NEW YEAR MUSINGS-2010

Another year.New challenges.New targets.
It seemed only yesterday it was Jan.1. But its' Jan12. Andrew Marvel's lines haunt me- " At my back I always hear, Time's winged chariot hurrying near."
What did the last year (2009) gift me? A new job. A prestigious assignment/ designation. Renewed respectability (I'm the same ole' Sunit, only people's perception has changed). At the same time, a lot of responsibilities. Deadlines to be met. Higher stress levels. Year end gift of High blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol.
" Kuch khokar pana hai, kuch pakar khona hai. Jiwan ka matlab to aana aur jana hai".... goes the popular song 'Ek pyar ka nagma hai'. Only the love is missing in my life. But, LOVE IS A LONELY SONG sang Paul Anka. And it's more than true of Haryana with its history of honour killings.
What do I intend to do in 2010? May be visit Puri to hear the sounds of sea. Or, visit Shirdi for my tryst with Shirdi Sai Baba. Visit Bhopal and sip cold coffee at Top n' Town in New Market. Visit Sagar, climb the hill top in University campus, and watch the sunset. Go to Kolkata and feast upon Bengali cuisine. Visit Cuttack, take rickshaw ride through lanes and bye-lanes, go to my first school (Stewart School), worship Maa Kali at Chandi's Mandir, go to Mahanadi's bank and reminisce about childhood memories. Or, may be visit Dehradun-Mussorie and relive the days spent there. Visit Udaipur, watch a movie at Chetak (if the cinema hall is still there) and hope one of my classmate of class IV will pop up suddenly.
Wishes, wishes, wishes. "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". Reality bites hard. Complete your present tasks, says the mind. And don't forget those pills- one for blood sugar, one for cholestrol. For comfort, listen to " Give me some sunshine, give me some rain. Give me another chance, wanna grow up once again..........". Year comes, year goes, life goes on.................

Lok Sabha Poll 2009 : It's all about money, honey!

Rohtak, May 8. The euphoria of Lok Sabha poll 2009 is gradually getting over. Political parties are still under hangover. Claims, counter-claims. We are winning, they are losing. Talk-small talk, loose talk, big talk. Tea shops, paan shops-all present a live show of political discussions. Permutations and combination are discussed threadbare. KAUN BANEGA P.M.? KYA KAREGA C.M.? CHUNAO KE BAAD ZILE MEIN RAHEGA KYA YAHI D.M.? Words, words, words-let loose all over.

Aur bechara aam aadmi? Once again , aam aadmi will be taken for a ride. Yesterday's sworn enemies will declare themselves as natural allies. Yesterday's allies will become political adversaries. Anything is possible, everything is possible post-May16!

Aam aadmi ke to kismat mein hi likha hai thaga jana. Chunao se pehle akhbar walon ne thaga. Chunavi vigyapan ko news banakar parosa. Ek hi page par do alag-alag party ke vijayi hone ke samachar. Kaun sa sahi, kaun sa galat? Amazed Aam Aadmi. Bewildered Aam Aadmi. Political advertisements as news! How can the electorate be fooled by the political parties and the media organizations? Bhai, Dhanda hai. Dhanda hai par ganda hai, bhai. My wise friend Moorakhji cooments-"Chhodo na yaar, bazaar ke es daur me aadmi khud ek vigyapan ban gaya hai. Rajnitik vigyapan agar khabar ke rup mein chala diya, to kya aasman gir gaya. Everything is fair in love and war. Aur Lok Sabha elections to sabse bada rajnitik yudh hai bhai. Patrakar bechare garib aadmi hai, unko bhi chunao ke bahane pet bharne do. Unke media aakaon ko bhi maal kamane do".

I remember fondly the great BJP stalwart Dilip Singh Judeo twirling his big moustache and declaring boldly- "Paisa Khuda To Nahin, Par Khuda Ki Kasam, Khuda Se Kam Bhi Nahin". So, Jai Ho to Money, Honey!!

Hamletian Dilemma

Rohtak, May 7:- Voting D'Day in Haryana. I'm gripped by Hamletian Dilemma-To be or Not to be. To vote, or not to vote. Newspapers, news channels are crying hoarse. Don't remain sleeping , do vote. L.K. Advani ji said in a rally in Rohtak-"Pehle matdan, phir Jalpaan". Par dil hai ki maanta nahin! Kaun Jaaye vote dene. Congress candidate Deepender S Hooda says- "Vote for change in the course of politics of Haryana". HJC's Kuldeep Bishnoi proclaims-"Main Rajniti ke Mayne Badal Doonga". Old war horse Om Prakash Chautala roars-"Vote for change in Haryana". To each his own. My friend Deepak Miglani SMSes-"Don't be a Pappu. Go out and vote". Dear Deepak, the decision to not vote may be a decision of protest as well. So don't force anyone to vote! I introspect. I've been voting since 1991. Has anything changed in politics? No, things have gone from bad to worse. Of course, in Rohtak parliamentary constituency, Deepender Singh Hooda brings a breath of fresh air through his decency and developmental works. But should i vote? Its 7.05 a.m. I am at NRS Govt. College. Polling booth no. 77. I cast my vote. The EVM screams-peeeeeeee....... One more election. One more vote cast. Jai Ho Democracy! Par kya kuch badlega? Questions are many, but answers are not blowing in the wind. Haan Advani Ji, maine pehle matdan hi kiya. Upma aur Sambhar-Vada ka jalpaan baad mein kiya. Par pata nahi aap P.M. ban payenge ya nahin!! Par aisa lagta hai ki na to koi majboot neta P.M. banega, na hi desh majboot ban payega. Indian Democracy aur Apna Bharat Desh post-poll MAJBOOR hi nazar aayega.