Law for bureaucrats! Huh.......

The bureaucrat (Indian Administrative Services or Indian Police Services) posted in a state like Uttar Pradesh are above all the laws.

At least my observation so far makes me believe this.

They don't need to worry about parking as their vehicles are parked everywhere and anywhere on the roads, they don't bother to queue up for anything as their escorts (policemen) will do the needful for them, they can conveniently use their office cars for taking their families for shopping and not only that, there too they will be escorted by a fleet of at least 20 policemen.

My recent visit to Agra and to Taj Mahal gave a fresh insight to this belief of mine.

It was December 25th. Christmas Day. Obviously, the Taj Mahal was buzzing with people who had come from far away places to see this 17th century wonder of the world. It must be over 500 people (men, women and children from different parts of the globe) who had lined up in two neat rows waiting for their turn to enter the monument.

And mind you, all of them with their official admission tickets (Indians : 20 Rupees and Foreign nationals : 750 Rupees). No one was fretting, no one was pushing, everyone happily making friends with their neighbours in the queue.

Whilst we had been waiting for our turn, I spotted a battery operated vehicle stopping bang in front of the Taj Mahal gate. (These vehicles leave the lesser mortals - people like you and me at least 100 metres before the gate.)

Jumped out of that vehicle a family of 7 or 8. No tickets, no queue, they enter from the passage which serves as exit for the commoners (who have bought tickets to see the monument).

The security people, who had so far been throwing their weight at people standing in the queues, started bowing their heads and were saluting the officer. It was a bureaucrat - an Indian Administrative Officer and his family.

I happened to recognise the officer so went ahead to say hello to him. This officer carries an image of being good and efficient.

Keeping his image in mind I conveyed to him the feeling of injustice that so many people paying and waiting to enter whereas he, without any ticket, gets the privilege to enter without any wait. I expected him to feel at least sheepish of the fact.

But to my surprise, he with a smirk on his face, asked me, `Do you want me to feel guilty of the fact?'' and without waiting for my response, added, ``Don't worry, I will not.''

I was aghast and speechless. The security guards, reading my expressions said, ``Oh, he is on duty.''

On duty, with a family!!! Indeed....

At least he should have bought the ticket for the family and at least the family should have behaved like common responsible citizens.

Anyways...

Next day, we stopped at a shopping mall near Taj Mahal to get some food. Whilst coming out of the Mall I started talking to a few policemen standing outside. In fact, I wanted to ask them if there was any short cut to reach the highway to Lucknow. Suddenly I saw some kind of flurry - all policemen had started running towards the gate.

What I saw now was a fleet of cars with blue beacon on top. It was the senior-most police officer who had come to the shopping mall. The policeman who was talking to me, left his sentence in the middle and ran to salute the boss.

The officer was accompanied by his family.

The boot of the car was carrying his files. A policeman opened the boot and took out a few files which needed urgent attention of the big boss and carried them inside the Mall.

I stood there gaping at the whole drama.

I wondered - these are the people who are running our country. They are the one who are suppose to implement all the laws. They are expected to help the citizens and that is why they are known or referred as public servants.

Once again I was dumbstruck...

I didn't know whether to blame these officers for making a mockery of the system or blame us citizens for letting these officers get away with such irresponsible behaviour.

I stood there motionless for a while... when my daughter pulled me away and said ``let's not spoil our holiday. In fact, you are expecting too much from these officers.''

``Was expecting the officials to behave as decent, responsible, law abiding citizen was actually too much to ask!!!'' I think it is........

lock the girls !!

After honour killings (when a family kills their daughter for the only reason that she has fallen in love or have gotten married to a boy of different caste), now the Khap Panchayat (rural courts) in the western part of north India state of Uttar Pradesh, have issued their verdict against cell phone usage by young unmarried girls. The girls have also been asked not to wear clothes, which pamper their bodies and make them look sexy.

These local village level self-proclaimed legal authorities strongly believe that the cell phones are responsible for girls running away with their lovers and also for girls marrying out of their castes. In this region it is not the family alone, whose sanction a girl needs to get married, the whole community has to approve it.

It is ironic... These rural courts stay quiet, if a boy from a community rapes a girl from the other community. In one of the rape cases, recently, even a proper Indian court pronounced only six months imprisonment to the accused, whereas even the Indian Penal Code has fixed seven year term for a rape accused.

It's a male world !!!

Atrocities on girls are going on for past many years in this area of the nation. What is surprising, is that everyone (including the government, the judiciary and the police) is aware of these obsolete and fossilised practices, which are rampant even in the 21st century but no one dares speak against the same.

If the girls have to live their lives as per the whims and fancies of their families and respective communities, why treat them like humans? Treat them like material possessions - lock them in cupboards and give the keys to the communities. Take them out only when the men need them for either their work or for their entertainment. Ask them to perform either in the kitchens or fields or in beds and again lock them back.

Start treating the girls like objects and they will forget to live like humans. Their brains will not think and their hearts will not wish, they will have no dreams and no aspirations. The men can use them and abuse them in whatever way they fancy.

Even the government, which does not intervene in such barbaric diktats, should close down all girls schools and should stop talking about women empowerment.

I wonder what stops the government from taking an action against such inhuman and uncivilised rural courts which always come up with weirdest of verdicts - mostly against women!!!

Where are we going and where will it lead us? I think people who do not think on the lines of these rural courts, need to ponder over the matter and try evolving a solution to stop such a barbaric system, where girls are neither considered humans nor treated humanely.

the frustrated lot

It sounds weird! On one hand the Apex court in India is talking about rights of gays and rights of women in live-in relationships, on the other, a sate government is conducting an inquiry into a harmless and innocent fun activity, which was organised by the grown up students of technology.

An Indian Institute of Technology held a fun activity, where boys ran with holding lipsticks in their mouths and their women partners on the other end had to apply that while the lipstick remained in the boy's mouth.

Once again the Indian moral police was alert. The game was termed as a shameless act. It was classified as an obscene behaviour. There were protests and agitations. Eventually, the government was compelled to order an inquiry into the incident. Weird!!! Isn't the government has better things to do???

It was beyond my comprehension as to what made such an innocent act an activity of crime and forced the government to intervene. There are so many other things happening, which, according to me and probably to many others like me, are of grave offence.

There are so many people in India, who, without any qualms open their trousers and stand shamelessly on the side of the roads to pee. Isn't it a crime? Shouldn't these people be punished? There are so many people (mostly from the organisations, which are staging the protests), who start scratching their crotches, when they see a woman passing by. Isn't it gross? Shouldn't these people be shown a civil way to behave?

The question is why is it only the youngsters, who fortunately do not have a polluted mind, become the target of these so called moral police force? Not so long ago some women who were having an evening out at a pub in Bangalore, were beaten badly by volunteers of same organisations, who found it not right if women go to pub for a drink.

My inference is that such organisations and such men are going through utter frustration in their lives. They, at no cost, would tolerate the youngsters living their lives and having fun. The reason is that they have opted for a life, which is camouflaged with pseudo morals and now they feel frustrated when they see a person living his/her life with no labels of ``so called'' morality. Therefore, they simply play the spoilsports.

But, it is high time for evolved Indians to raise their voices against this moral policing. Also, the time has come when we should start confronting the governments as to why they are wasting their time, energy and man force for conducting inquiries on such frivolous things rather persuading the police to identify the real law breakers, arrest the real criminals and bring peace in the society!!!

just a housewife.....

One of my friends was sitting at a cafe where a western woman started a conversation with her. She asked my friend, ``what do you do?'' My friend replied, ``Nothing, I am just a housewife.''

In another incident, one day one of my friends husband came home from office and found the house in mess, children playing outside, dog sitting on sofa watching TV and wife still in bed. He woke up his wife and asked if everything was alright. The wife casually replied, ``Yeah, all well... Just that every evening you ask me what did I do the whole day. Well, today I didn't do that.''

No need to explain these two incidents as they carry heavy message in them.

A housewife slogs the whole day investing in humans, enabling them to perform better physically, emotionally and economically and thereby contribute more substantially to the society. But she is referred as``just a housewife''. The husbands are often seen confronting them scornfully what they did the whole day - as if they have only relaxed. These housewives and also many other such women remain invisible to the society for their contribution towards development.

India has a huge force of these fine and efficient workers, whose contribution in the society is huge and invaluable but it cannot be rated in economic terms. Unfortunately this contribution is seldom recognised and this force remains invisible to everyone, especially to economists.

This fifty percent of the nation's population is building homes, educating children, nursing those who are unwell, looking after people's health and nutrition; they also look after the cattle at home and till the agriculture fields, which their families own, bring water for everyone from far away places and do so many other odd jobs - but their diligent service to the society is mostly taken for granted. Their indirect but significant contribution to nation's economy is not taken in the purview of economic activities.

Mind you, there is no day off for this work force and no short breaks; they are on duty seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Often a question is asked as to why such low participation of women in labour - the answer is simple - they are not low in numbers but they are invisible.

Thankfully, a concern is emerging and the issue is now reaching the conference rooms. Recently, it was raised by a few concerned voices at an interface organised in the state capital, Delhi..

The event was a joint effort of Friederich Ebert Stiftung (FES) - a German Political Foundation and Women's Feature Service (WFS) - India's one and only women's feature syndicate. Damayanti Sridharan, senior advisor FES and Pamela Philipose, the Editor WFS were the brains behind the interface.

Eminent speakers like Bina Agarwal, the Director Indian Institute of Economic Growth (Delhi University), Reiko Tsushima, the Senior Gender Specialist of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Sunita Dhar of Jagori - a civil society organisation extensively working on issue of violence against women, social activist and politician Subhashini Ali, Senior development journalist Usha Rai and many more voices straight from the field shared their experiences and thoughts to take the issue to some logical solution.

What everyone felt was a need for the social workers, activists and other intellectuals to evolve ways so that this unpaid and unrecognised work by women force is acknowledged.

It will however start when women themselves will start valuing their meaningful contribution to the society.

Now we go back to the first two anecdotes - when my friend told the western woman that she was ``just a housewife'', the western woman had instantly snapped her with her comment, ``But being housewife is a 24 hour job of immense responsibility. You are doing so much for the society.''

`

celebrate life...

``Life against all odds, is life after all. It is far too precious to let go vain. Celebrate it with love and compassion.’’ Renowned theatre personality of India, Ms Tripurari Sharma is trying to convey this simple, yet not easily understood, message among the masses, through her play Shifa.

Shifa is an Urdu word, which means `healing’ – healing and comforting someone who is pain or agony, and in this case it is for all those human beings who are living with HIV.

Based on real life stories, the play sensitively handles the issue of stigma, which the HIV positive people face in the Indian society. Children are thrown out of schools, women do not get their share in property and men lose their jobs - all this just because they are detected as HIV positive. The agony of rejection makes them die hundred deaths every day, which is more painful than the real death.

Shifa’s message; an acceptance from people, a little compassion and a bit of love and care can tremendously improve the life quality of people living with HIV, besides making them feel alive and happy for the rest of the days they have in hand.

A Miranda House pass out and a product of National School of Drama (NSD), Sharma was working on stigma related to leprosy when this idea cropped up to simultaneously work on stigma relating to HIV. A humble, soft spoken and unassuming person, she was sensitive enough to feel the pulse of the issue but to enhance her understanding she did extensive research on the subject.

It involved travelling from south to north and from east to west – all across the nation and close interactions with a whole lot of HIV positive people. She put her feet in their shoes to grasp exactly what happens in their lives when they are confronted with an uncomfortable fact about their HIV status. These subjects of Shifa, became Sharma's friends and now she refers to them as strong and interesting people.

Regular interaction and interviews revealed that these people were living in virtual confinements with no friends, no love, no relations and worst of all, no hope. They were facing rejection, discrimination and constant struggle, both in their outside world and also in a world within.

``Chaaragar haar gaya ho jaise, ab to marna hi bada ho jaise; Mere maathe pe tere pyaar ka haanth, rooh per dast-e-hava ho jaise.’’ (the almighty seems to have given up, death looks like inevitable; your affectionate touch on my forehead, seems like cool air for the soul )

The above verse is from Shifa, which has been sung by a local (from Lucknow) composer Ravi Nagar in his mellifluous voice. He narrates how interesting and challenging it was to compose the music for a sensitive play like Shifa. ``To compose music for poetry is easy but to give music to thoughts and convert it into poetry was tough.’’ The end result of his efforts is beautiful as the lyrics impressively underline the state of mind of persons living with HIV, who inch closer to death every day, less because of the disease but more because their constant interface with stigma.

``Being a woman I knew what discrimination was and for an artiste stigma is not an alien word. What I understood during my interaction with HIV positive people was that slowly they internalise this stigma, which brings them into a denial mode.’’ She made minute observations for deep comprehension of what goes within the psyche of a person living with HIV.

Ms Sharma’s message to the world through her theatre is – spread love, feel compassion and extend comfort to all those who are suffering as life is too precious to be rejected at any cost even if it is the last day of the life.

The play reminded me of the famous pop singer Michael Jackson, who was a great philanthropist and humanitarian, and who in 1991, had written lyrics denoting similar feelings of compassion for the fellow human beings who are in need of it .........

``Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me, and for entire human race; there are people dying, if you care enough for the living, make it a better place for you and for me.’’

Ayodhya needs bigger hearts!!!

A piece of land and a few fundamental forces can keep a whole lot of people on their toes. India has a living example to prove this, in the form of Ayodhya Ram Janma Bhoomi and Babri Masjid case.

The legal proceedings in the matter had been carrying on for last 60 years. Many people who were involved in the case died long ago, many others have changed their political alliances.

Now the court is ready with its verdict. The court is to decide basically whether originally there was a mosque or a temple.

Both parties in the case - Hindus and Muslims have the legal rights to move the Apex Court of the country, if the verdict is not in their favour.

Speculations are that in case the verdict goes in favour of Muslims, they would then hand over the land to Hindus, instead of taking any further legal action.

The reason is simple; a few progressive Muslims observe - ``The land in question is disputed and no Muslim would like to offer Namaaz at a site that had been involved in legal entangle. Let Hindus make a temple or do whatever they want to do with the land.''

Their opinion is -- ``The decision might ignite differences among the Muslims, but that would be a fight within a community and it would not cause a tussle between Hindu and Muslims.''

What a noble thought!

Why can't the Hindu forces think on such lines as this would end the tussle once for all.

This whole conjuncture sounds more like a wishful thinking, though.

But, if this happens, the government then can use the land for building a hospital where poor people can get free treatment. The hospital can be named Ram Janma Bhoomi Babri Masjid Hospital or Ayodhya Hospital, for which both Hindus and Muslims can donate money.

Or the land can also be used for building a higher education institute where students of Ayodhya can get higher degrees.

Such an act would benefit people from both the communities - which is not at all possible by building a mosque or a temple.

However, we can only wait and watch. Let's see what actually happens and who reacts in what way!!!

Sonia's pick?

The people of this most populous north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh are desperately waiting for a change of guard.

Regional parties (Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - led by Mayawati and the Samajwadi Party (SP) - led by Mulayam Singh Yadav) have been tested in this state time and again.

Presently the state is ruled by Behen Kumari (Sister Ms) Mayawati ji.

Both of these parties have confirmed and reconfirmed with lot of conviction that land grabbing and money making would remain at the prime focus in their rule.

Development remains an alien word for these parties, whose leaders lack in vision. They cannot see beyond their immediate personal gains. The result is that every time these regional parties come to rule, they push the state a few years back.

Now the options, with which the people of Hindi heartland are left with, are either the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Congress - both national parties and both have ruled the nation.

Of these, the BJP is a party, which is constantly on a decline since after its dynamic leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee - who had been the Prime Minister of the country also - retired from politics. In Uttar Pradesh, the party is facing crisis of not only leadership but it is also bankrupt when it comes to raising public issues.

Even in this 21st century when the world talks of revolutions in genetic sciences and information technology, the BJP talks of Ram Mandir (Temple of Hindu God Ram) and tries to lure the voter in the name of a Hindu mythological character.

The only hope left is the comeback of the Congress party, which at present, is ruling the country with its alliance partners and which has at least started talking about system reforms.

The last best governance, which Uttar Pradesh can boast of, was of the Congress party (two decades back).

The young generation (below 21) has not seen the rule of the Congress and they are pinning their hopes in this party, mostly because its young leader Rahul Gandhi.

The party pitched in Rita Bahuguna Joshi against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati by giving her the charge of the party in this state. An energetic and hard working woman, Rita completely changed the way the party used to function, earlier. The Congress leaders in Uttar Pradesh were known for their comfortable life styles as they preferred to stay inside in the comforts of their air-conditioned rooms.

But, Rita changed the trend and led all political events from the front. Her daunting efforts brought dividends and the Congress party, which had been long forgotten in this state, at least became visible. People started recognising it as a potential contender in the elections.

In over two and half years' time Rita held thousands of public meetings, demonstrations and sit-ons in the state. She travelled to each district of the state a minimum of three times. She travels not less than 400 kilometres everyday and holds at least two meetings, daily, on an average. She is constantly confronting Mayawati on people’s problems and thereby posing a discomfiture to Mayawati’s absolute majority government.

Under her leadership, the party's vote percentage went up from 12 in 2004 parliament polls to 18 in 2009 general elections and the seats doubled (from 10 to 21). The rising graph obviously strengthened people's hope.

At this juncture, the time came for the selection of a new party chief in the state.

Unfortunately, the party, which was putting up a show of strength till now, suddenly seemed to be crumbling down.

Internal bickering and strong differences started coming to the fore. There are strong lobbies working to restrict Rita from repeating (primarily because men couldn't tolerate a woman doing better than them) the office of state president. Many veterans claimed their stakes in case there were elections for the party president's post - all this stooping only to defeat Rita.

It was sad to see senior leaders openly protesting against the woman (Rita), who gathered the party literally from the dust, cleaned it, polished it and made it sparkle.

Aware of the conflicts within the party in this most backward state, the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi finally took the rein in her hands. Now, it is she, who would announce the name of the person who would lead the party in Uttar Pradesh and under whose leadership the Congress would contest the next most crucial assembly elections in the state.

Let's see what she decides and who gets the post. Should it be Rita who would carry forward her own fine work of strengthening the party or a new face, who would start working from scratch to first build his own credibility and then work for the party!

Any guesses !!!

weighty issue

I used to think it's only British, who have nothing else to talk except weather (apart from food, of course). Now, I see that even Indians are gradually having dearth of topics. The topic of conversation we Indians love to indulge the most, is `people's weight'.

Of course, weather too remains one of our most favourite topics but weight comes heavily on everything else. Whether it is two friends meeting after a long or two colleagues bumping into each other after a long gap - the conversation invariably starts with `weight'. This weighty discussions take place even behind the back of people in question.

What coaxed me to raise this issue are two recent incidents....

I happened to meet an old colleague of mine after a gap of over six months and the welcoming words from him were -- ``Ooohhh... Is everything alright with you? You have lost so much weight! You are looking so weak...''!!

Miffed, I didn't know what to say - so I apologised for being so negligent to my health and also blamed my busy schedule for bringing me to this misery of being slim.

The fact is that my weight has got stuck to 50 kilos for last many years and I practice Yoga to maintain and stay around that nice number. God too had always been kind to me for not letting me grow fat ever. The situation has however perturbed many, who are concerned about my well being. (Now that's a different story that they would never call me to know about my welfare).

I started wondering if this guy has nothing else to ask me or could he not find any other way to start the conversation!! (In such cases talking of weather is better, I suppose.)

A few days later, I saw a photo caption story in an English daily. The story was on an Indian film star Kareena Kapoor, who started the trend of zero figure in the Indian film industry. The photographer had captured the lovely actress in three different angles. In all the photos the actress was wearing short dresses revealing her long legs. However, the photographer had his lens focused on her thighs. The shutterbug had tried to conclude how negligent Kareena Kapoor was towards her figure, which made her gain excess fat on her thighs.

I tried to look at the pictures from different angles - unfortunately, I could not see any excess fat and the actress to me looked as ravishing as she always does.

I realised then that again if there is nothing to talk - talk about weight, especially when the person in question is a woman. The same rule does not apply to men. Never one must have heard men commenting on their mates' weight - even if they are fat, or look like match stick or have a big, ugly paunch.

I want to ask all such people who are concerned about people's weight so much ---

What's my colleague's problem if I have lost a few kilos

And what's this photographer's concern if Kareena has gained a few pounds.

Please, get a life!!! And for God's sake let people live their lives. Let them decide how much fat they would love to see on their bodies. If we are happy in our skins, it should not bother our friends and well wishers. Spare us women, please. We are grown and mature enough to watch our weight, we don't need weight watchers.

Go, and read some good literature and watch some thought provoking movies. Watch some sports, develop some hobby and get involved in some creative activity and you will then have no dearth of topics to talk about!!!

it's a shame!

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/up-woman-pps-officer-assaulted-by-traffic-constables-in-bareilly-49199

Read the news in the link given here -- It's shameful!!!

I feel ashamed of the whole incident. It should make the whole society feel ashamed - at least everyone in this state of Uttar Pradesh where law and order has gone for a six.

The incident made me wonder as to which type of society we are heading, where people have no fear of law, where the law abiding citizens have to go through such harrowing experiences but where the criminals roam freely with their heads high!!!

Three constables (One of the lowest ranks in the Indian police, who are recruited directly by the state governments) tried to run over a woman officer from Indian Police Services (IPS) (who are selected through an all India level examination). The officer, who became a victim of these barbarian male cops, was not only a woman, she was also their senior.

It is significant to note that the incident has taken place in a state, which is ruled by a woman. However, the government has done its duty by suspending the constables, who are absconding. It is pertinent to mention here that in suspension a government employee gets half his salary. As usual the constables would remain in the hiding for a while till everyone has forgotten the incident and would then resume their duties as nothing has happened.

What I feel is that such impertinent and animal-like people - whether they are in the government jobs or in the private services - should immediately be chucked out of jobs with adverse entries in their service records. Besides, they should be given some strict punishment restricting others to dare similar actions.

But this is purely a wishful thinking as I am sure it will never be the case - at least not in this state of Uttar Pradesh. In this state, the government employees and the politician are above all laws. They can mistreat anyone, misbehave with anyone, beat anyone, damage anyone's property, or even kill anyone and can simply walk away.

The vehicles ferrying government officers and their families use pressure horns (which are legally banned) and give mental pressure to so many. The vehicles of politicians jump the traffic signals and cause traffic chaos and hazards for others. The big lorries involved in transporting the construction material required for the monuments and memorials of the government kill at

least one person (including school going children) on a daily basis.

The vehicles, which are carrying either the government officials or the politicians, now also the high court judges, intimidate the law-abiding commuters on the road - who generally follow the traffic rules. The vehicles of politicians and bureaucrats are - as a rule - never park their vehicles in the parking. Hit and run is a routine formula for government vehicles.

But none of these people have ever been punished. No action has been taken against these law breakers.

It's people like you and me whose cars are lifted by the traffic cops because once in a blue moon we do not park in the parking lot. We have to face the legal case if we by chance get involved in an accident. We are fined for having a dark solar filming in our cars while all the politicians go out freely in jet black filming.

These bureaucrats and politicians have given patronage to their subordinates, who are simply following their bosses and indulging in all sorts of illegal activities. This patronage has given courage to the lowest of the lows ranks to dare mistreat even their seniors. They know that law has got nothing to do with them as they are beyond these legalities which are for the lesser mortals, like us.

I don't think even these constables would be punished hard enough (suspension is not punishment) for their crime!

Don't Malign India - Common Wealth Games

A few days back the government of UK released a set of guidelines for its citizens - which clearly warned them to watch their behaviour while dealing with people of different nations - who would be visiting the Queen's land during London Olympics 2012.

``French are rude, Belgians take offense at people snapping their fingers, never mistake Canadians for Americans, who can be very direct, Australians use coarse language and Indians are, in general, impatient.''

Here they go again.... more to come against Indians.... ``Indians like to be attended quickly and it has been observed that the more affluent they are the more demanding they tend to be... Also, stay away from Indians, who do not like to be touched by strangers and may be suspicious about British food...''

It was weird and quite offensive to an extent the way people of different nationalities were described by the government of UK.

Yet, the British authorities should be forgiven for they are ignorant. They have not experienced the beauty of various cultures. Their spectrum is not wide enough to absorb the values, which different countries follow. Their world (food, language and life style) revolves around Queen's throne. So, they can be pardoned.

What offended me to no limits were the guidelines issued by the Indian government for the tourists who would be visiting India during the Common Wealth Games.

Here is a sample of these guidelines issued on a website prepared by the Games authorities.....

• No public display of affection (no hugging - no kissing).
• No discussion on religion but can have a debate on politics as Indians love to discuss politics.
• Use bathrooms in hotels as the public toilets are few and filthy.
• Carry your own wet wipes and tissues.
• Take off your shoes while entering an Indian house.
• Think twice before driving on Indian roads. It is not advisable to drive on Indian roads with all that traffic.
• When shopping at roadside shops, be ready to bargain - quote 50 percent of the price and settle for 60 percent of what the shopkeeper has quoted.
• Indians are curious by nature and therefore, if you are stared at, don't mind.

After going through these guidelines I wondered if the Games authorities feel we Indians are still living in 17th century and we behave in such uncivlised way!!!

What I suggest to Common Wealth Games authorities is that instead of giving this ugly image of an uncivilised nation where uncouth citizens live, they could have tried to improve the basic infrastructure in the country to enhance the image of the nation.

Then I tried to analyse why we Indians behave the way we behave and found out that there are reasons behind our acceptable or not so acceptable behaviour. My analysis goes like this........

• Indians follow centuries old culture and do not allow strangers to kiss and hug. Reason: the stranger might be carrying some infection!
• Indians do not discuss religion because we are the most secular society and we respect and honour all religions and try not to hurt the religious sentiments of people.
• We love to discuss politics because we are evolved and aware. Any debate on politics is welcomed in the world's biggest democracy because here everyone is free to have his/her own political opinion.
• The public facilities are less as the government does not care. If there were toilets which were kept clean and were equipped with tissues and rolls, people in general would have learnt their proper usage. The poor people of Indian who can't afford two meals a day cannot be expected to learn the use of toilet roll and buy it for their daily use.
• Most Indians take off their shoes before entering their houses because a house is not a mere house for many - it is a kind of religious place because a family lives there and nothing is more sacred and pious than a family. Besides, we avoid bringing germs and bacteria inside the house therefore, take off shoes, which we have worn outside our homes.
• Indian traffic is mental because politicians and bureaucrats invariably love to flout the traffic rules and people generally follow their leaders.
• Many Indian items sold on roadside, are available at fifty times more their original price in other countries, which are making money by selling them. Then why not let our small time businessmen make some money from these foreigners, who come to India thinking everything is cheap here.
• Indians are curious because in the race of development we had been left behind and now to make up we want to learn everything and we want to learn everything fast so that we can emerge as competitors for other nations.

Does anyone in the Common Wealth Games have to say anything in this matter???

Traffic Park - for whom ?

The government of Uttar Pradesh has constructed a Traffic Park in the capital city of Lucknow. The park is spread in over 2,500 acres and is equipped with especially designed infrastructure and educates the visitor about various traffic rules and road signs. The aim behind setting up such a park is to teach traffic rules to the children.

Very good idea indeed!

But what I think is that in this city it is not the children who need to be educated about traffic and its rules and the road signs but the elders who badly need tuitions in traffic rules.

Of the elders, it is basically the drivers of politicians and bureaucrats (zooming in ambassadors/MUVs/SUVs with red and blue lights on top), who urgently need to to be educated about traffic rules.

Then there are roadways bus drivers - who drive so rash that they take one life invariably every day - and also the drivers of school buses - who speed recklessly while ferrying our young ones and speed - they require proper training in traffic rules.

Also, the drivers of roadways buses and big lorries like dumpers - carrying construction material - which too kill one or two people on a daily basis, need to be taken to driving classes and pumped in some sense of traffic rules.

Lastly, the auto drivers of the city, who in a fight to be ahead of each other block the whole road, they also require to sit through driving classes.

The government should organise formal visits for these aforementioned species to the traffic park, where they should be asked questions about various road signs. I am sure a whole lot of them would look as dumb as dumb can be as to them the traffic rules and road signs are nothing but Greek.

Once these elders have learnt how to drive like civilised persons, the children will automatically learn the rules and regulations.

It is a known fact that children learn faster by seeing and copying their elders.

Some LuckNow For Our Lucknow

The moment someone mentions Lucknow, the picture of a place emerges, which has some leisurely grandeur, where nawabs (Muslim royals) roam in their traditional attire of kurta, achkan and churidaar, their interactions/conversations reflect tehzeeb & adab (respectfulness), and tameez (ettiquate) , where the culture of pehle aap, pehle aap (after you) results in these nawabs missing their train.

Lucknow is not the name of just any other city on this planet. Someone has said... Lucknow ek ehsaas hai jise junoon wale hi mehsoos ker sakte hain (Lucknow is a deep-felt feeling, which only passionate people can experience).

One of my friends from Delhi has grasped this essence of Lucknow. He comes and visits me once in four-five years just to enjoy the leisurely life. He insists on getting a Tonga ride and finds it amazing that shops in Hazratganj (the most modern and happening shopping place of the city) open only about noon time.

What made him fall in love with this city was his first ride in an auto rickshaw in the city. The auto met with an accident with a motorbike and the bikers, to his surprise instead of picking up a fight, said to the auto driver, ``bhaiya itni bedardi se brake na lagaya karo'' (brother, don't apply brake so heartlessly). ``What a place where people show their anger in such gentle and romantic language!'' His reflection.

According to him the kind of sukoon (peace) and itminan (complacency) he finds in beggars' and rickshaw pullers' eyes in Lucknow, is rare. ``They are happy in whatever they have - no rush to get more... this is a feeling, which people in the other parts of the civilised world can't even imagine''. His comment. Unfortunately, this time he could not find the same Lucknow what he experienced 24 years back. He was devastated to see the mall culture overpowering the Mughal heritage.

He was right! Lucknow is fast changing into any other growing mega city.

A bunch of evolved people from this unique city, who are in love with this Indian city and who are also concerned about its growing urbanisation, increasing population but deteriorating culture, have come together to find ways to bring back the glorious past of this legendary city of India.

The bunch includes noted film maker Muzaffar Ali, his designer wife Meera Ali, retired Indian Revenue Officer Parveen Talha, Chairman Confederation of Indian Industries State Council Jayant Krishna, General Manager of Taj Hotel Shekhar Walavalkar, known heart specialist Dr Mansoor Hasan, writer Ravi Bhatt, historian Yogesh Praveen, ace photographer Ravi Kapoor, and many more alike.

A few of their concerns are :

The city is getting less and less tourists with every passing year.

The arts and crafts, such as chikankari (fine hand embroidery), Awadhi cuisines, fine silver foil making, which is used to decorate desserts, antiques etc. etc. are dying a slow death.

The generation Y from the city is not aware of their rich heritage.

The majestic Mughal monuments are suffering from constant encroachment.

The narrow lanes of the old and traditional city are threatened to lose their existence due to sheer neglect.

The concerned minds have come up with several suggestions, like Muzaffar Ali says tourism can be promoted only when people have a passion to share. They can share their food, their buildings, their crafts, their arts and so on. Now, it is up to people to decide what they want to share individually or collectively.

Very well said indeed, as the Taj General Manager Mr Walavalkar pointed out that Goa is a big tourist hub not because it has some of the world's best beaches as it does not have even the best beaches of India, but in Goa tourism has flourished because of its people, who have a passion to share their surroundings, their culture and their heritage with the rest of the world.

The suggestion came with a warning; ``please do not give the tourism related work into unprofessional hands, rather involve the best talented professionals from any part of the world for the simple reason that when you invite people from worldwide, you should give them the world class infrastructure and services as well''. Mr Ali explains.

Also, while doing all this keep a pace with the world, use internet for wide publicity and easy access, make CDs of the monuments and cultural heritage so that the tourist gets authentic information and is also not fleeced and fooled by the uninformed guide.

One very important thing that draws unanimous concern from the like minded people, is the identity of Lucknow airport, which was known as Amausi Airport but was recently renamed as Chowdhary Charan Singh Airport.

The name does not coincide with Lucknow and does not denote the city's character in anyways whereas an airport is the gateway to a city and it should reflect the city's essence and character and should spark the imagination of the visitor.

Unfortunately, this name can't be changed but there is hope as a new building for the international airport is soon to come up next to the existing airport building. Now all those who love Lucknow even a bit need to lobby for naming of this new building as either Begum Hazrat Mahal Airport, Lucknow or Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Airport, Lucknow.

The time is perfect for such lobbying as Hazratganj is all set to celebrate its 200th year of existence and lot of work is already underway to make the event a memorable one. The shopping area is getting a face lift to transcend people to the `ganjing' era (when people used to come to Hazratganj to just take a stroll or to have coffee and pastries). A series of festivities have been planned in December.

This year the railways too, are starting a Maharaja Express on the pattern of Palace on Wheels, which marketed Rajasthan very well. This Maharaja Express aiming to market the Awadh region is the most expensive train ever (costing US$800 per day) and it promises its guests a real royal experience.

So, there are people who have the inkling and the time too is appropriate to bring back the lost glory of Lucknow. But, this would require lot of hard work on the ground as mere conferences, talks and seminars will not change the face of this new Lucknow we are living in.

Let's begin with hope and let each one of us take up our share of responsibilities.

Decide not to litter our roads and surroundings and check others doing the same to keep the city clean.

Take a vow not to use or use as little as inevitable, the horns in our vehicles to minimise noise pollution in the city. Those who do not drive themselves should check their drivers for the same.

Try parking your vehicle in the parking even if you are a bureaucrat or a politician. Learn to follow traffic rules to minimise chaos on the city roads.

Try to form a queue wherever there are plenty of people to show the world that we belong to a civilised world.

Have a regard and respect for elders at home and also on the road, whether they are driving or walking.

A bit of consideration and courtesy in our daily lives can bring the change and make Lucknow the Lucknow.

So best wishes to us and to Lucknow!

Life is Cheap in India

The thought process of Indian politicians is funny - I sometimes wonder whether I should appreciate their sense of humour or pity the stupidity of those running this nation. Funny suggestions keep emerging from these policy makers.

They are coming up with innovative ways to curb increasing road accidents (which have become so common on Indian roads that now they no longer make news). First, they came up with a suggestion to change the colour of the bicycles from boring black to bright orange or yellow so that to increase the visibility of the cyclists on the roads. Now another suggestion (which surprisingly came from the Apex Indian court) is to make the sale of helmets mandatory with the sale of every motorbike or scooter.

Both suggestions sound funny and myopic - especially if they are seen in Indian perspective - first of which is that people badly need to be educated about traffic rules and road manners, secondly giving people something free in India would not ensure that it would be used.

The government should understand (its high time!!) that road safety comes primarily when people respect life in general and to preserve that precious gift of God they strictly follow the traffic rules and regulations, like in other civilised nations in different parts of the world.

The Indian politicians (read opposition parties) might be crying their throat hoarse of price rise and inflation there is one thing in India, which is still dime a dozen -- yes, it is human life....

It is unfortunate and sad but true...

The court talks of helmets becoming a compulsory accessory to be sold with each two-wheeler sold anywhere all across the nation. Incidentally, in India most of the bikers wear their helmets only out of fear of being caught by a cop and not to save themselves from serious head injuries.

It is not unusual to see helmets hanging at the side of the bikes or from the bike handles while the bikers zoom freely. The same biker would quickly put the helmet onto his head (mind you - not worn properly with its buckle fastened but simply put on as a cap) the moment he would spot a policeman. So basically, the helmet is there on the biker's head because the law asks the riders of the two wheelers to wear helmets.

And this is happening with helmets, for which the bikers have spent money. Now imagine the status of helmets, which would come free with the bikes! I wonder if it would ensure their proper usage??

It is not only the bikers and helmets - same goes with seat belts in the cars. Majority of car drivers seem to have an acute dislike for seat belts. They find it suffocating and also do not see any use of unnecessary strapping of humans. But no sooner these drivers are nearing a traffic light or they spot policemen, they quickly pull the seat belt and hang it onto their shoulders (again- it is not clasped properly) and the shoulder is set free the moment that emergency situation is passed.

The policemen too - on most of the occasions - will stop a car because it has solar filming and a bike because it is modified and looks jazzy - but they will never check or fine a car driver for not wearing seat belts and rarely stop or penalise a biker for not wearing a helmet. It seems even policemen see helmets and seat belts as unnecessary accessories designed by some lunatic to mar the pleasures of driving with freedom.

On analysing this behaviour deeply, what I could gather was that life is cheap here, so people neither bother to save their own lives nor they have respect for the lives of other people and therefore why use a seat belt and why wear a helment - even if it comes free.

Smile that you are in Lucknow but DO NOT SMILE IF YOU ARE IN KGMC

Muskurae ki aap Lucknow me hain... (Smile that you are in Lucknow...) - Anyone, who has lived in Lucknow or has ever visited this city of Nawabs (Muslim Royal Families), must have seen these words scribbled on boards at various places. Conforming to the laidback character of the city these words simply ask people to feel happy since they are in this city, which boasts of a rich and colourful history.

In the same city there is a place where a bright smile can become a cause of a fight and a patient can be denied treatment. Yes, this godforsaken place is KGMC (King George's Medical College) - now known as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University.

I could never imagine that a name can have so much influence on one's character. But, it seems with a change of the name, this premier institution has certainly changed its character and personality - no more refined manners and ettiquate underlining King George's legacy but unfortunately the institute now displays a panaromic view of uncouth and unruly behaviour.

Its doctors now find places in headlines more for their unruly behaviour, than for their achievements and laurels. Roughing up patients' families or speaking rudely to patients is accepted behaviour of KGMC doctors.

Today, I happened to witness the height of misbehaviour and misdemeanor when a senior doctor refused to see a patient. Why? Because the patient made a blunder - she smiled while the doctor was shouting at the top of her voice at a guard. Displaying her insecurity, Dr Vinita Agarwal, the Professor in Skin Department, took this smile (which was an innocent gesture of exchanging pleasantries between the patient and an intern who was sitting in front of the doctor) as a personal insult.

She not only picked up a fight with the patient she also refused to see her. The patient (Alka Pande - myself) had waited for more than an hour at the OPD (Out Patient Department) to show myself as I was having skin allergy for a while. I was aghast to see such uncouth and childish behaviour from such a senior doctor! Now I could imagine what happens with common patients and how they are treated.

I wondered if these doctors, who take Hyppocratic oath to treat all patients indiscriminately and who supposedly should adopt sympathetic attitude towards their patients, are really doctors!

I thought of registering a complaint with the Vice Chancellor of the University regarding the unethical behaviour of the doctor but on second thoughts I gave up the idea - thinking if the Head of the institution was strict enough to monitor the working of its doctors - the doctors would have never dared to act in such manner - which means no one gives two hoots to the patients' sufferings.

The dirty and unhygienic conditions of the OPD also confirmed that both the doctors and the Vice Chancellor were least concerned about their institute and its up keep, how can they have a professional attitude towards the patients? The institute is functioning because it is a government institute and it has to function and the doctors here are coming to their work because they are getting good wages. There is no compassion and no sense of service to the needy - I think that is too much to expect from them.

I vowed never to come back to this institution even if I am dying and this is the only medical institute on this planet to give me some treatment.

I was disappointed - disappointed with our unprofessional system and unprofessional behaviour of our doctors.

What gave me a hope that humanity is not completely dead in the medical fraternity of this city and there are still people - who can be termed as doctors. Dental College - Bang opposite KGMC is its Dental Unit - which is not only located opposite Medical College, it is also a paradox to medical college. The doctors are polite and nice and the place is clean and patient friendly.

What amazes me is the question - what is it which makes these two units - medical and dental - both part of the same institution - so different to each other -- one fully professional and committed and the other still waiting to be taught how to be professional or even humane.

colour blind

Accidents, killing cyclists and those walking on the road, are common in India. But the Indian government has suddenly woken up to realise this fact.

Perplexed to find ways to tackle the problem, the Ministry of Surface Transport has come up with an idea to introduce a law that from now on all the bicycles would come in bright orange colour. The argument is that the colour would make the cyclists clearly visible on the road and therefore no accidents. Fair enough, the colour would definitely make the cyclists visible. But, is that all required to stop accidents and road rage which thrives on Indian roads.

In India black is the colour for all the basic bicycles, which serve as a common mode of transport, especially for those who can't afford the luxury of travelling in overcrowded public transport, like buses and trains.

I was bewildered at the wisdom of our government. Instead of ensuring stringent compliance of traffic rules and instead of educating people to strictly adopt the road safety measures, the government is planning to change the colour of the bicycle to ensure the safety of cyclists.

I am wondering....will the change of colour would actually help cyclists save themselves from the speeding MUVs and SUVs - raving on the Indian roads with vengeance. The owners of these cars (mostly the politicians or their henchmen) firmly believe that the roads belong to them - them alone and no one else (especially not to those who are either walking or who are in smaller vehicles - be it cycle or scooter or even a small car). Even the government run buses speed and every second day the newspapers report the death of either school going children or of women.

So, the question is - will this bright orange colour be powerful enough to deter the owners of these powerful big machines from their usual road rage? Or will the colour be inspiring enough to let them show a little courtesy to cyclists or even to those walking on the pavement or crossing the streets?

Personally I don't think so. I am not so hopeful. Rather, I would suggest that its high time we Indians should start `behaving' on the road. Let's start showing some courtesy and some manners while driving. What the government can do is to ensure that the extensive traffic laws/rules, which exist in India are implemented in their true letter and spirit. There should be strict punishments/penalties for those who violate these rules. The politicians and their men too should NOT be spared when they break the law.

Many would argue that it is not possible as the country is so big and there are so many vehicles and so many people on the roads, its not practical to penalise everyone. Not everyone can observe patience while driving. Also, people say such behaviour (which is in the blood of even a growing up kid in the west) is not possible in a big country like India.

Even if the argument holds any weight, does that mean we accept the rude and uncivilised behaviour and practice it in our daily lives? I don't think so. At least we can make a start to ensure road safety. Two simple steps can be taken at practically no cost to anyone - implement the law on the government part and behave our best on our part.

Let's face the fact - in India maximum death happen due to road accidents. If these two steps make a slight change on our roads and make the traffic conditions better and safer for people, we can continue walking, but stop if these two steps fail.

During my recent visit to UK I saw how the cars follow the cyclists if they are on a ``no-overtaking'' road. They wait patiently and no one honks, no one rushes the cyclists. The cars overtake the bicycle only when the road signs permit them to overtake. The cars stop if people start crossing the road, even when the pedestrian signal is red. All the vehicles give way to others trying to reverse or turn.

Instead of introducing an interesting colour for the bicycles, the need is to stop and ponder why there are two extremes of behaviour on the roads? One in the west which is sensible, courteous, polite and legal and the other which is mental, discourteous, aggressive and illegal. In my belief it is simple respect to life - which they do and we don't.