Adieu 2008.... Welcome 2009....

Yeah... Thats right. I'm bidding adios to the year '08, a year of mixed emotions. I'm doing this 'coz I think this would be my last post of '08. Yeah, I don't think I'll write something in the remaining three days of this year.


I know there are three whole days left for the year to end. But I, down with cold and fever, don't think I'm gonna post anything now. Simply 'coz I need a break. And to go off the blogosphere without prior notice and without wishing the readers a very happy new year, would be unfair to the selected (read :: few) readers of my blog.


Its not that I don't want to post anything, in fact I'm out of ideas (REALLY !! probably due to bad health) and I just don't want to post anything that I come across. Thats why I'm refraining myself from posting anything.


This year, 2008, will be remembered for quite many things. Be it the great Recession, Sensex touching 22k and falling to the lows of 9500, Barack Obama's win in the US Presidential elections, terror attacks in numerous cities of India (Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Surat, Malgaon, etc), Indian cricket team taming world champion Australia and England, and many others.

I'll bounce back in the blogosphere in the new year '09 with the new spirit. Till then, goodbye. Take care. Have a great New Year's eve.

Party Hard ! Enjoy every moment of '08 till the clock strikes 12....


Welcome the first ray of '09 !!!!

One Month....

1 month...

My dear Indian Government....

If one month doesn't seem to be enough time, let me tell you that it is also equivalent to

4 weeks
30 days
720 hours
43200 minutes
31104000 seconds....

Now thats a big figure..... Isn't it?

Thats the time that has spent since the Mumbai Mayhem has started. The attack, touted as one of the worst in the world, one of the biggest in India, wasn't carried out only on Mumbai, it was an attack carried out on India as a whole.

I think, you have given enough time to Pakistan to hand over the dreaded terrorists. You have given enough time to Pakistan to curb terrorism in its own boundaries. You have given enough time to Pakistan by providing them with concrete evidences of their involvement in the attacks. You have had enough of 'diplomatic' talks and 'peaceful' tries to avoid a war-like situation.

But if they want a war, we shouldn't back out. We shouldn't remain pressurised from a third country. After all, its a matter of our sovereignity and security. And no third country will come and protect us if we are under such coward acts.

A country that has waged two wars, one when it was attacked by terrorists, and another only on the basis of suspicion, tries to prevent a war on a country which has been a breeding ground for terrorism. A country who is invading other countries in the name of its 'war on terrorism' stops us from doing the same. Bizarre !!! And on the other side, India has still not been able to understand such 'double standards' of the USA.

Well, coming back to Pakistan, we have given enough evidence of its (direct or indirect) involvement in the terrorist acts in India. Even the FBI has confirmed that all the terrorists (nine killed and one arrested in the Mumbai attacks) were Pakistanis. Yet, our 'friendly' neighbours do not agree to this very fact. They make one statement one day, and deny it the very next day. All of them have done it, be it President Asif Ali Zardari or PM Yusuf Raza Gilani or ex-PM Nawaz Sharif (not so 'sharif'). In fact, Pakistan should be renamed as 'U-Turn-istan'.

India should shed its image of a soft country and show it to the world that no more terror attacks will be tolerated। Although, I do not support the idea of war, I do not think that war is the solution to any problem, but I think that if the 'problem' (read :: Pakistan) does not understand, war is the ultimate solution.

All the Pakistani politicians are making statements that provoke war। They say that they are ready for one। My view is that if they are ready, why should we not fulfil their desire? If all they want is a war, why not give them one? After all, its something they wish.

Pakistan deserves to face the consequences for its deeds over the years.

अब याचना नही, रण होगा...
(Ab Yachana nahi, Ran hoga.... )

जीवन विजय के साथ, या फिर मरण होगा ....
(Jeevan Vijay ke saath, ya phir Maran
hoga....)

A Few Beautiful Lines....

Hey folks !

Actually it has been two whole days since the last post. I didn't want to vanish from the blogosphere and I could neither think of anything to write my next post on. So, I decided to go through my childhood collection (I used to collect anything and everything I liked, namely poems, jokes, pics, etc). And while scratching my brain on what to post, I came across these beautiful lines. I don't know who wrote them, but I'm sure you'll like it.

Its a Hindi poem. In fact, its a symbolic poem (प्रतीकात्मक कविता). Pretty short one though, but it touches the heart and moreover, it is relevant with the current situations of India. Here it goes....

राजा चाहे कोई भी हो - रावण हो या राम,
(Raja chahe koi bhi ho - Ravan ho ya Ram,)

जनता तो सीता है,
(Janta to Sita hai,)

रावण
हुआ, तो वन से उठा ली जायेगी,
(Ravan hua, to van se utha li jaayegi,)

राम हुआ, तो अग्नि परीक्षा ली जायेगी...
(Ram hua, to agni pariksha li jaayegi...)


राजा चाहे कोई भी हो - कौरव हो या पांडव,
(Raja chahe koi bhi ho - Kaurav ho ya Pandav,)

जनता तो द्रौपदी है,
(Janta to Draupadi hai,)

कौरव हुए, तो चीर हरण के काम आएगी,
(Kaurav hue, to cheer haran ke
kaam aayegi,)

पांडव हुए, तो जुएँ में दांव पर लगा दी जायेगी...
(Pandav hue, to jue mein daanv par laga di jaayegi...)


राजा चाहे कोई भी हो - हिंदू हो या मुसलमान,
(Raja chahe koi bhi ho - Hindu ho ya Musalmaan,)

जनता तो लाश है,
(Janta to laash hai,)

हिंदू हुए, तो जला दी जायेगी,
(Hindu hue, to jalaa di jaayegi,)

मुसलमान हुए, तो दफना दी जायेगी...
(Musalmaan hue, to dafna di jaayegi...)

Well written..... Isn't it? The person who has created it has said so much in very few words. Hats off !!!

This one deserves a few comments.....

PEACE !!!

World War III on the cards???

Of late, I have been commenting much on the Indian politics. But let me remind you I'm not a political critic, neither I'm affiliated to any political party. But I'm just expressing my views in the wake of the terror attacks. And this post is the next one in the series.

I have tentatively titled this post 'World War III on the cards???' because of the present situations. In case, India wages a war against Pakistan, there can be polarisation of powers in the world leading to another World War. And in case of a World War, the nuke option can not be ruled out. But thats a distant thought. I don't think that would happen, 'coz India (the government and the politicians) is too slow to take decisions like this. After all, it has to maintain its 'Won't-Attack-First' image.

Indian politics and the people in power in India have a big problem for not taking the right decisions at right time. The decisions which should have been taken long time ago, they are still thinking of it.

Is the current terrorist attack in Mumbai is not enough for giving them the evidence who have done this with what intentions? There are so many terrorist camp are running in PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) where they can easily target the terrorist. If Pakistan is not taking any action against those terrorists served by Pakistan in some manner, providing them space for camps, helping them in protection and training and vice-versa, India has to take action against those terrorist no matter who support them only for the reason that they are making us Indians suffer. Why the hell should we suffer because of a few mental retards (read :: terrorists) who kill innocents in the name of 'Jehad'?

Islam does not preach violence. Nor does it preach killing innocents for the sake of your own selfish propaganda. And a few people (like Mr A R Antulay) should keep their mouth shut. Just raising some communal issue at such a critical time. When the whole of India stands united against terrorism, a Union Minister creates divides between the Hindus and the Muslims by giving a senseless and baseless statement. Please Mr Antulay.... Please spare India.... Just don't start your votebank politics at such a time.

Time and again, I have mentioned in my blog, that its time to take some stringent action on this issue. The Government of India has proposed some tough anti-terror laws and a federal investigation agency. But this only will not help our cause. We have to make sure that the neighbouring country (read :: Pakistan) does something concrete against the terrorist organisations that have flourished in its horizons in the past few years. If Pakistan does not entertain us, India must be ready to cross the LoC and take appropriate action in order to protect itself from such incidents in future.

Although I understand what an attack is. I understand that a war is not good for any country, but this is not what we have started. We are simply replying them in the same manner they opt to. They started all this. And we are just answering them in their own way.

Well..... Its a great drama. Yeah.... all this is nothing else but drama. India has all the evidences of Pakistan's (direct or indirect) involvement in terror attacks in India. India has provided the same to Pakistan. But, on the other side, Pakistan does not entertain the 'concrete' evidences. Pakistan offers to send the ISI chief to India just after the Mumbai attacks. And the day after the announcement, it takes a full U-Turn from the statement and cancels the visit. Wow !!! The President Asif Ali Zardari and the PM Gilani make one statement one day and come tomorrow, they will take a complete U-Turn. A great drama has unfolded. India can not do anything to the guilty (of course, Pakistan) even with the evidence, and Pakistan still behaves like there's no involvement of any Pakistani, defying all the evidences. GREAT !!!

I just wanna ask a few simple questions to the Pakistani authorities (Zardari/Gilani/ISI/whatever....)

• If Kasab (the terrorist caught) isn't a Pakistani national, then why have you cordoned off the Faridkot village which India claims to be Kasab's village?
• Why don't you let the Kasab family (according to India's claims) in that village to meet anybody?
• The Pakistani media (namely, the newspaper Dawn and the TV channel Geo TV) have already confirmed the nationality of Kasab. Why have you imposed a case against the Geo TV for allegedly 'damaging Pakistan's image'?
• Is broadcasting the truth 'damaging Pakistan's image'?

If we get the answers to these questions, the case would be clear. Isn't it?

I had watched a movie a while ago, 'A Wednesday' where the protagonist Naseeruddin Shah, a 'stupid' common man plans to kill four dreaded terrorists who have been held in different cases and were simply waiting for there case to be taken by the government. This 'stupid common man' did a series of acts, throwing light at the loopholes, and finally compelling the police to hand over the four terrorists to him. And then, in the climax, he blows them up, simplifying the task. Well.... I know it was a movie, but it can be a reality too. If the terrorists can find loopholes in the security system, why can't a 'stupid common man' do the same to protect himself and his own motherland? If one '(A) Wednesday' can do some good to this country, I wish there were some more 'Wednesdays' and that too in reality....

I believe if they have started this 'war', we must not stay out of it and let them see what India can do with those who think life is a game. Let us give them a fitting reply that it is not a game... and if you think it is a game, YOUR GAME ENDS NOW...!!!

Politicians Beware !

"Oh ! Stop it now. Enough is enough."


This is what I want to tell the politicians of India.

All the politicians in India are, i think, suffering from 'Foot-in-Mouth' disease. And Mr Politician, be ware. India isn't sleeping now. Just take good care of your words, or else there can be another shoe-hitting incident in India too.

What do you politicians think of yourselves? Do you believe you are our God? Or do you think you are the 'Kings'?

If you think so, its the time to wake up ! You guys are neither our 'God' nor 'Kings', you are just our representatives, or should I say 'sevaks'. And you guys have to learn to think a million times before you utter a word.

I have been watching the politicians for quite some time now. There have been certain cases where the politicians have crossed the limits. Let me cite you some examples....

• Mr Shivraj Patil (ex-Home Minister, India) :
This guy had enough time to change clothes when Delhi was being bombed. Mr Patil, one of the weakest Home Minister this country has ever had, changed his clothes three times at the time of a terror attack in Delhi. Thank God, he has finally stepped down (yeah.... finally, after so much criticism). He was still not kicked out only because of his loyalty to the Gandhi family.


• Mr R R Patil (ex-Home Minister and ex-Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra) : Another head that rolled after the attacks in Mumbai. In his own words, "Mumbai ek bahut bada sheher hai. Aise ek-adh haadse to hote hi rahenge.". A dialogue picked up from DDLJ. It was this 'dialogue', due to which he was compelled to resign. Well, Mr Patil, nobody will accept the fact that it was just a 'chota mota haadsa'.


• Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh (ex-Chief Minister, Maharashtra) : Mr Deshmukh was a man who became a CM twice but could never complete his tenure. He was much criticised for his 'Terror Tourism', his visit to the terror-struck Taj with film director Ram Gopal Varma, possibly for a film plot with actor son Riteish (do hell with the way he spells his name). And due to this reason he had to quit.


• Mr Amar Singh (MP, Samajwadi Party) : This guy is another mad politician. A master of vote-bank politics. He raised questions on a patriot Inspector Mohan Chandra Sharma. He visits the terror suspects homes and calls them 'children'. WOW ! And showing his double standards, offers to help the slain inspector's family, which they declined to accept.


• Mr V S Achutanandan (Chief Minister, Kerala) : This veteran communist leader, after the Mumbai attack, visited martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's home. Major Unnikrishnan's father turned him down. He later remarked "If it wasn't Major Sandeep's house, even a dog wouldn't like to visit this house." Just one question Mr Achutanandan, "Is this how you treat your martyrs?"


• Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (MP, Bhartiya Janata Party) : A part-time film script writer, Mr Naqvi, made a comment on the people demanding their security peacefully by lighting candles and staging peace marchs. His "ladies with powder and lipstick" remark was enough to bring a storm in the tea cup. The BJP, later stated it as Naqvi's personal comment.


• Mr Abdul Rehman Antulay (Minorities Affairs Minister, India) : The last to join the bandwagon, Mr Antulay had doubts over ATS Chief Hemant Karkare's death. In his own words, “He (Karkare) was also making an independent investigation. (in which) he found that there were non-Muslims who were terrorists. Whether he was just a victim of terror or something (else), I don’t know.” Well, this is something a veteran leader like you should not do Mr Antulay. All you are doing is creating communal divides. The case he was investigating is a different matter and the terror attack is altogether different one. Please don't mix them up and confuse the people.

These were just a few examples. Its time to give these politicians a fitting reply. Wake Up India !!! And have your say.... Show them that ultimately the voter is the 'King'....

To hum bhi fehra denge TIRANGA poore Pakistan par.....

Dear neighbour Pakistan.... this one's for you.....

कश्मीर की कलियों को अपना लहू पिलाया है...
(Kashmir ki kaliyon ko apna lahoo pilaya hai...)

केसर की क्यारी क्यारी पर कुर्बानी का साया है...
(Kesar ki kyaari kyaari par
kurbani ka saaya hai...)

धोखे से भी आँख न करना, इस में जोखिम जान का है...
(Dhokhe se bhi aankh na
karna, is mein jokhim jaan ka hai...)

भूले से भी पाँव न रखना, ये रास्ता शमशान का है...
(Bhoole se bhi paav na
rakhna, ye rasta shamshaan ka hai...)

पर निकले, तो चले न आना सरहद पार कर उड़ान पर...
(Par nikle, to chale na aana
sarhad paar kar udaan par...)

जामा मस्जिद में नमाज़ पढने का ख्वाब अगर देखा...
(Jama Masjid mein namaaz
padhne ka khwaab agar dekha...)

तो हम भी फहरा देंगे 'तिरंगा' पूरे पाकिस्तान पर...
(To
hum bhi fehra denge 'TIRANGA' poore Pakistan
par...)

करो युद्ध, इतिहास तुम्हारा इतने गहरे दफन करें...
(Karo yuddh, itihaas
tumhara itne gehre dafn karein...)

करो युद्ध, हम तुम्हें तुम्हारे शोणित में नहला दें...
(Karo yuddh, tumhein tumhare
shonit mein nehla dein...)

लौटा दें भारत को उस की अपनी सीमाएं...
(Lauta dein BHARAT ko us ki apni
seemayein...)

'JAI HIND'

'भारत माता की जय'

Journo hurls shoes at Bush, calls him 'Dog'...

Well.... I know that this news is a stale one... but while surfing 'YouTube', i came across this video (courtesy :: Al-Jazeera). I wanted y'all to enjoy it too.

US President George W Bush being hit with shoes by an Iraqi journalist Muntazir-Al-Zaidi.



The Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes and an insult at George W. Bush, without hitting him, as the US President was shaking hands with the Iraqi Prime Minister Noori-Al-Maliki at his Baghdad office today.

As the two leaders met in Noori-Al-Maliki’s private office, a journalist sitting in the third row jumped up, shouting: “It is the farewell kiss, you dog”, and threw his shoes one after the other towards Mr Bush.

Mr Maliki made a protective gesture towards the US president, who ducked and was not hit. The journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi from Al-Baghdadia channel which broadcasts from Cairo, was frogmarched from the room by security staff, a witness said.

Some Iraqi journalists stood up to apologise. Mr Bush said: “Thanks for apologising on behalf of the Iraqi people. It doesn’t bother me. If you want the facts, it was a size 10 shoe that he threw.”

Enjoy guys !!!

Cricket replies to Terror

Well, it has been four long days since my last post. Actually, I didn't get time to do so. And here I am, with the latest post.

"England played really well, but India played better...."

These were the words of a sports critic just after India won the first test against England in Chennai by 6 wickets.

This match, once touted as one-sided affair when England bowled India out at 241 in the first innings chasing England's 316. This match will now be remembered for not just one single reason, but many, namely centuries by Andrew Strauss in both the innings, Paul Collingwood's century, Graeme Swann's brilliant bowling, India's fightback, Virender Sehwag's firebrand half century (it was this 83-run knock that changed the course of the game), not to forget, Gautam Gambhir's stand of 66 runs, Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten 41st Test Century (a brilliant one, just when India needed it) and last but not the least Yuvraj Singh, scoring 85* without which it would've been difficult to chase this mammoth target.

This was Cricket's reply to terrorism and that too, a tough one. This match was a tribute to those who suffered in the Mumbai terror act.

It was the fourth innings that changed the face of the game, which once was in England's grip. All in all, it was undoubtedly one of the most exciting test match in the history. It was a brilliant test match that had the thrills of T-20. With the way the fortunes turned the side, a dialogue of a SRK-movie strikes in my mind....

"Haar ke bhi jeetne waale ko BAAZIGAR kehte hain...."

This was a match, where both the teams had won, Cricket had won, and the loser was 'Terrorism'.

With his 103*, the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who hails from the very city that was devastated by terror just a few days ago, has silenced his critics. Who says that Sachin is not a match winner? Isn't this a match winning knock? 'Sizzling Sachin'.... 'Terrific Tendulkar'.... The most suited adjectives for the man of the day.

On the other side, even Yuvraj Singh proved his mettle by scoring 85* and justified his selection in the Indian test side.

The English team, no doubt, has won millions of hearts by coming back to India for the good of the game. Not just this, visiting India, playing here, playing here very well and donating their match fees to the victims is a wonderful gesture by the English team.

Among these wonderful performances, there's still a concern for India - Rahul Dravid. His miserable run with the bat continued as he was dismissed in the first ten minutes of the day’s play by Andrew Flintoff. Dravid has now been dismissed for single digit scores in his last four Test innings and ever since he quit captaincy last year, he has scored 881 runs at an average of 28.41. I think its high time now. If he does not wants a shameful end for his career, he should announce his retirement himself and play the last few innings with class.

Overall, this was a match to remember. With the hope that India continues the winning streak, I'd like to end this post.

Time for Action....

The dastardly executed attack on Mumbai, on India, and on humanity, by a few ruthless and stone-hearted bastards (read :: terrorists) has outraged the citizens of this peace-loving and tolerant nation. It is understandable that we, as a terror-struck nation are angry. Enough is enough and it is time for us Indians to respond, not by mere diplomatic rhetoric that has led into NOTHING in the past, but by taking appropriate action that ensures no such incident is ever repeated again, that no Indian ever loses his life to the bullets and bombs of the terrorists.

Nothing would be achieved by lighting candles, staging protests, rallies and peace marches, signature campaigns or wearing badges or even joining groups in social networking sites that you oppose terrorism. Given what our enemies are made of and being sponsored directly or indirectly by the establishment of the enemy country which is 'acting friendly'. Just raising fingers at them is also not going to help. Resignations by a few of those at the helm of the affairs is also not going to solve the problems. These guys are resigning on 'moral grounds' as if they were doing some personal favours to the country by resigning from their posts. Resigning does not solve the problems as resignations amount to resigning all the situations to fate.

Real action is required not just by few but all of us. Its time to have a thorough look at ourselves and secure ourselves by action. We need to respond the terrorists in their own coinage.

Wait before accusing me of inciting and preaching violence to counter terrorism. Let me clarify myself. I'm not advocating violence. I believe that no conflict needs to be addressed with violence or shedding blood of innocents. I just want to say that we, the Indians, must have the same, if not more, courage, precision and commitment with which the gang of ten that landed at Mumbai to unleash terror demonstrated.

They came fully trained, armed and prepared catching us unaware, having done their homework well, had a mission that needed to be accomplished and performed their jobs well, irrespective of the cost or the sacrifice involved. What they did is deplorable and to be condemned by each and every human being but what needs to be realised is the way they performed the jobs that their masters had trusted them.

Although it would be difficult and impossible to say that they are heroes, but one can always learn from anything or anybody. There is no harm in learning from these terrorists too, if it can give us a safer, terror-free nation.

Had everyone of us performed our jobs with a mission to protect our nation, courage and dedication, these terrorists would not have made it to Mumbai, and even if they had reached Mumbai, they would have been caught before doing any damage. There would have been no act of terror in any part of India, if our intelligence agencies, Coast Guards, Police, Government, fishermen, hotel security guards, each and every Indian had performed their jobs with the same commitment and dedication.

Let us perform our jobs in a manner and fashion that ensures leaving behind a safe, progressive and prosperous India for the future generations. We owe it to them.

Unlikely Believers

I read this in a blog and was completely moved by the story. So decided to put it on my blog ! Hope you like it....

(Contributed by Vipin Buckshey in one of Khushwant Singh's columns.)

In a small town in India, a person decided to open a bar right opposite to a temple. The temple and its congregation started a campaign to block the bar from opening, and prayed daily against the business. Work progressed. However,when it was almost complete and was about to open in a few days' time, a strong lightening struck the bar and it was burnt to the ground. The temple
folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, till the bar owner sued the temple authorities on the grounds that the temple, through its congregation and prayers, was ultimately responsible for the demise of his bar shop, either through direct or indirect means. In its reply to court, the temple authorities vehemently denied all responsibility, or any connection that their prayers might have with the bar's demise. As the case made its way to court, the judge looked
over the paperwork at the hearing and commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this case, but it appears from the papers, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer and we have an entire temple and its devotees who don't."

Mumbai Mayhem - in Pics.....

Two of the terrorists

Taj burning.... so is my heart !

Blood and luggage all over CST

The Taj

Kasab - the terrorist

The terrorists

The remains....

Innocents killed....

A byestander watching Taj burn

Security personnel at CST

PRAY - thats all we could do....

Another sight of CST

Rescue Operation on at Taj.... Firefighters - The Unsung Heroes

A guest stuck in the hotel

Blast at Taj

Mangles of the cab at Vile Parle

Hats off...

Hostage rescued

NSG Commando at work

At one of the hospitals

Unfortunate

Use of launcher by the security forces at Taj

A Commando

Commandos at Nariman House

Men at work

Fighting the terror

Foreign nationals rescued

Battleground Mumbai

DEATH - Human's worst nighmare

Relatives in grief

Bloodiest incident ever

Ratan Tata at the devastated Taj

Grief

A policeman taking care of a kid

An Open Letter to the PM....

Dear Mr Prime Minister

I am a citizen of India, who has just exercised his right to vote.

Having lived in Mumbai for quite sometime, I have lived a life of a typical mouse. In the local train compartment which has capacity of 100 persons, I have travelled with 500 more mice. A mouse can at least squeak but we can't even do that.

I heard your speech a few days ago. In which you said 'NO BODY WOULD BE SPARED'. I would like to remind you that fourteen years have passed since serial bomb blast in Mumbai took place. Dawood Ibrahim was the main conspirator. Till date he is free. All our Bollywood actors, our builders, our Gutka king meets him but your Government can not catch him. Reason is simple; all your ministers are hand in glove with him. If any attempt is made to catch him everybody will be exposed. Your statement 'NOBODY WOULD BE SPARED' is nothing but a cruel joke on the unfortunate people of India.

Enough is enough. As such after seeing terrorist attack carried out by ten young boys I realize that if same thing continues days are not away when terrorist will attack by air, destroy our nuclear reactors and there will be one more Hiroshima, in our own backyard.

We the people are left with only one mantra : 'Womb to Bomb to Tomb'. You promised every Mumbaikar Shanghai but in fact what you have given us is Jalianwala Baug.

Your good-for-nothin' Home Minister resigned. What took you so long to kick out this joker? The only reason for you not taking any action against him was that he was loyal to Gandhi family. Loyalty to Gandhi family is more important than blood of hundreds of innocent people, isn't it?

I was born and have lived in Mumbai for quite some time. Believe me corruption in Maharashtra is worse than that in Bihar. Look at all the politician, Sharad Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Bal Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Vilasrao Deshmukh all are rolling in money. Vilasrao Deshmukh is one of the worst Chief minister I have seen. His only business is to increase the FSI every other day, make money and send it to Delhi so Congress can fight next election. Now the clown has found new way and will increase FSI for the fishermen so they can build concrete house right on sea shore. Next time the terrorists will come by sea route, comfortably live in those house, enjoy the beauty of sea and then attack Mumbai at their will.

If this has been land of fools and idiots then I would not have ever cared to write you this letter. Just see the tragedy, on one side we are reaching moon, people are so intelligent and on other side you politician has converted nectar into deadly poison. I am everything - Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi, Scheduled Caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian Scheduled Caste, Creamy Scheduled Caste - only that I am not is 'INDIAN'. You politicians have raped every part of mother India by your policy of divide and rule.

Dear Mr Prime Minister, you are one intelligent person, a learned person, a great economist. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost expose all selfish politicians. Ask the Swiss bank and other international banks to reveal the names of all Indian account holders. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find the wolf among us. There will be a political upheaval but that will at least be better than the dance of death which we are witnessing almost every day. Just give us the ambience where we can work honestly and live without fear. Let there be rule of law. Everything else will be taken care of.

Choice is yours Mr Prime Minister. Do you want to be led by one person or you want to lead the nation of a billion people?

Yours sincerely,

A citizen of India

I have VOTED... What about YOU?

I have VOTED....

In my own words, I'm not a 'PAPPU' anymore....

Yeah ! I was raring for this moment ever since the elections were declared. And today, I have cast my very first VOTE. I'm feeling the power of being a part of the world's largest democratic setup.

There may be some flaws in it, yet being a part of it is an achievement in its own respect. There are drawbacks in almost everything. Nothing is flawless. Except ME ! Now that wasn'e a JOKE. So there's no point in smiling. Okay?

As I mentioned earlier, I was waiting for this moment for a long time, but it got over in a nanosecond. Just a long BEEEEEEEEEP and I had done with it.

The polling started at 8 am sharp. But I went to exercise my right at around 10 am. There was a small queue of some 10 or more people before me. I waited for my turn to come. I was ready with the weapon (read :: my Voter ID), which I got just 20 days ago.

Within minutes, all the people standing before me had voted and gone out and the number of people behind me started increasing. It was my turn next. There were four polling officers plus one supervisory authority in the polling booth.

The first polling officer took my ID and matched it with the voter list. Stage I cleared. My name was present in the list.

The second guy checked the ID again to verify if I was the same guy in the photo identity card, which obviously I was. That cleared the Stage II.

The third guy was ready to attack me, not me, my finger instead. He started applying the 'permanent ink' right above the nail of the first finger of the left hand. He continued, covered the whole distance through the nail and stopped at a distance after the nail. Eh ! it sort of stinked. And turning blue to red(within a few minutes). Stage III cleared.

The fourth one guided me to the EVM (for those who don't know :: Electronic Voting Machine). There were 13 candidates contesting the election. The green light glowed which meant the EVM was ready. I checked out the names of all 13 candidates and pressed the blue button in front of the candidate for which I wanted to vote. The red light against the name blinked. There was a long BEEEEEEEEP. I had done with voting.

The supervisory officer asked me, "Voting for the first time?"

I said "Yes... Yes sir !"

He said "It feels great that youth like you are interested in the democratic setup."

"Thanks !" was my reply.

I started moving my feet towards the door marked 'OUT', having a look at my finger on which the ink was applied. The ink had turned black.

It was a proud feeling that I had paid my contribution in deciding the fate of my area. Now the person, whoever gets elected, was accountable to me. Yes.

I conclude on this note, with a hope that nobody ever remains a 'Pappu'.

Get up. Vote ! JAAGO RE !!!

An Open Letter to Kerala CM....

Dear Mr Achutanandan,

My heart fills with rage, shock and pain as i hear you hurl abuses at a martyr's father. A father broken hearted and grieving at the loss of his young son is further hurt by you and your bloody politically incorrect statement. As you remain defiant and don't want to apologise to the slain Sandeep Unnikrishnan's family, Mr Achutanandan, all I can say is you are deeply disconnected with the people you 'claim' to represent. So I hope and pray that God Almighty bestows you empathy, grace and a sense of concern.

My sincere prayer, that you never have to in through the pain of lighting the funeral pyre of a loved one.

My sincere prayer, that no loved one of yours should ever come covered in a tricolour.

My sincere prayer, that you never have to go through the anxiety of knowing your loved one is fighting a thousand bullets, coming from terrorists who are determined to kill.

My sincere prayer, that you never have to hear the phone ring, when you know it could be the news you dread.

My sincere prayer, that you never come face to face with an arrogant and contemptuous politician in your hour of grief.

My sincere prayer, that you understand why Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan is a national hero and a pride of this country and his family deserves the utmost respect for teaching him, 'nation above self'.

My sincere prayer, that you fathom what is it to send your only son to the Indian Army where not too many politicians' children ever dare to enter.

My sincere prayer, that you understand why families of the Mumbai martyrs who have faced bullets to keep their countrymen safe are turning politicians like 'you' away. Because they have no use of your beacon flashing security sir, or the money you choose to offer as compensation. In fact you came knocking at the door of this martyr, with sniffer dog and all, sir.

My sincere prayer, that you show one-tenth of the courage the young man of 31 showed this nation, and apologise to a family which will live with the loss of their only son for a long time to come, and apologise to the nation, because Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan wasn't just an officer of the Bihar regiment, wasn't just an officer on deputation at the National Security Guards, wasn't just a son of Kerala. He belongs to this nation and how we hope we could have gone to this house and thanked him in person for what he did for us. Mr Chief Minister, its a house no one would ever turn away from.

All I want to say that, 'We would prefer a DOG to visit our house rather than a POLITICIAN like YOU !'

Yours sincerely,

Ankit B. Rathod
A citizen of India

Straight from the Heart....

India, especially Mumbai, is picking up bits and pieces of the traumatic and shocking incident that took place almost a week ago..... My friend Saunil's friend (he wanted me to write his name in the post.... happy Saunil? :p) wrote these beautiful lines and i couldn't resist myself from putting them here....

Take me down to the terrorised city
where the streets are shitty
and life is pity..

take me down to the terrorised city
where the streets are busy
and life is pity...

thousand cabs parked in the stand
everything so well planned
the ugly urchins play their band..

take me down to the terrorised city
where the guys are rich
and the girls are skinny..

thousand people runnin to catch their train
the scene at tht station looks insane

thousands of bullets showered upon them
those ugly urchins laugh at their pain

take me down to tht terrorised city
where the glass is clean
and the rooms are pretty...

where the wine is classy
the rates are pretty
and they serve in a giffy...

take me down to the terrorised city
where the floor now is greasy
and the glass is stained
with the blood of the city

take me down to to my terrorised city
where they hold guns and bombs
and burn its beauty

take me down to my terrorised city
where the weather was sunny
and where ppl could earn money

so...
please..

make my terrorised city
a paradise city,
where the grass is green
and the girls are pretty
Take me home (Oh, won't you please take me home)

Take me down to the paradise city
Where the grass is green
And the girls are pretty
Oh, won't you please take me home

Take me down
Oh yeah
Beat me down
Oh, won't you please take me home...

Certainly, we need a 'paradise city' rather than a 'terrorised city'....

Just a Small Incident ?

"Bade bade deshon mein chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hai", said Shah Rukh Khan in DDLJ (need not expand it... do i?) and endeared himself to the audiences. This dialogue is still remembered by millions. But yesterday, Mr R R Patil, the home minister of Maharashtra, made me remind that very dialogue when he shamelessly said "Mumbai ek bahut bada sheher hai. Aise ek-adh haadse ho hote hi rahenge. Woh 5000 logon ko maarne aaye the, lekin us hisaab se nuksaan kam hua hai." Really??? I wonder if you would have said the same words had some of your relatives been taken hostage or killed in the attack or had your beloved 'Mantralaya' been the very site of the hostage crisis?

I beg to disagree with you Mr Patil, in your own words 'ek-adh chhota haadsa'. This really wasn't one of such kind. And your CM Vilas Rao Deshmukh saw this 'chhota haadsa' as an opportunity to promote the idea of a film with Ram Gopal Varma and his son Riteish (do hell with the way he spells his name). So its a big enough an incident to make a film on it, but not enough to take some stringent action. Isn't it, Mr Patil?

We have lost some of our top officers. All because you guys care a damn about the safety equipments. The safety equipments used by the security personnel were outdated while those used by the terrorists were at par in technology. Why??? Its because you bloody politicians are so busy proving who's Maharashtrian and who isn't.

Every Indian (including the Mumbaikars and the North-Indians) were really missing Mr Raj Thackeray and his 'brave men'. MNS (or MaNSe) men, you guys missed the action, really. Believe me, you guys would have been tagged as 'National Heroes' had you even tried to battle the fucking terrorists to save 'your beloved Mumbai'. Forget some action, Mr Raj Thackeray was so busy (read :: scared) to even give a statement to the media. It would have been a lot better had you guys raised the issue of better equipment and training facilities for the security forces. But there were some guys from the Mumbai Police, the NSG, the MARCOS (acronym for :: Marine Commandos), most of them from North India, who were playing the role of 'Marathi Manoos'. And all you guys did was put some banners and hoardings paying 'Shraddhanjali' to the slain officers, alongwith your party slogans.

And the great ruling coalition (both in Maharashtra and the Centre) says that its ministers have always taken the 'moral responsibility' and resigned. Mr Shivraj Patil, the Union Home Minister and Mr R R Patil, Home Minister of Maharashtra, both have resigned. But my dear (dirty) politicians, let me remind you that its not just 'moral' responsibility, but its the total absolute responsibility of the Home Minister to see to it that the citizens are safe. Its not a symbolic responsibility, its your very real responsibility, that is what you were supposed to do when you were given the home ministry portfolio.

Will your resigning get back those killed? The answer is 'NO'. Isn't it? It doesn't matter that you resign after so much has happened. If you can't do your work properly, you don't have the right to be there. You may have the time to change your clothes three times when there's a terrorist attack. But we don't have any patience left in us. We have been tired of showing that such incidents don't affect us, even when they do. People live in constant fear of the fact that they are not safe.

I have lived in Mumbai for quite sometime and I know what happens when the 'Maximum City' of Mumbai gets stuck in time with incidents like this. I have experienced the pain during the Train Blasts in Mumbai. Yes I am angry and outraged like most Mumbaikars, or for that matter like most Indians. I don't want to show my resilient 'spirit' once again. I don't want to pay for your security when I live in constant fear of being killed anywhere anytime. I want YOU, who were elected to take decisions for us, to actually do something rather than making political statements, mud-slinging and changing clothes.

Dear fellow Indians, its time to wake up and take the governance in our hands rather than lighting candles, wearing white. Let us all vote (for the right person obviously) and get a radical change in the system.

JAI HIND !!!