I am Proud of India Today. Not India of Yesteryears.

I have heard about our glorious past, but I find it too full of coups d'etat, bickering, violence, ignorance, intolerance, cruelty, divides and discrimination.
I am happy I am born today, not then.

We are told those were perfect times, but I know even in the best of those times women have had it tough.

I prefer India, and the world TODAY. Terrorism notwithstanding.

Whatever else the British did, they united our bickering Princely States, Jagirs and Presidencies - in a single Nation (three actually).

They also left us a unifying Language and some modern (Western!) concepts, both much hated, much debated, but embraced with pride by most Indians.
Our Democracy, takes our hypocrisy in it's stride ;)

I was proud when this powerful Democracy turned up in huge numbers in Kashmir, ignoring the boycott called by the separatist movement ... A 60.5% voter turnout!

I am proud of the fact that we can vote for a Dynasty IF we so choose.
And we can vote back fundamentalists with blood on their hands, IF we choose.
We can also vote out corruption when we've had enough.
I love it that we have it in our hands to do that!

We can openly wish our politicians dead, and we can burn their effigies and if they go too far, we can take them to court. We can make caricatures of them and we can discuss their misconduct in our blogs.
For the first time in Indian History we, the aam aadmi, matter.

Never before in History have we been declared EQUAL in the eyes of the law, until this Constitution I am so proud of was drafted.

So I am not going to look back longingly, and wish for those good (?) old, glorious (?) days, I will look ahead and be proud of what India is today.

Yes we have problems, but we are empowered, for the first time in human history, to choose who solves them for us.
True we might make wrong choices, but we have the power to correct ourselves too!

As the year 2008 comes to an end in a few hours, I know more than anything, this year has proved (once again) that slowly (very slowly) we are all learning not to take our freedom for granted ...
I know every little drop counts and my contribution is to be a more vigilant citizen. I will Vote. I will talk about Peace and I will speak against Violence.

Does it count?

What is Patriotism?

If you love your country must you wake every morning and sing the National Anthem?

Is it Patriotic to claim to be blind to anything wrong with your Country?

Is it unpatriotic to talk of Peace with your neighbours?
Is it unpatriotic to be realistic enough to see that peace within your nation is unlikely unless peace is found with the neighbours?

Is it patriotic to cry for War, even if it might lead to a Nuclear War or an eventual face saving pull back? Can't we see ... "The moment India secures a military advantage, Washington will be told by Islamabad that there is huge internal pressure from within Pakistan’s establishment to go in for a nuclear strike. That ensures that there is suddenly tremendous pressure on India – from all quarters – to exercise restraint, and pull back with some face-saving measures. Simultaneously with India’s upper-hand in the conflict becoming evident, China will suddenly decide to hold some exercises on their side of the border with India"???

Can hating some of our fellow citizens be called Patriotism?

Whose Earth Is It Anyway?

Some of us think it is okay to kill animals for fun.

I remember a Bishnoi witness on the TV explaining how Salman Khan's (and his friends) idea of fun was to chase a Black Buck to total exhaustion, before killing him. What kind of people would enjoy such cruelty? The Bishnois are a people who respect nature and treat all animals kindly. They can't be bribed with celebrity status or cash.

Mitali Mukherjee (on CNBC TV18) was giggling and wondering why such a big deal was being made of animal killing when so many people were dying everyday.

So do we wait till all human killing has stopped before we start fighting against animals cruelty? Or is cruelty to animals a proof of our love for the human race? I think generally those who do care, care for all life forms.

Prince Charles and Wife Camilla hunt fox by engaging in practice of setting a pack of hounds on a wild animal for fun.

Enid Blyton, in The Children of Cherry Tree farm, describes a breathless, panting fox running into a cave and collapsing at the feet of Tammylan (the wild man) who lives in the jungle.

Sarah Palin is a bully who never saw an animal she didn't want to kill. She thinks it's okay to gun down wolves. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), for all their outrageous and frivolous ad campaigns is doing a great job.

Here's their new game in the News recently, because it lets you pelt the Alaska Governor with snow balls. Play it, it's fun :)

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO PLAY THIS GAME
Bikini, fur coat-clad Sarah Palin appears in PETA's online game

Divide The World Into Twelve Astrological Stereotypes?

Once in a fete we set up a Gypsy Tent and made predictions looking at a Crystal Ball - an empty fish bowl filled with silver foil and glitter. A very reluctant friend was persuaded to pretend to be a 'Face Reader'. She was horrified at first but agreed, when we advised her to "Say anything, look solemn."

Nobody doubted what she told them. We were, err ... she was a huge hit. Next morning she called and declared that she had discovered that she could indeed read faces! She had to be reminded very firmly that until the evening before she did not even know something like Face Reading even existed. [Does it?]

Astrology can make us dream of fool proof short cuts. Remember the last scene of Lage Raho Munnabhai?

Success comes from hard work not astrological short cuts, just like relationships are made with a lot of love, tolerance and commitment, not perfectly matched horoscopes. Astrology made nobody rich, successful or happy, except perhaps the Astrologer and their agents :)

Any computer can tell you where your planets are placed, the tough part is analysing what the placement means. You can go through famous charts (like Gandhi's) and yes it is a lot of fun, but it would be seriously irresponsible to lead someone to believe you can make any reliable predictions.

Astrology is not about Fortune Telling.

Then why do I bother spending so much time studying it?
Curiosity. And some pleasant surprises. No more.

Also a Pisces love for Astrology. Scorpio and Sagittarius can also make you keenly interested in studying Astrology. So long as you don't base important decisions based on it, Astrology is fine :)

Zodiac Signs and Blogging styles.

If you have displayed your birthday in your profile, chances are your Sun Sign has been noted :)

Some people ask your Caste , some ask your Sun Sign. If they can politely and unobtrusively ask your time and place of birth, they will. Be vary. You will be judged :) Condemned forever for having an incompatible Mars or Moon.

Your year of birth gives away your Moon. That's far more dangerous than giving away your age. (I can sense disapproving looks here.)Your moon sign is how you feel, and also how you behave when you are angry, sad, jealous or generally emotional. You see a lot of Moon Signs being revealed on Blog forums where heated arguments are going on.

The time of Birth betrays the Rising Sign. Our Rising sign is how people see us. (Also called Personality Sign or Lagna Rashi). If you have a shy Sun Sign and a confident Rising Sign, you might confuse yourself and a lot of others, with you seeing yourself as shy while everybody else thinks you are confident. Or you think you are tactful and the world calls you foot-in-the-mouth-diva?

That is why all Aries, Aquarius or Sagittarius are not alike. If you are always being told, you don't look or act like your Sun Sign, do check your Rising Sign. In fact knowing just the Sun Sign is like reading just only half a post and deciding the blog is Right Wing.

Rising Signs are very important. In Julius Caesar's time the Rising Sign was the only one consulted. Julius Ceasar was a Leo. He must have had a strong chin :)

The most amazing thing is that these signs just like genes, are repeated in families. When they look alike maybe they share the sign that influences their looks the most, the Rising Sign. Nehru and Indira Gandhi were both Scorpio Sun Signs. Advani is Scorpio too. Scorpio Bloggers might enjoy politics.

Scorpios and Pisces are also the most likely to get addicted to blogging.

Gandhi a Libran, with a Leo Moon, fought for Justice and Equality. You see many Libran bloggers trying hard to stay objective, balanced and unbiased. Librans are also likely to have Venus or Mercury in Scorpio (Gandhi did) which can make for passionate writing.

No Aries blogger will ignore a Naqwi. Taurus bloggers (Sun, Moon or Rising) are most likely to blog about Food and arts, and they might play some music on their blogs. I know a few who do :)

Moon is the sign your Indian Janampatri gives you. In Indian astrology the Moon is considered the most important, because it rules your emotions. Our blog is one place where many of us are quite likely to act more like our Moon sign. Sign you got the first letter of your name from. Like A if your moon is in Mesh, N in Scorpio/Vrishchik, S - Aquarius/Kumbh and Mohandaas Karam Chand Gandhi's M for moon in the Leo. Obama's Sun sign is Leo. We seem to get along very well with people who have our Sun Sign somewhere prominent in their Horoscopes.

Leo bloggers are likely have attractive headers and side bars. Aries Bloggers have strong views and stronger emotions. And when you see a Scorpio blogger showing no passion, read carefully. Or check her Moon and Rising. Aquarians aught to remind us of Abraham Lincoln but exactly the opposite also might happen.

A Cancer Mommy blogger is the easiest to imagine, though an Aries or Scorpio would be passionate about everything related to the child too. Virgo moms would blog about baby's health. Leo Mommy bloggers would share the baby pics most proudly :) Aries Mom will record every change, Pisces mom would worry about the the violent world - but then I suppose all mothers will. A Sagittarius mom will have other interests also, and Virgo mommy blogger will most probably not be an SAHM.

A Capricorn blogger is least likely to find anything wrong with her Mother in law, because tradition is seldom wrong with her, and she loves anyone who can be called family. A Pisces blogger might blog about peace, tolerance and compassion.

But imagine a Capricorn born just before Sun rise, with Sagittarius rising. This will be a Capricorn who won't understand why nobody understand s her :)

There is always a strong chance of some presence of the next sign in us. Aries and Gemini may have Taurus love of music and food. Pisces bloggers may stay away from controversial issues, but they are Aries neighbours so .... Virgo bloggers may have a narcissistic and dramatically beautiful blog, like Leo bloggers :)

Controversy would be a Leo, Sagittarius, Aries or Scorpio domain. A Gemini's delight, or a Cancer sense of humour. An Aquarius or Gemini might criticize Obama or Shah Rukh Khan just to annoy their fans. Sagittarius Sun Sign are the Crusading bloggers with causes to champion. Sagittarius Moon and Rising will have the same zeal, and if we do not know their Rising and Moon signs we won't understand why.

Much blogged about Fundamentalist- who are basically just misguided reformers, could have strong Sagittarius in them too. Gemini make great sales people and orators? Raj Thakre is Gemini. Geminis should make very interesting blogs - sticking to no genre. Maybe family stories today, biographical post the next day and a post on food allergies the next day.

Photoblogs should be a Cancer joy, but not restricted to them. Humour too. One would assume that a Virgo blogger would be disciplined and methodical?

Some bloggers write about themselves, we know all about them. Some only discuss politics. Some display their photographs some display err.. photograph from a bad hair day. Whatever else you do bloggers, IMHO it should be compulsory to at least display your Birthdays. Preferably with time and place.

Santa comes to the Blogosphere :)

Amrutha, Vimmuuu and Myheadtrip awarded me this Cup and I would like to pass it to,
Mr Balwinder Singh for reminding us that any tragedy can be a Lesson learnt.
Aneela for her hilarious reassurance that we aren't the only ones getting delirious when we receive an award :)
Vimal I don't just like his blog, I love his comments too :)
Gopinath Mavinkure's *artickles* ... for his humour and his limericks.
Charakan, Vikram and Amrutha for aware blogging.
D for helping me see why err.. PDA is not recommended: A for Anger here ;)
To Deeply Dip, Devil Incarnate, Bones, Smitha, Spontaneous Mini, and Pixie my new blogging friends :)
Nita, Quirky Indian and Hitchwriter for objectively analyzing the option of war after the terror attacks.
Ajit For an unextinguishable flame :)
Chirag for saying 'Let us at least virtually build stronger bonds, so it transcends in to political will'


Some bloggers we agree with a little, some not at all and some whole heartedly.
Some bloggers give us Hope. They are bloggers who care, for ALL THE CITIZENS of this World. These bloggers can see above the generalizations of Caste, Community, Religion, Language, Region, Race and National boundaries. They are the hope of our UNITY IN DIVERSITY. This Special Award, very close to my heart goes to,




Mr Joe Pinto, Ritu, Mampi, Monika, Mr J P Joshi, Jottingsnmusings, Hitchwriter, Nita, Kiran,Yaamyn, Unmana, Pixie, Mandira, Priyanka, Charakan, Annie, Roop, Vikram, Philip, Ajit, Imp's Mom, Nimmy, Aneela, Spontaneous Mini, Alankrita, Gauri Gharpure, Zakir, tearsndreams, Quirky Indian, Chirag, Mad Momma,1conoclast, Manish Raj, Abha, Chandni, Anser Azim, Shilpa, Pinku, Dipali and Iya. ( Most names link to a particular favorite post.)

May their (our) tribe increase!
Will add more names here.




This Friendship Band, Nita gave to all her readers. Thank You Nita!
I pass it on to all the readers who have made Blogaddiction a delightful fact of our lives :) It's great to see the green dot on your gmail chat and know we are not alone burning the midnight ... err tapping the midnight keyboards. The Blogosphere never sleeps because of us blogaddicts :)

Please do display it proudly on your sidebar :)
Merry Christmas!

Is Dr Manmohan Singh Really A Puppet PM?

To many Indians, Dr Manmohan Singh is a practical worker, though not a charismatic leader. It is felt that, History is replete with examples of how charismatic leaders "F" us up. Voters feel he does not bow down at the altar of votes.

Others are convinced that 'it is a huge misconception that people think he is a puppet.

Just because he doesn't come in the media highlight or doesn't speak with a big mouth doesn't mean he is no good.

He did what he wanted to do and proved it with the confidence motion in parliament.'
The entire nation watched this and during the tamasha that we witnessed live our gentle, quiet, humble and educated PM shone for being amongst the cleanest of leaders.

Some also feel that He doesn't have a charismatic personality but that doesn't mean he isn't effective. He is one Prime Minister we can be proud of.

Also this sustained pressure on Pakistan diplomatically is a result of his resolve to go after the perpetrators, he is a very good prime minister and coming 3 months will tell it to one and all ...."

Do we have anyone else who could be match up to him?
Mayawati?

I walk into a trap ...

Today morning I wanted to write a post on why I think Manmohan Singh is the best thing to have happened to India.

Need to confirm something. Call mom, our political-gossip encyclopedia.

"What's the full meaning of Saam, Daam, Dand Bhed?"
She is busy. "Err.. hmm ? Sardar Patel used it."
"Mum! Originally it was Chanakya!! What does Saam mean exactly ...?"
"Ask your brother, he will know."

I avoid calling this spoiled brat of a brother. He will first harangue me about how he thinks all Hindus must have ten children per family so that we are not beaten in population competition against other communities. I (try to) never react. His biggest joy, even at this age lies in being irritating.

But I needed some information, and he is a much better encyclopaedia than even my Mom. So I steel my heart and call.

'What! First you bore Mum. Now me? You wanted to know about yourself?"

How had I forgotten!!! He's called me Chanakya all our life! (For not taking sides i.e. his side, in family disputes/arguments.)

"Who do you vote for?"

"Election ke din hum sote hain." ('We sleep on the day of voting.'- Jago Re Ad campaign)

"Okay, who would you vote for if you did?"

"Jis galee jana naheen wahan ka rasta kyon poochen (why ask for directions for the street we won't use)? How's your Raj Thakre? Give him my regards."

"Sure. What do you think of MM Singh?"

"You've heard of M M Singh in Maharashtra!? I'll vote for Raj Thakre if that will make M M Singh the PM."

My jaw drops. He likes MM Singh!?

"Do you think he's handled these attacks well?"

"He can even beat you at Saam Daam Dand Bhed."

"You don't think he's a puppet."

"Are you a puppet?"

"Everybody says he's under Sonia Gandhi's thumb."

"Who will vote for him if he stood on his own? We have such a feudal, dynastic mind set, Congress knows that, they need the Gandhi name for votes ... I received an SMS asking for Raj Thakre. Tried calling you to ask. Where did you hide him?"

"So you think nobody will vote for Man Mohan Singh on his own?"

"I will."

Does he need something from me or does he really like M M Singh?

Why Santa needs her Beard!

When my kids were young we wanted to see their mouths open in speechless wonder, at the sight of a red clad fat man stuffing red pillow cases and stockings with goodies.

When Husband came home, always only after Santa had left, he was given breathless, wide eyed accounts. Son always claimed he saw reindeer flying outside the windows. Over-imaginative liars! They never noticed specks of white cotton on their Dad's cheeks.

The kids and I were alone one December. After they were asleep, I took out our crudely stitched but precious red and white cotton costume stored next to the red wedding lehenga. A friend and I had promised to be Santas for each others kids.

The disguise was crude. Bollywood style cushion for Santa's paunch, and cotton glued on the cheeks for beard. Who would step out looking like this?

The gifts including those for the maid's three daughters could be given the next day, but the friend was pacing the floor in the next building. And if one does not make eye contact, there is no nervousness. Santa stepped out of the flat and into the lift.

The lift man stared in astonishment. Santa looked straight ahead.

A late night dog walking friend halted in his walk, the dogs looked excited. Santa wanted to say, "You are smarter than your human!" but had to scurry away into the lift of the next building.

It was worth the dazed delight in two pairs of sleepy eyes. I was mighty proud. And since the maid had no idea, she was too shocked to react. Some hohoho, and hand the shiny packets to her little girls - and literally, gratefully escape into our flat.

Almost immediately while I was peeling off the beard, the door bell rang. "Memsaaabjeee, memsaabjee, woh Santajee!! ... hamare ghar Santajee aye!"
(Mr Santa came to our house!)
"Aap the?!" (It was you!?) I wish she'd given me some time to change :(

Today two harassed sounding friends organizing a Christmas Carnival called. Please, please, could Son please be their Santa? Son gave a look that said, "Don't even think about it." Daughter is away at a camp.

They had Gifts, Guests, Games, Music, Stalls, Circulars, Announcements and now at the last moment their Santa can't come. It was a real emergency. If I wasn't so sleepy when they called I know I would never have volunteered.

What's in a Blog Name?

I chose to call myself an Indian Home Maker, because that's what I am. Now does the Quirky Indian believe that blog, the blogger or the Indian is quirky :)

The Angry Indian is angry.
India Uncut?
The State of India is not as pathetic as we claim.
Indyana Diaries are just that.
India:Thoughts from an ordinary guy are not very ordinary at all :)
A Wide Angle View of India is truly a wide view.
The Naive Indian believes the Indian citizen is really naive?
An Academic view of India is an academic view.
... any other Blogs with INDIA in the name?

What makes us call our blogs what we call them? Some Blog Names are really interesting, some are very matter of fact, and some others are a little (a little?!) insane :)

As a new blogger I remember noticing and reading blogs with interesting names like Three Drinks Ahead, Thirty Six and Counting, Bohemian Rhapsody, Churning the Word Mill, Known Turf and Opinionated.

I once read a comment from someone called Contentious! Devil Incarnate is also most interesting :) Itching to Write, Jottings and Musings, Tears and Dreams, Gopinath's Artickles are self explanatory.

Random, My, Thoughts, Life, Ramblings are the five most common of words in blog names.

We have Blogs names with LIFE called
Life Rules,
Life goes on,
Life books, movies, books etc,
The Life and Times of an Indian Homemaker,
Life or Something Like That,
Simple Life,
Life and other thoughts
Pinku-Enchanted Life
Life of our Darling Prince

In my blog roll, there are four blogs called Random Thoughts. Two are just plain Random Thoughts, then there are Random Thoughts of a Demented mind and Random thoughts of a Rambunctious mind :) We sure love to blog about Random Thoughts! And then there is Random Ruminations.

Nearly all Mommy bloggers name their blogs after their brats, so you have The Brat, the Bean and the Bedlam, Imp's Mom, Mommy of lil CubbyR, Life of our darling Prince ...

Some blog names are really long, one is mine, other long names I know are
What we obtain too cheap, We esteem too lightly (she believes that)
A load of crap from an Idle Mind (there's nothing crappy about this blog!)

I know Bloggers called D and N, but I wonder what's the smallest Blog name!

A blogging friend was wondering if a reader would visit a blog just because the name was interesting. I know I did.
But an interesting name for one reader could be a boring name for another. A second or third visit to a blog would depend on the reader's interest and the blog of course.

What would bore you on a blog, despite an interesting name?

Too many links are boring another blogging friend says. How often are the links we provide really clicked on? I know I only read a link either if the implication is that the poor author of the link has been very irreverent (like Arundhati Roy of late) and I wish to find out for myself or if ... or hardly ever otherwise.

I guess not finding what the name suggested can be disappointing? If somebody comes to an Indian Homemaker's blog they can't be blamed for expecting house keeping tips.

So what's wrong with BJP?

Let me try to explain.

Unlike the Raja in Vikram Seth’s ‘Suitable Boy’, BJP is real.

Unlike Taliban, BJP directly affects us.

When we were in college, BJP were just a gang of Hindu Fundamentalist wannabe leaders. We heard one Joshi claim girls should not wear jeans. He seemed like someone desperately trying to get attention. They still talk like that, but now people are listening. No mobiles and no inter-religious marriages in Madhya Pradesh is taken seriously. This goes down very well, with some worried Indian parents. BJP Vice President, Naqwi’s lipstick and powder comment created an uproar. But we forget they came to power with such meaningless statements.

Once they came to power many more schools decided that the girls must respect their culture by wearing ‘salwar kurta’ in higher classes in schools. In Kanpur, UP, Sangh Parivar prohibited women from wearing jeans to colleges and imposed the wearing of salwar-kameez with a pinned dupatta. Nothing wrong with wearing salwar kurtas, but why impose and why only girls?

All this begins almost harmlessly.

I am not very religious at all, but I quite like being Hindu. To be honest I love it. I love the fact that we are free to discuss, analyze, interpret and criticize (and that’s an understatement!) our faith. I find it sweet that we can converse, bargain, negotiate and even refuse to pray to a God, if a wish is not granted. I like it that we can decide how our God is, and mine is a kindly, protective, genderless power. I love the fact we can ask a TV channel showing Ramayana, not to show Sita’s abandonment. Basically there is nothing FUNDAMENTALIST about Hinduism. WAS. Then came BJP. And a loved and loving religion was hijacked by vote politics.

My daughter in a Christian School in Kerala actually had Ramayana added as part of the curriculum. Were they coerced to add it, directly or indirectly I have no idea. But I did not want something as personal as religion being taught in school. I am not going to discuss what I have against Ramayana - let's just say my daughter is not going to grow up thinking a woman's destiny lies in 'obedience' and 'sacrifice'. (Indian schools being Indian schools I helped her with Home Work and undid any damage these classes could have done).

BJP's abuse of Hindusim resulted in, till then lovable names like Bajrang and Hanuman, becoming symbols of vandalism and rioting. All to achieve their political (vote) purposes.

Then they used Hinduism, to burn a father and his two sons in a jeep. And to my horror Instead of the obvious and expected condemnation of something so heinous, I heard some Hindus justifying this in the name of religion, a much respected Prime Minister (I heard him myself) instead of unequivocally condemning this gruesome killing, talked of ‘national debate on conversions’ – what was worse, he really seemed to believe in what he was saying. The thought of two little boys being burnt alive with their father by some anti-social elements - can we ever, EVER justify it? How does a crime NOT REMAIN A CRIME JUST BECAUSE IT IS DONE IN THE NAME OF RELIGION? How did some Indians become so blinded by hate speeches of some very good orators?

When they first talked of Hindutwa we didn’t even take it seriously. In 1987, they justified Roop Kanwar’s burning on her hubands’s pyre, the BJP, as the upholder of Hindu traditions, argued that this was Rajput tradition and that any law that prevented the community from following such traditions would be opposed. Such odd fundamentalist voices are always heard in every society and one didn’t care and one was glad these kind of people will never come to power. And they never would have. So they decided to demolish an unheard of Masjid, even as alternatives and options were being considered. There was nothing religious about this demolition, it was all about VOTES.

Twice I have traveled with one of their leaders, he was not in power then, and everybody joked about how safe we all were because he and his black cats were traveling with us. Nobody went to ask him for autographs. This was before Babri Masjid.

Second time in April-May 1997. This time little children were sent to him for autographs, and he gave them some Party cards. What had changed? Did they manage to feed a hundred hungry children during this time gap? NO. They had managed to destroy the feeling of brotherhood of Amar Akbar Anthony and worked up hatred and brotherhood of victimhood amongst the peace loving Hindu majority. The BJP, VHP and BD made themselves look like the saviors of the Hindus. They will kill, rape and burn to make sure the Dalits stay Dalits and not convert to Christians. Can't we see, that they are not doing it for us, not even for the Hindutva that they claim to save. They are doing this because there's no chance of any Christians voting for BJP, so it suits them to either kill them or reconvert them to Hindus. And of course it keeps the brotherhood of victimhood alive.

There had been no terrorists attacks till then. So the BJP had to go a few centuries back to find reasons to make us hate some Indian citizens.

I, with two babies of 6 and 22 months, was in a train from Delhi to Bombay via Surat on the night of 6th-7th (or was it the 8th?) Dec 1992. The train that was almost completely empty. Everybody knew what was going to follow? Were there terrified mothers in our Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic hugging their baby girls and baby boys tight and wishing they had never brought them into this horrible world, not because they were miles from home in an empty train, but because they were not safe even inside their homes, with husbands, brothers, grand parents? Did drunk mobs enter their homes, and did they deserve what followed? I made a million promises to God that night. The few other passengers were sure we would come to no harm, Surat and Mumbai were generally not prone to rioting. Till then.

Did the common man – the voter, join the hate filled rioting and killing? NO. It was our various Senas, named so blasphemously after gods who fought for justice. But Hindus did not seem to be objecting. The worst of the nightmare ended for me after forcing my way into an ambulance parked amidst broken glass, and footwear scattered on the empty roads outside Bombay VT. But somewhere unspeakable things were being done to some innocent children and women because they did not worship any of the Gods I did. Then a blogger asks me why I love Congress!!! I don't love Congress, I just hate BJP more.

BJP has two main things in common with Taliban. It's ideology of using religion for power and it's violence.

Suppression of Dalits, Christians, Muslims and women follows automatically. We can easily compare their destruction of a Maszid to that of Buddhas of Bamyan in Afghanistan. Fundamentalism can never be Democratic. Fundamentalism can never lead to prosperity, it might lead to 'selective' prosperity. It can also lead to silencing of voices of protests.

In countries where children are looking for food in garbage heaps, destruction of Babri Maszid and Budhdha’s statues could never be genuine issues. Those who have any respect for their religion or God do not USE it to kill innocent citizens.

Edited to add: Please do sign this plea to postpone the Orissa Bandh on Christmas Day. [The link emailed by another blogger who beleives in peace.]

Edited to add, Dec 19th: THE BANDH HAS BEEN CALLED OFF!

Regrets.

I saw my brother’s daughter when she was born, then moved to another place and saw only her videos and pictures, and heard her voice singing rhymes taught in school for the next EIGHT years. Occasionally I’d tell her stories of our dogs and our childhood. Plans were made to meet but something more important would always come up.

Nothing prepared me for the real meeting when it did happen. This March, I was sitting in a white covered ‘rajai’ at my mom’s place and my- daughter- at- eight entered the room, swinging a pink Barbie bag full of travelling pass times. Same pretty curls, saucer eyes and a huge smile. Did God run short of faces!?

“Do you know who I am?” I ask.

“I knowwww!” Twisting and tangling her skinny arms. She hopped on the bed, shoes and all, and snuggled onto my lap, curling into a tiniest baby-monkey. I hugged her tight, thinking I should have been able to see her at three, four, six, seven - this little lookalike of my daughter.

“I know you are not crying. These are happy tears.”

“Yes, these are happy tears, do you know I love you very much?”

“I know. Soooo much.” Arms spreading wide, wide, wider, “Daddy told me.”

We have good Dads in this family. Only a good dad could raise this eight year old angel snuggled comfortably in the lap of a Bua she had never seen.

Another wonderful Dad never saw this moment he tried so hard to plan. He would have been 75 today. And his daughter met this granddaughter only on the day he died.

Girls!

Two pretty, silly girls are giggling in the back seat. Son, sitting in front, is wearing a dignified, disdainful look. I am driving and trying not to hear a (not so) private, whispered conversation.

(Giggle giggle) “It’s him!” (A loud whisper)

“No it isn’t him.” (Whisper, giggle, giggle)

“It’s his car.” ( giggle, whisper)

“It’s turning inside, I told you it’s him.” (Whisper)

(A sudden burst of delighted giggles) “That’s where he stays!” (giggle)

“I told you!” (Giggle)

“He’s so skinny….” Whisper and giggle, more whispering, more giggles.



Some things never change.

Family Gossip

Family Gossip Dec 12, 10:31 PM - 12:05 AM

My sister’s call just disrupted all efforts to finish the list of blogging friends to pass the Shield to!!! The Blogger has some problem it wasn’t saving the draft … then she called.

Sister from Texas, sounding upset. “This Cousin XYZ, he says he wants to marry a fair girl who should be able cook good Indian food. Mausi had called and told me I must cook kadhi-chawal when he visits!”

IHM- He is so far from home his mom must be dying to pamper him ... he’s grown up on Indian food. [The page is taking forever to load, some problem with the server! ]

She - Pleeeease! Didn’t we grow up on Indian food? If he likes Indian food he better learn to cook it himself! When Rhea (another cousin) came here, she was told to be a good guest and help me, just because this one is a boy .... aaaargh. I am working okay.

IHM - Actually he having just gone from India, can treat you all to Indian food, ask him. [Another attempt to save the draft, no response.]

She - You think he has ever entered a kitchen in his life? And he says he wants a very fair wife! And he himself is SO DARK!

IHM - LOL Did he say this!!! You know all Son’s crushes are also very fair ... hmmm I guess , we Indians have a fairness obsession….(looking for the url to link a favorite blogger to add to the list of Award winners..)

She- IHM ARE YOU ON YOUR BLOG! I am so upset and you are blogging?

IHM - Eh? … What? What blog? No … but I think you let him be. [I determinedly get up and walk away from the laptop] We can’t change the world, his wife will show him how to make very good kadhi-chawal, poor thing he has no sisters … and the best thing to happen to such boys is they should get married to the kind of girls they like!

She I have no patience with all this! I haven’t cooked such food for ages, the kids don’t like Indian food … I hate such guests!

IHM - You cook what you always do, why are you so hassled? Let him see this side of his family also, ask him to help, his fair & lovely wife will thank you.

She - Which world do these samples grow up in, don’t they read, watch TV and see the world is changing?

IHM - I brain washed Cousin X ! He has been taught to say, “India is the best, Indian culture is the best, and Hinduism is supreme”.

She I know! Mausi voted for McCain because she doesn’t like Obama’s middle name!

IHM- Listen, so I told him about female foeticide, Sita’s abandonment, typical marriage ‘fixing’ and ‘negotiations’ and drove him around and asked if he would like to settle in India.

Sister is laughing aloud.

She - Aw that’s why I love you, his mom's going to hate you, she'll be aghast!!!!!

IHM - No, she won't! Because he will not hate this culture or country just because he sees it for what it truly is. Perfect or not, it's a part of him.

She But she voted for McCain …how can you take her side?

This gossip session continued long enough for the Computer to restart with some uploads. I lost all that wasn’t saved in the draft. Hence the award ceremony must continue in another post :(

AWARDS NIGHT :)

I.

Thank You Usha Pisharody, Shail, Iya, Vimmuuu, D and Varun for this award :)

As Instructed in the Ways of Award Presentation and Conferring, this is what has to be done, as I understand, from Usha Pisharody :)


1. Put the logo on the blog.

2. Add a link to the person who presented it to you.

3. Pass this one, and link other bloggers that you'd like to share it with.

So I'd love the following bloggers to please accept this :

Smitha for being a positive-thinking blogger,
Philip for being a fellow believer in Peace, Hope and Yes we can,
Trail Blazer for his unbiased take on political issues, where sometimes I might disagree a little :)
Chirag Chamoli for his amazing willingness to 'move' and still churn out interesting posts!
Manish for posts that bring you peace.
Imp's Mom who was the first person ever to comment on my blog :)
Anrosh for her angst at the way Indian women are treated by their parents.

II.

Honest Blogger Award.

Thank You, Ritu for the Honest Blogger Award. I would like this award to be accepted by,

Alankrita for dealing with the problem with Islamic Terror,
Myheadtrip who started with giving me a piece of her mind :)
Pinku who was outraged at my seeming (it isn't, it really isn't, that was just a silly joke!) respect for rules that say age and wage should not be asked,
Doesitmatter who enjoys err .. a heated discussion
Mampi for her approval of posts that do not result in anger, arguments and strife!
Jottingsnmusings for her pride in simple living,
Nimmy for her bold questions.
D for the issues she touches upon on her blog.
Tearsndreams for redefining Indian Values.
Quirky Indian for a new channel called Crapola News Network :)
Smita for the 'I promise' on the side bar ....
Vimmuuu for a cool blog :)


III.

Thank You Vimmuuu and Myheadtrip for

Este Blog investe e acrediita na...Proximidade!

These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.
And I have the pleasure of passing this award to ,

Hitchwriter for being the shield for the flickering flame that we all want to keep burning.
Usha Pisharody for her vivacity, her lovely blogs and encouraging comments.
Monika for being such a nice person, and for Bell Bajo and other causes.
Iya for initiative in Jago Re campaigns and for her strong conscience.
Ajit for believing in Mumbai!!
Mandira for being such a good kid, err a good person :)
JP Joshi for making us see India not as My India, Your India, but as Our India :)
Mavin, Shail and Vikram for their take on feminism.
Abha for her heart felt sympathy for my angst.
Ritu for being the coolest woman I know.





IV

Thank You Varun and Usha Pisharody for the shield.

to be continued ...

The Guru Shishya Parampara

This post started as a comment on Manju's post called 'Lost Childhood.'

A large number of poor children in India drop out of schools because they are afraid of being beaten by school teachers. All concerned assume some thrashing, and mental abuse are a normal part of school life.

I loved Tare Zameen Par because it trashed the ridiculous Indian belief that Corporal Punishments could create Einsteins. We should also translate Roald Dahl's BOY for all those who think it's okay to treat children so cruelly, 'for their own good'.

Once a friend and I took a maid's daughter for admission in a Municipal School in Bombay (1995).

The experience was an eye opener. There were some kids running, playing, falling and fighting unsupervised and some classes were going on.

In one class the moment the teacher saw us pass by, he swung a stick and shouted at the kids to open their books. He had his feet on his table and was reading some newspaper till then.

The Principal was the perfect Role Model as a figure of responsibility and authority. First he was not there.
We waited.

Two older boys grabbed a young boy and started rolling with him, on the floor. The younger kid was screaming. No teacher came. My friend nudged that we shouldn't be interfering, but we got them to leave him. Then a short, fat man in dirty clothes came and entered the Principal's room. We quickly rushed after him and said we'd come to meet the Principal. No response. He just opened the cupboard and took out some, believe it or not, some sort of perfume and sprayed on his wrists and armpits etc. (he looked like Q.Q.Quraishi of Bunty aur Babli). We looked at each other, wondering if he was deaf. Again I asked if we could speak to the Principal please. No reply.

If he behaved like this with us, I can't imagine what the parents are subjected to. He is supposed to run that school, and we all pay taxes for it.

He organised the same cupboard, some chalk and registers. Then as we stood wondering if we should ask someone else he sat down and very reluctantly looked at us, standing right in front of him. We explained the girl's problem - No Birth Certificate (Janam Dakhila) - but we'll get it as soon as possible,

"In the meantime could she please start attending classes ..? "
"NO."

(This girl's mother was a Christian maid servant married to a Hindu man, she later got her admitted into a Christian School. I wonder if Bajrang Dal will ever find time from it's terrorists activities and raping of nuns to start running some schools or at least leave the Christian Missionaries alone to run their Schools and Orphanages.)

Why do we not allow children (in junior classes at least), to just walk into any Government School after just some minimum filling of forms? Is it worth the lives of thousands who waste years waiting for their parents to find lost or misplaced birth/transfer/certificates? Parents who don't know where their next meal is coming from are supposed to take care of certificates? Maybe they should. But they can't so should their kids play cricket by the roadside all day?

How can we talk about compulsory education when a lost proof of birth can ruin a child's life?

Lipstick or No Lipstick I am an Indian.

A commenter says I am not being a true Indian because I seem to be impressed by western culture and values, and Obama. Naqwi will whole heartedly agree with him because I also use lipstick. It runs in the family, my mom won’t step out of the house without her lipstick either. But I am every bit as Indian, as the mother of little girl who lives in a leaking house on the way to Mulshi. Lipstick or no lipstick.

Many of us believe we will never change, this country will go nowhere, this political system will never change etc. I just can’t live with that sort of belief.

If I were to truly believe today that Indian politicians (and suddenly it’s become not-so- cool to say they are useless, like when did we ever say they are good?!!) cannot be taught to behave responsibly and do their job....

That kind of apathy or indifference or pessimism is not something I can ever accept. And that is the thinking that makes us bribe and find loopholes in Laws made for civilised living.

Can you wake up you every morning believing you couldn’t get up?

Will our kids work hard in school if they believed they would never succeed?

Would Abhinav Bindra have worked so hard if he believed he could never win?

I think this sort of brain washing is the talk of POLITICIANS. It suits them to keep us hopeless and demoralised.

I have (maybe it’s an escape?) brain washed myself into believing, most successfully, that we can achieve anything we set our heart to.

It has worked for me. I think it works for everybody. You believe you can, You will; You believe there’s no hope, you will never succeed.

And I am convinced that we are going to see better days in Indian Politics, without which any progress is an uphill task. The so called elite and the upper middle class have set a trend and maybe, if the candles continue to be lit, gradually even the darkest corners of rural India will light up too. It isn’t as if they worship the politicians.

I meet people and everybody is determined to vote. That is the first step. And they are all hoping to vote for someone NEW that’s already the second step.

And this shows we are more awake than ever before.

So I am going to continue to Hope and sign Petitions, join Peace Protests and light candles.

But that will not stop me from dancing to western music, wearing sleeveless (why just sleeveless, backless also) western clothes and expensive, shiny, glittery lipsticks.

These are my values. My Indian values.

I would like to know, what do you think are TRUE INDIAN VALUES?

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures

A Friend : You have a blog!!? What do you write about? Petitions?
IHM: Err ... Generally ... this and that. You come and sign.
A Friend: What this and that?
IHM: Err ... actually ... general stuff ... about everyday life ... family, friends and yeah how to get better governance.
A Friend: Whoa! Friends also?
IHM: Only sometimes.
A Friend: Have you written about me?
IHM: Well yes, but you won’t know it’s ...
A Friend: What? I am on the internet :) I am famous and I don't even know it!
IHM: Actually nobody would guess it's you; I shifted your mole from the right to the left cheek.
A Friend: What luck! I was so close to being famous!

Next day.

A Friend: I used to think internet is only good for downloading music. IHM you have to teach me how to blog.
IHM: Really? You are interested!! What are you going to call your blog?
A Friend: ... and I am going to write all about my separation drama and about these terror attacks.
IHM: Write about anything...
A Friend: And about why these terrorists did not blow the Taj. Tell me why didn't they?
IHM: They didn't have enough explosives?
A Friend: They had more than enough explosives! The plan was to DISTRACT while they infiltrate, now you watch. They are all over the country.
IHM: This was in the news?
A Friend: I AM TELLING YOU!

IHM Your telling is enough. Now kindly write your name and email address here, if you really care for your country.

A Friend: Only 69 people have signed this petition?

IHM: They don’t know about your infiltration theory.

A Friend: Yeah, let' demand these ELECTORAL REFORMS - this is not about the unnecessarily-being-confused- 49-O - but reforms proposed by the Election Commission to be implemented.

IHM: Thank You Ma'am.

You May Say I Am A Dreamer ...

BUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!

I received this forwarded link with an inspiring message and a petition to sign.


Let us join for a cause....

For a cause to accelerate

the improvement of Electoral system...



The journey is long

but First step is a major milestone



Let's take that first step....



Please join this wave of responsible citizenship by signing this
petition for Electoral reforms so that we are given a choice to choose
elect people who have better chances for working for us rather than for
themselves.



http://www.petitiononline.com/Hitime/petition.html



=++++++++++++++++++++++



It is high time that

We woke up from the slumber....

The politicians will try their level best

to keep us dumb...better...dumber



For...the more we sleep

The more they will sweep

Our money, our votes

Our lives, our hopes

They can play their

cards of caste & religion

& we will be impressed

by their vision



You may ask why now

Polity works...that's how

It's been the same

Since ages

We are happy

Being trapped in cages



And we would have been trapped for how long...no one knows...till we
were jolted out of our sleepwalking...

Look at the temerity of our enemies....No Bomb blasts....No stealth
attacks...

They openly fired at all the places most of us keep visiting...and we
were held hostages



Suddenly the memories of nightmares

came flooding in

...1993...2001...2002....2006...

And many more..

AND the long and painful process of bringing culprits to justice which
never happened



How long shall we keep on waiting for action on empty & bogus
promises....endless Commission enquiries...



The time has come for us to make use of the tools that are available to
us

To a DEMOCRACY

You can't dream this in China....and any non-democratic Nation



Let us join for a cause....

For a cause to accelerate the improvement of Political system...



The journey is long

but First step is a major milestone



Let's take that first step....





Please join this wave of responsible citizenship by signing this
petition for Electoral reforms so that we are given a choice to choose
elect people who have better chances for working for us rather than
themselves.

- SANJAY GAUTAM

EDITED TO ADD:
You may wish to go through the Proposed Electoral Reforms by the Election Commission of India, here.

EDITED TO ADD, THANKS USHA PISHARODY :)

Cowards.

Media person : Sir, would you give up your security for the common man?
Sharad Yadav, JD (U) : Stunned silence. (Did he start trembling?) Long Pause. Dekhiye (look) ... Ahem .... err .... it's not like that ahem .... if we have security ... ahem ... it is not causing any risk ahem ... err ... the attacks are not because of our security ....

* * *

Media Person : Sir, would you give up your security for the common man?
Pramod Tiwari (Congress), from a Bullet proof car - See it should be according to the avashyakta (necessity) if it is needed then whoever needs it should be given if it is not needed then it should not be given without avashyakta, it should only be given for avashyakta and not without avashyakta just for shauk (luxury).

* * *

I must share these comments from Gopinath's *Artickles* post called 'Tight security needed please!'

IHM - They will never compromise on their own security. .... is it surprising that the country wished the terrorists had killed these guys when they came to attack the Parliament :)

Gopinath's *Artickles* - IHM, these politicians are behaving more like stand-up comedians, but the anger within us prevents us from laughing at their gaffes. ... As regard the parliament attack, Afzal Guru should be hanged not because of the attack on Parl but because he did not complete his job!


* * *

Why such disgust and anger?

Because while the terrorists were armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and hand grenades; Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Tukaram Omble, 48 carried just a walkie-talkie!
And still, before dying, he ensured that 21 year old , Ajmal Amir Kasab was caught alive.

He had a choice. He could have ducked and remained hidden. But that would have made him a politician.


* * *

Let's Make Politics A Clean Word.

An average Middle class voter stays away from anything related to politics, not just because they are indifferent, but also because elections in India today mean violence, free liquor, hooligans (paid by someone wishing to represent us, with our money) to threaten anybody who isn't their voter.

I remember T N Seshan's initiative at Electoral Reforms (Do go through this list of 'Proposed Electoral Reforms' by T S Krishnamurthy), had resulted in an unforeseen unity amongst the politicians. They were outraged that they could be stopped from fighting elections just because they had some criminal records!! In India a criminal record can disqualify you for any other job, except representing the people of India, and see where it has brought us!!

Click to see the 'Proposed Electoral Reforms' by T S Krishnamurthy)

But today, I can hear India demanding the same reforms and much more, at Gateway of India, in Mumbai (and Central Park Delhi; and in Kolkatta, Hyderabad, Bangalore etc). Finally India is Jaga re.

Let's submit/sign petitions and make sure we get these reforms applied immediately.

Mahesh Jethmalini (a caller on TV) says we might now finally see
'Participatory Democracy' :)

Sounds like a beautiful dream.
But Participatory Democracy is not possible if we do not vote.
When we don't think any of the candidates is worth voting, we end up voting for whoever looks like the lesser evil. Or, worse, we just don't vote. We must have the right to vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE.

With the right to vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE, where the rejected candidates can not stand for elections a second time, we will see new faces, maybe only a little 'lesser evils' at first, but eventually good leaders will emerge.

We want clean politics and leaders who really care, so we have to have the option of NONE OF THE ABOVE.

This Rule DOES NOT MEAN YOU DO NOT VOTE, it means if you do not wish to vote for any of the given candidates, you vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE, which is considered a neutral vote. Many in Delhi have used those right in the recent elections, according to Voteindia,

"There is a way to Vote for none which is mentioned at www.voteindia.in/news.php

.This rule is ineffective as of now, because no

action will be taken even if the number of neutral votes exceeds the votes gained by the winning candidate. A small article dedicated on 49-O is uploaded on the website explaining the details. Many people in Delhi have exercised voting using 49-O during the recent assembly elections showing resentment among the citizens."


I would say, 49-O in combination with Jago Re Effect is a winning combination :)

Back to Peaceful Protests Gandhi style :)

Thanks to Philip I was watching the Peaceful Protestors at Gateway of India, one week after the Terror Attacks, India is telling her divisive, hate breeding politicians that Divided we fell, United we stand again!

I am happy today and oh so hopeful. I am confident that we will see change. A man is dressed as Gandhi in a street play, and everybody is talking about peaceful protests. Posters, Cartoons, Placards, Tricolour, some grim determination, some anger, some demanding action, some agitated, some saying, 'Nation of Lions Lead by Donkeys' but all are talking about Peace and Harmony.

Finally we believe in peace again!!!

You can see Hindus and Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs, North Indians and South Indians, Marathi Manoos and Biharis - all together they stand as ONE INDIA :)
This day is a day of new beginnings, and this could ONLY HAPPEN IN INDIA :)

Demands for much needed Electoral reforms, including and the Right to vote for NONE OF THE ABOVE .

Isn't this India's answer to the terrorists?

This could be the birth of PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY?

I am watching angry women protesting against Naqvi's comments on their lipsticks and powder, they also want Deshmukh to resign, and they want to stop paying for the politicians' security. They want all the security to be given to the NSG Commandos :)
I agree, let them make India as safe for themselves as they have made for the rest of the Indians.

Questions to Sonia Gandhi, "Has Madam forgotten how she lost her husband to terrorists?"
Somebody's saying 'Dogs are allowed, but Achutanandan is not'. (This guy should be kicked out of politics for good).

There's flag that says, 'Yes we can!'

And yet we are not naive, a Peaceful Protestor reminds us, 'Don't ever forget'.

If there is a little fear that we might forget again, I decide, the rest of us will remind them again. Oh yes we can :)

Would We Rather Have Doordarshan?

Last week my maid asked why all the "madam log were not eating properly, or sleeping properly, why they were all only staring at the TV all day and all night?"

I try to explain, but she didn't understand why this attack was so upsetting. "Is some one close to you over there?"

I tell her what happened, and how many died at VT, the Policemen killed, and their jeep driven away by shooting terrorists, her eyes grow wide. "You saw it all on TV! Same time it happened (LIVE) ... All night! .... (laughing nervously) but didn't they shoot at the TV people, weren't they scared!?"

"I guess our TV people are brave ... you also must watch the News, not just serials ..."

"We only get Doordarshan didi, they showed us the complete funeral ceremony of Police walla bara sahab, on TV yesterday ... only that, and earlier the News at fixed hours, after it has all happened."

She does not even know the name of the ATS Chief, how brave he was, how he died, what it means ... Doordarshan is doing a great job!

And I realise how we have been taking the media so much for granted! I want to know what's happening, the uncensored truth and preferably as soon as possible.

I remember the night I had switched on the TV after an Earth Quake. It was a frightening experience to be vigorously shaken awake, and seeing it mentioned on CNN IBN had been reassuring.

I am thankful our brave and free media is out there, I am happy Barkha Dutt, Arnav Goswami, Rajdeep Sardesai, Vikram Chandra, Shireen Bhan ... and the rest of them were there, even if sometimes they did ask very insensitive questions. They let us see our Politicians for what they truly are - maybe sometimes, tinged with their own biases. But I am glad they are there, unafraid and free.

The Politicians HATE the media when it doesn't help them get votes. Like now.

They do not believe in, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend with my life your RIGHT to say it."

But I am very proud of our Fourth Pillar of Democracy.

Edited to add: It is very easy for DD to become the voice of the ruling government. DD can never be free media.

Wipe your lipstick before you condemn a politician.

When you were crying hoarse, breaking inside, mourning the dead, questioning the government, demanding a change, worrying about the future your children .... HE WAS LOOKING AT YOUR LIPSTICK, JEANS AND WESTERN VALUES. These are the fools we allow to take decisions for us.

I am in a real rush, but have to leave this here, I saw this guy on NDTV24X7 just now.

BJP General Secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi objects to women wearing jeans and lipstick, and to their following 'western values', when they light candles and criticize the politicians!

"Who is instigating these women groups to hold such protests? Why do some lipstick-cladded women, wearing jeans are protesting against the politicians on the streets of Mumbai', asked Naqvi. "There is a clear attempt to divide the country and break the trust of people in India's democratic fabrics. That's why such protests against politicians are taking place", he further added."

Edited to add: Read Reema's angry and informative response to Mr Nakli, err Mr Naqwi, here.