NOT SO SPECIAL REALLY?

The killing in Sopore of two young men by the army gunmen in February once more fueled the debate about the relevance and need of the Armed forces Special Powers act. It remains a case of hamlet's dilemma. Should it be repealed? To be or Not to be?
What would it be?

Historically, The British government announced a state of Emergency and gave 'special powers' to its forces when All India Congress Committee declared Quit India Movement in 1942. These 'Special Powers' were vaguely defined. The power to arrest and use force on mere suspicion of anti government activities was given to the troops. In a single move the government arrested prominent leaders. Result: mass uproar.

In 1958, The Republic of India after a few modifications came out with an ordinance which was later made a bill Armed Forces were given Special Powers in the North eastern state of Assam and athe then union territory of Manipur and by 1972 it applied to the five other states which came into being namely Arunanchal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

Essentially, the AFSPA gave the power to any Commissioned Officer, Warrant Officer, non-commissioned officer or any other person of equivalent rank in the armed forces 'may' use force, and even fire which may result in killing someone if the official on ground believes that law and order may be disrupted by an act or possession of an item in an area which has been termed 'Disturbed' under the Disturbed area Act of 1958 (DAA). The official of the armed forces can arrest, detain, search without a need of a warrant.

An area is termed disturbed when the Governor of a state is of the opinion that a dangerous condition requires the armed forces to come to the aid of the civil authority.

In 1990's the same AFSPA was provided in J&K to curtail/ contain the problem of terrorism and insurgency in the state.

So there have been very protests of varying magnitudes all over the north eastern states and J&K against the so called undemocratic, draconian act which is said to have empowered the Armed forces with powers which are meant to make the law and order situation of the area manageable by the civil authorities. Most civilians have lived in an emergency like state all their lives and hold the Armed forces in disregard and hatred. I am sure the NAKED PROTEST rings a bell with most Indians. The Sopore killing has meant that the infamous act is on the table once more and Omar Abdullah is convinced that the unpopular act needs to go. The army court has leveled the blame at a Junior commissioned officer and two soldiers.

But the probe is not the point. The act is. TADA, POTA was also excessively used to control acts of terrorism as well. AFSPA has enjoyed a loathing of a special kind entirely. Army continues to favour it like the various political parties favoured the POTA and TADA. and here in lies the difference...

Armed forces favour the SPA for a simple reason that soldiers are engaged in counter measure exercises and it is essential that they are protect adequately.

The problem with this stand is the lack of accountability. A trained soldier is supposed to be above faults or meant to be... but there is no excuse in the point that a soldier is a human being as well and liable to make a mistake. True that is not an excuse and so he is punished.

The argument continues... How many times does the punishment happen?

I am an emotional supporter of the Armed forces. I can't believe that the Indian army has faults.
but it does and accepting that makes it easy to identify the problem.

We tend to give a halo to an institute and expect it to perform to the mythical standards.

AFSPA, DAA aren't law and order problems but political problems.

Since Independence certain issues have been dealt softly due to which the problem continues to grow in complexity. Giving the special powers to the Armed forces can't be the answer nor can using the Armed forces as a janitor.

Power corrupts! Exceptions will occur. Mistakes will happen on grounds of personal frustrations and misjudgements made by individuals but the establishment can't be held accountable because for nearly 50 years the main issue has now lost its point and fingers are pointed in awkward angles.

The AFSPA has become a Frankenstein. It needs to be dismantled but not at the cost of soldiers or the security of the nation.

Dear India,

I have no idea how you looked when you first became a Republic nation 60 years ago in 1950. I have only known you since 1990. As a five year old with sleep filled eyes I would watch the soldiers march and the big guns roll out the grand strip which was resplendent in valour and pride. A five year old romantic is not too much different from a 20 something romantic who loves you with the fantastic ardour of a laugh crazed mad man. I still feel like a five year old every time I see the parade on the 26th January.

It is grand. I won't admit but I have a lump in my throat and heart bursting arrogance when I see the sharp contingents marching. Sometime years back, I came close to being able to march and salute your glory. I tried to ignore you that year even though the previous year had gone in preparation to acknowledge you with all the reverence I felt for you. I failed though! But that's a story for another letter.

Every year after the celebrations you've had very eventful days. The year 2008 has had some wins and loses. You have lost many more and gained a lot many as well. the number who populate you have more or less kept you growing. the losses of course mean that a big valuable asset has gone forever. But then that doesn't halt your growth, it might stunt it. Bouncing back is something which the population knows as a daily chore. The attacks have now grown more in number and severe. Am I painting too bleak a picture for you? I apologise though none of the words come with malice or scorn and definitely no sarcasm. I am sure you are quite aware of the violations but no act of violence and torture could be new to you, knowing a little of your history.

Though it isn't like you aren't a much bigger presence as far as the world goes. I mean there have been advances in every field but owing to your size I am not sure if you'd be satisfied. Like the past years this last year has also known your name doing the rounds as the next super power. I only wonder next to who, The US or China? I am sure the same would have crossed your mind.

India, you are a nation which has always kept other curious though I am sure you are curious about some of them yourself. I mean you are not unknown as much as your were when the constitution was first presented to your people but then you are better publicised now.

People who govern the majority have much contrasting personalities compared to those who started out. True that the present lot has many without any personality but still a lot of power. Go figure where things went wrong. I am sure you'd be as stumped as a lot of us who mindlessly rant and romanticize about your past, present and future.

Don't for a minute think that I mean to say you aren't doing well. You are doing a lot better than a lot of others. I just wish I could do something for you to do way better than the others.
India, you have on paper every thing required to be the 'Mera Bharat Mahan'. I think those who live as Indians haven't utilised all that you have offered.

I might have lost my way while writing this letter. I am not sure I have conveyed anything I wished to. I am not certain if you can ascertain the love and pride I have being yours. I believe this would never be a famous letter as many previously written about you by men greater and wiser than me. But, India, know this I wish I could be as eloquent as you deserve. I wish I could give you an account of how we have failed you and how we have on many occasions made you proud. I wish I could explain to you that January 26 is just an excuse for me to want to talk to you.

My words may not be moving as they were meant to be. And I may be gone before I am able to write you such a letter. Be it as may be, I salute you and am proud at how despite all misgivings I can still take refuge in your ability to sustain. This day doesn't define you. The proceedings may just bore you but it still makes me want to conquer and win for you.

And that does define a little bit of me.
Yours,
p

REMEMBER REMEMBER THE 26th of NOVEMBER

It's today exactly a month ago the Indians were violated yet again. They were made to witness fear and worst still feel it again. The day we now know as 26/11... another combination of dates when Indians felt the tremors of an appendix nation.
Something which I read a long back comes to me. A Pakistan needs to have a threat from India to exist. Military dictatorship growing. Anyone who wishes to remind me that a people's government now governs Pakistan should see the change in the comments coming from our neighbour. Military is getting a lot more credit than it did at the start of the pouring reactions. The Dictatorship in a fantastic ploy is cornering the attempt at a democracy.
After covering yet another peace march in the capital (the relevance of which has now been lost completely) I wondered in seething frustration of helplessness; about how the Gandhian nature of turning the cheek around for a another slap continues to plague us in a naive and completely retarded fashion. It's like we don't care; but the mass uproar and the number of marches and random emotional heart rending oratory show otherwise. What can crying over spilt milk achieve? Well, Protest means a demand for a change and that is exactly what we would achieve... Alright then, so, let's continue and wait... Chalta Hai! Let's get back to our 'feet exercise' but why should we tolerate as an individual this 'slaughter exercise'? Well, that's what we do and so we continue.
So what's the point? Only this that 26/11 like every other attack which my country is defiled by makes me feel disgusted and impotent but what disgusts me more is that I feel desperate when these attacks snuff out life from the fellow human beings who couldn't say their last. And have lost their only chance towards a destiny constructed by their own devices.
I care a damn! The politics and the propaganda and the extremism means nothing to me but the mindless extinguishing of a complex being with such ease and the hope to instill fear in existence is something which I want to erase or want to see erased.
I taste bile at the spin we see around us but certain feelings however intangible cant be enslaved.
I covered a NSG commandos funeral with as much solemnity as I could. I was proud but disgusted about the situation to which the man, the trained defender had to lose his life to. Thinking about what must have gone through his head before his last breath chokes me. Terror can't tame us. It can't be allowed. I can't think twice before going out anywhere.
No kid should grow up without a parent who lost out to mindless illogical terror ploys. They can't wear out the human spirit more. It is legendary, mythical and eternally heroic. We will survive everything!!!
Fighting for peace is worth the bloody effort.

REPEAT

Re invent... Re innovate... Re construction... Re think... Re answer... Re take... Re act... Re do...

Basically, RESPOND... For crying out a loud!!!

Will this work? I sure hope.

AS(S) YOU LIKE IT (?) !!!

Correct me… in fact I would like to be contradicted even if it is by a devil’s advocate… but as the smartest and the most evolved species on the planet Earth shouldn’t we be run by more than something intangible, something not quantified by sciences, something based on not reason?
How is it that logic is just a word we love to have associated with us and reason a compliment wished as a middle name?
EMOTION. That’s the word which rules our lives, our very existence. And it isn’t funny when you realise that you don’t have answers to the most basic of our functions in life. We do cause it has been done with no reason of known to us. But if the entire civilization decided to figure out the reason behind the rules and just stop to think the entire system based on nothing tangible falls apart…
The falcon cannot hear the falconer…
… And the world falls apart.
Come to think of it though… if we were to be species evolving without emotion I think we would be functioning with only reason and then there wouldn’t be much difference between us and the organisms we address as animal…
So then I suppose we come to a catch 22…
Which would you prefer? Organism devoid of emotion driven by reason or the way we are?
The important thing is that as social beings we love the idea of probability over sum total. You know, ‘the hope, optimism and good in the world’ fame… Intangible yet the only factor which makes us humans… So in fact we are not just emotional but emotional fools… YES of THE SHAKESPEREAN FAME… Emotional yet wise…
This indeed is laughable… and a paradox…

A moment...beheld!!!

There are very few movies which say as much as this one does, without as many words. It doesn't make tall claims nor does it boast of something surreal or fantastic but yet it portrays something so brilliant, heart warming and magical that it could only be a glimpse of the real life. A bite out of those moments which keeps so many hopeful and guarding against dis belief.
Aamir would always remain for years to come the most intelligent film maker and a perfectionist at that. His directorial debut is a statement which says that I am going to capture moments of real life and tell you a story. Every frame gives you the time to soak in and indulge in the wordless turmoil and triumph the narration weaves through. Ishan Avasti is a character created in its total detail yet which develops as every viewers imagination. If ever a film which could have an out of the box thinker as a character... Ishan Avasti would be it.
Every shot makes you realise that a lump has perpetually made home in your throat, a hollow feeling in your chest and an absolute electrifying exhilaration.
Why is this movie the most important to ever see the box office? Only because some stories have to be told and others need to be lived. This is one such story.
You could trash it and feel it wasn't worth your money more importantly your time but I can bet each and everyone who ever ... ever ... was disappointed with him/herself wouldn't be able to walk away with a silent reassurance that you have managed and things would be fine.
But and I would like to stress this, that this isn't a feel good movie. It is quite contrary, a movie which should jolt you to a realisation that things always matter if we could care with a hope... A hope which lies in the brilliance of another and the power of imagination.
So even if you confess this silently and without being observed that real life is right down more magical than any reel fantasy...
Tare Zameen Par... The director that could be forgotten, actors which could be changed but a feeling which lives breathes and laughs...
Og ese ti...

Khaki a dirty colour!!!

There are times when my reactions die a death in a extreme confounding pot pouri of emotion. A DUSU president, Amrita Bahri, protesting after a graduate student of one Aditi college was trampled to death by the very celebrated blueline in out skirts of Delhi.
The protest was as any other which takes place in the heat of the moment but the only reason it got into to the glaring media eye was because Amrita Bahri took hold of the cap of an inspector and threw it to the ground with the support of the angered crowd behind her. The helpless law enforcer could do no more than grimace with shock.
Now, the lady roams about scot free for two reasons after insulting and embarrassing the Police department of this great nation the so called largest democracy of the world. Why?
Well, she is a member of the the same party which is the primary coalition member and leader of the government in power.
Everything said and done about the the state of the policemen in India. No one has the right to insult an institution. These are moments which converts an idealistic young man who joins the force and loses his motivation to do things differently. His uniform is of no consequence and there is no respect associated with either him or the institution he represents.
Its not a small loss by any standards. Its a loss of the system whose future seems rife with doubt of whether anyone with productivity ever join the police force?
If cynicism is all with which we can view a policeman then there would never be a time when you could trust police. Everything doesnt begin dirty and policemen dont always deserve insult and just because there are umpteen reasons in the past doesnt mean the public didnt have a hand in making things murkier.
I am ready to counter anything contrary to what I have stated here. But understand this its not the uniform at fault but the man whose ideals were made or broken by his existence in the society.