Vande Mataram! A slogan, an emotion, a zeal, that led India to its freedom. Emerging from Bengal, from a book (Anand Math), it spread all over India, proving that India is one despite of its diversity. This slogan was often accompanied by a dress which included Gandhi Topi (or Nehru Topi). This dress can be seen even now: some politicians wear it. And some non-politicians wear them too: in Maharashtra. A symbol that represents a unified India can now be found in any street of Maharashtra and probably one in the streets of Maharashtra. But all at once something happened. Some political figures (I wonder if they really are political figures because their party has never won an election) have classified this state as something different from rest of the India: it’s now called The West India. And in this state only, people from other parts of India (now called North India) are treated as aliens. In a united India, the place which has most number of the people wearing its symbol, Gandhi Topi, has started distinguishing itself from others. Now a days, such a situation has been created that a so called North Indian feels unsecure while even stepping into the state. But those so called politicians have never given a thought to what all this is leading to. What is going happen is that the state of Maharashtra will be ostracized from this country and a time is soon to come when people from this state will feel an equal amount of insecurity while stepping out of their state. All this leading to social and economic instability and who knows, maybe to a civil war. I can see a state of chaos arriving and I can’t do anything to stop it. :(

Obama and Kashmir

The remark that came from Obama is quite surprising. I am not sure if it was just to attract the attention of people and increase the vote bank or if he really meant it. As this dispute is one of the oldest, nearly 61 years, a senate speaking on such an issue will always create noise. But since everyone was so sure that he only was going to be the forty-fourth president of US that I feel that there was no more need for him to attract attention. So did he really mean it?Let me give you an epitome of what he had to say about the issue. He said that he will try to resolve the dispute between India and Pakistan based on Kashmir so that Pakistan can focus more on fighting with Taliban and terrorism. A very valid point made. But let us stop for a moment and ask three very simple questions: Does Pakistan want the same? Does India want the same? Does Kashmir want the same?I know these questions look like somewhat stupid, but when I am referring to India and Pak, I am not implying common people but the leaders. If Pakistan could have wanted, this issue could have been resolved long before. After all, where are all the terrorist camps located? Even if Pak government tried to take some steps towards friendship with India, the Pak army, with an autonomous authority, was always a hindrance. Whatever aid it received from US to fight Taliban and terrorism, it used it against India. So was US helping Pakistan to spread terrorism? A question that Obama must think before taking any further steps to help Pakistan.But Pakistan was not the only culprit. If India has wished, this issue would never have aroused. Only if honorable Pt. Nehru would not have approached UN, the situations would have been different. A Kashmir with no LOC but a border would have made a lot of difference. But let bygones be bygones, what is India doing now? Every political party remembers this issue only when elections come. This has become a political issue, used to create vote bank. This is like if you can’t assure people anything that you are capable of, just pique a sense of discontent in them and become highlighted. Only if India shows the same attitude that China showed on Tibet issue, this issue can come to an end. But that will require lots of courage and will. And I can’t see anyone in current scenario that has an abundance of both. I think Obama’s eyes are sharper than that of mine and he must have recognized someone with that potential. And what about Kashmiries? It is about 61 years and India has not been able to provide peace in the valley. So it does not come as a surprise if the aborigines demand a separate state and complete freedom. But what Hurruyat has been unable to see that once Kashmir is separated from India, this will lead to instability and even more chaos both economically and politically. Instead of separationism, they should cooperate with India to help them and fight the current crisis. Many Kashmiries in the valley and outside the valley have supported Obama’s and welcomed his intervention is this matter. I would only say that “Dear Obama. First watch out your home, fight the financial crisis and if after that you still don’t get enough enervation, come to us. You are most welcome.

A movie. A book. A movie based on a book. Ya right. The book is ‘One night a call center.’ The movie is ‘Hello’. (What else did u expected form me!!)? And one good dialogue in the movie (that’s the only one thing good though.) “Bore wo hote hain jo bore hote hain!” A very beautifully put truth, that we come across in real life. I see many people who enjoy almost everything that they get in life. May it be good or bad. They like to enjoy every moment. At the same time I have also seen people who are never happy. You give them good, they demand for better. This phenomenon is a good practice as one should never be satisfied with oneself, but this is done in such a way that it irritates others. And that is what we call bore. I personally feel that one should avoid being a bore and one should realize when others are getting bored with them. I hope those people read this soon!

I often come across two words. One of them is mania and other is phobia. Mania means morbid desires for something. Phobia is just the opposite. It means extreme fear from something. But recently, I have come across something which I don’t know if I should classify as mania or phobia. And that something is nothing else but CAT. I have seen many loosing hopes as the D-day is coming nearer. But at the same time, I find the same people doing overwhelming struggle with DI and Quant problems, that too on a daily basis. So I am really confused as if this is a CATamania or CATophobia. But whatever it is, may God bless all those souls who are preparing for CAT and may all of them achieve what they want in their life. Amen!