Most on the social media have probably witnessed the seemingly antagonistic view that "right wingers" carry for the Mainstream Media. This short-of-intolerance is particularly prevalent in the younger generation of Gujarat. Ever wondered why?
The state came into existence in 1960. I am not old enough nor do I have the avenues to investigate if the earlier generations too had this grudge with the media, but then that is beside the point. What I know is that in the 80s and 90s Gujaratis were not anti-media, otr at least I never saw that feeling around. Yes, there were differences but by and large there was no animosity per se.
No, the angst of Gujaratis against the media was not a result of 2002 riots as many tend to think. The seeds were sown after the devastating earthquake of 26th Jan 2001. Thousands of people died, lakhs lost homes and livelihood and it was a picture of gloom. At a time when all that people would look for is some solace, encouragement and support from various quarters - government, NGOs, religious institutions, corporate and media - the 1 group that failed was Media.
>> The electronic media kept on showing the same scenes of destruction and gory day in and day out, as if an earthquake stuck every hour
>> There were repeated requests from the Government, Intellectuals, Psychiatrists, Civil society to stop reminding people every minute on what has struck their brethren
>> The vernacular press went the notch down - they would report of astrologers predicting earthquakes every few days. As happens after any massive earthquake, there were aftershocks all the time - some that people felt and some that they did not - so more or less the astrologers’' predictions were "true". Another cause of worry!
>> I've seen people sleeping with their shoes on in case there was a quake as they were terrified with what they had experienced and were reminded constantly
This madness went on for months. And there was a lot of political color also added as time went by.
A year later - Godhra happened - am not going into details on what happened as probably rims of newsprint and hours of airtime has already been spent on it. When Godhra happened, the electronic media kept on showing the dead bodies, the newspapers kept talking of it. When riots broke out each and every news channel worth its salt had its cameramen out there. In the garb of reporting "truth from the ground" they in fact ended stoking the flames to a large extent. It is a known fact that when a situation is fluid, rumors become truth, anything you say and show hits someone in the mind and heart - a few grieve while a few act their own way.
At this point I can't stress enough that what happened was wrong and a blot on Gujarat. I do not believe that the root cause was the media reporting. Those who rioted have wronged and must be punished.
There was a media onslaught - everyone started lambasting the riots but crossed the fine line where the Indians in Gujarat started to feel that they were being attacked personally. It was as if all Gujaratis are bloodthirsty bigots who do not want the minorities to survive. All along they kept ignoring the fact that since independence there have been umpteen communal riots and the Majority has suffered the most in those. There were areas in Amdavad where a Hindu cannot even dare think of entering - and all this before Godhra and even before Ramjanmbhoomi andolan.
All these years there would not be a single Rathyatra that would pass peacefully.
Cutting the long story short, listed below are a few points that as a Gujarati makes me "anti-media"
1. Judging every Gujarati from what media perceives are the Gandhian principles. All my life I have heard media talking on how Gujarat has moved away from Gandhian thoughts and that prohibition is just tokenism!
Why? Who are you to judge us? Yes, there are points where I do not agree with Gandhiji but that is the beauty of it. When you want to criticize Gujarat you say "Gujarat has moved away from Gandhi's ideology" but when it comes to riots you say "Muslims suffer in Gujarat" Are Muslims not Gujaratis? Do you talk of the 100s of riots where Hindus suffered? No! Because there you report "Gujarat has a history of disturbances"
2. Gujarat today adores and follows Sardar Patel more than Gandhi. What is this supposed to mean? Was Sardar Patel a crook? He followed Gandhi's principles all his life. You may agree and disagree with both. Gandhi and Sardar to me are like Ram and Krishna - the former being bound to his principles in letter and spirit, whatever the situation be, while the latter following the same principles in spirit and in a more practical way!
3. Finding faults in the Gujarati Asmita. Why? Why would you see Gujarati Asmita from the political lens? I don't need a Narendra Modi to tell me how proud I am of being an Indian and a Gujarati. But yes, it took a Narendra Modi to awaken that dormant feeling. Did he use that to his advantage? Hell yes, he did! He is a politician after all!
4. Calling Gujarat the laboratory of the Hindu radicals! By saying this you kept hammering us for years that we are radicals. A meek, docile, family and business oriented Gujarati was actually a blood thirsty political laboratory of a few radical Hindus! That I take umbrage to! Just because I do not trust the leftist, socialist ideology I become a radical! How convenient!
5. Pointing out Ghettoism of Muslims. Did this happen after 2002? NO! Juhapura exists for more than 3 decades now, so did Jamalpur, Dariapur, Astodia, Kalupur etc. And as in all major cities in the country a few groups always live in ghettos. So why blame us for that?
6. Keep pointing out year after year about 2002. The moment I feel proud of some achievement of Gujarat, I am told to shut up and look at a Juhapura to get convinced that I am wrong. Forget Narendra Modi, even if a private citizen achieves something you view it with a communal lens. Irfan and Yusuf Pathan helped win world cup and they are Muslims in communal Gujarat. Why?
7. Allegation that Modi talks of Gujarat as if it was another country! You know what, don't care what Modi thinks, I think the same. Modi might have political objectives but I don't. But when I hear Media talking of Gujarat separately from India I am hurt. When journalists write articles lambasting Gujarat's achievements, I am hurt. When Media pitches Gujarat against rest of India I am devastated.
There are hundreds of more instances. All I say is come to us, talk to us - we are not monsters. But come to us without the political lens. Yes, keep a watch on us, point out where we go wrong but without the political lens. And this is true across the spectrum - whether they are "right wingers", "left wingers", intellectuals etc. All complain that Media doesn't see anything without an agenda!
Media is the mirror of the society but do not paint it with 1 picture - see the beauty of the mirror when it goes from person to person - but for that you have to let it be...a mirror, not a portrait!
Grow up, throw out the myopic political lens - upgrade to bifocal and then you will see it is not just the food, even we Gujaratis are sweet!!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Prayers...prayers for the victims!
Today a psycho gunned down over a dozen innocent smiling kids - all under 10 years of age http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school.html?_r=0
When I saw the news I was disturbed..yes...but carried on my work. But as the day went by and it dawned on me I was shaken. What kind of crap goes into ANY human to shoot down small kids who are still enjoying the innocence of their childhood? How can someone in the worst of misgivings even THINK of such a horrific action?
What must be going on in the minds of the parents whose only crime was that they sent their kids to school! Who is going to help build their lives again? God...what did those kids do to deserve this? Even a beast would not do such a horrific act.
People argue about gun control and constitutional right to have gun. I don't know what that debate means...I don't know what the merits and demerits are...I don't know if the majority wants guns or not...I don't know how gun control can be achieved..I don't know what policies have been tried....all I know is that I too am a father and I just cannot understand/comprehend about what has happened...the 1st child who will never come home to its parents....the young brothers and sisters lost in the families...the mother who underwent so much pain to bring that bundle of joy into the family....what words can give them comfort? What condolences can help them continue lead a happy life?
...And what about the survivors...God knows how their tender minds would be impacted! What would they think of schools..what do they know of life and death? How are their minds going to shape up in the years to come? Will they ever be able to overcome the trauma!!!!
I can't think of any answers....I don't know I ever will get those answers...God can't be so cruel..HE has reasons for everything HE does...but THIS..I can't believe HE had any reason...or any business letting this happen!
When I saw the news I was disturbed..yes...but carried on my work. But as the day went by and it dawned on me I was shaken. What kind of crap goes into ANY human to shoot down small kids who are still enjoying the innocence of their childhood? How can someone in the worst of misgivings even THINK of such a horrific action?
What must be going on in the minds of the parents whose only crime was that they sent their kids to school! Who is going to help build their lives again? God...what did those kids do to deserve this? Even a beast would not do such a horrific act.
People argue about gun control and constitutional right to have gun. I don't know what that debate means...I don't know what the merits and demerits are...I don't know if the majority wants guns or not...I don't know how gun control can be achieved..I don't know what policies have been tried....all I know is that I too am a father and I just cannot understand/comprehend about what has happened...the 1st child who will never come home to its parents....the young brothers and sisters lost in the families...the mother who underwent so much pain to bring that bundle of joy into the family....what words can give them comfort? What condolences can help them continue lead a happy life?
...And what about the survivors...God knows how their tender minds would be impacted! What would they think of schools..what do they know of life and death? How are their minds going to shape up in the years to come? Will they ever be able to overcome the trauma!!!!
I can't think of any answers....I don't know I ever will get those answers...God can't be so cruel..HE has reasons for everything HE does...but THIS..I can't believe HE had any reason...or any business letting this happen!
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Teacher's Day 2012!
Teacher's day - I do not have much remembarance of this day in school (Birla Sagar Higher Secondary School, Porbandar). Gurupurnima is the ancient "Teacher's Day" and I feel we did not need another one - but when it comes to Teachers I can't complain. Just like for me Father and Mother's days are futile celebrations (as the cliche goes - we should observe these days everyday) so is Teacher's day. After all our values teach us that Teachers (Gurus) are next to parents and equal to God. I today ad this urge to mention about the teachers who I REALLY feel have influenced me.
Let me start from Kindergarten - Bhambhani Madam - my 1st teacher as far as I remember. Right from teaching alphabets, numbers and nursery rhymes to creating an interest in education, I owe a lot to you ma'm and even though I know I might have teased and irritated you no end, I am indebted.
Joshi sir - Sir you taught Hindi to us kids. We didn't like your class as you were extremely strict. We teased you because of your Brahmin "choti" but I must say this - you created love for Hindi in my heart without me even realising it. I still remember the 1st thing you would do on entering the classroom - write "Shri Ganeshay Namah" on the top of the blackboard. I continue doing this till date. Whenever I start a new notebook/diary "Shri Ganeshay Namah" is the 1st thing that goes on it. Thank you sir!
Antani Sir - Sir I can never forget you in my entire life. You taught me music but more than that you taught me the importance of music. You taught us soulful prayers, encouraged us to learn music, helped participate in competitions withOUT expecting anything in return. I don't have the words to describe but you have left a great impression on my life
Minaxi Madam - English is the word that comes to my mind before I even finish your name Ma'm :) You not only taught English language, you inculcated love for languages in our young minds without us knowing about it. Even today when someone asks me about an effective way to learn "proper" English I tell them the same method as you did - "read 1 paragraph from a good newspaper/website (we did this through Times of India then but today ToI actually needs a bunch of good English Teachers) everyday... note down all the new words and their meanings from the dictionary, into a notebook and take efforts to use those wordswhile speaking. I cannot forget how proud everyone in school felt on getting a "Very Good" or Excellent" and a velvet star on the notebooks from you.Thank you ma'm!
Thakrar Madam and Sundar Sir - Thank you for making Mathemetics fun to learn and making us believe that we need not fear the subject and that ALL can score in Maths. I know I made a mess of that learning in college, but all blame is on me for that - you did the best for us.
Dashottar Sir - For me you are the only Master of Hindi language. Amazing command and beautiful flow of language. Till date I feel sad that I studied Hindi from you for just 2 years. I attribute my love for poetry to your inimitable style of reciting and conveying the poet's meaning behind the lines. You contributed immensely in making me respect any language like religion. And the humor that you carried while teaching is something I have never seen in a teacher in my life. "Tentua daba dunga", "Zameen mei gaadhke ghode dudva dunga"...I remember these fun lines even after 22 years!
Late Shri Bora Sir - Sir how can I forget you? You brought an imaginary love in my life that continues till date - History. How can a subject about ruins, blood and dead people be romantic...by learning it from Bohra sir. Your understanding of the subject...your departure from text books to teach the subject and your style created an interest for the subject that, given the chance and time - I would love to learn over and over again. Thank you sir. I still remember a part of your home address after you retired and left Porbandar - "Behind Olympic Cinema, Jodhpur, Rajasthan".
And of course there are many others whom I might have missed mentioning here, who directly or indirectly have shaped my thoughts and values. I am indebted to you All gurus. Thank you!
Let me start from Kindergarten - Bhambhani Madam - my 1st teacher as far as I remember. Right from teaching alphabets, numbers and nursery rhymes to creating an interest in education, I owe a lot to you ma'm and even though I know I might have teased and irritated you no end, I am indebted.
Joshi sir - Sir you taught Hindi to us kids. We didn't like your class as you were extremely strict. We teased you because of your Brahmin "choti" but I must say this - you created love for Hindi in my heart without me even realising it. I still remember the 1st thing you would do on entering the classroom - write "Shri Ganeshay Namah" on the top of the blackboard. I continue doing this till date. Whenever I start a new notebook/diary "Shri Ganeshay Namah" is the 1st thing that goes on it. Thank you sir!
Antani Sir - Sir I can never forget you in my entire life. You taught me music but more than that you taught me the importance of music. You taught us soulful prayers, encouraged us to learn music, helped participate in competitions withOUT expecting anything in return. I don't have the words to describe but you have left a great impression on my life
Minaxi Madam - English is the word that comes to my mind before I even finish your name Ma'm :) You not only taught English language, you inculcated love for languages in our young minds without us knowing about it. Even today when someone asks me about an effective way to learn "proper" English I tell them the same method as you did - "read 1 paragraph from a good newspaper/website (we did this through Times of India then but today ToI actually needs a bunch of good English Teachers) everyday... note down all the new words and their meanings from the dictionary, into a notebook and take efforts to use those wordswhile speaking. I cannot forget how proud everyone in school felt on getting a "Very Good" or Excellent" and a velvet star on the notebooks from you.Thank you ma'm!
Thakrar Madam and Sundar Sir - Thank you for making Mathemetics fun to learn and making us believe that we need not fear the subject and that ALL can score in Maths. I know I made a mess of that learning in college, but all blame is on me for that - you did the best for us.
Dashottar Sir - For me you are the only Master of Hindi language. Amazing command and beautiful flow of language. Till date I feel sad that I studied Hindi from you for just 2 years. I attribute my love for poetry to your inimitable style of reciting and conveying the poet's meaning behind the lines. You contributed immensely in making me respect any language like religion. And the humor that you carried while teaching is something I have never seen in a teacher in my life. "Tentua daba dunga", "Zameen mei gaadhke ghode dudva dunga"...I remember these fun lines even after 22 years!
Late Shri Bora Sir - Sir how can I forget you? You brought an imaginary love in my life that continues till date - History. How can a subject about ruins, blood and dead people be romantic...by learning it from Bohra sir. Your understanding of the subject...your departure from text books to teach the subject and your style created an interest for the subject that, given the chance and time - I would love to learn over and over again. Thank you sir. I still remember a part of your home address after you retired and left Porbandar - "Behind Olympic Cinema, Jodhpur, Rajasthan".
And of course there are many others whom I might have missed mentioning here, who directly or indirectly have shaped my thoughts and values. I am indebted to you All gurus. Thank you!
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Are we helping our cause?
I belong to the right, the center of right. In a country like ours it is not easy to accept and fathom this fact with the kind of secularism and communalism being practiced – thanks to social media the community now at least knows that there are enough intellectuals on the Right.
India, our motherland, has always been a complex culture that has intrigued the world for centuries and continues to do so. Be it the definitions and battle between Dharma and Adharma 5000 years back, the misinterpretation and exploitation of caste system, the battles within the Hindu religion, forming of alternate paths like Buddhism and Jainism, the battle with foreign invaders from Alexander to Nadir Shah to Ghazni, Mughals, Portugese, British and so on - we have always kept things "interesting". But we have always survived albeit with changes in our culture – while maintaining the essence of the past - which is the real beauty of our land. Post- independence, and especially in the last 3 decades we have seen a vehement debate, discourse and sometimes violence between the citizenry - although most of times driven by politicians. But then I don't want to digress from topic.
In the last few decades we have seen a very obscene form of secularism, which is always unjust to 1 group. Secularism can never be selective and subjective.- it has to be just and tolerant to ALL groups. The history of the world shows that real Secularism can be practiced and citizens can live a peaceful and progressive life when the majority asserts itself without suppressing the minorities - and THAT is an extremely tight rope to walk. On the other hand taking the majority for granted, dividing them and then appeasing the minorities is a very old political trick that has worked, especially in India and still works.
It is under this pretext that having a strong “Right” is extremely important. What side of “Right” one belongs to is again subjective but not as subjective as the interpretation of secularism – because at least the ones on Right agree that they are on “Right”. Today, for most “Hindu Rights” there is 1 messiah - for the lack of a better word - who is the need of the time – Narendra Damodar Modi – and there is almost no doubt in this. Modi represents the Right. He has worked for the progress of Gujarat in the last decade, more importantly he has worked at the grass root levels before the Gujarat miracle and has proven himself to be an excellent administrator both pre and post Gujarat story.
At the risk of being proven wrong and facing some vociferous rebuttals, I write this. Are we- Modi fans – really helping him? He has contributed immensely in the growth story, his vision has worked miracles and his political and administrative will has made many unthinkable things happen easily. BUT we, Namo fans also know that he is excellent at marketing things – and of course it is EXTREMELY important aspect. Not all that is being marketed would be true in spirit. Statistics are always double sided – as it goes “There are lies, damned lies and statistics”. A new set of statistics are thrown out from every side every day. For the very same parameter you see different sets of statistics with a different (hidden) context in the background. Modi churns out a few numbers that get rebuffed by the opposition and then there are rebuttals and further rebuttals and it goes on. That is an important battle that we need to continue to play though. What the Modi-baiters are doing is repeat the lies time and again till they wear the garb of Truth in the minds of the citizens – it requires strong rebuttal every time but with restraint. What we also need is to create a positive feelings in the minds of the fence sitters. Why alienate these fence sitters by responding violently to the baiters?
What is appreciated in the “Right” is the center not the extreme Right and definitely not the extreme Left. BUT, are we becoming sycophants? This is a question I have been asking myself for the last few months. Is everything that Modi does Gold? Can’t he falter? Can he never take a wrong decision? Do we really believe there is absolutely no corruption in Gujarat? Are all ministers as upright as the leader? Agreed that Modi is not corrupt and he doesn’t allow corruption around him, he has taken measures to curb corruption but then no system in the world is incorruptible. Modi has displayed in abundance something that is the need of the hour for the whole nation – GOVERNANCE. That is what we want for the whole nation and that is what we Modi fans need to propagate in his favor, spread the word, convince our peers, friends, families. Why should we keep Modi restricted to the Right? The whole nation needs him. But let us please NOT paint a picture that shows that everything will be rosy once he is the PM. The situation is so rotten that whoever has the right intentions has to first stem the rot and that is going to take more than 5 years. Once the rot stems, then the progress starts. There is also the compulsion of coalition, other pressures under which Modi has to work.
As fans we need to keep him true, we need to keep our own feelings and expectations true. We need to promote his works and his vision but also keep him informed on the fallacies. That would be the real help. Even Bhagat Singh, while fighting the British first tried to bring his house in order by promoting unity, removing social evils, working on the ills that were not the works of the British. Same goes for Gandhi, Ambedkar, all true leaders.
Why should we catch the baits floated around by vested interests? Why abuse journalists, think tanks, intellectuals who are anti-Modi? Why not debate logically? I am not generalizing but this seems be a trend now. 1 day a columnist/journalist/TT is showered with praises by us for writing something very anti-UPA or for writing something good for Modi. The next time he/she writes something against Modi we abuse him! Why abuse someone like Praful Bidwai or Arundhati who are known to be extreme lefts? Why provide gas to these empty running think tanks?
Are we helping our choice of leader (Modi) by forcing him as a Messiah and a solution to all problems? Is our “sycophancy” hurting Modi? Are we spending more energy on negative debates than creating a positive atmosphere for him? Are we keeping him true as our leader – more importantly are we keeping our expectations and hopes honest & true?
India, our motherland, has always been a complex culture that has intrigued the world for centuries and continues to do so. Be it the definitions and battle between Dharma and Adharma 5000 years back, the misinterpretation and exploitation of caste system, the battles within the Hindu religion, forming of alternate paths like Buddhism and Jainism, the battle with foreign invaders from Alexander to Nadir Shah to Ghazni, Mughals, Portugese, British and so on - we have always kept things "interesting". But we have always survived albeit with changes in our culture – while maintaining the essence of the past - which is the real beauty of our land. Post- independence, and especially in the last 3 decades we have seen a vehement debate, discourse and sometimes violence between the citizenry - although most of times driven by politicians. But then I don't want to digress from topic.
In the last few decades we have seen a very obscene form of secularism, which is always unjust to 1 group. Secularism can never be selective and subjective.- it has to be just and tolerant to ALL groups. The history of the world shows that real Secularism can be practiced and citizens can live a peaceful and progressive life when the majority asserts itself without suppressing the minorities - and THAT is an extremely tight rope to walk. On the other hand taking the majority for granted, dividing them and then appeasing the minorities is a very old political trick that has worked, especially in India and still works.
It is under this pretext that having a strong “Right” is extremely important. What side of “Right” one belongs to is again subjective but not as subjective as the interpretation of secularism – because at least the ones on Right agree that they are on “Right”. Today, for most “Hindu Rights” there is 1 messiah - for the lack of a better word - who is the need of the time – Narendra Damodar Modi – and there is almost no doubt in this. Modi represents the Right. He has worked for the progress of Gujarat in the last decade, more importantly he has worked at the grass root levels before the Gujarat miracle and has proven himself to be an excellent administrator both pre and post Gujarat story.
At the risk of being proven wrong and facing some vociferous rebuttals, I write this. Are we- Modi fans – really helping him? He has contributed immensely in the growth story, his vision has worked miracles and his political and administrative will has made many unthinkable things happen easily. BUT we, Namo fans also know that he is excellent at marketing things – and of course it is EXTREMELY important aspect. Not all that is being marketed would be true in spirit. Statistics are always double sided – as it goes “There are lies, damned lies and statistics”. A new set of statistics are thrown out from every side every day. For the very same parameter you see different sets of statistics with a different (hidden) context in the background. Modi churns out a few numbers that get rebuffed by the opposition and then there are rebuttals and further rebuttals and it goes on. That is an important battle that we need to continue to play though. What the Modi-baiters are doing is repeat the lies time and again till they wear the garb of Truth in the minds of the citizens – it requires strong rebuttal every time but with restraint. What we also need is to create a positive feelings in the minds of the fence sitters. Why alienate these fence sitters by responding violently to the baiters?
What is appreciated in the “Right” is the center not the extreme Right and definitely not the extreme Left. BUT, are we becoming sycophants? This is a question I have been asking myself for the last few months. Is everything that Modi does Gold? Can’t he falter? Can he never take a wrong decision? Do we really believe there is absolutely no corruption in Gujarat? Are all ministers as upright as the leader? Agreed that Modi is not corrupt and he doesn’t allow corruption around him, he has taken measures to curb corruption but then no system in the world is incorruptible. Modi has displayed in abundance something that is the need of the hour for the whole nation – GOVERNANCE. That is what we want for the whole nation and that is what we Modi fans need to propagate in his favor, spread the word, convince our peers, friends, families. Why should we keep Modi restricted to the Right? The whole nation needs him. But let us please NOT paint a picture that shows that everything will be rosy once he is the PM. The situation is so rotten that whoever has the right intentions has to first stem the rot and that is going to take more than 5 years. Once the rot stems, then the progress starts. There is also the compulsion of coalition, other pressures under which Modi has to work.
As fans we need to keep him true, we need to keep our own feelings and expectations true. We need to promote his works and his vision but also keep him informed on the fallacies. That would be the real help. Even Bhagat Singh, while fighting the British first tried to bring his house in order by promoting unity, removing social evils, working on the ills that were not the works of the British. Same goes for Gandhi, Ambedkar, all true leaders.
Why should we catch the baits floated around by vested interests? Why abuse journalists, think tanks, intellectuals who are anti-Modi? Why not debate logically? I am not generalizing but this seems be a trend now. 1 day a columnist/journalist/TT is showered with praises by us for writing something very anti-UPA or for writing something good for Modi. The next time he/she writes something against Modi we abuse him! Why abuse someone like Praful Bidwai or Arundhati who are known to be extreme lefts? Why provide gas to these empty running think tanks?
Are we helping our choice of leader (Modi) by forcing him as a Messiah and a solution to all problems? Is our “sycophancy” hurting Modi? Are we spending more energy on negative debates than creating a positive atmosphere for him? Are we keeping him true as our leader – more importantly are we keeping our expectations and hopes honest & true?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Where and When will this End?
I must confess I am a news junkie and a compulsive tweeter (though I do NOT tweet a lot) BUT I do NOT follow any celebrity journo like Rajdeep, Barkha and do not watch any news channel. That was something I never thought I would be able to achieve in my lifetime and till a year back I would keep reading articles and see news from these "journos" despite my blood boiling with anger. Today my source of news is Twitter - of course I do venture a little in news websites sometimes :)
I am a Gujarati and was settled in Ahmedabad in 2002 - of course in a very safe area BUT could understand the pulse at that time - but that is not the topic for now - well that was a sort of a disclaimer.
Going through the tweets/news articles or comments in blogs belonging to the Right space, I get a feeling that people still do not understand the basic facts - let me rephrase "people do not WANT to understand the basic facts" - and 1 has to keep on pleading/requesting - to read the last decade in Gujarat with a clean lens and view the riots, speed/quality of justice etc. as a simple logical issue And not complicate them with religious/political/ideological overtones.
Isn't it simple:
1. Karsevaks killed by miscreants
2. Subsequent riots by miscreants - some were enraged, some wanted to avenge a personal loss, some just wanting to take advantage
3. Administration erred, MAY BE in gauging the enormity of the situation initially, but quickly corrected it by asking for Army assistance
4. Damage appeared to have been done by rioters in very less time. But then they were dealt with strictly which is obvious with the number of Hindu deaths by police firing. KPS Gill's (a no-nonsense cop) help taken
5. Vidhan Sabha dissolved, elections held in Dec instead of July so that there is no unfair advantage to ruling party (polarization, minorities rehabilitation etc.)
6. Elections held under no-nonsense CEC Lyngdoh
7. Modi won the election with big majority
8. Commission to probe formed taking even the CM into its purview (advocated by the CM himself), led by professional and respected officers
9. NGOs filed 100s of cases in local courts, HC and SC and shifted many cases outside Gujarat
10. No evidence found by any probe against the complicity of administration
11. I am not even going into the use of victims by NGO industry (Rais Khan's story) OR the Banerjee report that tried to prove that it was a sinister Sangh ploy to kill karsevaks - that is for another day
12. Meanwhile development at full pace and another election in 2007 - this despite "sting operations" conveniently timed along with "other proofs" that are usually supposed to be "setback/blow to Modi"
13. Officers coming out of hibernation with "facts" whenever the time suits them - not in 2002 or 2003, but in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 even 2012
14. This time(2007) again a BIG win for BJP - this time no polarization, no fear in minorities etc.
15. Meanwhile progress of the state goes full steam...Industry, Agriculture, Tourism, Human Resources etc....
15. SIT supposedly finds no evidence in its probe - will know more in the coming weeks
Still, questions from both sides of the fence (and also those sitting on it) seem to be "Who decides who is guilty and who is innocent?" - read "Narendra Modi" as "who". There is no logical end to this till either side bends. Peoples' court has decided twice but it doesn't seem to have proved anything for the riot industry - for them Modi is the culprit and he has fooled everyone till now. I wonder on 1 hand these people credit the progress of Gujarat to the smart Gujjus (and I am a proud 1), not Guj Govt, and on the other hand they feel we "smart Gujjus" can be fooled by a man for 10+ years? How ingenious! Are you trying to insult us - if so Thanks but you may STFU - if NO, still STFU!
So when and where does all this stop? Answer : Never till Modi loses an election Or is convicted by someone. Even if the judges declare his stand correct, the NGO Riot industry will always have a Sanjiv Bhatt or a Sreekumar or even dead people like Haren Pandya to "help" them. There was a day not too long ago when Political and ideological battles were fought in the real battlegrounds - Elections. Now they are being fought in the courts, print, television studios and in that sense we truly are becoming a banana republic - not as a country perhaps but definitely as the citizenry and that doesn't augur too well for the coming generations.
In democracy the people are the real Gods - janta janardan - so all I can say is "Ishwar allah tero naam, sabko sammati de bhagwaan"
I am a Gujarati and was settled in Ahmedabad in 2002 - of course in a very safe area BUT could understand the pulse at that time - but that is not the topic for now - well that was a sort of a disclaimer.
Going through the tweets/news articles or comments in blogs belonging to the Right space, I get a feeling that people still do not understand the basic facts - let me rephrase "people do not WANT to understand the basic facts" - and 1 has to keep on pleading/requesting - to read the last decade in Gujarat with a clean lens and view the riots, speed/quality of justice etc. as a simple logical issue And not complicate them with religious/political/ideological overtones.
Isn't it simple:
1. Karsevaks killed by miscreants
2. Subsequent riots by miscreants - some were enraged, some wanted to avenge a personal loss, some just wanting to take advantage
3. Administration erred, MAY BE in gauging the enormity of the situation initially, but quickly corrected it by asking for Army assistance
4. Damage appeared to have been done by rioters in very less time. But then they were dealt with strictly which is obvious with the number of Hindu deaths by police firing. KPS Gill's (a no-nonsense cop) help taken
5. Vidhan Sabha dissolved, elections held in Dec instead of July so that there is no unfair advantage to ruling party (polarization, minorities rehabilitation etc.)
6. Elections held under no-nonsense CEC Lyngdoh
7. Modi won the election with big majority
8. Commission to probe formed taking even the CM into its purview (advocated by the CM himself), led by professional and respected officers
9. NGOs filed 100s of cases in local courts, HC and SC and shifted many cases outside Gujarat
10. No evidence found by any probe against the complicity of administration
11. I am not even going into the use of victims by NGO industry (Rais Khan's story) OR the Banerjee report that tried to prove that it was a sinister Sangh ploy to kill karsevaks - that is for another day
12. Meanwhile development at full pace and another election in 2007 - this despite "sting operations" conveniently timed along with "other proofs" that are usually supposed to be "setback/blow to Modi"
13. Officers coming out of hibernation with "facts" whenever the time suits them - not in 2002 or 2003, but in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 even 2012
14. This time(2007) again a BIG win for BJP - this time no polarization, no fear in minorities etc.
15. Meanwhile progress of the state goes full steam...Industry, Agriculture, Tourism, Human Resources etc....
15. SIT supposedly finds no evidence in its probe - will know more in the coming weeks
Still, questions from both sides of the fence (and also those sitting on it) seem to be "Who decides who is guilty and who is innocent?" - read "Narendra Modi" as "who". There is no logical end to this till either side bends. Peoples' court has decided twice but it doesn't seem to have proved anything for the riot industry - for them Modi is the culprit and he has fooled everyone till now. I wonder on 1 hand these people credit the progress of Gujarat to the smart Gujjus (and I am a proud 1), not Guj Govt, and on the other hand they feel we "smart Gujjus" can be fooled by a man for 10+ years? How ingenious! Are you trying to insult us - if so Thanks but you may STFU - if NO, still STFU!
So when and where does all this stop? Answer : Never till Modi loses an election Or is convicted by someone. Even if the judges declare his stand correct, the NGO Riot industry will always have a Sanjiv Bhatt or a Sreekumar or even dead people like Haren Pandya to "help" them. There was a day not too long ago when Political and ideological battles were fought in the real battlegrounds - Elections. Now they are being fought in the courts, print, television studios and in that sense we truly are becoming a banana republic - not as a country perhaps but definitely as the citizenry and that doesn't augur too well for the coming generations.
In democracy the people are the real Gods - janta janardan - so all I can say is "Ishwar allah tero naam, sabko sammati de bhagwaan"
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