THE OTHER SIDE: August 2017

Baba Black Sheep

A special CBI court on Monday (28th August 2017) sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping two of his female disciples. Apart from sentence Court has also imposed fine of Rs 15 lakh on both the cases Rs 14 lakh of which will be given to the victims. This is the landmark judgement for the way court showed strictness against the accused and the government which failed in controlling the violence on the day he was convicted which killed around 40 people.

On 25th August 2017, Haryana government let Gurmeet Ram Rahim's armed followers gathered in Panchkula & Sirasa area of Haryana despite Section 144 was imposed in the area which prohibits gatherings of four and more people at any place. Manohar Lal Khattar who is ardent follower of Baba and bowed against him with his cabinet after his swearing in showed lethargy in handling the situation resulted in problems to locals along with innocent killings. The court strictly criticized this role of chief minister and even prime minister by reminding them that they represent Haryana and India respectively and not a political party BJP.

It took 15 years to this judgement and we must stand in regard to all those who stood strong against the mighty and powerful. Both the sisters who were victim in the case, the journalist Ramchandra Chatrapati who published their letter (in 2002) to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about rape by Gurmeet Ram Rahim which triggered CBI probe in the case, (he was later shot dead), CBI DIG Mulinja Narayanan who didn't close the case even after threats & political pressure, prosecution lawyers and lastly CBI judge Jagdeep Singh who followed the law & constitution than faith of Gurmeet's followers. We are indebted to them for keeping our faith alive in the system. Hope he also got convicted in murder case of Ramchandra Chatrapati.

I wonder why people are so senseless to trap in worshiping of these Black Sheep Babas who instead of showing path to god become God themselves. Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim is a rock-star god-man and still people have faith in him. Political association leads to growth of this kind of fake god-man and the fate of people like Nityanand, Asaram, Rampal and Ram Rahim shows they all are not for faith but money. It should also be noted that no political party head or prominent leader welcomed the court's decision. The people like Sakshi Maharaj who is MP of ruling BJP spoke in support of Ram Rahim than of those two girls. We must be vigilant to stop the growth of such conman by checking their allegiance to a political party.

With this good news there is also a bad news that a similar conman Rampal acquitted in two cases perhaps of lack of evidence. Hope he also get punishment in other cases and India arise above these fake babas/maulvis/pandits to become a better nation. God Bless India.

'Main Chahe Jo Karun Meri Marzi' - Right To Privacy

In a unanimous ruling, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the right to privacy as a fundamental right under the Constitution. The top court overruled the previous judgments in the M P Sharma and Kharak Singh cases, which had found that the right to privacy was not protected by the Constitution. The bench observed that privacy is intrinsic to freedom of life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.(From The Indian Express)

The decision is instrumental because central government was fighting against it. They were of the opinion that government has full right over the body of the citizen in lieu of the grants given to them. They believed that privacy is an elite class issue and economic backward class needs food more than privacy which was completely overruled by the bench saying the constitution grants this right in every other right and even at the places where it has maintained the Golden Silence. The ruling is historical and will effect other pending cases. First being the provision of making Aadhar mandatory. By doing so government want to keep surveillance on each individual without his or her consent. The issue of removing article 377 which deals with rights of homosexuals will now be seen in a new light. Beef Ban, Liquor Ban, Particular dress code orders and many more such issues are getting new life with this judgement.

The citizen with this milestone judgement has won against the government and its ideas of suppressing individualistic choices. 'Main Chahe Ye Karun Main Chahe Wo Karun Meri Marzi' but off course it is not absolute and like other rights has limitations under particular situations. This is second ruling in this week after Instant Triple Talaq verdict which has made our democracy stronger. Not America , not Europe but India has shown the way to the world this time. I am sure this will increase the pressure on other world governments to grant this right to its people. The governments usually deny this right because it makes people stronger than the government. But in democracy people should always be stronger to question government at each step.

Now we can do whatever we like keeping in mind well being of others. It is my right to choose who to vote, which ideology to follow, who to marry and so on. Government neither indicate not interfere in my these decisions by bribing or beating or forcing me. India is great. Till next post God Bless India.

Tragic Muzaffarnagar Train Accident

More than 20 people were killed and 70 were injured as 14 of the 23 coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Kalinga Utkal Express derailed in Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar on Saturday 19th August 2017. While it sounds silly that only 23 people have died in the accident according to railways when coaches were laying over one another the reason saddened me more. Train was allowed on under-construction track even when officials have notification for the same.

This is 27th fatal accident of the year and in a country where Lal Bahadur Shastri once resigned on a single accident as a Railway Minister his successors are not affected by anything. Ticket prices are increasing every year on pretext of security arrangements yet passengers are falling trap to that danger again and again. Who to blame when the system needs a repair and people are still worshiping leaders without showing concern to any national problem. The amount we are spending on building single Bullet Train track is enough to revamp the current railway system than why government didn’t take Japan’s help in this revamp rather in bullet train construction.

Faults on tracks are measured manually by some people designated for the job while many world nations are using machines and equipment for the work. Didn’t we need them also? I am sure more than 200 people have died in the derailment because two coaches are badly damaged but railway or the government has usual way to decrease the number of deceased to pay lower compensation. When even a single death should be considered a slur on any nation such multiple deaths are not enough to wake us. Tragically what is important to us today is Triple Talaq, Article 370, VandeMataram, Beef Ban, Ram Mandir and other drifting & similar dividing issues.

Always has hope and is determined for a better India I am closing this post with expectation to write something hopeful. God Bless India.

Gorakhpur Tragedy

source : The Indian Express

Amid increase crime report in UP where after swearing in of Yogi Adityanath as chief minister cases of murders, kidnapping, dacoities, rape, etc has increased many folds the fresh news came of the negligence in government hospital. At least 60 children have died over five days at the state-run Baba Raghav Das Medical College hospital in Gorakhpur. The deaths are being blamed on infections and possible disruption of oxygen supply in the pediatric ward.

The administration has rejected the claims of shortage of Oxygen as reason for deaths but the increase supply of Oxygen cylinders in the morning after the news broke out indicating otherwise. Isn’t it the negligence of the government hospital administration, health minister and Chief minister? Incidentally Gorakhpur was Yogi Adityanath’s Lok Sabha constituency. No compensation can fill the void of death of innocent children but there must be a time bound probe of the reasons behind the death and culprits must be punished honestly. Responsibility of the health minister and his department must also be fixed in the case to avoid such negligence in the future. For me this should be considered as culpable homicide.

Yogi’s government instead of giving time to governance and development is busy in promoting Hindutva. While I have no problem with Hindutva agenda but it should not be done at the cost of innocent lives and dragging the state behind from its current position. Recently unnecessary forcing Madarsas to prove their patriotism by making video of their Independence Day celebration is drifting away from development issues since most Madarsas from the time of independence already hoist national flag in their premises. Making Vande Mataram compulsory in government schools which is a controversial issue also is a deviation in governance goal unless this is their only goal. Communal clashes have increased in the part of UP besides other crimes which should not be done if they believe in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.

Death of even one innocent is loss to the nation and here 60 children who have yet to see this beautiful world died due to inefficiency of few. Chief Minister should look into the matter himself for faster action. This incident spoils Independence Day celebration due in few days. Till next post God Bless India.

Movie Review - Jab Harry Met Sejal

I don’t often write movie reviews even though I almost every week watch a Hindi movie. But after reading many reviews about this film and then watching it forced me to write this because film is completely different from reviews. I think these reviewers watch lot of Hollywood movies to judge Hindi films whereas to review them you need an Indian mindset and sensibilities. I agree that Imtiaz Ali has done better film earlier. Till date Jab We Met staring Shahid Kapoor & Kareena Kapoor is still my favorite but this film also explore one more aspect of his direction. Movie released on 4th August 2017.

Marketing: You can’t have better marketing strategy than Shah Rukh Khan and in this film too his hard work in promotion is visible. The team (Including Imtiaz Ali & Anushka Sharma) visited many cities and TV shows for film’s promotion. Music along with the way singles are released also helped in promotion.

Music: Pritam Chakravarty’s music again topping the charts. After different style of Music in Ranbeer Kapoor’s Jagga Jasoos JHMS’s music was superb and apt for the situation. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics are meaningful and songs look good in the movie also.

Story: Harry (SRK) is a tour guide in Europe. The film starts with him showing different places to a group of tourists. Sejal (Anushka Sharma) is one of them. When tour ends all left for India except Sejal who insists Harry to accompany her in finding her engagement ring which she has lost somewhere during the tour. She then again visits all the places with Harry to find her ring and in the journey as happened in Imtiaz’s film they discover their different sides and develop love for each other. What happened to the ring? Will she return back to India for her marriage? Will Harry know that he started loving Sejal? What they both are seeking? Answers to these questions will lead you to the climax.

Review: Anushka perfectly portrays a Gujarati girl and they both are excellent in their job. SRK’s star power not overpowers any scene but enhances it. Have some elements which surely remind you of some earlier movies of Imtiaz Ali. Cinematography and screenplay let you room Europe by sitting on your seat. If their back stories were highlighted more that we have better connections with the characters.

Verdict: Experience a beautiful journey called life with true human emotions and sensibilities.

Rate: I would give 4/5 stars.

Video of one of the song 'Safar'.

Braid Cutting - Truth or Rumors?

Braid Cutting - Truth or Rumor?

Mysterious braid (choti) cutting incidents has happened in Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi where women mostly around 50 years of age has their braids cut without their knowledge by some invisible source causing fear among women in these areas. Women also fell unconscious during the time of braid cutting which left them clueless about the attacker and made the incident mysterious. Police who have recorded the statements of victims deny any black magic involved in this which is rumored in the video circulated in social media groups. They are asserting that some miscreants are behind the incident.

The video allegedly claims that a woman is on a mission to cut 1008 women braids in order to get invisibility power according to a black magic ritual. I heard this news around a month ago from someone whose relatives live in Rajasthan. The incident was not in news at that time, I denied him saying that these are rumors or acts of miscreants and I still believe miscreants and anti-social elements has role in all this. Sad part of the story is that a 65 year woman who went outside to relive herself at night in a village near Agra was killed by people believing her to be a witch responsible for cutting braids.

We may know the truth in some time or the rumors die out a natural death but for the time being we need to remain calm and restrict ourselves in spreading any kind of rumors. This is second time in my life that I am witnessing such situation when such rumor mongering reached to national news debates. First time it happened in 2001 when rumors of monkey man created fear in people of Delhi. Then it was also proved to be a hoax and who knows something secretive has done by someone during the rumor period and the news was only to divert police & people somewhere else.

In this braid cutting news also there are more rumors than truth. One or two isolated incidents are hyped so much to create fear among women. People I have heard that started applying turmeric hand prints on their doors to keep away evil. Lemon-Chilli (Nimbu-Mirchi) was also hanged for the same purpose by some at their doors. Superstition in our country just need a chance to fly high and the incident has gave that chance. Hope the fake news ends soon because we already have many around to divert our attentions. Good bye. God Bless India.

Video of a related News Item in Hindi