The Lunchbox, as delicious as it actually is!

What would happen if a small feather touches your forehead. Taken by its simplicity you start to stare at it, without knowing that you are being lifted up. You continue staring at the beauty and then after two hours realize that its middle of nowhere, no land no sky. Trapped above clouds, you see two starts moving at the horizon. A light musical note appears in background. You are not able to find out whether they are moving closer or apart. They just seem moving, unknowing or perhaps knowing. The music become more definite and eventually takes you away..

That's what happens after watching Lunchbox. 
I had not seen a good movie for long. Not a one so touching, perhaps after Sophie's Choice starring Merryl Streep. 

An about to retire clerk facing a new recruit who would take his place.
Nawazuddin Siddiqi shines as always.
A dialogue is worth mentioning.
While buying cigarette, Nawaz. " सर सुना है आपने एक बिल्ली को लात मारी  थी और वो बस के निचे आ गयी थी."
Irrfan Khan replies, "बिल्ली नहीं, आदमी था. बच के रहना तुम!"
The movie has few exquisite scenes and dialogues.

Deshpande aunty (So nice to hear the name!) sending in Mirch to Ila. Ila deciding to go to Bhutan cause people seem to be happy there... It just touches you deep inside and feels no pain.
A particular scene also reminds you of the fact that you are also are ageing. Perhaps, the same way Mr. Sajan Fernandez does....

Those who are interested in watching a good movie that leaves you spellbound, do not forget to watch Lunchbox.

As the title says, The Lunchbox is as delicious as it actually is!

निर्लज्जपणाचा कळस

म्हणजे आता खरोखर हद्द झाली. 

इतके निर्लज्ज राजकारणी महाराष्ट्राच्या विधानसभेत कधीच बसले नव्हते. 

हा मूर्खपणाचाच नवे तर निर्लज्जपणाचा कळस आहे. 

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पहिल्यांदा एक आमदार गाडी वेगाने चालवल्याबद्दल पकडला  जातो. मग तो (नेहमीप्रमाणेच) पोलिसांना शिवीगाळ करतो . प्रकरण वाढते.  

आमदार जागृत असतात. त्यांना अपमान सहनच होत नाही. मग ते थेट विधान सभेचा 'हक्कभंग' दाखल करतात. त्या राज्याचे गृहमंत्री अतिशय कर्तव्यदक्ष आणि गुन्हेगारांना सोलून काढणारे वगैरे असतात. म्हणून तत्काळ त्या अधिकाऱ्याला दीर्घ मुदतीच्या रजेवर पाठवले जाते. 

माननीय आमदार नुकतेच दबंग सिनेमा पाहून आलेले असतात. म्हणून कायद्याने शिक्षा वगेरे क्षुल्लक गोष्टीवर विश्वास ठेवण्याची त्यांना गरज वाटत नहि. मग ते थेट त्या अधिकारयालाच बेदम मारहाण करतात. 

मग भलताच गोंधळ होतो म्हणून शेवटी त्या कर्तव्यदक्ष आमदारांना निलंबित केले जाते . (काय हा मूर्खपणा! कोण मुर्ख लोक बिचाऱ्या आमदारांवर कारवाई करू शकतात ?)

असो. कधी कधी कायद्याच्या चौकटीत निरपराधी लोकही भरडले जातात.  काय करणार, लोकशाही आहे ना!!!!!

पण विधान सभा अतिशय नैतिक आणि लोकशाही मानणाऱ्या लोकांनी भरलेली असते . मग त्या बिचाऱ्या आमदारांना तुरुंगाची हवा खायला लावणाऱ्या दोन क्रूर आणि खलनायकी संपादकांवार 'हक्क भंग' ठराव आणून तो मंजूर केला जातो. बरं झालं . हे संपादक स्वतःला समजतात तरी काय? अरे हे दोन क्षुद्र लोक निवडणुकीला उभे राहिले तर यांना पाच मते तरी मिळतील का? (नारायण राणे साहेब शब्द चोरले. माफ करा. मला तुमच्या कोणत्याही हक्काचा कसलाही भंग करायचा नाहीये. कृपया मला तुरुंगात टाकू नका). 

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म्हणजे सगळ्या भारतातला नालायकपणा एकत्र केला तरीही तो कमी पडेल अश्या प्रकारच वर्तण आज महाराष्ट्र विधान सभेमध्ये काही लोकांनी केल आहे. लोकशाही, कायद्याच राज्य या सगळ्या संकल्पनांचा पार चुरा करून त्या फुंकून खाल्ल्या आहेत या लोकांनी. लाजा कश्या वाटत नाहीत तोंड वर करून त्या पवित्र सभागृहात बसायला. 

खरंच बरं झालं आज यशवंतराव जिवंत नहित. त्यांना हे बघवलच गेल नसतं

विनोद तावडे परवा ओरडून सांगत होते कि राग मलापण आलाय. आता काय तो राग खुंटीला टांगून ठेवला?

आणि माझा सगळ्या राजकीय पक्षांना प्रश्न आहे। तुम्ही अजून या पराक्रमी आमदारांना निलंबित का केलेल नाही? राज ठाकरेंची प्रकृती इतकी अस्वस्थ आहे कि अजून राम कदम यांच्यावर काही कारवाई त्यांनी केली नाही? आणि भाजप चे काय? माफ करा. भाजप म्हणजे Party With Difference आहे ना....

सर्व महाराष्ट्राला काळिमा फासणारा हा प्रकार आहे. 

त्याची जेवढी करावी तितकी निंदा कमीच आहे. आणि तशीही मुख्यमंत्र्यांनी घोर निंदा केलेली आहेच. म्हणून आपण ती करायची काही गरज नहिये.

असो!!!!!!!

Bible says that "Evil prevails when good men fail to act". we can see that now.

महाराष्ट्राचे बिहारीकरण

The legislatures in India in past few decades have something incredible.

If Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Nehru were alive today, they would have committed suicide out of the shame of  their incompetence. 

The legislatures have seen  dreadful criminals sitting on the benches, even occupying ministerial posts; members beating up each other, ruckus with violence and bloody battles inside; watching pornography and so on.

These legends now have been dwarfed by Maharashtra Asssembly. The MLAs of Maharashtra Legislature, a day ago, beat up and thrashed a Police Sub Inspector for allegedly misbehaving with them for a traffic violation offence. There are no words to describe these heroic acts of our beloved lawmakers and they must be honoured with none other than 'Maharashtra Bhushan' or 'Bharat Ratna'. 

There is only one thing remaining to be done on the floor of the Legislature, i.e. 'Rape of a Woman'. And don't worry about it. Our beloved representatives will strive hard enough to achieve this task and one day they will get it. After all, democracy is for the people. Isn't it?

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I am angry. Not only angry, but boiling with anger. Mary Antonnie would be very happy today that she has finally found her worthy descendants. They include the five MLAs of Maharashtra Assembly. 

This is Biharization of Maharshtra.. And I'm sorry. Why Biharization. Its insult to the state of Bihar. So sorry.

I am angry over the full issue. But I do have some serious questions.

Where the hell 'Breach of Privilege' comes in? 

Violating traffic laws? Is it a breach of privilege? Then why not killing someone? Let Mr. Kshitij Thakur go on to kill someone or for that matter rape someone? We'll use the Privilege power then. Why not? And if someone takes any objection, mind you. Mr. Thakur has a six pack body ( i mean personally, not today's pack of five), and he is looking at you.

Here I have a questions to a dignitary.

Mr. Raj Thackeray: you seem to be vociferous against such incidents. 

आज दातखीळ बसली का?

नाही…........

ते बोलले.

काय म्हणाले? 

"फक्त विरोधी पक्षावरच कारवाई का?"

माझा प्रश्न आहे कि हे बोलताना जराशीदेखील लाज वाटत नाही?

एकदाही म्हणजे एकदाही वाटत नाही कि तत्काळ तुमच्या आमदाराला निलंबित करावं?

Even if we see the incident and even accept that it was a mistake on behalf on the PSI. Lets even accept it is his mistake alone and the MLA is very innocent (as for always). 

Then, should this be the way to behave? Should MLA thrash everyone who just opposes him? 

And where the f*ck other five came from? What was their issue? 

Gearing up for National Boxing Championship? 

And what about Senior Police Officers? Are they so indifferent to the plight of their junior officers?

And I genuinely missed R R Patil's statement that "No one will be spared. Everyone found guilty will be punished". That fool home minister sent the officer to a long term leave? Even before setting up an inquiry? Is he even worthy of being the Home Minister? Oh, please recall. "बड़े बड़े शहरों में छोटी छोटी घटनाएं होती रहती है"..

The Chief Minister being a clean man, and junior to another great mute Prime Minister, gave a nice round n round statement.

Mr. Sharad Pawar was outright in criticizing the incident. Its good, but his own MLA are not very much known for respecting rule of law. 

Never before in the history of Maharashtra, such a heinous and reprehensible incident happened in that building. It is after all a building that once was lead by none other than Yashwantrao Chavan saheb. If he were seeing it from heaven, I'm sure he would have been crying for his despise would have been far greater.

Are these people so disconnected from common man? 

यांना जनतेच्या प्रश्नांची अजिबातही चाड नाही?

यांना स्वताच्या सत्तेचा इतका माज आलेला आहे? 

आ. राम कदम यांना तर त्यांच्या अभूतपूर्व आणि ऐतिहासिक कामगिरीबद्दल 'विधानसभा श्री' द्यायला काहीच हरकत नाही. नाहीतर त्यांना पुढच्या ऑलिम्पिक मध्ये पाठवा. 

तिकडे दाखवा म्हणा तुमची ताकद…

[Here I have insulted Mr. Thakur and others deliberately. If he has guts, let him file a 'breach of trust' against me. Also Hon. Speaker may also order me personally to come down to the Assembly]

The Anatomy of 'Bandh'

              
           If one has to study the changing context of Indian Polity from independence, one aspect that could hardly be forgotten is the culture of 'Bandh'. In past few decades it has become integral part of almost every political party, specially with the one in opposition. 


There are logical reasons why Bandh is so popular among the Parties.
 First, it is more effective than conventional struggle as the Government can not ignore the protests. 
Second, it  is a swift action as of any military operation, so it doesn't take long drawn out battles, which the parties are clearly unwilling to fight.
Thirdly, in the age of media overreach, it attracts immense publicity. 
Last but not least, the sheer nuisance value parties possess to disrupt the everyday life of people, protects their irrationality from uncomfortable questions. 

In the analysis of outcomes, Bandh are equally effective and grossly ineffective. They are grossly ineffective in finding solution for the problem. But, they are far more effective in providing mileage to the political parties.
A 'Bandh' for day solves no problem, seeks no solution, rather it blocks any consensual and democratic solution. Bandh arises from a mentality of blackmailing the government to yield to and threatening the people to yield in. 


The very nature of Political ideologies of parties, from far left to far right, has an element of intolerance and irrationality as the core basic. So, when a party is in power, it prefers unilateral decisions rather than consensual, and the one in opposition seeks Bandh than cooperative struggle.  


Babasaheb Ambedkar, while describing Civil Disobedience called it 'Grammar of Anarchy', which has no place in constitutional India. Perhaps, his India does not believe in his grammar of constitution and the Disobedience is not Civil.


So, the very basics of Bandh is the underlying 'Anarchy' just to prove your point. It undermines all the constitutional and democratic tools available, it legitimizes the intolerance and it adds more misery to the already suffering poor, who loose a day's job as well as a day's meal.

Zeroing in to the Universal Chaos

The Universe that we know today, was created billions of years ago with an explosion, The Big Bang. Few billion years after, life evolved on one of the planet, the Earth, i.e. our habitat.

As the mankind evolved, it started to wonder about the world around it. The  man couldn't understand how there's light for some time and no light for rest of the time. How rain falls and how earthquakes occur. So, man began the universal quest to  understand the forces of nature.

Quest about the origin and afterlife.

Quest about Birth and Death and the afterlife.

At the same time, Human was living in the harsh atmosphere of the surrounding Earth. So there was an imminent need to overcome it to survive. The life, itself is creation of fusion among two of its constituents, i.e. male and female. So the surroundings made it imperative on his part to socialise. Concurrently, the change in food habits and advent of agriculture gave impetus to the process. So man began living in groups and those became integral part of his life. (So is the case with many animals, specially those who are vulnerable to surrounding)

Now, in that group, or we may call it a civilisation (though incorrect technically) needed a set of rules so that all can live well within the group. i.e. need of a harmonious way. That created institutions of administration as well as that of 'Religion'.

The religion necessarily was a tool to create (or bring) order to that group of humans, for the greater good. But then arose the problem of the enforceability of the rules. 

Then mankind made the greatest conceptual fusion of all times. He fused the Religion with the Non-understood parts of universe together, to give credentials to the theory. Then the rains and thunderstorm became curse of god upon mankind (Mongol). Earth became flat and sun revolving around it (Christianity). All the natural phenomenons were deified, personified and worshipped (Greek Paganism  and Hinduism).  Most important was the invention ( and I repeat 'invention') of Heaven and Hell.(Universally prevalent). 

It was the simplest answer to all those things he couldn't understand. Mankind created the cloak of that imaginary world to cover an extremely vulnerable truth. The truth, that there are some things we do not understand and foresee, and we probably we cannot. 

Then began the worst period of Mankind's quest of the Universe. All the rationality that we posses was overshadowed by the foolish conceptions written in some of the religious scripts. Our wisdom and truth was branded as 'Blasphemous' and the pathways of exploring the world were shut completely.   Also the quest of betterment of life was disallowed in the name of preserving the 'true Religion'. The cloak we wore, turned into an steel frame, which continuously refused to let humans expose the contemporary limitations of human brain and Knowledge. 

The Religion didn't stop there either. The extent of Religion to undermine and dwarf the mankind encroached every aspect of human life. It even began to issue orders ,involving massacres and carnages of the groups of other religion or that of the non-believers. t was the same Religion which meant to bring stability and harmony in life.

The Religion had consolidated its hold over Humanity for long time until something fabulous happened in the Europe. Renaissance! It changed the way we look at the World, Universe, Nature and most importantly Humans itself.

Thereafter we began to think and expand our knowledge refuting that cloak of 

Religion. Then began the true progress of mankind.

Even today Religion and Religious Scripts are integral part of every aspect of human life in most of the world. Lets analyse it's truth.

Consider the following facts that 

a)we are the only (maybe) living species in the known universe, which comprises of Billions of Stars, Planets, Galaxies and trillions of other space objects;

b)life needs extremely vast (practically infinite) set of delicate and complex condition to evolve;

We are the luckiest of all among the planets around us. (It is analogous to you getting the Jacket thrown up in air by Shakira in an open concert! ). 

So, life was created on earth mere by a chance or luck. Or perhaps we do not know the actual process that culminated in the birth of life. Religion surely had no role in it. So what the religion has preached so far, is completely absurd and a deliberate lie, which was spread to continue it's hold over the humanity.

I do agree, that there exist some things, by virtue of which Religion has been successful in bringing the order to Human life. Unfortunately the price we paid, was much higher. Also the order, that religions have created, is far from perfect. It is status quoist in almost all religions. And they have brought civilisations and Human quest to a standstill.

So, whatever has happened in the Universe is absolutely by chance and no Earthly or Godly power has done it. So the Ships of Venus 'seen' by Christians as well as the universe in the mouth of Krishna seen by Yashoda (Mata) are eually absurd. 

To conclude please try to fuse following thoughts.

An interesting hymn from व्यासोपनिशद,

ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्ण मुदच्यते

पूर्णस्य पूर्ण मादाय पुर्णनेमा वशिश्यते.

(Aum, This is complete and That is complete. From Completeness, Completeness arises. Taking Complete out of Complete, what remains is also Complete)

Second one is,

Ideology is the false consciousness.

The Religion is opium to masses

-Karl Marx.

(I know many will disagree to it. Those who do, are welcomed to challenge it.)

9/11. A Decade. What India need to learn?

Its been 10 years since the planes slammed into World Trade Center and the world changed outright. Nothing remained as it was before.


Lets rewind the clocks ten years ago and analyse the facts.


10 years ago Indo-Pak relations were same as they are now. Except the fancy terms like 'Confidence Building Measures' and 'Contagious and Non Contagious issues' nothing has changed on ground. Pakistan's fate is still doomed at the hands of the Corps Commanders and India still expects the Pakistani Army (and ISI) to book the perpetrators of 26/11. 


But Pakistan-US relations have changed to a very great extent. US finally understanding the real 'Strategic Blunder' to make Pakistan as the prime ally in the 'Global War on Terror'. Assassination (Murder!) of Osama Bib Laden in the heartland of Pakistan and in backyard of Army has finally raised the real question mark on US strategy in fighting the terrorism and choice of alleys. But still the American Af-Pak strategy is tied to the cooperation by ISI and Army in conciliating with the 'Good Taliban'. Pakistan who once proudly fathered the Islamic Extremism  is now suffering heavily from its menace. Still they show no signs to learn anything out of it.


Meanwhile Indo-US relations have significantly improved post 9/11. After declining India's support in the war against terror, US now recognises the importance of India to maintain its lost control over the region. In the wake of rising China, falling hegemony particularly over the Muslim world, Pakistan's incompetence (or Complicity) to control insurgency and rising cost of the war, US is giving India more importance to maintain Balance of Power in the region.
Post Civil nuclear deal in 2005, Indo-US cooperation has risen to a new height, where US looking at India as their Britain in Asia.


What we need to learn out of the incidents and shift overs in the last decade?


First and foremost. US could neither buy Pakistan Amry's support by over $20 Bn, nor it could punish the insurgents with super developed technology like Predator Drones. So, there is no way India could do it. We must hope that one day god will be kind to us to ordain an authority in Pakistan which is sensible and strong enough to talk peace with India. We can not and should not interfere in Pakistan's domestic politics directly but should facilitate all the  ways possible to bring a good government there.


In 2014 when the US troops will withdraw from Afghanistan, there seems a great possibility of Taliban again coming in mainstream politics. The world has already started talking with the 'Good Taliban'. India should also do the same. We should not be concerned of who will run that country but should befriend any faction that will take over when US leaves. Taliban could not be ousted with two Trillion dollars and a million troops. We are not in a position do anything of that sort. So Conciliation with Taliban, good or bad, is the way forward.
Also we need to make sure of our presence to be felt in SCO, OIC. We should make more friends inside as well as outside GCC to tackle Pakistan post US withdrawal.US is a good ally as long as they have their troops stationed in the sub continent. But when they'll withdraw, it will be us to face the Taliban not the west which is thousand miles away from them. So it is immensely necessary to make truce in this war before it begins.


Third and most important, we have to improve our anti terror infrastructure at home.  The recent bombings in Pune, Mumbai and Delhi have left no clue and the investigating agencies are trying round the clock to unearth the plot. We have to secure our boundaries and coast lines for any cost that may require. Surely India does not want its land to become Pakistan or Iraq or Afghanistan where explosions come up with the sunrise and gunfires break with sunset. We have already paid huge price fighting the insurgency.We will have to pay a high price in coming future. Let the price only be Rupees and not in Blood.


The world has travelled long securing itself from the fanatic zeal of suicide bombers and the time bound of the IEDs. We can not ignore the reality of the path ahead. So we must remember, A pint of Sweat today will save a gallon of Blood tomorrow!

बिन जेवणाचा तमाशा...

The talks failed again.
This Govt. does not seem to understand the gravity of situation. And the civil society does not seem to understand the complexity of the matter.


Anna wants the 'Lokpal' to be delivered in the 3rd month the gestation period, and the Govt does not to want to make it happen, not out of the natural dangerous, but the technicalities involved.  "Jor se bolo 'jai mata di'. "


Lets review it in Newton's perspective.


Action: One man, of clean character, wearing khadi, sitting to fast demanding a strong anti corruption bill. 
Reaction: Govt. arrest him first, then send him to Tihar. Then he arrests the govt,. Then govt. doesn't  pay attention for a week. Then sends some representatives. Then at 12th day, discusses the issue in parliament even without informal voting.


So, in politics for every action there is not always equal and opposite reaction. In fact in India, For every action, there is equal and consistent reaction.
Because if Anna is destabilising the democracy, what else is Govt doing?
If they ended up discussing the issue in the Sovereign and Supreme 'Parliament' ,Why on god's earth it was not done on Day 1. 
There seems a crisis of Rationality among the ruling class.


The civil society is also adamant on such kind provisions, that any govt can not implement.


All this is resulting in a Dead (Hungry) lock.



दरारे दरारे हैं माथें पे मौला,
मरम्मत मुकद्दर ही कर दो मौला......