Happy Dussehra. Let's fight out problems like Lord Ram.

I wish all my readers a very happy Dussehra and many good times ahead.

Today was the day when Lord Ram killed Ravan, the ten headed demon! That is why, we also call this day Vijaydashmi.

Ravan, the king of Lanka, was a great scholar who fell to wicked ways. He abducted Sita, the virtuous wife of Lord Rama. This led to his death at the hands of Lord Ram.Even today, this day is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor in India. The effigy of Ravan is erected and burnt. The burning of the effigy symbolizes, the triumph of Good over Evil and the beginning of good times.

There is a vast ground facing our housing complex. Like every year, this year too the effigy of Ravan was erected. There is was so much of hustle and bustle the whole day. Toy-sellers, balloon wallahs, bangle-sellers, ice-cream & sugar-candy vendors, the chat- wallahs and other small tradesmen came from distant places and occupied the best positions possible. Loudspeakers were put up at strategic points and music was played  the whole day. There was mirth and happiness in the air. Even if alone at home, I  enjoyed it all. Ravan was clearly visible from my window. I, however, missed my children!  How they loved sitting at the window and watch the fun! Why did they have to grow up and go away!

Around six o'clock, visitors started pouring in. In that milling crowd, I noticed many young parents who had come with their small kids.And when the effigy of Ravan was set on fire, several of these parents lifted their children in the air. Thus, making it possible for the children to get the rare glimpse. The burning of the effigy took place around 9 pm after the political leaders arrived on the scene.With the day stretched on, the vendors had a thriving business most certainly.  

Victory of Good over Evil! I suppose, this is what keeps India going? Watching the effigy burn, we derive a  nice feeling that someday we will win over terrorism, corruption, materialism and other problems facing us. But I guess, it's not so easy.  Lord Ram fought the mighty Ravan and we, too will have to fight the various dangers that are threatening us today. And so the parents who lift their children to show Ravan crumbling to death will need to do something more. They will also have to give lessons to their young ones about fighting out things like Lord Ram.

Women. Power. And Women's Bill.

Women's Bill! Every time the topic comes up, I am reminded of what a male candidate had once written in the entrance exam to Mass Communication Course," If people had wanted, the Bill would have passed long ago. The fact is nobody wants it." This was said about 5-6 years ago! And you bet, I gave him marks lavishly and made sure that he got selected. For he made a statement that would prove true for all times to come.

And imagine this controversial Bill finally got passed in the Rajya Sabha! The happy and jubilant faces of Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj and others was a sight to behold. I felt happy too even if slightly unsure. Frankly if we have to go by words, we must indeed have 33% reservation for women judging from the fact that 50% of India's population is women. And rightly so, Arun Jaitley's remark that at the moment we only have 10% women representation in the parliament certainly makes us agree. But the catch lies there. What kind of Women Representation do we want? Will these new entries be as dignified, intelligent, honest, sincere and committed as Sonia Gandhi, Renuka Choudhary, Sushma Swaraj, Brinda Karat or say Shabana Azmi? Or are we going to end up having women leaders like Mayawati? Have our great leaders thought of the consequences? I know I have asked too many questions. But then I was not born yesterday. I have seen women creating homes and have also seen women breaking homes. That brings us to the fact, that India is a Home for we Indians. Naturally, we have have to think of what kind of daughter-in-law we want.

I am staying in Indore for the last 12-13 years. Indore is in Madhya Pradesh-a state that's quite backward as compared to Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, etc. I am also reminded of an interesting incident where one our peons in the university was happy that his mother had won the Village Panchayat Elections. This meant that power would eventually come to the male members of the family. I had been left speechless then just as I have been left speechless now! For it certainly means out of the frying pan into the fire!

Mind you, Power is intoxicating. And power in the wrong hands could spell doom. Instead, let's start slowly. Let's make literacy compulsory up to 12th standard in villages particularly. And also make sure that the contestant's form is filled by the woman herself.

India needs women leaders like Kiran Bedi who stopped the vulgar Holi that was being played in Delhi way back in the 70's and 80's. We want women leaders who will do something for the safety of women and work towards the upliftment of the country. I am not amused by numbers. I would any time trust a man like Pranab Mukherji and other such dignified leaders than go in for Mayawati, Rabri Devi and others.

We Indians. A confused lot!

We think, worry, care... so much about ourselves! Our beauty regime, health, salary, promotion. and when it comes to our family, we try to have the best there too! A classy dwelling in a posh colony, an excellent school for our children and what not. And too all very quickly.But we are so distant when it comes to our country. I really don't understand.

There have been floods in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and several places but no one is bothered. Several policemen were killed last week by naxalites. A day prior to this Inspector Induvar was beheaded and killed by the same naxalites. But I didn't see anyone even talking about it in the university or the agency where I work. Now we also hear that the same Inspector was on a punishment posting and had not been paid for six months. But, on TV we had the Human Activists refusing to call this an act of terrorism. As per their definition, terrorism is when poor people are deprived of food, etc. Yes, Human Activists! People going without food is bad and we have to work collectively and fast to solve this problem. But, we also cannot have our brave policemen killed this way.I shudder to think how their families must be feeling, while watching others ready for Diwali-the festival of lights.

Much as I respect Mr. Jairam Ramesh, I am surprised at his rhetoric that linking of rivers will be harmful. This one liner makes no sense, especially when scientist and former President Dr. Abdul Kalam, too, has shown considerable interest in this project. I think we Indians are just very, very cool when it comes to solving a problem at the national level. It's not correct...just not correct.

Let the deserving get the jobs.

Ours was a 3 yr higher secondary course ( i.e. 9th, 10th, & 11th). As we had to select subjects in class ninth, I had opted for Sanskrit which had always been my strong subject.

One such Sanskrit book that I studied in class eleventh was "Dootavakyam". Just for information, the word "Doot'" means ambassador or messenger and "vakyam" means the utterance. And so if you can guess, the small book only contains the conversation between Lord Krishna and Duryodhan before the commencement of the epic battle-Mahabharat.

As per the book, Lord Krishna, who is on the side Pandavas and later on also becomes the charioteer of Arjun, goes and speaks to "Suyodhan" ( That's how he always addressed him as!) and asks him to give a part of the kingdom to his cousins. Duryodhan rejects it outright.

Infact all throughout the book, Lord Krishna put forward what Pandavas have said, and Duryodhan turns down every request. Duryodhan does seem horrid, but what he finally says on the last page is truly important for he literally steals the show from the Pandavas- " Dear Messenger! You don't ask for kingdom. Nor do you give it just because somebody has asked for it. If my cousins want to rule, they should take up arms and fight with me. On my part, I will not give them any land! Not even equal to the size of the point of a needle. "

I remember having crammed the answer as per the Delhi Board expectations. But somewhere the lines made a strong impression on me. For, in my most difficult moments, these lines have always come to me and I have fought with all my might. My arms have always been hard work and sincerity. And yes, however difficult I have eventually always overcome the challenge.

I feel pained when students say agitatedly in classrooms and seminars," What's the use, we don't get jobs!" As is my job, I do check the answers they write in the exams. The spelling mistakes, and the grammatical errors are atrocious to say the least. As Madhya Pradesh is a Hindi Belt area and Indore falls in this state, I am often faced with loud protests when I teach in English. But while checking the papers I find their Hindi weak too- to the point of being pathetic.

At such times I feel utterly hopeless. Every job has its own demand. And the demand has to be met. It is absolutely sickening to see a graduate not writing a single sentence correctly. Or a D.T.P. operator not knowing the difference between an "exclamation mark" and a "question mark"!

If that's not enough, we have ministers like Arjun Singh who have spoiled the situation even more by saying that spelling mistakes have to be ignored. Has he thought of the consequences? It is really sad that libraries remain unfrequented, and books /newspapers remain unread in an institution. The general attitude is, "Offence is the best form of defence." The worst part is that almost all political parties in a bid to win votes have said that they will ensure jobs to all if they come to power. I really don't know what will happen of the country!

Looking at the state of affairs, I sometimes wonder how many from the younger generation will be able to fill admission form or write leave application for their children! I am genuinely worried at that.