THE THIRD NATION (A FICTION) Pt- I

“All Muslims are not terrorists. You know, you always make me feel like a terrorist. What’s wrong with you these days?” I shouted at him.
“I don’t know about all Muslims but you are a terrorist. You have made my heart captive for long.” He pulled me towards him and tried to kiss my lips.
I pushed him back and switched off the television. I knew a single word anymore would spark a controversy. We are together since our post graduation days. I proposed him when we were in the first year and got a negative response then. He loves mathematics and when it comes to me it’s physics. It’s needless to say, physicists harbour great minds. Anyway, coming back to our story, it’s him who used to
top every assessment. He was the handsome guy with a brain. You know, he was the crush of every girl in the college, even a few seniors were in the list.
The college days were over. He was at his home in Kolkata and I was in Assam, the state of tea. The University declared the result after a month. As usual he topped the list. It’s Adarsh Roy. Do you know how it feels when someone whom you love gets success? I had the same feelings on hearing his results. I bet you would have done the same thing I did. I ran to the college notice board. Yes, it was him. And the next name reads Afia Choudhury. I could not believe this. It was impossible. How could I be at second position?
We departed but the tiny phone kept us in contact. One chilly night when all were sleeping, surroundings was pin drop silent, my cell-phone woke me up. It was a message that read, “Are you sure you love me? See, you are a Muslim and I am a Hindu. Do you think we can be together?” His words made me want to cry. He loves me.
“Don’t be afraid of religion. It’s meant for our safety.” I replied.
We decided to go for a date. He was confused and so was I. We took the corner seat at the restaurant.
There was no one except the receptionist. He was busy with the television- remote. “Two cups of tea,” I ordered.
“Should I think your message as a proposal?” I spoke out.
“Don’t you think society will kill us?”
“May be,” I was not worried about that. “So, you love me?”
“Your eyes and the little nose in between make you the prettiest girl in the world.” He stared at me. “I want to settle down with you.”
“I don’t have a problem. I can promise you my cent percent. I will love you till your last breath.” I held his hand in assurance. “Who won’t love to live a life with a handsome guy like you?” I smiled.
“What about your family?” he asked me.
Yeah, family was a problem. How would they allow me to live with a Hindu boy? But, I was 26 years old then and that made me ready to enjoy my freedom.
“I am ready to live with you,” I replied. “But I will not change my faith. If you can’t accept me, it’s fine. Love and faith never die.”
“I love you.” He touched my fingers on the table. “Let’s settle down here in Delhi. Here nobody cares about religion.”
“But I can’t marry you now. I need time.” I was imagining my family’s reaction actually.

                       ..... Part- II

YOU ARE NOT ILLITERATE, NEITHER ARE THE DOCTORS...

First day of my internship! I was over enthusiastic and soon I came to know the real challenges I was to face in my day-to-day life for being a medico.

             It's not that we, medicos always blame the other party for any untoward incident but we do most of the times. And I think we blame it right. Well, I know what's in your mind. All medicos are in my support and the others are not. Here, I am sharing a few instances when patient-parties were not satisfied with my services.

              I was posted in NICU. One evening, a two days old baby with life supporting system rushed in. Ideally, no attendant is permitted inside but they were more than five. "It's ICU, you should not be inside. Stay one, others go outside." I told them. (Since morning I  have uttered the same sentence many times to many patient parties.) I repeated thrice, they overheard. and lastly when I was loud, one of them shouted at me, "I know this is ICU. I am M.Sc., my younger brother is MBBS." Also someone in his relation was Zilla Parishad Chairman. I realised that I shouted in vain.

               Next incident was in casulty. The patient suffered RTA (road traffic accident) and in every medico-legal case we need to maintain extra documentation. I was asking a few questions to this patient but he was busy in talking to someone who was standing right behind me. I literally lost my temper and shouted at both of them. Do you know what I heard from my behind? "You are a doctor, you should be polite." He continued, "I am also educated, I'm a reporter." I was like... just leave it. It's obvious that I overheard him (because I am a doctor and I don't have the right to argue). After around half an hour, the reporter came to me with a prescription. "Why 'calpol syrup' has been prescribed? The baby is not having fever but he is suffering from a swelling on his forehead." He asked me. I know he has every right to ask a doctor such questions but his intentions were not good.

                It's not that we always come across non-co-operative attendants. One evening when I was busy with paper-works, I heard the sister telling one old lady that she has taught her how to deliver medication once and now she can't do the same. The old lady replied,  "I am illiterate, old and the baby's father is differently abled. You are trained for that or else I would have been a doctor. I don't know anything, you have to help me out." I stopped writing for a moment and looked at her. "You are not illiterate," I murmured. I asked the sister to help the old lady and to attend her every time she gives a call. How would have others reacted if they were in place of that lady? Let me make a guess,"Hello sister, Govt is paying you for this, then why should I deliver the medication to the baby (though he is my son). You'll have to attend my patient or else I am going to complain against you." They would have been like "I am the master and you are just a servant." It  happened many a times with me.

                 Anyway, I know, I have to be happy with my day. It's 1st July, the Doctor's Day.

MY SILENCE: QUESTIONING THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY...

An ambulance rushed me to casualty. My nose was bleeding, my scalp was bleeding, my thigh swelled up to twice its original size. Above all I was fighting to take my part of oxygen in. I was disoriented, feeling like hell. Doctors started fluids, checking vitals, suturing scalp.
“110/70”, I heard someone shouting. I opened up my eyes. A new set of doctors took me over. They reduced my fracture and applied skin traction. Now I was oriented. Casualty gate was closed. All the security personnel were placed at the gate as second line of defence, police personnel being first were outside the gate. It was hard for them to control the mob. A huge mob! It was dying to get me.
I know, the God “Saturn” did this to me. I was in market-place when a group of six or seven boys captured me and within a minute the group turned into a mob.
You are wondering, what was my fault? Our college, Silchar Medical College, Silchar has two ways – IN and OUT and there is a temple beside the IN-Way where devotees worship the God Saturn. Well, Idon’t have any probem with that. But occasionally they block the IN-Way of the college with curtains to welcome mass gathering. And I just wrote to a local daily two days back questioning the justification ofblocking the entrance of a tertiary health care centre like Silchar Medical College. The fate I ended up with was this. “I have respect for the God too; I never meant this; I just wanted you not block the way,” I cried, I shouted to the mob.
My good luck, this was a dream. A bad dream, one should never remember.The mob caught my family members too. My mom was in ICU, younger sister was having strip of bandages around her head. The tears from my eyes brought me to the reality and then I never dared to think against the devotees, forget about writing in any local daily.
And that’s why I am silent; why are you?

(This article is not intended to hurt any religious sentiment but to question sense of responsibility.)

5 HILARIOUS ACTS OF MINE

I. I STOLE 5 RUPEES


I never got pocket money during my primary schooling days. I even didn't know denomination of rupee. Only thing I knew about money was that there exists "one rupee". I knew, if you buy anything in a shop and ask for another rupee in return, you will get that. One day I stole a note from my home. I went to shop, bought chocolates and every time I asked for some rupee in return. when I was left with last rupee, I went to a shop and said, "give me chocolates for one rupee and return me another rupee". The shopkeeper taught me about rupee that day. I understood later that I stole 5 rupees. I was in 2nd standard then and suffered "battered baby syndrome" at home. Anyway that was the last time that I stole anything other than hearts.



II. WRITING AN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

In 5th standard, my English teacher asked me to buy an English grammar. I borrowed one from my friend and started copying in a copy. The dimension of the copy was  same as that of the book. I could not complete it. So far I remember, I had written around 80 pages. Later on my brother bought one for me.


III. SAME TO YOU, SIR

Even in 7th standard I did not know what should be in reply if anyone thanks me or wishes me good luck. During my exams, our chemistry teacher wished me best of luck and I replied, "Same to you, sir" as many of my friends kept saying the same among themselves. Sir taught me that if anyone wishes me good luck, I should say "Thank you".


IV. I AM YOUR SON, SIR

I got admitted in Navodaya (JNV) in 2002. During that time there were no mobile phones in villages. I had to communicate with my family through one of my teacher from previous school. They have telephone at home. He got newly married then. I called at his home, his elder brother received the call and said, "Hello".
"Hello sir!" I said
"Who are you?" he asked me.
"I am Ranu, sir"
"Who are you?" he repeated.
"I am sir's son."
"Hey, who are you?" now he was getting angry.
"I am his son."

I kept saying the same till he became angry and hung up the phone.
Actually, I was absent minded and said "son" instead of "student".


V. WHEN I TRIED CHEATING IN THE EXAM

"Draw the map of Assam and label it", was a sure-shot  question in my 4th standard final examination. And you know drawing anything is my weakest point. I practiced a lot but could not get the confidence. I took one map for cheating in the examination. In the exam I started drawing the map and I did it of my own. I was so happy that I stood up waving my map towards invigilator and said, "Ma'am, ma'am, I brought this to copy but I have drawn the map of my own".

HALF HUMANITY

(Half an hour with Sultan)

Waiting for someone is the most boring task for me. Finding no option, I was standing infront of Womens College, Silchar. “Excuse me, where from may I get bus for Lala?” a boy in his early twenty asked me. I looked from head to toe through my eye glasses. He was in a dirty short shirt and a red long pant with dry uncombed hair. “Just take an auto to Rangirkhari and you will get sumo to your destination from there,” I said pointing my index finger towards an auto. He came a bit more close to me as if he wanted to whisper something in my ears. Yeah, I was right. He whispered that he was coming from Mizoram to enjoy his off days at home but unfortunately two co-passengers drugged him and took away his money. I immediately put my hand in the pocket to take out my wallet in the name of humanity. But I am also a human being, doubts intruded in my mind.

“So sad! Don’t worry, I will help you,” I assured him.

“My elder brother is of your age but he is in Saudi Arabia. No one is there at home except my mom and sister. And you know they cannot come to help me,” he continued, “someday you may also get in trouble.”

“I understand, let’s go to bus stand,” I suggested.

“Actually bro, I have kept my bag in a shop near college.”

“Cachar College? No problem at all. We will first go to that shop and then to stand,” I said.

“What’s your name?”

“Sultan Barbhuiya,” he replied. “You are also Muslim, no?”

I looked at eyes and replied “no, I am Hindu.”

“Bro I stay with people of your community there in Mizoram and even share food,” he continued of his own.

I don’t bother about religion unless someone else bothers. “I wanted to know your name, not your religion brother,” I politely said. “Tell me your mom’s number, let me call her to give the news that you are out of troubles now.”

He told me the number, I dialed. It was busy. After a few trials when I heard “hello”  on the other side, I smiled at Sultan. “Is it Lala?” I asked over the phone. “No, it’s not,” I heard in reply. She was speaking Assamese and sultan is Bengali.

“Are you sure that the number is correct?” I asked Sultan.

“Yeah, cent percent,” he repeated the number.

And I dialed. “Don’t you understand Assamese?” I got to hear over the phone.

Now we have reached infront of Devdoot (presently metro bazaar) and were heading towards the Cachar College.

“See, here is bus to Ramnagar and from Ramnagar I’ll get bus for Lala,” he said pointing towards old ASTC stand.

“What about your bag?”

“I have kept that bag in the morning and when I went for the same an hour before, the shop was closed. Tomorrow I will come and take it.” He said.

“No, no, let’s go take it today only,” I insisted and continued to walk.

After a few steps he insisted me to go other way via club road as the shop is not exactly near college. He turned around. I too turned back and when I was exactly infront of metro bazaar, I stopped. He continued to walk ahead of me and he became another stranger like others who were around me. It was 4pm; almost half an hour!

Whether I did right or wrong, it became a big question to me. I looked at the women who was begging on the footpath and put a coin in her bowl. I was not sure whether Sultan was fraud or not but now I feel a few frauds cannot take away humanity from us. And for the last time, I again dialed the number given by Sultan . I just listened, did not dare to speak……

MY DOCTOR DID NOT UNDERSTAND ME !!!

When it's about money, we all become possessive and calculative even if it's to be spent for our health. I remember somewhere read that patients getting negative reports (of tests done) become unhappy because they think their money got wasted. It's true; many of us think like that.
And when it's doctor's fees, people always had complaints. And these days it's been a trend for doctors to take fees even for next-day-review. I don't want to talk on that.

Anyway, coming to the point, I visited a renowned doctor at Silchar. He advised me a few diagnostic tests costing rupees 3100. I was not having that much of money right then. According to the rule, if I had shown him the reports within two days (he was in Silchar for two more days for that month) I would not need any extra fees otherwise had to buy another ticket. I requested the receptionist to do me a favour so that I could show him the reports for free of cost next month. He asked me to talk to the doctor.

"Sir, I am a medical student. I have shortage of money now. It's difficult for me to manage the money within two days. Can I visit you next month with the same ticket?" I asked the doctor.
"Sure, no problem," he smiled.
I let it know to the receptionist and left happily.

But next month, when I asked the receptionist, now he needs proof. After all sorts of quarrel, I paid 400 bucks and met the doctor. Surprisingly, he has also forgotten everything, every promise. After thinking about all the aspects, I tried to make him remember, "Sir, last month, I requested you to consider me to visit you on the same ticket and now they have charged me fees," I tried to smile.
"It's private sector, you have to give some nominal fees..." I interrupted him and started, " No sir, I did not mean that, I....I.."
He called the receptionist and asked to return me 200.
"No sir, I'll not take it. It's okay sir," I said.
He smiled and too politely said, "Don't be so sentimental. It does not help when you are sentimental. Buy some chocolates with this money."

I knew he did not understand me. Had they said that I needed to pay I would have all the tests done by managing money somehow previous month itself. Was the 400 being charged because I did not have money previous month? My angle of thinking fell under the iceberg. The receptionist did not get me, not even the doctor. May be he did not get me when I stressed upon "with the same ticket". I wanted to make him understand but the seconds he was wasting talking to me equal some money. So, I thanked him to come out of his chamber. But really, his smile, his politeness and the way of talking won my heart and compelled me to feel guilty.....

HOW MEDIA SHOULD BE !!!

Going through posts in Facebook I came across these lines (written in name of APJ Abdul Kalam, though I doubt). Anyway whoever told, it's good.

(Why is the media here so negative?)

Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why?
We are the first in milk production.
We are number one in Remote sensing satellites.
We are the second largest producer of wheat.
We are the second largest producer of rice.

Look at Dr. Sudarshan , he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters. I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news.

APJ Abdul Kalam at Speech1In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime.. Why are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign T.Vs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology.

Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance? I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is. She replied: I want to live in a developed India . For her, you and I will have to build this developed India . You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

(copied from internet)

WHITE COATS GETTING BLACK DUE TO INSECURITY

(A group of about 40 rush to casualty to assault doctors in Silchar Medical College)

A few days back it was Kanpur and now it’s Silchar (Assam). Doctors are beaten up, Govt. properties are destroyed. There it was an MLA and here it’s a common man.

A patient dies at 7pm and at 8pm a group of morons come to hit doctors. It’s what just happened in Silchar Medical College.  Not just insane?

Digging into the matter, I found that they just think that the doctors are responsible which cost the patient’s life. They never thought that these doctors are the reason that they are having at least a new member in the family. It’s not new, everywhere patient dies, it’s doctors’ fault and when survives it’s God’s grace. Why can’t they digest that God sometimes calls even.

Here, Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) has no security as such for students and doctors. From hostels bike vanishes, a few scoundrels manage to break into the girls’ hostel at midnight; a few attendants just hold collars of on duty doctors….

A few days back when we were just displaying a black ribbon on our apron protesting against Kanpur incident, a fellow mate desperately kept his view to call for a complete shutdown of services in SMCH. I advocated against his view that Assam Govt. no way can take any decision on Kanpur’s matter. So it’s illogical (and unethical too) to let our common men suffer here. But I am questioning myself now, ‘was I right?’

Even Govt. sometimes shows no mercy to medical fraternity. It comes up with all possible policies to harass doctors. And they always complain doctors are not serving well. Listen, like an oath over holy book makes a witness truthful in the court; the Hippocratic Oath makes doctors binding towards services. And if any doctor found disobeying medical ethics, he is nothing but a criminal. So there’s no need of coming up with policies. Just pick him up but please don’t harass the innocent doctors.

‘Like a driver who cares for the passengers boarded in the bus, a doctor cares for his patients,’ a senior brother said. Well said. Said is the truth.

Anyway, we shutdown all the services except indoor and emergency services for a day to let people know what negligence from doctor’s part really mean. Support Kanpur, support Silchar Medical College or else you suffer next…

SHOULD POLITICIANS BE GIVEN TRAINING?

I was about to write a blog post with this heading weeks ago but I could not. A comment on my FB status about Arvind Kejriwal gave impetus to my thoughts once again. Being disappointed with Kejriwal’s dharna in Delhi I updated my status: “Kejriwal is really an AamAdmi, knows nothing only dharnas and hunger strike.”

“He is an IITian… worked as Jt. Commissioner in the Income tax Department… that’s enough to describe him…” a friend of mine commented.

Do you people also think the same? If yes, “India is not an electronic gadget that it needs chips but a country which needs politicians to run it. Then what’s the use of being IITian?”

I think politicians should be given training at least for public interest. We need a govt. who thinks of ‘aam admi’ not one constituting of ‘aam admi’. No way am I criticizing an ‘aam admi’ because I am also one as I also don’t know about governance.

Even an IAS officer is given training. They belong to the most talented group of people. They clear prelims, mains and finally interviews. If govt. thinks they need to be trained then why not the politicians who get the post only delivering discourse in public?

If finance minister does not know current GDP, health minister does not know the minimum distance between two medical colleges, minister of external affairs does not know India’s boundaries then how things will do? And if Law minister does not respect court summon then how India expects other to respect?

          A leader has many things to do. He must be bold, enthusiastic and above all a sink for all problems. A child cries hoping he has parents to console him. What conditions will the same child go through if the parents start crying instead? Delhi CM goes for dharna. He never thought he is Delhi’s parent now. Don’t Delhiites feel insecure?

India should start training its politicians to be bold, enthusiastic and promising so that people feel secure even in the worst of times.

Training should be for:

•         All candidates who gets nominations (pre-election training)

-          To refrain themselves from commenting on others.

-          To have a good conduct.

-          And to know what they say or promise.

•          All who win election (intensive training)

Lastly,politics is not what we think it is. It’s a science and when it’s science it should be treated as one…..

A SMALL STEP AGAINST CORRUPTION THAT YOU TOO CAN TAKE !!!

On the way to Devdoot from Silchar Medical College near Commissioner Bungalow, the auto rickshaw I was boarded on and a bicycle collided. The bicyclist got hurt but he managed to stand up and went away. My driver was good at heart; he did not run away but stopped the auto by the side.

By then, one of the traffic police on duty came running. He took the key and ran after another vehicle. All passengers left the auto advising him to offer rupees twenty or thirty to the police.

I thought, why should it always start in Delhi? Why not at Silchar? I waited by the auto and assured the driver I was with him. After about 15 minutes, the police came and perused the license and documents. Suddenly his attention focused on me. He asked the driver to leave me. ‘This is not my destination. I will travel to Devdoot,’ I said. The police said he is going to take the auto to the police station. So, I was compelled to stay back. He seized the documents even he did not find anything wrong with them.

After about 10 minutes, a young police man in his thirties came on bike. My driver reached to them who were about 5 feet away from me. The matter got solved. They returned the key.

Now I ran to them. ‘Why did you take money from him?’ I charged the policeman. ‘Where did I take money from him? I did not take any money.’ He said incessantly. ‘Did you give me any money?’ he asked the driver to prove me wrong. And the driver remained quiet for a moment. Hurriedly the policeman showed anger and ordered the other fellow to take the auto to the station.

‘Don’t you people need witness? I am the witness. I will go with you,’ I said and tried be in the auto. The police refused to take me and asked to walk to the station if I wanted.

Everything was happening so fast that I could not plan the way to catch them. I went to the third police on duty to ask the name of the police who took the bribe. But unfortunately he answered, ‘I am here all alone on duty. No one was here.’

I saw no hope and walked towards my destination. On the way, that police who denied taking me to the station stopped me and tried to get me in the auto.  For the moment I knew he has had threatened the driver. Now, I denied sitting in.

After walking a few minutes I rebound back to teach them a lesson. I got the driver by the side of the road. ‘Why didn’t you come with me? I was ready to go to the station,’ he said. Anyway, I was firm while talking to them. Though they took two hundred rupees, I have learnt something today.’ I felt guilty and replied, ‘sorry I could not trust you.’

He gave me lift to my destination. Till now I am feeling guilty but still proud for the small step against corruption.

ARVIND KEJRIWAL AND STING OPERATION !!!

                  A T-shirt costs a hundred or two for a boy from a remote village. But Rahul bought one for four hundred bucks. What was so special in that t-shirt? See; don’t talk of quality, style, brand and all. Obviously, I am not talking of that.

                  A sketch of Anna Hazare and a tagline “we are with you” was all what made worth it 400 bucks to Rahul. He also wants to live in a corruption free village. Got a chance, he would have passed the most anticipated “Lokpal Bill”. But for getting a political platform one needs to spend bundles of notes. This is a fact! You need publicity, promotions, party etc. and for all these money is needed.

                 So, I was not at all strange when news of sting operation against Aam Admi Party leaders came in light. Also, Delhi election commission says the record stating the amount spent in organizing party meetings during election by AAP does not match with the actually spent amount.

                 What’s your say I don’t know but thing is that if every buzz against AAP is true, it means there is need of some reforms in rules governing political parties.

Already they have been out of RTI (right to information act). They say that they are not govt. organization. Simple question, why do you people sit in Parliament then? It is neither a private office.

The election commission should think over following:

·         It should take care of publicity of each and every political party of its own. Suppose, we have three parties, Congress, BJP and AAP, Election commission should select few venues and fix dates for each party’s address to the public during election. All extra meetings and rallies should be illegalized. Also commission can make comparative charts, posters of their commitments and distribute among public. And the government should bear all the expenses.Then parties will not only refrain from collecting illegal cash but also it will give chance to poor parties.
·         For coming as a political party it should work as an NGO for few years
·         Every member (political leaders) should have a minimum qualification.
·         And lastly, unconditionally all parties should be brought under RTI act.

WHY DO I LOVE SILCHAR (BARAK VALLEY)?

Silchar? I bet they know about Silchar. Ask anyone from Mumbai or from Delhi or from Bangalore or from Jammu. At least once they have heard this name. It’s a small town in Barak Valley of Assam. The river Barak nourishes this place. It’s my birthplace and I grew up here. I love this place. What makes me fall for her, I don’t know. But sure it’s not my blind love towards her.

Do you know what the greatest paradox of life is? It’s we fight, we war for peace. And the greatness of Silchar is that she never fought for peace but she is always peaceful.

No longer, Silchar is confined to the town only. The airport, the university, the medical college, these all are counted as Silchar. Did you get me? I meant Silchar is not stagnant, it’s growing. Today Silchar represents the whole Barak Valley.

Right from education to career, Barak Valley is best at its place. Now, when I am a teen and needed a good college to get me educated Silchar never betrayed me. The Gurucharan College, the Cachar College, the Ramanuj College and many more colleges stand there still on the soil of Silchar. Though these days it hurts me a little when I see commercialization of these colleges but yet it’s my place. Here I’ll not confine myself to Silchar, the heart of Barak Valley but will talk of the whole valley.

Though unnoticed, Barak Valley is there in the history of Indian independence. Many of us from Barak Valley even don’t know about the “Malegarh”. In 1857 when there was Sepoy Revolt to make India free, Barak Valley also fought for freedom. And the “Malegarh” is the place which bears history of that selfless fight. It’s situated at Latu, a village 14 kilometer away from the Karimganj town.

Not only in history but at present also it stands still with its own identity. The Panchgram Paper Mill and its township are talked about nationwide. The Shonbil; it’s the largest wetland in Asia. The National Institute of India, Silchar is the only NIT in Assam and gives a number of genius engineers every year.

Have you heard of Ronald Ross? He researched on malarial parasite and won nobel prize. He passed a period of time here in Barak Valley and continued his research work.

Leave all these, we have talked a lot about history, colleges, mills. Now, let me tell you the secret what makes Barak Valley a peaceful place. Here, all are religious. Each and everyone know what being religious really means. During any festival, be it X-mass, Durga Puja or EDD, roads are always crowded. Every child comes out of his home to get his share of enjoyment.

Not only this, you go to any place and wait for some time; someone will surely come to talk to you. It does not mean he has no work undone but people of Barak Valley are of this kind. They are very friendly in receiving outcomers but very sensitive about their culture, language and self respect as well. They always try to maintain them. In crisis, everyone gets ready to fight. Whenever anyone tried to hurt their tongue, they answered. They are not coward but polite.

They love; they war and are political too but always caring in making fair decisions. And for all these, I guess I love my Barak Valley. I love my Silchar.

courtsey silchartoday.com

HIJRAS AND BEGGARS (In trains) !!!

Indian railways are one of the world’s largest railway networks. And most of us prefer trains for long distance journey. Let it be a holiday trip to Assam or for a business trip to Mumbai we prefer trains. Amazing journey! Too smooth journey.

Now you take a seat and the train starts. You are enjoying the outside scenery. After a few minutes a boy comes to you asking for alms. You helped him happily. After another few minutes, an amputee comes to you and again you put few coins in his hand. May be you did not want but his stubbornness will compel you. And it continues. Either a blind or a helpless woman or a child keeps on coming to take some coins out of your pocket.

Now, you think no more disturbances will be there but soon you hear somebody claps at the other side of the coach. I guess you have understood whom I am referring to. Yes, Hijras! They are referred as the third gender and are inhabitant of India and Pakistan. And of all alms seekers they are the most dangerous one. Well, don’t you think they harass passengers? Yes they literally harass passengers. You’ll not agree with me if you travel in AC coach otherwise you will.

Don’t think me as heartless who does not want to help needy. Of course I want. But thing is that all whom we meet in trains are not really beggars they could have done something other than begging for their livelihood. And for hijras and the needy people I have a solution.

By statistics, around 30 million passengers travel trains daily. If railway authorities take a donation of Rs. 5 with every ticket then total collection will be 150 million rupees daily.

Now, there are 7000 stations in India. Let us assume per station there are 200 beggars and hijras then total number of needy people is 14 lacs (1.4 million). Now distribute the 150 million among them. Each of them is getting about Rs.107/day.

Then passengers will be never harassed.  And to make it possible the first step railway authority should take is to identify the real needy people and register their names.

I request railway ministry to look over this matter. Believe me, railway journey has become like hell because of them.

WE HINDUS AND THE SECULARISM !!!

We do not like to speak we are Hindus because the country is secular. We prefer to say our religion is superstitious, vague because else others may call us communal. We, the Hindus can kick our religion for the sake of secularism. It's not our fault, it's our nature. In the past, we were been slaves for two hundred years and now also we love to be slaves. Our blood is slave. We never want our children to learn sayings in the Geeta but we like them to learn new filmy songs. Is there any mother who teaches her child sayings from the Geeta? Is there? Change your thought, be strong, fight for your rights, know your religion,you will get aim in your life, peace in your life and the success.
Secularism does not mean ignoring your own religion, throwing away your own religion, mingling your religion with others', comparing your religion with others' but to respect all the religions.
I think, we can't be secular till there is politics because it is a religion that hates every other religion. The day, each of us can proudly utter our own religion without any fear of getting tagged as communal, we can say that we are secular, India is secular.

(from Is Everything really fair in Love and War?  )

TACKLING RAPE !!!

"A girl is raped in Mumbai," "A girl is molested in Ashram" are the headlines in almost all medias these days. Searching for reasons? Here I go with some points which I think are responsible,
           

•           Improper psycho-sexual development.
•           Lack of proper sex education.
•           Lower socio-economic status.
•           Individualism.
•           Inefficient judicial system .

         No doubt boys achieve puberty at teen age but the thought comes much earlier. At around 6 years, a boy knows there is something that gives immense pleasure. He starts exploring the secret. Now, whenever he is alone he thinks of the secret and with age he comes to know it's sex. Thinking about sex has become a habit to him now. Mostly it happens in the families of higher and poor socio-economic status. As in both the cases parents are engaged in job and boys get enough time to make a mind that thinks of sex all the time. And here lies the root of improper psycho-sexual development. They should be taken care of atleast upto the age of 16 years.

          In case, he comes to know about sex before puberty, parents should solve the questions arising in his mind. Don't let him solve. Remember, those problems are not from mathematics but problems of life. If he solves , answer will be different. And here is the need for proper sex education.

          Individualism is another reason. Now a child is told to be self dependent as early as possible and get a separate life. He becomes, but bondage among the family members weakens. When there is no value of the family, society does not exist. So, a man can commit a crime (rape) without any self inhibition.

         Even after all these if an incidence occurs, our judicial system proves to be inefficient. Why so much proceedings? I think proceedings should be retrospective. Like, when a complaint has been entered, 

         

• Put the accused behind the bars.
• Make a team to investigate the matter. There should not be any defendant. 
•  Got any clue supporting his crime, increase the punishment.
•  Found guilty, severe sentence. (Accused can appeal in higher court and higher court should follow the same steps)
•  Found innocent, make him free and reward him.

      Last but not the least, good mentality matters. The government is noway responsible for rape but the society is. Get the accused before police reach and then you see, how crimes reduces. Let's together build a safe INDIA.

          

CORRUPTED GIRL...!!!

Birds charm, I wake
And go for a race
 As two thin legs with a shinning face
Moves along the street.
 She winks at me,
My heart freezes.
The sun laughs as u do
But frankly, I feel it as breeze.
 I missed the charming today,
 I missed the morning mist
 As am not worried to chase
 But yearning for the roadside park.
 The sun is tired,
Me in the park
And she too with the rose
Wrapped in the letter I wrote.
 She smiles and says,
 He gives me what i need
All the time we go for a date.
Dear, what else u have
That is not in my fate??
 With a silence, I uttered-------
You r corrupted, Really corrupted, sweetheart !!!

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SOME PIECES OF GRASS

The tall buildings
That too green.
Very very nice...
What a city!
Dustbins are regular,
That too green.
Cars are fast on roads
No body to walk on...
But a cow,on the midway
Is On thought
I horn and horn and horn
But she is on thought.
Me too stubborn
Got off the car....
She covers
Some pieces of grass.
And wind gifts her
Pieces of paper
She eats them up
But never the grass pieces
I regret...
And end,we are not so far...

WAIT FOR SATURATION POINT

Let me first describe what is saturation point? suppose you are adding salt or sugar to water,after adding an amount, salt or sugar will not dissolve & this is called saturation point.
In our life also we come across many hurdles which also will saturate at a time, just wait for it.
Perhaps it is the secret behind success of Ghandhiji's Satyagraha...........British were saturated ............
Now question is that it is practically impossible to wait......... answer is be practical........
"TO BE PRACTICAL NOT MERELY MEANS TO STEAL WHEN EVERY BODY STEALS
BUT TO ACT WITH WITS & WISDOM"

LIFE IS THE SHORTEST PATH BETWEEN BIRTH AND DEATH

Dear friends, we human biengs are the best animal ever known. i think u will agree with me that we always want a shortest path ...........isn't it? remember our goal is to reach death as we all are mortal....... many irritated due to day to day living style wants to end own's life but it is wrong as it the not real end.............. LIFE IS THE SHORTEST PATH BETWEEN BIRTH & DEATH....
Enjoy it through hardships.