Saturday, November 19, 2011

A Country where Chetan Bhagat is known as a writer

Strange how in a country there are people who consider Chetan Bhagat (1) an extremely good writer and at the same time there are others who wouldn’t even trust him with dictation. Such is the country and such are its extremes.

The country boasts of its diversity. Diversity in weather, which goes from freezing cold (almost -50 degrees) to frying heat (above 50 degrees)! Diversity in topography & geography (has Deserts, green meadows & even snow clad mountains). It has Diversity in Culture, Diversity in language, and diversity of Religion. The diversities are so intense and diverse that if you travel in any direction, it seems as if you are watching a non stop marathon show, with artists wearing colorful dresses, speaking varied array of languages. In short I can say you are in for an entertaining and enthralling ride.

But still it is the same country where Minorities are confused whether they are followers of an independent and unique religion or their religion is just an offshoot of what the majority follows, thus they end doing what every body else is doing & celebrating what every one else is celebrating (2). Recently a leader of a political party publicly called for Muslims to be made to proudly pronounce their Hindu linage otherwise not to be allowed to vote in elections! (3) It is country which is a regional (somewhat international) economic power & strong contender for permanent seat at UN security council and at the same time the condition of women is appalling, second only to Afghanistan! (4) The country has more than couple of people who figure in the list of worlds richest people and still we find farmers who can not make ends meet and thus are forced to put an end to their lives only. It is country with Freedom of speech as one of the six fundamentals rights granted by constitution, countless news channels and news papers seem to validate this and still it is the same country where a whole region is blocked unlawfully for more than 100 days and no one bother to report (5). It is country where a newly born baby girl in the family of super stars (Actors) makes headlines and trends on twitter but discovery of mass graves in a disputed part of the country doesn’t raise any eyebrows forget about getting covered in mainstream media (6).

What else do I need to say than that it is a country where Chetan Bhagat is known as a writer and it is the same country where another writer raises her voice against government and its modus operandi she is declared a traitor and ant-national(7). Once it was this country only that lead the Non-Alignment movement and now its foreign policy lacks vision and spine. That is India shining for you my dear friends and sold to you as Incredible India.
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Note:-

1. Would like to clarify that I am not trying to pass any judgment regarding the writing skills of Chetan Bhagat, in fact have never read him. Used him as an example only due to the extremely different (apposite) emotions that mere mention of his name induces people to express.
2. Until Chandragupta’s reign (of Gupta dynasty) Hinduism (religion of majority) did not have idol worship. One more thing to take notice of is that during that period the more favored religions where Buddhism & Jainism and these continued to grow stronger and stronger because of their simple teachings. So as to counter this growth Chandragupta introduced idol worshiped and many scripture (which Hindus hold pious) were written or edited. Both the founders of Buddhism and Jainism wanted to take their followers as away from Hinduism as possible so the question of these being two religions being off shoots of Hinduism doesn’t arise. Same applies to Sikhism.
3. Dr.Subramanian Swamy (the party president of Janta Party) had made these comments in a very inflammatory write-up an open-ed in DNA news paper, which even made minority commission to send him a notice. The write-up was so inflammatory that Harvard chose not to renew his contract as visiting faculty.
4. A recent report on woman welfare ranked India just above Afghanistan.
5. The state of Manipur had to face road blockage for more than 100 days which led to commodities prices sky rocketing, shortage of essential supplies thus endangering lives.
6. In Jammu & Kashmir recently about 3000 mass graves were found and there is certainty that these number are going to increase, Human Rights groups are calling for international impartial probe but the government is hiding behind one after other smokescreens. What was more appalling was the way the media took the whole incident, as if nothing had happened. And the same media went gung ho over the coverage of birth of Abishek & Ashwariya Bachan’s daughter.
7. Miss Arundhati Roy was poster lady of India till she began asking uncomfortable questions and thus became anti-national

5 comments:

  1. A land which is known for unity in diversity, just to simplify more it's like a big family where each and every individual has right to take stand for there likings and disliking.Just to be more specific again it's just like "my family" where every one has different taste/likings/thoughts of school/ambitions.People in Minority are just like ignored kids in the bi family.That's how I look at it.Btw. I also come from the community which is just 10% of population and we don't enjoy any privlieage(This is just for example,not for self praise).I don't need any as well.We should learn to live our live on our own without expecting anything from society/surrounding/govt./world.Rather we should make efforts to contribute in the betterment, if we are able to to do that trust me things better things would come back to us.No deed is never drained off. Good or bad."So shall you sow, so shall you reap".Hope I am able to convey the message well to the audience.Atleast people are being accepted and appreciated for their efforts.Anrundhati Roy is a good writer no doubt on that, and that's why booker came to her. But don't you think some statements and reamrks are sometimes just attention seeking. I have never seen her standing for any good cause in society. Rather I respect Medha Patkar( the narmada bachao aandolan lady) more.The type of simplicty/grace she wears and the strong stand for the cause through deeds and words are commendable . Don't you think Ms. Roy is much more into glamour and fame, although she is a prclaimed socialist. I am not getting into the religion part because every religion has it positive and negative.Above all I am "beliver". So it doesn't matter to me how God comes to me.I see the god as Mahavir or Allah or Krishna/Ram. Just some power that drives universe.
    P.S - I am not a Chetan Bhagat or Medha Patkar Fan nor a critics of Arundhati Roy.

    “Peace is not something you wish for;It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.” Amen!!

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  2. Dear Bulbul i have not at a single place asked for special treatment for minorities!! regarding who is better between Medha Patkar and Arundhati Roy I choose not to be a Judge.But won't accept that Miss Roy has done nothing good for the Society. She has been fighting her Ouw Govt and parts society (stereotyped) so as to save what good has remained. She has been standing for truth (with out choosing some and leaving some)no matter even if it harms her. But can't say same about Miss Patkar

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  3. Thoughtful post, my comment will be live soon.

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  4. Well post. Thought provoking. All thoughts put together by some facts (I am not sure though).

    1. Chetan Bhagat actually writes crap, in terms of literary aspects. But he writes what the young guys today wants to read with all possible masala and then sells it like Shahrukh or Arindam.
    2. Won't comment anything on this point. Why argue, fight and draw lines in our lives just for the sake of our surnames!
    3. The comments made my Dr. Swamy are disgusting. I would simply give him a tight slap.
    4. Let's not go by the stats, we know how we are since decades and as compared to countries surrounding us.
    5. This is news is reported, but not the way it should have been. (You may refer to my comment on media at http://sambitspeak.blogspot.com/2011/12/news-media-veena-maliks-and-sunny.html)
    6. This issue is shocking and should be given utmost importance. And you said it right, we have gone so low in terms of reporting.
    7. Arundhati Roy is a good writer and should stop from making comments as a part of being in the news. Though the issue she raised is a valid one, but I do not see her to be credible enough to discuss on this.

    and
    8. This is also the same country where we can have such open blogs, where we can have our open thoughts and counter-thoughts!!!

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  5. Dear Subhajit, thanks for your valuable inputs :). Whatever is written here can be varified easily by running a search in google :). except for 2, for which you might get conflicting results. you check the authenticity of 2 from the text books (ncert & cbsc) of 8th & 9th std. i dont think there would be a better source to verify from. once again would like to thank you for your intrest :)

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