Thursday, January 31

माँ

आसु थमते ही नहीं थे जब ज़िक्र माँ का आया और सामने बेठे थे जनाब मुनव्वर राना /

और काव्य-गोष्ट्ठियों में कहकहे और ठहाके तो अक्सर सुनाई देते है पर आखों में नमी, मुनव्वर राना जैसे हुनरमंद ही ला पाते है। दर्द के एहसास की तपिश जब दिल को तपाती है तभी आँसू टपकता है। उनकी लाजवाब शायरी,उस शायरी को पेश करने का दिलकश अन्दाज़, उस अंदाज़ को जज़बात देती बुलन्द आवाज़ सब मिलकर इस कदर मुतासिर करते है सीधे दिल पर असर करते है। मैं तहे दिल से शुकरगुज़र हु अवदेश जी का जिन्होंने इस मेफ्फिल मैं बुलाया खास्तोर पर /ये मेरी ज़िन्दगी की सबसे खूबसूरत महफिल थी और रहेगी
ये कुछ शेर जो आज उन्होने पड़े जो दिल मैं उतर गए जनजोड़ कर रख दिया दिया/आज अपनी अम्मा को बोहत मिस किया........................

लबों पर उसके कभी बददुआ नहीं होती,
बस एक माँ है जो कभी खफ़ा नहीं होती।

इस तरह मेरे गुनाहों को वो धो देती है
माँ बहुत गुस्से में होती है तो रो देती है।

”किसी को घर मिला हिस्से में या कोई दुकां आई-मैं घर में सबसे छोटा था, मेरे हिस्से में मां आई.” मुनव्वर साहब वाक़ई ”बड़े” शायर है !!

मैंने रोते हुए पोछे थे किसी दिन आँसू
मुद्दतों माँ ने नहीं धोया दुप्पट्टा अपना।

अभी ज़िंदा है माँ मेरी, मुझे कुछ भी नहीं होगा,
मैं घर से जब निकलता हूँ दुआ भी साथ चलती है।

जब भी कश्ती मेरी सैलाब में आ जाती है,
माँ दुआ करती हुई ख्वाब में आ जाती है।

ऐ अंधेरे देख ले मुंह तेरा काला हो गया,
माँ ने आँखें खोल दी घर में उजाला हो गया।

मेरी ख़्वाहिश है कि मैं फिर से फरिश्ता हो जाऊं
मां से इस तरह लिपट जाऊँ कि बच्चा हो जाऊँ।

मुनव्वर‘ माँ के आगे यूँ कभी खुलकर नहीं रोना
जहाँ बुनियाद हो इतनी नमी अच्छी नहीं होती

लिपट जाता हूँ माँ से और मौसी मुस्कुराती है
मैं उर्दू में गज़ल कहता हूँ हिन्दी मुस्कुराती है।

सुख देती हुई माओं को गिनती नहीं आती
पीपल की घनी छायों को गिनती नहीं आती।


ज़रा सी बात है लेकिन हवा को कौन समझाए
दीए से मेरी माँ मेरे लिए काजल बनाती है।”

इस तरह मेरे गुनाहों को वो धो देती है
माँ बहुत गुस्से में होती है तो रो देती है।
अभी ज़िंदा है माँ मेरी, मुझे कुछ भी नहीं होगा
मैं घर से जब निकलता हूँ दुआ भी साथ चलती है
जब भी कश्ती मेरी सैलाब में आ जाती है
माँ दुआ करती हुई ख्वाब में आ जाती है
ऐ अंधेरे देख ले मुंह तेरा काला हो गया
माँ ने आँखें खोल दी घर में उजाला हो गया
लबों पर उसके कभी बददुआ नहीं होती
बस एक माँ है जो मुझसे खफ़ा नहीं होती
‘मुनव्वर‘ माँ के आगे यूँ कभी खुलकर नहीं रोना
जहाँ बुनियाद हो इतनी नमी अच्छी नहीं

i am waiting for his book to be given to me from his own hands as promised by avdesh Ji.

Wednesday, January 30

INDIA vs India

"There are two Indias in this country," Amitabh Bachchan said in a commercial for the TOI. Although the advt ‘India Poised’ is meant to awaken people for future but to me it always remind of the good India and bad India full of zip.
Now in our 60th year as a free nation, the journey has brought us to the edge of time's great hollowness. One India is looking down at the split, uncertain and unsure. The other India is looking up at the sky and saying it's time to fly. One India is in good spirits, cheerful and optimistic the other is gloomy, doubtful and wary. Hundreds of thousands have broken faith with the institutions of India's democracy. The veil of the country has fallen out.
As India celebrates another Republic Day, with an air of euphoria about its Economy growing at 8%, it is crucial that we do not ignore the pained reality that the country is still very much underdeveloped. There is an “other” India which comprises about 400 million people, or about 40% of the population. The other Indians live in villages, small towns or city slums. They are a much deprived and helpless lot. About 250-300 million of them are mostly illiterate and live below the poverty line. Unfortunately, the provision of livable homes, potable water and electricity for most of these citizens exists only on paper. They offer a grim picture of administrative inattention, disregard, neglect, deception, hoax and corruption. Who will take a charge of the smoke and mirrors?
Who will ensure fairness for other India? Which India will choose optimism over pessimism?
Who will hope in despair and in optimism? Who will keep the faith?
One India control and run in advantage, the Other India chase, trail and pick the tidbits some not even the morsel .But who is the monitor? These trades are on the rise.
With each passing day, more and more people from the Other India are swapping the India I love.And quietly, while the world is not looking, a pulsating, dynamic, new India is emerging. We, the people of India could not root out our three basic problems. These three problems are (1) illiteracy, (2) unemployment and (3) poverty. If we go deep we shall come to the conclusion that the first problem is the base of all our problems.
I wonder what advice Gandhi Ji would have given to the other India.

Monday, January 28

Bharat Ratan

The list went too long for the Bharat Ratna this year after Sri Advani initiated a letter to clear his debt by not being benevolent but by being a seasoned politician.
The queue had Ilaiyaraja, Anna Hazare, Bhagat Singh, Dhirubhai Ambani, Dalai lama, Jyoti Basu,M.F Hussain, Mayawati, Mulam Singh Yadav, Sachin Tendulkar, Ratan Tata, Karunanidhi, Charan Cingh, Laxmi Mittal, Narayan Murty, Kanshi ram, Amritya sen, Simranjeet Singh Maan, Jyoti Basu (later the CPM rejected the proposal), Biju Patnaik, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chawdhury Charan Singh, Mahatma Phule, Babu Jagjivan Ram, M Karunanidhi, former Prime Minister Chander Shekhar, Kapoori Thakur, social reformer Jyotibha Phule, playback singer Mohammad Rafi, Ratan Tata, Mata Amritanandamayi etc etc perhaps the most bizarre of all, the deputy speaker of the Delhi assembly, Shoaib Iqbal proposed the name of Bahadur Shah Zafar.

It’s the seventh year but the only year, which had violent flow for the highest award, politicised. Deferment was the ideal solution. The shrewd BJP politician gave birth to the idea and the controversy. Every one in the country knows Atal ji as a stalwart and no one defy his sincerity, dedication and matchless service to the nation. The highest civilian award was knocked down mercilessly by ugly politics testifying the sheer narrow-mindedness and prejudice on the part of the powers that be.

On January 2, 1954, the government of India instituted four civilian awards, viz, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the highest of them all, the Bharat Ratna. in its inaugural year, Bharat Ratna was conferred on three individuals, viz, Sarvepalli Radha Krishan, CV Raman and C Rajagopalachari. In 1977, during Morarji Desai’s regime, it was discontinued because the government felt the award had become irrelevant owing to politicisation of the honour. After three years, when Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister again, the Bharat Ratna was restored. It was conferred on Mother Teresa (Mary Taresa Bojaxhiu) for her unmatched service to lepers.

Till date, forty individuals (see chart) have been honoured with the prestigious award; it includes five Prime Ministers, viz, Pandit JL Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shashtri, Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai and Rajeev Gandhi. Among them, four belonged to Congress and one, viz, Morarji Desai, hailed from a non-Congress party. Indira Gandhi was the first woman recipient of the award. In 2001, it was jointly conferred on Lata Mangeshkar and Ustad Bismillah Khan. The Vajpayee government was in power then.

Today the top honour has given rise to bitter political controversies. Gauzing the UPA government’s mood the shrewd Shri Advani played his deal first and showed the present faction in politics. Political sycophancy became the criterion for this prestigious award. Clamour for such awards is a not a new phenomenon but surprisingly this year, it became louder than ever before and sticky.

India, being a country of a billion people, has not produced even a single Bharat Ratna in the past six years. This is the seventh year in a row that no one has been named for the award. Politicians for securing the Bharat Ratna for their heroes - alive or dead - has revealed how segmented the Indian polity has become. Virtually the entire political class is seeing the award of caste or community or party, demonstrating that partisan considerations alone matter to it even when recommending a supposed stalwart of national stature.

There is little doubt that a sad spectacle such as the present one over this most prestigious of national awards would have been unimaginable in the early decades of the post-Independence period. Narrow codes dominate the scene primarily because of divisive politics based on casteist and communal campaigns. Arrogant to the hilt they don't see anything beyond counting notes and votes and keep preparing for the next fraud in elections.

So in today's cynical world the nation is evidently divided into the groups to which each of them belongs as demonstrated by the nations National political parties. The narrowness of outlook is evident. The politicians are crushing the very essence of democracy we imagine. They made a mock of the national interest. Every party was pushing their own partisan agendas, whether it is the anti-Americanism of the Left, or the caste- or region-based preoccupations of the parties confined mainly to single provinces, like the RJD or the DMK or the Akali Dal. What is worrisome is their restricted vision; this was witnessed as few openly adopted an anti-national stance involving other countries as well.

This boisterous show underlines the dearth of leaders but not the dearth of businessman. The dearth is explained by the antics of politicians over the award this year.
What if the Bharat Ratan solely be given to our jawans who safeguard our country who lives and dies for the nation, for all of us. It is the “jawan” who defends and obeys the Constitution in the most impressive and exemplary manner. He stands out as an undiluted wholesome Indian spirit and an invincible symbol of patriotism.

Monday, January 21

What if .........



What if we have women chef and cab drivers in the state?

All we have to do is bond 3 departments - tribal department, tourism department and women and child department.
Tribal department will give opportunity/ select the women who are good cooks as well as studying in school/college and will also select women who can be good drivers and run their own taxi. MP tourism would give them employment and women and child department will get loans and other facilities from the banks through their schemes.
MP tourism should take an initiative of 8th march 2008 as on that day is women’s day. To everybody’s surprise and for the people to know that anything thought in good intentions leads to a beautiful outcome. This year The United Nations resolution for tourism is “empowerment of women through tourism”.
This idea had struck my mind while reading an article by the MD of Singapore Tourism months back on the net. I had been thinking how the rural women be empowered with what they are. At the same time I placed by self in the tourist soul who is visiting India and looking for a rural life of the Tribal and rural lives. What place can it be better than the heart of India my MP. It has different tribes, Bhils and rural surrounded in every nook and corner of its body. Large segment – almost 40 percent - of Madhya Pradesh’s population is tribal. Its four agro-climatic zones have resulted in a most interesting mix of peoples and lifestyles. There are three distinct tribal groups; the largest chunk being that of the Gonds, who once ruled most of the state and after whom Gondwana, the central portion of the state, is named. Western Madhya Pradesh is inhabited by the Bhils, a colourful group of warriors and hunters. The eastern side of the state is dominated by the Oraons, most of who have now converted to Christianity. Population is pretty sparse in the tribal areas as the terrain is hilly and difficult
What is interesting, however, is that the tribal have managed to retain their ethnic identity, customs and rituals despite modernization. The tourist soul will definitely look for the authentic food as well.
While surfacing out of the tourist body, my soul and mind outlined an idea which if given a vision will bless plenty of people and give me oomph to work more and make my mind fertile.
This idea is within the means of both the parties, can be administered, can be controlled easily without much ado, can be the implemented easily, can give results like greased lightning and at the same time the women will get an employment prospects while at home.
If the scheme gets launched it will be real empowerment of women through rural tourism.
Plenty of women can use the ideas for their living. All MP tourism would need is –training of this women regarding hygiene and serving the guest and secondly a women drivers license by the time they become real drivers. This scheme has to be implemented in the 5 major cities of MP i.e. Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur. The women and child welfare department will help them in financing their business.
The tourism department can hard sell the tribal and employ them.

Till next, let me explore some more.

Saturday, January 19

Ashura

Ever since the creation of life two opposing forces have been at war with each other- virtue and vice, right and wrong. These struggles were between the Right and the wrong. Consequently the Right prevailed upon the wrong and it was proved that Right is might.
Hussain is regarded as the "leader of the martyrs". He was not just the prey of a cold blooded ruler but stood for his whole nation, his community and of cource his belief in God. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam, was striked down in so cruel a manner.It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Hussain is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world.

Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy. As Allama Iqbal says in his Baqiyat (in Urdu):

Ronay wala hoon Shaheed-e-Kerbala key gham men main,
Kya durey maqsad na dengey Saqiye Kausar mujhey.

I am one who weeps at the plight of the Martyr of KerbalaWon't the reward be given to me by the Keeper of Kauser (Imam Ali).

The commemoration of Ashura on the 10th of Muharram every year serves to remind us of the sacrifices of the family of the Prophet . It also makes us aware of the people, then and now, who tried to destroy Islam and the family of the Prophet and all that they stood for - as well as those who watched, listened and did nothing.
Ashura has been a day of fasting for Sunni Muslims since the days of the early Muslim community. It marks two historical events: the day Nuh (Noah) left the Ark, and the day that Musa (Moses) was saved from the Egyptians by Allah. Shi'a Muslims in particular use the day to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussain, a grandson of the Prophet in 680 CE. In Shi'ite communities this is a solemn day , consist primarily of public expressions of mourning and grief and the tazia day.
Some Shi'as express mourning by flagellating themselves on the back with chains, beating their head or ritually cutting themselves. This is intended to connect them with Husayn's suffering and death as an aid to salvation on the Day of Judgment,also a symbol of the struggle against injustice, tyranny, and oppression.Ashura is observed on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year.

"Ashura" is a day of great historical significance.
On this day:
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) accepted the repentance of Sayyidina Adam ('Alaihis-Salaam) after his exile from Paradise.
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) saved Sayyidina Nuh ('Alaihis-Salaam) and his companions in the ark.
Allah extinguished the fire in which Sayyidina Ibrahim ('Alaihis-Salaam) was thrown by Nimrod.
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) spoke directly to Sayyidina Musa ('Alaihis-Salaam) and gave him the Commandments.

On this same 10th of Muharram-
Sayyidina Ayyub ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored to health (from leprosy)
Sayyidina Yusuf ('Alaihis-Salaam) was reunited with his father Ya’qub ('Alaihis-Salaam)
Sayyidina Yunus ('Alaihis-Salaam) was taken out from the belly of the fish and the sea was divided as the nation of israel was delivered from captivity and Pharoah’s army was destroyed.
Sayyidina Dawud ('Alaihis-Salaam) was forgiven
the kingdom of Sulaiman ('Alaihis-Salaam) was restored
Sayyidina Isa ('Alaihis-Salaam) was raised to Jannah
Sayyidina al-Husayn (Radiyallahu 'anh) (the Holy Prophet’s, Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, grandson) achieved the honor of Martyrdom.
Things one must do -
Worship Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) as much as you can on ‘Ashura.
Whoever fasts on this day is like one who fasts all his life.
Whoever clothes a naked person Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will release him from a painful punishment.
He who visits a sick person, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will grant him a reward that will not be decreased.
Whoever places his hand on an orphan’s head, or feeds a hungry person or gives water to a thirsty man, Allah will feed him a feast from Paradise and will quench his thirst with Salsabil (a wine that does not intoxicate).
Who ever takes a Ghusl/bath on this day will enjoy excellent health and freedom from sickness and indolence.
Whoever provides generously for his family on this day, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) will be generous to him throughout this year.
Whoever applies Kuhl /kajal to his eyes will never suffer from eye-sore again.

Also we must not forget the self-sacrificing ladies who during the course of this everlasting and important event, which took, place in 61 A.H. Some great and magnanimous women also participated and made sacrifices. So much so that some of them were even martyred in this path and their honorable names have been mentioned in the glorious history of the rising of Imam Husayn with honor and respect.
1- Lady Dulham
2-Lady Umme Wahab
3- Lady Rubāb
4- lady of Bakr bin Wa'il.

O’ Allah! Bless us to perform good deeds and gain their reward on Ashura. Make the New Year one of unity, cooperation and success for Muslims in this city and around the world.
Ameen.
Please point me if I am wrong somewhere
Details collected from various authors

Thursday, January 17

भईया क्या चाहते हो ?

भईया क्या चाहते हो

The bench of Justice Rakesh Saxena stayed proceedings against Sania Mirza and made it clear to hounds of publicity that law can not be used as a tool for personal fun at the cost of others life and career। Not only this but also issued a show-cause notice to the petitioner asking why proceedings against her in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Bhopal be not quashed?
Although Indian sports star Sania Mirza showed she had put the controversy that haunted her Australian Open preparations well behind her on Thursday as she battled to the third round in Melbourne. She qualified to play with Venus inspite of the pressure from the frivolous lawsuits, FIR, Fatwas and load of exasperating incidents that she is blamed for igniting.
I wanted to call up the limelight hog “Prakash Thakur” who happens to be from Bhopal-My City. Bhai kya chate ho? CJM Ajay Shrivastava on January 9 receiving a complaint from this moron, issued a notice to Sania Mirza on a charge dishonouring the tricolour. Not to miss the allegation based on a photograph that appeared in newspapers on January 1, showing her feet up, alongside a small pedestal-borne national flag. Sania was playing with Rohan Bopanna at Perth, Australia, in the Hopman Cup against Czech. A photographer photographed her in an introspective mood after defeating her rival. A technical mistake or a publicity stunt of the photographer of AFP.
This was not the first incident. There have been loads of incidents from extremists, fans and buffoons like Thakur. She was in the controversy when she refused playing with Israeli tennis star Shahar Pe’er in the doubles tournament of the Bangalore for fear of violent protests by India’s Islamic communityalthough initially she agreed, but later retracted, telling Pe’er “It’s best that we don’t play together this time to prevent protests against my cooperation with an Israeli. There is no reason to arouse their ire (Muslims).
She was chastised by Muslim groups in India for wearing a sleeveless top and a mini-skirt during her matches. Local Muslim groups claimed that her attire degrades Islam, and some even threatened to kill her.
'I am opposed to pre-marital sex' and “should have safe sex” comments by her during press conferences made her loose a few advertising campaigns, costing the young tennis player significant income due to extremists as they claimed she is corrupting the youth in the country, especially the girls.
A week back in an attempt to ease tensions she had made up her mind to quit when the flag row first flared.
What kind of Democracy are we are living in our country?



Wednesday, January 16

Is Nandigram a Political Volcano

The findings of the inquiry should be promptly made public. International rights group Amnesty International hard hitting report has accused the West Bengal government of - colluding with CPM party workers, ineffective police in maintaining law and order, allowing organised groups of armed supporters of the CPM to step in and violently crush the protests in Nandigram and failing to institute an impartial inquiry into the violence.
The barbaric act were carried out by armed supporters of the Communist Party of India-Marxist in october and november 2007. Nandigram has experienced violence as CPI-M supporters and farmers belonging to the Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (Anti-displacement front, BUPC) clashed with each other in attempting to gain control over parts of land area. The BUPC had been formed to protest against forced eviction and displacement of local inhabitants, mostly farmers, as a result of the project falling under (SEZ).It consisted of activists owing allegiance to several political parties including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress(I) and former supporters of the CPI-M.
This was a result of notice declared on 28 December 2006 to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Nandigram under the Government of India’s Petro-Chemical Petroleum Investment Region(PCPIR).The project required at least 4,000 hectares of land for the proposed SEZ, which was to be jointly developed by the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation and the Indonesia-based Salim group of companies. The land is owned by local farmers.

Did violence in Nandigram take place against the backdrop of inaction by the state and “tacit acceptance” of the violent operations of the armed supporters of the CPM?
Was there a close involvement of district officials, the state government, the state machinery and the Communist party workers to dictate and determine the course of events?
Who were involved in the violence have not been booked or arrested. CPM supporters raped, harassed and beat up women. Why people named in the FIR not arrested?It also noted that there has been no departmental or disciplinary action against any administrative or police official in spite of loss of life and property in the area. Why?
Was the general impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators a key factor for this barbaric action?
The report says the authorities knew that party workers were collecting arms in Nandigram before November clashes, but did nothing to prevent the violence. Why?
The CBI has registered seven cases related to the Nandigram firing and ensuing violence. Is this enough?
When will the political patronage to the perpetrators end ?
Why are the accused the police officials, CPM activists and the administration?
Who allowed CPM workers to dress as policemen who fired at protesters?
Who is threatening the witnesses?
Why shouldn't the authenticity of the medical reports be questioned?
Who will give answers besides the state government?
Who divided the CPM and the landowners?
Why is the movement lasting for so long?
Did the movement turned into a religious and caste war instead of the war for land-to live?
When will the Rapist, police officers that misused their post & position that of govt officials, who violated human rights will be caught?
Till when will be the citizen of Nandigram treated as the second grade citizen of the country?
When will be the democratic rights of the protesters will be granted?
Till date the position is not peaceful and lively, but silent due to fear?
When will the citizens have confidence in the state administration?
Is Nandigram a political- made -volcano?
The matter is pending at the Supreme Court.
But the most important question which needs to be answered is it not the responsibility of the state to safeguard the rights of his citizens whether in West Bengal, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Assam ,Orissa or Madhya Pradesh? Every citizen has the right to live, speak and protest.
It’s really sad where we talk about reaching the moon by 2020 and at the same time we have to fight for our rights without freedom.

Saturday, January 12

Basic values

A Para caught my brainwave at hotprose.com. “Our popular culture has a lot of trouble delivering affirmative feelings about what we once considered good, basic values. Consumed by cynicism, we seem embarrassed by our own good will. We leap at every opportunity to dismiss the better angels of our nature as no more than corny — or as the way a simpleton might see the world.”
The affliction can be particularly serious in the black community the author said with his experience.
The burden is just not on the Blacks but on any cultural group, tribes, nations, in any religion. There are people who believe and choose which values fit in this mechanical world. Every thing! Be it the basic values. They are being mechanized by few. They are even run on agenda.
It’s the education which needs to be free and compulsory for all till a basic stage. Severe punishment should be imposed for not taking this as an oath. this rule should be like a rule in a religious book.
Beside other weak links this link if taken upon can strengthen the middle class value system. The matter-of- fact ness will remain intact and so will the mind of simple human being- basic values -of middle class.
Stereotyping is a common phenomenon every where. It takes ages to change that perception of a person forget about societies, communities.
This misleading has to be stopped. It is not only dangerous but will make human beings extinct.

Thursday, January 10

A promise is a promise

Launching "NANO" the cheapest car of the world by TATA Motors has empowered the common man in India.The whole world is talking abbout the cheapest car inthe world.New Delhi, January 10, 2008: Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group and Tata Motors, today unveiled the TataNANO’, the People’s Car from Tata Motors that India and the world have been looking forward to.
A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People’s Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families.
The People’s Car will be launched in India later in 2008. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, Mr. Ratan N. Tata said, “I observed families riding on two-wheelers – the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby. It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family. Tata Motors’ engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal. Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions. We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”
The length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance.Fuel-efficient engine People’s Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balance shaft. People’s Car’s safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements and tubeless tyres further enhance safety.
The stunning Nano has large plans for the customer, the company and the competition. For the household consumer, an upgrade from a two-wheeler has never been as puff of air. For the company, it is mostly a management test of making it sure that the clockwork doesn’t let anything slip—not a nanosecond, nor a nanometer, so to speak. Preventing black marketing will be a task. For the competition it has already given jitters to the strategists, be they two-wheeler or car or SUV. This is a mass market that is functionality-oriented and budget-bound as much as it is status conscious.
Cheers for the innovation, the technology marvel, the stunner and the person who kept his promise. Lets forget for a little while about the debate on Nano, congestion on the streets , emissions on roads and few concerned without logic. Let us all appreciate and recognise the engineers for creating this marvel for the small towns and the common man.

Monday, January 7

Guns n roses

Violence continues to pose a challenge to the nation's educational environment. We have a 16 year old boy killing his junior in school over a tiff which occurred last year. He shot him pointblank with a local made pistol as the victim did not acknowledge his New Year greetings.
The incident is the first of its kind in Madhya Pradesh-in Satna district. It comes barely a month after the shocking killing of a Class VIII student by two of his classmates in a Gurgaon public school.Do these incidents incidents point towards some disturbing emerging trends ? Hope not. But if yes its time to take note of the symptom and kill the virus. Right away.
We see the best and brightest of students being alienated by oppressive environments. Many strict responses to violence in school demand profiling. But at times this makes the school environment worse for students who do not adhere to the rules. Cooperative learning technique could be an option that reduces conflict among school children, promotes better learning, improves student motivation, and increases enjoyment of the learning experience.
Violence in our schools demands that educators, students, parents, social service organizations, and concerned individuals be informed about the problems, causes, and effects of school violence. The entire society should join the search for solutions. Not only parents but the school education system and the society have to take a lead to save our future generation.

Sunday, January 6

Steve Buckner "man of the match"


What a win by Australians!
Instead of 11 members in the team 13 players played the match against India.
Man of the match was Steve Buckner.
Salute to Mark Benson (England) and Steve Buckner (West Indies} for sportsmanship! Australia won the second Test by 122 runs to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and equal their own world record of 16 successive victories.

Thursday, January 3

Good women & Bad women

Women should be more careful in public places. It was a terrible incident which occured on Jan 1st 2008 in Mumbai with the two young married women. Thanks to the Photographers of Hindustan Times who clicked the photos of the molesters and got a police complaint registered leading to a public outcry.
There are plenty of incidents which get unnoticed because either we dont have a complaint or the complaint dont get registered. How many young girls get mollested in a public place like croweded market,bus,train,musical shows,offices and home aswell?Attitude towards women by police need to be checked. Awarenees of such acts should be spreaded to let women know the posibility of such act at the places and time so that they are mentally prepared.
Police should become more friendly when a women approach for a complaint. Instead of the hostile statement they should carry out the investigation carefully and secretely to avoid social pressures on the lady.The social tabbos also leave women with nonregistartion of a FIRas they avoid harraserment in the society.
Our entertainment industry promoting indecent remarks and acts should be censored as the intention for the acts is not understood by few. taking the acts as fashion few goons take a chance and do the offensive act.
Besides media who highlights such issues for TRPS should invoke sense by having discussions.
Self protection acts should be made compulsory in schools and colleges for girls to safeguard themeselves.
Offenders who are a menace to civilized society should be mercilessly punished in the severest terms as they are the goons who are unafraid of the law. They know they can get way with such nasty acts.
The police is too callous toward crime against women while making some unsympethtic remarks as in a mumbai.it took 48 hours for registration of an FIR.These are few soft spots for such crimes.Prompt action should be taken to catch the culprit.These are few reasons why women dont come up to complain inthe police stations.The hostile attitude of police is leading to increse in crimes against women.
Another area which can help to curb this menace will be a debate on Section 354 IPC to safeguard the women.Everyone must have a fear of a law. Absences of deterrent punishments make few people carry out outrageous acts. CULPRITS booked get bail easily as the law is not effective.Serious debate in the parliament is needed to safeguard the women in India. Section 354 IPC has been ineffective. Broader interpretations are needed to protect victims, and also to serve justice. The section make and label women as “good woman” and “ bad woman” without any logic. .
If the women in our country are to be protected, they should be able to move freely at any time of the day. We know for a fact that women are sexually harassed on the street, in homes, in workplaces, anywhere that men and women occupy the same space. Yet, if women complain, they are told they are being touchy, that they have no sense of humor, that these are occupational hazards of working in places where men and women have to be together. But should women just grin and bear it? Or should there be some protection under the law for them? Or is this another of the many societal problems that cannot be legislated away?
The Indian Penal Code was drafted at a time when Indians were not allowed the freedom to think for themselves by the English. It came into force in 1860 and in the past 140 years has gone through few changes. An independent democracy should not confine itself to laws made with a bias towards the now outdated principles of colonial criminal law. The judiciary and the legislature have a duty to promote the principles enshrined in the Constitution and a responsibility, however lofty it may seem, to ensure that the perpetrators of these violent crimes are punished.Every day we read about people who have decided to take the law into their own hands. What is salutary is that the issue is out in the open and is being discussed. It gives a chance to hundreds of women who have faced situations for which they thought there was no solution to come forward and share their experiences. The more such evidence comes up before those framing the laws, the greater the likelihood that what finally emerges will have some value .

Tuesday, January 1

Happy New Year 2008

May the dawning of this New Year, fill your heart with new hopes, open up new horizons and bring for you promises of brighter tomorrows. May you have a great New Year.

With regards,

shehla Masood

The year 2007 that was for me

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