Is Madame Sonia the REAL PM?

Before anybody tags me as an anti-Congress blogger, I'd like to clear the air by saying that I'm just expressing my opinion as a NEUTRAL Indian citizen.

What I've been observing since the last few years is that the inauguration of many mega-projects by the Central government or any of the governments of states ruled by the Congress have been done by the UPA Chairperson and Congress President Mrs Sonia Gandhi. I have sheer respect for the lady. She has achieved a lot. But the only question pops up in my mind is that why only Mrs Sonia Gandhi? This question again started making rounds when she'll be inaugurating the much awaited 5.6 km long Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai today.

She isn't the President, nor Vice-President, not the Prime Minister, neither a Chief Minister nor a minister in any of the government, then WHY she? Why can't the President Mrs Pratibha Patil or even the Vice-President Dr Hameed Ansari do the honours.

Just 'coz Mrs Gandhi is the president of the ruling party (at both the Centre and the state), this doesn't mean that she keeps on inaugurating all the mega-projects. If anybody says that she's an MP, then I have got an answer for you too. Okay, she's an MP from Raebareilly (Uttar Pradesh). Then why is she getting involved in projects in Mumbai or in other states. I do not doubt her intentions, but it seems like something which is not traditional. I mean that a person who isn't holding any post in the government, who isn't a part of the government DIRECTLY is doing what a President or a PM should do. Then why she doesn't become one? Why not become a Prime Minister and do the same?

And if not the President or Vice-President, the Prime Minister or the Governor or the Chief Minister could have inaugurated it. If this continues to happen then within a few years, there will be numerous foundation/inauguration stones bearing the name of Mrs Sonia Gandhi. Then there wouldn't be much difference between her and UP CM Mayawati. Maya Memsaab keeps laying foundation and inauguration stones where she likes. Recently she is in trouble when the honourable Supreme Court issued her a show-cause notice over a similar issue.

This was a question that compelled me to think. I just thought that I'd share it with my readers. I'd like to know what you think about it. Comments awaited.



Bandra-Worli Sea Link pic courtesy : Abhijit's Planet

Ye Aaj Zindagi Mujhe Kis Mukaam Pe Le Aayi Hai

ये आज ज़िन्दगी मुझे किस मुकाम पे ले आई है
जिधर भी देखता हूँ दिखती मुझे तनहाई है
ये आज ज़िन्दगी मुझे किस मुकाम पे ले आई है

एक तरफ़ तुझे खुश देख खुश होता है दिल मेरा
दूसरी तरफ़ रुलाती मुझे तेरी जुदाई है
ये आज ज़िन्दगी मुझे किस मुकाम पे ले आई है

चाहने से कभी कुछ नहीं मिलता ज़िन्दगी में
शुक्रिया ऐ खुदा जो तू ने ये सीख मुझे सिखाई है
ये आज ज़िन्दगी मुझे किस मुकाम पे ले आई है

दिखावे की हँसी कब तक हँसेगा "अंकित" अब तू
तेरी आंखों में छलकती उसकी खामोश आशिकी है
ये आज ज़िन्दगी मुझे किस मुकाम पे ले आई है
ये आज ज़िन्दगी मुझे किस मुकाम पे ले आई है

PS : This was my Post#50 for 2009 and Post#94 ever since I started blogging.

PPS : Please DO NOT ask me questions like "YE KIS KE LIYE LIKHI HAI?"

Meri Khaamosh Chaahat

तेरा यूँ मुस्कुराना,
तेरा वो शर्माना,
तेरी हर वो अदा,
तेरी जुल्फों की घटा,
झील सी गहरी आँखें,
तेरी मखमली आवाज़,
तेरा दिलकश अंदाज़,
मुझपे न जाने कैसा जादू कर गया,
मैं तेरी ओर खिंचा आ रहा,
मुझे तेरा दीवाना कर गया...
दोस्ती न जाने कब चाहत में बदल गई,
पर मुझ से हाल-ए-दिल बताने की हिम्मत न हुई...
शायद तुम्हारी चाहत से ज्यादा,
तुम्हे खो देने का डर था...
डर था कि कहीं तुम
मुझ से खफा न हो जाओ,
शायद तुम्हे खो देने के डर से
तुम से कुछ न कह पाया...
मैंने सोचा कभी न कभी तुम्हे भी
मेरे प्यार का एहसास हो ही जाएगा,
मगर यह न हुआ,
ना मैं कुछ कह सका,
ना ही तुम कुछ समझ पायी...
और मेरी चाहत एक सपना बन के रह गई,
मेरी खामोश चाहत का एक हसीन सपना.....

मेरा मानना है कि प्यार का मतलब
सिर्फ़ पाना ही नहीं होता
प्यार में कुछ पाने से ज्यादा
अपने प्यार की खुशी की चाह होती है
मेरी तमन्ना है तुम खुश रहो
तुम्हारा यह खामोश आशिक
तुम्हे खुश देख के ही खुश रह लिया करेगा....

The lines written above are not meant to express ANYTHING. They may or may not follow any rhyme scheme. In fact, I did not write them just 'coz I wanted to write a poem or something. It just came to my mind and compelled me to post it here. I do not know why I was so tempted to post this. I just need your comments on this.

Eagerly waiting,
Ankit

Blame Game begins....

"We are sorry. We are more disappointed (than the fans) and we respect the emotions of our fans and the country. We gave our best and we say that with an open heart, we have nothing to hide. We apologize to the fans for whatever happened. We are more disappointed than the fans themselves”, said the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the team's exit at the Super-8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2009 losing by a mere 3 runs to England (and that too with 5 wickets in hand).

Now, is it the same Dhoni who bought the T20 World Cup two years ago? If yes, then where's the confidence? And where is that flambouyant captaincy? Why is MSD acting so mean? Any answers?

Well, to me, India were never the favourite this time. But, as it is my home team, I always had some distant hope that my team India gets the cup. But after all, reality is reality, and you have to face it sooner or later. This exit, in my opinion, should act as a wake up call for the captain Dhoni, the players, and of course for the BCCI.

What the BCCI clearly needs to understand is that after all, the players are also human beings, and they too need some rest. Continuously playing can lead to a poor performance. And that is what happened with team India.

And Dhoni's captaincy is also under scanner. There were a few decisions that went totally wrong. In the match against England, sending Ravindra Jadeja instead of Yuvraj Singh, at a time when India was at a crucial stage, went haywire. Not only this, saving Yusuf Pathan for the end proved disastrous as the run rate at when he came in to bat was nearly unachievable. Pragyan Ojha, the bowler in form, was rested in this do-or-die match. Can Dhoni explain this?

And not to mention the Sehwag episode. Whether it was a spat between Dhoni and Sehwag or whether it was a matter of hiding Sehwag's injury or something else, this issue had certainly affected the morale of the team as a whole.

Media, I just don't understand how they work. When the team wins a match, they portray them as the national heroes. And when they lose one, they start performing the post-mortem of the loss and tag the same players as traitors (they almost do that !!)

Its not that I am confused on who to be blamed. Its a fault of the captain and players (for poor performance) and BCCI is equally responsible (for not letting the players rest before a crucial tournament).

Its time for the ‘why’s, ‘if’s and ‘but’s to be answered. Explanations will be demanded and answered, crucial decisions may be taken and heads may roll. The hero of 2007 has turned villain in 2009. Yes, folks. The ‘blame-game' has begun.

Intezaar

ख़ुद मैं उखडा रहता हूँ,
हर पल सोचता रहता हूँ,
कब मिलेगी वो मुझे
बस यही सोचता रहता हूँ.
इतने साल बिता दिए
भीड़ में उसे खोजने में,
इतने दिन लगा दिए
ख़ुद ही से उसे जोड़ने में.
इंतज़ार की घड़ी कब ख़त्म होगी,
मेरी परी कब मेरे सामने खड़ी होगी.
सपने देखता हूँ तो बस उसका ही ख्याल आता है,
हर पल यही सवाल आता है,
क्या ये इंतज़ार कभी ख़त्म होगा?
मेरे सपनों का ख्याल किस को होगा.
कर भी क्या सकता हूँ,
इंतज़ार करने के सिवा.
बस इंतज़ार ही कर सकता हूँ,
प्यार करने के सिवा....

Hurt & Heartbroken - The Mount Abu Diaries

Delwara, the world famous Jain temples at Mount Abu, have been known for their intricate carving and is a very fine example of craftsmanship.

I, being a Jain myself, have been to Delwara many times. But my last visit hurt me a lot. Actually, these temples are under the control of Rajasthan government, and not under the control of local Jains. And thats where all fishy things start.

As its with everything thats under government control, the rules are meant to be bent. And its the same with Delwara temples.

They allow the tourist visitors after 12 noon and the temple is open for Jain devotees from 6 am for performing pooja. Earlier, I have always been there before 12 noon to avoid rush and to be able to perform darshan and pooja. This was the first time ever that I visited the temple after 12.

It was around 1.30 pm. It was overcrowded. They were not letting us in before a bunch of around 50 people gathered. When they got the sufficient numbers, they let us in. The pujaris had now switched their roles. As they had nothing to do, they had turned into guides.

They took us to each of the five temples one by one. They acted as if they were cops and didn't let us do our darshan properly. I protested. Then the pujari-cum-guide let at least me perform darshan properly.

Another thing that hurt me was that not a single rule that needed to be followed in a Jain temple was being followed. In a Jain temple, people are not allowed to eat, people are not allowed without proper clothing (shorts and revealing clothes are not allowed). People, especially couples, are not allowed to walk hands in hands. All these rules were being broken in front of me and the pujari-cum-guide. He didn't even tell anything who broke the rules.

People were eating, couples were walking together as if they ar at some romantic place or a lovers' point, and not to mention short clothes. I would like to mention another world-famous Jain temples, Ranakpur, for maintaining the rules and sanctity. Many tourists visit this temple too. But the management is just awesome. People have to go through security checks before entering the temple. People with short and revealing clothes are not allowed. Instead they are provided with proper clothing (gowns for girls/ladies and pajamas for guys) at a very nominal charge.

One final thing about Delwara. After the whole 'tour' of the temples was over, the pujari-cum-guide started uttering words like these "Aap itni mahaan jagah aaye hain. Yahaan aane se hi aap ka jeevan safal ho gaya. Bhagwaan ke ghar aaye ho, maine aap ko itna kuchh bataya, is mein agar mujh se koi bhool hui ho, to mujhe maaf karna. Achha laga ho, to mujhe kuchh dakshina de ke jaana. Jo aap ki ichchha ho, 10 rupaye doge, to 5 pujari 2-2 rupaye baantege. 20 doge, to 4-4 baantenge, 50 doge, to 10-10 baantenge. Aage aap ki ichchha."

Hearing these words, I was shocked. These guys, are paid heavily by the government. Plus they get all the benefits that a government servant gets. And still they are demanding money. I consider it as demanding bribe, since we did not hire him to guide us.

I had very less time as I had to rush back home. If I had some time, i would have definitely complained about this then and there. I have visited the Devasthan department's website which is responsible for managing and maintaining the temples under Government control.But there wasn't any link to post a complaint over there. There was a mail ID of the Commissioner of Devasthan department on this page. I forwarded the copy of this blog post to that mail ID, but it wasn't delivered as the mail ID was wrong. GOD save India !!!

This is the difference when a temple goes under the control of the govenrment. The same has happened with the Jain temple at Rishabhdeo (also called Keshariyaji) in Udaipur district. There was a dispute between the Jains and the local Adivasis over the temple. So the government tool it under its control. The local Jains challenged it in the court. After a long battle, the court ruled the case in the favour of Jain around 20 months ago. But the government has still not handed over the temple to the local Jain body. I urge the government to hand over the Keshariyaji temple to the Jains and look into the matter of Delwara temples.

Hurt and heartbroken, I sign off...

Pyaar

Aaj aapke ek sawaal ka jawaab hum dete hain,

Aapke pyaar ko hum aapki aankhon se padh lete hain.

Naa kuchh kehne ki zarurat, naa hai kuchh bataane ki,

Har saans mein base pyaar ko mehsoos hum kar lete hain.

Jaante hain aapki chhuan aapke dil ki hasrat bayaan kar degi,

Par shayad mere dil ki dhadkan itna pyaar nahi sahegi.

Aapki muskurahat mein chhipe har ehsaas ko hum padh lenge,

Itna pyaar mila to marte marte bhi jee lenge....