I would rather ask how Gandhian are our Gandhis. Two namesakes are at the helm of the nation, and how do they really figure as Gandhians? Do they actually understand and respect the views of Mahatma Gandhi. These are the questions I am trying to find an answer to.
Gandhivaad or the recent filmi style Gandhigiri has been flouted ever since Gandhiji passed away. Why did they all speak so highly of Gandhiji and yet did not put his teachings into practice? I think gradually all the political Gandhians, including Nehru's descendents lost the focus on Gandhiji's ideology, and became entangled in ruling the country, by whatever means possible. That is one reason why the Bofors scandal did not surface properly. The desire to continue ruling has seriously affected their output, and the resolve to find the truth has weakened, instead of being strengthened.
My mother had the good fortune of being blessed by Gandhiji. Her group of friends performed a play about Ramayana, and Gandhiji suggested that next time they should perform a play about Raja Harishchandra. Gandhiji was a keen observer, always interested in arts and social culture.He ws not a ruler by any measure. He ruled our hearts, and continues to do so.
I think our politicians must go into serious introspection, get around their differences, practice what they preach, and give up desires to rule by hook or crook or by the book. People like Rahul are young blood and may take time to become truly Gandhian in their outlook, the heavy conditioning of the western education does take a toll. I hope he becomes a true Gandhian, lives upto Mahatma Gandhi's name, and leads India well, because ruling is one thing he cannot give up easily, so as long as the desire exists, he must rule well, like a true Gandhian. I think it is a hard journey for him, and here I stand wishing him well all the way.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
The great war of Kabristan
Soldier asks his Commander : Sir, When should we start the attack?
Commander: I am waiting for the orders from above, soldier.
Soldier: Yes Sir!
Commander asks his higher up: Sir, when do we give orders to Attack?
Area Commander: Wait till the Chief of Armed Forces signs the papers.
Commander: Yes Sir!
Area commanders visit Chief of armed Forces office one day.
They ask the Chief: Sir Have you signed the papers permitting us to attack?
Chief of Armed Forces: No I have sent them for the President's Approval,
she has yet to see them, hopefully in a week's time.
Area Commanders say: Yes Sir!
One day the President calls the Chief of army staff: Those papers
you sent about attacking the enemy. According to our politicians, a
dialogue is on with the enemy, we hope to resolve the issue
peacefully. If it doesn't get resolved peacefully, we shall take a
hard decision. Till then, keep your men ready.
Chief of Armed Forces: yes Madam! jai Hind.
He returns to his office, and calls up the Area Commanders and
asks them to be prepared in case of the orders coming from the President.
The Area commanders go to their area HQs and call their
Commanders, tell them to be prepared for the war, but wait for the orders.
The Commanders go to their units and tell the groups of soldiers to remain alert,
till the Orders come for attacking.
Meanwhile, the enemy has slithered in through secret routes,
created blasts in many small towns, and caused political havoc.
One day a politician decides to visit the order. The Chief of Armed
Forces accompany him. Enroute, a roadside bomb is exploded,
Scaring them off badly.
The Chief cancels the visit, and rushes to
the president and says: Madam, we are late, when will you sign the
papers? These people are not confronting us directly, they are
entering through leaks in the border and making covert attacks. One
of our great politicians nearly died in such an attack.
President: yes I heard the news. He is one of the negotiators. If he
dies, the war might end so our decision could have been made not
to attack at all. he did not die, so the chances of war still
exist, therefore be prepared.
The Chief of Armed forces returns. It is over two years since they
were preparing for war. His retirement is due. He has not had the
chance to fight a war as Chief of Armed Forces. So he will not be
called a Field Marshall after retirement. Only Sam Manekshaw has
that privilege. While waiting for his reirement , he visits one
Forward area one day. There he meets a soldier, who is quite
old, almost like him, nearing retirement too. He takes aside the
soldier and talks to him.
Chief: So how many wars have you fought?
Soldier: Sir, in 1961 I was nearly blown up in a grenade attack
when China came into our borders. In 1971 I
was sent to Bangladesh as a paratrooper, and we rescued a
politician from the Enemy. In 1999 I went to Kargil , and was nearly
shot, barely escaped with my life. Now I am due to retire. I want
to die in the battlefield. It is said we don't achieve liberation
after death if we soldiers die at home. So I am waiting for this war
to begin. What about you sir?
The Chief of Armed Forces replied: I was assigned to the
Bangladesh Unit too, I commanded the Paratroopers division, but
the credit was taken by one royal blooded General, who was
alongside. Then they posted me to Ladakh , where we fought the
enemy in Kargil. All the hard work was done by the ground attack
teams, many of our ranks died. I survived simply because I was in a
tent, which was missed by enemy mortar fire. They then made me
chief of Armed Forces. Now I too want to fight the last war, but
you know these politicians, they don’t want war, they are trying to
negotiate and avoid war.
Soldier: But what about the covert attacks they do on us sneaking
up from the back?
Chief of Armed Forces: yes I am worried about that. These
politicians are actually weakening us.
Soldier: Sir I have an idea, we both want to have this last war.
let us do something to cause it.I shall one day simply start
firing and shoot down enemy soldiers across the line, and when you
hear of this, declare the war, Ok?
The Chief considered this gravely, for a while, and then said, OK,
but don't tell anyone we had this discussion. Just tell them about
the general topics we talked about, family etc.
Soldier: Done sir! I am ready.
The chief returned to his HQ. One day he got the news that a
soldier had started shooting at the enemy, six enemy lay dead, and
the enemy was firing back. He immediately called up the President,
and said this has happened, and what are the orders.
The president replied: That politician who accompanied you last time, he is in
Pakistan finalizing an agreement for peace. If we attack now, we
shall lose this chance for the Peace Process.
Chief of Armed Forces (thinking to himself- and I shall lose the
chance of liberation) finally replies: Madam, with due
respect.....Bhad mein gayee naukri, bhad mein gayee tu, ab main
nahin rukunga, I am going to fight the enemy madam.
Saying this he rushed off. The President was obviously aghast.
She called up the politicians to meet her and announced that she
had ordered an attack because she knew, now there is no chance
to call back the Chief.
Thus we had this great war, also known as The great war of
Kabristan, fought between India and Pakistan, in which millions
died, both countries were nuked by each other, a Pakistani nuke
landed in front of the Presidential Lawns, destroying everything
within 20 KM radius, and an at least more then three Indian Nukes
landed at Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Karachi, destroying those
cities completely. The survivors on both sides are slowly waking up
to a new reality : there will be no future wars, as both
governments have been destroyed, and the people are left alone to
fend for themselves (as if they were not left alone to fend for
themselves while the governments were in power)
As the world woke up to the events, a cold nuclear breeze began to
affect every region of the world, with its potentially harmful
load of radiation, carried by particles that were blown up miles
into the skies. As the fall out settled over cities worldwide, a
grey pall of smoke turned eerie red in the angular sunlight,
signaling the end of the world as we knew it. Survivors were seen
trying to get their lives back together, some with permanent scars
from radiation, some without limbs, some just plain hungry without
food for many days, fearing to eat because of nuclear pollution
caused by the war. The entire region looked like a graveyard, a
Kabristan as they would say in Urdu.
No country was spared in this war, nukes were set off by Iran towards
Vatican, by USA toward the middle east, by Korea towards the USA,
by Russia towards the UK, by Germany towards Britain, by France
towards Germany, by UK towards Japan and by Japan towards US
and UK.
There was enough nuclear material collected by these powerful nations,
to have destroyed the world three times over. Eskimos found to their
surprise the land under their feet had disappeared, replaced by a
mud slick in which lay thousands of whales and sharks and seals
and sea lions. The ice had melted almost instantly, causing a flood
and a slick as the water drained off slowly.
The earth had split at one point and sea water rushed down under,
causing a fall in sea levels. There was no team of scientists to study these changes.
Nature had taken its price. The Chief of India's Armed Forces had
got his liberation though. Many other also were awarded liberation
in heaven. That politician was not to be found. From heaven the
view was of a dying world, where life had been for centuries and
now it lay desolate, cold and dark, gone were the pearly lights
that lined roadways, gone were the cities, gone were the wonderful
cars and buses and trains and planes.
A civilization had come to an end, all because a soldier and a general
decided to opt for liberation.
In heaven they all were seen hollering "yeah! yeah! at
least we got our liberation, but down below this earth we all
loved so much was now a home for a few lost survivors who were
trying to bring things back to their original state, which would
take them centuries perhaps. Who knows how many such civilizations
lay buried in the earth!
Commander: I am waiting for the orders from above, soldier.
Soldier: Yes Sir!
Commander asks his higher up: Sir, when do we give orders to Attack?
Area Commander: Wait till the Chief of Armed Forces signs the papers.
Commander: Yes Sir!
Area commanders visit Chief of armed Forces office one day.
They ask the Chief: Sir Have you signed the papers permitting us to attack?
Chief of Armed Forces: No I have sent them for the President's Approval,
she has yet to see them, hopefully in a week's time.
Area Commanders say: Yes Sir!
One day the President calls the Chief of army staff: Those papers
you sent about attacking the enemy. According to our politicians, a
dialogue is on with the enemy, we hope to resolve the issue
peacefully. If it doesn't get resolved peacefully, we shall take a
hard decision. Till then, keep your men ready.
Chief of Armed Forces: yes Madam! jai Hind.
He returns to his office, and calls up the Area Commanders and
asks them to be prepared in case of the orders coming from the President.
The Area commanders go to their area HQs and call their
Commanders, tell them to be prepared for the war, but wait for the orders.
The Commanders go to their units and tell the groups of soldiers to remain alert,
till the Orders come for attacking.
Meanwhile, the enemy has slithered in through secret routes,
created blasts in many small towns, and caused political havoc.
One day a politician decides to visit the order. The Chief of Armed
Forces accompany him. Enroute, a roadside bomb is exploded,
Scaring them off badly.
The Chief cancels the visit, and rushes to
the president and says: Madam, we are late, when will you sign the
papers? These people are not confronting us directly, they are
entering through leaks in the border and making covert attacks. One
of our great politicians nearly died in such an attack.
President: yes I heard the news. He is one of the negotiators. If he
dies, the war might end so our decision could have been made not
to attack at all. he did not die, so the chances of war still
exist, therefore be prepared.
The Chief of Armed forces returns. It is over two years since they
were preparing for war. His retirement is due. He has not had the
chance to fight a war as Chief of Armed Forces. So he will not be
called a Field Marshall after retirement. Only Sam Manekshaw has
that privilege. While waiting for his reirement , he visits one
Forward area one day. There he meets a soldier, who is quite
old, almost like him, nearing retirement too. He takes aside the
soldier and talks to him.
Chief: So how many wars have you fought?
Soldier: Sir, in 1961 I was nearly blown up in a grenade attack
when China came into our borders. In 1971 I
was sent to Bangladesh as a paratrooper, and we rescued a
politician from the Enemy. In 1999 I went to Kargil , and was nearly
shot, barely escaped with my life. Now I am due to retire. I want
to die in the battlefield. It is said we don't achieve liberation
after death if we soldiers die at home. So I am waiting for this war
to begin. What about you sir?
The Chief of Armed Forces replied: I was assigned to the
Bangladesh Unit too, I commanded the Paratroopers division, but
the credit was taken by one royal blooded General, who was
alongside. Then they posted me to Ladakh , where we fought the
enemy in Kargil. All the hard work was done by the ground attack
teams, many of our ranks died. I survived simply because I was in a
tent, which was missed by enemy mortar fire. They then made me
chief of Armed Forces. Now I too want to fight the last war, but
you know these politicians, they don’t want war, they are trying to
negotiate and avoid war.
Soldier: But what about the covert attacks they do on us sneaking
up from the back?
Chief of Armed Forces: yes I am worried about that. These
politicians are actually weakening us.
Soldier: Sir I have an idea, we both want to have this last war.
let us do something to cause it.I shall one day simply start
firing and shoot down enemy soldiers across the line, and when you
hear of this, declare the war, Ok?
The Chief considered this gravely, for a while, and then said, OK,
but don't tell anyone we had this discussion. Just tell them about
the general topics we talked about, family etc.
Soldier: Done sir! I am ready.
The chief returned to his HQ. One day he got the news that a
soldier had started shooting at the enemy, six enemy lay dead, and
the enemy was firing back. He immediately called up the President,
and said this has happened, and what are the orders.
The president replied: That politician who accompanied you last time, he is in
Pakistan finalizing an agreement for peace. If we attack now, we
shall lose this chance for the Peace Process.
Chief of Armed Forces (thinking to himself- and I shall lose the
chance of liberation) finally replies: Madam, with due
respect.....Bhad mein gayee naukri, bhad mein gayee tu, ab main
nahin rukunga, I am going to fight the enemy madam.
Saying this he rushed off. The President was obviously aghast.
She called up the politicians to meet her and announced that she
had ordered an attack because she knew, now there is no chance
to call back the Chief.
Thus we had this great war, also known as The great war of
Kabristan, fought between India and Pakistan, in which millions
died, both countries were nuked by each other, a Pakistani nuke
landed in front of the Presidential Lawns, destroying everything
within 20 KM radius, and an at least more then three Indian Nukes
landed at Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Karachi, destroying those
cities completely. The survivors on both sides are slowly waking up
to a new reality : there will be no future wars, as both
governments have been destroyed, and the people are left alone to
fend for themselves (as if they were not left alone to fend for
themselves while the governments were in power)
As the world woke up to the events, a cold nuclear breeze began to
affect every region of the world, with its potentially harmful
load of radiation, carried by particles that were blown up miles
into the skies. As the fall out settled over cities worldwide, a
grey pall of smoke turned eerie red in the angular sunlight,
signaling the end of the world as we knew it. Survivors were seen
trying to get their lives back together, some with permanent scars
from radiation, some without limbs, some just plain hungry without
food for many days, fearing to eat because of nuclear pollution
caused by the war. The entire region looked like a graveyard, a
Kabristan as they would say in Urdu.
No country was spared in this war, nukes were set off by Iran towards
Vatican, by USA toward the middle east, by Korea towards the USA,
by Russia towards the UK, by Germany towards Britain, by France
towards Germany, by UK towards Japan and by Japan towards US
and UK.
There was enough nuclear material collected by these powerful nations,
to have destroyed the world three times over. Eskimos found to their
surprise the land under their feet had disappeared, replaced by a
mud slick in which lay thousands of whales and sharks and seals
and sea lions. The ice had melted almost instantly, causing a flood
and a slick as the water drained off slowly.
The earth had split at one point and sea water rushed down under,
causing a fall in sea levels. There was no team of scientists to study these changes.
Nature had taken its price. The Chief of India's Armed Forces had
got his liberation though. Many other also were awarded liberation
in heaven. That politician was not to be found. From heaven the
view was of a dying world, where life had been for centuries and
now it lay desolate, cold and dark, gone were the pearly lights
that lined roadways, gone were the cities, gone were the wonderful
cars and buses and trains and planes.
A civilization had come to an end, all because a soldier and a general
decided to opt for liberation.
In heaven they all were seen hollering "yeah! yeah! at
least we got our liberation, but down below this earth we all
loved so much was now a home for a few lost survivors who were
trying to bring things back to their original state, which would
take them centuries perhaps. Who knows how many such civilizations
lay buried in the earth!
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