Life in Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) is a distinct experience altogether from Asian News Internatinal (ANI), the news organisation I worked with for over five-and-a-half years.

It revolves around a Director and Yoga. Others exist here as non-entites. Most of the people that I have come across here are happy doing what they have been doing for ages.

Though it's an autonous organisation but the style of working here is typically Sarkari. Except for a committed Director, most of the people are unusually content with their work and happy to ensure that they are not facing the music for any of the assigned responsibilities. Everyone here passes the buck on other and the other person on some other.

I have been given the charge of a learning centre for yoga, a dream project of the Director Dr. I. Basavaraddy. He wants results and remains busy pushing people here to justify their salaries. People fear him for the simple reason that he demands results.

He talks straight on the face but still maintains respect while speaking to anyone.

Thank God you made me quit ANI on a good note......
(the original piece will be posted later)

Yes, I quit Asian News International (ANI) finally on Nov.15, 2010. That was my last day there. I was myself in a doubt, whether I would ever be able to see or imagine myself living beyond working at ANI ever.

My decision surprised many of my well-wishers as they learnt that I quit to join as media consultant at Morarji Desai National Inst. of Yoga (under Depart. of AYUSH), Ministry of Health. It felt surprising also because I opted to not explore or utilise the available options of working in TV channels or rival News Agency and even Economic Times!)

I know I disappointed many a people as much I disappointed the journalist in me. But , at the same time, my decision did delight all those who knew about the untenable circumstances I was working in for such a long time.

It will not be complete truth, if I said that I changed it for the sake of new opportunity.

It is worth mentioning here about the work profile I was assigned in ANI to evaluate my worth for Print Media section of ANI.

In the last five years, I was made the sole incharge of Feature stories of ANI's print media section, the incharge of late evening shift happened two years ago.

On the last day, as an ANI employee, my profile comprised being responsible for Jammu and Kashmir's stories, North East stories, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh stories, writing Ministry of External Affairs's Exclusive Feature stories, handling all political, and international stories related to President, Prime Minister, and External Affairs Minister's foreign visits, Sports (Commonwealth Games's opening ceremony and closing ceremony related all stories).

Ashok Dixit, my immediate boss and News Editor, threw a farewell lunch for me at a fantastic hotel in Green Park and my main boss that I respected the most all these years, Mr. I. Ramamohan Rao, threw another farewell party at the renovated Karnataka Sangha, in R.K.Puram after two days. The gesture of both the bosses touched my heart immensely.

It was a farewell worth remembering forever for its sincere gesture. Honestly stating, I least expected it !.

Regards
Chaudhary Sandeep Datta

Has Booker Prize offered Arundhati Roy a liberty to rise above law?

By Chaudhary Sandeep Datta

The Government of India looks justified in upto an extent by not letting the popularity monger writer Arundhati Roy gain the so called ‘Kashmiri martyrs’ status be geeting arrested under sedition law.

It’s a common knowledge that such moves by authorities, even if it may include slapping a case against them, only serves to such persons’ pre-set personal objectives.

Painter M.F.Hussain who made naked drawings of Hindu Goddesses, Bangladesh writer Tasleema Nasreen giving an inflammatory description of situation in her native country, and Salman Rushdie insulting the Koran through Satanic Verses have been a few such popular examples in the recent past.

Arundhati seems to be treading the same path to achieve controversy-driven fame. Such individuals are well aware of their unofficial ‘liberty’ that protects them from Government action for a long time, if not forever. As they are in regular notice of the world of the intellectuals, who are always ready to lend ‘support’ to such ‘voices of revolt’ at the drop of hat.

But the educated class of the country and the information-seekers across the world need to know what the Man Booker Prize winner novelist Arundhati Roy is doing by such a liberty granted as the Freedom to Speech and Expression to all Indian citizens under Article 19 (A) of the Constitution of India.

Despite high concerns over writer Arundhati Roy’s ‘call for justice’ speech delivered in Delhi recently, it looks she is hard bent on provoking the minds of the people in Kashmir to break free from India and patting them on their back for indulging in stone pelting against security forces.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone if a group of such provoked minds end up becoming militants or going on burning more public or private buildings.

Roy, who was in Srinagar till last reports about were received, once again attempted to dare the Central Government and its powers to control the voice that indirectly provokes and hails people seeking disintegration of States.

Roy, who has been vociferously advocating the cause of Kashmiris and other minorities in India minced no words in accusing New Delhi of waging war against minorities.

“In Nagaland, the troopers have been targeting Adivasis, in Telangana Dalits and in Punjab, they target Sikhs. India is an upper caste Hindu state that is certainly at war with minorities. It has waged a protracted war in Nagaland and Kashmir to force inclusion of people into its system,” The Kashmir Observer quoted Roy as saying on October 24.

Provoking the local people against Indian establishment further, Roy stated that Kashmiris recruited in the army and paramilitary forces are being used to suppress the voices of dissent in the Northeast and other states. “I was heart broken when I saw Kashmiri BSF personnel in Dantewada. Mothers in Nagaland recalled their kins who were posted in army and other security agencies. I urge Kashmiris to ensure that they are not used to as tools of suppression,” the report stated Roy as saying.

Hailing the role of Kashmiri women in the ongoing movement, Roy asked them to contribute to the struggle in one way or the other. “Kashmiris have been breathing and inhaling through the barrel of AK 47.”

She was speaking at a seminar in Srinagar on “Whither Kashmir? Freedom or Enslavement” organised by the Coalition of Civil Societies.

Roy, during the seminar, said that the Indian state was mimicking colonial powers in its policy of divide and rule, and had launched a protracted war in Kashmir.

An outspoken critic of corporate narratives of events and issues, Roy said that India was a cage in which millions of people of different nationalities were held against their will.

“I believe Kashmir is not an integral part of India. It is a historical fact,” Roy said, hailing stone-pelting youth “for taking the Kashmir movement to a decisive phase.”

While provoking youngsters, Roy said that the events of the past four months had changed the opinion in India. “The people of India are now showing a willingness to talk Kashmir,” she said. “This, in my opinion, is the greatest achievement of the past four months.”

“Resistance is a beautiful thing. It is high time for Kashmiris to set goals for Azadi and steer the movement,” she said, adding: “Your struggle has raised the consciousness about the Kashmir dispute and the oppression you face. But you must decide what type of society you have in mind once you are allowed to decide your future.”

“Kashmiris will have to make a choice whether or not they want Indian oppression to be replaced by a future corporate oppression,” Roy stated.

After reading her reported statements in Srinagar, one tends to question if winning a coveted prize allow a person in India to rise above law? Perhaps, Arundhati would have met with a different fate at the hands of law had she been in China. Long live Indian democracy!
--
Regards
Chaudhary Sandeep Datta

Shouldn't Geelani, Arundhati face sedition case?

By Ch. Sandeep Datta

It looks Hurriyat conference chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani and writer Arundhati Roy are not just running after international limelight with their anti-India rehetoric but, of late, have directly attempted to add fuel to the fire by provoking annoyed or dejected people in other parts of the country to develop disaffection for the Indian Government in the disguise of 'call for justice'.

Both of the individuals may have their 'compulsions' or ambitious reasons to provoke public sentiments against the Government establishment and India, such efforts need to be viewed as intentional attempt to break the country.

As such persons are well aware of the group of 'intelligentsia' who will always stand up for such 'voices', even if they lead to lead to violence or spread hatred among different sections of the society in the country.

In the last few months, by advocating Jammu and Kashmir's separation from India through inflammatory speeches in the Valley and hogging limelight internationally as 'the actual voice' of Kashmir, and for being the main mind behind the recent three-month long stone-pelting protests in Kashmir Valey, the separatist leader Geelani has certainly dared the Indian establishment.

Geelani, who is viewed as Pakistani agent, is a well-known separatist leader who seeks Kashmir be separated from India's reach of constitutional powers.

But Arundhati is comparitively a newcomer as 'Kashmiri activist'. Having gained attention of literratti since winning the Booker Prize for fiction, Roy associted herself to Narmada Bachao Andolan-led by noted social activist Medha Patkar and then temporarily shifting to Naxals' cause, has suddenly developed love for Kashmir's separatists.

It may be foolhardy to believe that Syed Ali Shah Geelani and writer Arundhati Roy, who gave some speeches recently in the capital seeking freedom of Kashmir and boycott of the Central Government appointed three-member team of interlocuters on Jammu and Kashmir, were not aware that they were inviting a serious trouble for themselves. And, they did what they did in full awareness of the law of the land and the 'Freedom of Speech' limitation.

Arundhati Roy’s questioning of the union of Kashmir with India is highly objectinable. It would be soft-mindedness of the Government agencies if they think a writer of her acclaim is not aware of Indian law.

As per Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 124A which deals with Sedition cases, "Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards. the Government established by law in [India], shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine.

It explains -The expression "disaffection" includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity,

"Comments" expressing disapprobation of the measures of the attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

Comments expressing disapprobation of the administrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

Roy, a Booker Prize-winning author, said at a seminar in New Delhi on Sunday that "Kashmir has never been an integral part of India -- it is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted this."

The government is expected to seek the law ministry’s view on registering a case of sedition against Roy and hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for their speeches. The Home Ministry had earlier referred their speeches made at the seminar to the police for appropriate legal action last week. The ministry move was made public after the BJP leader Arun Jaitley accused the government of “looking the other way”.

Agreed, everyone has been given freedom of speech and expression as a fundamental right in the Indian Constitution. And, Ms. Arundhati spoke in the national capital under that 'right.' But should others be also allowed to have their say in the best possible way or limit they find their freedom of speech stretches to.

Should any other public call given to declare her 'persona non grata' by throwing her out of India or ending her citizenzip or public condemnation of her by all colleges, institutes and burning of her books, or unofficially declaring her as 'enemy of the country for making attempts to disintegrate the unity of the country by supporting Naxals and the latest stone pelting Kashmiris will also not fall into that category.

Wouldn't anybody's public all to blacken such a person' face and burning her effigies outside every educational institute and seminar in which she dares to participate henceforth may also be 'justified' by the same definition of Freedom of Speech.

Of course, people need to also take care of not taking law into their hands. But launching of a national 'Thu-Thu' or spit campaign may also help her for the same cause and also satisfy the patriotic mind or the families of every such jawan who is either fighting at the border or has achieved martyrdom due to such sympathisers' 'call for justice' to break India.

The so called intellectuals coming in her support, including a prominent newspaper considered as the Bible of Journalism by this writer too, may also like to see such writers through the prism of a person's greed to seek popularity for personal gains or probability to receive something in lieu of such an act. The need of the hour for the country is to evaluate the effect of such acts to peace or situation in other disturbed or sensitive areas of the country and revisit the interpretation of such a freedom's cost to all.

It may be noted the Fundamental Rights are defined as basic human freedoms which every Indian citizen has the right to enjoy for a proper and harmonious development of personality.

The Fundamental Rights are defined as basic human freedoms which every Indian citizen has the right to enjoy for a proper and harmonious development of personality.

Nine truths of my life, which I should remember always

Life teaches every person many lessons in life. They have their own significance, as they come along with the passage of time and learnt after major happenings in one’s life.

Many people say it is the bitter experiences, which teach us the best lessons about how to carry on in life. I think this holds true.

These lessons are capable of enabling us to rise or improve in the days to come or at the least prevent us from committing the blunders the next time.

Provided, we think over WHERE we went wrong and WHY, as a habit. If we could find out these things in others’ mistakes or wrongful acts too, there is nothing better than this to multiply our chances of improvement and progress in personal or professional life.

My life has so far taught me nine major lessons. First, I shouldn't laugh at others' failures or at weak points.....as it reverts to me very bitterly in a few days.

Second, I shouldn't say NO to anything, as I have to ulitmately do it. The
recent example was the sports stories. The more I shirked from them,
the more I was pushed by circumstances and dirty politics to do it on
my own.

Third, I have learnt not to depend on any ONE person for too long. It turns
my crutches and I am made helpless by that person very soon.
Ultimately , I suffer a lot and add to my set of wounds which take
years to get fulfilled. Self reliance suits me the best.

Fourth, I must follow my intuition, as it has always given me success. Whenever I have revealed my plans or approach to anyone abot any goal, they have met with failure. So it's of no use telling to anyone how I
believe or plan to do something in the days to come. The more I keep
things to myself, the better chances I have in delivering surprising
results.

Fifth, there are some things which are beyond sincerity or work. It just happens due to well wishers’ prayers. Though things have never taken place for me on their own or by sheer luck, but the magic of prayers by our loved ones have remarkable impact. I learnt it during my marriage, the biggest challenging assignment for me. It couldn’t have been possible without my most loved persons—Rajesh, Anjali, Lakshmi, and sister Latta and Dinesh jijaji and of course my mother and sister Chanchal.

Sixth, secretly carried out hard work pays me well. I have always made extra endeavour, in complete secrecy, to make things happen in life. If this has been a reality, I should do work instead of talking about it before others.

Seventh, I shouldn't show off or boast about my abilities......it makes me look quite stupid who believes in going ga-ga about himself in full public
view. It only causes others to think so low of me, contrary to my
general image that prevails.

I shouldn't go public in announcing my success or victory in anything
before it actually happens for others to see.

Eighth, remaining futuristic or planning much ahead of the doom's day helps me tremendously.

Ninth, I must return others' obligations or helpful acts and favours properly with deep sense of actual gratitude. Seeking anyone's favour without returning it at the earliest or in the due course of time, makes us weak and risk our pride in life.

Jinhe Naaz Nahin Hind par…..wo Akhir Kyon Yahan Hain


It was Oct.14, the final day of competitions in New Delhi during India's biggest sporting extravaganza since Asiad in 1982. Indian ace shuttler Saina Nehwal was contesting in the final match of Women's singles against her Chinese counterpart.

It was a nerve-wracking match in which she managed to pull victory from the jaws of failure after a three set hard-fought match.

It earned her the Gold medal and also saved India from getting pushed to third position in the overall medal tally at the Commonwealth Games.

Soon, there was medal distribution ceremony and as per the norm, the national anthem of the Gold Medallist was played as mark of respect to the ultimate winner of the event.

We were in office and doing our work. But Saina's match had drawn everyone's attention. So everyone was just taking his or her time out to take not of the latest score to know in advance whether India's biggest badmintor star Saina Nehwal will be able to do India proud or just let everyone face embarrassment like they did in hockey in which India lost 0-8 to World Champion Australia.

As soon as the match finished and Saina was declared winner, all of us waited with great enthusiasm to watch her being presented the Gold Medal and after that see our national flag--the Tricolour--going high with the patriotic tune of national anthem being played alongside. It gives a high feeling in every Indian's mind, as the words or even tune of the national anthem evoked very deep respect and feeling of pride on our motherland and the country.


The moment the national anthem's tune was played me and all others stood of with great joy and deep respect for our national anthem being the proud citizens of this country. The moment it was over, we sat down in our seats. However, one of my women colleagues pointed out to a person sitting in her corresponding chair and below the TV set to stand up for the national anthem. We all that she was reminding her as he may have skipped to take note of the anthem going on due to office work or something. She repeated herself in asking Waseem, a Kashmiri guy, to stand up.

But she was replied by ...with ..."kyon..(why)"?. But as she persisted he stood up in a disrespectful way as if he was alien to the way one has to stand up in attention with palms placed firmly on the sides of the thighs. And, we all were surprised after all what was wrong with him? Why he didn't stand up immediately and he did he was pretending as if he was standing to look at some dance show in a very relaxing way? We all noticed it in disgust and many questions in our minds.

Suddenly, another voice from a distance was heard telling another questioner having same grudge after watching not stand up during national anthem. That person, aged in mid forties, said: Why should I stand after all? After all I am Kashmiri!!

All of us were shocked. We soon understood that two bastards were sitting among us under a roof that swears by the spirit of nationalism and patriotism every minute of the day.

I noticed a Meghalaya girl siting next to me, called Diane, was already sitting in her chair during the playing of the national anthem and was smiling at me. But after noticing those two Kashmiris, I had also understood her reason of smiling at me, as I was standing during the national anthem just like rest of the office colleagues, except these three strangers. Meghalaya is in northeast of India and Kashmir is in the north part of India.

Both the places are supplied millions of rupees every month for the welfare of their natives and all being protected for their lives by the Indian Army under the constitutionof India as they are citizens of India.

We all realised that we had three highly deplorable and anti-India persons sitting with us in hiding. They had disrespect for our national anthem and the tricolour, a fact highly objectionable and provocative to any proud citizen of India.

Many thoughts came across in my mind in their condemnation and for once I felt like going to them and thrashing and do not shy even from throwing any one of them from the third storey of our building, if required by circumstances during the argument or quarrel.

I thought what should Indians do with such individuals who are eating from our share of platter, enjoying every facility of this country as refugees or so called citizen of the country and still nurture such hatred for our nationalism.

As a proud citizen of this country who hold highest respect for this motherland and the tricolour, I felt such people should be taken in the middle of the crossroad, stripped down with their face blackened and head half-shaved and genitals slashed, and electricity current being passed through their body to allow it to shake till it turns motionless.

Indians are stupid, if they are allowing such persons' stay in this country and letting them go on show disrespect to our national symbols despite earning their bread and butter and running to our motherland for safety of themselves and their women and children in distressful times. The Indian Constitution should be amended to allow public punishment of such disgusting, son of swine and motherfucker persons.

A short story of

Anything, Something and Nothing …..

By Ch. Sandeep Datta

Most of the times we fail to rember that we can do “Everything”. But we don't do many a things, thinking we may not get “Anything”. Hardly ever, do we realise that whenver we do “Anything”, we never fail actually but learn various new things. It is possible that we may remain a little less successful than we should have in attempting to achieve “Something”. We need to remember that we always gain or learn about “Something” no matter what is that thing. So, the moral of the story is: “We always improve in doing just “Anything”.”

The Communists


Indian Communists support country's enemies like former terrorist and PDP's chief Abdul Nasser Madani and Naxals, create failed states like Kerala and West Bengal, embarass Prime Minister like Manmohan Singh, bow before separatists (Geelanis, who want Kashmir with Pakistan), support enemy nations like China and still want others to support them in India.

Your 'Hi!' can make or mar your relation at workplace

By Sandeep Datta

A professional life is always too demanding to think of anything beyond priorities at workplace. Most of the professionals may agree that even when they return from home, they find it very difficult to come out of the workplace's developments.


Most of the professional fail to notice that often they spend more time in office with colleagues than their spouses or family back at home. For this very reason, it becomes necessary for all individuals that they realise the significance of their colleagues in their daily lives and their potential influence.

The interesting game of being 'better connected' in the professional world and 'how to escape becoming victim of dirty politics' demands that invidiuals maintain at least a nice and safe relation with all. And, particularly avoid being known as related to just any one or two individuals every time.

There are many individuals who may not find it 'comfortable' to talk to so many people everyday but they may also find it not too much to just say 'Hi' or 'bye' to anyone working with them.

Some people may disagree but wishing 'Hi' or 'Hello' with a smile on one's face can build a good relation or help it sustain it for a very long time. After all if chat rooms or short message service (SMS) have been meant for busy people, why not use it to our best advantage?

Any good joke or interesting anecdote or important information shared with anyone at times can also help in mending or putting aside even a strained relation at times for lighter vein.

It is generally noticed how many people in offices have a very myopic view of life. They will invariably hesitate coming forward in others' difficult phase for even being a patient and compassionate listener leave aside for little 'help'. Strangely, it is done even if such a gesture can have a long lasting impact on one's mind. There are others who find it uncomfortable even to share their lunch box's any delicious item at office canteen.But such people often find them as losers in long term, as they fail win or be confidantes or make actual friends at their workplace.

Not many realise that at times sharing even a "Toffee" worth 50 paisa or a rupee with colleagues or even boss can create a sea change in one's personal image. Little does these people know that in many offices such tried and tested friendly gestures have worked wonders.

Lastly, they say the English have created a very irritating word "Sorry". The reason for this being that it allows oneself to escape many hurtful acts which are hardly expected by others being committed at the first place. But I say, we must thank them, at least they created something than one can be expected from as a gesture of 'decency'.

Failure to get over 'I Know Everythng' syndrome


”As for me, all I know is that I know nothing,” said Socrates

Many a times we tend to feel as if we know a lot more than we need to know. The thought turns a bit more than strange when we not just claim but also allow this thought to settle in our mind that we know ‘everything’.

This looks a naïve claim when we are reminded by someone or by incidental reading of a thought how even the highly learned, not educated, individuals never claimed being a learned person during their lifetime. It is others who come to know about them or take a note of their works or contribution in others’ lives or small works that earn them recognition of being a learned person or intellectual.

Interestingly, most of the people today consider themselves as ‘learned’ even when they are not beyond an old student, who is eager to get rid of his or her personal level of ignorance about life or any particular issue. Some people in their pursuit of gaining some in depth knowledge get lost in the ‘tags’ others stick on them like ‘intelligent’, ‘intellectual’, ‘studious’ or anything similar.

Away from all these things there are many individuals who develop a sense of learning unmindful of their age. These people develop a deep interest over a period of time followed by initial curiosity about any issue usually.

Noted Bengali director Tapan Sinha, in his film Ek Doctor Ki Maut (Death of a doctor), a 1990 award winning film, depicted the ostracism, bureaucratic negligence, reprimand and insult of a doctor and his research, instead of recognition. However, it also showed the kind of resilience a knowledge- seeker has to develop for the big goal, is an inspiration and education for many such knowledge enthusiasts as shown in this Pankaj Kapoor-starrer film.