Where Terrorism hasn’t dropped in, war is being speculated

Where terrorism hasn’t dropped in, war is being speculated. Terrorism has targeted the Indian economy. The paces at which the cities are being transformed into shopping malls, citizens are becoming avid consumers and this has drawn a line of profit and business in the minds of people. In this line, consumerism has become the basis of relationships and hence has divided a specific section of the society. If we look at the chain of cities being victimized, they are namely, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. Terrorism is proliferating itself to other fast developing cities like Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Hyderabad as well.

The trend has also enveloped those small cities which are in the race of transforming into a big city. It may be Malegaon or Banaras. Actually, the truth behind the terrorized territory is shattering. A market of terror has been created on these lands and its consumerist nature to spread terror has been prevalent since the last decade. Terrorism hasn’t broken hope in the lives of people. In reality, this hope and life is that of the ‘market’; a market in front of which the biggest of terrors are forgotten rather than being fought. Hence, terror has not struck its chord at places with no markets.

There are numerous cities in this country where terrorism is more like a narrative account. In Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, terrorism is just like shopping malls and chaotic life of big cities where the oxygen of profit is required every now and then. There, confrontation or relating with anyone is more a business driven by profit. However, in Kumaon region, one may realize that only ones personal presence is enough for others to be friendly.

The person wouldn’t care about your pocket. This art is a part of country’s tradition and culture. But developing country’s terror stricken market driven by economic policies has led to creating of an art of trading that tradition and culture among the consumers. In India, two types of understanding of India has raised due to the presence of markets. When for the first time the question of confronting Pakistan on terrorism came up, Kumaon seemingly felt the situation. Kumaon is a region which has never faced terrorism. Kumaon region is famous for its Kumaon Regiment which symbolizes the will of residents to join the Indian army. The list of families having Army as a dream choice for themselves is long. The children of these cities feel happy and proud to see the killing of terrorists by laser guns and bullets.

When these children grow up they tend to understand this business driven by profit and prefer an MBA to hone their market skills. Some children become violent and hence to look different and show their presence in schools and college, take up guns. These kids want things fast. And for parents, the ways which lead to profit seem pleasant.

The feeling of dying for nation is ingrained in the minds and hearts of children of this region since childhood. From Hawaldar to Lieutenant to Colonel, whatever the post may be, these kids enliven them through their fathers and uncles. Now that Pakistan is being held responsible for the Mumbai attacks and war seems apparent, families residing in the mountains are preparing for the consequences. Holidays of the whole Kumaon Regiment have been cancelled. Every one is on duty. No one is presently deployed but a wave has filled up inside the regiment and the families of those in the Army.

This wave is creating a passion and making everyone realize that they have given up because of the market’s terror. These emotions signify confrontation. For the life of big city dwellers this confrontation is not just about carrying candles or demanding justice. This confrontation has a passion for protecting the Nation’s soil. Dying with a feeling of Nationalism gives immense peace. No more does the child now ask his father about his return. Similarly, no father now makes his son realize that he would come home early. A son would love to handle his father’s uniform and gun and the father would inspire his son to take up his gun and join the Army.

It’s normal in Kumaon region that a generation didn’t get to witness war. They retired without seeing any war and even wiping a gun was a big deal. Maximum soldiers from the Kumaon region were martyred not in the Kargil war but in the 1984 Bhindrawala case in Punjab. The families have those memories fresh till date; the decision of sending Kumaon Regiment and the fate of the soldiers inside the Golden Temple. The terrorists were backfired by a planned initiation of the Indian soldiers and the soldiers faced pain of their martyred fellows on returning. No matter how much controversial the Golden Temple Operation was and a line was drawn between various communities of the society, Kumaon never debated Indira Gandhi’s decision on the same. These Kumaonis very well remember the moment of victory of this operation. How did the kids of the brave martyrs raise guns then? The true feeling of patriotism and love for Nation can only be well understood amid these families.

Post Mumbai terror attacks when it was questioned that Police, NSG; Army etc…are not paid properly and are not given proper facilities and that they should be given more salary and competent weapons. The families that lived in the mountains contended that money and facilities are no parameters for instigating passion and valor. Rich people of Delhi and Mumbai should think of cutting their luxuries and promoting soldiers in the Army. The question has been often raised by the mountain dwellers that how relevant is the reason behind developing the nation at this pace? The unity of this nation is being smashed on the name of making money. Obviously, the society would be breached.

Kumaon regiment’s headquarters are at Ranikhet. Standing anywhere in Kumaon one may understand boundaries of China, as the complete Himalayan Range is visible from there. The whole picture of the Indo-China war of 1961 seems clear from Kumaon. The life in mountainous terrain is very hard and when China attacked India, Uttarakhand was very active. At that time weapons used were the ancient 2-piped guns and dandas. The canons were equally ancient and bulky.

Kumaon is engrossed in the memories of war knocked by terrorism. These memories promise Nation’s security but looking at the financial status of Kumaon, many questions have come up. Is the Government’s role to create war conditions? Is the passion and vigour to fight for Nation confined only to the regions immune to market terrorisms? Is the need for leading a metropolitan lifestyle dividing India? Would the coming generation learn Nationalism only through terrorism and wars? Would the election politics engulf regions like Kumaon? Where there is preparation to confront war, terrorism would not dare to approach.

Handicapping politics of Amar- Akbar – Anthony (part 2)

(Continued from part one)

I went to Patna from Delhi to attend the Book Fair. I resided in a hotel next to Gandhi Maidan so that it’s easy to commute between hotel and Gandhi Maidan. From Golghar to B.N. College, the roads were so clamped and congested that it seemed as if the whole city was on roads. As I walked out of the college, I saw the college result pasted on the wall.

I was to go to the Book Fair, hence left from there only. On the way to my hotel, I came across the traffic police office; a structure almost in ruins. The roof was shattered and tattered with dark green algae grown all over the walls. A part was broken. And just opposite to this office was a street with vehicles in bulk. Scooter, motorcycle, tempos and cars were all covered in dust and dirt as if no one had seen them since ages. This filthy bulk of vehicles resting adjacent to Gandhi maidan seemed to have turn into shady public toilet.

Around 25 years back, when the CM of Bihar inaugurated the Traffic Police office, it also gave police the responsibility to teach civic sense to the public. However, the very word ‘civic sense’ outweighed the police. In hurry to attend the book fair or may be amidst the colour of Bihar I realized that on my way to the fair I confronted a rally. They were singing songs shaped up in bollywood music and hence were raising their demands for the basic minimum. The tempo which had the loudspeaker in it carried four ladies and one man. Two ladies carried infants alongside and raised slogans. We reached the hotel somehow crawling with the rally and left for the Book Fair from there as soon as possible. The program was that of a Media Leader and on Saturday, I was the media leader. After describing my all these years in media, the question answer round began. A majority 80% of total audiences were the youth of age group 15 to 35. There questions were mainly regarding the anxiousness, increasing issues and lack of options in Bihar. For the first time in a public meeting in Patna I ever realized that the whole Bihar is silent on the issue of lack of options and opportunities. Before this the reflection of JP’s movement came up as a debate. However, the generation that is facing grave conditions and is striving to create favourable circumstances for it, is totally different from the Bihar till 1990s.

The biggest challenge in front of this new generation is financial security which ensures everything from employment to development and helps meeting the bare minimum. A youth on threshold of life wants to become a part of mainstream; shall only confront lack of options in Bihar. Pretending to be a successful person in spite of being a failure is an art of the big cities. Discarding that, the question of lack of options which comes up in meetings and seminars in Patna is because of the present situations. New situations are placing themselves as options and this has very clearly come up.

How is it possible that keeping Bihar at stake, the Central Govt. keeps itself in power? Not only this, also the politicians of Bihar project that without Central’s help, nothing can happen in Bihar. The older generation has questioned this many times. The present governance is deliberately creating a bad picture of the scene post its term or is it that their presence has brought the society on the verge of extinction.

The righteousness has definitely clashed. The new generation has clearly indicated that the new definition of righteousness and justice will be written with changing time. The questions in front of the younger generation will never be faced by the older ones. Hence new questions will be answered in a newer fashion. The ways will be defined by the governance or politics. Also, keeping the needs of majority section in mind, a social agitation is required.

After the meeting, while checking out the Book Fair, I came across a number of questions from the book lovers. Questions like, why is the number of books in fair declining? Why is the fair culture taking shape? The organizer of Book Fair, Amit Jha, had his own reasons. The craze of book fairs which was prevalent till 2004 has come down a bit now, but Bihar has witnessed a change. Bihar’s circumstances have broken the common man from inside. During Lalu’s time people anticipated better options, which motivated them to struggle. The period of Nitish Kumar completely negated the awareness of options and struggle became a dream. Choosing the best book in a fair is similar to choosing the best couple; which is happening on a same platform. The filmy version of music and dramatization of plays looks similar everywhere. Black magic and painting competition are happening in the same event and venue. What has Bihar become? This was a question that kept me occupied throughout the book fair.

At night, while boarding train for Delhi, I came across various people belonging to different cities, who questioned there regions and didn’t even spare Delhi. While I was leaving the fair, I came across Sudhir Kumar Singh who eagerly asked, “If the police administration, court or the Chief Minister refuses to listen to the masses, what should one do?” I suddenly replied, “Kill them.” He asked me, “Where and when?” I took him along to the railway station.

On the way he told that he belongs to Navada. After his father died, his land was snatched away by the powerful Ramchandra Prasad Singh and Awadh Kishore Singh of the village. The land was taken away by Ramchandra Prasad on the name of distribution and when Sudhir went back asking for his land, he and his brother Balmukund were beaten. Also, a police complaint was made against them. They were fed excreta and even his wife wasn’t spared. I mentioned police and law. Sudhir could not control his tears. He told that no FIR was lodged from his side; the SP and Collector of Navada threatened him to leave as soon as possible. Also, DM Pankaj Kumar and SP Vinod Kumar sounded helpless. Police tore the letter by Human Rights Commission in front of his eyes. He appealed to Nitish Kumar not once or twice but seven times. A promise to take action was made but every time he returned to his village; he was beaten and tortured. Sudhir told that he has three children and he secretly stays with them in Dhanbad as he wants to teach them.

It was time for the arrival of my train and Sudhir was giving details one after another. He told me when he submitted his application to the Patna High Court’s Judge and about his appeal to the CM. He also mentioned how he was threatened to leave Bihar by the SP and DM. Obviously I assured Sudhir that we’ll do something. I still stand by my conviction that we’ll definitely do something but for the first time I realize that the game of changing powers is a game in itself and that the Democracy is at stake here.

Amar- Akbar- Anthony’s handicapping politics

6:30 AM, 13 December, Saturday
Howdah Rajdhani halts at Patna junction. The tussle outside the station clearly showed that there’s no time for rest. But looking at the parking outside, with a gunman in front of every parked car, I questioned myself, why this security?

The driver who came to receive me asked for ten rupees, gave it to the security person accompanying him and asked him to leave in an auto. Driver’s name was Taqdeer who was to take me to the Patna Book Fair. I asked Taqdeer to take the security man along s there was enough space in the car. Taqdeer replied that since it was dawn, so there was no harm. “What harm?” I asked. He replied, “Rajdhani comes at around 4:45 am to Patna; it’s usually dark at that time and driving a car may not be safe, hence I came with the guard”.

A scene of car parking opposite to the station came in front of my eyes. The number of private cars equaled the number of gunmen there. Even before the thought left my mind, the station’s chaos covered me. There were loudspeakers blaring from the nearby Hanuman temple and a mad traffic of rickshaws and tempos honking and creating fuss around. It didn’t seem like morning. No one seemed to be thinking that the morning has not yet begun. And presence of energy instead of yawns made me realize that I can’t rest.

I had planned to rest in my hotel room and then go for sight seeing around 10 am with my wife and children; it was their first visit to Patna. But as I travelled from the station to the hotel it looked as if the old anxiousness no longer existed. The nostalgia took me two decades back. I used to walk in the morning from Rajendra Nagar to Gandhi Maidan. It looked greener before. Amid endless cups of tea, debates were framed and politics was discussed; giving insights was also practiced. However, crowded roads breached my sense of nostalgia; I threw my baggage in the hotel and left to enliven my memories with my family. It was 8:30 in the morning. I left Hotel Maurya for Golghar, on foot. On reaching there, ‘No Ticket’ surely surprised my children but after looking at the pathetic condition of the staircase at Golghar they realized what a ticket could have done. The dustbin and an open toilet in the vicinity caught my attention immediately.

From 1985-1988 this was the place of practice for the street theatre. Various groups practiced here and released their ideology coloured in politics. Even I used to practice here with my street theatre group of 9-10. During that time there was a competition between street theatre and stage theatre, but largely they competed to mirror politics in their ways. Meaning that, scenes of the plays portrayed selfish politics in one or the other way. People related their internal anxiousness to the scenes which were enacted in the play and hence applauded the effort.

And now, that ground appeared more like a dustbin and I couldn’t tell my kids that we once thought of turning it into a theatre. They would have definitely asked, “Why wasn’t the theatre made then?” I think, rather than turning the place into a dustbin it would have served well as a ground. This question would have come up definitely, as Munis Raja made an open air theatre amid trees and landscapes in the JNU campus. And I told my children about this when we once visited the campus. An evening while strolling, Munis Raja, the VC of JNU, saw a group of students performing and hence decided to transform it into a proper theatre. Then questioning Golghar’s ground would have raised a question in the minds of children that whether the VC or the Chief Minister has more powers. And the next question would have been, “If the VC strolls in the campus, so should the CM?” What would have they felt on seeing all this?”

Leaving Golghar from the other side, I saw a daanpeti. I got to know that this peti’s only relation with the Golghar was that, whosoever visited the Golghar, donated, benefitting the nearby temple. Pandit Ramanarayan ji also met. He mentioned about the foreign tourists that donated foreign currency in the peti on passing the Golghar. May be the foreigners thought about doing something for Golghar’s worsening condition.

It was foggy and hence the Ganges wasn’t clearly visible from Golghar. We had to take a rickshaw from Golghar to Collectriate ghat. In the meantime, I explained to my children about the banks of Ganga, facing cleaner vicinity during Chhat Puja. But when we reached the ghat the water seemed so dirty and hence untouchable. However, if one ever felt like touching Ganga’s water, one would have to dirty the feet in the surrounding marsh. Seeing all this marsh around, one wouldn’t even realize that it’s Ganga he wants to touch after all. All creatures, from small poor kids and pigs-dogs were visibly sieving the marsh to find something for themselves.

A used thing can become someone’s requirement; this can be seen and felt on this ghat. Anyone who feels like performing a puja in Ganga has to take a boat, which takes him to a raised platform formed in the mid-Ganga. The boatman revealed that that area is cleaner with more clean water than elsewhere. He offered us to come along. “But even this marsh could be cleaned here”, I offered. On this he laughed and said, “There is an authority (Govt.) this side, but no authority over there”. We left then.

Before going to the book fair, I thought of showing my children the college from which I graduated. B.N. College changed its main gate. The main gate, which was earlier on the Ashok Rajpath; its wall was broken to make a short cut to enter the college. As the time passed, the fissure widened. But never did I think that the fissure would turn into the main gate. As I entered the college I sensed an ideological fissure as well. There was a poster on the wall opposite that read- Raj Thackeray ko faansi do..!

When in the early 80’s caste- based violence took over the whole of Patna University, 6 students were murdered. But no one could ever gather courage to even touch anyone from B.N. College. I know two reasons. First, the students of B.N. College were fiercely united. Everyone tried to breach this unity on grounds of caste, but all their efforts failed. Second, students of B.N. College never supported or opposed any politician.

The 1995 Student movement taught the tactic of confronting Raj Thackeray’s politics. A conversation with the students made me realize that they have the vigour and will to slice Raj Thackeray’s Marathi Manus politics. However, they were also wary of the Amar- Akbar- Anthony or Paswan- Lalu- Nitish politics being played every now and then. This anecdote was given by a B.N. College student only. However, when the question of Bihar’s politics through Raj Thackeray’s land arose, students mentioned lack of options. I never felt that lack of options ever. The conditions that once gave strength to live appeared weak and shattered in the present B.N. College.

I clearly remember that Dr. C.P. Thakur, who contested election in Patna, won by the courage and ideological understanding of the B.N. College students. His speeches were written by the students in college hostel and the immense campaigning was also done by students. I entered the college staff room to meet a Political Science professor. He wasn’t present. It was 11 am; one of the staffers told that he would come around 11:30.

I took my kids to the cycle stand then. It was the only place left untouched; full of cycles, as always. The green alga had grown all over the wall though, there were cob webs and dogs had made it their home. The financial condition of the students studying looked obvious. As my son clicked pictures, some students recognized me and lamented college’s pathetic condition. The eyes were helplessly crying for someone to change the circumstances. This was not the B.N. College I had known. When did B.N. College depend on someone else to do something? Surely, this politics of Amar- Akbar- Anthony has made everyone handicapped and docile.

(To be continued……)

News channels: anger or business

Early morning, you were surfing the news channels to know the results of the elections in the four states. Who wins, BJP or Congress, is the question in your mind. Will Sheila Dikshit continue her ongoing term of 10 years or will V. K. Malhotra record a win? Will BJP continue to be in power in MP, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh? Or will BJP benefit from the voting in Delhi and MP after the terror attacks in Mumbai?

In Rajasthan, the voting conditions were not favourable due to anger towards the politicians, but a majority came out to vote; now what can this be called? People are full of anger for the ones in power. BJP supports zero tolerance for the terrorist activities. Is it that people are against the BJP’s election campaign and hence have decided to vote? These are some questions which the news channels would take up for analyzing the election results.

Clearly, in the parliamentary system, this is a parameter of democracy which the news channels take up. Recall what all have the news channels shown since last 250 hrs of the broadcast. When Mumbai was burning, MP was voting. A prospective candidate in Tikamgarh was killed in the process and no news channels thought it was important to show that news.

By the intensity with which events happened in Mumbai, it was not even important to show all that. This happened on 27th December. On that fateful morning no news channel showed MP voting; voting which is a sign of the largest democracy. Taj was the centre of news for all the news channels. All the news channels had their cameras directed towards Taj and Oberoi, all the time. This day was also the last day of campaigning for the Delhi elections. No leader had the courage to get down to the streets and campaign for their party in Delhi. In Delhi on the 27th, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Mayawati and Narendra Modi were to address people. These are the leaders who keep on manipulating situations to get into power. But by looking at the pictures of Mumbai blasts on the news channels these leaders may have been thinking what if the angry janta turns into a mob and releases their anger on them. They would have to face the angry janta then. Hence they remained silent. This silence also remained on the voting day in Delhi, i.e., 29th December. However, the bullets had stopped in Mumbai but the anger was already boiling against the politicians. The dead bodies in Mumbai replaced the long queues of willing voters in Delhi. With every picture the news channels were questioning the significance of political disagreement on issues of coalition and terrorism. The section which already belonged to the five star lives and the other aspiring sect had only one question in minds; where do they go now?

This particular section hesitates on voting. However, it’s the same section that is seen promoting voting habits in advertisements. In the country’s politics no politician belongs to this section, the whole Government is this section only. The policies are framed considering their development particularly. Hence they are never considered a vote bank in politics. For the first time a disinterest is visible in them regarding their own requirements however. The Govt. understands this but the question is that why did the terrorist attack on the domain of this section in particular. By this act, terrorism does profit by the political inter-conflict. Above politics and election, a question which comes up is that is the conflict of TRPs a strategy tooled for politics and the five star masses? The angst of the five star classes and the surrounding middle class which wants to preserve everything for the future has trapped them who consider elections as a festival and hence raise the flag of Democracy. News channels or collectively the media propagates its important at this time only, as it is the only possible way of communication. And here its need of cashing through news conceals, as its profit transforms into public interest.

Hence the issues that have been raised due to Taj-Oberoi have become a question mark on the present saga of elective democracy. Media has been a trumpet to the happenings. It has tried to be a mouthpiece of what all is happening. The way it has presented the news has dramatized the event to keep the anger and terror alive in the minds of the people. All this was present during the Mumbai attacks, hence media showed it. The death of respected VP Singh was never made news.

After the Mumbai terror the 250 hr slots were aired on the news channels just to show how a CM of Maharashtra considering Taj a picnic spot, went for a stroll; and how a vice CM made a mockery out of the whole situation. But when you are sitting in front of your TV sets watching the election results, what’s the use of past 250 hrs of rebel and violence.

The news channels strongly despised the Mumbai attacks by saying ‘enough is enough’ and ‘élan-e-jung’ and tried to sympathize with those affected. When these same news channels air election results and declare the winning democracy; will they be considered insensitive towards the Mumbai attacks? How is it possible that people who came together against the politics and terrorism will become passive with the news coverage of elections? The news channels bravely covered each and every minute of terror in their cameras and stood with the Nation in times of pain. Will the same news channels make the public angst passive by covering elections? Will the same old way of reporting the speeches of politicians, the issues etc practiced? And will the same repetitive Raju Shrivastav comedy serials be aired? Will the same people who were on the streets protesting against the terror attacks get lost in the world of comedy? Will this be the scene? If one is to understand the nuances of the reality of this Nation, this all will happen.

If the five star class is considering itself successful enough through this movement brought by the news channels then it’s obvious that the scene would become comical, the way it was post-26/11. And if there a genuine anger inside the people you’ll see anxious people instead of the elected faces and then you may realize that you can’t wait for the next five years.

Mumbai Is My Heart...Not Hindustan

Till yesterday, the crowd that motivated the spirit of the whole society to move forward is saying that they have had enough. From the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai to the drastic rainfall that it faced, including the local trains bomb blasts; nothing could raise the meek voices of people. This time, amid all the glitters many faces emerged. Nothing could stop the wounded city and everyone walked hand in hand.

All of a sudden what astonishing happened after the Taj and Oberoi attacks that shook the whole nation? The number of people who died in the Taj, Nariman, Oberoi and Leopold Café attacks were less than the total number of people ever died in the local serial blasts and the Mumbai rains. Victimized people are scared to an extent that they feel the power of money will have to plead for life the same way like a common man does. The reality of Mumbai is not running away from terror, but confronting it.

Mumbai sell dreams to the people; dreams which make people proud. For the ones who have been living in Mumbai since ages, it is like a sweet song; sweeter than a Pidepiper’s melody. When a Mumbaikar visit his home, he is laden with the stories of Mumbai; the stories which the whole village is deeply interested in and intently wish to listen to. May be that’s why Mumbai rains is never a tragedy unlike Kosi water. Serial blasts never became a terror but a colourful memory in this city of dreams. A majority of Mumbai is aware of the fact that if they ever tried to expose their wounds, the ever moving Mumbai would evict them. Their dreams would not be considered; dreams that render them respect and Taj - Oberoi societal recognition.

No one ever imagined that Mumbai will have to face such terror attacks. It’s like the roots of a fruitful tree which in spite of being unpleasant in looks, give delightful fruits. Roots are preserved. But what if instead of fruits, roots come up, who would want to preserve the unpleasant roots. It’s clear that the terrorized faces are afraid that how the ways of a common man and that of the others meet. Hence the perspective of governing a Nation by considering it two faced, is the target. The question of political framework and responsibility is on target hence other questions have also been raised.

For instance, for the first time to discard the politics, the section came up which supported the two-faced politics of our country. Jamshedji Tata established Taj Hotel in 1903 as he wanted to put forth a colourful picture of an advanced and developed India. Hundred years later it seems that India has kept everything at stake in front of the world. When the Taj was being dreamt of, a dream of creating a Nation also occurred. Today a burning Taj is synonymous to a burning political framework of the Nation. As compared to the whole nation, the geographical situation of Taj – Oberoi is decimal zero. As a trademark of modern India this holds more weight on the cent percent who are a minority actually. However, there are people who want to come under this 5-7 % and their worry lies in the political understanding. Both are confronting each other. This worry did not show when the parliament was attacked. Neither did it show when Delhi blasted two months back. This anxiousness hasn’t rose due to the failure of economic policies which has led to the deaths of some odd fifty thousand farmers. This worry didn’t even pop up during the communal and political violence that ruined spaces between Kashmir and Kanyakumari, Mumbai and Guwahati. In the past 8 years more than hundred crises have taken lives of more than thousands. Even this didn’t raise the agony.

Like always the key to solution was seen as politics; politics that can drive away even the Democracy. The fearful masses standing against terrorism once bowed down under the divisive violence of Marathi Manus. More than anxiety there was peace on their faces as the victims may pose a threat to the Taj and Oberoi. Everyone wants to preserve this heritage so that the prestige remains and the five star cultures didn’t malign. For that it’ll be important to understand the direction and action of politics in the future.

Politics is being provoked keeping in confidence the security personnel. We obviously don’t have a military governance, but Democracy. Democracy is under a security cover and this should be understood. Out of the combined police force of our country, 30% are assigned the VIP security; the security of the ones we choose. It’s 55% in Delhi and 37% in Mumbai. In Maharashtra, an average 15, 000 is spent on the training, salary and other services on a policeman. This amount can be spent in one night by a small family dining at the Taj and Oberoi.

The Taj profits more than the double of what all is spent on the Maharashtra police force annually. 60% of the total police force is paid lesser than a least paid Taj employ. The chefs of Taj – Oberoi earn more than what the Indian Army gets combined. Time when Taj was attacked, everyone from Businessmen to big corporatists, government officials and politicians got trapped. Taj is more a home for a certain class. Hence more protest. If Taj-Oberoi symbolizes a developed Nation then the politics means implementing a theory of profit. Profit means an advanced Nation. Advancement means a cup of tea and a picturesque view of the Arabian Sea.

It’s the result of decentralization that there is a troop of 37.89 lakh in the Army and 38, 67, 902 politicians to play politics. This is the number of elected politicians. If we include Panchayats and Gram Panchayats, the number would go up to more than a crore. Among all the institutions that provide employment, politics is the institution that renders maximum employment. In the decentralization of power, the politics in its defense has denied all the other options of survival and has taken everyone together. Taj and Oberoi has shone in the glitz of politics. Amidst this confrontation we need to wait for an India in which the golden bird sings the melody of the whole Nation and not just Mumbai.