Years ago, I read somewhere a short poem on our attitudes toward relationships. It read:
When my son-in-law
Takes tea in bed for my daughter
She’s so loving
And he’s so caring!
When my son
Takes tea in bed for my daughter-in-law
She’s so selfish
And he’s spoiling her.
This remains etched in my memory years after I read it because of its stark truth. And this came back to my mind the first thing when I received a forwarded post on my WhatsApp that talked about paradoxes as under:
(1) Moms want their daughters to control their husbands and sons to control their wives.
(2) Everything run by government is very bad except government jobs.
(3) We are always in hurry, but seldom on time.
(4) Holy places are very interesting – poor beg outside and rich inside.
I think there’s nothing paradoxical about the above things and it’s more to do with our attitudes. Every mother herself would have been all other three – a daughter, a daughter-in-law and a mother-in-law and she just needs to remain herself and not to change as per her role.
Government should not run businesses and govt jobs should have same benchmarks like private sector.
Punctuality is a virtue that is as important as honesty and truthfulness. If one wants, he or she can always be on time and I myself am a practising exponent of punctuality.
In front of God, we are all beggars and not everyone may be begging for money – people beg for issue, business, success and mental peace.
Some posts on social media exhort you to think and mull over it. This was one such post.
These days I get quite perplexed. There’s nothing that’s black and white – everything has shades of grey. My humble view is that things can either be good or not good. Or at least can be okay and not as good as originally conceived or expected; however, something which is well intended cannot simply be bad and undesirable.
If the farm bills are so good then why the press, electronic media and intelligentsia of the country are not coming together and cornering the leaders of agitating farmers and the fence sitter politicians. And if it so bad, why the nation is not coming together and forcing the Government to repeal these laws? Why there’s so much confusion, so much bitterness, so much bad blood and above all loss to the farmers for they should be spending this time sowing seeds in their farms, especially now that the God has gifted us with very beneficial winter rains and to the innocent public facing traffic jams?
My fear is that if this bitterness doesn’t end soon, there are anti social elements on the prowl sensing their chances to use this agitation to pursue their nefarious designs. We are hearing about separatists of different hue and colours surreptitiously entering the agitation to add fuel to the fire!
In a democracy, conflict of views is very common and any such instance requires deliberations between the conflicting parties. Also, in a democracy that’s live and breathing, peaceful agitations and demonstrations are bona fide tools to express resentment. But democracy also entails responsibility and sense of duty in addition to sense of right. Anything that weakens nation or national interest requires introspection and re-strategising. Flexibility and to bend a little to conquer are necessary ingredients of democracy. But we are seeing agitations of a different sort where agitating parties show rigidity, inflexibility and above all scant regard for inconvenience to common citizens. We noticed this during Shaheen Bagh sit-in and now seeing farmers doing the same. Worst, this can weaken the nation’s fight against coronavirus!
Government has bent to allay farmers apprehension. Now farmers should also bend a little and give Government an opportunity to demonstrate its intent. If the modified provisions are still falling short of farmers’ expectations, farmers can regroup to resume agitation.
For the sake of our country, let no fence sitter, manipulator, enemy of the country and any such dubious group take advantage of this agitation to weaken our great nation.
We love and respect our farmers and love our country too ! A weak farmer will weaken the country and that will not be tolerable to patriots of this country.
India is an agrarian country and economy because in spite of urbanisation, a large part of its populace is engaged in agricultural activities and a considerable part of its total GDP is contributed by agriculture. To feed a nation of more than 130 crore is no mean job and look at our markets that are flushed with not only food grains but also fruits, vegetables and other agricultural produce. And this is notwithstanding the fact that agriculture is still largely unorganised in the matters of finance and automation.
It’s to the credit of the farmers that a section of them have done well in their lives. They have mechanised farms and ability to hold on to their produce for the right price. They also have acquired general affluence in life in the form of good homes, vehicles and child/ relative abroad, mainly in Canada. But there’s also a section and mind you this section is in majority that lives in extreme penury, laden with debts and barely making two ends meet. It’s not for nothing that we come across so many farmers committing suicide.
For all the service rendered to the nation, sheer amount of hard work involved in farming and the uncertainties of nature that can spoil fully ripe crops, I have a bias in favour of farmers. I don’t advocate tax on farm income but support frequent waivers allowed by Government in the form of write off of farm loans. This profession simply cannot be equated with other professions and needs to be kept on a separate pedestal meriting preferential treatment.
Obviously, if I hold the above feelings, I cannot be supportive of any politics around their cause. Sharad Pawar might have advocated amendment to APMC acts as agricultural minister and he could be opposing new farm bills now. Congress might have earlier contemplated such bills and could have upped its antenna against the government now. It’s all about the role play. Parties do change their stand depending on whether they are in power or opposition and we should not make too much out of it. Also, labelling all those opposing government stand as traitors or part of tukde tukde gang is anathema to healthy democracy. After all Umar Khalid, Sharjil Imam, Kanhaiya Kumar etc aspire a career in politics and they will reach and support any movement that helps them further their ambitions. I also saw a reference to overseas Khalistani groups extending their support to this movement. That does not make farmers’ movement anti nationalistic.
Farm laws are good for farmers, at least in parts and are progressive. But in democracy no idea can be enforced – it has to be hard sold. A thing can be good only if it’s found good by the targeted audience. If farmers feel that farm bills are not good for them, there’s no fun pushing these bills down their throat. If government’s intentions are noble, it can do so much for all sections of society, not limited only to farmers, without fiddling with constitution or laws of the land!
Jai hind! Long live peasantry the annapuraks of this country!
My readers must be confused whether I have gone berserk? No, in fact all the above are iconic Tamil songs sung or composed by the only one – the legend S P Balasubrahmanyam ! As I grieved his untimely death due to Corona virus, I attempted to explore his work outside Bollywood and was amazed at his repertoire, more particularly in Tamil.
My search on YouTube took me to certain videos concerning the maestro’s 2019 tour of Singapore. Accompanied by ever dependable Chithra and another legend K J Yesudas, it’s a performance by SPB to be seen to be believed. The way he regales and enthrals his audience with his on stage mannerism and antics, but more precisely with his music, is to be seen to be believed. The concert I believe happened at an open ground near CODDISIA converted into a concert hall boasted of excellent setting, stage and acoustics that were the highlights. My search told me that SPB had acted and composed music for Tamil blockbuster SIGRAM, for which KJY sang this immortal song Agram ippo sigram achu composed by now immortal SPB. Towards the end of the song as SPB joins his vocals with KJY, it’s a surreal experience with one master, SPB, bowing to touch the feet of another master, his senior KJY!
SPB’s rendition of Ilya Nila made me ecstatic as it has the same tune as “Neele Neele Amber pe” sung by my favourite Kishore Kumar. Without going into the controversy of whether Tamil version was a copy of Hindi version or vice versa or whether one was reproduced after taking permission from another, rendition by SPB at Singapore concert is a must for all music lovers.
Let me clarify here! Unlike Bangla that I can speak and understand, I do not know even abc of Tamil and all the above songs are just musical journeys for me and not poetic, though my sense is that some of these songs could be poetic masterpieces. I also know that Tamil is not an easy language to understand or learn. But late icon SPB has inspired me now to dwell deeper into his work, especially in Tamil and more specifically that he co-created with another master Illaiyaraja ! My Tamil lessons will start soon but till then nothing can stop me from enjoying these pearls of melody!
This is a follow up blog on my previous blog in which I expressed my relief at the month of November being over in spite of that month being full of events as explained in that blog.
However, as I think further about December, I realise that I underplay the importance of December in spite of so many milestones achieved by me in this month. If I start chronologically, my elder brother got married on the 6th of December, making today his 38th anniversary day, while my first job started on 28th December 1983, which will make this 28th December my 37th work anniversary! My engagement to my wifey dear happened on 3rd December 1987 and the big switchover in my life came when I quit State Bank and joined today’s Axis Bank, then known as UTI Bank on 5th December 1994. My readers might recall that last year was my 25th work anniversary in Axis, I having completed 26 years on this 5th of December.
So it’s not only festive spirit of Christmas and the new year Eve that are main attractions of December, it’s been on the whole quite a happening month in my life as evident from above! I am happy to be in December and like everyone else, await the end of this pandemic year 2020 and the start of mint fresh 2021, which will hopefully bring in lot of happiness and prosperity and take away Corona!
Actually, it’s November I look forward for it’s a pretty festive month for me. Apart from Diwali that more often than not falls during November, birthdays of my wife and daughter are other major highlights. Of course, being surrounded by scorpion friends and relatives, November ensures whole lot of action.
However, like the year itself, November 2020 was a month that I would like to forget, though I may not do so in hurry! At the beginning itself, I felt slightly under the weather, a position that consistently deteriorated. I was under high fever on my wife’s birthday and spent the day in bed, while on Diwali day that incidentally coincided with my daughter’s birthday, I tested positive for COVID. That heralded two weeks of home isolation, repeated blood tests and some none too pleasant experiences!
But all is well that ends well! As December starts today, I am almost recovered, raring to take a plunge into my day to day routine. I have dressed for my office, though for 2 more weeks at least, it will still be work from home. Medicines, except for some vitamins and supplements are almost finished and the heart is again looking forward to some pleasurable moments! Of course, spirit of Christmas only adds a bit of zip to the life!
The debilitating effects of Covid will be felt in the body for a few more weeks, but spirit is ready to sore again – in anticipation of good times, Christmas, new year and the end of the pandemic!
Farmers of Punjab and Haryana are on warpath with central government against three new farm bills passed by the centre. In fact, non BJP governments in Punjab and Rajasthan are openly supporting this movement by Kisans. The question arises is if the central government is firmly of the view that the new legislation is in the long term interest and benefit of farmers, why is this feeling not shared by the above two state governments and why nobody is able to convince farmers that these bills are in their interest? Why are we playing politics and that too with our farming community.
To have a view on this issue, it’s important to understand the issue first, especially from the view point of farmers and their sympathisers! Farmers do not accept the three new legislations — The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation); The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance; and Farm Services and The Essential Commodities (Amendment). They believe the laws will open agricultural sale and marketing outside the notified Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis for farmers, remove the barriers to inter-state trade, and provide a framework for electronic trading of agricultural produce.
Since the state governments will not be able to collect market fee, cess or levy for trade outside the APMC markets, farmers believe the laws will gradually end the mandi system and leave farmers at the mercy of corporates.
Farmers believe that dismantling the mandi system will bring an end to the assured procurement of their crops at MSP. Similarly, farmers believe the price assurance legislation may offer protection to farmers against price exploitation, but will not prescribe the mechanism for price fixation. Farmers are demanding the government guarantee MSP in writing, or else the free hand given to private corporate houses will lead to their exploitation.
The arhtiyas (commission agents) and farmers enjoy a friendship and bonding that goes back decades. On an average, at least 50-100 farmers are attached with each arhtiya, who takes care of farmers’ financial loans and ensures timely procurement and adequate prices for their crop. Farmers believe the new laws will end their relationship with these agents and corporates will not be as sympathetic towards them in times of need.
From the above, it seems, at least to my mind that the legislations are progressive that are meant to break age old quaint middle man or arhtiya system, saving gullible farmers from exploitation by them! However, age old systems and protocols cannot be changed overnight and that too by forcing such legislations down the people’s throat. The onus is on the central government to take all stakeholders into confidence, allay their apprehensions, bring in clauses that are desired by farmers to protect their interest and then try to promulgate the order. This has been unique feature of the present government. Because of its inability to take opposition and large sections of society along , all its legislations are being met with great circumspection and even the best of intentions of the government do not seem to be winning public approval.
On the other Punjab and Rajasthan governments should stop politicising the issue and work for suitable amendments in the bills so that farmers can benefit the most and are out of age old malpractice gives by arhtiyas and middlemen.
And farmers and their leaders should definitely not make it an Akali- BJP or Badal-Modi-Amarinder or last of all anti Sikh issue. Farmers’ only religion is hard work to feed millions of populace of this country and we all respect them for farming,to my mind, is the most difficult and underpaid of the professions and our heart should go out to the farmers of this country so that they are better off and there are no farmer suicides!
I am not a soccer aficionado in the sense that some people, especially in West Bengal and Goa are devoted, but would not mind watching a good game of football on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Of course, World Cup is closely followed and I keep tab of all the results till the finals. Like most of the Indians, Brazil is my favourite team for that team created magic with short passes and dribbles, the way Indians play hockey, instead of power packed football played by European nations. But there was a time, when like many of us, I too had shifted my loyalties from Brazil to Argentina. This was when there was a diminutive magician, to whom the ball used to get attached like an iron filing to a magnet and whose dribbling was mesmerising, was spearheading an underdog Argentina. Who can forget 1986 World Cup, which was Maradona’s World Cup, whose single handed magic won the cup for the dark horses ! And his two goals in the quarter finals against England shall remain etched in the soccer history for time immemorial. His first one, now famously known as “ Hand of God” was a foul unnoticed as probably God destined to pin greatness on this master artist, though the second goal was a sheer artistry and wizardry, with the maestro dodging past a host of English defence players with his magical footwork to score what will remain a connoisseur’s delight forever! That Argentina eventually went on to win the cup that year was a real tribute to Maradona’s artistry!
He represented Argentina in 3 more world cups, but one can only come down from the peak. His magic was there but only in flashes. But he had it all – from being the most expensive player to be hired ( I read somewhere that his club Napoli took a bank loan to pay up Maradona, though how he transformed another dark horse, his club Napoli into a soccer powerhouse is the stuff legends are made of ) to being coveted the world over! However, he couldn’t manage all the success and money and got into drugs and the company of drug syndicates. His health started deteriorating and he put on lot of weight. Even his stint at a Rehab centre didn’t help much, and at the end, the legend died when he was barely 60, leaving millions of soccer fans in a pall of gloom!
Like another great, Pele, Maradona had also visited India and his visit to Kolkata remains unforgettable for the master donned his playing shoes and some of the magic he showed on the field made soccer crazy Kolkata crowd delirious! In fact, Maradona himself was surprised at the adulation he got and craze for soccer in India and he promised to return, which he fulfilled, but by that time the man was a frail image of his self!
There will be more expensive players in the days to come – probably more talented or high profile, but legends like Maradona are born once in a century. He was master of his craft, enigmatic, mysterious and above all a magician who took the game of soccer to a different level. Also, lord himself wrote the destiny of this favourite child of his for we may never see god “lending his hand” in scoring a soccer goal ever again!
As per a news item appearing in today’s dailies, at 39%, India has reported the highest bribery rate in all of Asia. It’s shocking, because at least I had a feeling that with technology, more and more activities would become contactless and transparent leading to reduction in bribery; but, Alas! It’s not been so!
A nation’s character comes to the fore in the moments of crisis. I thought, we showed a great resilience of character in our fight against the COVID. People were largely compliant and till unlockdown happened in phases, they stayed indoors. Of course, it’s not to downplay the sufferings of certain sections of the society- mainly migrant labours and poor – but within the constraints of population bursting at seams and other practical difficulties, we managed Covid better than many of the advances countries. We also rallied behind our Government, when China’s aggressive expansionism was effectively thwarted by our forces.
But how do we tackle these big social malaise of corruption in public life and practices such as bribery? I think there is a dire need of financially enabling certain sections like police, primary teachers, health workers, sweepers, messengers et al, who are not paid as well as their private sector counterparts. The contrarian view, however, is that no amount of money can be substitute for character building, which is primarily the responsibility of social institutions like family and schools. In fact, bribery and corruption are not limited to lower strata but in fact, could be a much larger game in upper echelons!
Indian doesn’t need such sobriquets like the one making us leading in bribery rate in all of Asia. Let’s work towards making India clean, green, beautiful, peaceful and corruption free, which is possible if we do not forget our spiritual teaching and roots that exhort us to detach ourselves from materialism. There’s no end to material requirement for which any amount of income may not be sufficient that would eventually lead to unhealthy practices such as bribery!
Arvind Arya blog 