Banaras 2014

 

I am Hazara - A heart touching story from Pakistan

Hazaras – my neighbours in Quetta

Street of Quetta.

If you go down on Toghi road in Quetta, away from the town centre, past Delite Cinema, past the quilt shop (that also sells kites), past “Friends Kiryana” and finally Tataa’s and Karbalai’s shop, and turn left just before the road ends, you will find a house with the enigmatic address [6-10/12 (15)]/24] Toghi Road, Quetta. No one has been able to decipher the house number. This is our house, where we lived happily for eight years.

Or at least this was the way it was when we left Quetta for good in 1968.

In 1968 the most famous person who lived on Toghi road, a hundred yards from our mathematical expression, was General Mohammed Musa, Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan army from 1958 to 1969. He was a Hazara and the neighbourhood was almost entirely made up of the Hazara community. There were a few non-Hazara families living there and we were one such family.

As a six-year-old boy my first impression of my new neighbours was rather negative. Most of the children my age did not seem to go to school, they looked a bit Chinese, they spoke a language that I could not understand and cuss words flowed easily from their tongue.

They seemed free spirited, rough and tough; real street children, who I did not understand and feared. For these children and young adults any non-Hazara was deemed to be a Punjabi. Sometimes, a gang of children would follow us chanting “Punjabi, Punjabi….” in a good-natured way. Somehow they had heard about the British phenomenon of the 1960s, the “teddy boys” and for them anyone not wearing shalwar kameez was a ‘teddy boy’ or a ‘teddy girl.’ Even my mother who wore a sari sometime heard ‘teddy girl’ shouted behind her back as she went out of the house for shopping.

Our initial impression rapidly changed as we settled down in the new neighbourhood. Our first direct interaction with the community took place when a miss-hit cricket ball went flying into the neighbouring plot that belonged to an old man who we simply called“Burhay Sahib” (old gentleman). The plot had a boundary wall with a rickety gate that was locked. I fearfully went and knocked at the old man’s door (he lived just a few houses away). When Burhay Sahib appeared I very respectfully stated the problem.

Without a word he pulled out the key from his pocket and gave it to me. I went and retrieved the ball and returned the key. This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The cricket ball flew into his plot with annoying regularity, sometime more than once a day, but Burhay Sahib would give us the key without a murmur of complaint or a hint of frown on his old brow. Burhay Sahib had many goats and my mother would give us the green pea peels in a bucket to give to Burhay Sahib. He always accepted these peace offerings with a gentle smile on his face.

Our neighbours were genuinely kind and caring people. Once our car broke down in the morning when we had to be transported to the school for the annual examination. Panic ensued in the house. Finally, my father walked over to Burhay Sahib’s son’s house and told him our problem. The son, Mohammad Ali, promptly went inside and fetched the key to his car. Burhay Sahib also arrived at the scene. My father explained that the school was not too far away and he would bring the car back soon. Visibly upset, Burhay Sahib spluttered out, “tum kiyoon is ki parwah karta hey, tum issko London ley key jao!” (Why do you worry about this, you can take the car to London if you so wish!).

The author (second from left) with his siblings in Quetta, 1965.

My siblings and I had one special privilege living in close proximity of the army chief. When there was a marriage in the community, an army band would turn up and play day in and day out. The greatest show took place when the daughter of General Musa wedded the improbably named Flight Lt. Sharbat Ali Changezi (who went on to win a medal in the 1965 war). Since this was such a high-profile marriage, the celebrations continued for a week.

For the first three days the very popular Baloch regiment band entertained us, then the highlight of the spectacle happened on the fourth day. The Baloch regiment band was playing to a wide-eyed audience when a military truck drove up and out came another band who quickly assembled and started playing and marching with such alacrity that the Baloch band that was ruling the roost so far was completely over-shadowed. The Punjab regiment band was led by a tall alert bandmaster, sporting a handlebar moustache, strutting about like a prized cock. Quickly, a competition ensued with the bands trying to outshine each other entirely to the advantage of the spell bound children.

The other times when there was a special atmosphere in the neighbourhood was during Muharram. Everyday, processions, large and small marched on the streets. We know most of the participants and would worry about them hurting themselves too much. Me and my five siblings (although we are Sunnis) were so fascinated by the electrifying atmosphere created by the chanting, chest-beating processions of mourners that we formed our own little procession in the courtyard of our house and went around beating our chests and reciting the tragic story of Karbala in Darri! I don’t recall any rioting or fights during Muharram in all the years we lived in Quetta.

This wonderful chapter of my life closed when my father decided to move to Rawalpindi after 12 years in Quetta. He loaded our life belongings, his wife and five children into a Volkswagen Beetle. All the residents of the street gathered around the car. They were all sad; some were crying. Burhay Sahib’s back seemed even more bent than it was usually and I could see tears in his eyes. There were embraces and shouts of Khuda Hafiz. The car moved forward. I saw through the rear window that not a person moved and then I lost sight of them as it turned at the end of the street.

I never went back to the city of my childhood. To visit it now would be too painful. I read about killings of the Hazaras, some taking place on Toghi road. Some of the kids that I said goodbye to that day in 1968 may have been the victims. I would never know. I mourn them all. I hope they are in a better place than this killing field they thought was their homeland.

Via dawn.com Author: Vaqar Ahmed

Governance and Public Policy in India

Indian Parliament

In today’s world, people raising the voice against the autocrat or corruption. It is important for political system of country to realize the expectation of the citizen and deliver on it. In IT era where information reaches the every corner of society and it is not possible to ignore the aspiration of the society. The governance should be focus on three thing transparency, participation and collaboration.

India’s political leadership and business brains are actuated by a strong desire to see the country an economic super-power in the 21st Century. The recent various indicators like high rate of growth rate, comfortable foreign exchange reserves and booming Sensex have supported in growing confidence. The world is also looking at India with respect and considers India and China as ideal economic growth models. India is aiming to have a high growth rate with focus on equity. The imperatives of democracy, however, are forcing Indian political leadership to look deeper into the causes of poverty, inequality and suffering of the common man.

The government expected to work on the grass root problem and find out innovative solution for existing problem. As rightly done by the various government initiatives like PDS system of Chhattisgarh, Jyoti Gram of Gujarat, Jala Yagnam project started by Andhra Pradesh government. These are the few examples of identifying problems properly and resolving it. The charismatic leadership not merely builds on the speech or giving cloudy promise. But it builds on good governance and addressing the problem effectively. The government should deliver or work in such manner so that people feel proud about it and happiness should be spread to every section of the society. The governance system is going to be key determining factor for future prosperity.

Joke of Judiciary: Story of the Common Man

Photo Courtesy: India Today

This is story of common man, man who struggled for life and achieved small thing for his family, who not having political connection, who wants to make happy life with family and children, who not interfere in any other’s matter and expect the same from other. Its story of sweet couple named Shailesh Shetye and Kshama Chopra who get into love from there B-School life at SIBM Pune. Both are loving each other and Kshama is pregnant and couple enjoying there greatest days of life. Her friend tells that she was a bubbly and outgoing girl.

But the god wrote something different for them, At 12.10 pm on 5 May, 2012 Kshama, her parents, Shailesh and their driver Sanjay Gulati. Just when they were near the IFFCO Chowk intersection, a BMW racing at 100 kmph rammed into their Indigo. On the spot Kshma, their drive Sanjay Gulati died and Kshama’s parents and Shailesh got serious injury and admitted to ICU. It is brutal end of the love story.

So what happen to the driver of BMW? The driver of BMV is 21 year old person called Suraj Sehrawat – son of Devender Sehrawat. Sehrawat is owner of many buses and cab in Gurgaon area and provide transportation facility to many MNCs. Obviously family having great political connection and power of money to suppress the issue. But real drama stated after the incident. First, the police had not done anything and initially saying that first we wait for FIR to be lodged then we initiate the process. So how come we expect that family which lost one of family member and other in the ICU can go and file a FIR? This is the tragedy of over law. Similar thing we see in government hospital many time or other places where dying patient have to fill the form then he/she attained by the doctor. For the first ten days police and accused started cover up work. Few days after it, policy just say we are looking issue seriously and looking for accused but accused just finding way so that he can beat the laws. We have human rights watch dogs, social activist who can sit for fast, media who relentlessly discuses issue and draw the attention of the nation, parliament which can discuses 1960 cartoon row for whole day. But all are silent on it. It is a clearly serious matter which is faced by every common man of this country. Barkha Datt, Arnab Goswami or Karan Thapar where are all you? You guys seriously drag people like Narendra Modi or say Anna Hazare for whole day. Can you not highlight the issue? Yes, you will not get paid for it. 

Photo Courtesy: Hindustan Times

Mockery of episode happened when a person claiming to be the driver of the BMW car, Rajesh, had surrendered and was arrested. This person has not having single scratch on his body and perfectly fine. It’s clearly attempt to shielding the main accuse. On 15^th May, Suraj Sehrawat – Son of Devendra Sehrawat surrender before court and got bail within one hour of arrest. From last ten days he is untraceable and only represented by his advocate. It’s just making joke of over judicial system. This kind of incident we daily see in Metro by high profile person and titled with hit and run case but justice for them is far away from reach. I would like to see Rahul Gandhi, Anna to fight for this kind of common man instead of going to Dalits home or Lokpal agitation. If the future developed India (Which we often claim with robust GDP growth) is this kind, then I say sorry, we want develop India where ever one have fair and equitable justice, where everyone’s hard work respected by all, where rickshaw puller or any other can earn his bread and eat it with pride. I don’t want robust income; Rather want respectable life and administration treat everyone as equal as citizen of India. 

Common people are went to such level that after hearing this kind of news they just pray to god and hope then it will not happen with them. If people not raise their voice then it will continue, culprit with power of money and politics they will abscond and so called chip life of common man run in this way. It will remind me lines of Martin Niemöller

 

“First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me”

Hope the love of Shailesh and Kshama will meet again in somewhere and god gives some mercy to the common people to fight with the life.

In phase of transition: Tribal people and industrialization

Photo Courtesy: static.sify.com

In various recent incident of where we clearly see conflict of interest between indigenous people and corporate giant on issues related to land acquisition, mining, water etc. so is that past model of liberalization not working? Past we seen the various industries established in mineral reach stats like TATAs, SAIL etc. why can’t we see same thing not happening now. Many corporate giant like Mittal, POSCO, TATAs, Vedants etc are failing in doing economic activity in the red belt area. Is there need for new social model needed to be established for streamlining the economic activity?

In the past many factor associated with industrialization which supported the corporate. In last face of 20^th century, corporate have various favorable factors like delinked with other community, handicapped media, inefficient  states in securing human right, weak presence of Civil Society, states hunger for industries etc.  All factors attributes to prolonged history (untold) of violation of rights of this indigenous people over the years. So how all this thing shaped the present mind shape of this vulnerable tribal people. It put the relation between corporate and tribal in hostile situation and deficit of trust so widen in today’s scenario that it’s hard to improve. So implication of all is that, tribal’s always look government/corporate activity with sense of caution, rather they believe in supporting there people’s movement (Naxal) instead of supporting people’s elected government. If government genuinely tries to do something for the community they cannot understand the mindset of people. If the similar effort has made by government in state like Karnataka, Tamilnadu or Gujarat, it will have more successes.  Post independence, Probably It is not true freedom for these tribes, in fact just matter of face change. Few high rank society/people had ruled another 50 years on them as same as colonial rule, look them from lens of natural resource and extracted as much as they can similarly like forest, water or minerals.

When the wave of rising India slowly reaching this interiors of country, now its seen stiff conflict between establishment and tribal’s in terms of Naxal showdown, Industrial Plant agitation or opposition against state sponsored scheme. The negativity established in such way so that it will now exploited by Naxals, some anti-national element against the state. It leaded some recent activity like abducting the government officials, uprooting government machineries. The union or state government look this problem from as its from other part of India and try to handle it by that angle which lead to bizarre situation. 

Photo Courtesy: www.thehindu.com

The tribal community are in stage of dilemma and then on middle of two way. Where one road lead to prosperity of society and other lead chaos. But there past experience suggesting them to go for lateral option. So, its collective responsibility of a government and civil society to guide the diseased part of the nation into the right direction. So how come it will happen? Who will do this magic for us? To addressee the issue of this people government cannot undo what it already damaged. But they will definitely go back to step zero and sketch new plan for them. First if we see that why this people so isolated from other part of country then we get to know that its demographic location (middle of India and surrounded by dense forest). It look great when we produally say that “Incredible India” with its unique diversity and multi lingual, multi ethnic, multi cultural but still living under the one roof of “India”. So after independent we made IITs, IIMs, NITs and many institute for streamlining growth. But for the preserving the culture of such diverse nation, what we done? It’s hard to believe our leader failed to understand this fact and cultural development we have just tried to copy the western by the way of media. The problem related to naxalisam, threat to establishment is not addressed by merely normal bureaucrats with qualification of IAS/IPS or by some scheme developed by New Delhi or by military. It has to be look from cultural identity, there life pattern, what value for the tribal, there cultural practice, rituals, there goddess etc have to be understood. All this parameter needed to be taken care while planning the new stretchy. 

With hope that future India will be better living place for all community and government not merely fight for GDP growth rate, Hope we see some positive change in it.

Ms Clinton, Better if you can deal with New Delhi

It sound bullish achievement for Mamata didi to get attention which dragged US Secretary of state Ms Clinton to land here plane at Kolkata, instead of New Delhi. But if we see it from the perspective of cautious diplomacy it is matter of infringement on our own state affairs. How come some foreign minister asks some state/provenience leader to support some policy issue which will enable foreign company to get open up Indian market? It is another blow on part of UPA government who can’t convince its collation partner to support on their reform initiative. Can India not define its diplomatic boundary in which any other government can’t interfere? If similar thing happen to say China, Japan or Israel, its serious conspicuous will be seen in there relation. In fact this state will not allow any other country to do this kind of diplomatic influence which largely focuses on unilateral benefit. Its petty thing on part of S M Krishna – our Honorable External affair minister who is always in highlight for his numerous debacle and miss management in public. So this trend continues and where India’s diplomatic relation lead? Any country having some issue with some part of country they will directly go to respective Chief Minister or leader of that area instead of taking that issue with union government. It’s increasingly seen in various cases where other government trying to influence various local leaders to get rid of the problem they facing. It’s seen rather inefficiency of union government or diplomatic negotiation part of government in handling various issues and sending clear massage regard to it. FDI in retail and Teesta river sharing issue are international issues and seen as issue with national interest, but it’s clearly miss understood my media as well as by government. In the media which is said to be most significant pillar of democracy also not highlighting the issue that why some foreign minister giving more attention to CM instead of Prime Minister of India. Can world also taking Manmohan Singh lead government as puppet government which is work on instruction on other? Is it so then it is serious thing to be understood by UPA leadership to put up strong face in front of world. Leader who have courage, boldness and ability to give up power in interest of people, not merely bargaining with collation partner for the sake of running the coalition government and pushing the reform in sine die situation. India per say leader of future or growth engine of world, can we received this way which show weak nation with unclear leadership. With due respect to Dr Manmohan Singh for his scholastic achievement in the field of Econmics, Mr. Singh its not matter of knowledge you have but how you take to people with it. There some distinguish thing associated with leader and intellect and it look good only when they work according to their ability.

Journey of India’s President Post from ….Dr. Rajendra Prasad to Pratibha Patil

On the 25th July 2007 when Pratibha Patil(PP) taken over charge as president from taking blessing from congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi, It seen with great hope for empowerment of women. She is preceded by great stature person like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam – the great admired person. But as days pass it started slowly realized that it’s another lame duck rubber stamp president from congress kitty. So ultimately madamji wants to control all this political position. It remind me on the day when Sonia Gandhi told to media that “I listen to my inherent voice (antar atma ki awaj) to not become PM”. So how so it true?

Presidential post has dignity in mind of people above political sphere. If we see last few recent presidents like Abdul Kalam, K R Naraya etc having great achievement in their life and respected by all spectrum of society. President though has constitutional position in India but having much related to reputation of country in world and It feel shameful for many country person to talk about “Her Excellency aka PP”. So how will you feel when you talk about President with rest of the world? I am sure that even Pakistan also rolling on floor laughing for this kind of petty thing. In his various debacles countless we see in the media, it always increases anger and agues about present political situation in country.

So how she become President after all?

From starting of her life she is a loyal congress person or say served entire life for Gandhi family. Preferably taken oath in court of congress that she will abide by law of madamji and not take step/speak single word without the permission of madamji.

And this trend continues in various governor selections as well. Many of them caught on camera telling that they got post with blessing of madamji.
N.D. Tiwari – Andra Pradesh Governor One of the congress loyalist and had caught in porn CD controversy and many more ..(You all know…:P)
Shivaraj Patil – Punjab Governor
Margat Alwa – Uttarakhand Governor
Ram Naresh Yadav – Madhya Pradesh Governor

And it continues

Let compare the stature of first president of India with PP

Rajendra Prasad

Dr. Prasad was a paradigm of it. His life was like a book with countless pages to be learnt. He was the embodiment of virtue, honesty, discipline, punctuality and humility which adorned his personality as fragrance adorns the flower. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta University in 1902, cleared his B.L. examinations, obtained master for law, yet this prudent gentleman never showed an air of superiority over others, rather gave free guidance to the needy. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was very tolerant and benevolent. He had very little ideological rapport with Nehru but he was far too gentle and docile to allow political differences to diminish respect and regard for him; it should be taken as a key note for present politicians who disparage each other on the pretext of caste, colour, culture and even thoughts. He neither reigned nor ruled as a president, but worked as public welfare authority.

Pratibha Patil

She first elected as legislative member from Jalgoan constituency in 1962 and then after her political unbitten carrier continues from Lok Sabha to Rajya Sabha and many more. Can you find any significant thing which you specially distinguish or take some inspiration?

Now let’s talk about controversies associated with “Her Excellency”

• Recently Pune post retirement house building on land which is for widows of army.
• Official cum family trip with grand children. • Total Rs 2070 million in international fare.
• She forgot to salute to the Indian flag at a ceremonial reception for her in Mexico.
• She has regular, expensive, state sponsored holiday trips with more than a dozen family members.
• At a holiday trip in the Andaman Islands, more than 400 trees were chopped to make way for a helipad for the President's chopper.
• On 22 June 2007, Rajni Patil, a professor of Marathi in a Jalgaon college, and the widow of murdered Jalgaon congressman Vishram G Patil in a press conference claimed that her husband was murdered by Pratibha Patil's brother G.N.Patil. She accused Pratibha Patil of shielding her brother.
• Pratibha Mahila Sahakari Bank, a cooperative bank set up by Pratibha Patil in 1973 in her name, to empower women, had its license revoked in 2003 by the Reserve Bank of India for alleged financial irregularities. Reasons cited were as follows – Faulty loan policy of the bank and loan interest waivers given, among others, to Pratibha Patil's relatives.
• A cooperative sugar factory - Sant Muktabai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana - of which Pratibha was a founder member, was found to be a drug trafficking ring, was declared a defaulter for failing to repay a Rs 17.5 crore (Rs 175 million) bank loan.
• The loan was taken in 1994 when Pratibha was its chairwoman, but the factory has failed to repay the full amount. The bank sealed the factory on 23 January 2007 after issuing many reminders.
• In 2002 the chief commissioner of central excise and customs, Pune, issued notice to the factory for evading excise duty resulting from diversion of export-oriented sugar by the factory into domestic market. • As Member of Parliament from Amravati between 1991 and 1996 Pratibha Patil had diverted Rs 36 lakh (Rs 3.6 million) from her MPLADS fund to a trust run by her husband Devisingh Shekhawat. This was in violation of Government rules which barred MPs from providing funds to organization run by their relatives.

And it is countless to say about all ………

Is this way we become super power or challenge the world? It really petty thing to see all passing the ball game, where game is artificially functioning but ultimately governed by one lady. So when we awake? When we come out of family Raj? Is there only Gandhi family has leadership talent in Congress? We see numerous examples in this party that any true leader try to become more then charismatic above Gandhi family then he/she bought down or has to leave the party. As we see example of Janardhan Reddy from Andra Pradesh.

In the end few words from Dr. Rajendra Prasad, He tried to make India as “A never delay in action country”, now it is up to us to make his dreams come true.

PS: My respect and with great hope as we can see president like Kalam again.
 
Note: I do not support any party but do support the individual personality in all spectrum of politics.