Are ruk jaa re bande......

In Mumbai, I was feeling very hungry and wanted to eat something.....What better than a bhelpuri in Mumbai rains......so we stopped at this Bhelpuri waalah and enjoyed bhelpuri....Every thing was very normal until I notice the slogan "Jai Maharashtra" written on the utensil he was using.....Even that was not abnormal....It is quite normal for an Indian to love any state or city of India....But I sensed something fishy about it...I asked the bhelpuri waalaa bhaiya from where he was...he named some obscure little place in UP...
He was living in mumbai since the last 10 years and earning his living without doing any harm to the city. He loved the city. One day some over zealous self professed guardians of Mumbai (the same brave young men who were nowhere to be seen when the terrorists struck Mumbai) attacked and threatened him...after which he had to publicly proclaim his love for Maharashtra....
It was not PDA (public display of affection---a phrase which became common after the moral policing incidents) but an instrument of survival.......
This bring us to a question......do we have to paint our forehead every time we visit one or the other state of India (all being home to me and a billion other ppl).
This reminded me of a song of the Indian ocean musical band which featured in the movie black friday criticising the communal rights which applies here tooo::::::" Are ruk jaa re bande.........Ye Kudrat Has Padegi...."
However in the scenario of prevalent cynicism and insanity a few examples keep the hope alive......Like that Maharashtrian doctor who died working for the flood victims of Bihar and Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan (a Keralite who belonged to Bihar regiment) who died fighting the militants who attacked India (only Mumbai for Raj thackeray and co.)( Ironically Bal thackeray chased away the south indians and raj thackeray is chasing away the north indians).
Only love and harmony between the people is a perfect antidote to this cynical politics of hatred..!!!

Privatising Profits.....Socialising Losses.......

Private airlines in India have threatened to cancel all their flights on Aug 18th, if the demands for a bailout package is not met.
True, the airline industry is in disarray due to high fuel prices and need a bailout...But do they, or for that matter any corporate entity deserve a bailout package by the government.
One, the private airlines are running a profit oriented business....Absolutely no problem in that......They slashed rates, provided better service to increase demand and thus their market profitability. Let us be very clear about this, there was no social service in it. The common man still doesn't travel by air. Till their purses allowed they kept the fares low.
Now came economic recession. Fuel prices went up, market demand and liquidity shrank and the airlines started suffering losses...They hiked fares to recover losses. No issue in that.
The problem starts when they demand a bailout package from the govt.on the state exchequer.
When they were making profits, buying private yachts, flats in spain just to see F1 racing, they never cared about the Government and its various social schemes. Apart from few symbolism like bringing back Tipu Sultan's sword, that too for political gain...these corporate honchos never contributed towards the social sector....they kept the fruits of economic boom to themselves...
Now they are suffering losses, who are they to demand bailout from the Government.
This bailout culture if we will copy from the western countries will go a long way in privatising profits and socializing losses. If I set a shop and it fails, does the govt. bail out me.
When the players start performing badly...that day is not far away when the Indian Paisa League (IPL) will too demand a bailout citing public entertainment.....Be ready for it Mr. Pranab Mukherji......!!!!!

India Lives on......

During my recent visit to Mumbai I happened to visit the sites of 26/11 attacks....and was amazed to see the extent to which the people have returned to their normal life......as if nothing happened ever here......
Be it the Marine Drive (at which the Oberoi is situated), The Taj Hotel, CST or the Leopold Cafe.....all these places are swarming with the ever enthusiastic, ever resilient people of Mumbai....
This brings me to a question.....whether we are really resilient or are we resilient by force?
I hope its the former.....
Whatever it maybe it definitely represents the hope of the people that nothing will go wrong.....Its not only Constable Ombale and Ashok Kampte......the people of Mumbai are also the heroes of 26/11.....They have shown this time too......as always...that come what may be......we will never allow our enemies to permanently cripple our civil life.......(obviously the damage done to the victims of 26/11 attacks can never be repaired)........
CST is still full of running people eager to reach home after a long day at work........People are still taking their snaps with The Taj in the backdrop.........Leopold Cafe is still full of foreign backpackers(not withstanding the bullet marks still present there)......and Marine Drive is still getting lively by the playing children......

Mumbai lives on........So Does India...........