15

Dear Readers,

                     What an expressive writer Mr. Ziya Us Salam is? I used to eagerly await his Friday reviews while I was a student at Delhi. Actually, I could not afford to watch the wide range of movies which were released every Friday, so I used to blindly rely on his taste and choices. Seldom did he disappoint me. In fact, on most of the occassions, our perceptions concurred.  

                      No other film critic could have written a more befitting obituary to a side-line character artist like A.K. Hangal. He says that Hangal's "roles often demanded a careworn fragility and a gentle but unwavering righteousness, (he) was the very embodiment of senescent charm." Ziya adds further that Hangal's characters  always carried an air of "piety" and none could enact "virtuous poverty" better than him.

                    A masterpiece act that comes to my mind right now is a scene from the movie Alaap (I hope the name of the movie is correct), where Amitabh and Hangal are assaulted by a few goons on a street. They subject the senescent to a ignominious embarrassment. Few artists of our film industry can play the pathos and helplessness of a victim in such circumstances more lively than Mr. Hangal......

                      

14

Dear Readers,

                The national as well as the regional media is crying out loud against the purported mismanagement of the flood like situations prevailing in quite a few districts all around the state by the Government of Rajasthan. The point to be highlighted here is that the worst affected areas are the ones which happen to be cases of encroachments upon ecology and environment. This charge does not in any way absolve the state machinery of its lethargy and inactivity but none the less, compels us to rethink our urban planning. 

                All across our India, urban drainage is a major issue. Precarious rainfalls during the monsoons disables us to confront this problem head on. Consequently, when ever it rains in excess, we find our cities submerged under water. To make matters worse, in many cities and towns people are colonising areas earmarked as lakes, rivers, rivulets or other natural drainage systems. We are simply encroaching upon our ecology and blocking natural outflows of the life sustaining liquid. 

                Examples abound. During the devastating floods of Mumbai in 2008, researchers found out that the city had expanded at the cost of Mithi, Dahisa, Poisar, Oshiwara rivers thus contracting their river beds and volume of discharge. The same is the case in other towns and metropolis. If we speak of Jaipur, we learn that human settements have now come to occupy most of what once used to be the Aman-i Shah nala. Similarly, in the city of Jodhpur, large colonies have been carved out along the course of the Jojhari river.  

              Yesterday,while researching at the Rajasthan State Archives, Bikaner,  I came across a piece of information which proves to be highly opportune. The Imperial Gazetter of India Provincial Rajpuatana written in AD 1901 sheds some valuable light on the legend of Aman-i Shah nala. The British officer who reported on this matter calls the same channel, Aman-i Shah river. He adds that  this river originating near Amber is one of the finest source of fresh water for the city of Jaipur. Today, if you look at the same river bed, you would feel sorry for the state of affairs of our environment. Slums have cropped up all along the channel whereas cemented houses have been constructed at some points. Thus, we can say that we are not simply vulnerable to floods but are welcoming them. .....

13

Dear Readers, 

               The subject that I touched upon in my last post is a very dear one to my heart and so I wish to add some more to its content.  Many scholars like me would have come across events, anecdotes, love-stories, tales of sacrifices etc which exemplify the shared lives of Hindus and Muslims. I am always on the look out for such pieces of information and my delight knows no bounds when I lay my hands on one. Here, I would like to share two impressive incidents which in my opinion exhibit medieval chivalry and honor in its utmost pristine form.

               Both these stories are taken from the same period in history, ie. the last quarter of the seventeenth cetury. Aurangzeb Badshah was determined to impose a strong central control over Hindustan. In pursuit of the same policy he was all set to bring the entire territory of Marwar( kingdom of Jodhpur) under direct central administration after the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh in Afghanistan . This precipitated Mughal-Rathore rivalry which dragged on for more than three decades. 

               A minor son of Jaswant Singh was taken into custody by the Mughals at Delhi so that he could not claim the gaddi of Marwar and thus become a rallying point for the cavaliers par excellence, the Rathores. Surprisingly, Aurangzeb put the little child in charge of Zebunnissa, his beloved daughter and a princess wielding enormous power in the royal harem. 

               A few years later when Aurangzeb was successful in quelling the rebellion of his son Shahzada  Akbar(who was aided by the Rathores), he asked for his grandchildren who were left behind in Marwar. Durgadas Rathore, the flag-bearer of Marwar's anti-imperialist struggle, gracefully conducted the children to Delhi. They comprised of a boy and a girl. When Aurangzeb entrusted an Ulama with the task of giving religious instructions to them, he was surprised to know that they had allready memorised the Quran by heart. The Rajputs back at Jodhpur had facilitated an orthodox Islamic education for the Mughal offspring.  

                       I leave it unto you to interpret the connotations of these two acts which seriously challenge our contemporary opinion, attitudes and behaviour.....

12

Dear Readers,
                       Happy Eid! May Allah shower upon us his grace and mercy!

                     It would be quite unnerving for any sensible citizen of this country to read about the recent developments in Assam and Bangalore. Personally, any news pertaining to majority-minority clashes leaves an indelible mark on my psyche and compels me to ponder over the causes and effects. Two good articles :  " Our heart must bleed for everyone..not just Muslims", The Hindu, August 19 by Adnan and "No Glass Ceiling but hard ground realities", The Hindu, August 18 by Ajaz Ashraf make a lot of sense.  Most of the times we see that riots take place in a frenzy of sensationalism and invariably, the vehicle of such mob incitement is misinformed history. 

                         Many of us are well informed about the deliberate distorted versions of the history of our nation popularised in the wake of communal and decisive politics. Any average scholar of history would be appalled to gauge the discrepancies between the normative and the empirical. Such distortions are connived not only to widen the gap between Hindus and Muslims but also between various castes and regional identities. Against such a vitiated background, the role and responsibilities of the intelligentsia and the media gets highlighted. The least that we can do is to make errands in order to set things right and correct the misgivings. 

                        Hindus and Muslims in South Asia have had a complicated relationship since the 1940's. The sensationalism of the 'two nation theory' and the matched aggrandisement of Hindutva forces completely obliterated traces of a common heritage and past. We forgot the essence of our history. We forgot how Hindu landlords and Muslim Talukdars fought shoulder to shoulder in the Revolt of 1857. We forgot how Hindu generals commanded victoriously the armies of the house of Timur. We forgot how Hindus and Muslims together opposed the division of Bengal. We forgot how Hindus and Muslims lived together. We must rectify our memories..... 

                        

11

Dear Readers, 

                     I am growing a little impatient as I lay crouched before my laptop waiting to hear the final results of the Student's Union elections held today in Universities and Colleges all across Rajasthan. The results for Bikaner and Jaipur are allready declared but counting is still going on in Udaipur and Jodhpur. One noticeable trend in this year's SU elections has been the upsurge of independent candidates. This shows that youth politics in our country is carving out a new path for itself.

                         Last year as well, the winner of the president's post in Rajasthan University, Jaipur was a girl from Jaisalmer who was ably guided by two stalwarts of student politics in Jaipur. This time over, similar mentoring has been observed at other places also. The students, on their behalf, have proven that they are willing to give their mandate to a third alternative provided it is stronger and more ingenious than the much repeated ABVP-NSUI options. I am in no way trying to portray an idealistic framework of students. Speaking specially of Rajasthan, we have observed time and again that these elections are determined by party maneuvers and have got hardly much to do with ideological confrontation. However, at the same time we cannot deny that student politics in this state is also accommodating new forces and  giving vent to rising pressures: be it the new caste configurations, rise of oil economy in Barmer district or for that matter an anti-establishment fervor. I strongly argue that "teesra morcha" can be a viable option in our state. 

                         Lastly, I want to mention a word of thanks to Mr. lyngdoh. I completely disagree with  the two basic tenets of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations( on the basis of which election procedure was stalled in JNU). Yet, some of the regulations that it has suggested have actually facilitated smoother transaction of election business. Reporting form the field, I observed today that the regulatory spirit of the committee recommendations have given a slight leverage to the one who conduct these elections. The question remains that for how long will this panoramic hue hold good?

  

10

Dear Readers,

           Life feels great when you seize moments. Moments which make you feel that you are alive, unfettered and fluent. Such occasions are abundant but normally we miss out on a lot of them because of some inhibitions that lay crystallized within us. Today I had the privilege of enjoying a similar precious moment of my life.

        Throughout the previous content of this blog one may find an intense craving for moist encounters. Today, this thirst was satiated at length. It so happened that after finishing my work at the Uni and later at the archives, I had to meet an art curator. The weather seemed to promise a lot as the sky was filled with a thick cloud cover which was fairly wide-spread. As I ascended up a fly-over, I saw distant rains. Such views are a characteristic beauty of Bikaner in particular and the desert in general, when at a height, one can see distant clouds of shades ranging from ash black to silvery blue with strands of water vapor falling down. 

            So,  I called the art fellow to Prachina cafe located within the Junagarh fort. This spot is one of my favorite hang outs in the town. I ordered a cold coffee( one of the cafe's USP) and just as I sat down to take a sip, it struck. Huge round drops of water fell from the heaven above. The showers were puissant and grand complimenting the impressive facade of the palaces. The art fellow rushed into the open to get wet in the rain. He asked me to follow suit. I was a bit reluctant but soon obeyed him when he said, "Seize the moment". We were drenched thoroughly from head to toe and the water seeped into our skins. The icing on the cake was a bicycle ride in the fort compound. I am glad I let go of my reservations or else my lament would have persisted despite the kindness shown by Lord Indra......

9

Dear Readers,

              I love India. She is like a lady who knows how to conspicuously check you out from within a veil. No matter how well you know, one would never be able to understand her real character. She overawes her admirer with her beauty and intimidates the bravest to transform them into wimpy souls by unleashing her wild wrath. Sometimes, she showers her love upon you like water gushing out of a bursted dam provided you offer a total surrender after a long persistence. 

              You must be wondering what inspires me to confess my emotions tonight. Actually, I am thoroughly amazed by my lady love. Before, I have spent countless moments staring at the beauty of this diva like a true lover struck by the cupid for the first time but this time over, I was surprised to observe that each time one looks at her, he explores something new. I have at times had the luxury to stare blankly at some of the most breath taking views that this serendipitous sub-continent has to offer. However, today when I was  repetitively gazing  over a landscape that has come under my scanner time and again(the Aravallis), I was struck by its perennially ever changing face.

              At times lofty mountains seem to be growing bald by the scalding heat. In the peak summer months, when you drive through the passes of the Aravallis to reach to greener and cooler patches, you see the hill tops and our modest peaks exposing a silvery black underskin. It appears that skin is made up of discarded aluminium foils used for smoking Heroine ( as they do in the war hit zones of Afghanistan). At other times, those very mountains bloom with a dense green foliage after a healthy monsoon. On a winter evening, as the Sun dips beyond their backs, one can see them draping themselves up in cozy quilts of pink and orange shades.  

             How lucky would be the ones who inhabit the foot hills of the Himalayas?......

               

               

8

Dear Readers,

             India is making some headway at the London Olympics. We are on the verge of winning the maximum number of medals ever won at any Olympic gathering- 3. This tiny fact sums up our attitude towards sports. Needless to point out our characteristic shortcomings. A few days after the conclusion of this global event, one may find many "experts" criticising our flawed sports policies at one TV channel or the other.
                 As a Hockey enthusiast, I have been watching the games played by Indian men field hockey team in the group stage. We are performing miserably. It is a pity to watch the Indian team cave in to the sleek tactics of the other teams which are more rigorously trained and employ better management and coordination. Gone are the days when the famous Indian dribbling could leave our opponents dumb-struck. Power and speed are the order of the day. Sardara Singh has impressed us as a solid game-maker but the rest of the team could neither project individual genius nor a concerted team action.
                 In my opinion, the problem that plagues our nation when it comes to our dismal performance in sports is that we are very emotional about it as a people just as we are touchy about many other issues. We expect drama on the field. We expect losers to perform wonderous feats and champions to shed tears. There cannot be a creatively woven story like Chak De behind every sporting glory. It is precisely because of our extreme nervousness that a sport like cricket emotionally blackmails us. We justify our single obsession with this sport at the cost of other sports by telling ourselves that 'cricket is a game of nerves, you see'. We should change our thinking. Lets see sports as a tough game involving blood, sweat, injury, victory, comraderie, defeat, tears, exercise, strategy, etc. In short, we as audience, spectators and commentators should become more sporty and associate this word with anything but heart.

   

7

Dear Readers, 

                  No matter where one goes or what he does, one is always accompanied by certain core principles and a basic hue imparted to him by his education. When I was a student at JNU, I remember that a group of students used to run a make-shift evening school for the children of all those laborers who were engaged in the construction works on campus. It was a great feeling to witness those kids with the conviction that one day, these very children will probably grow up to receive higher education in some capacity or the other.I vividly remember attending one of the annual celebrations of this special school. It was a pure delight. The kids were beaming with energy and most of them had sparkling glints in their eyes. 

                       The University I teach at currently is a new one and there is some construction work going on   in our campus as well. The workers toil from morning till evening braving intense heat and deadly dry winds. Their children are fortunately kept at bay from child-labor and so they while away their time in the vicinity. Yesterday , just as I reached my academic block, I saw these little ones immersed in their own activities. I paused for a moment to observe them. 

                     They were playing joyously in the surroundings.  I was excited to watch them pluck jujube berry from its bushes. I recollected memories of tasting this fruit for the first time in my village as a child of same age. To gather the ones that were higher, they hurled stones at the plant. At that moment, I thought that the real success and achievement of any education system of any nation lays in the promise that children from the utmost disprivileged backgrounds are able to attend higher educational institutions. As far as India is concerned, this seems to be a far cry. None the less, we should fix our targets keeping this promise in our minds. One day we would see these very children walk the corridors of the Universities that their parents built. That day these fellows will actually be able to taste the berries hanging highest on the bush of civilisation.