IPL(Season 2)-Indian Politician's League

The decision to take IPL-Season 2 outside India doesn’t go down well with me. It paints India in very bad light. Can’t a nation of 1 billion provide security for an IPL tournament? IPL could not have been postponed give the busy international cricket calendar and elections are prime important for any democratic nation. The nature of both these events made the collision inevitable. I had some hope of resolution as elections are to be held in five phases and IPL governing council was flexible enough to provide gap between match and election by 24 hrs, then 72 hrs and then by a week. But it seems as usual politicians unnecessarily dragged their feet into it. When BJP ruled stated agreed to give security to IPL, suddenly, congress ruled states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh took back their assurances for security. No doubt this matter will become political in coming days and I won’t be surprised if BJP uses it to establish an emotional chord with cricket crazy Indian population. Narendra Modi fired the first salvo when he compared this matter with national pride and commonwealth games in 2010. And I seemed to agree with him.
I am afraid it may become a waterloo for congress and a blessing in disguise for IPL as it may create international interest in IPL. Add this with Indian interest; IPL-3 could very well turn into an international event. But whether it will be held in India or abroad that will depend on the attitude of government that will come after this election. And if BJP utilizes this issue well, it could well be a BJP lead NDA government.

Varun Gandhi- Fighting for his own 'Space'

I first heard of Varun Gandhi, son of Meneka and Sanjay Gandhi, some years ago when he published his book of poems “The otherness of self”. It was well attended function by the political class of that time. It was an impressive debut in public life. Observing him from the columns of newspapers, I think he is very calculative and smart. His decision to attach his gransfather’s name Feroze with his own name caught everyone’s attention. He calls himself Feroze Varun Gandhi. Varun already had sympathy of all, for losing his father in an early age (He was only 3 months old when Sanjay Gandhi died). Also his decision to bring his grandpa’s name (Feroze, an inspiring MP, has long been forgotten) again in limelight endeared him to the media and political class of India, except I assume Congress party which was lead by Sonia Gandhi who herself was trying to bring ‘not so impressive at that time’ Rahul Gandhi into congress.

Varun knew well that there is no place for him in congress and her mother was already out of Janta Dal. She has won last election as in independent. BJP was at its best under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership. No time is late….Meneka and Varun joined BJP and found a promoter in Pramod Maharaj who took Varun to many political sabhas all over India in 2004 general election. Varun was below 25 and could not fight the election in 2004 but he became the star campaigner for BJP. Pramod Maharaj nurtured and promoted him to the hilt.

And then the tragedy struck. BJP unexpectedly lost 2004 general elections and Pramod Mahajan died. Varun wanted to fight by-elections from Vidisha, MP but was denied ticket by BJP given the pressure from local unit against an outsider. Varun went sulking and rejected the posts of youth leader and secretary offered by BJP.

This long wait for ambitious Varun ended in 2009 when BJP announced his name in its very first list from Pilibhit, a constituency laboriously served for him. It was thought as an easy challenge for him till this fiasco happened. He was caught speaking against a community and was termed communal.
He said, “This is not a 'Hand' (Congress symbol), it is the power of the 'Lotus' (BJP symbol). It will cut the head of ....... Jai Shri Ram."
He told another meeting "If anyone raises a finger towards Hindus or if someone thinks that Hindus are weak and leaderless, if someone thinks that these leaders lick our boots for votes, if anyone raises a finger towards Hindus, then I swear on Gita that I will cut that hand."

A young and ambitious third generation of leaders in BJP was turned overnight into a communal and selfish politician.
He replied to all the charges:
He said, “I am a Gandhi, a Hindu and an Indian in equal measure,” He went on to add, “I have not made any communal statement...I want the people to stand by me. It is a malicious attempt to brand me communal. There is no question of my having any ill feeling towards (any) community," he said.
"My attempt is to instill confidence in a community which feels it is under siege in their own country."
Whatever he says…not doubt...it has dented his image and to an extent his confidence. Election Commission and Media is going all out against him. He needs to learn the trade early or it would not be late when

Indian electoral confines him to the pages of history and non-importance.

Rahul Gandhi is learning it fast and in right way. Varun keep cool, shed your fear of loss and turn into an ideal leader that India needs today.

International Women's Day

Trivia: International Women’s Week is celebrated in the first week of March every year and International Women’s day is celebrated on 8th March every year.
There are many past events that are linked to this week and date to justify the celebration of women’s week and day on this particular date. Each of these events happened in different parts of the world but the most important event that comes closer to the explanation is the revolt of woman textile workers in USA on 8th March 1857(source: Wikipedia).

So….you got the topic of today…women’s day. Today is Sunday and justifiably I woke up late. By that time Dada has already brought newspaper inside and the first thing that caught my attention was some facts put in the newspaper about women in India. Questions put to women were:
1) What is more important to you? Career, Family and shouldn’t have to choose?
2) Is sexual harassment at workplace? Yes, No and can’t say?
3) Who decides how you spend or invest your money? Myself, Parents and Husband/Partner?
4) Who should decide what a woman can/can’t do as evening entertainment? Parents/Husband, Moral Police, The woman herself and can’t say?

Under the attractive packaging and headlines, newspaper has handsomely analyzed the data and put it in the way it wanted. Being an analyst I know how to play with data and being manipulative to serve my own purpose. So does all the magazines and newspaper. I don’t have problem with the facts but the basis of these entire conclusion.
What we wanted to present was figures that could let us understand how far we have moved in our fight towards women libration, freedom to women and their status in society as well as family।

None of these questions answered that!!!

If a woman feels family is more important to her। Does this mean she is not librated or has less freedom? Even I have my family more important than career and if situation warrants would not mind leaving my job or taking a sabbatical if financial situation allows.

Who decides how to spend or invest your money? I agree most of the women leave this far father or husband to handle। Most of the female actors do so…does this mean they are less librated or have less freedom? It is more to do with the confidence that they have in their father or partner. Even I prefer leaving money matters to my father.

Who should decide what a woman can/ can’t do as evening entertainment? Again not a justified question…don’t our parent decide what their children do in evening irrespective whether they are boys or girls? Don’t men inform/discuss their evening plan with wife?

What I want to stress is that none of the questions give us a clear picture of how far we have moved in for our aim of total libration and freedom for women.
If we sincerely wanted to check that it would have been better had we analyzed:
1) How many women are there in once thought men bastions like different wings of defense, religious preaching, administrative jobs and politics etc?
2) How safe women feel in house as well as society?
3) How many women related crimes led to conviction?
4) How have the women related crime rates in homes moved in recent past?

Analysis of answers to these questions would have better answered query that what the newspaper asked, though they might not have presented such an interesting picture.
All those so called women’s well wishers need to understand that women liberation is not all about wearing jeans, going to pubs, dancing in discos and working. It is all about acceptance as equals and availability of equal opportunities for them. Start at home……give them equal love and status….without any bias.

मैं कौन....

मैं कौन...

बिशवास मन की,

उम्मीद दिल की,

चमक आँखों की,

और गर्मी बाहों की!

मैं हूँ जीत जवान की,

काबु बलवान की,

हूँ मैं इन्तजार पयार की,

और इन्तहा ऐतबार की!

मैं कौन....

खुशबू हवा की,

आराम दवा की,

बहाव नदी की,

और सोच कवि की!

मैं हूँ युद्ध जीवन मरण की,

चरण गुरु की,

और प्रतिज्ञा कारन की!

मैं कौन....

'मुकुल' कहे जीवन ऐसा जीना,

'मैं कौन...' की खोज में राह ऐसा बनाना,

'हो जीवन संदेश मेरा' 'मुकुल को बस ख़ाक में हैं मिल जाना!

-मुकुल प्रियदर्शी