An open letter to Mrs Kamal Batra

Respected Mrs Kamal Batra,

As  the AAP candidate for Lok Sabha from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, you were very upset with Mr Narendra Modi invoking your son, Late Capt Vikram Batra in one of his election speeches ‘Yeh Dil Maange More-I want 300 lotuses’ he said. You called him a pseudo patriot and accused him of politicizing a martyred armyman’s name.

Maataji, is 'Mera Rang de Basanti Chola' copyrighted by the families of Bhagat Singh, Shivram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar? Are the songs penned by Vinayak  Savarkar copyrighted by his family? As far as I know, 'Yeh Dil Maange more' is copyrighted by Pespico, as it was the tagline of their product in the late 1990s. 

Your late  son was a son every mother in this country would be honoured to have. Capt Vikram Batra of 13JAK Rifles, a posthumous PVC  awardee. The brave warrior , who quipped ‘Yeh Dil Maange More’ on the capture of  Point 5140 and who was mortally wounded by sniper fire while rescuing  a fellow officer on Point 4875 on 7^th June 1999. He was just 24.

Secular, Socialist Republic of  India is one of the worst nations in this world when it comes to honouring their fallen soldiers or even respecting the ones who are alive. News reports don’t go beyond ‘Major and two jawans killed’ , not bothering to even give their names in many cases, as if its taken for granted that they are paid to die.In overwhelming instances, civilian interest in the army does not go beyond knowing about subsidized canteen liquor and perks. These ungrateful clowns do not deem it necessary to even know what kind of pain, inconvenience and agony our security forces go through so that the likes of them can snore peacefully. The left dominated media and academia demonize any sign of nationalism and hail the subversive forces as intellectuals who paint the army as  rapists and murderers.

 Why are then you doing your son’s memory a disservice by joining an anti national outfit that masquerades as a political party, whose ranks are filled with separatists and Maoist sympathisers, who are out to spread chaos and demean every institution in the country?

Isnt AAP commercializing and politicizing Capt Batra’s name by hoping to win a Lok Sabha seat by using your name? Have you asked them by what other motive did they offer you the poll ticket?

You ask for BJP to withdraw their candidate against you and give you a cakewalk  to show proof that they respect your son. Have you asked your party AAP to withdraw its candidate Raja Muzaffar Bhat from Srinagar , who is a known separatist sympathiser  and charges against whom in addition to sedition include rape?  Did you ask Arvind Kejariwal on what basis did he call the Batla house encounter fake? Or what is the source of their party funds? 

Your son fought and died for reconquering strategic Kashmiri peaks from Pakistan Army and you have joined a party who wont hesitate to gift the same Kashmir to Pakistan on a platter if they have their way. You had said that for Modi a martyr’s family should be like god. But your actions and utterances prove that are not god, and not immune from committing mistakes. And trust me, had Capt Vikram Batra been alive today, he would never have allowed you to represent such an organization. 

Did we hear any statement from AAP when Lance Naiks Hemraj and Sudhakar Singh were ambushed and beheaded? Will you please clarify what is AAP’s agenda on national and internal security and strengthening the armed forces? How many times have AAP evoked the contribution of the armed forces? 

We have all seen the pig circus which was the 49 day AAP government in Delhi. The holier than thou leaders took support from the same corrupt people they claimed to fight against.In the end they were shameless enough to call the final escapism as sacrifice. Do you want such scenes to be played out in the rest of the country as well?

Hundreds of paramilitary jawans and thousands of civilians have been killed by Maoists over the years. Have we heard anyone in AAP condemning them? Instead they recruit naxal sympathisers like Kamal Chinoy and Binayak Sen. Not a word from your party about Bangladeshi infiltration or cross border terrorism but instead they view the former as a votebank. These are the people who view people like Afzal Guru as innocent and want AFSPA to be revoked so that terrorists and naxalites can have a free run in the affected areas.

If you are so eager to serve the people, you should have stood as an independent candidate. But since you have joined a self righteous party who thinks that honesty originates from them , there is no question of anyone withdrawing any candidate from contesting against you.

But as far as I'm concerned, if at all the memory of martyrs like your late son is to honoured, parties like the one you have so erroneously joined have to be removed from our country's scene.

Sincerely,

An Indian.

Fandry: A review

Fandry (2013)

Language : Marathi

Director : Nagraj Manjule

Sometimes, films made with minimalistic elements leave  a mark on you which cannot be achieved by any kind of magnum opus or razzmatazz. This little gem is one of them.

Set in Akolner village in Ahmednagar district, the  film is a tale of naïve dreams crushed by harsh realities. Fourteen year old Jambuvant Mane (Somnath Avghade) , called Jabya by his friends ,comes from the lowest strata of the society with an additional curse of being from a lower caste. His father Kachru (Kishor Kadam), his mother and two sisters, the family ekes out a living as manual labourers. But what sets their place among the lowest in the village is that the family have the job of being pig catchers in the village. 

Jabya is the youngest in the family and only one able to go to school . He has set his heart on his classmate Shalu, who sadly for him happens to come from a much more prosperous household . Only his classmate and best friend Pirya knows this secret and encourages Jabya to do something to attract her attention.  Jabya dreams of being with Shalu all the time , who of course is unaware that he even exists. He is deeply shaken when Shalu refuses to touch another girl because a pig had brushed against her.He shirks at every given opportunity to indulge in the family’s job of pig catching and avoiding work, which leads to him being berated by his father Kachru. Kachru has the additional responsibility of getting his daughters married off. He fixes the marriage of the eldest with great difficulty after negotiating to bring down the dowry from Rs 50k to Rs 20k.

Jabya and Pirya are chummy with the village’s eccentric cycle shop owner Chankya (played by the film’s director Nagraj Manjule), whose wild hobby is being a tantrik. He advises Jabya that if he catches hold of a particular black sparrow  and scatters its ashes on Shalu’s head, she will be his. Simpletons Jabya and Pirya then keep scouting for the bird, to provide for many comic moments in the film. Jabya aims to buy a pair of jeans and a t shirt to attract Shalu. Along with Pirya, he starts selling popsicles in the city for that purpose , in addition of earning much needed extra income for their poor families. That hope is dashed when Jabya’s rented cycle is crushed under a truck due to his carelessness. A touching scene in the film has Chankya deciding to forget about collecting damages  for the cycle from a tearful Jabya, knowing about his family’s condition.

A crazed pig (Fandry in the local dialect) disrupts the godesses’ procession during a fair. Kachru is immediately ordered by the  village sarpanch to catch it.Next morning, the family starts with it. Jabya instead of catching the pig starts searching for the black sparrow, for which Kachru beats him publicly. The entire village gathers around to watch what it considers to be a freak show entertainment, deriding and ridiculing Jabya’s family , as they chase the pig, stumble and fall and hurt themselves. Finally the pig is caught and the jeers from the crowd continue. Jabya notices that Shalu is also one among the jeering crowd. His whole world comes crashing down in a moment as he realises that, for her and for the other people in the village, he will always be a pig catcher’s son and a lowlife, no matter what he does. The naïve love that dominated his mind for most of the film’s narrative vanishes forever, replaced by anger and bitterness. 

While carrying the tied up pig , one of the village louts passes snide remarks on Jabya’s elder sister. This enrages him and he lashes out at the perpetrator, pelting him with stones. The lout after a while, charges at Jabya again. Jabya picks up a rock and throws it with all his might towards the screen (from the louts vision), which cuts to black and the film ends.

The film received critical acclaim which includes Best Film in Mumbai International Film Festival, Abu Dhabi International Film Festival, BFI London Film festival, International Film Festival of India, Goteborg International Film Festival. It won the best debut  feature for a director and best child actor in National Awards of 2014.

We are all used to the romanticization and disneyfication of village life by most Bollywood films and TV serials. This film shows a backward village for what it is, filthy all around, with deep differences existing between the people. It also shows a society which is beyond repair, in scenes where Kachru pleads for the dowry amount for his daughter to be lessened, the way he is made fun of wherever he goes because he is a pig catcher, or where he is reprimanded by the village headman because Jabya refuses to catch a pig stuck in cesspit. This is the India which we choose to conveniently forget and ignore because its very easy for us. Nagraj Manjule’s direction is astonishing for the fact that except Kishor Kadam and himself, most of the cast including the film’s protagonist Somnath Awgadhe, are non actors. He stays away from filling the film with needless melodrama, or instilling false hopes and shows very aptly that naivete and futile hopes always have an unpleasant end. 

Like Jabya, a huge number of us are foolish at that age , idolizing the boy/girl who is unaware that we even exist. The only difference is that we can move on but for Jabya this foolish love was the only comforting factor in his wretched existence. The film chillingly shows the caste and class divide that exists in most of the villages, particularly in one scene where Jabya goes to ask about the syllabus which was covered on the day he was absent to his classmate’s house. He doesn’t dare not cross the courtyard and the classmates mother calls him ‘Vedant, come outside, the pig catcher’s son is here’. The rock that Jabya hurls towards the screen hits our conscience which somehow allows this evil divide to continue or ignores it altogether.

This is certainly not a film for an evening out or for a couple of hours of entertainment. But watch it to have a different cinema experience.

http://theviewspaper.net/fandry-a-review/

Balasaheb Thackeray: A few excerpts

The media has presented Balasaheb Thackeray as a mafia like figure who only spreads hatred and lives by extortion, particularly by some very horrible translations of selected speeches. While he will always be a villain for the leftists and cocktail circuit journalists, judge for yourself by few of his speeches:-

You might be  a Marathi in Maharashtra, a Gujarati in Gujarat or a Bengali in Bengal. But unless you adopt a the role of a Hindu, you can never lead a life of self respect.

A partition like condition has risen up again. It was Jinnah then, now its the Shahi Imam and Shahbuddin.Islam khatrey me ( Islam in danger) they say. Islam in danger? Your women. Your children. You endanger their lives and then you blame us. Its you, who has put Islam in danger. Isnt it told in your religion that never betray the land of your birth? What are you bastards doing then?

Do I become divisive because I call for a shutdown in the state because our Hindu brothers are killed in Punjab and Kashmir? And what are the ones who shout Paksitan Zindabaad? Now they brand me anti Sikh. No, I'm not. I have merely asked for the boycott of Khalistan sympathisers.

You wont find anything better than Hindu Dharma in the world. Because its constantly improving itself. No other religion has undergone such reforms. Not Christianity, not Islam. We have never shirked from discarding what is bad. Four Varna system? Not relevant. Discarded. Women not treated equally? Discarded the reasons of it. But yes, overt tolerance is not going to do us good. Respect others, but if they want to finish you, finish them first. You need to revive this spirit. Otherwise you will be wiped out.

How many Ravans are you going to burn? No matter how much you try, you will not run out of them.

Merely shouting Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai wont get you a living or a wife. One cant live alone by history. One has to create history.

This is an anecdote of my father when he was in his early teens. One day when he arrived home in the evening, he enquired about the decorations going in the neighbourhood. His mother told him that the old man next door was getting married to a young girl. My father was livid. He rushed outside with a matchbox in his hand, went next door, proclaiming 'Call the old oaf outside. Let me see how he gets married'. He was taunted 'What the hell can you do'? In answer, he burnt down the stage set for the wedding.

I'm trying my best to live upto these values that I have inherited.

Those who accuse me of being a tyrant should come to my speeches. This crowd of thousands cant be gathered by fear, but by love alone. And only Shiv Sena can keep this multitude in order. When they turned out Hindus from Kashmir, I got them justice by 'remote control'. Neither the state nor the central govt could do it. This is the power of your Shiv Sena, and it comes from you. I cannot pride on myself being the Shiv Sena 'Pramukh' if I cast aside the 'Shiv Sainik'.

I dont believe in superficial democracy. People ask me ' You beat up the MLAs who leave your party and join the Congress' and I reply, yes, why not? People elect them with good faith on a Shiv Sena ticket and these scoundrels defect to other parties for money? Henceforth, I appeal to you, especially the women. If such cases happen again, thrash these good for nothings publicly. These pimps deserve nothing better.

My father gave me a mantra to live by- Dont go to any astrologer, dont show anyone your horoscope.If you have to show him your hand, show it in some other manner. Dont care what postion the stars and the planets are in. As long as you have self confidence and inner strength in you, you wont perish no matter where you are in the world. And thats what I'm following.

Bow down to your parents before bowing down to God. They are your gods. They have given birth to you, not God.

People accuse me of disrespecting the law many times. Well, I don't believe in the system of democracy we have in this country today. Should I kiss and cuddle the democracy which couldnt give you basic necessities of life like food, water and sanitation in four decades? What do you think that queue of people squatting by the roadside every morning are doing? Definitely not singing the national anthem, as far as I know (1988)

If I cannot infuse nationalism in the youth then where should I infuse it? In water taps? I will keep writing like this. I will do whatever is necessary to further the cause of nationalism. They can file any number of cases against me as they please. If they have their way, maybe I will have to open my office near the judge's chambers so that I can rush to him with the copy of my latest article 'Your Honour, see if this offends you'. What kind of democracy is this?

Are Hindus sacrificial goats, to be herded by their enemies one by one- Bring them here one by one so that we cap lop their heads of one at a time? No. Dont live like progeny of assholes (Gandus). Otherwise your living or dying is one and the same.

Due to your (government’s) weakness, our soldiers have to pay for it with their lives. And you award medals to their widows and feel great about it? Is that the end of your responsibility? What is the widow to do with the medal with the  man of the house gone? Will that sustain her?

All the time you praise about how clean other countries are. Look at Hong Kong you say. Then why do you play ping pong when it comes to getting your act together to clean your own cities?

How does your Shiv Sainik appear as he is marching towards Ayodhya? Like the roaring lion spreading terror, with the gait of an intoxicated elephant, like the assault of a rhino which reduces to powder a rocky mountain, like the manoeuvres of a leopard: our infinite blessings to these Hindu warriors who are marching towards Ayodhya (Saamna Editorial, Dec 1992)

Tell me, if Pakistan acquires a hydrogen bomb tomorrow, what is your plan of action? Placating them with bhajans?

Innocent Hindu boys are being killed, and you wait for orders to destroy the fanatic traitors in Bhendi Bazaar (a Muslim area in south Mumbai)? Have the police also become playthings in the hands of politicians? We predict that these traitors will kill you also. Since the police had not done anything, our young boys retaliated for the murders of Hindus on January 6. And what do we get? You kill those brave boys.- From "Burning Pyres", editorial, Saamna, January 11, 1993

It's only during elections that you remember Ambedkar. It's only during elections that you remember Shahu Maharaj. It's only during elections that you remember Phule. Otherwise you just dont care nor you make their statues. Dont try to teach me about Dalit empowerment. I saw my father suffering all his life for it. Our house in Pune was stoned. And at that tender age, I have seen a mock funeral procession staged to threaten my father.

Rather than being a job seeker, have the courage to try to become a job giver.

I only know two religions-rich and poor. Dont make the rich poor. Make the poor rich.

Even when you grow old physically, dont let your thoughts grow old.

I have received a reports that Congress is plying their student leaders with all kinds of pleasures. I want to state here that I will not tolerate any of this in Shiv Sena. If a woman boards a rickshaw at 4 AM that is being plied by a Bharatiya Kaamgar Sena (Shiv Sena’s workers union) member, she should do this with trust that she is safe because this rickshaw is plied by a Shiv Sainik. To my student leaders I say rough it out, if need be, spend a night on benches in railway stations. You will understand what life is.

If you stop Amarnath piligrimage, I swear that I will not let a single Haj piligrim go through Mumbai. If you think you can thrash Hindus because you think they are weak, we will have to invoke Shiva in us.

Babri had to be destroyed. And if Shiv Sainks have demolished it, I’m proud of them. Who is Babar? Any kid on the street will tell you that Lord Raam belonged to Ayodhya. Then what is the need of Babar there? Muslims destroyed our places of worship in their invasions. We no longer live in some Mughal rule. We must reclaim our lost temples.

Before appeasing the 'minorities', learn to love the Hindu. He needs you.

http://www.thefrustratedindian.com/2017/01/balasaheb-thackeray-speeches/

Lies

I’m on my way.
I’ll be there in five minutes.
I was just going to call you.
I’ll finish this by tomorrow.
The cheque is in the mail.
I’ll pay you as soon as I have the money.
I’ll look forward to your visit.
Aap ke liye jaan bhi haazir hai. (I would even give my life for you)
Kabhi bhi aa, tera hi ghar hai. (Drop in anytime, its your house)
The results aren’t out yet, father.
I will clean my room by this evening, Ma.
If you get good marks in the board exams, I will buy you a bike.
I can’t do this now. I’m studying.
I’ve done the homework but I left the notebook at home.
When I was your age, I was much more responsible.
I never wasted my time after stupid films and stupid cricket/football matches when I was in school.
God is watching everything that we do.
No Ma, I’m not watching TV.
Enough is enough. I’m quitting this trashy company after the appraisal.
We have an entrepreneurial spirit here.
I’m always available to solve any queries. You can call me anytime.
We adhere to the highest ethical values here.
Our people are our greatest resource.
Our government/party is committed to the welfare of the people.
This is a conspiracy against me by the opposition.
How can we pay the dividend when the company is in loss?
You are a very valuable employee for us and we have good things planned for you, which will be revealed to you at the right time.
All our customer service executives are busy at the moment.
Employee satisfaction is the highest in our company.
This wont hurt a bit.
Why has this happened to me? I have never wished ill for anyone.
I’m going over to friend’s house for group study.
I’m on a diet.
I’m 35.
I will surely put a word for you to the higher authorities the next time.
I just love kids.
You are special.
You are destined for great things.
You have a bright future.
I have read & agree to the terms of service.
Low on trans fat.
Fat free.
Non toxic chemicals
Packed with vitamins and minerals.
Natural ingredients.
I’m on a diet.
I work out regularly.
We only use organic ingredients.
The doctor will be with you in a minute.
Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.
We are just friends. There is nothing between us.
I’m just looking for a good script so I haven’t signed anything now.
Status: Offline.
Yes. I’m over 18.
You dont look a day over 30.
Films promote art.
I’m fine.
I’m ok.
It’s ok.
Nothing.
You are the only one I have ever loved.
I love you for what you are, not your money or job.
I would have done it much better than him/her.
Study and work hard and all the success in the world will be yours.
I won’t change a thing about you.
God, you look fabulous.
Sweetheart, how can I forget your birthday/our anniversary?
Limited edition only.
Best value for money.
I won’t do it again.
I’ll never leave you.
I would never do that to you.
I would never hurt you.
This dress looks like it was made for you.
I promise it won’t cost a lot.
No more booze and cigarettes from tomorrow.
I’m in control of my life.
I never got your message.
I won’t tell anyone. Promise.
Cheaters never win.
Honesty is the best policy.
Democracy is of the people, for the people, by the people.
India will respond strongly to this terrorist attack,
Pakistan is a peace loving nation.
America stands for promoting justice in the world.

http://theviewspaper.net/lies/