Walking Test : Indian Forest Service Examination

Indian Forest Service (IFS) is an All India Service (AIS). One among the total three AIS, the other two being Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS). The prelims exam of both civil services and IFS is the same after the changed pattern in 2013. It's just that the cutoff marks of prelims for IFS is around 15-20 marks more than the cutoff for the civil services. So that's the major hurdle for this exam.

The exam is allowed to be taken by only science and engineering graduates and since percentage of engineering graduates is increasing in the civil services mix and registration process for prelims is same, almost everyone ticks the option to be considered for IFS too, and since number of seat is only 110 for IFS thus number of people qualify for mains is also much smaller i,e around 1200 and thus cutoff marks is very high.

After taking on the chance to appear in this exam compromising on the very crucial time for civils mains (IFS mains was just 10 days before civil mains) and fighting it through midst the initial days of demonetization and reading one extra optional forestry only for 4 days I was only little hopeful for the interview call. When UPSC delayed the result by almost a month that added to the anxiety but when result came I had made it to the interview.

The thrill of appearing before the interview board for the first time and getting judged on personality made the days past very fast. However after the interview the wait of 5 days for the result was unending.  Finally the good news came. UPSC had recommended me for the appointment in Indian Forest Service.

Now starts the preparation of the walking test.

Earlier medical and walking test use to be along with interview and after that recommended list was published by UPSC but since last year they declare the list first and made only selected people go for medical and walking test.

Below I will be describing my preparation for the test in detail and how walking test is conducted and what strategy can be adopted  to easily sail through this arduous test.

We were three friends who were selected, so the practicing long walk was not as monotonous. By constantly motivating and pushing one another we managed to go for practice for 10-12 days before the final test and I guess that is sufficient.

We practiced usually for 10 Km walk daily and in the middle we pushed ourselves for 15 Km on every alternate days. One day we decided to go for the kill and walked for close to 25 Km. That was painful. Thankfully we had done it 10 days ahead of test and thus we had time to heal. But that maximum push brought couple of important issues to the fore.

1. Good shoe is very important. 
2. If you will tire yourself unnecessarily early in the walk rest of the journey is going to be painful.
3. Walking after 15 Km takes more time.
4. Adequate hydration at periodic interval is very important.

Buy a good shoe that is specially designed for walking or running. These shoes have extra foam in their sole and it will protect the feet from developing blisters which is a common phenomena if your shoe is not right. These are designed to let your feet breath. There are specially designed socks as well with extra padding around heel and toe area and they tightly cusp the feet which minimize the pain. Investment in good shoe and socks is every penny worth.

The test is conducted in National Zoological Park, Delhi popularly known as Delhi Zoo. It has been the venue for the test since generation so it will be so for coming generation too. This year it is almost heat wave condition in Delhi but still they did not change the venue. 

The walk test usually starts 30-45 min after the reporting time as they have some paper work to do. They make identity card which all participants hang around their neck during walk. Thus don't forget to bring 4-5 recent photographs. A number is assigned to everyone which is written on the identity card along with photograph.

This is a 2.5 Km stretch in the zoo which has to be repeated 10 times for the compete 25 Km (for female 5 and half round for 14 Km). The duration for test is of 4 hour which is same for male and female candidate. 

As it can be seen from the google map, for normal walk it will take 30 min to cover 2.5 Km but according to time duration given to us we must complete one round in 24 min. Thus brisk walk is required and that too we must sustain it for 4 straight hours. 

Along with physical capability and stamina, mental strength is also required with the conviction that Yes! it can be done and I will do it. 

Couple of very important points 

• Have a good strategy.
• Test it beforehand
• Have absolute faith on it.
• Don't abandon it midway.

This was my strategy to complete 6 rounds in 2 hours i,e  20 min per round. Now this can be done with brisk walking and slight jogging for 200-300 m . The zoo road have slopes at 2-3 places so jogging spots can be chosen at these slopes as this will be less strenuous. Since at the start we have energy so this can be achieved without much effort. Now after completing 6 rounds in 2 hour I am left with 2 hour to complete 4 rounds i,e 30 min per round, which can be done by normal walk enjoying the weather and sight of peacock on the roads. After 1 hour i,e 3 rounds, start drinking glucose in the middle of every round that will not let muscle form lactic acid and thus pain can be avoided. Use volini (pain spray) around the calf muscle area and thigh at the end of 7-8th round that will be enough for last 2 rounds.

Have faith on the strategy and don't abandon it midway seeing someone getting ahead of you. Keep watch on your watch and stick to your time.

We started the test at 5:45 AM. The weather was cool. slight breeze was penetrating through extra porous sports t-shirt. Around 36 people started the race but within 5 min the crowd spread out according to their own strategy. I had a friend with me with whom I had practiced and we had the same plan so we stuck together. 1-2 more people decided to go along with us.  We completed first round in 21 min. I was feeling little pain in my shin area. But I managed to recover the lost 1 min in second round and by the end of 60 min I was done with third round. Second and third round were easier than the first one. I guess leg muscles were conditioned.

Sun had risen spreading its red hue all over. Most of the animals were still sleeping except some birds and peacocks (They were in plenty). Suddenly the clam atmosphere of zoo got reverberated by loud noise. The king of jungle had woken from the slumber. The loud roar was majestic and thrilling. There was huge wall along the enclosure so Lion was not visible to us from our walking path but its sound sent turmoil among the pack of beautiful dears and antelopes. The view was nice and refreshing. Enjoying everything we kept moving on.

We had to collect token form the middle of the round and submit it after completion of the round. People at those counters were active. They use to read our number printed on our identity card around our neck from a distance and were ready with the token. Token was a steel round big coin like object with our number printed on it and number of the round which we were doing. Refreshment counter was at both places (where we were receiving and submitting token ). The items in refreshments were water, glucose, lemon, banana, Tiger biscuit.

One man was standing there who was continuously mixing glucose with water and the glass was ready for us to drink. But the amount of glucose he was mixing was very little. So one tip, pore more glucose in the glass and make your own drink. That was very helpful. It never let me feel tired. One thing that was missing was electrolyte. As after 2-3 hour it became warm and we were loosing sweat. I could feel the need of electrolyte. So 1-2 pack of electral can be carried in the pocket and just mix it with water and take after 6-7 rounds.

I completed 6 rounds in precise 2 hour. That was my first milestone. After completing that I ate one big banana. and took some biscuits in the pocket for munching and there after I only walked chatting with people.  After two more rounds i,e after 20 Km I could feel my muscles were at their limit. Then I sprayed volini on my both legs. I had taken 50 min for completing these two rounds. After that I was left with 70 min to complete two more round. That I comfortably did it 15 min remaining.

It was a happy feeling at the end. Everyone congratulated each other for clearing the last hurdle for this exam and becoming the officer. Good thing was no one was left and at the end everyone completed the test successfully.

I did a little bit of cooling down exercise. This is very important if you want to save yourself from the pain afterwards. This includes leg stretching, bending, back stretching. Then I washed my face with cool water , oh! the sweet feeling it gives. then sat for 15-20 min under fan in the zoo director's office. Then booked cab and returned.

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सवाल

काली रातों में टिमटिमाते तारे ऐसे लगते  हैं जैसे
हकीकत के समंदर में ख़्वाबो के टापू  ।

तारों के होने से रोशनी तो नहीं मिलती मगर
रोशनी होने का एह्शाश जरूर हो जाता है ।

ख्वाबो में रहकर हकीकत से छुटकारा तो नहीं मिलता
मगर खुशनुमे हकीकत का एक नजारा जरूर मिल जाता है ।

अंधरे - रोशनी , ख़्वाब - हकीकत इनकी जद्दो जिहद में
जिंदगी का कारवाँ आगे निकल ही चलता है ।

सवालों की गर्मी और जवाबों के बयार ऐसी जुगलबंदी करते हैं
मानो पुश्तैनी रिश्ता हो इनका ।

दुसरो के सवालों की गर्मी के लिए तो छतरी भी लगा लो
लेकिन खुद के जो सवाल हैं उनसे कोई कैसे बचे ।

क्या हर सवाल का जवाब होता है ?
क्या हर जवाब का अस्तित्व सवाल से ही होता है ?

चाँद का बैरी कौन ? चांदनी रातों में अँधेरा छटने के साथ साथ
तारों  की चमक भी धूमिल हो जाती है ।

बड़े टापूओ पर पहुच जाने वालों को छोटे टापुओ के पिघलने
से दर्द क्यों नहीं होता ?

जिंदगी के पैमाने नापते नापते इतनी दूर निकल जाते हैं
की प्रतीत  होता है शायद ये माप ही ज़िन्दगी हो ।

- चंचल प्रकाशम्

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Free Advice

What can be more sad for Facebook than TRAI banning its "altruistic" venture to provide free Internet to billion Indians?

HRD ministry banning Facebook for wasting our youths precious time in only making friends and not learning skills to Make In India.

But since our PM himself is friend with Mark, Facebook may not have to worry about this in near future. But this friendship comes with a cost. There is something about our PM's corporate friends be it Ambanis or Zuckerberg people always find ulterior motive associated with their friendship.

Facebook started internet.org exactly a year ago to provide free access to few selected websites including it's own social network platform. But after the controversy of Airtel's zero rating it renamed it into Free Basics. As the saviors of Net Neutrality campaign to persuade public opinion against facebook's free basics intensified, Facebook used all it's might in support of it.

The most cogent argument in support of free basics was 'Those people who already have internet cannot decide how much should be charged form those who do not have it'. Even with billion mobile phones in India and rapidly falling prices of phone which supports internet, the number of  people with internet connectivity remains at 30% of population. And as govt leveraging many developmental schemes with use of internet, this digital divide will manifest into to tangible  deprivation.

The argument against Free basics is that the philosophy of differential pricing for different content will distort the internet. On internet we are not just consumer but also creator of the content and with the gatekeeper in the beginning of tunnel our content may not be able to see the light at the other end. With asymmetrical power between internet giants and budding startups, the new vernal sprouts will be nipped in the buds. The people who do not have internet connection, and will be introduced to this world via free basics, will have a illusion of being on internet but in reality they are accessing only few sites which are in good terms with facebook and not billion of others.

Government is doing it's best in bring Digital India Scheme to connect every village with broadband and laying down National Optical Fiber Network re branded as BharatNet. But similar to other government schemes this too is going to miss its deadline ( no finger pointing at government's planning and implementation because there are real challenges in the field). At this juncture when so much is at stake (It is the opportune time for India to go for that much talked about "take off " to lift millions of people out of poverty and transform country from developing to developed leveraging our demographic dividend) can we afford to delay the connectivity? And even with connectivity, the data price are so high can we ensure affordability?

Take the case of PDS (Public Distribution System) where government procure basics food items and distribute it at very low price to the poor people, who cannot afford to buy from market, through fair price shops. Fair price shops do not sell all food items but only limited basic items like rice, wheat, sugar etc.It does distort the market but that distortion is justified as we cannot let people suffer in hunger just to protect the market. People use PDS for basic items and as their affordability increases they do go to the market to buy other things. Why cannot the same logic apply to Free Basics provided by Facebook?

There is a enough evidence to support the claim that PDS has helped people fight hunger and starvation and helped them come out of poverty, and thus going by this logic TRAI banning free basics seems harsh.

But at a time when our PDS too is moving from fair price shop to actual market and the unaffordable price is credited back to the consumer using direct benefit transfer DBT. Facebook, if it is serious about helping people in poverty get connected, can use this route. Rather than creating separate platform, let the people use whatever site they want to use on internet and credit the amount they incur on data while visiting Free basics Sites in to their phone. Its not difficult to gauge how much data is being downloaded from a site, use this information along with data price in the area and credit the amount as their talktime balance.
This way they get to make money while making friends.





  

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Better Infrastructure Improves Public Behavior

Everyone behaves well when they are happy or at least when they are not in stress. And what makes us happy is, if everything going as desired or as planned. Better infrastructure does precisely that. It makes thing predictable. You can plan things based on the previous knowledge and it will play out as predicted.

I would like to mention one very peculiar thing which I observed while travelling in Delhi Metro. Even though there are seats reserved for women, elderly and differently abled person, people were happily giving up their unreserved seats when they saw some women or elderly person standing and no other seat were vacant. There was no demand, no grumbling, seats were being offered happily. For someone who is used to travel on Non-AC buses on bumpy roads, that was a rare sight of generosity. And what made it atypical was the label that Delhi junta carries of being insensitive and rude. Even people were apologizing when they were colliding with someone or unknowingly stepping on someone's feet. The sight gave the beautiful picture of cultured and civilized society who are trained to live together. And don't mistake the crowd to be of prosperous and privileged, there was sufficient economic heterogeneity thanks to the low fare of metro.

Then I got down the train and came out of the station. The temperature outside was close to 38-40 degree Celsius, heavy pollution clouding the atmosphere, and here I experienced the stereotyped Delhi. A motorbike guy fighting with the auto driver accusing him of brushing passed him.  A rickshaw wala guy shouting at a female pedestrian "Oye madam dekh ke chalo" and she was also shouting back.  The beautiful picture of civilisation from inside the metro started getting blurred in the polluted, dusty outside.

So one thing was pretty clear, It was not the people who changed from the metro, it was the environment which changed. The timely running metro, with decent cool air inside and perfect cleaning around made people behave nicely in contrast to the outside where roads were dusty, temperature was high, footpath was hogged by shops, motorbikes, autos running without following traffic rules, people spitting here and there.

So creating better infrastructure and civil amenities will improve people's behavior more than any moral science lesson taught in school or imposed rules to behave properly.

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Cinema and Society

Literature is the mirror of society. Well that can very well be extended to cinema as well. And in fact in modern time the latter make more sense going by the sheer volume of audience cinema attracts than a book. Cinema reflects our society back at us. Though sometime we are unable to sense it as there is so much disparity in society itself. A virtually westernised urban audience fails to see it's reflection in movies with rural settings, An urban migrant labourer or rural population cannot be expected to relate with movies based on upper middle class life. And senior citizens do not fully appreciate the new generation films. Cinema shows us what we think, what we want, and what we want to be. It shows us how different sections of population have different set of problems and how they tackle it, and without cinema it seems unimaginable how we could have got chance to observe such diverse lifestyle unless we are adventurer and ardent traveller.

A generation's cinema can be as good as the society is. The term "good" here is relative. We like some films we dislike some other. We like films and consider them good which we can relate with our life or at least are aware that something like this might happen or if it resonates with our fantasy. We dislike films or consider them bad which we fail to see any relation with our life or which is completely out of sync with our wildest imagination. But there is one thing that resonate with all of us, in no matter what kind of film it is, and that is "heroism". The good guy protagonist character around which the whole movie revolves. We relate to this character, we love this character and more often than not we try to imitate the character.

Cinema heroism has profound impact on the society's behaviour, and in that sense it is not just a mirror but torchbearer and guide too. It's not that it only impacts the impressionable mind of adolescent but it has it's significant imprint on the adult's behaviour too. And that makes the task of film maker all the more difficult in ensuring proper portrayal of the "hero" character. But Indian film makers have not given enough care in the carving out character of "hero" figure that it actually deserves. In bid to show the machoism that is associates with "hero" in almost all the movies of recent times or even old time we have witnessed the character flaunting all the norms of civil society and with no legal consequence.  This is bad at so many levels.

An honest and no nonsense police officer beating bad guys in the street and then locking them up and torturing them in jail cell and sometime even killing them is a recurring feature in our movies and is also widely appreciated by the audience. But this is illegal. Police do not have mandate to beat people. A good police officer would be the one who arrests the criminal and produce that criminal in court within 24 hour without even slapping him.

A guy in one sided love with a girl constantly stalking her and following her openly in the street is considered cute and romantic. But guess what stalking is criminal offence and that "hero" guy should be put in jail not appreciated for his indomitable spirit.  Is it too difficult to figure out where these road side romeo in real life derives their creativity from?

All the extra legal steps that hero character takes during movies to take vengeance for the atrocities which he has faced in the beginning of movie are all applauded and becomes the source of inspiration for society. This makes the task of implementing rule of law all the more difficult and dream of establishment of legally and morally upright society far fetched.

 Film censor board will do more good to the society if it will start censoring adulated extralegal features of the films than what it is currently busy in doing, cutting "inappropriate" love scenes and "abusive" language.

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Cheating in Bihar Board Exam

Saw this picture of cheating in Bihar board secondary school exam on twitter on 19th march. When I first saw it I thought someone is cracking joke on Bangladeshi cricket fans watching IND Vs BAN world cup quarterfinal match. Had I not been from Bihar this picture would have seemed to me as unbelievable as the picture of some crowded trains covered completely with people or awfully long traffic jams. But this picture did not surprise me because I have seen this happening all around me since I was a kid, the only thing that has changed is the height of the building and use of rope.  This picture demonstrate not only the minuscule version of citizen's lawlessness attitude who are ready to subvert any institutional norms, which is rampant in Bihar but also it demonstrate the grim picture of administrative failure, shortsighted political discourse which has followed in the state for years.

With Sarv Siksha Abhiyan and other educational initiatives the social mindset has changed in positive direction which value education, literacy, including girl education. Giving free cycles to girl students to ease their commute, giving them free uniforms and money to buy books have actually increased the number of girl student enrollment in primary and secondary schools. And the most encouraging change is the superiority a higher degree holder enjoys in society. 10th pass will have more affluence than a 8th pass, a degree holder will garner more respect than just 12th pass and so on. Even in marriage the same preference is followed. Now the question is how come such a positive change in society is leading us to such an image which is being circulated and tarnishing the image of already infamous state.

As the pressure to attain higher and higher degree mounted, people rode their free bicycle, wearing their free uniform with free books in their bags started going school only to be greeted with free mid day meal.

The condition of teachers in government schools or private schools which are affiliated with state board is absolute pathetic. I have not met any parent serious about their children schooling sending them to state board affiliated schools if they can afford English medium CBSE school.  and even if they do send them to such schools they also make them take multiple additional coaching. Now those who cannot afford even that what choice do they have? Society cares for result not for the way you took to get it.

People are suggesting open book exam to curb this cheating practice. I don't understand why? People are not cheating because they can't remember stuff, they are cheating because they have not been taught. What difference does it make if you will give them book in the exam, why not just scrap the exam all together if you want to stop the cheating in exam. Open book exam is the best methodology when you want to test the analytic skill of examinee and not just rote learning. But analytic skill will develop if  there is someone in school to explain the book properly.

One of the reason for the poor state of Bihar is this also, ignorant people. Even though literacy rate is going up but people are lacking adequate substantive knowledge and still have feudal mindset. Girls are passing exams but are unaware about their rights and are subjected to all patriarchal norms.

So dear chief minister stop appealing to parents to stop this nonsense and please rise above the vote bank politics and take some tough decision on the state of schools and college in Bihar and teachers in them.

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Attacks On Church and Ghar Wapsi

In past 6-8 months we have been hearing lots of news, sometime of attacks on church, christian missionaries, noble christian personalities, sometime of religious re-conversion popularly known as 'ghar wapsi'.  Motive seems to be the one, to assert majority power to correct the past injustice that had been done. For long we have been taken for ride now we are at the driver's seat and will take others to the destination of our suit and route we prefer. Nothing seems to be the flaw in the logic. But is the way in which it is being carried out is justifiable. No, certainly not in a pluralistic society like India which is proud to declare herself a secular state.

Now lets dig deep into these issues. The program where other religion followers were converted into Hinduism is named 'ghar wapsi' which means to bring home someone who went away. Is it not just and right thing to bring someone back home? Yes absolutely it is. Then why so much hue and cry? is it media creation?, or is it the manner and message with which it is being done?

To some extent it is a media hype and it's very nature to sensationalize and cash in on people's paranoia. but to put all the blame on media will not mere be injustice to the media but also trivialize this important issue. Why is there need for re-conversion? because  they converted in the first place. why did they convert? Some converted because they liked the religion they were adopting or at least were feeling safe in doing so, or they disliked their 'original' religion.

History suggests and there is no denying that since medieval time people are either coerced to convert or incentivized to convert or made feel inferior in their 'original' religion. But there is enough evidence of people converting because they just did not like the ills of their original religion, they did not like the methodology, they felt sidelined, neglected, ostracized  from their own 'ghar'. So they went away.

Now 'Ghar Wapsi' can be done in two way either clean up your own practices, make the people who are still with you, in your 'ghar' feel welcome and included and make it enviable. or start burning and vandalizing others 'ghar' to force them to come in your 'ghar'. The unfortunate thing is going the latter's way is more convenient and easy and it's no surprise that it is being pursued. 

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Do Result Justify Means?

Should we accept that everything we did was great, if the outcome was a resounding success? Should we not learn from our successes too, as we are told to learn from our failures?

There is always a luck (uncertainty) factor in every success and once may be your compromises got overcompensated by luck factor, but you cannot always bank upon that. for example you didn't prepare one chapter but still you topped the exam because no question came from that chapter, that doesn't mean you should have not read all chapters and you can always top, leaving something behind.
No success is absolute, life is a race and you will always have bigger competition to participate in and always bigger goals to achieve.

I think that the biggest mistake that one can make is to assume that everything they did to succeed was good, or even worse if they believe that the compromises they made to succeed are justified after success.

So No, result do not always justify all means taken to achieve this.

When they say don't let the victory get to your head, I guess this is what they mean.

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AAP Sweep

The victory, that Aam Aadmi Party registered could not have been more emphatic in demonstrating that honest and selfless work for people ultimately pays off. 10th Feb was a great day, and I hope it becomes and remains a memorable day for decades to come. Let it be the start of change in politics of the country, which will be more aligned towards the aspirations of people.  Let it be the sunrise of the day which will bring a new hope, where people strive to become honest and are praised and encouraged to be one. Let it be start of an era where politicians do not take people for granted who can be swayed by inciting passion of belongings. Societal change is an evolutionary process and let this landslide victory be counted as an important milestone.

Some news papers captures of this triumph. Daily many news paper comes to my office and I took the front page pic of this news and sharing here.

The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial

Deccan Herald

Deccan Chronicale

Indian Express

Rajasthan Patrika

Dakshin Bharat Rashtramat

The Economic Times

This is a progressive mandate and it has restored my faith in people's judgement. Nothing less than this would have sufficed. Delhi you are awesome. 

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Hierarchy, Not a very good thing

Everyone has got some level of stupidity or intelligence in them. Someone has less, someone has more. But when many people interact, this level cancels out and comes down to the average of the group. So if average is more than normal that team performs better and if average is less than normal, things do not go down very well.
However If strict hierarchical structure is created then the stupidity level of people at the top tier magnify as much that it almost nullify everyone below them. Then everything comes down to the people or person at the hierarchical crest. If they are intelligent than normal you will succeed and if they are stupid then good luck to you,  and that is less favorable situation for any organisation which aims to grow.

Don't create hierarchy, create a stimulating environment where people can thrive on their potential and can contribute to their fullest. 

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शफेद रंग

रंगो से भरे पंख फड़फड़ाती तितली रंगो के पीछे ही भागती है ।
कभी कभी तो ऐसा लगता है जैसे उसे पता ही नहीं
की कितने रंगीन हैं उसके खुद के पंख
काश कभी ठहर कर,
साँस लेकर देख पाती अपने रंगीन पंखो को ,
काश कुछ देर रुक कर आत्मलोकन  कर पाती
शायद उसकी ज़िन्दगी भी रंगीन हो जाती
उन फूलो की रंगो की तरह जिनके फीछे रोज़ भागती है वो ।

मगर इतनी फुर्शत किसे कि कोई ठहरे
अगर रुकेंगे तो पीछे नहीं छूट जायेंगे
लाइफ इज़ अ रेस, एंड यू हाव टु रन फ़ास्ट टू विन
दौड़ो और तेज़ दौड़ो , और तेज़
बहुत तेज़ दौड़ा था वो, इतना तेज़
की सबसे आगे की पंक्ति में खड़ा था
जब पीछे मुड़ के देखा तो दूर दूर तक ज़िन्दगी कही दिखाई नहीं दी ।

पिला रंग
लाल रंग
बैंगनी रंग
हरा रंग
रोज़ तन्मयता से लाती थी
और संजो के रखती थी वो रंगो को।
दिन में चैन नहीं रात को आराम नहीं ,
सांस कैसे ले सकती हैं, जब तक सारे रंग बटोर न ले ,
पुरखो से सुनती आई है सबने कोशिश की
पर कोई सारे रंगो का एक साथ सुख न ले सका है अभी तक ,
मेहनत तो करनी पड़ेगी, दस्तूर के मुह पर तमाचा जो मारना है ।

अंतिम रंग बचा था मिलाने को
शायद ज़िन्दगी का अंतिम पहर भी हो
सभी रंगो की झिलमिलाती रौशनी में नहाना चाहती थी
मगर ये क्या?
अंतिम रंग मिलते ही सबकुछ रंगहीन हो चूका था
आँखो में तैर रहे थे रंग,  मगर चेहरा शफेद पड़ा हुआ था
कहाँ गए रंग?

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Congratulation Aam Aadmi

After lots of ups and down and carefully maneuvering their steps in this knotty race of Indian politics, Aam Aadmi Party against the better judgement of all political analysts has come out to be the faith building instrument of a common man in governance and politics. As rightly said by Mr. Arvind Kejriwal it's not just a win of a Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) but win of Aam Aadmi, who stood up against undesirable practices in governance through a proper mechanism.

The win of 28 seats out of 70 seats with a vote share of 30%  for a party which was formed just a year ago is phenomenal. Now either they will sit in opposition or gear up for re election, they have instilled in common man a faith, and in established party a fear.

The decision of Arvind Kejriwal fighting election against Sheila Dikshit, an incumbent chief minister for 15 years and winning by thumping majority tells us all the story about the motives AAP is build with and support they have.  

The assembly election of Delhi and performance of AAP has changed the political scenario of 2014 general election all together. Now its no more a fight between incapable son of former prime minister and an accuse of mass murder. Thank you AAP for giving us an another option to chose from, rather than making difficult choice of pressing NOTA.

I just want to congratulate Aam Aadmi of Delhi for setting such an example before country that is going to galvanise the Indian democracy in times to come.  

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A Rational Approach To Popular Demands

Since the beginning of 2011 or rather by the end of 2010 when many prevalent corruption and financial irregularities cases in government were surfacing in the public, people's blood were scalding. By the mid of 2011 it took a form of huge movement under the banner India Against Corruption, People were coming out in streets with placards in their hands shouting to stop corruption and to pass Jan Lokpall Bill. Anna Hazare, the leader of this people's open show of discontent, sat on fast for many days. It seemed like whole country erupted in his support.

I was in my fourth year of college and frequent user of social media, so I was updated with the happenings. Lot of people in the campus of IIT Kharagpur also arranged demonstration and fasted in support of India Against Corruption. I too shared the same feeling like any other common Indian at that time, but I was not in support of movements like India Against Corruption in any way. Road blocks, fast, stopping government machinery to function properly never resonate with my conscience. Many people compared Anna Hazare with Mahatma Gandhi and anti-corruption movement with movements of Independence. But what they missed out is, not having power and having power and not executing it, are not the same thing. When the country was British colony there were no way to get your demands implemented through government machinery, there was no universal adult franchise, so intellectuals of that time took way to satyagrah and non-violent protests to get their voice heard and get their demands registered. But situation today is different, we have constitution and we have been practicing democracy for more than sixty glorious years. Now using same method to demand which we used to do in pre-independence era is not only inefficacious but also mockery of all the efforts of our great leaders which brought independence,democracy, constitution and adult franchise.

When India Against corruption website asked for suggestion from the people how to proceed with the movement, I created a account on their website and first thing I wrote was -- make a political party. So finally when Arvind Kejriwal announced to form party on 2nd Oct 2012, and  named it Aam Aadmi Party on 26th Nov 2012 I could't be more happier. But still after one year when Aam Aadmi Party is standing at the juncture of creating history and completely change the political scenario of the country, many people criticise Arvind Kejriwal for betraying Anna and making the movement against corruption weak. To all those people I want to say why Arvind Kejriwal made a right choice.

• Whom are you protesting against? This is your government, you have chose it with your conscience, and you have trusted it with your vote, now if it's not functioning as you wanted, should you not just throw it away rather than sitting on dhrana. What do you do if you hire a domestic help and they started stealing and slacking in work, you fire them, not sit on dhrana. So do the same here too, because you can. 

• You had your excuse of all parties are same whom I should vote for, so lets sit at dhrana instead. Aam Aadmi Party gave you option. They channelised the energy of dharna movement in campaigning for the support of cause in a more constitutional way, in a way our great freedom fighters wanted us to do. 

• If they are the one who are telling the government what to do and how to tackle the problems faced by common people, and we all are agreeing what they are demanding is for the betterment of us, then why not they are one who should go in assembly or parliament. After all it's democracy and no one's manor. 

New born Aam Aadmi party is contesting election for Delhi assembly and with scientifically coordinated campaign, the way they have organised their party and delegated volunteer work, that in just matter of one year they have reached the ears and hearts of people. This has totally proved wrong the hearsay that they are inexperienced and skepticism of how they will deal with the day to day twitch of government functioning.

Now when just one more day is left in campaigning for the election which is due on 4th Dec 2013, my fingers are crossed and I am hoping, people of Delhi, who has got this chance to be able to write this first chapter of this beautiful transformation of Indian political synopsis, would use their vote judiciously. I have trust in people of Delhi, who has against the better judgement of many political analysts have shown tremendous support and enthusiasm for this more rational approach to deal with popular demands in a democracy.  

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Truth Beyond The Canvas

Hanging in the gallery were those paintings

They saw a mirthful girl, with wavy silky hair
playing with the wind as she was marching ahead,
I could see the fear of femicide in her eyes
entrenched since before she was even born.

They saw a boy playing in park
trying to jump to catch a ball,
I could see the weight of expectations
loaded on his back pulling him down.

They saw leafless trees in barren region
standing timidly as silhouette,
I could see the hope of spring
on the those skinny branches.

They saw the resplendent scattered light of
glorious morning sun from undulating river water,
I could see the bitter and sanguinary thoughts
hatched in the darkness before dawn.

They saw a  perennial tree by the side
of a small hut and a old man sitting on ground,
I could see his wife sitting inside that hutch
beside broken utensils and cold stove.


-Chanchal Prakasham

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मिनरल वाटर

कच्ची सड़क से धूल उड़ाते हुए गुजरते
कार के शीशे से बाहर फेंके जाने पर
उसे अहसास हुआ कितनी गर्मी है बाहर,
शायद वातानुकूलित पिंजड़े के अंदर
सूरज की भी मर्ज़ी नहीं चलती |

कारों का काफिला गुजरने और
धूल का गुबार पसरने के बाद उसे दिखा
सुखतीं फसलें , फसलों को आशाहीन नजरों
से देखते किसानो के सपाट चेहरे के पीछे
छिपा हुआ दर्द और उनके मुरझाए हुए सपने  |

उसने अनुमान लगाया शायद यही है
ड्राउट प्रोन कंट्रीसाइड,
जिसके बारे में कार के अन्दर के लोग बात कर रहे थे
घिन आने लगी थी उसे अपने बोतल में कैद जिंदगी से  |

कुछ कर गुजरने की तमन्ना लिए
कर दिया खुद को समर्पण
सूरज की किरणों के सम्मुख |

भाप बन उड़ चला था गगन को चूमने
ठंडक और सुकून था ऊपर की हवावों में
बस अगर कुछ नहीं था, तो वो थी संवेदना  |

बादलों के बीच पहुच कर सुना दिया उसने दर्द भरा वृत्तांत
कहानी की वेदना से धधक उठी थी चिंगारी आकाश में
उमड़ पड़ी बादलों की सारी फ़ौज उसके आह्वान पर

अगले दिन खबर आई, सूखा ग्रस्त इलाके में जम कर हुई बारिस
सैकड़ो गाँव बाढ़ में तबाह |



- चंचल प्रकाशम्

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