Friday, December 30, 2011

Has Anna Hazare Lost the Battle?: (English); Anna's Fight Against Corruption;

Has Anna Hazare Lost The Battle?: (English)
Anna's Fight Against Corruption

I was in anguish when I saw the face of Anna Hazare on TV during his fast in Mumbai. He was adamant to carry out his fast despite running high temperature and he tried his best to keep his promise to the nation.. This frail old man of 74 has personally nothing to gain out of this struggle but wants to see Rama Rajya established in Bharat. I have purposely used the words 'Rama Rajya' and 'Bharat' because they are drawn from our ancient culture and not imported. However, let me make it clear that I have not been advised by any party or social group to use these words. Nor has Anna Hazare been advised by any party or social group to undertake a crusade against corruption. Had it been so, the Shiv Sena supremo would not have expressed his dislike for him.
Mumbaiites failed this selfless soul for reasons best known to them. Reasons can be many. One, Mumbai people are time conscious and do not have time to spend for political rallies since time has a cost for them and they attend the rallies of Politicians only because they are paid for the same. Two, proper logistics was not planned by IAC to ensure proper attendance coupled with State Government sabotaging it by creating transportation hurdles. Three, people found no reason why Anna should undertake fast when the bill was being tabled in the Lok Sabha. Whatever reason may have weighed heavily on the minds of the people, fact remains we failed this sincere crusader against corruption. I refrain to call Anna a Mahatma or a Second Gandhi because such tags raise the expectations of the people from the mortal human beings.
During the past several months the Government used many a method to bring down the image of Anna and his team. Initially they questioned their integrity and their past record. I do not know how much truth is there in such allegations but question arises as to why did the Government not take action against them at proper time and preferred to undertake a smear campaign now. Fortunately,this adverse publicity did not find favour with the public. I would like to add here that no body in this world is perfect and there is a possibility of some mistake having been committed by any one of them. What has to be seen is whether the act committed was with an intention to amass wealth and become rich or was it a mere act of oversight? I would advise all the members of IAC to declare their assets and let any one conduct scrutiny as they please.
When the Government failed to smear the good name of  IAC activists, it resorted to communalising the whole issue through their hounds who day in and day out publicized that the movement had the backing of RSS. For the sake of discussion, let us presume that the movement has a backing of RSS, what then? Is fighting against corruption an anti-Muslim act or anti-Christian act? Does rooting out corruption adversely affect the rights of Scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes and Other backward Classes? Muslims are known to have least representation in Government jobs. Would anti-corruption measures not reduce nepotism, communalism and money power in recruitment and ensure that all deserving Muslims get their due? Would machinations of high-caste babus not be exposed if Lokpal bill was in place? Would we not get a society which believed in equality of opportunity? If RSS backs a movement which benefits all the citizens of the country should we oppose it just because a Hindu body supports it. I feel we should welcome any step taken by anybody if it is for the welfare of the entire society and not for a few. In fact it is today I wish that Muslims and Dalits had sincere and selfless leaders like Maulana Abulkalam Azad and Baba Saheb Ambedkar who would have shown them the right path.
An objection was raised whether a nominated body could take to task the Prime Minister or the elected representatives of the people who indulge in corruption? The answer is make the Lokpal also an elected body. Let the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elect the members of Lokpal. Even by selecting the members of Lokpal through PM, Vice President, Speaker,Chief Justce and an eminent Jurist , he becomes indirectly elected as majority of the selectors are elected representatives of the people. The only thing an independent Lokpal ensures is that it will focus on eradicating corruption from the country and would expedite such cases.
And then the big questions that Prime Minister will be belittled if he comes under the purview of Lokpal. May I ask a counter question as to why should a Prime Minister do an act which calls attention of a Lokpal?  If he is upright , every citizen of India including the Lokpal will bow before him and he will write his name in golden letters in the history of India.
Last but not the least , I feel that there is still time for the Parliamentarians to rise above party politics and petty personal gains and give to the people of India a Lokpal which is truly an independent body so that the generations to come will remember them the way they remember B R Ambedkar and the constitution makers.

                                             *********



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Effective Lokpal: Lokpal As I See It; (English)

The Effective Lokpal:
Lokpal As I See It: (English)

Having studied different points of view put forth by different groups regarding the Lok Pal, his appointment, jurisdiction and the organisational structure, I have come to the conclusion that all of us are not sincerely attempting to achieve the sole objective to root out corruption from this country. I have been witness to the functioning of bureaucracy in this country all my life and my feeling is that the bureaucrats behave more like Masters of the people rather than Public Servants. Needy people have to run from pillar to post to get even ordinary jobs done like driving licenses, passports, hard earned pensions /gratuity/ provident fund  and even withdrawing the money their deceased parents have deposited in Post offices not to speak of appointments, contracts, tenders and the rest. The environment has become so pessimistic and suffocating that there does not seem to be any escape route. Thanks Anna Hazare, the Crusader against corruption, that some light is now noticed at the end of the dark tunnel.

Lokpal vs 120 crores One question that has continuously been raised is how can single Lokpal attend to the grievances of the 120 crore people of India.(though this number does not take into consideration that most of the grievances arise from house-holds represented by the head of the familiy which brings down the effective number to only 20 crores). Hopefully children under the age of 18 do not need the help of Lokpal. Not only this, every one in India is not affected all the time by Central Government working and most of the corruption is noticed in the State government Departments for wihch seperate Lok Ayuktas have to be appointed with their own organisations assisting them. Moreover, with the help of computers and internet many things can be achieved in no time which were unthinkable in olden days.

CBI AND CVC Appointment of Lokpal  will render CVC almost redundant while the continued functioning of CBI under the government under the pretext of so called independence will leave it toothless. Strong IAS/IPS lobby will not like any change in both CVC and CBI where their career is assured but we have to swallow the bitter pill. All the government employees have to be brought under the net of one agency called Lokpal, otherwise cases where Officials of different cadres are involved will be tossed between these different agencies causing undue delay. In the event Gp C and Gp D posts are kept under CVC which remains under Government as hitherto before, the situation will remain unchanged since the percentage of Gp C and D employees form the bulk of Government Servants and their exclusion from Lokpal will defeat the very purpose for which Lokpal is sought to be made. Needless to mention that most of the corruption is indulged in and routed through GpC and Gp D who act as conduits for their bosses except in very large contract deals. The public in India are directly affected by the corrupt practices of theses Gp C and Gp D employees in their day to day dealings. It is therefore important that all employees are brought under the ambit of Lokpal and the Lokpal is provided with its own investigative agency or CBI is directly placed under it. The head of the CBI should be appointed by PM, Lokpal and Chief Justice of Supreme court. Similarly the CVC should either be disbanded completely or else brought under the ambit of Lokpal as its aministrative wing, as against investigative wing(CBI), and its responsibility will be to receive public grievances and their redressal besides Legal matters concerning Lokpal. Appointment of CVC will be the same way as in the case of Head of the CBI.

Citizen's Charter Citizen Charter  has to be prepared by the respective Ministeries, Departments and Government Offices. Lokpal is only required to effectively monitor its implementation which will not put any substantial burden on the Lokpal in any way.

Appointment Appointment of Lokpal should be for a fixed tenure of 5 years and his selection should be done on  a broader basis. Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Chief Justice of India should form the selection panel which will ensure greater weightage to the elected representatives as against the Technical expertise.
Prosecution powers The Lokpal will only be effective in case it can take up complaints independently and investigate all the complaints received against any Government servant without any interference from any quarter and in case any of the allegations is prima face established, further prosecute the said Government servant. In absence of any such powers of prosecution and non-availability of organisation for such prosecution , Lokpal will be rendered into a white elephant and will dismay the public who have entrusted it with their dreams.                                                             I only wish good sense prevails upon all the political parties to see the virtue behind the bill which is expected to help the nation progress rather than cling on to their vested interests for I am sure today they may escape but future generations will not spare them.


                                                                  **************                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Mamnou Raasta,ممنوع راستہ : (Urdu/English); Afsancha; افسانچہ ; Ministory

  Mamnou Raasta  : ممنوع راستہ 
 Afsancha; افسانچہ ; Ministory 



Mamnou Raasta

Ghar se daftar jaane ke liye sirf do hi raaste the. Aik daamar bichi sadak ka raasta---lamba aur ukta dene wala.Us par hamesha bahut traffic rehta tha. Aur doosra---Government Silk factory ke beechon beech jata hua, jis ke aaghaz aur ikhtitaam par do aahani gate the. Yeh gate Subh aath baje se shaam saat baje tak factory ke mazdooron ke liye khule rehte the.Gate par aik  barhi takhti latki rehti thi.
"Yeh shahrae aam nahi hai. Khilafwarzi karne walon par qanooni chara joi ki jaaaye gi."
Main har roz isi raaste se office jaata tha. Gate par latka hua notice board dekhta, parhta aur usse nazar andaz karke aage barh jaata.
Notice board aaj tak apni jagah par latak raha hai.

*******************
(mamnou raasta-forbidden road,damar- coaltar, ukta-boring,aaghaz/ikhtetam-beginning and end,aahani-iron, shaarae aam-Thoroughfare, nazarandaz-overlook)

 




















Friday, December 16, 2011

Harjeet & Mazdoor Rickshaw, ہار جیت اور مزدور رکشہ : (Urdu/English); Afsanche; افسانچے :Ministories

 Harjeet & Mazdoor Rickshaw:
 ہار جیت اور مزدور رکشہ  
  Afsanche; افسانچے ; Mini-Stories  
Haar Jeet

Devyani aik aik karke zeene uttar rahi thi aur man hi man mein soch rahi thi,"Saala sochta hoga koi bahut barha ma'arika tai kar liya. Aik aurat ko teen hazar ke ewaz raat bhar ke liye khareed liya." Us ne condom ke wrapper ko bag se nikal kar door koode daan mein, jis par 'use me' likha hua tha, phaink diya."Apni biwi do char sau bhi maang le to saale ko blood pressure charhta hoga."
"Bahut nakhre dikha rahi thi saali. Keh rahi thi paanch hazar se aik payi bhi kum na loongi aur woh bhi do ghante ke liye. Ab dekho mainne usse poori raat apne paas rakha aur woh bhi sirf teen hazar mein." Paresh Nath khirki se bahar us par nazar rakhe hue tha.
Donon apni apni jagah khush the. Idhar Devyani ka beta hospital mein parha maan ka intezar kar raha tha ki kab woh aaye aur us ka operation ho.Udhar Paresh Nath ki biwi aik Gigolo ke sahare apni piyas mita rahi thi aur chahati thi ki us ka pati jaldi ghar na aa sake.

*********
(zeene-steps,ma'arika-mission)

                                                   




















Mazdoor Rickshaw

Mussorie ke Maal road par main ne pehli baar mazdoor ko rickshaw khainchte hue dekha. Phati purani qameez aur pyjama pehne woh ghode ki tarah rickshe ke saath juta hua tha. Dil mein barhi koft hui. Is liye us ke bulane par bhi main ne usse nazar andaz kar liya.
Phir daroon ne ehtijaj kiya,"Tum ne us ki rozi roti cheen li. Berozgari ke aalam mein us ke paas aur bhi to koi chara nahi hai. Hul chalane wala kissan bhi sooraj ki tamazat se bekhabar tumhare liye anaj paida karta hai. Us ka badan bhi paseene se tarbatar rehta hai. Woh bhi is mazdoor ki tarah maflookulhaal hota hai.Agar tum uski haalat dekho ge to kya tum khana peena chod do ge."
Main wapas murha , mazdoor rickshe wale par bharpoor nazar daudayi aur phir rickshe par baith gaya. Mazdoor rickshe ko mamool ki tarah haankne laga.
                                            ***********
(koft-pain,daroon-inside/heart,tamazat-scorching heat,maflookulhaal-poor/in bad condition





                           
           
     

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Woh Kahani Bhool Ja وہ کہانی بھول جا : (Urdu/English); Shayri; ; Poetryشاعری

Woh Kahani Bhool Ja:وہ کہانی بھول جا 
 Shayri; شاعری ; Poetry

وہ کہانی بھول جا 

وہ جوانی تھی سہانی ، وہ کہانی بھول جا 
لگ رہی تھی جاودانی وہ کہانی بھول جا
زیست کا ہر ایک دریا ان دنوں تھا موجزن 
 تھی کبھی اس میں روانی،وہ کہانی بھول جا 
پورنما کا چاند اوپر ، تھی کھڑی وہ بام پر 
اف !مہکتی رات رانی ، وہ کہانی بھول جا 
پڑ رہی تھی ماہ نو کی ہلکی ہلکی چاندنی 
ہو رہی تھی گلفشانی ، وہ کہانی بھول جا 
مے بھی تھی،مینا بھی تھی،ساقی بھی تھا،ساغربھی تھا 
موجزن تھی زندگانی ، وہ کہانی بھول جا 
جب کبھی بھی  مسکراتی ، پھول برساتی تھی وہ
اور پھر وہ بدگمانی، وہ کہانی بھول جا 
وہ جھجھکنا ، وہ چمٹنا ، وہ لپٹنا یار کا 
اب تو لگتی ہے کہانی ، وہ کہانی بھول جا 
راہ وہ بھی تک رہی تھی،تھا ہمیں بھی انتظار 
فرقت شب کی گرانی، وہ کہانی بھول جا 
ہوں خزاں کا شجر میں ، گل نہیں پتے نہیں 
آہ بلاے ناگہانی ، وو کہانی بھول جا   

Woh Kahani Bhool Ja

Woh   jawani   thi   suhani  ,  woh   kahani   bhool  ja 
Lag rahi thi javidani,woh kahani bhool ja.
Zeest ka har   aik  darya  un   dinon  tha   maujzan 
Thi kabhi us mein ravani,woh kahani bhool ja.
Purnima  ka  chand  upar , thi  khadi  woh  baam  par 
Uf ! Mehkti  raat  raani,woh kahani bhool ja.
Parh  rahi  thi  mah-e -nau  ki  halki   halki chandni 
Ho rahi  thi gulfashani, woh kahani bhool ja.
Mai bhi thi,meena bhi thi, Saqi bhi tha,Sagar bhi tha  
Maujzan thi zindgani ,woh kahani bhool ja.
Jab kabhi  bhi  muskarati, phool  barsati  thi woh   
Aur phir woh badghumani,woh kahani bhool ja.
Woh jhijhkna, woh chimatna, woh  liptna yaar ka  
Ab to  lagti  hai  kahani ,woh kahani bhool ja.
Rah woh  bhi  tak  rahi  thi, tha  hamein bhi  intezar   
Furqat-e-shab ki girani, woh kahani bhool ja.
Hoon khizan ka shajr main, gul nahin patte nahi   
Ah bala-e-naghani, woh kahani bhool ja.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Manto on Partition: (English); Translated from Urdu

  Manto on Partition: (English)
(Translated from Urdu)




14th August was celebrated when I was in Bombay. Both Pakistan and India had been declared independent. People were immensely happy yet killings and arson did not stop. Cries of Pakistan Zindabad(Long live Pakistan) along side of Hindustan zindabad (Long live India) rent the air. One could see the Congress Tricolour as also the Islamic flag hoisted side by side. People shouted slogans in favour of both Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Qaid Azam Mohd Ali Jinnah in bazars as well as on roads. A person was at a loss to understand whether he belonged to India or Pakistan and whose blood was it that was continuously flowing on the streets? Where would those carcasses be buried or cremated whose sacred religious flesh had been eaten away by the carnivorous beasts? Now that we were free who would be our slaves? When we were slaves we used to think about freedom, now that we are free it would be unimaginable to think what slavery looks like. Yet the question arises whether we are really free or not? Both  Hindus and Muslims are being killed mercilessly in large numbers. How and Why...? These questions have different answers - the Indian answer, the Pakistani answer, and the English answer. Every one has an answer but fact remains if one tried to find out the real truth no answer could satisfy. Some one says you can find an answer in the ruins of Indian Mutiny. Another person does not agree and says that you can find an answer in the rule of East India Company. A third person moves further backwards in History and seeks an answer in the Mughal rule. Every one is going back into the past while only Criminals and Vandals are moving  ahead rapidly to write a bloody history of iron and blood which will be matchless in the entire history of mankind.

India has attained freedom. Pakistan too has come into existence immediately after being declared free. Still, however, the man in both these countries remains a slave...slave of prejudice....slave of religious fundamentalism....slave of bestiality and barbarianism.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Muthi Bhar Ret & Sawaalمٹھی بھر ریت اور سوال : (Urdu/English); Afsancha; افسانچہ ; Ministory

Muthi Bhar Ret & Sawaal:    مٹھی بھر ریت اور سوال 
Afsancha; افسانچہ ; Ministory
اور 



                        





















Muthi Bhar Ret

Kal mujhe na jaane kya soojhi ki samander ke saahil par tahalte tahlte achanak ruk gaya. Joote Utare aur wahin par baith gaya.
Nikhat ki bahut yaad aa rahi thi. Umar bhar saath nibhane ka waada karke woh na jaane kahan kho gayi. Palat kar bhi nahi dekha. Aur ab main hoon aur meri tanhai.
Tafreehan main ne kai baar apne hath mein ret uthai aur usse mehfooz karne ke liye muthi band kar li. Lekin ret thi ki ungliyon ke beech mein se phisalti chali gayi aur bar bar meri muthi khali hoti gayi.
Mere peeche chand ghairmulki sayah apne uryan jasmon mein sooraj ki tawanayi qaid karne ki koshish kar rahe the jab ki saamne chote chote bache football khelne mein mashgool the. Samander ki maujen musalsal sahil ke sath sar patak rahi thein.
Itne mein aik choti si masoom ladki bheek mangne ki khatir mere samne khadi ho gayi aur apne hath phailane lagi. Main jhallahat mein us par baras padha," Jao yahan se, tum aur koi kam kyun nahi karti. Tum logon ko bheek mangne ke siwa aur kuch nahi aata hai."
Dafa'atan mujhe yaad aya ki company mein chhatai ki wajah se guzashta do saal se main khud bhi berozgar hoon. Postgraduate hone ke bawajood koi kaam nahi milta. Nikhat bhi isi wajah se mujhe chor kar chali gayi thi.
Mujhe aisa laga jaise woh ladki keh rahi ho, "Kaam nahi milta hai na mile, bheek to maang sakte ho."
                                                ******
(Tafreehan;Just for leisure, mehfooz; secure, ghairmulki sayah; foreign tourists,Uryan ;naked, tawanayi;energy,mashgool; busy,jhallaht; annoyance, dafa'atan;Suddenly)


                                                                         




                                

















Sawaal

Train mein safar ke dauran aik musaafir doosre musaafir ko yeh samjha raha tha ki nafarmani ke sabab Adam ko bahisht se nikala gaya tha.
Apni dharti se ukhdi hui, diabetes se murjhayi hui, aik Kashmiri Panditani, jo apni umar se kahin zyada boodhi lag rahi thi, apne pati Naath ji se bar bar aik hi sawaal pooch rahi thi,
"Mana Adam se Gunah sarzad hua tha lekin hum kis gunah ki paadash mein apni jannat se mehroom kar diye gaye."
                                                ******
(bahisht;paradise, nafarmaani;disobedience, mehroom; thrown out of)

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Jurm جرم, : (Urdu/English); Afsancha ; افسانچہ ; Ministory.

 Jurm; جرم  
Afsancha; افسانچہ ; Ministory.



























Jurm

Park ke bench par baitha aik Padri ghair Isai ko duniya ke zahoor ki kahani samjhate hue keh raha tha ki Adam ke do bete paida hue the. Habel aur Qabel. Charwaha Habel barha hi aabid aur ita'at pasand tha jabki dehqaan Qabel badtainat aur jaraim pasand tha. Chinachi Ishwar ne Habel ki qurbani pasand ki, is liye Qabel ne gusse mein aakar Habel ko maar dala. Magar is ke baad woh logon ke jazba-e-inteqam se khauf zada ho gaya aur Ishwar se prarthana karne laga ki usko ma'af karde. Ishwar ne us ki jaan baksh di.

"Is ka yeh matlab nikla ki hum sab us jarayim pesha Qabel ki aulad hain." Samaeh pooch baitha.

Paas hi doosre bench par baitha hua aik dehariya man hi man main soch raha tha ki Ishwar bhi ajeeb shai hai. Bechare nihate Habel ke qatl ke samay mahz tamashayi bana raha aur phir jab mujrim se badla lene ki baari aa gayi to us ko apni hikmat-e-amli se saaf bacha liya.
                                                    ***

(Habel-Abel,Qabel-Cain,Aabid aur ita'at pasand-faithful,dehqan-farmer,badtainat-vicious,jazbaeinteqam-wrath,samaeh-listener,dehariya-atheist,shai-thing,hikmateamli-policy)