SAFFRON - BLOOD

Prologue: BJP’s mascot for Hindutva Modi once quoted ‘saarein terrorist musalmaan kyun hothe hein?’ How true are Mr.Modi’s or for that sake BJP’s unilateralist claims? Also peek into the tryst between saffron & blood in Indian Democratic History.

BJP’s rather blatant lull response to Gujarat’s Home-Minister pivotal role in cold-blood butchering of Sohrabuddin Sheik’s and murder of only witnesses in the case, his gravid wife Kauser Bi and Prajapati implies either their justification of wrong-doing or their submission to Gujarat Chief Minister Modi. Since, BJP which never stops bragging about being a ‘party with a difference’ where decisions are taken by party then an individual one can safely reject the latter case. One can vividly assert that BJP stands by fake-encounters (though they might claim Sohrabuddin & Prajapati to be ISI agents but nothing justifies rape and murder of a pregnant innocent Kauser Bi)

Unfortunately it’s neither the one-off such instance to look pass by. It comes along with the recent perilous trends and assertions BJP is seen making. Be it from adamantly baiting for Afzal Guru’s head or disturbing involvement of a BJP MP and few RSS workers and associates like Sadhvi Pragya Singh Takur and many others like-wise her in the series of bomb-blasts at mosques across India. Though RSS-BJP does say that they were former party associates but their one time association with them raises certain moral questions.

It’s obligatory for a national party like BJP to come clean on these worrisome allegations against them. Everyone agrees it’s an extremely volatile and sentimental issue. That doesn’t imply one should brush it under the carpet or shoot the messenger instead of listening to the message. It’s not the time for BJP-RSS to score brownie political points in the name of Hindu alienation or sublimation in their own country. It’s a strenuous task for BJP-RSS as its organization has been mostly been with non-Hindu bashing. But they have to be humble enough to accept their mistakes before it escalates into Hindu identity crisis because ramifications of further delay in addressing the issue would be severe and devastating with in-repairable damages.

But, affiliation between saffron and blood dates back to the rudimentary days of a democratic India. RSS did play a righteous and essential role in India’s freedom struggle. But in the latter part of our nation’s nonviolent fight, RSS chose unfortunately violence path and deplorably undermined Ghandi’s ideology of a united secular Indian. In fact RSS is reminisced for seconding the Jinha’s quest for vivisecting India into two nations and also for their vital role in instigating riots against Muslims and Sikhs at the time of partition.

The friction between Ghandi and RSS wasn’t restricted to the period of partition during which Ghandi was dogmatic of democratic India being a secular than a Hindu state. Their differences came into limelight when a former RSS worker Naturam Ghodse assassinated Ghandi in bright daylight amidst of his followers for implausible bigoted profane stance of Ghandi during separation.

Even though RSS was vindicated, grey shades loom over organization role in corrupting the mindset of Ghodse. At the end Ghodse vehemence declaration of his act being a vengeance against Ghandi for his back-stabbing and dishonoring sentiments of Hindus which concords with RSS perseverance of Ghandi role during independence.

RSS slowly decayed after being banned by the Nehru’s govt. for alleged role of RSS in Ghandi’s murder. Again it began to rise when it hopped public space for their legitimate agitation against late Sanjay Ghandi sponsored Emergency in India. But, their real ascendance was during the controversial Babri Maszid demolition on the name of Lord Ram. But by this time BJP was the political front of their ideology and aspirations. It’s well known that BJP is mere a mascot of RSS. It’s during the Ayodhya Rath Yatra when BJP-RSS duo maneuvered and manipulated the public opinion along with cajoling so called karsevaks for demolishing the mosque, which remains a blot on India’s secularist credentials.

Having savored the popularity and public support BJP-RSS began to deepen their foundations in Indian politics with their proclaimed Hindutva branded politics and built their pillars with disharmonious trust especially between Hindu & Muslim. For further salvaging their position one could see them instigating violence’s like Godra Riots in Gujarat or Christian riots in Orissa & Kerala.

Unfortunately for RSS-BJP there avers boomeranged and made them stand naked in front of our nation. Though BJP might give statements like terrorism doesn’t hold any religion, etc at press conferences but reality is that at public venues their speeches are in-depth with hate-speeches such as one have stated above of Mr. Modi.

SUMMER'10

Prologue: Reminiscence of best 5 moments of summer’10 which has been a memorable experience with unparallel joy. It was impossible for me to arrange them in order of magnitude of enjoyment as each one is laden with unique sacred significance. List below is in order of date.

1.Siddhu and Prudhvi’s birthday treat (June 7th-8th): I along with Kishan and Raguvar were set to go for Kites movie. As I parked my car we got a call from Prudhvi regarding birthday treat. Next second I was revving up my car and we were on our way. I was slightly apprehensive in the beginning but that night at the end turned out to be a special one.

We reached on time and invitees were slowly trickling in. Messages, phone calls were being exchanged and no sooner all ‘24’ were present. A treat of this humongous was unique for me. Though I knew few of them but the blissful environ eclipsed the weird emotion of anxiousness of being an outsider in me. I wouldn’t proclaim my-self as a boozer but I’m not a teetotaler either. As the tables were served, glasses were being filled with whisky, beer, vodka, breezer, aerated beverages. Everyone was set, glasses were raised and words cheer & cheers came out obliviously from 24 as the restaurant was engulfed in rather hoarse tinkling sound by glasses as they were struck against every possible near glass.

Those sounds still resonate within me when I look back at that night. And I made new friends and one who names himself Rocky stands-out in particular as it was a blithe getting high along with him. I would also remember that day for my first late mid-night biryani and also my first night-out in Hyderabad that to on a friend’s home terrace.

Before summer began I was rather nervous but my school friends made sure I was wrong. Special thanks to Prudhvi, Abhilash, Sreekanth, Raguvar, Siddharth, Kishan. (Soccer match at Extreme Sports Bar and my summer vacation vale dinner were in contention but that treat was special)

2. Wheel of Time (mid June-ongoing): I feel like a ta’averan writing this. That’s the impact book had on me. Somehow one day I still don’t know really why? I quizzed Pradeep regarding the book. Rest was history for me. I read the book in beginning rather patiently than passionately. It took few days for patience to metamorphose into passion. I began to read it during last month of my holidays. It’s all of 14 parts, 12 parts have been already published and remaining 2 will be published in this and next November respectively. When I started to read I thought of reaching book no.13 by the time it’s published but now my deadline is extended with condition being almost same except its 14 instead of 13.

Keeping that in mind I read about 4-5 hours a day. Now by 4-5 hours I mean appropriate reading hours. In fact my whole curriculum for last month has been evolving and revolving around Wheel of Time. It was as if my thread was weaving forcibly around the wheel of Wheel of Time.

Now and then I feel like quarry being chased down by WOT to read it. It’s an intimidating task especially for a sluggish reader like me. This book might leave in shambles or make me feel like a folly lummox with the amount of time I’m about to invest in coming weeks. That skeptic apart I feel privileged to be part of the pattern.

Special thanks to Pradeep Kalipatnapu for his recommendation.

3. Two day Marathon chats with Pramod (June 23rd-24th): I remember during summer’09 obviously got addicted to chatting. I used to brazenly buzz and chat with random people. On that realization I took measures for not repeating it all over again.

June 23rd was different. Around 8 in the night I ping Pramod regarding the marathon tennis match between Mahut & Isner which was being unveiling at SW’19. Score was about 33-34 final set. From then till the match was called off we had vivacious discussion on match, records, statistics especially ace count and most importantly about the incredibly grueling torture the lady on radio was going through as she hasn’t been to loo for 12 hours. One could feel the pain through her wail voice. In between of the match the score board stopped working and it added to the spice. And the slam-tracker wasn’t equipped to accommodate for no. 51. At 51-50 it began to show 1-0. All those e-cups did bind us to continue chatting.

At the end of that night I was tired of chatting for 1st time probably. When the day was called off at 59-59 final set I felt happy for the poor lady and relieved for myself. We even discussed soccer details but the lady on radio was grabbing our limelight.

Next afternoon when match resumed we both were set for our continuing from where we left previous night. Pramod used to pick out Infostrada twitters and then I used to set up new deadlines for match to end. Somehow it broke all of them. It was during point number ‘911’ I was rooting for it to cross ‘1000’ mark. For everything there is an end. So was for this epic humongous encounter. And match ended on point no. 980 as Isner won it 70-68 final set.

Special thanks to lady on radio (for her commentary); infostrada (for stats); Isner-Mahut (for providing bountiful drama and action) and Pramod for sticking it out for two days.

4. Auto Re-union (July 3rd): Whenever I used to reminisce about school life 3 things used stand out. 7th class ugly & obnoxious brawls, 9th class resume of talks between boys & girls after a year of exile and finally animated atmosphere in my auto by which I used to go Sharma tutorials.

Unfortunately after 10th I haven’t been in touch with any of them. In fact due to my bleak memory I couldn’t even remember most of the names. But in last week of June Sneha found me on facebook and sent me a friend request. As a gentleman I accepted her request oblivion to fact she was my auto-mate. And within 24 hours we rummaged Rohan & Geetika’s profiles. Since I was already in contact with Sandeep, Roopa & Sushma through orkut I decided we would be meeting on Saturday, July 3rd.

We recollected our evenings to and fro trips, quarrels in the auto for cushion-seat, about each-other antics, teachers, and endless other topics. Out of the expected 5, four had turned up (Geetika didn’t turn up; Rohan, Sneha, Sandeep did come). Re-union was a special for me, I thought they would remain a memory but faith had something else for us.

Again after couple of weeks we met again. Somehow we never had a sober atmosphere in each other’s company. Now, I’m in contact each one of them. Special thanks to facebook without which our grand regal would have been implausible.

5. World Cup Final at Koushik Home (July 11th-12th): I have been known for rather well organized plans and meetings. I always tried everything to be perfect. In those futile attempts I have let my instinct take a back-seat. That night was a change. Mainly because it was driven by instinct of Koushik, guy who backs his omniscient instincts which at the end lead him to trouble. Did it lead trouble that night? It did, but that’s latter.

I wanted finale to be special irrespective of teams which would be present. That was one of my want-to-do lists at the start of summer. Due to some extraordinarily weird circumstances I was at my Grand Mother’s house near Kompally that night (Kompally is nearly 15 K.M. away from Hyderabad City). Unexpectedly I got a call from Koushik around 10 in the night. Koushik had formally invited me and Netaditya to his house for World Cup final bash. First I took out a smirked giggle. Surely, he was kidding? How could someone invite to home with parents being there for late-night match? As out of habit, innumerable thoughts ran through my mind. But I had to hold myself and it certainly took more than a minute when realization set in me that Koushik was indeed serious about it. His invitation was just the beginning of the action pack late night for me.

Till that night I never rode alone unless I was starting from my home. I was used to one’s gags on my ill-knowledge regarding road-routes of Hyderabad. Neither did I ever ride a two wheeler vehicle late night (As car was my preference). I was cooed to find just a two wheeler vehicle at Grand Mother’s home. But I was lured to do that impeccable drive, bliss of watching the match along with friends was too lucrative compared with risks.

After 2-3 phone calls for confirming my route I was there finally at Koushik’s house at 11:45 P.M. Netaditya arrived about 10 minutes before. As we three finally took our seats on new cream colored wool laden cushioned sofa and in front of us was a 36 inch TV set fixed against a wall. It was ostensibly home-lounge. Our beverages were coca-cola, starters were potato-chips and desert was home-made chocolate rich cake. Add to this we had to watch the match in DD with Hindi commentary for few minutes in between. I wouldn’t like to comment on match because of despondent result (Netaditya was jolly, Koushik was thinking for an excuse and I was dejected as the final whistle blew).

At 2:45 A.M. in the morning after consoling handshakes I left for my Grand Mother’s home on a dust, rusted two-wheeler. I was about a 1 K.M. away from Home. I began to speed up the vehicle. Instead I was quivering and shaking tremulously. To my aghast I realized back tire was punctured. Somehow inconspicuously I reached home unscathed by 3:45 A.M (At the time of puncture I was overtaking a lorry; fortunately my vehicle didn’t skid off).

Special thanks to Koushik’s Mom for her permission.

P.S. Netaditya’s birthday night, Ramiah get together (Nipun, Bharat & Karthik), my 1st Dhoti experience in Nizamabad and others were in contention too. But five I have listed were unexpected and been a perfect experience.

AND IT HAPPENED

Prologue: ‘Jab koi sache mann sein chahta hein pura qayamat uska saath detha hein’ Aakash thought this was just a filmy sentence but never did he knew it would hold for him.

Aakash was babbling and gazing apprehensively at the watch on his left wrist for an hour, “I had messaged them to be here by 11:25 A.M. and it is 12:20 P.M. now” in a skeptic tone. “Sandeep noticed me he would be late, so did Geetika. What about Rohan? Why isn’t he picking up his mobile? He must be driving or did changed his plans? He would have told if the latter was true. I should have taken Sneha’s number” filled with anguish he continued “I have to wait at least for Sandeep and Geetika now, they could be here anytime” his lips curled upwards as his despair turned to amusement at the thought of meeting them all or couple of them.

Aakash began to roam hither and thither on the steps, jerking his head in odd angles in hope see to someone. Then his glance drooped over a girl who got down from her car. Girl was trotting towards him in her scarlet cloak with a pink colored bag hanging on her shoulders, realizing he was standing on her way he slide away. Aakash felt an urge to talk to her, but he was weary of despondence as his memory began to float back 5 years when they have met for 1^st time.

After a short summer break Aakash was geared up to meet his friends and making new ones. As per regular schedule Aakash was down there eagerly waiting for his auto. Auto was on time, as he reached it, people in it were making space for the new entrant. Auto like any other had two rows to sit. Sponge cushion was more relaxing than the rectangular wooden plank fixed to metal rod. As the auto uncle revved engine, Aakash was ready for his 1^st day second time.

Every-one was trying to make their seats comfortable and silence in the auto was put to an end as all of them quizzed about holidays and where about. After traveling no more than a minute the auto stopped in front of a home where a tall girl in her blue school uniform with tidily folded shawl hung around her neck in a V-shape was waiting for them. Again the people in the auto self adjusted with slight smugness so as to make the new girl feel as comfortable as possible.

As soon as she seated she introduced herself as Geetika. Then a round of introductions began with Sushma, Roopa, Sandeep,Aakash and finally ended Rohan. Amidst of blithe of meeting everyone after a month Aakash forgot to notice the guy who was sitting at the other side of auto with his back slightly bent and facing outwards as being unconnected with the inside babble. But, it was just for few minutes. People in the auto were involved in vivacious discussions that they failed to notice that auto has stopped again and another girl was standing impatiently in front of auto to get seated. As there wasn’t space left, Rohan took the honors by himself to take the seat beside auto-uncle. It was best way to be away from the raucous in the auto. On being asked the new girl introduced herself as Sneha. Finally they were on their way.

As the name began to reverberate inside him, Aakash was immersed with shock and exuberance as he realized the girl who has passed just by him was Sneha. As he tried to move forward to her Rohan and Sandeep were their simultaneously, parking their vehicles and stepping forward with wryness. Aakash mustered enough courage and moved towards girl whom he thought was Sneha. Luckily the girl responded positively and in next couple of seconds they were seated on chairs waiting for Rohan and Sandeep.

They began to reminisce their evenings to and fro trips, brawls in the auto for cushion-seat, about each-other antics, teachers, endless topics but it was no more raucous. Amidst of all this they were waiting for Geetika too. Whenever a lady enters they try to search Geetika in them but their quarry didn’t turn up. Finally they all left the place joking about chameleonic skills and her omnipresence at that place

For Aakash it was still unbelievable that it happened. For long he wanted to meet them. But neither remembered names or knew their where-about for 5 years. But it was last week when accidentally they found each-other on facebook and rest was a fairy tale.