From A Million Hearts To A Billion Wallets

Mahatma Gandhi- The Father of the Nation. 

The nation that we call India, lets stick to this only because calling it Bharat does not really help our cause. Some random thoughts began brewing in my mind as I took a hundred rupee note out of my pocket and handed it to the worker who knows me well and has been working in this ice-cream shop for some time. No, I don't even know his name, but a "Bhaiya" is more than sufficient to get my order placed quickly.

For some reasons, Gandhiji's photo has decreased in both its affluence and influence and has been limited to currency notes only. In primary classes there are essays that students have to mug and replicate in their exam copies. A nice holiday on 2nd October is always welcomed. A couple on minutes of silence on 30th January, well that gives a nice break from all the commotion around, doesn't it. A framed picture on the walls in government offices, with an inch-thick layer of dust. Yes he is still the father of our nation but the peon does not bother to wipe the dust now. The people do not remember him on days other than these two of course. Yet their was a time when this now forgotten man walked on the face of the earth, right where the British were on the peak of their atrocities and lead an entire country to freedom without even raising a stick. But then, Bharat turned into India, we came civilized and modern, Gandhism turned into Gandhigiri and all the noble deeds of this man ended up in our pockets, with his bespectacled face in our wallets.

However one would contradict with me in some regards, what with Anna Hazare and his revolution. His method, his fasting and the lathicharge on protesters in Delhi. For a moment, even for a bleak one, it felt as though the times had reversed- a nation going head-on against the incumbent government without any act of violence. But it did not last for the Jan Lokpal Bill is still under "consideration". The very root of the problem that it intended to cut off- corruption, has grown in its domain day by day. The movement which began as protest has turned into a political party, deprived of support and muscle. But what was it that really made the difference back then, during the struggle for independence, because the principals are more or less the same- but why are they ineffective in the present context?

I think we can narrow it down to a couple of simple facts. Firstly it was the man himself- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, for his charisma and intensity is yet unmatched. Perhaps it was far more convenient to forget the man, rather than following his principles he stood for. The social values and beliefs he stood for were and always will be easier to admire than to follow. While he was alive, he was impossible to ignore- the British tried to at their demise. And once when he was gone, he was impossible to imitate- which is quite apparent in the present scenario. Apart from this, the other thing which drove his engine forward was his pursuit of Truth. Truth with a capital T. For he believed in the the fact that if you are correct, and the Truth is on your side nothing can hold you back. Truth cannot be attained by unjust or violent means. For he said, "Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth." Such was his deep-lying belief in this philosophy. Its hard to break resistance of able bodied men, but for a man whose spirit is as indomitable as his, it was next to impossible.  

Secondly, and maybe this one holds the edge, it was the people who made Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi into Mahatma Gandhi- and not just in name. He was their leader, their saint walking in front of their eyes.They followed him and he lead them towards truth, towards light, towards freedom. Had they absconded his pursuit in the middle of this epic struggle, things could have shaped up very differently indeed. Those people did not sit back in their homes, waiting for things to happen. They did not flock to the cyberspace to extend their support via innumerable "shares" and "comments" on virtual "walls". They stepped out and wrote "Inqualab Zindabaad" with their blood on the walls of jails inside which they were beaten down to pulp. They did not walk away when the police drew lathis on a a couple of girls in Punjab. They did not walk away with indifference when a group of young men protested on the main square of the city. They stood there, abiding his command not raising their hands even once. They joined shoulders forgetting their petty differences- yes those very differences which have become the basis of communal politics.

They stood their by his side

I wonder how Gandhiji would have reacted when he would have seen what has happened to his beloved country. Maybe he would have asked for a bullet, and said "Hey Ram" (though this time in a very different sense) and put it inside his head. Probably saving another Nathuram Godse from the trouble, for he is our father, and he took this blame too upon himself.

Summer is here, I feel like an ice-cream now. The old man in my wallet needs some air too.

Bye.

Nishant Chaturvedi
Electrical
3rd Year

AN AWKWARD COINCIDENCE

'Things doesn't happen twice the same way'....Unless they have a reason.... Some might frame that as coincidence.. but for me it happened twice with the same person, at the same place. Seems strange.?

Rather awkward, as i had the same conversation twice, on the same train with the same stranger. First, i thought of it as deja vu. HELL NO..... Its an awkward coincidence or is it.?

Journey dated - 31/10/2012

It was such a such a beautiful morning. A pleasant day to start. My mom was packing things for the journey, my brother left for school and my dad went for the market to get some snacks. I got up had a bath and looked at the train ticket languishingly. My departure was scheduled at 5:20 PM. I returned home after three months and i stayed for 6 days which was quite pensive. I continued to move on keeping the winter vacation in mind(entire December). Time has passed quickly and i was in the station. The train was delayed by 30 minutes, i had half an hour to spend. But i was in the station which is not likely my home.

I continued to wait for my train.....

Finally at 6:00 p.m, i boarded the train. Even the delay time was not correct, I said to myself and had a shrewd smile on my face remembering the 'Indian train timings'. I occupied my berth, arranged my luggage underneath, showed my ticket and started listening to music. Soon it became dark and the train began to slow down. Hucksters began to board the train. They were in such a hurry. They could have waited till the train stopped. Maybe each and every minute was important to them to make their living. I thought of buying some, but soon realized that i had plenty. I peeped through the window. Finally the train stopped and there was a such a rush. Passengers began to board the train. There was this tired look of waiting on their faces. People started occupying the seats near my place. To my surprise it felt like a deja vu. 

I was travelling on the same train, with the same stranger.

We smiled at each other. Unlike last time he was travelling alone. The train began to move.I didn't think he remembered me as he asked my whereabouts(name, occupation..e.t.c......typical Indian mind). I began to contradict Paulo Coelho, as he said "Everything that happens once can never happen again". He asked me about my studies. I answered. I talked as little as possible, as i didn't want to conversate, with a stranger. It was dinner time and i had my dinner. My journey time was 23 hours. I slept early and got up early. It was 9 a.m and i felt like i travelled more than a day already. The stranger began to talk about coincidences that are strange and likely to be remembered. First i thought of him as an astrologer, though i never cared to ask. Later i assumed him to be some person who might be a huge fan of final destination. He told me of some weird coincidences. Some of them are incidents from my past. I had goosebumps. All of a sudden there was this familiar tone playing in my head. I realized that it was my alarm tone set earlier before night. The picture began to fade away, may be it was because of the music. I intended to stop it. Seems like it was coming from a distance and i had to move to stop it. The music stopped. I opened my eyes and soon came to my senses. 

I realized that it was a dream linked to my past. I couldn't recall whether it was from a dream or memory or a dream from a dream within my memory. Bad things come in three. I had two but thrice is an enemy action.

Hoping for the best....

DHEERAJ DHAKE,

ECE,

FINAL YEAR

‘SECONDS’ RE-LIVED

Every action of ours has a consequence. And that consequence is based on what we did, how we did act, how we did think and what path did we choose for our journey. Destiny gives back everything it ever took from us and takes back everything it gave us. Amidst all this, there is one ultimate reality which cannot be altered however we might neglect it or whatever perception we possess on the world around us. Life of an individual undergoes evolution, by being churned in the vicious circle of all these facts. And my life was no different. The day I met with an accident, was the day that changed my perception towards the world forever and ever. As soon as my car did slide off the cliff, I lost my control on the brain, besides gravity. How much time was I left with? May be 15 seconds! And in those 15 seconds, I understood many things that my 15 year education did not teach me!

  I recollected the lives of 4 persons who were an integral part of my life. 4 different ‘persons’with 4 different mentalities and I am going to introduce them to you all…

5 Year old me:

As earliest as I can remember. We were residing in one of the best colonies and childhood was a fun filled one. Gully cricket, I Spy and many more games used to carry forward our days besides the daily routine of acting out a stomach ache drama so as to escape the tedious activity of attending school. Everything was a cake walk for me.

17 Year old me:

Everything around me started making sense to me. On the alternative days, my mother and father used to sleep on the floor to make enough space for me on the bed. In a locality where people stand for ten hours in front of a shop for the ration, my parents made me feel like we were in a heaven! Sacrifices made by them and struggles taken by them were like a thick carpet spread over on the path of thorns. That was the moment when I decided that struggles would be my back pack from now on and I would never let them down. My vision was clear, I decided that I shall not leave any loose strings in achieving my dream of clearing the civils and I sacrificed my social life entirely from then on.

24 year old me:

Became the first person from my locality to clear the civils and the environment was festive all over the colony. The first thing I wanted to do is to improve (provide!) the basic facilities of my society. But my posting was done in a far away city and that came as the first disappointment to me. I had to bribe a huge amount of 1000k to re-shift my posting to my area. Our family was in huge debts then and I had to take the big risk. I know nothing is more to me than the colony I was brought up in, but not more than my parents’ comfort. They have suffered enough. As soon as my fix up my family problems I would be starting with the development of the colony.

35 year old me:

I became a successful person, responsible son and caring father. Got everything I wanted in my life. Of course drifted off my path a little by taking the bribes and approving the projects. It all started because of my cornered situation where I had to pay off all the debts and I wanted to do that soon. Started taking some low profile harmless bribes. And it continued as my desire to see my parents in a more and more comfortable position increased, until we had a duplex in one of the costliest areas of the state. And then came the responsibilities of being a husband and a father. Needed to secure their lives first and that became my primary goal. This continued as life gave me different challenges in different ages. Then one day, I did read a news on my ex-colony which I swore to develop. A kid died due to infected water, taking the tally of deaths to 13 that month. 13 deaths! That means a huge distress to 13 families! What was I doing! I ruined everything just by not holding on to my responsibility. I hardly slept that night and that’s the last thing I remember.

The colony, it’s problems, lives of it’s residents and their pleas- everything remained the same. What changed was my perception towards the life as I grew up. But does that soothe my conscience and can the reality be altered because of the change in my perception! Of course not. That’s what philosophy of life is about. And such a disappointing life is going to end within few seconds. Wait! It’s been some hours and those 15 seconds are yet to be finished and if the above mentioned thing is the last thing I remember, how the hell did I end up in sliding off a cliff! Then the car hit the ground and I opened my eyes. It’s been a ride of realisation for me. I started walking to my working room to settle the things once and for all, however hard that may be! 
Vivek Reddy 

BONFIRE TREASON

"Remember, remember the fifth of November
         Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
       I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
           should ever be forgot."

 

Emissary and flare, Perfidy and torture, followed by dreadful deaths… the gunpowder slot had it all.

The gunpowder slot was a failed attempt to blow up the House of Lords, so as to kill King James I and his leaders.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Between 1533 and 1540, England witnessed several religious tensions. Roman Catholics struggled in a society dominated by the newly separate and increasingly protestant churches of England. When Queen Elizabeth I took the throne of England she passed strict laws against Roman Catholics. In 1603, after 45 years on the English throne, the transition of power following Elizabeth's death went smoothly to king James IV of Scotland, son of Mary, the queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth’s cousin. The Catholics in England were upset that there was going to be another Protestant monarch. Catholicism became marginalized, King James passed laws that imposed heavy fines on people who did not attend protestant church services.

In 1605, the greater religious tolerance under the king made a devout Catholic, Robert Catesby to plan the gunpowder slot. He was accompanied by his friends Thomas Wintour, Jack Wright, Thomas Percy a and Guy Fawkes. Over the next few months Francis Tresham, Everard Digby, Robert Wintour, Thomas Bates and Christopher Wright also agreed to take part in the overthrow of the king. They hired a house which had cellar under the Parliament building. The plotters filled the cellars with barrels of gunpowder to blow up the parliament along with the king. Fawkes, who had 10 years of military experience fighting in the Spanish Netherlands in suppression of the Dutch Revolt, was given charge of the explosives.

The conspiracy was revealed to the authorities by Francis Tresham, one of the plotters  who in order to save his friend lord Monteagle, sent a letter warning him not to attend Parliament on 5th November. Monteagle immediately exposed the letter to Robert Cecil, the Secretary of State. On the morning of 5^th November while searching the House of Lords, the soldiers arrested Guy Fawkes hidden in cellar guiding the gunpowder, enough to reduce the House of Lords to rubble. He was brutally tortured and he eventually unveiled the names of his fellow conspirators. Most of the plotters fled to London as they learnt of the plot’s discovery. Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, Christopher Wright and John Wright refused to surrender so they were shot and killed. The other conspirators were convicted and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. Francis Tresham died while still a prisoner in the Tower of London. It has often been claimed that his death was arranged to cover up his complicity in the uncovering of the plot. 

In celebration of his survival, King James ordered the people of England should have a great bonfire on the night of 5^th November.

Some historians have argued that the conspiracy was actually devised by Robert Cecil and Lord Monteagle. This version claims that they blackmailed Robert Catesby into organizing the plot. It is argued that Cecil's aim was to make citizens of England to hate Catholics.

In England, on 5^th of November, the event is still commemorated by special sermons and other public events like ringing of bells, fireworks and burning effigies on bonfires.

SONIKA RAJPUT,

CO-COORDINATOR,

IBC.

VOTE.SELECT.ACT

Politics is the art of influencing people on a civic or individual level. And, democracy is the relationship between people and politics.

The history of India takes us back to the individual republics of the 6^th century BC, that is, the sanghas and the ganas which closely resembled a democracy. India has been following democratic rule since the year 1949. But is the system followed by our government really democratic? Is the common man being given rights the constitution claims to bestow on him? If yes, then why is politics a bad word? Why is a politician seen as some corrupt, sadistic individual who knows nothing, but thinks he knows everything?

Take the example of Rahul Gandhi who is being considered for the prime minister’s post by the Congress. After almost three generations, we think that the Gandhis might give it a rest. But, no, they just have to run a monarchy in disguise. Our constitution boasts about the right to equality, however, it was flushed down the drain long ago when it became a ritual for rape victims to wait for a decade to get justice. Educational privileges and the right against exploitation are violated every time a kid is forced to beg on the streets with the notion “pity pays”. And the suicides in Gujarat due to penalising of farmers are a sorry acceptance of the “right” to life and property. Democracy in India allows us to break laws which guard these civil liberties, to name a few.

The answer to all questions lies at the root level. The bug is in each and every individual who votes and in each one of us who does not vote. It is nice to write an article on what a pathetic excuse of a democracy our country is. It is nice to blame the system for all its loopholes which fail to prevent trafficking, suicides and the growing difference between the haves and the have-nots. It is great to read such articles and reflect upon them. But, it is not nice to accept the victims of this system as our own. It is not nice to put ourselves in their shoes and stand up against the prevalent corruption as long as our needs are satisfied. And, due to some mental barriers, it is just not nice to vote with a rational mind. An empty stomach is not a good political adviser. Think about it.

SANJANA MAHABALE,

LITERARY MEMBER,

IBC

BELIEF

That night was dark and lonely. The grave silence of night was seldom disturbed by the howling of wolves. The blustering night of December had made everyone to remain in their homes. The night has made even the soldiers to remain in their camps. They were sleeping unaware about the danger that was crossing the border. Suddenly there was an explosion. Boom… everyone was shocked and baffled by this sudden attack. There was a situation of panic among the soldiers. At that time Captain Rajveer and Captain Shekhar had taken the charge to counterblast. Suddenly Rajveer was dumbstruck as he saw a grenade had just exploded beside Shekhar and made his body topple in the air. He ran towards him without wasting a moment elbowing the firings.

             Five years back in their college Rajveer and Shekhar were the best friends. Their friendship was famous all over the college. But there was one more peculiar thing that was famous about Rajveer. And it was his dilemma when he had been given the choices. Every time it was Shekhar who took him out from such situations. That’s why Rajveer was totally dependent on Shekhar for his own decisions. It was Shekhar’s decision to join army. Earlier Rajveer was a little skeptical about joining the army but as usual to escape the situation of making his own choice he rather accept the Shekhar’s decision. After two years of training in national defense academy both of them were posted in Drass sector Jammu, one of the most crucial and critical army bases. In the camp also even the officer’s were aware about Rajveer’s this peculiar habit.

               As Rajveer reached to Shekhar he had almost lost his nerve. But as he saw Rajveer he smiled and utters his last words in his best friend’s ear. Then suddenly another grenade exploded beside them separating the two friends forever.

           After two days when Rajveer woke up in the hospital he found his officer sitting beside him. His officer then asked him, “Rajveer I thought you might not be able to choose between yours life and your friend’s life. How did you make that tough decision so easily contradicting your own behavior”? Rajveer smiled and replied, “Belief sir, Shekhar had a belief on me that I would come to him breaking all my dilemmas and he told me the same thing that, “I know you would come, and now I can die with a satisfaction that my friend has overcome his weakness” and that drove me to him”

SOWMYA VERMA,

LITERARY MEMBER,

IBC

BUREAUCRAT PUPPETS

STRINGS UNATTACHED?

The dictionary meaning of a bureaucrat is: ‘An official who is rigidly devoted to the details of administrative procedure’. But do our so-called “bureaucrats” stand up to the definition of their posts? Or are they merely puppets in the hands of the political masters?

Here I have compared what German sociologist Max Weber defined a bureaucratic official as and what the definition has changed to:

·         He is personally free and appointed to his position on the basis of conduct.
versus
He is not personally free and appointed to his position on the basis of contacts.

·         He exercises the authority delegated to him in accordance with impersonal rules, and his loyalty is enlisted on behalf of the faithful execution of his official duties.
versus
He exercises the authority delegated to him in accordance with personal rules, and his loyalty is enlisted on behalf of the faithful execution of his official duties to the ruling party.

·         His appointment and job placement are dependent upon his technical qualifications.
versus
His appointment and job placement are dependent upon his social qualifications.

·         His administrative work is a full-time occupation.
versus
His administrative work is a full-time occupation when a powerful public servant needs him.

·         His work is rewarded by a regular salary and prospects of advancement in a lifetime career.
versus
His work favouring a particular party is rewarded by a regular salary and prospects of advancement in a lifetime career.

·         He must exercise his judgment and his skills, but his duty is to place these at the service of a higher authority. Ultimately he is responsible only for the impartial execution of assigned tasks and must sacrifice his personal judgment if it runs counter to his official duties.
versus
He must not exercise his judgment and his skills. Ultimately he is responsible only for the partial execution of assigned tasks and must sacrifice his official judgment if it runs counter to his personal duties.

·         Bureaucratic control is the use of rules, regulations, and formal authority to guide performance.
versus
Bureaucratic control is the use of rules, regulations, and formal authority to guide performance under specific conditions and superiors.

While narrowing down the term ‘bureaucrats’ in terms of the Indian constitution, we can count District collectors, IAS and IPS officers. As many of us are aware, to reach such designations, it requires years of dedication towards education and values. But what happens after they get into the system? 

They lose their ethics under the pressure of their puppeteers.
Every politician in the country is aware of the power and fame of any bureaucrat, and so are they themselves. But it seems that the former make a better use of this. The question is: why do they blindly follow the orders? The bureaucrats, not being unaware of their position, tend to succumb to the ill-fated wishes of Ministers, scared by the consequences of one action by a powerful politician. It can cost them their health, wealth, security, fame or family. And, their inactivity against corruption is not justified. Or, some may not be terrorized by the results on their career, and are driven by their greed.

And what does this lead to?
We may have come across this example (in reality or in fiction) where the DSP or SP states that he/she is not in a position to take an action against an MP or the CM. Do you think this is a flaw of the constitution?  Or just the cowardliness of a bureaucrat that he is unable to force constitutionally correct decisions over the corrupt ones? Any democrat has the potential to reject the dominion of corruption. But do they?
The outcome is an overall increment in the corruption levels of the system. Henceforth, any specified task cannot be efficiently completed at higher or lower levels of the government.

Another question which would arise in this scenario would be:
who is more at fault? The bureaucrats? Or their controlling politicians?

One would say, that since the flow of power is from the politicians to the bureaucrats, corrupt acts should be killed at the roots, i.e., it is the responsibility of the politicians to maintain the dynamo of the government. On the other hand, if bureaucrats do not accept such work place values, they can control it in the threshold.  But the truth remains that if one part of a system is malfunctioning, the whole system malfunctions.

What possible improvements can be made to the existing system?
Improvements can be made only when each unit (from the first person to the population) starts working for benefit of the whole, and not just personal interests.

SANJANA WADHWA,

CREATIVE HEAD,

IBC