Saturday, May 28, 2011

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

If you were to ask any world leader whether he believed in 'Vaisudhaiva Kutumbakam', I am sure he won't bat an eyelid before answering in the affirmative. Yet they all pile arms for future use against other countries or against their own people at times. I have never come across, nor you would have had, a family where various members pile arms and ammunition for use against each other. Have we ever come across a family where some members feast and many others starve? Where food and food items are wasted when many members of the family go without food? Why should it happen on earth where every educated one will be saying yes to 'Vaisudhaiva Kutumbakam'?

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Culprits

So as mentioned in my open letter to Ms Mamata Banerjee, to which there has not been any response, ultimately I have had to take legal recourse to get my pension and other retirement dues. While I am destined to prolonged suffering for trying to be a responsible citizen and public servant, I have a right to ask the nation who are my culprits. To me Ms Sonia Gandhi, Dr Manmohan Singh, and Ms Mamata Banerjee - the top three most powerful leaders of the country - are my culprits, personally answerable to me. For making public proclamations and failing to act accordingly. The latter two for being the chief executives responsible to ensure due justice was done to me and for allowing my victimization. Though flags may fly at half mast when they die, they shall personally remain my culprits for ever. The Arnab Goswamis and Rajdeep Sardesais of Indian media are my culprits for not taking up the issue which was their moral duty if they were true to their profession. The Civil Society and Anna Hazares, obsessed with Lokpal Bill that will supposedly ensure punishment to and recovery from those who will be indulging in corruption in future, but not bothered about the outright mammoth loot going on right now, are my culprits - for being blind to victimization of one who dared to act in the interest of the society at large. The officers of Indian Railway Stores Service are my culprits for not standing up with me when I took up their cause.

And I am a culprit to my wife and shall ever remain her culprit.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Whistle Blowing and India

"Whistle blowing is the process by which insiders go public with proof of malpractice by, or within, large organisations or governments - usually after failing to change the matter from the inside, and often at great personal risk." This is how whistle blowing has been defined in a short and meaningful article published in the fortnightly women's magazine 'Femina' dated 23rd Feb, 2011. I find this definition confirms me as a whistle blower. This article also tells how whistle blowers in India have been murdered and threatened while those in developed countries are publicly honoured and find worldwide support. It categorically states that people in India don't support whistle blowers. That would mean that he or she will be a foolish Indian who goes all out for larger public interest. My experience and example leaves no doubt about it. The State in India does its best to persecute the whistle blowers rather than protecting them, notwithstanding public utterances to the contrary by its top functionaries. Nothing strange in a civil society that selects and elects if not rascals, the men and women of straw, as its leaders time and again. Not strange in a country where laws remain mostly on paper and yet there is always emphasis and clamour for more and more laws.

Luckily or unluckily I have neither been murdered nor have been threatened. But I have been condemned, and abandoned to perish so condemned. I find myself in a state where the earlier I die the better it will be for me. And better it may be for my family since then they will at least get my retirement benefits.