Can India Do a Tahrir?

The Title says it all.

Finally, yesterday , President Hosne Mubarak of Egypt stepped down succumbing to the extreme pressure created by the 18 days of fierce protests by the people of the country.

Egypt has a great history of civilised society and it took almost the opposite to end 30 years of dictatorship. Almost a Million people people swarmed into the streets for more than a fortnight and voiced their protest against the autocratic rule that had led to unprecedented unemployment and escalating inflation.

But you might have read this all, haven't you?

So, the question arises that can this be repeated in India, where the situation though not autocratic, is still grim.

The inflation rate hovers around 8 and the food inflation rate is 13%. The poor are having a real hard time in India. The increasing fuel price have done nothing to contain the rising sentiments in the middle class against the ruling coalition.

Moreover, every other day or so, cases of corruption involving astronomical figures hit the news. May it be the 1.76 lakh Crore 2G scam or the Rs. 2 lakh crore S-Band scam involving crucial UPA allies .

The government is losing ground while facing allegation and attacks from all around including the apex court.

Is all this enough to stir up the Indian people to do a Tahrir, at some place such as the India Gate in New Delhi?

In my opinion, No. The Egyptian uprising cant be replicated in our country.

There are three major reasons to support my view

Firstly, India doesn't have an autocratic rule. However inefficient it may seem, but the democracy still functions in our country and the judiciary does just enough to make the people have faith in the power of ballot. So, instead of flooding the streets, the people have a much better & easier option of flushing their representatives out of the constituencies and hence the parliament.

Secondly, the demographic and the social pattern of India are different from that in other parts of the world. Civic and economic problem may continue to plague people, but when it comes to voting, religion, caste and regionalism act as the deciding factor.

This was demonstrated in the 2009 elections when despite the escalating inflation and 26/11 attacks people chose a rubber stamp prime minister just because the opposition was a RIGHT-WING party. Sad, It really is.

Thirdly, and most importantly there is no credible opposition to incite people. Even if a tahrir ( or an India Gate) occurs, there has to be someone to lead the masses. In Egypt there was Mohammad ElBaradei and Islamic Brotherhood. But India lacks such leaders. So, Even with the rising sentiments, there is little that can be done. Coz after a government is overthrown there needs to be somebody to hold things for a while. The Military is too occupied to abandon the borders and take charge of running the nation.

So, Optimistic it may seem, but such an uprising against the rule is highly improbable in India.

Rush!!

Well I know the title is a bit queer.

But I couldnt find anything better, so that's how it is.

Well, for the past couple of weeks or so, I have been very very busy (which the title is suggesting).

Right from the time midsems got over (around 26) I have been travelling & (trying) to rearrange my life.

I also pondered about love and (ofcourse) creating unneccessary troubles for myself.

To see things on the brighter side; I have joined GRE coaching.

Yes, it has put extra pressure on me, but as they say- There's no gain without pain.

Talking about pain- I am having a considerable body pain. Couple of days of badminton have been torture to my poor untrained body. Though I have managed to maintain my shape.

I know most of you (if any at all) would've been wondering what is this guy blabbering nonchalantly about?

I mean this all is mundane stuff, where's the usual "Gyan" or "philosophy".

Na, people sorry to disappoint you but there's none this time.

Just my usual life story, (semi-vent up too)

More later :)

Love

--

J

The INside Story

So, finally I am posting something.

Its not that I didnt get time or I was lazy or something. Infact I drafted twice within a week and then deleted it.

I just wasnt finding the right thing to express. And more importantly I wasnt happy with the rough draft.

So, Life going at a fairly fast pace. Call it irony or else, but I seem to be an observer. And for me, the experience has been slow. Or maybe its coz I am absorbing things slowly...

Believe me a week ago, it wasnt like that.

I was really caught on crossroads, life messed up. Ambivalent feelings towards my crush. (With her not responding to me). There were a lot of things to do, to achieve, to strive for. But really there was SO MUCH that I didnt know what to do.

Paralysed by too much!!!

When I started one thing, I feared that other would remain incomplete and like that.

What was funnier that I hadnt f***ed up my life. It was perfectly fine.

In my words - "Ordinary in the most ordinary ways".

I guess it was largely a case of how I viewed things. I was trying to become more and more of something I wasnt. This way I wasnt able to tap into the potential I have in my uniqueness.

What was required was not an introspection

(I had loads of them and most of the time I blamed myself as the culprit)

But just to take it easy. Just calm down a bit, soothen up... Relax.

So, I tried it out today.

It worked!!! VOILA.

Believe me when I say so (really, I am not lying)

"Its all INSIDE you. Nothing is outside.."

Just ponder over it for a while.

You'll understand...

:)

--

J

Another Year Goes By

I must admit that its hard for me to be regular with blogging.

And I may as well admit that laziness, not busy schedule prevents me from it.

So, instead of apologizing and making false promises for the next time, let me focus my attention back to the topic at hand.

At first sight the title seems a bit sad, but it's more reflective than gloomy.

I am strongly against the brooding and living in the past.

What has happened has happened. There's no going back and no Ctrl-Z in our lives.

Just cut all this crap of BYE 2010, WELCOME 2011 and all.

Not in a sense that there's no need to be jubilant or something.

But I mean what's the point in all this if you continue to live in the same way as you have for the past so many years..

And Every one of us knows what happens to our New-Year resolutions..

So what I am suggesting that is an introspection: We need to look inwards now at the end of this year. What we could have got (not what we lost, I am talking not about failures but unfulfilled aspirations, there's a difference between the two) and what we are looking forward in the new year.

What are our ambitions, our goals?

What is it that drives us from inside, fuels every single moment of our life?

Just give it a thought.

(In fact I suggest you to sleep over it)

Next morning if you really think that your introspection wasn't a waste, Go ahead.

Ask yourself what it takes to fulfill those dreams, to fuel that fire of your life.

And most importantly how can you bring yourself to do it, to work towards it?

Remember it aint gonna be easy.

After a while this over-enthusiasm is bound to lessen, all things wont be so sweet.

At such a juncture, just remind yourself about this time. The time you thought over it. Those times which thrilled you with it.. How awesome would it be to achieve and emerge victorious.

No matter its a material thing or mental or spiritual or whatever..

It works every time.

I hope this will help you. :)

May your New year be filled with a sense of purpose

Love

--

J

Life Beyond (& After) Facebook

So it has been full 10 days since I left Facebook. Before doing so, I literally dreaded what was to come. I envisioned desperation and my fingers itching to reactivate my account.

No, nothing of that happened. I was off to a glorious trip to Gwalior-Delhi-Karnal and I have just returned. And I am glad to admit that I didnt miss facebook much. And I do not abnegate.

So, All those people who wanna get rid of the FACEBOOK entanglements but are wondering how long would it last; here's my advice- "Go Ahead".

Delete your account and get busy in something else. Dont worry what willl happen after that. Also, remember there are a lot of things on internet except Facebook. There's twitter, Linkedin and the GOOD OL' ORKUT (Not to mention blog ofcourse)

As they say- "There's nothing better than conquering a vicious habit" :)

Good Luck with your conquest to freedom..

Do Let me know your take on this.

Love :)

--

J

A New Start

So Atlast, Fed Up of Facebook..

Broke up all the strings and here I am!

Blogging..

A Warm Welcome to all those reading it for the first time.

And Thanks for coming back for the Non-1st timers :)

I have made some changes in its layout..

And I sincerely Hope to keep you all updated with interesting stuff.

Love You Guys!!

:)

Tc

J

Someone Somewhere!

My first personal creation....

Here it Goes--

As I sat on the sea shore,

I heard a voice calling- “Someone, Somewhere”

I looked up at the seagulls above,

But they were quiet & had miles to fare.

“Someone, Somewhere”

I sat gazing at the mighty mountains,

& I heard a distant echo- “Someone, Somewhere”

I glanced around at the mountain’s ridge,

But there ambled just a gaffer with none to care.

“Someone, Somewhere”

I sat pondering on the brink of woods

Yet again the voice sounded – “Someone, Somewhere”

I peeped in the wilderness about,

But there was just silence mere.

“Someone, Somewhere”

Days Later I hugged my mother,

All felt safe & naught to fear.

The Answer to the query dawned to me,

I just missed that tender affection & care.

Since then that voice has never haunted me again,

The voice calling – “Someone, Somewhere”

--

J