Left Right Politics

“What do you think about the Left and Right in Indian politics?” I asked a friend of mine.
“No, I care a damn and anyway, it’s none of my business to worry about such useless topics. Politics is wastage of time!” She replied.
I again asked her, “Ok, don’t be bothered about it but how can you be ignorant about the various political issues, at least you must keep yourself updated with the latest and current political topics.”
But like any other, she ignored me, believing that my involvement into political matters is useless, I am stupid and not so cool. But it’s not their mistake being politically ignorant either, they have perceived politicians image as deceivers and also due to big time corruption in our bureaucracy and politics. Yes, youth these days notice everything that involves corruption but at the same time, ignore the architectural mind behind it.

Bureaucracy corruption is omnipresent and can be found in the land of rising sun to Uncle Sam’s country and from cold desert to sand desert. Yes, the amount of corruption does vary from country to country. How can we forget satirical sitcom ‘Yes Minister’, where the minister’s various struggles to formulate and enact legislation or effect departmental changes are opposed by the will of the British Civil Services, his Permanent Secretary. Well this is what exactly happens in real politics, typical politics. The factual masterminds are behind the scene but equally enjoy perks with the ministers, thanks to these bureaucrats to sully our image as the worst place to ‘play’ politics. Not that I am only blaming bureaucrats for playing spoil sports because they are only present in the much higher ‘plays’ (positions); but even the local corporators or politicians are jam packed with corrupt instincts. This corruption is at low level of hirearchy; imagine the height of corruption amongst higher officials/politicians. Here at least the ‘netas’are provided with the civil services officers because no matter what position a politician holds, he will always be a pea brain in front of those massive bureaucrats. Politicians have limited ideas to go beyond their miniscule brain, so for enhancing corruption level, there comes a helping hand from these mastermind ‘babus’, truly they define corruption in true sense. Yes, in actual practice, it is these bureaucrats who enact legislations and implement them upon us. Well, no wonder they also act as government servants by showing their minimal necessities but believe me, most of them acquire massive properties and money (illegal) stashed in ‘n’ number of places that are ambiguous, for example, under bathroom tiles’ floor, walls, ceiling, etc and beyond thoughts.

Though, not all civil officials are corrupt, there have been several few exceptions who are powerful enough to shake the most authoritative people by fight against their corrupt nature. Arun Bhatia is one person who, working for the very system has exposed its shortcomings and corruption. He stepped into it even after being aware of the level of risks involved for being truthful and principled. Had he been so vary of corruption and loathed it then how could get the offenders punished? Avoiding social evils at bureaucratic system is fighting against corruption, so people who really oppose it, must be in it to eradicate from its roots. Arun Bhatia who has withstood several transfers in his career for fighting against corruption could have enjoyed cakewalk like other bureaucrats do. Even after retirement he has chosen to remain active in politics by becoming Member of Parliament. He hated corruption therefore he became a bureaucrat and is still fighting back it to eliminate it from the society. So to avoiding corruption, the only way is to fight back. And I do not see any harm in honest people joining politics or civil services.

My Unsual Pet

It is often preferred to own a pet as it works as a reliever of all the worldly tensions. Well, I had one unusual pet; no my pet was no dog, cat, horse or a bird but a cheetah! Since my father’s job involved transfers every three years, we once had chance to explore South Africa. And something unusual happened with us on my birthday, which changed my perception towards life. My home was situated nearby the jungles and on my birthday, this cute creature came crawling in, purring in a curbed voice and barely two weeks old. I thought that it’s a cat but when I went a little further, I saw a cub trebling with utmost fear. My mother was reluctant to provide shelter to this innocent baby fearing that agitated and angry mother cheetah might come looking for its baby and prove dangerous for us. But I wanted to provide this cub with some shelter so that it stays alive, if its mother came to search him.

Days passed by but no sign of his mother, then I made up my mind to make him my pet. Finally my obstinate nature got approval from parents and I was successful to shelter him. I named him Bruno! Gradually, even my parents developed fondness for Bruno and our house seemed empty and incomplete in his absence. He was very mischievous, but clever at the same time, this was his nature. Sometimes behaved like a human too. He had the habit to sleeping next to me and whenever I came back from school he pounced upon me out of affection. Initially I enjoyed it, but when he began to grow in size, my body could hardly handle his heavy frame. Phew, he almost weighed twice my size! We also made sure to instil hunting skills in him, but since he was our pet, he never needed to hunt for food because he was always provided with a ready meal. Ah, life for him became so leisurely that all he could do was laze around. He never ever made us realise that he belongs to predators’ lineage and behaved loving and caring. One day, our worst fear came true; my father received his transfer orders back to India. We had to leave Bruno behind, as it is illegal to pet such animals, he was about to complete three years too. We never wanted to leave Bruno but with a heavy heart had to send him to a zoo due to his incompetence to leading life in the jungle.

Today, Bruno is eight year old and after long stint in training, he will soon be released into the lap of nature to where he belongs. I really miss him, hoping for his long and good life.

Selfless Love

Being selflessly loved by someone is one thing that we always want. No doubt this love is omnipresent as selfless love given to us by our parents. But, what happens when you move out of this dwelling and start looking for ‘another’ love (outside), does it guarantee you with the promises of the unconditional love that you may gain? Chances are almost slim.

Well… I had a friend who shared a special relationship with her boyfriend and both really loved each other unconditionally and selflessly. They were a couple inseparable by any situation, very much into love. I know that theirs was real love because she was my best friend and used to tell me minute detail about their daily activities (I would call that Love Advancements or budding love). And I knew everything about the steps that both would take in the future because she narrated every episode to me and I had the feeling of being present amongst them. They spoke over phone staying awakened all night, just to know each other more or meeting secretly under a bridge only to have each other’s glimpse. Their love story was very sweet just like a fairy tale that every one wants to listen to before retiring for bed. But similar to any other fairy tale, this story didn’t have a happy ending as they had developed their own share of problems. Even I learned that his parents had decided him to get married and were searching for his possible bride. Both were very disturbed and went for a major decision that might seal their chances of marrying and separate from each other forever. So it happened and decision was to part ways was the only solution, the peculiarity was that neither ever decided to elope from home. How ironic, they both wanted to marry but had little guts to take chances because she feared to not disappoint her parents, after all she owes them something that cannot be repaid by any means, not even for seven lives.

I feel that we all owe a lot to our parents as they bring us into this world and it doesn’t end at this point, they take pain and curb own dear wishes to fulfil our every incessant wish we make right from the time we are born. I am not against lovers, who elope away from home to lead a new life together. And I respect their decisions. But I am unable to understand, how do they forget their parents’ gratitude with a blink of an eye! I am no one to comment on personal decisions; it’s a matter of situations and choices. Hope I haven’t mentioned anything objectionable to anyone. No offences meant!!!

Life Time Journey...

Sometimes, relationships exist only for hours or days and this might result in a relation with a stranger that may last for lifetime. Well I happened to make a special friend while journeying, and the memory of it is still intact within me like a photograph captured at a momentous period. I was travelling to Delhi via Jhelum Express in a two-tier AC compartment with other co-passengers; when suddenly a dark haired fair and handsomely built man enquired from me about his seat number. Hesitant though, I answered and the vacant seat opposite to mine turned out to be his. And since I was a lone traveller I was reluctant to speaking with him thinking of the horrible consequences that he might misuse my solitariness. Until now I had this hitch in my mind to avoid foreigners, as they all are considered druggists, at least firangs in India are. He introduced him as Francesco from France, who in spite being a French had fluency in English. Initially I ignored him, then he put forward more questions and eventually I succumbed to his queries by answering all that he wanted to know.


Though my initial disliking for him was unreasonable, I found him interesting, soon we were engrossed in our discussions getting to know each other better. I didn’t know what was happening to me, I knew I was certainly attracted to him but I kept denying to myself. We both quickly developed a sense of understanding in each other in mere two days of journey and an intense friendship developed I ever felt for anyone. It is surprising even for me that having a suspicious mind for almost every thing, I ended up becoming friend with a foreigner! Although it was a small journey it felt like we both have been together since years. There was compatibility in our company. On our way to Delhi, we shared our food, life history and part of our occupational hazards, as I say. A part of Discovery Channel was he, which was the most interesting part about him; his occupation had taken him to all over the Indian sub continent. When finally we reached Delhi, he was supposed to leave for his country and with me all alone, he promised to ring up once he reaches home. Generous and kind by nature, he almost stole the air in me and made me realise that people cannot be judged by boundaries. He stuck to his promise and then after a year he returned to India only to take me along to his motherland.


Timing is essential and everything is destined,
today I am here, happily married bestowed with a year old baby. I sometimes start wondering that if my parents were not to call me back in Delhi, would I meet him elsewhere and be blessed with such a loving family that I have?