The green color that she had used for the mountains was spread throughout. Now even the rivers were carrying green water and houses had turned green.  “Sorry, I saw the wrong side of the paper. I thought it was blank.” She was busy wiping the color from the drawing sheet. “But it’s your mistake that you applied too much of green color”, I said and ran into my house. Though she complained against me to my father for which I was severely beaten, slowly we came close and became good friends. She was studying in class five at that time and I was in class three. Age difference was not a valid factor to over shine our relation.


I carried her pot whenever she used to go to the tube well to fetch water. We both even ran together through paddy field dividers to get her father his lunch. We used to play for hours in the muddy roads and by throwing cow dung cakes on each other. As kids, we were devoid of restrictions. But when time raced away, everything changed. There were so many meanings for boy-girl relations in society which we couldn't understand at that small age, but our parents did. Our meetings shrank considerably. In this period my mind started automating a strange feeling for her. I was feeling a pang in my heart and my eyes always searched for Rini every time. I had no idea of what was happening to me, before I started realizing that I am in love. One evening, gaining all energy, I proposed her behind Ganesh temple. She stood dumbstruck. It took her quite a while to recover from the shock. Soon as she recovered, she vanished. I didn't see her for a week. I was afraid that she might complain to my father this time also. Few days later she came to my house. I was sitting inside my room and she was talking to my mother. When my mother went outside giving her a bowl of sweets, she came to me and asked to have one. I refused first, but later I took one from her bowl. But to my surprise she asked me to have just a bite and let her have the rest. I asked her to get a fresh one. But she snatched that sweet from me and had the same. I was not able to understand why she was acting loony. I was about to scold her. But she placed her palm over my lips and whispered in a naughty tone “dumbo! I love you too”. It was raining heavily that day too, reminding me of our first encounter. But this time dark clouds appeared pink to me and they were raining love incessantly. This was how our love story blossomed... 

29th September, 1999 was the day of massacre when the super cyclone hit the coastal Odisha .The cyclone dumped heavy torrential rain causing record breaking flooding in the low-lying areas. The storm surge was 26 feet, about 8 meters which struck the coastal planes, traveling up to 20 kilometer inland. Everyone was petrified by the devastating wind. Residents of thatched roof houses were shifted to rescue centers and Rini’s family took shelter in our house. By the same night, our village was entirely submerged in flood. Wind remained playing the havoc which created mayhem in the entire village for the whole night. The next day after noon when the wind preceded a little Rini’s father went in search of his cattle. But an unexpected wind slam hit again which was tame less enough to shower mass destruction. When he didn't return for more than two hours, everyone went absolutely mad in fear of the unexpected. It was bedlam. I and my father went in search of him. The sight we saw on the way was nerve wrecking. Human dead bodies and cattle carcasses were flowing together in the flood water. Women and children were screaming in pain at the loss and not a single house was visible to a distance that my eyes could see. In the mean time I spotted a person under the debris who was wearing the same color dhoti that her father was wearing that day. My hands trembled to lift the person and identify him. My heart froze for a moment, unusual chillness griped my body and my senses stopped working for a minute when I saw his face, which was more than half smashed being snapped under a tree. My choked throat cried out in pain when I realized that the dead body was none other than Sahoo uncle’s, Rini’s father.

Six months passed after that calamity. Life in the village was becoming normal but everything was shattered in her life and so was in mine too. Rini’s family which was entirely dependent on farming and their prime source of income was completely destroyed. Moreover her father’s death had left them jolted and in severe grief. Slowly when the money sanctioned by the relief fund of the government no longer helped to meet increasing expenditures, they came into the clutch of shear poverty and hunger. But I consoled her every time in every possible way. I supported her mentally to overcome her inevitable loss, gave her courage to fight against all odds. I promised her that, soon I will get a job and marry her so that all her problems will be solved but I had forgotten that I was giving her a false assurance, since our village will never allow me to marry her as I was two years younger to her. Even I used to steal money from my father’s wallet to help her. We used to spend a lot of time together, meeting at the river bank every evening because my presence always soothed her. She believed that the safest place to weep was between my arms. She was always concerned about her helplessness in consoling her mother who hasn't recovered yet from the scene of her husband’s corpse and a sister who almost quit smile and hopes. The only strength that drove her forward between these debacles was just my love, which she too reciprocated evenly.

But soon people started pointing us. Our pious relationship became a matter of discussion for the villagers. People accused her of frolicking with a younger boy in the aftermath of a family grief and they accused me of bringing shame to my family’s ancestral name by romancing an older girl. Boys, who had nothing to do except sitting in shops, whiling away time and passing lewd comments called out her, “ if you can give the kid a chance, why don’t you give us a chance too”. People started to boycott her family but I was spared. Why? I was left off because I came from a respected family and was lucky enough to be born as a male in this patriarchal society of ours. Gradually it became difficult for her to go out, even to the tube well to fetch water or to the temple to worship. There were hot debates on our relationship, throwing dirty tantrums about her character.

One day her uncle arrived in our village and took her family to Bhubaneswar, capital city of Odisha where he worked. Her sudden departure distressed me but before leaving she hugged me and said, “come quickly, I will be waiting for you”. Every Saturday she used to call me, borrowing her friend’s phone. I too used to wait for hours starring at our phone in the evening time every Saturday. I was so impatient that I hardly allowed our phone to complete one ring. The way she used to call my name in her sweet voice, the way she used to express her love for me in a special lilt, the way she used to scold me whenever I had done anything wrong, always made me feel that she was not far away from me, rather she was sitting beside me. Gradually, Saturday became the reason for my survival which had reduced the distance between us from miles to inches. But then came one Saturday which I didn't receive her call. I waited near the phone whole night, but in vain. One...Two...Three...Six...Ten... Saturdays passed by without her call. I was baffled at the sudden absence of her phone calls. I was fretful, agitated from within and upset at same time. I was vexed and kept on wandering the reason behind it.

After few months when I was still waiting, I received a call from her. I had hundreds of questions to ask her, my exasperated mind was commanding my vocal cords to scold her for making me wait for so long, for making me suffer in such a deplorable condition for the past two months but my heart didn't listen to them, it was busy building the castle of love again. But when she opened her mouth I was left dumbfounded. She asked me for a break up. When I dolefully asked her the reason she replied that since her uncle is running her family, paying for almost everything starting from the food they eat to the clothes they wear and even for her college fees, she can’t demand him to make her marry me. She also told that our village will not allow me to marry a girl who was two years elder than me and she was not strong enough to stand against the odds and fight against such an absurd valueless social rule. Her words appalled me and I was outraged. I shouted at her. Accused and abused her like anything. She was sobbing at the other end, apologizing for everything. But I was not in a condition to listen and hung up the phone. Few days later she called me again. She wept a lot, asking me to remain as her friend for lifetime. She always needed me by her side. My anger and ego never allowed me to understand her and again I ended up scolding her. For few months she kept on calling and requested me to talk to her but I never listened to her. Though I still loved her, her decision hurt me a lot. So I never tried to understand her problem, the traumatic condition through which she must have been through to take such a decision. Slowly she too stopped calling me.

After completing my graduation, I joined a builder as his supervisor at Bhubaneswar. I toiled day and night and became my boss’s favorite. Slowly he started offering me with more work and more sites to handle. Within a span of two years I had my own flat, a bike and a respectable bank balance. I was contended with my life. Though I knew that Rini too stays in that city, I never tried to contact her. Even I had stopped visiting my village which always reminded me of her love and betrayal, which I had considered it to be. In my busy life and tight working schedule’ her thoughts hardly annoyed me. But her letter woke me up one morning. She wanted me to meet her and she insisted it to be very important thing, so I shouldn't be late. Again the butterflies of love started dancing all over my body. The memories which I had buried few years ago bloomed again in my mind. Within a stroke of a minute I saw every beautiful moment with her in a flash back. The sleeping volcano of my feelings erupted again. On my way to her house, to the address she had given me in her letter, I bought a wedding ring as I was sure that she will ask me to marry her. I was making myself strong, preparing my afraid heart for a battle against my family and against the damn rule of the society that a groom should always be elder than his bride. She rushed to me the moment she saw me arriving. Her wet eyes were telling how badly she missed me. I too wanted to hug her and let her know how much I love her. After talking for a while I inquired for the reason behind this unexpected meeting optimistically though I knew the reason and was playing with the ring inside my pocket, getting ready to fit it to her tender finger. “My marriage is fixed with son of my uncle’s boss.” she said sadly. “I was helpless. I can’t stand against my uncle’s will” and she wanted me to attend her marriage. She wanted me to be there with her in such an important stage of her life. It felt like I had been struck by a bolt from the blue. White rage filled me. The anger was so intense that I couldn't speak or maybe it was the numbing pain in my heart that left me speechless. She was sobbing but I stood up gritting my teeth and left the place kicking the chair, turning a deaf ear to Rini’s pleas to stay.

She got married. I got the news but I never talked to her again though she tried a lot. I felt dejected and started living an isolated melancholic life. I wept and wailed in my loneliness. I became inactive in everything. Slowly I started committing careless mistakes in my job and as a result one day I was fired when I incurred a big loss to my boss. Within few months my bank account was zilch and I had to sell my bike and my house to pay back the loans. Ultimately I left the city and went back to my village. Back to where I belong….. 

“This was my story, an unsuccessful love story”, few drops of tear rolled down my eyes. He took a long puff from his pipe, remained silent for a moment and then said that I had done a wrong thing by leaving her alone, when she needed me to be with her as her friend. He said that when I was loving her , I was happy with my life and I was prospering in my job and the day I started hating her , I became sad with my life and thus my collapse started. He tried to make me understand that every teenager thinks that love means to achieve but the biggest meaning of love is in understanding and in sacrifice. He said that Rini too loved me a lot but it was impossible for her to cross the line that this society had drawn. These things happen in movies and novels, but in real life and in a village like this, it was impossible for a girl to fight for her love especially for one who was younger than her. He said that once he too had done such a mistake by misunderstanding his lover who got married. Neither she lived happily there with her husband nor could he. One day she committed suicide and he is roaming like mad, smoking weeds since then…

I realized that I had committed a terrible mistake. True love is not just about living together. Sometimes it demands sacrifice for the happiness of the person whom you love truly. The worst part is that most of the times you have to sacrifice your love just to prove the depth of your love. I didn't want Rini to live her entire life in guilt. So the next day I visited her and met with her family. She was extremely glad to see me and we spent a blissful afternoon together. After I left her home, I felt extremely relieved, in high spirit.

Now I am not only a successful businessman who built up a sound career, but also a human-being who have learnt to live with someone’s love in my heart rather than hatred for her in my mind.

“Not every love stories are meant to end in each other’s arm, some are made to see how happily you can live by seeing your love secured in someone else’s arm.”

yes it is raining again... rain makes life beautiful. Don't complain if it makes your window pan hazy. It is just trying to wash away the dirt that have accumulated over the time. Its your duty to just wipe out the moisture outside. You will see everything clearer than before. Life is no different. All we need is a heavy rain to clear us of all the dirt, the evil thoughts, the regrets that have been clinging to us from quite a long and start everything afresh.

 If this rain, brings you back memories of some good past moments with your special ones and who are no more in your life, no need to be sad. Cherish those memories in this rain, cherish those memories happily. 

"AN OPEN LETTER BY AN ODIA TO REST OF THE INDIA"

 How many times have we (Odias) found out a strange blank look and adding to it the lifted brows, the moment we have replied to their question, “Where are you from?”

“Am from Odisha“

You may be answering this to your co-passenger in a journey or to the new other state friends you have made just now after joining this new university or to your colleagues, even to your most qualified boss… let me make it precise by putting it down this way, like whenever you have been asked by any non-Odia or someone who have never been to Odisha.   

“ODISHA?????”

A big question mark pops up on their head. Eye balls make a complete rotation and then they close their eyes forcefully giving an impression that the person is thinking something very seriously.  I mean she/he is trying to recall something.  After some time with a concerted face they start to murmur, “udishaaa…right?”  “By the way where it is??” “Have not heard of it much”

“It’s one of the 29 states of the Republic of India. …”

“You don’t know that??? Huh!!!”

That certainly shows your ignorance.

In the schools we have been taught the states and their capitals. How can you forget the name of a state?  You have not heard of my state doesn’t mean that it do not exist, it simply means you are ignorant or you haven’t done your schooling properly. Am sorry if am rude but seriously you need to hear this. Next time before laughing at jokes on Alia Bhatt just remind yourself that you at least know the names of all the states of India.

When you have said me that you are from Gorakhpur, Gwalior, Nagpur, Shimla, Cochin and what not places, I have always understood and acknowledged. Then why can’t you?

“Odisha is the poorest state of India, right (Mockingly)?”  the next question in the row.

“Let me make it very clear that Odisha is not the poorest state of India but at the same time I won’t deny that Odisha is one of the poor states of India.” 

“Yes, our state is poor. So what?” 

“Did we beg in front of you?”

“Did my state ever asked for some fund to your rich state?”

Odisha is speedily growing economic wise as it has a large amount of growth rates in gross state domestic products as shown in the reports by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Odisha's GDP has grown by a stunning 8.74% way beyond the definition of 7% growth. It should be noted that the all-India growth during this period was 8.49%.

As, you say about Odisha, world speaks the same about India, “You are poor”. Odisha is also a part of India. Let me ask you what step have you taken till now to eradicate poverty from India?

“You have not, right??” Then please don’t talk like some leading economist about the poverty prevailing in my state.

“Odisha is the least developed state, I mean have never heard of it”

“How did you come to know that Odisha is least developed?”

“What is the basis of your statement?” “I mean on what scale did you measure the development and you considered Odisha as the least developed one?”

“Come on; don’t make any assumption on the basis of your ignorance. You don’t know about the state, you have never been to this place or you have never been an enthusiast to know about Odisha, doesn’t make it least developed or least known place.

Just that we haven’t produced much international cricketers and Bollywood film stars don’t make us least known. Just that there was no big crime in the past few years which would have appeared in the national television or just that there was no huge political cry in our state which would have been discussed or debated at national level do not make us least known.”

In this period, Odisha is the fourth fastest growing state of India. It has always attracted international investors in Steel and Power sector. Recently it has become the favorite of IT sector too and it soon going to become the next IT hub of India.

In the year 2009 Odisha was the second top domestic investment destination with Gujarat first and Andhra Pradesh in third place according to an analysis of ASSCHAM Investments meter study on corporate investments.  

Huge infrastructural developments have taken place and many are in progress. I cant mention them all here. (If you are really interested, Kindly Google it out)

And when you talk of it as least known, I feel piety on you. All the tourist spots, historical places and temples of Odisha attract millions of tourists from around the globe every year. Come and check Jagannath temple at Puri or Sun temple at Konark. Come in the time of RathYatra, you will find yourself lost. Come now, “Nabakalebara” is going to take place and I am sure you will be startled to see the extravagance and the foreigners flooding our state. I have just mentioned two places; a long list is still left to be mentioned.

Our dance form, Odissi is world famous. Haven’t you heard of it? Our odissi dancers have brought our country laurels by performing throughout the world. Come and see how many foreigners come to Odisha just to learn this dance form.

“It’s the state of Naxalites, right?” 

“State of naxalites?”  “What do you mean by that?”

Our state is being run by Government as any other state of India is being governed, not by Naxalites. And you speak as if we have Naxalites under each roof, as if each mother gives birth to atleast one Naxalite, as if they roam freely with grenades in their hands on our streets. I know Naxalism is a threatening issue which is not confined only to my state. Naxalites exists in many other states in the inaccessible areas. Both the Government of India and the Affected State Governments are taking necessary steps to eradicate this problem.

Your state is a tribal state, right?

What do you mean by a tribal state? If you mean that tribes still exist in Odisha, then I shall say yes. If you mean that they share a fraction of our population, then I shall say yes.  And we are proud of it.

Our government is taking necessary steps in preserving their culture and at the same time helping in their growth and bringing them to the mainstream population by formulating various reservations.

You have always laughed at us while we eat.

Yes, we eat rice in water (Pakhala). It’s our favorite dish. You have always mocked this by saying why this rice is floating in water? In south India when we ate idly, dosa, vada our beloved North Indian friends laughed at us. When we ate aloo parathas, chole bhatures, dishes of paneer my South Indian friends joked us. They always had a doubt that how can we get accustomed to all kind of foods so easily?? Seeing us eating Pakhala (rice in water) they have always misinterpreted that we (Odias) do not get to see these dishes and so I can eat anything, south Indian Idly or North Indian parathas.

But how can I explain them that we are all familiar with these dishes? Idly, dosa, vadas are our usual breakfasts. Sometimes we opt Parathas over them too. How can I explain them that all the dishes normally cooked at our homes and available in our restaurants shares a link with both North Indian and South Indian style?  Our food habit comprises of rice and roti, sambhar and dal, chicken and paneer. We are all familiar with them already. So I get easily gel up with food anywhere throughout India. I have already said; don’t conclude things unless and until you come to Odisha.

You are talking about food to an Odia whose culinary tradition is spanning over centuries. I am from the holy land of Jagannath whose kitchen is reputed to be the largest in the world, with 1,000 chefs, working around 752 wood-burning clay hearths called chulas, to feed over 10,000 people each day. Rasgulla originated from Odisha. The well-known Kheer that is relished all over India originates in Puri, 2,000 years ago.

Anyways, I have always said I am an Odia, I will never complain about food. I can stay happily on Pakhala (rice in water) with smashed potato mixed with onion and chilly. That’s it.

We are Odias. We do not like to show up usually. We are less demanding. We are peace loving persons. We know to compromise and adjust a lot. If you have an Odia roommate you will never find him/her nagging for this thing or that. We usually get gel up easily with anyone. You will never find Odia guys or girls forming a separate group at any university or work place outside Odisha. But am sure there must be one or two Odias in your group.

We usually shy out for late night parties or night outs but that certainly do not mean that we are less friendly. That simply means we have never done it before and are little afraid of it. Believe me; wait for an Odia to open up (She/he takes time though) and see the blast.

You have always commented us for being less stylish.

Come on, style is something we can carry and be confident in. Yes, I admit that we are less funky or shy to try out any new style but that doesn’t mean we are less stylish.

Let me put it in this way and most of Odias will agree with me too that we like it being classy more than being funky. 

We are calm, simple, shy and loving persons. We prove to be great friends. We have our own habits as you have your own. Don’t laugh at us when we bow down infront of each temple on our way. That’s our habit too.  We will love to adjust with you and expect the same from you too.

Start acknowledging us. Acknowledge Odisha if for nothing just for the fact that it’s a part our country. As we Acknowledge you, Acknowledge us. Know about Odisha, visit this beautiful place, relish its delicious dishes and then make any conclusion. 

(Anyways, if I have been rude anywhere in this article kindly pardon me.)

NOTE-  To all Odias staying outside- “Kindly do not lose your identity. Do not shy out to say that you are from Odisha. Do not ignore any Odia who is new to that place. Our unity can only bring acknowledgement to our state, not this blog of mine.

AN INDIAN REPLYING PAKISTAN

Have you ever seen a kid disturbing and provoking continuously a man who is doing some worthy work? The man keeps on ignoring the kid as much as he can. Then he even warns the kid not to disturb him. But the kid is kid; he needs to get slapped to calm down….

Isn’t Pakistan seems like the same kid; a wicked, ill-disciplined and perversely deviated kid?

According to the last Flag meeting on 24^th august, it was decided by both sides to maintain peace along the border but they started shelling after 35 days again.

The Indian retaliation for which Pakistan is crying so much today is just an answer to their recent continuous cease fire violations. It started on 1^st October when Pakistan Army targeted Indian Army Border outpost under Mandi sub-division. Then on 3rd October they again fired on BoP in Mandi, 3^rd and 4^th October nights witnessed Pak Rangers escalating firing and this continued.

Pakistan should understand that it’s not UPA government anymore who after every cease fire violations will exchange few words. Recent government has untied the hands of Indian Army and asked them to retaliate with full force. The saying in Hindi rightly goes for Pakistan- “Bakri ki maa kab tak kher manaegi”

SOME REPLIES TO PAK TWEETS

#cowardModi trended in Twitter as users in Pakistan accused India of violating ceasefire on Eid.

-        Isn’t it our Eid too that you destroyed? You are firing and killing the same civilians on borders whom you claim to be yours. Is it the way you treat your own people (though you say they are yours, they are ours completely). The fact is that you can never be anyone’s.

If you are so much worried of your Eid then you should have thought of our Dussehra.

Now that you have disturbed us, we will celebrate Diwali with you.

In 2011 it was 62, 114 in 2012, it grew abruptly to 347 in 2013 and till October this year you have done cease fire violations almost 334 times along the Indo-Pak border which includes International border and LOC.

Have you ever realized how many Indian families you have deprived from celebrating Eid, Diwali and Christmas? Have you ever realized how many families were destroyed when the beheaded bodies of their sons reach them? They can never celebrate a festival anymore...

#shame on IndianArmy also trended in Twitter. Let me clear you one thing that Indian Army is something which we are always proud of and will always respect. I don’t want to elaborate why, because every Indian knows the reason. And believe me, now that their hands have been untied, they will make you respect them too.

#Bilawal Bhutto twitted that India seems to Adopt Israel model Vs Pakistan and Modi must realize that they can retaliate unlike victims from Gujarat.  Earlier he had twitted that every inch of Kashmir belongs to Pakistan and he will take it all.

-Bilawal Bache, why is every time you have a dirty eye on someone else’s property, first Heena Rabbani and now Kashmir?  Do things that suit you. Go have party, have some fun, linger around white ladies or else have affair with a married woman. But kindly don’t open your mouth and talk as if you are an intellectual.

 And don’t brag every time that Kashmir is yours and you will take it away or else if we get crazy someday, believe me we will bring back even that piece of land which you call Pakistan today.

We nurture our kids with stories from our holy books and classics but it seems you are nurtured with hate speeches against India from your mother’s womb itself. In India when a baby is born it makes the first sound of “kuannn(crying)” but I guess you are born uttering “kashmirrr”. And if it is so, I feel sad to say that you will die uttering the same word but your wish will never be fulfilled.

Is this the only issue, the political leaders of your country raises and seek votes claiming to fulfill it during their tenure? See, that is why we have reached Mars and you are still planning to get inside Kashmir. 

And you are accusing our PM? Bache (kid) the number of people that gathers to listen to his speech perhaps outnumbers the population of your country and believe me almost a ten times the number of people those who laugh at your silly statements gathers in his public meetings.   

Bilawal bache if you don’t know anything about the current condition of your country let me tell you. Just keep your ears open and don’t eye on the woman sitting beside you (she is married). Keep your fantasies and libido veiled for a while-

“Your Pakistan is in internal turmoil, wants to deflect its citizen’s attention from internal problems to Kashmir issues and Problems with India. The cricketer is bowling bouncers to Nawaz, the court has filed a case against Nawaz, your very own Canada based preacher is out to reclaim a new country (I guess in moon), and your Army is feeling the crunch and needs power that it held earlier. Mushrraf is in home arrest condition after being proved to be a murderer of thousands.”

Let me dedicate a poem to you all from all Indians, hope you like it-

“Aap roj patakhen chalayen

Koi baat nahi,

Humne ek din kya Diwali manayi,

To kasoorwaar there…”

“Aap salon bhar lason ke  dher lagao,

Koi baat nahi,

Humne ek nishana kya sadha ,

To Katil there…”

“Aap ne uzaad dali humari sari tyoharen,

Koi baat nahi,

Humne is Eid pe mithayi kya nahi khilayi,

To makaar there…”

“Aap ne sekdon baar hath milake waar kiya,

Koi baat nahi,

Humne baroodon ke chitte kuch kya udaye,

To gunhegaar there…”

Dekh meri tehzeeb jo ab tak ‘AAP’ pe aada hun main,

Koi baat nahin,

Kahin ‘TU’ pe agaya,

To Maa kasam teri khair nahin…”

LOVE JIHAD: A GHOST EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT BUT NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN

Few days back I received an audio file as message from one of my friends at the middle of the dead night. I have always been hesitant in downloading anything if it’s not that important. The data consumption message which pops out on my mobile screen after every download, hurts me badly. It reminds me of those few days left to spend some more bucks to get the connection back. Anyways, lonely night provoked me to download the audio to find something exciting to be happy about the day spent before I sleep. If nothing, I had expected it to be some new sound track by some least known band to charm my ear drums.

Download completed….

The castle that I had built in my mind, expecting some romantic song to give solace to my seclusion by creating some imaginary lady love embracing me with her soft touch at least for few minutes till the track continues got shattered the moment I played the audio.   It was disturbing. Yes, it was. Who would expect in mid of night to hear a lady urging you to pass this message before listening so that it can save many lives.

“EBOLA” ,the first horrifying thing that struck my mind. Is she talking of some preventive measures for EBOLA? Is that spreading so fast? I ran inside to get my mask, as if the viruses will pop out of the mobile phone itself. Before listening to the remaining audio, I closed all my windows fearing the breeze to bring those infecting viruses inside. Wearing the nose mask and wrapping myself by a thick blanket even in that scorching night, I played the audio again from where I had paused.

Listening to the remaining audio made me understand what it was actually about.  “LOVE JIHAD”, that’s what the lady was speaking. 

According to the audio, if one Muslim marries two Hindu girls and gives birth to 12 kids then India will turn into a Muslim majority country in 24 years.  The lady also said, some person Wasim Akram was caught by police from Nasirabad alleged for marrying a Hindu girl and torturing her physically and mentally who admitted the existence of Love jihad. Love jihad has its capital located in Kerala from where it has now spread to remaining parts of our Country. The audio also claimed of some 2500 cases of love Jihad in Kerala. The voice also talked about Ghazwa-e-Hind and some predictions Pakistan Capturing India in near future.

I pulled out the mask from my face in anger. Opened the door and walked to the balcony of my house. I desperately needed some fresh air to breathe in. I was disturbed, feeling uneasy not because I believed the voice message but because there are people who are making and spreading audios of this kind.

I stood there for few minutes. Suddenly I caught the glimpse of our security Chacha, an old man who walks down our lane blowing whistle every night from past many years. Qureshi chacha, I use to call him. He has two sons and one daughter. Daughter and the eldest son were married and they have one kid each. The youngest son of Qureshi chacha is preparing for IIT now. I was teaching him during his tenth board exams. He has a girlfriend, Mitali who was studying with him. Because of her financial constrains she had to wrap up her studies and help her mother in household works. He always says, once he bags a seat in IIT both families will agree to their relationship. Later he can make her love study in a college and give a better life to both the families. How sweet, isn’t it?

Now you will say, this is Love jihad. The boy has planned this and has been planted by some terrorist organization, Right?

I had already started recalling of all my Muslim friends. Some are working in MNCs across our country, some are doing their higher studies and some are searching for some suitable job to settle down. I recalled of their families and the time I had spent with them.  Still I couldn’t recall a single moment where I can believe that audio which spoke against Muslims.

I was so pissed off that I decided to do get answers to the questions on Love Jihad those were peeping in my mind that very night only. What I found was entirely different from that was said about Love Jihad.

As of 2014, Hindus are leading religious majority in India, at about 81%, with Muslims at about 13%.  As the audio spoke of fear of Muslims becoming more than half of India’s population by 2035,  to make this claim, its number crunchers to project a total population of 198 crore by 2035. By most estimates, India’s population would rise to 154 crore by 2050. The simple extrapolations used for demographic scaremongering have no basis in science.

It talked of some Wasim Akram from Nasirabad but I couldn’t find any news of him.

Yes Love jihad is born from the combined wombs of Kerala, Mangalore and Karnataka before other states started producing this illegitimate child. In 2009, Karnataka government announced a probe into the situation by CID to determine if an organized effort exists.  The Karnataka CID in late 2009 reported that although it was continuing to investigate, it had found no evidence of Love Jihad.  Though they indicated that conversions have taken place but found it to be by own will.

In January 2012, Kerala police also declared that Love Jihad was campaign with no substance.

In September 2014, following the resurgence of national attention, police in UP had found no credence in five or six recent allegation of Love Jihad that have been brought before them.

As per Ghazwa-e-Hind, terrorists’ aims of making India as the final battle ground but we very well know that it won’t ever be possible. I read few articles on this subject where the terrorists stated of waging a war against India. But I was overwhelmed when I read the comments. Comments were from people all over the world and each of them stated their faith on power of India to fight and destroy all the terrorists.  

P.S

The cases of Love Jihad which many organizations are shouting about are either very less in number or are fabricated stories. Here, I want to add, protection of Women against violence should be our prime concern and any organization promoting this should be applauded. When I say, any organization promoting this then I mean protection of women in particular, not any other fabricated agenda associated with it just to popularize the same on the name of women protection.

Gita as an ancient philosophy have been over thrown by Gita as prime political weapon. And the so called follower of the cult of Hindutva  have forgotten the meaning of Dharma that Gita preaches and the freedom has been banned by mob fury and muscle power.

I guess it’s the high time now, time to put the extreme right wingers into hibernation and bring forward Narendra Modi ji’s old slogan of “sabka saath sabka vikash”, which acted like magic in LS polls.  Loss of 7 of 10 seats by BJP in bypoll in UP is a tight slap on the face of all the spreaders of hatred on the name of religion and Love Jihad.

India wants good governance, not Hindutva distractions. Communalism is an outdated product now. It’s not at all sellable to the young Indians. We want development, not the ugly face of communalism. 

We have so many problems to fight with; Poverty, illiteracy, violence against women, etc. 

If media has written HER name in BOLD letters, why HIS name is still kept behind the veil???

Let me tell you a crime story this time…

The Telephone hooted loudly breaking the monotonous noise of the cabin. A man on chair rose and picked up the phone after few rings. The caller whispered something into his ear. The loud noise of the shaky government ceiling fan was making it difficult for him to hear. But he managed. The receiver quickly noted down an address.

The telephone that rang belonged to a police station.

The whole police force of the station was brought into disposal. The Inspector wanted to crack the case, catching the culprits red handed. Though he knew the crime involved many high profile people, he didn't hesitate even once.

Soon they arrived at the place of crime as his spy had informed. It was a five star hotel in a posh area. The whole team lead by the inspector raided the room as was informed. It was a special suit on the top floor.

In the raid, police found a less known film actress in bed with a mighty business man. They were found wrapped up in a single mattress in the dimly lit room with an adult movie running in the television screen. During the search, police found an empty bottle of imported wine, few different flavored condoms that included strawberry and vanilla prominently (police later investigated that they have been imported too), a packet of chocolate flavor cigars and few Adult movie disks.

Media made a huge cry out of it. They found high TRP news after a long time. It was like a burger being served to a beggar. Arrest of a glamour queen in prostitution is an incident that occurs once a while.  They wanted to make the most out of it.

Then the series of articles started flooding. All the social networking sites got showered with the news.

“Heroine miss X found in flesh trade”,

“Glamour girl in prostitution”,

“Miss X’s journey from being a heroine to a whore”,

 “The scandal that busted many questions against the film industry”,     

 “What brought her into the business of flesh, sexual demands or financial crisis?”…. Were some of the headlines reported by most of the top notch media houses.

The reports were accompanied by some pictures of Miss. X herself that flashed almost daily on our computer screen as soon as we entered any social networking site. Some pictures were either so sensuous that it evoked an urge in us to read the article out sexual temptation or either displayed such an innocent face that it filled us in mystery and to unlock the same we opened the link to read it. Some of us also imagined ourselves with Miss. X on the same bed sharing some cozy moments reading those tantalizing news. The pies on the cake were those enticing headlines.

We read, commented and shared them in huge number. Those articles became viral online.

Few days passed… media houses earned in huge amount and later the news faded. We got some other spicy reports to get involved and forgot the heroine who was made a puppet to play with few days back.

It was that after some months another sex racket involving a model was arrested that entertained us for few more days.

It’s usual.

But throughout this whole session we forgot to ask an important question. Yes we forgot to ask them to mention the name of the mighty businessman arrested in that raid too.  

Yes we forgot to ask them to make headlines on the businessman and others involved in the case like they have made for the girl.

“Businessman Mr. Y arrested in sex racket”

“Sex racket busted and names of many businessmen and politicians came       into light (names in detail in the report)”

“Libido or a bad sexual relationship with his wife, what brought the businessman Y in search for sex outside?”

Yes we forgot to ask…..

(Story ends)

P.S

The above one is just a story, a fiction and has nothing to do with any realty.

Recently Sweta Basu Prasad has been arrested red handed of her involvement in prostitution. Yes, prostitution is a heinous crime that our country prohibits to practice. So, it’s completely fair if she gets punished under the court of law. No excuse of her, if it is her financial instability or a downtrodden film career will be taken into account. She will be punished as per law.

Let’s put this issue aside. Let our court of law, the legal body of our constitution give the judgment.

Wait a second! I guess I have uttered something wrong.  Yes, before the court will cater the judgment, its media have given its own judgment. They have flooded all social networking sites with articles depicting Sweta Basu Prasad involvement in prostitution, her journey from national award winning heroine to being found as a culprit in flesh trade. Suddenly, this lesser known heroine is brought into spot light by our media the moment she was found in bed with someone else.

I don’t think even this much was written and shared about her earlier on any portal when she had bagged the national award for her acting skills. “National award, what a big deal it is? Prostitution?? Masala hai boss”, Right media people?

Ok fine…then why not even a single media house came up with a report naming the male counterpart arrested in the same raid.

“Isn’t he has committed a crime too? Or he is not a public figure to name that will increase your number of readers? Or he wrapped up your hands in bundle of notes?” 

Another example of Yellow journalism is clearly depicted in all the reports that flashed in front of us almost daily.

Let’s move to our Bollywood now. Rani mukherjee, who few days back was talking a lot about women empowerment, justice and independence of women while promoting her movie, “Mardani”, have opted to remain silent in Sweta’s case.  And almost all female leads who cry out loud on women empowerment have decided to do the same.

Come on Amit, they will only open their mouth on issues involving women if their movie is based on one of them. And there public speech on anything is only for the promotion of their movie.

Now there are some voices against Sweta Basu Prasad participating in Big boss. Come on, when the same big boss had place for a porn star, why can’t she be allowed?

Anyways, reports concerning Sweta Basu Prasad  will start vanishing from now onwards as another big news have hit the market recently, the launch of new models by Apple.  So the media will run after it now flooding all the Social networking sites with reports concerning the technical details of these new mobile handsets and smart watch launched by the biggest player in this field.

Anyways, let us forget it too. But let us promise something this time. Next time when we will be reading any such article where the dignity of a woman is raped in public whether she is culprit or not, don’t forget to ask the name of the male counterpart involved in the same. 

If media has written HER name in BOLD letters, why HIS name is still kept behind the veil???

Are we completely independent yet ?

I arrived at the railway station long before the departure of my train. My train was scheduled for 2 am but I reached the station at 11 pm by the last bus available. Hiring a cab late after midnight to the station was a luxury for a middle class person like me and we always try to remain on the safe side. We always reach the station well in advance because we just cannot afford to miss a train.  Though we have enough of reasons, we have to check the platform, check the chart prepared but the real fact is the money that we don’t want to lose.

I scanned the station thoroughly and noticed that though it was so late, it was crowded. I tried to find a seat to allow my butt some well-deserved rest. Moreover the sharp edge of the bottom of my bag hanging from my arm has been irritating it continuously from a long time. At last I found a place to sit.

To my extreme right I saw the A/C waiting room sparsely filled up.People were resting comfortably in the chill atmosphere provided by the A/C. It seemed as if they were completely ignorant to the hot humid climate outside. The high temperature and sweaty summer nights had no effect on them. They were the people to whom summer is just a season in the books and sun is yet another shinning object glowing in the sky. I saw a man dressed up in a suit and boot as if he was going to attain a high profile board meeting in the next few minutes completely engrossed in his laptop. He was scratching his head every other minute and was sipping coffee from the cup placed right next to him. Few other people next to him were trying to sleep on the chair though it was little uncomfortable for them, turning from one side to other every moment and adjusting the blanket accordingly. Isn't it funny to see people in suits and blanket in the summer season. Oh sorry! They were in an air conditioned room.

 Suddenly my eyes fell on two kids. They were busy playing some game on their mobile phones wearing abnormally large headphones covering a quarter of their face. Few minutes later I saw a kid jumping from his seat with both his hands lifted up in the air. He must have won the game. May be exhausted after gaming or because of continuous request from their nagging mothers, both of them opened their bags and took out something to eat. Yes, a bottle of juice and few packs of chips and cookies. I didn't want my mouth to water seeing them eating. So I chose to change my sight. Then I saw a young girl sitting in the corner of the hall with a small bag on her lap and a mobile phone sticking to her ears. She was completely engrossed in the conversation that she was carrying out with someone. For her except the phone and the person on the other side the world didn't exist. Exactly to her extreme right, on the other corner I saw two young boys busy looking at all the girls sitting inside the hall. One of the two was dressed up in a blue colored lower and a sleeveless t-shirt, showing off his newly developed steroid injected muscles while the other one had stretched up his legs to the chair in front of him showing up his special edition Nike shoes that he must have purchased recently. People were going out and coming in every other minute. But the grandeur was same. The lavishness was common in all of them. Richness and sophistication was all that was clearly reflected from everything they were doing to everything they were having, say it an expensive mobile phone with a bitten-apple on the back, or the exclusive footwear they wore or the posh handbags they carried, everything was classy that made them look aristocrat. 

Then I looked around me. Suddenly I saw a swarm of people. The decibel of noise increased all of a sudden, the mercury in the thermometer suddenly soared. Here and there, people were scattered everywhere. There was no place to even keep your foot on the ground.  Towels, card boards, cloth rags formed their bedding with either their bags or their arms as pillows. Practically all the people in the waiting hall were in a deep slumber. You could jump over them, step over them or bring in a brass band but they wouldn't wake up. Stray dogs roam by their side, sleep with them, but they have no problem. Under the chair, over the luggage, beside the lavatory, on the cement benches, on the large postal trolleys, on piles of newspaper, under the closed shutter of shops, people were spread all over. They were having their good night. The clamor of the crowd, the roaring noise of train engine, neither the mosquito bites had anyeffect on their sound sleep. When they have learnt to live with the crunching noise of their hungry bellies, what other noise can irritate them more.

Suddenly I saw a woman running,with a small baby in her hand wrapped in her shabby tattered sari, towards a train that had arrived recently. She waited outside a bogie. Her baby was crying incessantly. Meanwhile few more men and women arrived there. As soon as the train got empty, they rushed into it. I was eagerly waiting to see them come out. Few minutes later they came out one after the other. I was in tears the moment I saw them. They came out with left over foods. The next moment, I saw her settling down beside the train and eating while feeding the same to her baby.

I couldn't watch that anymore. I tried to change my sight but all I could see was the sunken bellies covered by the thin, shabby, frayed clothes of threadbare material, skinny figures, bony cheeks, sweaty faces in the masses; in deep sleep waiting for the next morning to start their hunt for filling their empty stomach. 

P.S

I don’t have any problem with the aristocratic life of the people in the A/C waiting room. They must have earned it and I am really happy to see people enjoying their lavish lifestyle. What really worried me was the huge difference in the people inside and outside it, difference both in number and the life that both of them lead. When the A/c waiting room was sparsely filled up, there were numerous hungry bellies scattered outside.

Why the people are less in A/C compartment but scores of them strolling outside?

Why still millions don’t have a proper place to stay, enough food to eat and clothes to cover themselves?

Why there is still such a big gap even after 68 years of independence?

Are we completely independent yet?

This Independence day, Mother India still longed for these answers but she did not get her reply yet, and she may have to wait a little more.