Autonomy for States??

India is a country replete with diverse and myriad cultures and multilingual languages, dialects & interests inter lapping the terra firma amongst the varied topography of the vast sub continent.

The division of the country on the basis of languages was conceptualized in 1956 when  the state of Andhra Pradesh was formally born after the death of P.Sreeramalu who succumbed after fasting and the then PM, Nehru reluctantly agreed to the formation of the new state. This played on the minds of others who too began demanding separate states on the basis of linguistic grounds and this marked the beginning of the end or let us say-disintegration for this land mass called ‘’India’’.

We see ample differences on a/c of regionalism- instigating and inciting the natives or locals over trivial issues against – Supposed OUTSIDERS (people from other states). The craze of Cricket and Cinema signals a brief hiatus to this unending frenzy of hatred and mistrust which raises its head every now and then causing unending hardships besides causing insurmountable damage to life and property.

 Nearly 565 princely states existed even after the formal partition of India and Pakistan took place in 1947. The iron man of India Vallabhai Patel was instrumental in integrating and uniting the scattered and fragmented heart and souls plus curbing the shattered egos of the erstwhile princes.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been facing acute pressure since its accession to the Indian union in 1947 where it is experiencing insurgency and militancy with tacit logistical support provided by the Pakistan Army.

 We take umbrage whenever the state of Jammu and Kashmir is shown as disputed territory but our own govt. formulates differential laws for our FORCIBLY unified country. The state has been accorded a special status which confers the Central Govt. to act only on matters relating to defence, external affairs and communication that too within a limited scope. Almost every other law which applies to the Indian Union is NOT APPLICABLE to the state of J&K. Article 370 which was invoked during the pre- accession days should have been scrapped long back but appeasement of the minorities has prevented the successive govts. from taking this retrograde and logical step.

Why should the rest of the Country (tax payers hard earned money) pay for the development of a region which is supposedly not ‘’theirs’’???

A Citizen of India cannot purchase any immoveable property in J&K but the vice-versa doesn’t hold water. Billions of dollars have gone down the drain, countless lives has been lost in trying to hold on to this SLIPPERY state. It is better to let the people of J&K decide on their fate through plebiscite.

The White Paper released by the Govt. in 1948 on J&K has yet to see the light of the day. The ‘’White’’ Paper must have tuned ‘’YELLOW’’ after all these years in isolation and solitude rather than the presence of lignin in them.

It may seem ridiculous and this blog may even attract charges of sedition as per the existing norms and our archaic laws but perhaps the time has come for granting a similar autonomy to all the states within the Indian union. The Central govt. should retain the right to enforce defence, core banking and monetary issues and at most perform an arbitrary role to resolve disputes.

The states can deal with smaller regions and resolve issues within the ambit of a revised constitution and compete with one another for a healthy overall growth.  The state should have first lien on the natural resources within the territory of the state enabling it either to use it first hand or sell the surplus outside. The Centre has made enough mess of mining both by indiscriminately ruining hectares of flora and fauna and allocating lucrative blocks to vested interests courtesy, nepotism.

The innumerable people who dedicated their entire life to achieve freedom might be turning in their graves even contemplating whether the titanic struggle was worth the effort. Those at the helm of affairs have belied, betrayed and throttled the faith, expectation and aspirations of millions by sustained

policies and procedures which are manipulative, coercive and obsolete. 

War and Peace

The Global arms industry is doing a roaring business despite the economic slowdown which has dented and obliterated the economies of countries across the board. The melting economic scenario is in perfect synch with the polar ice cap meltdown at the poles. The European countries perhaps with the bare exception of Germany, are struggling to stay afloat in the swirling malaise of unemployment, uncertainty coupled with ever depreciating currencies and north bound inflation.

As per the records maintained by SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) India is the largest importer of arms accounting for about 10% of world sales- as per volume.(Obviously there could be another reason that the percentage of Kick backs involved in arms deal has prompted these figures to snowball considerably).Arch rival Pakistan is not far behind. The amount of money spent by these two on developmental projects in their respective countries would have yielded a far better result than the bitter enmity that has prevailed since 1947.Economic conditions have remained stagnant for a majority of the population but the Govt. of both countries want to slug it out by procuring the latest and most potent technology. Vested interests and sly business marketing by the sellers (USA,UK, Israel and France) however have seen to it that the acrimonious and rancid behavior between the neighbors stay intact. The irony is after providing fuel to the fire these  zealots come armed with hose pipes (in the name of various aids and consortiums) to douse the flames they themselves have ignited.

Middle east countries like Saudi Arabia has been duped and deceived into purchasing high top end military equipment citing growing Israeli dominance within its proximity. The annual budgeted expenditure is well over 50 billion dollars. It is hilarious to note that the Saudis had to get Pakistani pilots at short notice to man their aircrafts for a while till their own Countrymen got the necessary expertise.

There is a single track motive for the countries who sell arms to developing countries(prevent it from getting ‘’DEVELOPED’’) to wedge animosity and create hostile conditions between warring neighbors, create a war like atmosphere by providing huge cache of arms in lieu of securing permanent air-bases in the region, sabotaging any bid to ease tensions in areas of high economic and intrinsic value (Oil rich Middle East) or planting themselves in places of strategic importance concerning or affecting global trade (Suez & Panama Canal, the Persian Gulf etc).     

The World could have been a much better place to live in had the countries indulging in mass production of these destructive state of the art weaponry chosen to halt this sabotage and channelized the same resources (both men and materials) into evolving technology to breed new machines which could give more yield in agriculture, could reduce carbon emission, create alternative means of clean and green fuel, provide new clan of polymers which would be bio degradable etc. The amount of money invested in R&D to manufacture these unwarranted means of killing machine alone could help correct the imbalance in severely impoverished countries like Somalia, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Ethiopia where Civil unrest is the order of the day with rival factions often backed by western countries for their own self centered motive. The economic disparities and severe food scarcity has aggravated the situation often leading to a free for all which is manipulated by the protagonists of arms to suit their evil design of spreading violence and hatred.     

Curiosity about Aliens

Man is a curious animal and is inquisitive since birth. This eagerness has helped us find answers to the most intrigue and complex set of questions arising in the mind through series of research, experiments and detailed hypothesis.

The disturbing thought of ‘’we are alone in this Universe’’ for ages, perhaps spurred mankind to search for extra terrestrial life. The advent of modern technology  has joined this quest by launching numerous space missions, deploying the hubble telescope and installing array of giant radio telescopes for scanning and monitoring any visible signs of alien life.

The story about UFO’s (Unidentified Flying Objects) generated a mass hysteria during the early 40’s and 50’s which eventually led to establishing a study known as ‘’Project Bluebook’’. This involved a deep study comprising about reports compiled about numerous sightings across the US by United States Air Force and other residents. Many of the sightings were brushed off as weather balloons, aircrafts and deceptive natural phenomenon. However there were some sightings which could not be classified either as a hoax nor attributed to any phenomenon. These were classified as ’’un-explained’’.  The ‘’Project blue book’’ was closed down in 1970 citing it was unviable and could not scientifically prove anything concrete even after almost a decade.

The Roswell episode in which debris of a spacecraft were found in Roswell, New Mexico in June 1947 has gained notoriety for the US air force for keeping secret a possible alien air crash which is widely debated across the scientist fraternity. Major Jesse Marcel an air force personnel who was involved in collecting the debris and transporting them to higher authorities spilled the beans about the stuff nearly three decades later about the covert military cover-up. He hinted that the debris did not contain any thing closely related to the weather balloon and some articles found were definitely not ‘’terrestrial’’.

The SETI (Search for extra terrestrial Intelligence) established in 1961, to detect the faintest radio waves from across our vast strata of Universe for a possible contact with the alien world hasn’t met with any success so far. Various antenna’s (dish shaped) have been arranged over a large area, some as colossal as 100metres in diameter in the hope of receiving some positive clue from a source –somewhere in the Solar system. 

The renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has advocated that aliens do exist and some of them may have already been on our tails and tracking us with their advanced state of the art technology. Hawking deviated from sticking to the orthodox concept of finding water and oxygen (the two crucial elements for survival on Planet- Earth) and thinks it would be more prudent if that conventional yard-stick is not applied henceforth. His contention that aliens might have manifested, adjusted and blossomed in conditions and circumstances totally ‘’alien’’ and hostile to us does ‘’HOLD WATER’’.

The latest ‘land rover’ sent to Mars- Curiosity to collect samples of Martian soil has reportedly taken pictures of moving lights which is distinctly seen in the video release by Nasa. Nasa officials have been quick to nip any adverse reactions /publicity in the bud by portraying that the pictures are because of a flawed technique/dead pixel inherent in the camera .Seasoned experts have confirmed that this hypothesis is both rational and conclusive.

The perennial research which has poured millions of dollars into seeking questions about the existence of extra terrestrial life should continue, but in an undisputed and impartial manner. The clandestine manner where documents are hidden, sightings brushed off as retinal error or defective vision doesn’t augur well for future research. There have been reports of sightings all over the world with most of them hoaxes and some of it could have been because of wrong identity, absence of clarity of vision or even hallucination.

The ‘un-explained ‘cases however merit a second chance and, perhaps a more rational and scientific approach could provide us with startling answers. This information should be shared amongst astronomers and amateur star gazers unabashedly. 

Space is so huge that it cannot be classified or visualized in a finite form. The innumerable galaxies and countless milky way encompass and dot every available spectrum of Celestial network and are joined by millions of stars, planets and their satellites, comets, and asteroids.

It is simply preposterous to believe that life exists only on one of the miniscule Planets and the rest are LIFELESS pieces of zodiac signs traversing the Constellation.

       

Of Julian Assange and his ethical Journalism

The widespread furore over granting of asylum by Equador recently to the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange hogged the headlines. The UK is desperately trying to assert its flagging supremacy in the world perhaps hounded by its dominance of its erstwhile colonies a couple of century’s back. Britain has even threatened to raid the embassy in Equador where Assange is currently holding siege and freeze the economic aid promised earlier.

The contention that Assange has been accused of sexual assault in Sweden and hence is hounded by the US allies is dumbfounded.

The aforesaid case has been reopened to indict Assange in some form or another so as to stop the cable leaks thereby spilling the beans and names of some influential persons and their so called misdeeds.

The case against Assange seems pretty vindictive. The Woman who had accused Assange of molestation and rape has considerably weakened her case when she had reportedly hosted a party ‘’the day after the sexual misconduct’’ to which the accused was also invited and twitting a message about the party .. Now, was the party hosted by her to ‘’celebrate’’ the sexual assault? Perhaps only SHE as the plaintiff or accuser in this case, can answer this sensitive question.

The innumerable sexual fervors and scandals perpetrated by the US Presidents (only SOME of them and not SUM of them have been mentioned here!!) between Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, Woodrow Wilson and Edith Galt and between the  Kennedy Brothers (Robert & John) and Marilyn Monroe needs to be minutely scanned by a neutron microscope so as to clear the myths surrounding these stalwarts. The so called word - ‘Chastity’ is an autonym for the Americans and hence it is better that they look for some other alibi to chain the likes of Assange.

Half of the US presidents TILL DATE would be behind bars if the same principle (which is currently forced on Assange) is applied to them.

All this has to be brought to light as the Americans are falsely implicating him of espionage and willing to try him under their law which can be twisted at will and could hand him a minimum of 10 years of hard labor which is crude, unethical, vindictive and in bad taste. Some of the republicans have gone ahead and wish that he be, assassinated at the earliest opportunity. The day their interests are threatened, their crooked vices are brazenly exposed, the Yankees can stoop to the lowest possible ebb, to get even. 

Every country whose dirty linen has been washed in public (even India is one of them) is after Julian assange and plan to settle scores with him to avenge the insult of being demystified of their true colors and wily actions. The former CM of UP, Mayawati had sent an empty plane to collect some shoes/clothes belonging to her. This leak infuriated her so much that she called Assange a lunatic. But at the back of her mind she might be wondering where and how the hell does information that too, an accurate one reach him??

The wicki cables has revealed that the breed of politicians the world over, follow a certain trend, a certain cult hiding behind the veil of uprightness and are always up to, something sinister at their back of their crooked minds.

The truth is that the wiki leaks has left them (all countries named in various scams) fuming, with their mouth, full of bitterness which is difficult to swallow and shameful to spit out. The World has come to know the truth and the expose has left them having to fend for themselves and cutting a very sorry figure while desperately trying to mop up the spilt guilt.

Julian Assange had to go through a difficult, trying and tumultuous childhood. He had to change his school upteen times as his mother was trying to settle herself after numerous marriages and divorces. The sharpness of his inquisitive mind was evident in him being brilliant in maths and science.

He immersed himself in hacking –read ethical hacking which evidently has helped the Police/law enforcing dept. in solving and curbing complicated cases relating to cyber crimes. His intellectual work though has been acknowledged by many of his detractors thus speaking volumes of his creative genius.  

We should acknowledge his immense contribution in leaking cables containing crucial information which has helped us to understand the dirty political aspirations, both intra country and inter country. The Cable leaks has instilled a fear psychosis amongst those in power and which possibly, might pave way to a clear and open governance so badly needed at this crucial juncture. Ethical Journalism can change the world forever and one wishes that this happens sooner than later.

Plagiarism- Indecent borrowing

Plagiarism- a term used for stealing or copying a tune/lyric /song or clandestinely lifting a paragraph or an entire chapter or editorial to show as if the work is their own handiwork.

The original work is read, heard and rehearsed ‘n’ number of times. It is possible that more effective research is made on similar lines at a later stage where innovative ideas gets metamorphosed and the resulting ‘’encompassed’’ work gets huge credibility and the author rides the horse of success to unimaginable heights and hogs all the lime-light. The euphoria continues till the bubble is burst and the facts nail the offender and subdues all unwarranted and unmerited glaze.

The recent indictment and suspension of renowned Time magazine editor of and CNN TV host Fareed Zakaria has grossly exposed the negative aspects of journalists / writers who thrive on pilfered and willfully borrowed articles. Fareed Zakara was awarded a Padma Bhushan in2010 for his outstanding Contribution to Journalism. The awarding committee which chooses the potential candidate, must be licking their wounded psyche after the shameful expose.

There have been numerous instances when top notch Indian authors/writers have bitten more than they could chew.

Kavya Vishwanathan an Indian American writer was caught red-handed, she had plagiarized pages from 5 different novels to write 1 of her own. All the copies were later recalled and consigned to the dust-bins.

Arun Purie noted editor of India today used the nefarious –CONTROL X /CONTROL V to carve out a piece of article on South Indian actor Rajnikanth by Grady Hendrix. This was perhaps the most humiliating and unpardonable crime.(Imagine an outsider having a better grasp of the subject on an Indian film star). The worst thing was Arun Purie was stubborn enough and refused to acknowledge the Crime.

VN Narayanan erstwhile editor of Hindustan Times effortlessly’’ DOWNLOADED’ an article from British Journo Bryan Appleyard and almost ‘’earned ‘’ accolades before alert and avid readers fixed him. He was of course unceremoniously shown the DOOR.

This violation of copyright/patent right has marred the image of our Country which is replete with great literary souls from Rabindranath Tagore to RK Narayan and VS Naipaul to Premchand.

Dried up ideas or lack of self motivating factors and trying to make it big in the literary world perhaps provokes these individuals to penetrate and breach the HALL OF SHAME.

In a bizarre attempt to grab success, fame and glamour our esteemed journos have taken the short cut for attaining the ‘’2’’ minutes of Fame.

The writers have failed to realize that there are hordes of avid book lovers who follow a certain trend and who create their own cult following, choosing a select brand of writers and are equally intelligent to detect such pilferage with consummate ease.

The Cut and paste authors should further realize that the thin and fragile crust of faith and astute fan following is destroyed in seconds by their malicious intent.

The painstaking efforts in initializing the original masterpiece (the original writers who use their imaginative and complex ideas to proliferate and mould the same into literary and creative art) should never be allowed to be so easily marauded or mauled by these new breed of Parasites who are into this Plagiarisation business sans any shame or guilt. 

Blame it on the ''EL-NINO''

The world is experiencing widespread changes in the environment thanks to the sustained depletion of the rainforests, letting out of green house gases and CFC’s from unconventional and older generation of  AC’s and refrigerators, depletion in the crucial Ozone layer especially over the polar regions and abundant and uninterrupted  Carbon footprint emissions over the last few decades.

The Earth is receiving bountiful rainfall in arid areas where sparse rains have been the trademark for centuries and coastal regions have been experiencing deficit rainfall year after year. The polar region has seen melting of hitherto solid ice caps, resulting in substantial increase in sea water level inundating low lying areas and slowly gobbling away chunks of fertile coastal land in the process. Despite early warning about this process in the early 1970’s by eminent scientists and environmentalists few took notice and by the time they did, the damage was already done and the rot had set in. Nature has amply demonstrated its fierce-some power to hit back at its detractors (read ravagers of this Planet) by churning savage flash floods in rain shadow areas and appalling drought conditions in some of the most fertile land mass.

The periodic warming of the Pacific waters (this is cyclical and takes place once in every 5/8 years) results in drastic changes in the environmental conditions all over the world. Some areas experience prolific rainfall while others reel in drought. This phenomenon known as ‘’El-NINO’’ effectively translated as little boy in Spanish is one of the most dreaded word for weather bureaus worldwide. It has been routinely analyzed that a number of natural catastrophes has struck every year when El Nino has been diagnosed. Despite the state of the art technology available no one has been able to determine the periodic pattern of this peculiar phenomenon.

While the scientist fraternity is fighting over the logical aspect it is to be understood that blaming the El Nino for this mess is futile. This mess has been created over the years by all of us contributing to it albeit in a small way knowingly or unknowingly through emissions of harmful green house gases in dis- proportionate amounts. The failure of the monsoon over the Indian sub- continent has generated a lot of interest and concern amongst the masses in the EL NINO phenomena.

The world leaders hold periodic meetings (remember the failed Kyoto Protocol- Dec 1997 which was resisted tooth and nail by the USA who perhaps is the prime offender in emitting Green House Gases) and differences keep cropping up between the developed countries (who started all this muck by resorting to newer technologies with disastrous after effects) and the developing nations who naturally resist the clamping of sanctions on them in the name of Carbon footprint emissions.      

At this rate nature will throw newer gauntlets at us every now and then, upon which newer theories will be propagated, newer principles will be set up to show case its ill effects on our extremely fragile ecosystems.

The top environmentalists, intellectuals and scientists would vie with one another to get the credit and perhaps get the ‘’phenomena’’ named after them.

No one wants a new disease/phenomena on the horizon with only the symptoms to reckon with.

We all need a ‘’CURE’’ for this malady and that too a long lasting one.        

The apocalypse has already set in and the time-bomb is ticking away precariously and ferociously.