Calling the real institutions of the society!

The state is spilling over with internal filth and dirt when Modi is busy defending the so called anti-terrorism bill – GUJCOCA. Government again refused the bill and with the recommendation of changing some clauses in the bill mainly which were allowing the authorities to seize the properties of the suspect and tracing the calls of any suspect at any time without any explanation.

When I assume the process, I can imagine a few thoughtful people thinking over different points of the bill and discussing the pros and cons before reaching to any vital decision. But as the verdict comes out, BJP’s immature comments started coming out and the dirty politics starts over again. Mr. Modi’s ego speaks again, “I will not make any changes to the bill and foot it again to the center.”

Outrage is spreading throughout the state because of increasing overall crime rate. Yes, we cannot deny that the overall rate of crime is also increasing in the whole country. But we haven’t seen the Gujarat in this shape before. We are witnessing the incidents which we have never seen before in our own Gujarat. Police is still summing up the amount of money Ashok Jadeja has acquired from hundreds of people and each day a new rape case is coming out. Frauds, robberies and petty stealing are also riding high in daily newspapers. The crime rate is all time high in Gujarat. I do not think I need to refer to any sources because we all read and watch what happens around us. It is matter of our own sense.

Black memories of Patan gang rape case haven’t yet faded and Surat is blotted with a shameful gang rape. As I am recalling these inhuman acts, news comes out from Rajkot and Himachal Pradesh, teens raped respectively in both of this places where in the latter case the victim is a tourist from Britain. I just took a note of the rape rate in Gujarat before a few months that how it is increasing consistently. Although very complex and sensitive, undertaking the studies of increasing rapes in the social context and also other external reasons for such activities seem essential at this point of time.

Rapes, sexual harassments, making video clips – all these are new form of criminal activities of this modern time and they are getting so frequent. The victims seem to be coming out more openly than before and we can also see many reputed entities of the societies involved and alleged in cases like this. Shiney Ahuja and an MLA from west Godavari are the most recent examples of those. But still the numbers of rapes reported to the police are far lesser than the actual number.

On the other hand, ‘organized’ and gang rapes (which in turn can be called organized) have significantly got surfaced in the recent times. The definition of rape has always been powered over other elements in different cases and it remains the centre of the case in most instances. Even in Shiney Ahuja’s case victim is constantly stressing how Shiney forced, grabbed and pushed her, because all these phrases lead to the confirmation that the rape was committed. I am not sure that how accommodating is our judicial system for the crime conditions and the social context (behaviour of an individual and the reasons for that behaviour) involved in the incident. But I am sure the society should and must be interested in the detailed examination of reasons involved in such criminal occurrences.

The reason behind such study is to understand the affecting elements which trigger such instances like rapes and sexual activities. “Spot” rape – a spontaneous excitement leads an individual to lose the control over sexual urge and expressing that in verbal, gestural or physical form. As I mentioned earlier that the “organized” rapes are increasing and this kind of rapes involve raping a fairly known individual and in many cases an acquaintance or an intimate friend. “Organized” rapes means an individual or a group of people pro-actively look to satisfy their sexual urge or forcing verbal, gestural or physical abuses to a man or woman. If assessed on moral grounds, organized rapes would hold a very lower position compared to the spot rapes which only take place on an instantaneous sexual aggression. This classification may not be that important for the legal resolution of the offence but considering the long term societal balance, some profound study should take place. (There are enough reasons, anger and misery over these inhuman incidents which tell me to conduct such social studies but time, conditions and limited understanding do not YET allow me!)

There is another issue which I do not want to discuss in detail but just a note:

No political parties or diplomats came out at the time of Patan incident. But as soon as the Surat gang rape case came out and the culprits are held, VHP is coming out asking for strict action. Can you people guess? Yes, because the culprits are Muslims. It may get more sensitive as the Rajkot case contains the same attributes. Let us just don’t get carried away by all these and let us focus on the safety of women at first and then to understand, evaluate and take some meaningful actions where we can develop a society which is more cleaner and moral.

“Mothers, please teach your son that every woman must be respected as he respects his own mother!

Fathers, please provide an example to your son that how the women in any relation, mother, sister, daughter, friend or wife must be respected in every manner!

Teachers, please teach your students about the social and public behaviour towards women and any other individual in the society!

You are the INSTITUTIONs of the society!”

Is anyone listening them?

Seven years on after the bloodshed and burning lives, red and black, stains are still there on some hearts! For us, it could be a daily newspaper, but the red block letters reminded me of cowards of soil Gujarat. The ones who suffered call them ‘Butchers’. Is anyone listening to them at all? Several statements released, how Maya Kodnani carried out a string of operations of open firing on people and burning houses! Naroda Patiya is still in a reckless condition with a few whole hearted people, who are all living with their incomplete families. Some lost their young sons, some lost husbands or some are still waiting for their missing children.

21 February, AM Mirror – A social worker, Shahadat Malik, who has settled in Madninagar after his house in Naroda Gam was destroyed, said the victims prayed for death. “What is the use of this life? Were we born to endure such fate? Death will bring an end to our woes,” he said.

A tribute to all those victims (now more than 1000)!

Our new so called Gujarat anthem says, “Jityu hamesha Gujarat!” (courtesy: Mr Modi’s new friend TATA) I am not sure if we can say we have always won! But yes, these people’s endurance is keeping Gujarat stand still. Be it Hindu or Muslim, we haven’t shown enough tolerance being a part of the society. We have given liberal rights to our leaders to do whatever they want. We do not keep track, we do not try to understand! What are the consequences and what are the counter effects of all those activities, plans and projects executed by the Government! Modi said in his recent speeches, “Gujarat ne etlu agal lai jaie ke koi ena sudhi pohnchi pan na shake!” (Let’s take Gujarat forward, that no one can reach us!”) What are we into, a dog race? Why do we want to go ahead of everyone? From ages, we are trying to learn the lessons of togetherness and harmony! Who do we want to beat? Yes, we protect ourselves from anti-socials and criminals, but who else we want to defeat? It involves some kind of lust for success, power and numero uno! We develop our cities, state and take others with us and grow together!

Rather than celebrating Nano’s plant in Gujarat, it could be a humble gesture of accommodating something which our fellow state could not due to whatsoever reason! Actually, if it would have been the same case in Gujarat as it was in West Bengal, I really doubt we would have protested! But, one thing I am sure about is, this is going to be the punch line for the next election! This one case was a national affair and there may be transparent transactions for the plant, lands and employment. But how many of us would know about the lands allocated to Ambanis and Adanis. Ace political scientist, Pravin Sheth has also raised questions over the model of development of this Gujarat Government. The primary impact seems fruitful but the counterparts are not getting compensated well and not being taken care!

Government has been poor in after sales services, be it sustaining the developed cities like Ahmedabad, or sustaining the shine of Gujarat – diamond industry in Surat, or rehabilitating the riot victims. Many malls got opened in the city in last couple of years and now we see an apparent decline in sales, malls are empty as well as shops are closing down and recently, it has come to my knowledge for the first time that the new Reliance mall on SG Highway, Ahmedabad is closing soon! Two floors are already shut! On CG Road, Iscon arcade recently rented open space for exhibition stalls! I think it is time to realize before it is too late.

Now, a young congress man, visiting Gujarat to reach different regions and different issues of Gujarat is giving the BJP chiefs sleepless nights. They are trying everything! Yes, Rahul Gandhi is also doing it for votes and he wants to win elections in Gujarat under Congress. But, he is at work! I have seen Modi appearing for promoting Mr Advani, commenting on Rahul Gandhi that he is coming to Gujarat to learn (which is again a positive initiative, isn’t it Mr Modi?), or hailing for TATA (“my nano, my nano!” as if it his own production!) I did not hear a word about Surat and diamond workers. What is he busy with? Pushing Advani for PM position?

Mr. Modi has crores of rupees for “Summits” and “Vibrants”! I am so amazed, he asking for money from Central Government for rehabilitation of diamond workers of Surat. Also, he clinches the credit for every development and blames Center for the failure in maintaining the conditions of diamond workers. I just mentioned this a few days before in my previous post:

http://snehism.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/urbanization-backfires/

To be very honest, I believe to ‘forget and forgive’ at some extent and hence I have often tried to leave it back (can’t forget!) what Modi has done! But again to be extremely honest, it keeps coming back by his biased policies. His language sounds more arrogant, and has always taken an advantage of people’s emotions. His speech on August 24, 2002 at Bodeli near Vadodara can be read here!

http://www.hvk.org/articles/0802/180.html

In his speech he is blaming for Lyngdoh for indecent language and he himself calling him, “halia malia jamalia from dehli footpath”! What decency he is preserving?

I can go on and on this, hurting a lot of sentiments of people who love Modi blindly! Do love everyone including Modi and do make him win elections, just be aware of what is actually happening and think of the consequences before taking any decision. think, think, think!

Vandemataram!

Urbanization Backfires!

The commercial capital and the city in center, Ahmedabad is getting all the glitters and revamp. Roads, junctions, buildings and public places are rejuvenated over the last few weeks following the Vibrant Gujarat’s international investors’ summit. Would it have happened for the citizens of Ahmedabad in order to provide civil services? I strongly do not think so. I buy the idea that we hide those dirty table and broken shoe rack when we invite guests at our place, but we don’t lose the priorities of our family needs. The areas of the city, which were not likely to be touched by these visitors are still in despair. No one to look at those even! Anyway, this was just to make a way to the following points.

“In the past six months, Modi has spent Rs.750 crore of State money on propaganda – equivalent to the amount Gujarat spends on social welfare and nutrition in a year.” Dionne Bunsha says in his recent article in Frontline, from the publishers of Hindu

Surat, the city of diamonds, sends out 80% of diamonds being used in jewelry in all over the world. Out of 250-300 diamonds factories with more than 2500 grinders, there are only 15 functional. We may just flip a page over a headline of a suicide but there have been 80 in last 2 months and most of them are either diamond workers or their family members. Earning a sufficient living for family is now standing in queue for relief. BECAUSE, perhaps we do not know how to live in a villages and remain in villages. There is no eligibility or courage I might have to say this, but it does at least leave me with a lot questions. The blind migration (URBANIZATION) over easy jobs without having any qualification or any special skills. Thousands left villages, left well settled farming practices and ended up in these “not forever” diamonds. I see it more as the disconnection with the soil, seeds and the dust at the cost of making those artificial beauty objects. I think, no one wants dirty and scruffy hands at the end of the day.

State Government spent 750 crore rupees to provide A-class cars, 5 star accommodations and luxurious services to the investors, and there are queues of diamond workers to get welfare relief. After the discomforting communal divide which has rooted some very downbeat feelings within thousands of hearts (I use ‘thousands’ as out of millions, I doubt that there is much sensitivity in the people of Gujarat regarding these issues.) and the huge distance between the rich and poor, it’s the intensive time of disparity between rural and urban, specially at the time of global melt-down!

“Some get roads to glide and some, a death-ride!”

There is a lot to be heard about villages and victims of our social imbalance, please read on Dionne Bunsha: http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2424/stories/20071221508312900.htm

Your Development Is Futile!

 

This take on recent polls, is my take on you and all the Gujaratis. Gujaratis are far far behind from the thought of nationalism where the nationalism is the principal and has to prevail in every member of the democracy. We are very much at the individual level; you ought to rip off that cover. Gujarat is still more of a shame to India than a proud of India in all over the world. Do not ask those money minded gujjus in London or New Jersey how they feel about the Gujarat and Modi, but asks the world. Even you can ask the other states of India. It is not the benchmark to believe that you are the best person if papa, mama and didi believe so, you should ask neighbors, friends, colleagues and even the society. Put the self on the surface – let it be commented it self. People want to look Modi, people
want to dance Modi. I am heart-ripped because of this selfish, stiff and soulless mindset of Gujjus. Modi is a good leader and knows the ways to win the elections. Getting the top rank in the school examination and being a scholar are completely diverse. Being an ideal leader and winning the election to become chief minister are also completely different.

The definition of the development is completely diverse for India in every manner. Centralization does not work for us; Distribution is the must for us. We don’t need to raise 5 malls in every area; we need to raise 5 farmers in every village. There are lots of things that I am and you are (not personally you) not enough sensible to say, but we can at least comprehend the things and not just follow the mass. Also the so called development and economic growth are coming down to Gujarat because of the individual business endeavors, outsourcing and over all India’s product dominance in the market.
India is having intelligence overflow (Giddens: International social science author) and that has resulted in an economic growth and we have gone through this process over more than 40 years not just last 10 years. And the ‘malai’ we professionals and executives are eating now, is the outcome of this stirring process of the Indian global injections. I will say hundred times – it does not coexist with development to filter the growth areas and the growing mass. If you don’t get it, I reiterate in simple words, “It is not possible to talk about hindutva & development together. Any development is futile without the intact harmony and rational environment.” It is not the development of Gujarat what you see. It will not be the Gujarat you may be wanting.

Sneh Bhavsar
Ahmedabad | 27 December 2007