Raining cats and dogs,bombs going off ,city under pressure,terrorist attacks,floods,river water rising,landslides in the hills,snowstorms hold up tourists,traffic disrupted because roads have caved in,power cut for hours.In such times,when mom calls to ask how I am,and if I can just only answer the phone - that itself should relieve her.
We are an adventurous lot.
She is in the hills when there is a warning of landslide and i am in the plane(I mean aero-plane,not a spelling error) when there is a warning of a terrorist attack,flying to a city where bridges break and bomb threats released..
We are all very bold ,we live amidst chaos and danger,but still dare to travel for fun,shop- defying the floods,buy new clothes,plan on celebrating dushherra,when there could be a bomb planted right outside our door.
Some of us even make trips to see the newly build games village in the capital.
We are exposed to necessary and unnecessary risks of life and death all the time,and still have the heart to read poetries,buy gifts for a loved one,cook pishpash ,waddle through floods,and share it with a neighbor.
Long live the spirit.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Surreal - 2
Thats what I love about the power play - Its predictably gross and yet they indulge in it.
The party which rules at the Centre and the party which rules the state where Niyamagiri lies - are of course in opposition to each other.Infact all the opposition parties to the state government have got their long awaited opportunity to nail their ruling rival!
The hapless tribals now have the weight of powerful politicians behind them.The same central department which had earlier given environmental clearance to the powerful mining lobby,has now suspended their approval,sensing a political mileage that the move can get them.
Then of-course,there is some comic relief provided too.For instance,the king-in- waiting was heard announcing that he was the soldier of the tribals.
For those who are wondering ,on whose side I am,my answer is - our side.The side of the exploited,the underdogs.All the drama that goes on, rallying the event is just that - pure drama.
The other states ruled by the opposition parties,have problems of very similar nature,severe conflicts over land acquisition and displacement of indigenous people.Though not for mining projects,but several other kinds,be it car manufacturing units or nuclear power generation projects.How can they expect to fight against a cause in one state and lobby for the opposite cause in their own state and still remain credible?
I think,thats the last thing on their minds,anyway.
In this land,politics is not about public good,not about patriotism,not about development,not about vision to turn us into a great power,not about tackling unemployment,not about fighting poverty,not about restoring people's rights. As I said earlier - this is a quest for power,at any cost.
The party which rules at the Centre and the party which rules the state where Niyamagiri lies - are of course in opposition to each other.Infact all the opposition parties to the state government have got their long awaited opportunity to nail their ruling rival!
The hapless tribals now have the weight of powerful politicians behind them.The same central department which had earlier given environmental clearance to the powerful mining lobby,has now suspended their approval,sensing a political mileage that the move can get them.
Then of-course,there is some comic relief provided too.For instance,the king-in- waiting was heard announcing that he was the soldier of the tribals.
For those who are wondering ,on whose side I am,my answer is - our side.The side of the exploited,the underdogs.All the drama that goes on, rallying the event is just that - pure drama.
The other states ruled by the opposition parties,have problems of very similar nature,severe conflicts over land acquisition and displacement of indigenous people.Though not for mining projects,but several other kinds,be it car manufacturing units or nuclear power generation projects.How can they expect to fight against a cause in one state and lobby for the opposite cause in their own state and still remain credible?
I think,thats the last thing on their minds,anyway.
In this land,politics is not about public good,not about patriotism,not about development,not about vision to turn us into a great power,not about tackling unemployment,not about fighting poverty,not about restoring people's rights. As I said earlier - this is a quest for power,at any cost.
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