दादी, माँ और पिता

28 जनवरी, '96 को 'हिन्दुस्तान' अखबार में प्रकाशित कविता.

लेखिका :सरोज कुमार वर्मा.

दादी

दादी है

तो सीखें हैं, कहानियां हैं.

दादी है

तो गंगा है, तुलसी है.

दादी है

तो जड़ें हैं. जमीन हैं.

दादी है

तो चर्चे हैं बाबा के.

दादी के होते

बाबा स्वर्गीय नहीं हो सकते.

माँ

माँ है

तो लोरी है, शगुन है,

माँ है

तो गीत हैं उत्सव है,

माँ है

तो मंदिर है, उत्सव है,

माँ है

तो मंदिर है मोक्ष है,

माँ है

तो मुमकिन है शहंशाह होना,

माँ के आँचल से बड़ा

दुनिया में कोई साम्राज्य नहीं.

पिता

पिता हैं

तो छतरी है माला है

पिता हैं

तो दरख़्त है, हिमालय है,

पिता हैं

तो नींद है, सपने हैं,

पिता हैं

तो सुविधा है नास्तिक होने की,

पिता के होते

इश्वर की प्रार्थना जरूरी नहीं.

ख़याल आता है

कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है.
कि कैसा होता कि
खुद के रिश्तेदार इतने अच्छे होते
कि छुट्टियों में गाँव जाता 
और खुश होकर वापस आता,
न कि देकर ढेर सारे पैसे
किसी हिल स्टेशन में
चंद-दिन-चंद-रातों के लिए
"विजिट" करता.

कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है.
कि कैसा होता कि
सत्तू, अजवायन, काला नमक, प्याज नीम्बू और पुदीने का बना सत्तू-ड्रिंक
हम दिल्ली में पीते
और एहसास भी नहीं होता कभी 
अपनी मिट्टी से अलग होने का  

कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है.
कि कैसा होता कि
होता हर गाँव में एक साइबर कैफे
और चाट विंडो पर एक सन्देश भर भेज देने से हो जाता, 
किसी समस्या का निदान 

कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है.
कि कैसा होता कि
सुबह सुबह मिलते गले 
लगाते नारे साथ-साथ 
अल्लाहो-अकबर,जय श्री राम के 
मुश्ताक और शीला की शादी में शरीक होते, 
मौलवी और पंडित 
और नाम रखते उनके बच्चे का "भारत"
और धर्म होता "भारतीय"
और अगली पीढी की जात होती : "भारतीय"

जानता हूँ कि दिन में सपने देख रहा हूँ मैं 
फिर भी,
कभी कभी मेरे दिल में ख्याल आता है

देखता हूँ सपने
कि हो रहे हैं संसद में शांति से सारे काम, 
कि अरसा हो गए हैं देखे ट्राफिक जाम, 
कि रुक रही है हर गाडी लाल बत्ती पर, 
कि लागू है ये नियम राष्ट्रपति पर, 
कि दाम बढते हैं उतने ही, जितनी आमदनी, 
कि मूल्य है किसी का, बस एक अठन्नी, 
कि बच्चे के दाखिले में प्रतिभा की ही दरकार है, 
कि हर भारतीय बोले कितनी अच्छी सरकार है,

दिल कहता है,
नहीं हो सकती इतनी सारी चीज़ें ,
एक साथ, 
लेकिन दिल ही तो है... 
तभी तो कभी कभी 
मेरे दिल में ख़याल आता है 

Search Engine Submission - AddMe 
 

मेरे पप्पा

पप्पा,
पप्पा कहता था आपको,
अब भी कहता हूँ ,
आज भी प्रेरणा देते हैं, जब मुश्किल में होता हूँ,
उफनती नदियाँ,
जब सारा रस्ता छेक लेती हैं,
मुश्किल हो जाता जब,
एक डग भी भरना,
आज भी
आप ही देते हैं सहारा, और बंधाते हैं एक उम्मीद
हाँ पप्पा,
याद है मुझे अभी भी
आपकी वो बात
कि सबसे बड़ी पूंजी हैं
अनंत इच्छाशक्ति और अथक प्रयास,
विरासत में मिली पूंजी,
कैसे भूल सकता हूँ,
बस
इतना ही अंतर है,
कल
आप मेरी उंगलियाँ पकड़कर
आवाज दे कर
डांट कर
पुचकार कर
हंस कर,
संभाल लिया करते थे मेरी डगमगाती नाव को
और आज,
दे दी है आपने,
मेरे ही हाथों में पतवार,
और सोच में हैं सदा कि भांति,

हथेली पर ठुड्डी टिकाये 

पप्पा,
मैं जानता हूँ,
आप अभी भी नहीं बदले,
मंडराते हैं आज भी अपने बच्चों के गिर्द,
और करते हैं माजी की देखभाल,
हम कुछ भूल जाते तो
कर लेते हैं
आकर सपनों में बात 

पहले आप कहीं थे
अब हर-कहीं होकर,
तोड़ दी हैं आकार की बेड़ियाँ,
शायद अपने बच्चों के लिए ही तो,
कि काम आ पायें इस शरीर के बाद भी, 
तभी तो
मुश्किल वक्त में, जब टूट जाती है मेरी पतवार ,
लहरें डराती हैं,
धीरज तोडतीं हैं बार बार,
आप आते हैं
नाव के पाल की हवा बनकर,
दुखती रगों की दवा बनकर,

पप्पा,
सुखप्रद हो आपकी स्मृति,
चाहे कितनी भी
लेकिन,
आपका होना सार्थक करता
मेरी हरेक सफलता को आज,
जब
कमी नहीं हैं बधाईयों की,
लेने वाला कोई नहीं.
वो तो आप ही थे,
आप ही हैं

पप्पा,
आज भी कभी जब
माजी का सर दुखता है, और गर्म होता है,
याद करती हैं आपको,
कहती हैं,
तुम्हारे पप्पा पढते थे एक मंत्र
और फूंक देते थे उसी वक़्त,
ठीक हो जाती थी मैं बिलकुल,
पप्पा,
आजकल मैं पढता हूँ मंत्र,
नाम आपका लेकर,
माजी ठीक होती हैं आज भी
आपमें,
आपकी  आस्था में
एक शक्ति थी, और है


कम से कम तो एक तसल्ली है फिर भी अब,
जायेंगे नहीं आप कही भी, मुझे छोड़कर, 
बने रहेंगे मेरी स्मृति में.........मेरे विस्मृत होने तक.
 

बुलंद भारत की बुलंद तस्वीर ?

When news channels and newspapers started shouting, candle-marches started showing up on busy landmarks I found my conscience choking. day by day. It had been condensing gradually. …and one day my friend Jyoti sent me an email. He was equally disturbed after knowing the developments of the case. His mail, sent to all of our friends, urged for partnership in initiating action against such incidents for the sake of our own conscience. Following is the excerpt of his mail:

"…………

ONLY PLEDGE that I do make, is, if I come to know of any child (less than 18 years of age) being molested, ever in my life, irrespective of offender's position in society, family, neighborhood, that person WILL be punished... no matter what!

I WILL MAKE SURE I AM A LITTLE BETTER...next time the punishment will be harsher and faster than what we saw in Ruchika case and also will make sure offender won't have smile on his face ever in life.

I offer 3 options to ev'one on this mailing list....

1.)EITHER YOU TAKE ACTION on your own

2.)WE ALL TAKE ACTION TOGETHER or

3.)LET ME KNOW, I 'LL TAKE ACTION

If you go for option 3, then, I NEED A FAVOUR, if you know of any such CONFIRMED incidents(where child sex offender is going unpunished and child is tormented continuously), JUST INFORM ME, I can make arrangement for best level of punishment(per law of land) for such offenders.

Neither myself nor anyone who informs about incident will ever be made public or known for the action(unless they want).

for GOD sake, don't sit silent....children are best gift God can grant...and someone molests them and nobody does anything...I am not sure what do we aim to achieve in life by killing own conscience even in the event of heineous crime of this degree.

Note of Caution: DO NOT provide the wrong information...make sure you confirm it solidly, as truth will be known during course of investigation and ANY act of misinformation will be detrimental for ev'one.

PLEASE let me know, if you are willing to get up and ready to act! It just takes a bit of courage, ev'thing else will follow... believe me! Look at Madhu and Anand Prakash, they had nothing in favour, still they have won……….”

I’ve collected the chronology of events in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case and subsequent events from Internet. I have put my comments in Red just to see where lapses had occurred which ultimately amounted to such a shameful development of the case. If you ask me ultimate responsibility lies with :

1. The Government which not only dropped cases against Rathore but promoted him several times,
2. Then with Police department which lodged 11 car theft cases against Ruchika’s brother’s to harass the family at the behest of Rathore,
3. Then with the CBI court which took 9 years to convict even after charge sheet was filed in its court.
4. The school was also pressurised to expell Ruchika who was in the same batch as Rathore’s daughter.

CHRONOLOGY:

* Aug 12, 1990: Haryana Inspector General of Police (IGP) S.P.S. Rathore, also the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association president, molests 14-year-old budding tennis player Ruchika Girhotra in his office room.

* Aug 16, 1990- Complaint made to chief minister Hukam Singh and home secretary.

* Aug 17, 1990- Hukam Singh asks Director General of Police (DGP) R.R. Singh to investigate the matter.

* Aug 18, 1990 - Police registers Daily Development Report (DDR) against Rathore wide DDR no. 12. : First Crime when FIR was not Lodged

* Sep 3, 1990 - DGP R.R. Singh finds Rathore prima facie guilty, submits report. Recommends FIR in the matter. Later, new DGP R.K. Hooda and Home Secretary J.K. Duggal recommend departmental action and chargesheet against Rathore.

* March 12, 1991 - Home Minister Sampat Singh consents to the departmental action. Forwards it to Chief Minister Hukam Singh.

* March 13, 1991- Hukam Singh gives his consent to the proposal.

* March 22, 1991 - Om Parkash Chautala becomes new chief Minister of Haryana. Hukam Singh leaves the chief minister's post. Chautala remains chief minister for 14 days amid political turbulence and instability.

* April 6, 1991 - President's Rule is imposed in the state. Governor Dhanik Lal Mandal takes over.

* May 28, 1991 - Charge sheet approved against Rathore during governor's rule.

* July 23, 1991 - Bhajan Lal-led Congress government takes over. Remains chief minister till May 9, 1996, during which time most of the alleged atrocities on Ruchika's family took place. : Second Crime when Politicians showed their nexus with Police

* April 6, 1992 - FIR against Ashu, Ruchika's brother, for car theft registered wide FIR No. 39.

* June 30, 1992 - Matter for registering FIR against Rathore taken up and Haryana legal remembracer R.K. Nehru recommended immediate registration of FIR against Rathore.

* March 30, 1993- Another FIR is registered against Ashu for car theft, wide FIR No. 473.

* May 10, 1993 - One more FIR is registered against Ashu for car theft, wide FIR No. 57.

* June 12, 1993 - Yet another FIR is registered against Ashu for car theft, wide FIR No.96.

* July 30, 1993 - One more FIR is registered against Ashu for car theft, wide FIR No. 127.

* Sep 4, 1993 - Another FIR is registered against Ashu for car theft, wide FIR No. 147. All the cases were registered under section 379 IPC.

* Oct 23, 1993 - Ashu is illegally picked by the Haryana police and kept in illegal detention for almost two months. Eleven car theft cases were registered against him. :Eleven Crimes done by Police obviously to put pressure on Ruchika family for complaining against Rathore. Totalling 13 crimes.

* Dec 28, 1993 - Unable to cope with harassment imposed on her and her family, Ruchika commits suicide by consuming poison.: Fourteenth Crime by Rathore. Creating circumstances that forced Ruchika to suicide.

* Dec 29, 1993 - Ashu is released one day after Ruchika's suicide.

* April 1994 - The charges framed against Rathore dropped during Bhajan Lal's tenure, months after Ruchika died.: Fifteenth crime by BhajanLal govt.

* Nov 4, 1994 - Rathore promoted as Additional DGP by Bhajan Lal government. Sixteenth crime by BhajanLal govt.

* May 11, 1996 - Bansi Lal becomes Haryana chief minister. Remains chief minister till 23 July, 1999 during which period Rathore was promoted as DGP.: Seventeenth crime by BansiLal govt

* June 5, 1998 - Rathore suspended by Bansi Lal government in connection with a matter relating to a parole case regarding a detainee.

* Aug 21, 1998 - CBI probe is ordered in Ruchika molestation case by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

* March 3, 1999 - Rathore is reinstated as Additional DGP by Bansi Lal government. Eighteenth crime by BansiLal govt

* July 23, 1999 - Om Parkash Chautala becomes chief minister.

* Sep 30, 1999 - Departmental enquiry exonerates Rathore in molestation case, he is promoted as DGP with effect from May 20, 1999. Ninteenth crime by Chautala govt

* Oct 10, 1999 - Rathore made Haryana's DGP (state police chief) by the Chautala government. Twentieth crime by Chautala govt

* Nov 16, 2000 - CBI files chargesheet against Rathore in Ruchika molestation case.

* Dec 5, 2000 - Rathore removed as Haryana DGP. Sent on leave.

* March, 2002 - Rathore retires from service.

* Dec 21, 2009 - CBI special court convicts Rathore in the Ruchika molestation case. Sentenced to six months imprisonment and fine of Rs.1,000.:TwentyFirst Crime by CBI court by taking 9 years from chargesheet filing till conviction.

Last updated on Dec 25^th, 2009 at 17:42 pm IST

Source: --IANS

Therefore for me there were 21 crimes done by a nexus of Police, Judiciary and Politician. And Rathore was awarded six months imprisonment and fine of JUST Rs.1000.

Short Term Solution: Punish all the culprits and Punish really Hard.

Long term Solution: Moral khatam ho gaya hai bhai.Improve Moral of general public like one shown by Madhu and Anand Prakash.We should take care in imparting moral values in our children who will create and be part of system of future India. Teach them to be Kaabil and not to do anything for the sake of success. Competition is good but not at the cost that may leave you repenting for life.

Radio, TV …and Life

In my childhood, I used to listen radio.

it was such a wonderful world of melodious songs, poems, discussions and that boring news which was difficult to understand at that age. I glued to our old fashioned, big radio kept in a wooden box with holes to help sound come out of it. I recall somebody also told me that artists and singers and those children of Baal-Mandali all live in that radio. So whenever Bhaiya used to open that radio for repairing I used to wonder where they all had gone! Anyway, enjoyed that age-old radio for quite some years.

When I was 15 yrs old a tape recorder was bought in my home. After listening it in other people’s houses for some years I used to think that our boring radio gives us surprises in the form of songs. This tape-recorder is better than radio because I could know well in advance which song is going to play. In newly-bought tape-recorder I used to record voices of family members and myself and enjoyed that too quite a lot, especially putting that old radio in back on rack. I still remember some of the songs word by word I used to memorize by using ‘pause’ button, writing and rehearsing them. First such cassette was “Thanda Thanda Paani from Baba Sehgal. It was a Hindi Rap. Gradually time went by. Cassettes were changed and exchanged with friends and neighbors too. Slowly a feeling of boringness started creeping in me.

I had left listening radios. Tape recorder was monotonous. It was “predictable”.

Then, I learnt the importance of surprises in life. Living moment by moment adds interest to life. YES, Radio bounced back in my life. I started listening a new radio which was very tiny compared to older one. It had short wave catching capability. Now I had the privilege of listening to unpredictable. Though, initially, I thought too much of unpredictability would make me feel that I’m not free. I felt I could not ‘decide’ what I wanted to hear. But gradually I learnt the art of living in unpredictable world of radio. Channels would keep broadcasting what they are programmed for. If I do not like it it is me who needs to change the channel….. and this ended my dilemma of freedom.

YES, in life too all of us are free. World is not going to change for us. All sort of things were there much before we came on earth and they will remain here after we are gone. So it is our task to choose, to pick and not world’s task to give us what we like. Everything is on display. Pick and use. Simple.

Then came the world of the idiot box. The Television. I repeated the same cycle, though for shorter period, that I did with radio. I saw whatever programmes were being aired (no choice). Got bored.Then I saw movies by choice by picking CDs & DVDs. Got bored again by predictability. Stories were almost same. Be it cinema or serials. Now these days I’ve been enjoying Reality show named “Big Boss”. It is unpredictable. You can’t guess who’ll say what in next episode. Even the characters of the show don’t know what they’ll do with whom and what they will going to say next moment… and this mysticism generates curiosity. Same like our life.

Isn’t it full of wonder that we see the same thing everywhere? be it Radio or TV or People… because they are all made out of life.

World's Largest Reality Show

Come election time and everybody related to political parties seems engaged in worst possible tactics.
In last few months, I’ve been receiving some chain e-mails forwards stating personal or family related matters about leaders of different parties. Following the trend somebody forwarded story about Rahul gandhi being involved in some criminal cases.
When politicians have nothing to talk on national matters and they do not have guts to hold full view public debate on national issues they engage people in personal mud slinging. This news is one of them. I do not say Rahul Gandhi can not do these things but chances of these stories to be true are 50 percent in normal days and less than 50 percent during election days. Scoops and rumors have become the identity of our elections.
In US, if you want to fight an election you are not only expected to know the national issues at length but also required to offer solutions to them. Despite lobby politics prevailing there, only those having best solution to offer, wins.. Unfortunately, India lacks national character during elections.
Koi kisi ko salaa kehtaa hai, koi kisi ko jhappi aur pappi deta hai aur koi kisi ke family history ko uchaaltaa hai. Kabhi kabhi isi baat par breaking news ban jaati hai ki kaun asli maa hai; jisne bachche ko janm diyaa ya jisne hazaaron laakhon bachchon ko pyaar kiyaa, because politocians know we people has a taste for these issues and general election has become largest reality show of the world. US feels Taalibaan is threat and feels attacking on it is it’s duty without seeking permission from Pakistan . Talibaan is nearer to us but we have stopped ourselves entering into Pak and destroying the same threat.
Few days back, I was deeply hurt and shocked seeing all this that national development issues have gone. People will again select leaders on the basis of cast, money, muscle and alliances and for next 5 years cry on fate. Azmal Aamir kasaab is enjoying amidst z+++++++ security. He has been given 15 days time to respond to initial round of questions put up by Public prosecutors because he has demanded urdu versions of chargesheets. Govt machinery will prepare this for honourable Kasaab saheb who has killed 166 people and who was shown live firing at people watched by millions.
I think everybody is willing to accept the fact that whoever party our Prime Minister belongs if he is murdered by anybody he is enemy of India . But democracy is great and equally great is the freedom of speech that a person is openly saying that killer of our prime minister is his friend and no body has guts to stop him not even the own party of the killed PM. This is the level of politics in India . Can you think what would be my fate if I, an ordinary citizen, declare that all killers of Mumbai riot are my friend? But I’m sure no body can touch me if I support the ruling party.
So dear Vinay, gam na karo. ye sab hotaa hi rahtaa hai. As a country we are comfortable in digesting these incidents. Rahul Gandhi might have done it or might not have done it I have decided to vote for a leader who will bring back the lost glory of nation. For me Election time is nation time so I can not afford to think at personal or regional level. Gangrape karne walaa arrest hotaa hai ya nahin ye uske contacts per depend kartaa hai kanoon par nahin. So I don’t get surprised if Rahul is saved even if this news is true.

I feel sad that after Indira Gandhi we have not found any leader who can take decisions. I wish agar aaj wo jindaa hoti to Taaliban threat se nibatne ke liye pehle Pakistaan ko warning deti aur agar Pak kaam nahin kartaa to national interest mein self defence ki khatir attack kar dete. Taliban ko bhagakar Pakistaan mein democratic sarkaar banaakar fir waapas apni seema mein aa jaate. Ye sab kaam US ne Afgaan aur Iraq mein itni door hote hue kiya hai. Hum to itne najdeek hain aur Pak people are almost like our own people who had decided to stay in separate country.
Read this: http://www.thenews. com.pk/daily_ detail.asp? id=172290

Shame India:After IIT what Next? Defence?

By Prof M S Gopinathan –
Oxford colleges are famous for their meticulous lawns। When asked by a visiting American student how you make such a lawn, the Oxford gardener replied: 'It is easy। You just regularly mow it, weed and water it। Do that for seven hundred years। Then you get a lawn like this।' What is true for the Oxford lawn is true for its academic excellence too.

I am by brand an 'Other Backward Class'. I did my PhD at an IIT and taught at another IIT for 27 years before retiring. It is to the credit of the IIT system that it never asked me my caste brand, neither when I entered as a student or faculty nor when I was promoted. It is sad that these things are going to change. It may not be irrelevant to note that they didn't ask my caste or religion at Oxford University in the UK, McGill University in Canada or the German Universities where I went to work.
If you are socially disadvantaged, you must strive to overcome that disadvantage and the only way to do that is to educate yourself and your children. Ask for good schools, good teachers and scholarships. If you opt for charity and crutches, you will always remain for generations to come, a receiver of charity limping on borrowed crutches. Charity demeans both the giver and the receiver.
I was born to poor, virtually illiterate parents in a remote village. But I was lucky to have a great science teacher in our village school who excited me about science; not just to learn textbook science, but to do experiments after school hours and on holidays and to do Socratic debates about science with him. Whatever modest success I have had in my professional scientific career, I can trace to such early fortunate circumstances and influences.
If you haven't had proper schooling and if you are just airlifted into an IIT by virtue of your scheduled or backward caste, you will be a miserable misfit in the intellectually and socially elite IIT atmosphere. You cannot cope with the courses; you cannot speak the campus lingo. You feel ostracized, intellectually and socially. I am saying this based on my decades of long experience with such students at IIT. Even after special coaching for a year at IIT and being exempted from the dreaded Entrance Examination, the SC/ST reserved students cannot perform. Often they require further academic concessions, albeit unethical, to barely pass the courses. It helps nobody, least of all them. I do not know what happens to them in their post-IIT life; some commission should study it. But I doubt whether many second generation SC/ST IITians make it to the IIT directly through the JEE.
It takes enormous, dedicated, and sincere effort for decades on the part of the government if quality universal school education is to be provided to all, as decreed by the Constitution and as Independent India has miserably failed to deliver in over 50 years. But it is far easier to shortchange and hoodwink the SC/STs and OBCs by making a legislative flourish of the pen offering useless, humiliating backdoor entry to them in the Institutes of higher learning. This political gimmick even distorts the meaning of 'higher' learning.
Even the sanctioned SC/ST quota in IITs today goes unfilled to a large extent (50 per cent?).
IITs cannot attract quality faculty (current vacancy is probably 20 per cent or more). Imagine the scenario when 49 per cent admission is reserved on the basis of caste and not on the basis of the academic potential of the students. IITs will be shunned as Paraya or Backward Class Institutes by serious academicians of all castes and by the international academic community.
The brand IIT has been created through about 50 years of dedicated, serious academic work of world quality by the faculty and students. Such institutes cannot be created overnight by legislative actions like opening a new IIT in a remote but politically correct location or just by renaming as IIT an existing university with its century-old caste and nonacademic baggage.
So what should the OBC students, for whom the politician's heart has suddenly started bleeding, do? They should join the anti-reservation agitation and agitate for decent schools, good teachers and scholarships and refuse to be taken for an easy ride by the vote seekers. They should maintain their dignity and refuse the segregating ignominy of backdoor entries into institutions of higher learning. They should ask for better training, better running shoes, better coaches and show that they too can race with the others.
They should throw away the demeaning crutches offered.
I know this will not come to pass. The IIT campuses will be made 50-50, 50 backward and 50 forward, splitting it in the middle along the caste divide, the handicapped and the non-handicapped crowding, jostling on the same race track, nobody going anywhere.
If segregation is a legislative imperative, I suggest that it is better to have it on different campuses, rather than on the same campus। That is a win-win, 100-100 reservation situation. The SC/ST, OBC, BC and FC all having their own IITs with 100 per cent reservation, not only for students, but for faculty and staff too (why stop at students?). Maybe we could thus have healthy academic caste wars. Each group on its own racetrack.
Another possible win-win scenario for all comes from the use of high tech IT, satellite communication etc in which India is strong. We could close down all existing caste-ridden IITs and replace them with a single secular, egalitarian, virtual IIT. Virtually any number from any caste can enroll and have the same professor lecture to thousands over the high tech wires. It ensures a level playing field for all up in the sky.
Swami Vivekananda was shocked by the horrendous caste divisions in Kerala and called it a mad house. We now have a whole mad nation!
Caste -- forward, backward or scheduled -- is a shame of our country. It is an indelible indignity that brands an Indian for life at the moment of his birth. The higher castes may flaunt their caste through caste markings and last names and the lower ones may try to hide it except when it can be cashed in for favours like admissions, concessions or jobs. Egalitarian pretensions notwithstanding, caste has become an organizing principle of modern Indian society. It determines who will marry whom, who will eat with whom, who will touch whom, who will vote for whom and of late who will get into IIT!

व्यस्त हूँ. अवकाश चाहिए.

I'm not writing these days। So busy, you know। I rarely come online, that too to check e-mails and then go offline. But I do read off and on. Unplanned reading, like newspapers,mail forwards and books while travelling. Naturally mind thinks about the thoughts it gets, and gives rise to the need to write. Just to take it out to express. That is it. So before I write something 'new' and 'original' I'd be posting articles that are more important than my writings and are really something that I feel about.

So please excuse my taking a break.

अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्

आख़िर कब तक कम्प्यूटर/इन्टरनेट कामधेनु गाय की तरह मनचाही वस्तु देती रह सकती है? हरेक चीज़ की एक सीमा भी तो होती है? अंग्रेज़ी में इसे Trade-Off कहते हैं। कीमत दिए बिना कुछ लेना असभ्यता है.
मनोवैज्ञानिकों ने ऐसे ही एक मानसिक रोग को पहचाना है जो इन्टरनेट की उपज मानी जाती है। इसकी सबसे खतरनाक बात ये है की ये आपके रोजमर्रा काम-काज की शक्ल अख्तियार करके आपके मानिंद जज्ब हो सकता है और काफ़ी गहरे पैठ सकता है। आप इससे खुशफ़हमी में रह सकते हैं की सब कुछ सामान्य है लेकिन...लेकिन आगे ख़ुद ही पढ़ लें और अंत में अपना परीक्षण भी कर लें :
Internet addiction is really real. In March, the American Journal of Psychiatry said that Internet addition is a compulsive-impulsive disorder and thus belongs in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Good thing for newly-minted addicts that now there’s therapy for such a thing.
The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery has developed the first rehab program for Internet addicts, using the twelve-step program that’s been in place for over a decade. Treatment requires getting rid of an addict’s home computer. Unsurprisingly, Internet addicts resist this. In fact, “the person who is addicted to his or her computer is going to have the same ‘high’ as the drug addict who is about to go see their drug dealer,”said therapist Tonya Camacho.
Interestingly, Internet addicts tend to be divided by gender:
“The women who come here mostly have online shopping or chat-room addictions,” said Coleen Moore, the coordinator of resource development at the Illinois Institute. “The men we treat [suffer] from Internet gaming, gambling and pornography.”
South Korea considers Internet addiction to be one of its most serious public health issues. In 2006, about 210,000 South Koreans were declared Internet addicts, and 80 percent of them needed medication while the rest were hospitalized. About 10 million Chinese teenagers are reportedly addicted to the Internet, so in 2007, China decided to restrict computer gaming to less than 3 hours a day.
It’s no LOL matter: The Center for Internet Addiction Recovery treats a range of addictions from cybersex and cyberporn to online affairs to online gambling to compulsive surfing. We took an Internet Addiction Test, a survey given by the center, and scored 30 points, making us “an average on-line user. [We] may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but [we] have control over [our] usage.” Worried that you might need therapy? Take the test yourself.

परदेस में आहार: कभी खुशी कभी गम

ईमान से कहता हूँ, विदेश में खाना खाना एक बड़ा ही रोचक, यादगार एवं शानदार अनुभव होता है, किंतु साथ ही कभी कभी ऐसा भी लगता है की कहाँ आ फंसे। ऐसे में आप बच गए तो आपका भाग्य अन्यथा दुर्भाग्य। भाषा की समस्या पहली समस्या है, परन्तु सिर्फ़ बोलचाल भर का ज्ञान कभी कभी मुसीबत में डालने वाला हो सकता है। आखिरकार आपको सिर्फ़ अपने कार्यस्थल पर ही नहीं अपने दैनंदिन कार्य के लिए विभिन्न प्रकार के लोगों से भी मिलना होता है।
मैं Bacon शब्द से अनजान तो नहीं ही था, बस इतना जानता था कि पुनर्जागरण काल में एक महान लेखक और दार्शनिक हुए थे जिनका नाम था Francis Bacon । इस से ज्यादा इस शब्द की सार्थकता के बारे में तब तक कल्पना भी नहीं थी, जब तक मैं अपने ऑफिस के कैफेटेरिया में उस दिन नहीं गया था। उस दिन का व्यंजन था Navajo Chicken Sandwich । इसके बारे में विस्तृत विवरण तो देखा , उसमे ये शब्द भी पूरे तौर पर विराजमान था। शेफ ने बड़े ही प्यार से बनाया और जब मुझे परोसने लगा तो मैंने बस उत्सुकतावश पूछा "भाई साहब, इन के नाम भी आप बताएं तो मेरे ज्ञानकोष में कुछ वृद्धि हो। मसलन वो लाल लाल सा टुकड़ा क्या डाला?" उसने भी बड़े ही प्यार से फरमाया:
" Hey ! you don't know this? this is Bacon. Bacon. "
मैंने कंधा उचकाते हुए अनभिज्ञता जतायी।फ़िर उसने कहा:
" Bacon you don't know? " लगा जैसे मैंने जीवन के मूलभूत ज्ञान से वंचित होने का-सा पाप कर दिया हो।
मैंने फ़िर अपना सर ना में हिलाया। फ़िर उसने समझाया:
" See this is side part of the pig. Very tasty. Yummy. You'll love this.Try this today and say thanks to me.okay? "
भगवान् का लाख लाख शुक्र था। मेरे माता पिता एवं गुरुजनों का आशीर्वाद था की समय रहते मेरी बुद्धि चेत गई और मैंने उत्सुकता दिखाई।
उसने बड़े ही प्यार से अपनी तरफ़ से मुझे अच्छा खाना परोसने की कोशिश की थी। लेकिन दुर्भाग्यवश संस्कृति एवं संस्कार का अन्तर हो गया। उसकी भाषा में वह एक लज़ीज़ व्यंजन था Bacon । मेरी भाषा में वह था सूअर । खैर जो भी हो, मुझे इनकार भी करना था और ये भी देखना था कि उसे बुरा न लगे। किसी तरह से इनकार किया। फ़िर धन्यवाद के साथ आग्रह किया कि बिना Bacon के बना दे। अंततः खाना मेरे अनुसार ही बना और फिर इश्वर को धन्यवाद देता हुआ बाहर निकल गया।


आज के खाने में था: Fettuccine verduras


Fettuccine मतलब इटालियन में होता है "छोटा फीता" i.e. Little Ribbon. ये चपटीं और मोटीं होती ये स्थूल noodle के जैसीं होती हैं जो आटे और अंडे से तैयार की जाती हैं।


verduras मतलब वैसी शाक सब्जी होती है जिसका पूरा तना या पत्तियां खाने योग्य हों। उदाहरण के तौर पर पालक, जो आज मुझे परोसा गया। पौधों की ये प्रजातियाँ ख़ास तौर पर वसा एवं कैलोरी रहित होती हैं, लेकिन इनमें आवश्यक मात्रा में विटामिन, रेशेदार पदार्थ और कार्बोहाइड्रेट होते हैं।
ये व्यंजन दिखने में ऐसा होता है:

उत्प्लावन का सिद्धांत

I have come US to spend 3 months for some work. I've bought few things for my friends and family members as 'America ki Nishaani'. I decided to take back India kind of memories which would never fade with time. इसे अभौतिक होना चाहिए.. So I decided to learn something. I chose Swimming. It is said that bicycle and swimming, once learnt can never be forgotten in your entire lifetime even if you don't practice.There is a big swimming pool here in our apartment complex.I had only weekends to learn this. So the time and effort to do swimming has to be more compare to if I'd have been practicing on daily basis. It is really a tiring job initially. I started work out in Gym during weekends and soon after used to go to swim. That was a decision to leave weekend comfort zone.Initially, I found it very very hard to learn swimming. My trainer got tired of me. this made me a frustrated learner. Then I found that I was practicing in the side waters holding the platform of Swimming Pool. Everytime I get tired I used to get hold of the platform and take rest. So the luxury, the comfort zone was the biggest obstacles. If I had to learn swimming, if I had to take something unforgettable unfading immaterial thing with me I had to get rid of comfort zone again. I had previous experiences of leaving comfort zones and that recalling helped a lot.Afterall confident steps taken once, make you more confident next time. I left the sidewaters and even though the water was as deep as in sides (5 feet), I found that I was learning quickly. so all obstacle was in mind.Again it was proved in the pool.There was no holding platform nearby when I get tired so I had to be in water trying to take rest. This constraint helped me making water my friend. So now if I'm tired of swimming I lay flat in water and take rest. It looks like a log floating effortlessly on water.The trainer was none other than my colleague Angom. He speaks in formula and avoids explaining everything. The learner has to understand and work according to his commitment. I started with swimming only with legs. After it was through, came hand movement. Leg had to be like back fin of fish and hands had to move like side rowing of boats or side fins; cutting waters as well as rowing it behind. In the combined movement of legs and hands you start feeling two forces. One upward and another forward. I'm still poor in combining both movement at a time. Sometimes I concentrate on legs and sometimes on hands. Third stage requires you to learn breathing. This is an important thing because 'if you do not breath you can not live and living is first condition to swim :) When you are rowing with both hands your body tilts ninty degrees everytime you stretch a hand forward. And during this time you have to take a quick stock of oxygen via mouth. Exhale can be done anytime you're done with the consumption of inhaled oxygen like you do while standing on ground..........keep on doing like this and sing "मछली जल की रानी है, मैं भी जल का राजा हूँ "After 8 swimming sessions I can proudly tell that I CAN SWIM। I've learnt 'free style front stroke'।Also started learning 'backstroke' as well as 'breast stroke'...but only started ok? no more expectations। Alongwith this I'm working on my legs to be able to improve my stamina for doing more chap-chap in water.Can any reward compare the satisfaction achieved after this confidence building? In future every time I feel low, I'll recall this learning and will be able to regain my confidence. No need to go out for confidence building workshops.It is exciting to imagine that everytime I would swim in India, I'll recall two A's: Angom & America. In this way I'm taking the most precious gift from here that can never be separated from me....Confidence brings best out of you. When you acheive something out of your will, the self-patting received from within is more than any reward from the world.

जागते रहोssssss

After leaving my country for few months, I do read The Times Of India online edition। On Sunday I came across this advertisement and was so excited.
Teach India Movement : "Teach India is a nation-building initiative (or social initiative) from the Times of India that brings together children in need of education and people who can contribute a little time towards teaching them. It is based on one simple principle: If you have the desire to teach, we will put you in touch with underprivileged children who are willing to learn. With over sixty of India’s committed NGOs, corporates, schools and social organizations already supporting our cause, we now look for selfless individuals to come forward and help change the future of a child forever, by giving just a few hours a week to Teach India"
...when you go into the details it says "two hours" per week is okay. Well, it sounds good to people who have no time on weekdays and want to do something meaningful apart from 'other meaningful' things in life.Instantly I started filling up the form. But I’m away from my land and even if they call me to map me with any NGO I can not be contacted.So I decided to postpone it till September.It is a very good thing to do. If we can’t be the Sun, but have the spirit, we can be the diyaa or candle, atleast (because स्पिरिट एक ज्वलनशील पदार्थ होता है :) )Of course size does matter, but not always। ....and it is intention that matters all the times।I'm sure a lot of people would have applied for this. It is more important to me as I do not do any social service and it is my opinion that every Indian should do some social service. This will help a lot in developing our country. Here in US, I see they have developed themselves so much. And the root cause I see is that they are educated. The other day I was reading a notice. It was about violating some trafiic rule, like not fastening seat belt in car etc. the notice said that on violating the law you’ll have to pay few hundred dollars and 48 hours of social service. I've never seem similar compulsion of social service in India. Though there are so many people doing it in India but doing it as a nation on a common goal seems exciting. No?
There's an interesting article there about Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Chief Economist of the Reserve Bank of India - a story of how education made a difference in his life. From growing up a Dalit child with limited access to education, to being the Chief Economist of RBI. Read the full story here http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Teach_India_From_peon_to_V-C/articleshow/3203879.cms
Our country needs time। My contemporaries and me may not live to see her as developed as other developed countries but initiating a process of giving something more to next generation than we have received from our seniors, will ensure that India will be a developed nation। In the words of Osho, taking one step at a time will reach you to hill top. Nobody can take more than one step at a time and everybody can take atleast one step.
Putting in the volunteer sign-up page here so anybody who is interested in finding out more can get to it.

Feel Good with Filly chicken

Taking a cue from the classic Philly cheese steak, this recipe replaces the traditional beef with chicken but keeps the cheese and onion-bell pepper topping. Pressing the already-warm filling helps the cheese melt and binds the ingredients so they don't fall out as you enjoy the sandwich.Ingredients are:boneless chicken breast, cut into (1-inch-thick) strips,black pepper,vertically sliced onion,wine vinegar,minced garlic cloves,hot pepper sauce, slices provolone cheese and mushrooms with lots of French Fries price: $6

चीनी स्वादिष्ट व्यंजन: कुंग पाओ चिकेन

आज ऑफिस के कैफेटेरिया में कुंग पाओ चिकेन खाया। बाद में विकिपीडिया में ये मिला:Kung Pao chicken is originated from the Sichuan Province of central-western China। The dish is named after Ding Baozhen (1820–1886), a late Qing Dynasty official। Born in Guizhou, Ding served as head of Shandong province and later as governor of Sichuan province। His title was Gōng Bǎo, or palatial guardian। The name "Kung Pao" chicken is derived from this title.
Kung Pao Chicken is considered an Asian delicacy. It starts off with fresh, moist, unroasted peanuts or cashew nuts are often used. In such situations, the peanuts or cashew nuts are dropped into the hot oil on the bottom of the wok first, then deep fried until golden brown before the other ingredients are added.
In order to prepare Western-style Kung Pao chicken, bits of diced raw chicken are marinated, then dusted with cornstarch, and then a Chinese wok is heated on a high flame, without oil, until it is quite hot. A swish of the ladle spreads a couple of teaspoons of peanut oil, then the chicken is flash fried in the hot oil to bring out the flavor of very slightly charred or grilled meat, but not so long that it loses its juices or tenderness. Next, grated garlic and the vegetables are added, followed by Chinese rice wine, along with a sweet sauce. A tiny drizzle of sesame oil provides the tang, peanuts are added, and the dish is ready in about one and a half minutes, from the time the oil first hits the wok.
Kung Pao chicken is a very popular staple of North American Sichuan-style Chinese restaurants, and many recommend using it as a measure of the skills of a chef.
Whereas the original Chinese version of the dish includes Sichuan peppercorns as an integral ingredient, the Western version does not. From 1968 until 2005 it was illegal to import Sichuan peppercorns into the United States. They were viewed as potential carriers of citrus canker, a tree disease that can potentially harm citrus crops. The ban has now been lifted in light of new processing methods. However, the 37-year ban resulted in a distinct American version of the recipe that does not incorporate Sichuan peppercorns.

४ जुलाई: अमेरिकी स्वंत्रता दिवस

हरेक देश की अपनी रीतियाँ और अपने रिवाज़ होते हैं। वो अपने तरीके से महत्वपूर्ण त्योहारों को मनाते हैं। अपनी संस्कृति के अनुसार उन्हें सहेजते हैं और गौरवान्वित होते हैं।

अमेरिका में स्वंत्रता दिवस के मौके पर आतिशबाजी होती है। लोग पार्कों में, समुद्र किनारे और खुली जगहों पर जमा होते हैं, एक दूसरे को Happy 4th कहते हैं और अपने अपने तरीके से उत्साह मनाते हैं। चूंकि हम समुद्र किनारे वाली जगह पर रहते हैं, हमने भी एक निकटस्थ आतिशबाजी वाली जगह पर जाने का निश्चय किया.जगह थी " Marina Del Rey" स्थित Chase पार्क। हम जाते जाते ट्रैफिक पुलिस के द्बारा रोक लिए गए। हमें कहा गया की आगे काफ़ी भीड़ है अतः हमारा आगे जाना सम्भव नहीं हो सकेगा। इसलिए जो जहाँ थे वहीँ सड़क के किनारे गाड़ी लगा कर खड़े हो गए और रात के नौ बजते बजते आसमान में होने वाली अभूतपूर्व आतिशबाजी का आनंद लेने लगे। हमने भी कई तस्वीरें उतारी और वीडियो भी बनाये। सारे फोटो एल्बम लिंक पर यह उपलब्ध हो सकेगा। तत्काल ये ट्रैफिक जाम की तस्वीर ही देख लें :

चार बातें पेरू की

आज हमें भोज दिया गया। अंग्रेज़ी में इसे ऐसे कहेंगे: we were given a treat today।
बचपन से अभी तक मुझे पेरू देश के बारे में सिर्फ़ तीन बातें मालूम थीं। पहली की उसकी राजधानी लीमा है और दूसरे की ये दक्षिणी अमेरिका में अवस्थित है। और तीसरी कि माचू पिचू यहीं पर है जो विश्व के सात आश्चर्यों में एक शुमार है। आज उसकी एक चौथी चीज भी पता चली: व्यंजन.
अजे दी गैलीना: ये नाम है उस व्यंजन का जो मैंने आज चखा। अगर इन्टरनेट में ढूँढें तो पता चलता है ये एक पेरूवियन व्यंजन है। ये स्वाभाविक भी है क्योंकि रेस्तरां भी पेरूवियन था । अभी तो इसे लिख लेता हूँ। सम्भव है भारत में पहुँच कर बनाने की कोशिश करूं।
विकिपीडिया कहता है : It is a dish native of Peru, consists of a thick cream composed of chicken cooked in advance and then shredded which is cooked in a pot next to the cream of potato , adding chicken broth to gradually thickens। This cream is served with boiled potatoes। It is usual to replace the chicken in chicken and some recipes to the cream is added pecans and Parmesan cheese (this is to give a touch of modernity and gourmet).

बनाने की विधि यहाँ है।

टाको सलाद और इचिदाहा

हमारे ऑफिस का कैफेटेरिया विभिन्न देश एवं प्रदेशों के व्यंजन बनाने के लिए जाना जाता है। इसके सूचना-पट्ट पर रोज एक नए और ख़ास व्यंजन का जिक्र होता है। आज एक मेक्सिकन व्यंजन था: टाको सलाद। कुछ पूछ ताछ के उपरांत उसे खा लिया। काफ़ी अच्छा लगा।

इसे आप शाकाहारी और मांसाहारी दोनों श्रेणियों में रख सकते हैं। मर्ज़ी है आपकी। मैंने उसमे हल्का सा मुर्गा मिलाने की अनुमति दे दी...और स्वाद अच्छा लगा। बाद में इन्टरनेट पर इसके बनाने की विधि पढ़ी जो ये है:

The taco salad is a Mexican inspired dish। The salad is a fried flour tortilla shell stuffed with shredded iceberg lettuce and topped with diced tomato, shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and/or salsa। The salad is topped with taco meat(ground beef)। Chicken is sometimes used instead. Often the salad has refried beans on the shell before the lettuce is added.A "bowl" is a bed of Spanish rice and refried beans dressed out similar to the taco salad.

टाको सलाद अमेरिका में सबसे पहले १९६० में आया.

दो दिनों पहले एक और मेक्सिकन व्यंजन चखा: इचिदाहा। ठीक ठाक सा ही लगा.

देश: हमारा और उनका

As a whole US is such an inspirational place to live in। I don’t care about the bad things here because they are everywhere. I’ll take only that is required. I and my country and in fact everybody needs good things in life and so I have no problem in praising this place. It has a lot that we can take and vice-versa. Most of us know consciously or subconsciously what we have to give to the world. Consciously, because we see and know those things, subconsciously because we love our country and this makes ‘Her’ great for us. By living here even for one day one glaring thing that I noticed is extremely advanced civic systems and maintenance. Back in India, when US-returned manager used to tell me that there is no dust here it was hard to believe. Now I see it is true. They have covered every inch of the land either with plush greenery or with concrete. Grass have hidden in them very small sprinklers that start automatically and controll the growth of grass. In India, we use to learn in primary classes how to cross the road. It is like ‘pehle bayen dekho fir dayen dekho fir sarak paar karo’. Here I think motordrivers have to learn this lesson. Unlike India, pedestrians have first right to cross the road here…and lights just don’t matter so much. Of course you have to obey the traffic lights but if you’re on road and the lights get green, no vehicle can start untill you cross the complete road. It is really amazing to see the faces of pedestrians and driver here which is quite opposite to our country. In India, we cross roads fearing motors may not come and here motorists drive slow watching carefully on turns if there is a pedestrian…and if there is any you just can’t move ahead. Even if you started moving and then stopped and this makes the pedestrian fear, cameras can put you on traffic cops eyes.

There is just so much of camera here at every place a person would be fearing violating any rule even if there is no camera at that place.
I asked one NRI here “don’t they have power cuts here?” and he said,”oh yes! I can not remember exactly but few years back there was a power cut for a minute or two and the nation was in shock. Like what happened? Is there some kind of attack? Etc etc”.

लॉस एंजिलिस में

Now I really understand the meaning and feel the song “Hum to hain pardesh mein, desh mein niklaa hogaa chand”
When I was in Delhi, I never missed so much living out of home. In LA, things are different though.
For me the most appealing thing about any place is The People. Then come the system, institutions, architectures etc. Since my routine here is too busy to see the town and interact with different types of people I can not say anything with authority about the people and place here but to whatever extent I do interact, some feedback seem glaring. I may sound bizarre or fool while explaining about this country but I have my own reasons behind it. It may be otherwise but this is what makes us different.

आश्चर्य किंतु सत्य

There have been some surprises also. I have been talking to the people from Delhi and when I see them here it’s a surprise. Like my manager had told me that Michell is black but she is white and I used to think about Chris that he would be a white but I find he is a ६.५ feet high black and comes office in short and T-shirt.