'WE MUST HAVE NO PRICE; EVERYONE MUST KNOW THAT WE HAVE NO PRICE'- so goes the title of one of Arun Shourie’s classics. What a message in this era of scams and lobbying! Shourie means that we shouldn’t become purchasable Commodities. Once the persons at the key positions become purchasable with definite price, society witnesses negative happenings and the larger faith dwindles to oblivion.
NOW voters of around 23 villages in Koppal District seem to have emulated Shourie’s point. 'Neither am I on sale, nor is my vote' is the stern message from these villagers to those politicians who want to purchase them. Today's Times of India at page 7 has given this energizing story. Is that not a healthy transition to the regular disgusting stories of electoral illegalities? Wish this becomes contagious. Hats off to those villagers who have shown us the light & Times of India too for its coverage which has made us cognizant of this welcome change.
The sacrifice that our Army Jawans make for our safety is an issue which doesn’t find the attention it really deserves. There are oasis like associations with nation-first sentiments who do their bit to pay back the debt we owe to our Jawans. “Flags of Honor” is one such Organisation in Bangalore which is doing a commendable job to instill the faith amongst Jawans - which “we” too are with them. My admirable experience of this year’s Vijay Divas celebrations finds a mention in today’s write up in Vijay Karnataka. Pls do read it. Let’s remember and salute to those who protect us!
Here is an instance for a broad cheer on our faces. Times of India today, has come up with a list of top seven constituencies of Bangalore. This survey tackles various civic parameters such as water, sanitation, public amenities, environment, crime and so forth.
I am so humble in letting you know this sweet news. Rajajinagar constituency in Bangalore which I represent stands tall at number ONEin this survey. I would misinterpret a little if I just say I am contented of our achievements. I am happy of course, more so because, our larger mission for a people friendly governance is on the right track.
Three years down the line, we have ensured progressive and sustainable development by identifying key problem areas people face. Success of Janaspandana programs clearly reflected the people’s woes and gave us a room to brace up. Officers were routinely asked to follow up the problems; there were regular review meetings, routine follow ups which ensured all round development.
It’s refreshing to know that development politics is being recognized and acknowledged by the people and the media too. First it was the overwhelming success at the elections that have happened during the last three years, MP elections and later the Corporation elections. Now the Times of India’s survey reinstates our faith.
Rajajinagar residents have re-ensured their support to the development. I am humble before them. I thank Times of India too for their extensive society oriented initiatives.
My friend who is a senior journalist of a national English Daily has really made my day. He was recipient of Rajyothsava Award this year. He was very reluctant to accept as it is his belief that a journalist should be free of any type of strings. The award carried cash component of Rs 1 lakh. He promptly handed over the money to his management, seeking to institute an award for budding reporters out of it. His employers accepted the suggestion, but promptly refused to accept the money as it rightly belonged to him only. My friend only got disturbed to hold the riches, he never thought was his. After much pondering he thought of donating it to some institution with dire need of money. He set off to his native and donated the entire money to a kannada school there. AND what is more interesting & pressing is he is yet to pay few more installments towards his housing loan. This strange person in the present day milieu is Mr Arun. Is this not a case which redeems our faith? Thanks a ton Mr Arun. Aruna means SUN. He has shone and yes, he has shown us the light too in these dulling moments of mistrust.
While I pondered over Arun’s impressive temperament, one more news about a person whom the whole nation adores and idolize captivated me again. Sachin, the highest run getter in tests and one days has politely refused a Rs 20 crore offer to endorse a top liquor brand. They say, Character builds your strength. But these kinds of people have their strength built on character.
Today I participated in a function to commemorate the conferrment of Nobel Prize on His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Yes, 21 years ago on this day, Nobel Prize committee honoured itself when it conferred the prize on His Holiness.
There were about 120-150 Tibetans in that function. Most of them were youth, many of them were students studying in different elite colleges. BUT, the total Tibetan atmosphere in that premises just memsmerised me. The warm welcome, the Chief representative’s speech, cultural events, their attire, the warmth of the tea served- all took me to a different world. I felt, I was in Tibet itself!
Yes, the Tibetan brethren who were hounded for their survival, half a century ago, have neither forgotten nor allowed to go away their cherished culture. They were forced refugees. Yet, they have carried forward their culture, nurtured it, imparted to their younger generations and never lost their identity. AND most important, they have never behaved as a separate nation in the Country they have settled and blended well with it.
I was reminded of the first batch of Parsis, who landed in India few centuries ago in search of their livelihood. Their leader had promised the then King of the Territory, that they will be like sugar in the milk, so blended, so part of it, that they will only enhance the taste of it. Tibetans have lived like the same way in India. And they have only enriched us.
Those were the good old times when there was still a pleasant and healthy relationship between the voters and their representative. Times appear to have changed thanks to the ever transforming desires. Bihar has shown a metamorphosis this time. It appears as a glittering spark. I have recollected few instances of mutual trust of yesterdays. Everyone wishes those days of mutual responsibility are back again. Pls read my new write up.
November 24th- The day of three CMs. Nitish kumar was re-endorsed, BS Yeddyurappa was asked to continue and Rosaiah was allowed to resign.
Huge, massive, thumping, unprecedented, landslide, overwhelming… … … dictionary/ vocabulary is unable to define the verdict of Bihar. It was a clean victory in a clean election, where development was the only Issue. No false promises, no allurements, no big money involvement. More cheerful news: It was a clear case of “cast your vote and not vote your caste!” Votes were not purchased, not stolen, not manipulated and not managed too. It was a sheer stamp of a massive approval.
As Nitish kumar, the harbinger of New Bihar, in all his humility puts it- “it was a victory of the people of Bihar rather than NDA. It was a people’s election. They had choice- either to march towards a better, developed, prosperous Bihar OR walk towards the dark days of the past.” They voted for their own future. And that too in what number? Mind boggling might just the better word which can describe it.
WILL the other states be able to emulate the example of Nitish and the voters of Bihar? Will the future elections are fought similarly only on the developmental issues rather than the “petty verbal stone throwing” ones? Will the gawky dance of the brutal money power stop? Yes. The people of the so-described “backward” state have surely opened the eyes of those so-called “forward” states. It is a lesson for both the elected and electors. Hats off to Nitish.
AND the BJP’s performance? It is more astonishing and just fantastic. It had contested 102 seats and was successful in 91 seats. One of the best or the best STRIKING RATE in a 20-20 match if described as a cricketing slang. And the money that is learnt to have spent in the elections is also very negligible. Sushil Modi the crusader, surely deserved congratulations. Top of all, both Nitish and Sushil Modi were “calmness personified” in their moments of glory.
Should not these “best practices” be emulated elsewhere?
Humility now a days is a hard found commodity. When success lies at your foot, there is every chance you set your heads only high and pretend to neglect those who were the strings of ladder. Here is Amitabh Bachan, the cult figure of India who remains humility personified even after tasting success for many decades. When the Idiot box is increasing the couch potatoes , Amitabh nurtures a healthy culture through KBC which is captivating by each passing day. Tumultuous political scenario couldn’t check my praises for him. I can only wish his tribe increase in each and every field. Please read my new article in today’s VK
The thinning of distinctness between resident non Indians and resident anti Indians is a new found affliction for the nation. It has become a fashion-contemporary to question the integrity of the Country by our own Countrymen who ill-pose themselves as intellectuals. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been attempts to correlate a nationalistic Organization as RSS with the anti-national SIMI. Unless we nip this raising phenomenon in the bud, our Country is surely in for a bleak future. My new article appears in today’s Vijay Karnataka today. Pls read on.
Every morning, I sift through about sixteen news papers. I am not describing this to claim anything, but it has become a daily routine for me for the past many years. Amongst Kannada news papers, I read Kannada Prabha, Praja vani, Vijay Karnataka, Samyuktha Karnataka, Udaya Vani and Hosadigantha while in English news papers, I start with Mint followed by Economic times, DNA, Deccan Chronicle, Times of India, Indian Express, Deccan Herald and The Hindu.
Occasionally, a strange thought occurs to me that on most of the days, none of the news papers greet “good morning” to me. Instead, they seem to compete each other to say ‘good mourning’! It was the same experience this morning too.
Was it a selective refusal by the media to handover that one positive and elusive Good News to the citizen of Karnataka who is reeling under the theatre of absurdity of State’s Political drama.
Yes, today’s Good News is that our State of Karnataka has achieved the SECOND place after Gujarat in a list released in Delhi yesterday. This achievement is in the fruitful implementation of UPA’s 20 point program that focuses on poverty eradication and rural development schemes.
Congress is leading the UPA government at the Centre. But, the BJP ruled states are in the first four positions. Gujarat stands at the top while Karnataka, Jharkhand and Punjab are at 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively.
The ambitious Twenty Point Program scheme was launched by late Indira Gandhi in 1975 and restructured in 2006 with the focus on improving the living standards of the poor and down trodden section of Society. The important thing is, this review was conducted by the Union Ministry of Statistics and program implementation.
Yes, good news may not be considered worthy news. Because it may not be ‘breaking’! I came across this info as a small news item in the page 10 of Times of India and reasonably prominent in Kannada prabha. And that’s it.
Rahul Gandhi travelling in sleeper a coach has more ‘appeal’ than this not so appealing developmental achievement.
My column on the past fortnight’s sad events has been published in today’s Vijay Karnataka. Resort sojourn by the MLA’s, riotous Assembly proceedings, rumours about purchase and black mailing of public representatives, AND in the midst of all these same oasis attitudes. Please read on.
Regardless of how you define success, it takes effort to achieve it. Sincere, dedicated effort I mean. That too, if it is an event organized by a Government machinery, it takes that much more effort to make success a reality! Red-tapism, political interference, lack of immediate accountability, all such things prove an impediment for any ambitious program to become a reality in a government set up.
I am mentioning about this year’s Dasara festivities at Mysore. It had all the stumbling blocks, the confines of course.. Yet, the State sponsored festival, is an astounding success this year. Successful because, it was more of a people’s festival managed more efficiently.
Like any other year, well ahead of preparations of Dasara, a planned setup was put in place. The difference was sticking to that plan and execution. As part of preparations, there were loads of suggestions taken from the common man, senior citizen, former and present people’s representatives, literatterus, veteran journalists, and alike to make Dasara more colorful and distinctive not compromising on the traditional flavor. It was ensured that most of the sensible suggestions are implemented in true spirit. I am happier, that even after me relinquishing the position as District In-charge Minister of Mysore, my successor Mr.Ramadas has carried on with the spirit to a logical conclusion.
When I was given the responsibility to implement this year’s Dasara, I had my task cut out. My foremost desire was to make it more a people’s festival.. Simpler in approach, sophisticated in implementation. It was a journey; I took to Mysore by train too to garner some suggestions on improvising Dasara this time. Some of the firsts that added up to the fervor of the festivity this time are here.
Uttarakhand is a State which hosts Kumbh mela. The mela has become more famous by its elegant administration. To a State with just a 15 million population, an approximate 80 million people had visited this year’s Kumbh mela sans any security lapse. No one commented about overbearing government administration. Fascinated, it prompted me to speak to the Chief Minister of that State, Mr.Ramesh Pokhriyal. I wanted a people friendly police for this Dasara at our own Mysore too. Uttarakhand administration was kind enough to send their DIG to share their experience with our police. Our police force deployed for Dasara festivities were given a thread bare training to be more generous and people friendly. Result; there were no security problems and no complaints from people too. In fact, Times of India wrote an exclusive story on this changed image of our Police.
There was also DASARA THALI- a special menu for all those who visit hotels in Mysore during the festival time. Hotel associations were kind enough to provide sumptuous food at a very low price.
We had put a blanket ban on the posters and the flexes in and around the place of celebration. This was well received.
It was a conscious decision not to carry the pictures of any politician except the Chief Minister on all the posters, banners and buntings that are put up at the designated public places and those released to media. This was implemented in true spirit.
‘Kingdoms that ruled Karnataka’ was the theme that was decided for Tableus that were to be put for procession. It was decided well ahead of time. We had a video conference with all the District Administrations too and explained about this concept. When I watched them on TV’s yesterday, the scene was really colorful and attractive.
Manaranjana Dasara was a new event organized this time which show cased some real good local talents too. Yuva Dasara was also a hit considering hundreds of youth actively participating in it.
Balarama has been the cynosure of all eyes during the famous Dasara Procession. It was one of the longstanding demands that the 750 kg Ambari (howdah) need not be put on his back as early as two hours before the start of the march and make the poor animal to suffer. This was taken in right spirit. And this year Ambari was placed on Balarama just few minutes before the green signal and he was saved from the unnecessary torture.
There were not many political speeches involved and importance was given to the events and their success.
Many such newer initiatives, more people friendly and lesser political influence were tried this time which really collaged well to bring more fame to our prized festival. Behind all this success, there was an effort which deserves appreciation. It was a commitment by the District administration, the Police force and political leaders, who co-operated by whole heartedly agreeing to the above said changes.
Although I was not involved in the final moments of this Dasara, the professional management of the show has given me a great satisfaction that reinstates people’s belief in the system. My heartfelt acknowledgments to all those who were part of this grand success!
The Assembly ruckus of last week was replaced by diligence and pragmatism yesterday. We proved that, we too have “good behavior”!Thankfully, Opposition friends too were actively involved and were gracious enough to accept the verdict! Behind smooth conduct of yesterday’s proceedings, there were elaborate security arrangements. Hundreds of white clad marshals were all in place ready to face revolt either physically or verbally. They had the ‘noble’ responsibility to keep the House in order by politely shifting the nonsense creators out of the House, meanwhile silently encountering any kind of chagrins by them.
It set me thinking, for whose good all these arrangements? Members of Legislature are law makers in literal sense; they have the vested authority to lead the common man, frame the laws, so that the Society looks up to progression. Look at the paradox. The System weeps silently for a protection from their impatient fury!
What we are repeatedly witnessing from politicians these days is the relentless wielding of strings of power wagon to their personal agendas, which otherwise should have been a tool to build the Society. I am afraid we are increasingly crossing “Lakshman Rekha” of power and seem to be leading people only through negative examples.
The last Monday’s action and the reactions that were reported later in media and elsewhere have only delinked the already weakened chain of trust between the common man and his representative. The ghastly scenes of a member who was a Minister just a fortnight ago tearing off his shirt and expressing his mouthful of anguish standing atop the benches and few others kicking the doors of the August House by threatening the duty bound Police, will surely be remembered by the people for a longer time. Mind you these ‘galattas’ were not for upholding the common man’s right, instead they were for the sake of ….. ..! Can the persons representing people behave in such a despicable manner? Have they been authorized by people authorized to conduct this way?
It’s a typical case of people knowing more about their rights but never want to be controlled by rules and regulations. It is high time, the political leaders think and start finding out the real remedy, lest these wounds fester further and swallow the whole of remaining minimum.
Depressingly, Governance again takes a complete backseat by the tumultuous petty politics. My sentiments are with those who are deeply distressed and disturbed.
