Selling Dreams and Winning Elections

After going on a hectic and eventful trip,the 2014 Lok Sabha Election roller coaster comes to a mighty halt today. And there emerges a 56" chested confident-looking man, bearing the hopes and aspirations of a third of world's population,all on his wide chest. The load of responsiblity on him is heavy,but so were the dreams that he sold to the people.

There is nothing unexpected in the results,save for the numbers and statistics. Everybody knew who was going to win and who was going to fall. When the Bharatiya Janata Party, riding on the blinding charisma of its leader raided the polls like a juggernaut, the 'Grand Old Party' of India turned out not to be even a worthy opponent to it. Reasons behind the emphatic victory of the saffron-party is largely attributed to the cult-like persona of Narendra Modi-or more popularily 'Modi Wave'-but it was the anti-Congress sentiment that made even the 'Modi Wave' relevant. The 'aam admi' wanted a relief from an always ascending price rise,an ever increasing rate of unemployment and a never ending rally of multi-billion dollar scams,and when somebody with a touted track record of good governance promised him this relief, he fell for it.

Narendra Modi now bears a heavy load of expectation:from his party,from the industrialists,from investors,from diplomats all around the world and of course,from the common Indian citizen. It will be his priorities from now on which will determine his place in the books of history,rather than the margin and magnitude of his election win. His immediate attention should fall on the country's economy and easing the burden on the common man's already-dented pocket. Along with achieving this on a war-time footing, he should pay attention to develop the country's infrastructure and boost the confidence of industrialists to invest more in India. Given the edge he has in the Lok Sabha, this can be easily done without going through the hassles of a coalition. At the same time, it should be among his top priorities to develop friendly diplomatic relations and continuing the healthy relations towards the global players, especially to our immediate neighbors. Modi's way of handling international relations and issues will determine India's role as a global super-power, which he has promised us. Article 370,Ram temple and Uniform Civil Code can wait.

The NDA leadership should emboss in their minds the lesson from Congress. The people have given them a chance to prove themselves worthy of their promises. I wish them all success and at the same time reminds them that it is the same people that they are to face 5 years from now. Make sure that the 'Modi Wave' has enough wavelength to last until then.

A Prejudice Proved Right

I always disapproved scions. I viewed every son of a famed father or a member of a famous family with a prejudicial eye. When news about Dulquer Salman's debut in Malayalam cinema was the talk of the town, I told myself:'All this hype is only because he is the son of Mammooty. He may be just another mediocre actor,which Malayalam cinema has in plentitude.' Similar was my line of thought when Fahad Fazil,whose father is the legendary director Fazil,started his second innings in the industry. But I was wrong. With movies such as 'Ustaad Hotel' and 'ABCD' ,Dulquer was soon one of my favourites. So was Fahad, who just bagged the Best Actor award in Kerala State Filmfare Awards.

Howsoever different may politics be from movies, I held the same prejudice towards Rahul Gandhi also. Years back, when he made his first parliamentary speech, when everyone praised his matured style and body language,I didn't find it so much enthralling,for nothing exceptionally good or novel was put forward by him. Afterwards, I don't remember hearing much about him for a long time. When India started feeling the heat of General Elections by the end of 2013, news about Mr.Gandhi also started appearing in media and I started watching him more closely. And the more I watched, I started feeling for the first time that my prejudices for Mr.Gandhi are right.

It was his occassional utterances about poverty and 'state of mind' and 'escape velocity of Jupiter' among others, that made me seriously doubt about Congress' choice of its leader. Who could say to a hungry and poverty-stricken lot of people that all you have to do to do away with poverty is to change your state of mind, and just walk away? Who would have the insanity to tell an ignorant group of villagers, who may not even know what Jupiter is,about its 'escape velocity'!

Then it was his 'rhetoric' about the Representation of People Ordinance. Although I was disapproved of the Ordinance for its leniency towards convicted politicians, I was wonderstruck upon Mr.Gandhi when he said that the Ordinance should be torn down. He simply disregarded the laborious work done by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet with a simple excercise of his tongue. The Congress had no other option but to repeal the Ordinance,as Mr.Gandhi was to be projected as the face of the party in the approaching General Elections. He just made the Prime Minister of this country look like a fool. My conclusion was that this was either a grand(at the same time,dumb) plan by Congress to showcase its leader's influence and power in policy-making, or that Mr.Gandhi was ignorant about the tedious efforts that went behind putting forth the Ordinance and the repercussions of his deed. Owing to my prejudice,I believed in my latter conclusion.

If I had any doubt regarding the ablity of Mr.Gandhi as a leader,all was cleared when I watched his first ever interview to a news channel. I was convinced that Congress is doomed with Mr.Gandhi at the helm and so would be India, if he ever becomes the Prime Minister. The disastrous interview must have surely costed Congress a couple of Parliamentary seats. And when Ram Jethmalani said that Mr.Gandhi doesnt have the intellectual capacity to hold the top post, I said 'Amen'.

I was outraged on hearing that Mr.Gandhi skipped the farewell dinner for Dr.Manmohan Singh. It was an outright dis-respect to the only  honourable man in Congress,who,in-spite of all the accusations against him, held his personal integrity,honesty and noblity uncompromised. Through his action,Mr.Gandhi once again proved his ignorance and hot-headedness. Through this single act,he proved his lack of respect towards elders and that all his hyped visits and stay in poor villages and show of affection was just a mockery.

In a country where thousands of highly qualified graduates and hardworking people find it difficult to get a job and make both ends meet, here is a man,whose even educational qualifications are questioned by many, offered the top job of governing the country. A man,who was born in the lap of plentitude,brought up like a prince and who hasn't ever known the grey shades of life, now potected even from the blames of failure of the party,about which he is also as responsible as any party member is;and should have been responsible,like a true and courageous leader should be.

I pity you Mr.Rahul Gandhi! The whole youth of this country pity you. When will you grow up and be a responsible man? For the sake of this country, I hope not soon.

In Search of Truth

What am I? An atheist? An agnost? I find it difficult to place myself somewhere in these belief regimes.  But afterall why should I place myself somewhere? Obviously that would make me an agnost, but I want to live in this world with surety. A confusion-free,certain world. Thats where I want to live. Because I hate uncertainity. I dont know how it was for you, but I have spent a quarter of my life in an insecure world. Filled with doubts, tension and truths which never convinced me, but to which I was told to adjust with. Yes. I want to know the truth in its most crudest,basic and un-adultered form. Nothing less than that.

I have lost my faith in religion long back. The question now is about God.Does an entity called God exist? I wish with all my heart that He exists. I dont want to be an atheist. It is a pitiable condition, to be an atheist. It would be an extremely painful realisation that you dont really have someone to watch your back,or to make some of your seemingly impossible tasks or goals possible. There is always a limitation to human capabilities and to his belief in himself,whatever someone would say. It is a belief that someone all-powerful is up there that actually puts many of us to action. An atheist is a person who has lost one of his most valuable treasures-hope. I dont want to be that person.

It is often said that God works in curious ways and that his works are so unpredictable. It may not be His style to make himself revealed to me in a fashion that I prefer. And I hope I would meet Him soon in my journey, bumping onto me at the next turn. Then I will have my answers........ :-)

ക്യാംപസിൽ മുഴങ്ങണോ മുദ്രാവാക്യം?

മാതാപിതാക്കളുടെ തീരുമാനങ്ങളെ ഒരുമാതിരിപ്പെട്ട മക്കളെല്ലാം എതിർക്കുക സാധാരണമാണ്.മക്കളുടെ നന്മ മാത്രമാണ് അവരുടെ ലക്ഷ്യമെന്കിലും മക്കൾക്ക് അത് പലപ്പോഴും അംഗീകരിക്കാൻ സാധിക്കാതെ വരുന്നു.ക്യാംപസ് രാഷ്ട്രീയം നിരോധിക്കാനുള്ള സർക്കാർ നീക്കവും തുടർന്നുള്ള പ്രതിഷേധങ്ങളും ഇങ്ങനെയൊരു Parent-Child conflict തന്നെയാണ്.

 ക്യാംപസിൽ മുഴങ്ങണോ മുദ്രാവാക്യങ്ങൾ?ചെറിയൊരു ചർച്ചയാവാം.

ഒന്നാമതായി,ക്യാംപസ് രാഷ്ട്രീംയം
കൊണ്ട് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്ക് പറയത്തക്ക
മെച്ചമൊന്നും ഉണ്ടാവുന്നില്ല.ചില
കുട്ടിനേതാക്കൾക്ക് നേതാവു
ചമയാമെന്നും നിസ്സാര കാര്യങ്ങളുടെ പേരിൽ
പഠിപ്പു മുടക്കാമെന്നും മുതിർന്ന
നേതാക്കൻമാർക്ക് ചുളുവിൽ എന്തിനും പോന്ന
കിന്കരൻമാരെ ലഭ്യമാക്കാമെന്നും മാത്രമാണ്
ക്യാംപസ് രാഷ്ട്രീയത്തിന്റ്റെ
ഉപയോഗം.രണ്ടാമതായി ക്യാംപസ്
രാഷ്ട്രീംയം പഠനത്തിലുള്ള വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളുടെ
ശ്രദ്ധ കുറയ്ക്കുന്നു.ചിലരെങ്കിലും ക്യാംപസ്
രാഷ്ട്രീംയം വഴി ഭാവിയിൽ
വലിയ നേതാക്കൻമാർ
ആയിത്തീരുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഭൂരിഭാഗവും പഠനവും
ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്
യുവത്വത്തിന്റ്റെ ചോരത്തിളപ്പിൽ
സ്വന്തം ഭാവി
തുലയ്ക്കുകയാണ്.മൂന്നാമതായി,അമിതമായ political
activism കേരളത്തിൽ
വളരാനും,ക്രിയാത്മകമായ പല
മേഖലകളിലേക്കും ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്താമായിരുന്ന
യുവാക്കളുടെ ഊർജ്ജം,
വിലകുറഞ്ഞ,ഒട്ടുമേ ഉപകാരപ്രദവുമല്ലാത്ത
പ്രതിഷേധപ്രകടനങ്ങൾക്കും പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾക്കുംവേണ്ടി പാഴാക്കപ്പെടാനും
പ്രധാന കാരണം ക്യാംപസ്
രാഷ്ട്രീംയം തന്നെയാണ്.

സർക്കാർ നീക്കം രാഷ്ട്രീയബോധമില്ലാത്ത ഒരു
തലമുറയെ ഇവിടെ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുമെന്ന
ആരോപണം അടിസ്ഥാനരഹിതമാണ്. ക്യാംപസ്
രാഷ്ട്രീംയം രാഷ്ട്രീയബോധമുള്ള ഒരു
തലമുറയെ അല്ല, രാഷ്ട്രീയപക്ഷപാതമുള്ള
(politically biased) ഒരു
തലമുറയെയാണ്
സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നത്.രാഷ്ട്രീയാവബോധം ഉണ്ടാവേണ്ടത്
സ്വതന്ത്രമായ
ചിന്തയിലൂടെയും വിശകലനത്തിലൂടെയുമാണ്.ചെറുപ്പത്തിലേതന്നെ ഏതെങ്കിലും
പാർട്ടിയുടെ സ്വാധീനവലയത്തിൽ അകപ്പെടുന്ന
വ്യക്തി,സ്വതന്ത്രമായി
ചിന്തിക്കാനുള്ള തൻറ്റെ കഴിവിനെ അടിയറവു
വയ്ക്കുന്നു. ക്യാംപസ്
രാഷ്ട്രീംയം നിരോധിച്ചാലും രാഷ്ട്രീയവും സാമൂഹികവുമായ
വിഷയങ്ങളെ
സംബന്ധിച്ചുള്ള
ആരോഗ്യപരമായ,നിഷ്പക്ഷമായ
വിശകലനവും ചർച്ചയും ക്യാംപസിൽ
തുടരാവുന്നതാണ്.അതുവഴി മെച്ചപ്പെട്ട
രാഷ്ട്രീയാവബോധവും സാമൂഹിക
പ്രതിബദ്ധതയുമുള്ള ഒരു തലമുറ
ഇവിടെയുണ്ടാവും.

സർക്കാർ നീക്കം സ്വാശ്രയ
കോളജുകളെ പ്രീതിപ്പെടുത്താൻ എന്നുള്ള
ആരോപണത്തിലും കഴമ്പില്ല.നിരോധനം
മൂലം മറ്റുള്ള കോളജ് മാനേജ്മെന്റ്റുകൾക്ക്
നേട്ടമാണ് ഉണ്ടാവുക. മറ്റുള്ള
കോളജുകൾക്കു നേട്ടമുണ്ടാക്കിക്കൊടുത്തിട്ട്
സ്വാശ്രയ
കോളജുകൾക്കെന്തുകാര്യം?

''ശക്തനും ധീരനുമായിരിക്കുക''

തനിക്കു താനോളം പോന്നൊരു തുണ
നിനച്ചിടാ മർത്യനു ലോകേ

പോയിടാം ദൈവം പോലുമകലെ,തനി-
ച്ചായിടാം അലറും ഭാവിക്കു മുന്നിൽ

പരിഹസിച്ചിടാം,പലരടക്കം പറഞ്ഞിടാം
പരിതപിച്ചിടും ചിലരയ്യോ ഭാഗ്യക്കേടെന്നും

പതറരുത്,ഭയമരുതാശന്കയരുത്
ശക്തനാവുക,ധീരനാവുക പോരാളിയാവുക

ഉണ്ടൊരു പുലരിയേതുകൊടും രാത്രിക്കും
അകലെയല്ലതുവെറും നിമിഷങ്ങൾക്കപ്പുറം............

Waiting for a Good Shepherd

What do we lack?

Not new resources, not new industries, not new roads or buildings. Not some election-time gimmick of a price fall or receding inflation or rise in LPG cylinder numbers. Not a party which will go to any extremes,only at the eve of elections,to appease its voters. Not a party who wont let the country to win a neighbour's friendship due to the fear of losing vote banks. Not a party who is to be led by a kid who doesnt know what he is speaking and still needs his mothers directions. Not a butcher who burned hundreads alive. Not someone who cant see beyond local politics. Not an activist who failed his believers.

We need someone who is unanimously respected. Someone who doesnt believe in dirt-hurling on an adversary and criticizing everything he says. Someone who is noble enough to applaud the good his rival did. Someone who believes in working together. Someone who prefers to work than to speak. Someone who puts people above all in his mind. Someone in whose presence no legislator would ever dare to think of pepper spray.

We need a Leader.

The Trinity Within You

Of the many abilities uniquely wielded by Man, his spiritual faculty is unparallelled. I dont believe I am the right person to talk authoritatively about spirituality, but still, I would like to share some thoughts regarding Spirituality;just only my own concepts,beliefs and ideas. I am not at all going to claim that these are the true facts or ideas, all to be swallowed without a pinch of salt. Afterall, I believe, Spirituality is purely a personal matter.

Man posesses three distinct identities: Physical Identity, Mental or Emotional Identity and Spiritual Identity. Your Physical Identity is, quiet simply put, your body; or rather, the appearance you make before other people. When you think of a friend of yours, a mental image of him/her occurs in your mind. That is his/her Physical Identity. It is the most tangible of the three identities.

Next is Mental or Emotional Identity. It is the pattern in which you think, or the style in which you react to your surroundings. It can be quiet conveniently called one's 'personality',but personality is also shaped significantly by the most important identities of all: Spiritual Identity.

Let me make one thing clear: Spirituality is not a religious concept. It is something beyond the boundaries of religion,though it can be sought through the channel of religion.It is the most innate characteristict of every human being. Well experienced and highly spiritual people will define it as the answer to the most fundamental questions of human life,the process of finding its answers or the meaning of human life.

I would like to call Spiritual Identity as the manner in which you steer your life,based on certain principles which you believe are the most fundamental. Which means, you dont want to do something which is not right according to those principles,and you will feel good if you do something in confirmation with those principles. A person with a healthy Spiritual Identity knows how to effectively control his Physical as well as Emotional Identities and manipulate them effectively. Such persons are found to be many times efficient in every respect,than others. Great personalities of human history are always those who owned an exceptional Spiritual Identity. Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi and Buddha,to name a few.

Quite similar to the other identities, your Spiritual Identity can also be made better. To strengthen your Physical Identity, you go to gymnasiums or play some games. Your Emotional Identity gets tuned by the influence of your friends or peer groups,books,movies and ideas you come across. Similarly, Spiritual Identity can also be honed by a variety of ways. If you are religious,prayers and religious meditation are a good option. Meditation need not be religious. Anything under the sun could be made the subject of meditation. Just make sure that the subject of your choice is invariably positive in nature. Then you can engage in creative and healthy conversations and in association with people of your choice;people whom you feel the most happy to be with. For some people,just sitting alone at a particular spot could recharge them spiritually.

Quiet simply put,Spiritual Identity is the measure of one's ability to be happy from the depth of his heart,all the time. It is the extent of the ability to be at peace with oneself. Isnt it the ultimate goal of Human Life?