AAL IZZ WELL?

Prologue: After much anticipation Mr. Jaswanth Singh has been re-inducted as a member of B.J.P. His membership was intermitted from party due to controversy environed around his book “Jinnah, Partition and Independence.” Jaswanth Singh was leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha at the time of expulsion.

Yet another instance when gloves were off and sly hand-shakes took place between leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (B.J.P) for the picture perfect pose to cameras. Last time it was weeks after Lal Krishna Advani, then president of BJP visit to Jinnah Museum at Karachi, Pakistan. Then the former Home Minister went on to describe Jinnah as a ‘secular’ person. Now, it’s the former External Affairs Minister and a senior leader of BJP Jaswanth Singh who is ostensibly been given a rosy welcome after being expelled from party due to his damaging and storming revelations in his book “Jinnah, Partition and Independence”.

Jaswanth Singh in his book has questioned role of Nehru and Patel and held them more responsible than Jinnah for India’s partition. He further went on to say that Indian Muslim is “an alien” in his own land. They have faced the brunt caused by vivisection. Their lives are shuddered and withered with agony. One could see the pain in their eyes. Adding salt to wounds he even questioned “Hindutva” and was critical of BJP’s interpretation and skeptical of their implementation. Further he went on to contradict his colleague Advani’s version on debacle of Kandahar.

Immediately after release of book, BJP leaders went into a damage control mode as they vehemently criticized and went on to conclude that Party doesn’t stand by Jaswanth polemical analysis. Their after book was banned in Gujarat since it was anti-Patel, opposed by Bal Thackery because it praised Jinnah. So, what has changed nine months down the line for the regal reunion between Jaswanth and BJP? Fact remains that Jaswanth still doesn’t disown or disaccord with views in his book.

Mr. Singh says that he was humbled by the benevolence and bountiful gratitude shown by Advani and now BJP president Mr. Gadakari. He says that they have addressed the humiliation and ill- treatment he was given, when he was expelled by Mr.Rajnath Singh then BJP President over telephone. Now, the past is a closed chapter and all misunderstandings have been laid to rest.

So, does it mean that BJP stands with versions which can be drawn from his book? Do RSS, BJP accord with sentiments that Indian Muslim be treated separately and more sympathetically? Does BJP stand by the acute claims of Jaswanth on who was responsible for partition? If book speaks truth then shouldn’t Mr. Advani, iron man of BJP held culpable for misleading the nation on affairs concerned with Kandahar? Does he not owe an apology to our country for longingly lying that he wasn’t kept in loop of things regarding Kandahar?

It’s not first time a BJP leader tried to undermine Nehru. Mr. Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister, mascot of BJP has been sniffing fire against late leader of Congress. Weeks ago he went on to say that Children Day’s should be in fact celebrated on Patel’s birthday as Nehru did minute for children of our country.

At the end BJP might brazenly live in the denial mode by saying its closed chapter or “All is well” but fact remains is appellation of Jinnah or Kandahar or for that matter their dissect politics of “Hindutva” are going to haunt them till they clarify on which side of border their vested interests lie. Till then B.J.P would be abbreviated for “Bharatiya Jinnah Party” or “Bharatiya Jootha Party” rather than “Bharatiya Janata Party”.

WHY IT'S ROGER?

Prologue: Preview of Wimbledon’2010. Will it be a record equaling 7th championship for Federer? Or a second Borg double for Nadal in three years? Or Britain’s Andy Murray will re-write the history? Or finally 3 time finalists Andy Roddick will put an end to American men’s longest drought? Or a dark-horse will emerge triumphant or will Djokovic break his grand slam jinx? An unbiased comprehensive dissection of an each title contender with a due credit being given to his current form, past record, history, surface, psychological pressure, etc.

Wimbledon’10 will be 124th year of championship which is widely hailed as Mecca for world tennis. Green pastures of London have never been so intriguing and widely recognized before. A victory at Wimbledon would apathetically secure a place for a player in history. From being championship which believes in tradition to transforming itself with the necessities of modern game like retractable roof. On the whole it has evolved to be the biggest stage for performers and never has been stakes leveled so higher. On June 21st as the sun rays hastily graze the green field as the modern emblem for architecture retractable roof glides inwards, the centre court would be all packed and geared up to welcome their beloved champion Roger who would be on a quest for 7th title with accolades reverberating from every box of court (Of course who can forget strawberries). A look at the contenders and their prospects at Wimbledon’10

Rafael Nadal: He along with Roger comes unbeaten having withdrawn from last year after his fortuitous victory in ’08. Like in ’08 he comes this year having won French open without dropping a set (Along with his much hyped red slam- Montecarlo, Rome, Madrid, France). Though when one looks at the play Nadal was less dominant in ’10 than in ’08. Unlike in’08 where he won Queen’s having beaten both Roddick and Djokovic in his run for title, his early exit in Queen’s with a straight set defeat to Lopez after a 3 long sets slugfest victory over little known Istobin shadows his form on grass.

Nadal in ’08 had rather a lame draw having to go through likes of Kiefer, Schuttler, etc. But in’10 he is most likely to face American Blake then a probable 3rd round against Gulbis (who took Nadal to 4 sets back in’08 at Wimbledon, beat Roger on clay and took Nadal to 3 sets on his clay). Then a 4th round against a big serving talented American John Isner (has been notching up good wins leading to championship and will be a tough nut to crack as one break would make a difference) or Michail Youzhny who beat him at U.S. Open’07 and did trouble him couple of other times. Then a much awaited French open final rematch against Robin Soderling (Soderling big hitting and big serve would cause problem or two to Nadal’s forehand) in quarterfinal.

Nadal is emotional consumed coming into championship though his mettle can never be underestimated.

Andy Murray: In ’09 Murray was in red-hot form having won Queen’s and a personal best performance at roland garros. But this time around there is nothing much to say about his form. His ground strokes aren’t able to penetrate and keep his opponents honest. Murray of all has the simplest draw as it is laden with clay court specialists like Ferrer, Benneateau, Simon, Almargo, etc. His first strenuous test would be against Simon (who beat Roger on clay) and then winner of Queen’s American Sam Querry. If all goes well then his likely quarterfinalists would be Tsonga (very unlikely the better seeded Spaniard Verdasco would make it to quarters)

On the whole it will be Murrays draw to lose.

Andy Roddick: His performance has been timid and sluggish since his epic final loss to Roger in last year finals. Except a couple of tournaments he has failed to make a mark. Serve is his only weapon and odds are always stacked in his favor at SW 19. Likewise Murray Andy came to last year Wimbledon after his best finish at French Open 4th round and a good show in early part of season.

Roddick of all has the toughest draw. His likely 3rd round opponent is German Phillip Kohlschreiber who did beat him at same stage during US Open’09. Then mostly an all American 4th round against Mardy Fish (who has reached finals at Queen’s) or against tall hard hitting and big serving Croatian Marian Cilic who is on a good run of form lately. Then a virtual quarterfinal of battle of aged with Lleyton Hewitt who has finally proved that no one can beat 15 times with a shock victory over Roger in Halle’s or against Novak Djokovic (The outcome would depend on which side of Novak shows up)

Roddick has to be at his peak to scrape through this draw and with his sulking confidence he has a mountain’s to climb.

Roger Federer: It would be naivety of one to believe Roger isn’t a favorite to win. Lately his performances at slams have to be judged separately from other tournaments. There are so many parallels to be drawn between Roger and Pete’s performance at the lawn tennis championships. It’s that slam which is dear to them. Difference between Roger’08 to Roger’10 is that he has monkey of French open and Sampras record of his back. He comes into tournaments to enhance his legacy further than with pressure of having to win. Federer was very unlucky to play Soderling in almost mud clay and in extreme windy conditions. Though his rare grass court defeat should be cause of worry but when we put it in broader view that defeat means little.

Federer has ostensibly simple draw. He has opportunity to build up his form for later stages of tournament in his early rounds with players like Massu, Robredo, Lopez, etc. His main test would be against Berdych in quarterfinal. (Berdych has beaten Federer in their last meeting). Expect match to go to 4 sets with a couple of tight tie-breaks but Roger with a slightly off day should be able to come out victorious.

Roger career from here on would be gauged with his show against Berdych and playing against Roger in a five set match at Wimbledon is different ball game all together. For Federer it’s the attitude more than aptitude these days.

PREDICTION:

Semi-finals: Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic

Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs Robin Soderling

Finals: Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling

Winner: ROGER FEDERER

P.S. On July 4th when dawn sets in, when the eventual champion embraces his golden trophy, with a sense of admiration and proud I would have final say “I told you so” .One thing is brazenly clear that neither of Andy’s and Nadal are going to make it through semi’s this time around.

JIGSAW

Prologue: A short fictitious story of justice on ‘Bhopal Tragedy’. Warren Anderson was CEO of Union Carbide at time of accident when one of the pesticide plants had leaks which lead to the catastrophe.

Anderson was squinting into an ebon desolate room. He couldn’t recollect how he abode this room. His dizziness added to woes of having to gaze through an ostensibly barren pitch dark area. Then a sudden bliss surged through him as his apprehensive glance fell on a phosphoresce red-cross ‘X’ behind him. But it elapsed in few seconds.

Anderson now vividly recollected the events of night. Yesterday was the moment he was longingly awaiting for. Finally he was acquitted of all the charges. It was his night to celebrate. He opened champagne and drank through all night till unconsciousness creep him and fell asleep. Suddenly he was woken-up by trotting of foot-steps. He was now staring at a swine veiled silhouette which swiftly raced towards him but his drunken reflexes were too obsolete to respond.

For long time now Anderson was glaring at incandescent eerie cross on the wall. Abrupt turn of events were too off-tangent for him to make any sense off. He was still soothing himself that it was a dream. Soon next morning things will be normal and could relish the judgment which was in his favor. Defeat was the word he loathed and it urged him to see the end of this night-mare if incase it was.

Anderson was too drugged to walk and murky room was not of much help. He now fuelled with despair lunged forward and pounded his fist on the only visible area of room. To his aghast a tumultuous noise engulfed and reverberated from the walls of room. The bricks on which cross mark was present now briskly glided inwards. Flashing and blinking white lights now filled each dark corner of room.

From the moment Anderson woke-up he was hoping for light, so that he could at least see at the coffin where he was being buried alive. His wish was now fulfilled but he was not ready for the bright luminescent streaks of white light which were being reflected from each corner, as his vision was blurred for few minutes. Finally he was able to have a look at the room where he was laid down after being abducted by a boar masked person. He still didn’t have any clue since when he has been trapped in this room.

Anderson was hopeful of night-mare soon turning out to be a fairy tale and with that optimism he was staring at the walls of room for a door to exit room probably his dream. Instead his eyes were awestruck by horrifying visions of human carcass, mutilated parts of human body and blood stained walls and tiles on floor. His eyes were now ominously glued to the corpses as he attempted to take a stalk of situation in amidst of a babbling noise.

All his senses were now tuned to the gurgling shrunken old manly voice noise from a sunken pumpkin like thick white colored obnoxious bareheaded face with wide popped out ruby marble eyes, cheeks covered with red color spiraling, a long acutely slanted sharp nose and puppetry jaw with scarlet colored broom like lips, giving the figure an abominable look. He could hear a cynical cold voice from masked figure which he realized been projected on the wall from a projector which was above him.

“Anderson, let us play a game. For long you have squelched the voices of injured and disdainfully piled their agony. Now it’s your time for redemption. On the wall in front of you is a device for your freedom. Within seconds this room will be filled with noxious gas with which you have killed others. The device needs a password for authentication. You have kept everyone in dark for long; your admission of number of victims will pave a way to your freedom. Decision is yours.”

Before Anderson could get the grip of gravity of situation he was in a gas started to leak through the room as he was able to smell the pungent odor. With realization of his life being at stake despairingly started shouting

“Who are you?”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

He paused for a second hoping a reply. But the room was instead filled with the echoes of his groan for help. He knew there was no time for him to mourn for abject response. Now with a squeaky and a louder tone

“Is anyone here? Please save me.”

“Help me.”

“injured….agony….redemption”

Anderson began to mutter three words abortively. “I have been proven innocent then why the redemption? Its supreme court of the land which has acquitted me for God sake” started murmuring in a scornful way. “It was an accident, I didn’t sabotage it. Why would I ever. It’s me who lost a fortune. I accord to fact that there were suggestions, warnings. But they were minor accidents and probably sabotaged by rivals for defaming me. It was a fruitless attempt by them to dethrone me. It was a battle and I had to win it at any cost. I was made to pay a humongous package for victims. Those poor made a fortune of it. They were paid more than they would have earned being alive” spoke with an authoritative manner with to support his actions.

“admission of number of victims will pave a way to your freedom” were resonating his ears as he move forward to decode the number-lock. “What could be the figure?” Last he heard it was around 8000, Govt. figure was around 2200. “What could he meant by victims? Dead? Injured? Suffered?” It’s a code he needed an exact number. “There was never an exact figure and never will be, generations have suffered, number of victims piled by every week” He thought with a fading hope as his futile guesses were all going in vain. He was now fruitlessly staring at it as dense toxic clouds begin to fill the room.

Gas was suffocating Anderson; his eyes turned crimson color with burning sensation. He was fighting for each gasp of air as he begin to plead probably for last time

“Please Save me. Forgive me.”

“I’m sorry. Help me”

In splash of seconds the prime and auspicious moments of his life have flashed and dwindled through smoky air. It was yesterday when he thought he fought his last battle. But faith had other things in stored. He was scornful of losing. Within seconds Anderson felt to the ground unconsciously. Immediately the silhouette figure he has seen at his home entered the room and sliced a jigsaw skin piece from his body and left him to die a slow, painful, somber death just like innumerable others suffered on Dec 3rd,1984 in Bhopal.