Baruah the great!

By Sandeep Datta

It was Baruah's farewell today. The event was being planned for last 20 days. Should it be turned a big thing or small one was the main subject for Foreign Desk all these days.

The main thing which was consistently taking away the joy of organising a good send-off was Baruah's behaviour with everyone since getting into one-month notice-period of resignation. He turned sarcastic, extremely lazy and more pain in the arse for his team, including the boss, more than he had always been. 

When the day arrived, I, who was perhaps closest to him, had lost any interest in him. He was back in his typical self -- selfish, insensitive and insulting to anyone and everyone around him. It felt disappointing to see a person completing his over five years in IANS having failed to learn the value of peers.

On the final moment, when it was his turn to deliver the farewell speech following euologies by his immediate boss Dr. Rahul and M.R. Narayanswamy, Baruah opted to do what was least expected of him. 

He thanked MR and all others in the office except his Rahul or his colleagues. When pointed out, 'in lighter vein', that he forgot even Rahul in his word of thanks, he said: "Main to bhool he gaya"!

His last question on the last working day with me was: "Why people don't like to share the information they have about any development happening around and known to them? Even after staying together for whole day one of my close friends, who has enjoyed Daru from me at times and had a very good time having fun together, didn't bother telling me that Assam's chief minister was arriving in Delhi. Why did he do so Sandeep?" 

 I told Baruah, who is all set to join as 'Bureau Chief' till the right person is found for the post in the Seven Sisters, an Assam-based daily,: "Brother, In media or life...good and trustful relations are nurtured on the basis of sincerity with others and not with over smartness.We have to show a sincere attitude to others to evoke an equally favourable or helping response later. And, always remember Media is a small industry what goes around that comes around."  

Maybe he couldn't get the moral of the story. 

Awake, awake, awake for a better tomorrow

Awake, awake, awake for a better tomorrow

By Sandeep Datta 

Will government do anything about growing incidents of groping in buses, trains and crowded places and even by rickshawalas, thelewalas, and so called innocent looking but harami Gareeb Aadmi on roads and markets, and schoolteachers, sharabis, bus conductors? 

Will authorities also think over the repercussions of romeos being ignored while taking schoolgirls into parks, cinemas, and other freakout places 'for fun' in the name of freedom? 

Will TV serial makers and filmmakers reduce commodification of women and girl children? Will parents turn serious about their kids' complaints about notorious school cab drivers and servants and misuse of internet by kids at home? Would anyone of us come forward, even to inform police, for a helpless girl the next time ........I don't think so....do you??? 

We need to change our outlook. We can surely transform others' way of thinking, not by lip service at home or workplace but by our actions in daily life. The government will never act until the public forces it to do so. The authorities will never change their approach in understanding and taking our complaints seriously, until we make them do so in a determined way. Are we ready? Let's make a beginning first in our heart, then soul and finally Action.

So, You Wish to Make Fun of Team Anna Hazare?

Another chapter of Anna Hazare, a former TRUCK DRIVER with the Indian army but one of the top social activists of India, concluded Friday evening (Aug.3, 2012). 


There have been questions, interpretations, criticism, and drawing room laughter as well. Though the larger question involving corruption, its practices, possible solutions and even the best approach to address them all remains debatable, the more important question -- who really holds the integrity to question a corrupt system under the most corrupt political dispention in the Indian history -- seems to have drawn more attention.

Team Anna's members have been verbally attacked and questioned for their integrity, especially due to their approach to address the corruption issue in different voices and hues. Courtesy scathing attacks by various political leaders, mainly the Congress spokespersons, the Team Anna has been encircled with many questions and allegations.

True, t

he Team Anna should explain every allegation in a proper way, it is also a time for the questioning minds and mouths to explain whether they have the eligibility along with the guts to fight out the system for the voiceless?

I wish to know how many of us have ever dared to question a corrupt councillor, MLA, or state minister, leave alone the Central government or the prime minister? How many of us have the clean record to qualify every questioning individual? Did we never act biased towards anyone known to us? Did we never cheat in daily life? Did we never try to present facts about ourselves or candidacy in a little exaggerated way? Did we never blink an eye to rules or regulations?

Have we not come across a biased or corrupt person, journalist, speaker, parent or guardian, employer or employee, civilian or Armyman in our life or even in ourselves? When was the last time we dared to boldly put it for questioning it by public? How many times have we dared to bare it all before the public before seeking cooperation from them for a social cause or just issue? How many of us can declare: "I have an COMPLETELY unquestionable character, conduct and history".

If not, please declare it in open and explain why you have not taken the initiative to come out in open and question a corrupt system so far? Why you have been evading your social responsibility and discouraging yourself from making the loudest noise for the most ordinary people of India? What is better -- making comments while watching TV debates or reading newspapers in drawing rooms or private events or actually doing something even a little close to what Team Anna had attempted to do in all these months? : Sandeep Datta

Queen Victoria's last love with Indian on Channel 4

While Britain is set to celebrate the Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the throne, the same celebration for her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria was nearly derailed by her scandalous relation with an Indian servant just over a century ago.

Queen Victoria had turned so infatuated with tall, handsome Muslim Abdul Karim that senior royal advisers plotted to have her declared insane just days before her Jubilee unless she halted a controversial plan to knight him, The Sun reported Monday.

Britain's Channel 4 is all set to telecast a documentary on Queen Victoria's Last Love, Wednesday 9 p.m, highlighting how she once turned so infatuated with tall, handsome Muslim Abdul Karim that senior royal advisers plotted to have her declared insane just days before her Jubilee unless she halted a controversial plan to knight him, The Sun reported Monday.

The 24-year-old waiter had begun serving the Queen's table in 1887 after being sent to London as a "gift" from the Indian outpost of her empire. He soon began bewitching her with romantic tales of mysterious India besides cooking delicious curries for her.

But royal biographer Jane Ridley believes Abdul's striking looks also helped to draw in the Queen.

In 1901, when she finally died, the protection Abdul had enjoyed came to a sudden end. He was later exiled to India.

The 24-year-old waiter had begun serving the Queen's table in 1887 after being sent to London as a "gift" from the Indian outpost of her empire. He soon began bewitching her with romantic tales of mysterious India besides cooking delicious curries for her.

But royal biographer Jane Ridley believes Abdul's striking looks also helped to draw in the Queen.

Abdul was elevated from waiter to Queen's personal teacher, or "Munshi". After he began to teach her a few words in Hindi, the pair grew ever closer.

She had been starved of affection since the death of her beloved husband Albert in 1861, and Abdul Karim's great-grandson, Javed Mahmood, says it is not hard to see why she fell for his great-grandad.

By 1894, Abdul was elevated to the position of Her Majesty's Indian Secretary - making him an official member of the inner circle.

Abdul's class troubled the Queen's advisers who were also scandalised by his race.

But the more the royal household attacked Abdul, the more the Queen defended him.

Investigators sent to India by the royal household found Abdul's father was a pharmacist who worked in Agra jail, where Abdul himself had worked as a mere clerk.

The revelation only served to push the Queen closer to Abdul. She turned even more intimate with him. When he became ill she would spend long periods in his bedchamber, fluffing his pillows and stroking his hand.

In 1897, with just weeks to go until Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the Queen announced she planned to knight Abdul.

The Viceroy of India joined forces with the prime minister to oppose the move. In response, Victoria threatened to pull out of the Jubilee celebrations.

With the biggest event that the British monarchy had ever seen under threat, the Queen's eldest son, Bertie - later Edward VII - stepped in.

Victoria had to admit defeat and Abdul did not get his knighthood.

But Abdul was constantly by her side for the Jubilee celebrations. For the remaining four years of Victoria's life, she was inseparable from her beloved servant.

In 1901, when she finally died, the protection Abdul had enjoyed came to a sudden end. He was later exiled to India.

Should marriage give a toss to old relations

By Sandeep Datta

It's human to love being related to nice people, especially, the ones who are also helpful. No wonder that's why we seek good people in our lifetime to share, for care, to feel accompanied and appreciated for just the way we are. Simply saying , we always like the ones who love us.

Though it takes years to come across such people, it takes momentary stupidness to lose them forever. It is so because many of us stop bothering to maintain relations with the same ease and tolerance after marriage. Many of us start befooling or using even good friends for mediocre purposes.

We forget when we connect with people, we get bound to some obligations too, irrespective of our marital status.

The kind of value we give to our friendly bondings in the days to come after marriage influences a lot, especially, our well-being and development in career and social life.

We all know relations revolve around hope, courtesies and responsibilities. But, in reality, the two important rather crucial factors are --sense of care for others and honesty.

Do we ever think why do the factors that matter in maintaining a relationship change after marriage?

At times, it appears the definition of our earlier relations has to be redefined and understood. The kind of acts, words or behaviour that may have been considered acceptable previously seem to be understood for their new meaning, impression and consequence with the same good friends.

We may have not hesitated being silly or obnoxious at times earlier with close friends. But after marriage such acts can have serious and long lasting impact. The same relations need to be reviewed from a far more sensitive perception than they used to be. The same people we may have known for years start observing us or vice-versa more sensitively and, frankly saying it, narrow-mindedly.

Not many of us realise but a good thing in old relations is that they take a new meaning and significance. The expectations and outlook to be in touch with each other changes. The turn the windows of ultimate hope, motivation and joy at times.

But call it the awkwardness or strangeness in relations, due to mean expectations, opportunistic telephone calls and over smartness to get maximum out of each other that we face long-cherished and unforgettable relations' gradual death.

Sadly, we realise what we lost and how much treasured people we simply let vanish from our lives, only after losing them forever. It takes years to understand what we lost were our hard-earned relations and individuals who existed when there wasn't the present ones.

Forgiving or ignoring each other's occasional over smart behaviour suddenly turns an impossible task. The reason being that many of us start living with a misunderstanding that now we have 'A Permanent Alternative'.

Unsurprisingly, sooner or later we realise what we lost so suddenly being impatient was something we should have actually valued and treasured the most. For marrying someone or having one's little family doesn't mean that we may never require the ones who were our confidantes; always standing by our side and, most importantly, who always sincerely cared for us.

Living the IANS way....

April 2, 2012

It has been over one year working with Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), a news agency in Delhi's Green Park Extension area. Though now it feels a highly fulfilling year at the Foreign Desk, it's been very very tough.

IANS is known for its quality and, frankly saying, eccentricity for producing the best in writing. But everything expected or done here helps an individual to shape up to be one of the finest journalists around.

From knowing everything under the sun through any reliable medium of information and knowing it with authority are two 'basic' expectations here.

If you don't know, no problem. Just be ready to learn it at the fastest pace you can imagine to save your arse (oops....please pardon my French). For, you can be 'hanged' publicly even for your slight stupidity or casualness.

From writing short sentences, not going beyond three sentence in a para, re-checking multiple times before sending off the story and duly knowing meaning of every word being used in your story are some of the basic guidelines here.

Other expectations include knowing about every alien or uncommon location being mentioned in the story or introducing every technical term or location properly for the readers to make it easy to understand, keeping the story as short as possible or at times giving proper background to make it complete for the first-time readers.

These are some of the hallmark guidelines without which you cannot carry on for another hour at IANS.

The most appealing part of IANS, however, is the presence of highly knowledgeable seniors and even colleagues. Any mistake or topic can drag you to a public reprimand by M.R. Narayanswamy, the executive director, or the guardian-like advices and pointing of mistakes by the angel filters.

At our Foreign Desk, from boss, Dr. Rahul Dass, to colleagues -- Prantick and Sanjeeb--all are simply remarkable writers and individuals.

There are three filters who take care of quality of copies being cleared by us at the desk. These three are super seniors and thoroughly knowledgeable people with vast experience of editing and reporting as well. No error escapes their sharp attention.

They readily offer guidance on nuances and for any sort of improvement, provided you approach them after they are done for the day.

At IANS, irrespective of position or experience, anyone can be made to revisit basics. In brief, if you are in IANS, be ready to prepare to learn anything and everything new. It will only help you to deliver the best in future.

Be it in-depth knowledge, habit of finding the officially accurate spellings or usage of different words, being ready to work on just any kind of story and getting into discussion under the sharp observation of bosses are some of the things that make being in IANS a tough challenge for anyone wishing to be Real Journalist.

At the same time, the hard to know secrets of improvement are also readily available for anyone here. Commit any silly mistake and you have a list of "What to Do" along with the reprimand. The serious learner finds it a heaven, only if he or she is ready to learn it the hard way.

For, only people with quality exist here.

Colleagues are decent and cooperative, the bosses and all seniors are quality-seeking but at the same time appreciative of anyone and everyone learning or showing results through quality. Exploitation doesn't exist here for those who have been in other organisations and faced it.

One of the most appealing part in IANS is cultivating the habit of sharing tempting or not so tempting food items. The tea being most popular item shared and offered by anyone at any given time. Any happy or not so happy occasion or dull day is given a joyful colour with tea, biscuits, garlic breads, samosa, pakora parties. No body is forced but everyone seems ready to throw such parties. But nobody misses saying "Thanks....." to the party's host.

Free dinner and coffee just add to anyone being on the night shift.

I think it is nice despite being tough. The only thing which worries or disappoints here is the salary structure not being too fascinating.

The Navratras or Navratris

Once again the Navratras, or the nine auspicious nights dedicated to Vaishno, the goddess of power, have arrived.

But do we know?

Most of the people believe that Navratris or Navratras are held twice a year – at the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter. The other theory says that the Navratras are held four times a year. They are Vasanta Navaratri, Ashadha Navaratri, the Sharada Navaratri, and the Paush/Magha Navaratri.

Vasanta Navaratri: Basanta Navrathri, also known as Vasant Navratras, is the festival of nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the spring season (March–April). It is also known as Chaitra Navratra. The nine days of festival is also known as Raama Navratri.

Gupta Navaratri: Gupta Navratri, also referred as Ashadha or Gayatri or Shakambhari Navratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (June–July).

Sharada Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navratris. It is simply called Maha Navratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the month of Ashvina. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).

Paush Navaratri: Paush Navratri is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Paush (December–January).

Magha Navaratri: Magha Navratri, also referred as Gupta Navratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Magha (January–February).

Navaratri is celebrated in different ways throughout India. In North India, all three Navratris are celebrated with much fervor by fasting on all nine days and worshipping the Mother Goddess in her different forms. The Chaitra Navratri culminates in Ram Navami and the Sharad Navratri culminates in Durga Puja and Dussehra.

Maan Vaishno is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power)

During the nine days of Navratra, each day has its own significance and objective.

On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The last three days are spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati.

Nava Durga, if worshipped with religious fervor during Navaratri, it is said can lift the divine spirit in us and fill us with renewed happiness. All the nine names of goddess are narrated in ‘Devi Kavacha’ of the ‘Chandipatha’ scripture.

While celebrating Navratras, we are actually worshipping nine different forms of the goddess Vaishno. Each of the forms holds its own unique significance and form.

We worship one of the nine forms of the goddess on each navratra beginning with : Shailaputri, Bharmacharini, Chandra Ghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kaal Ratri, Maha Gauri, and the Siddhidatri.

In brief, these nine forms and their significance is:

Shailaputri literally means the daughter (putri) of the mountains (shaila). The first form of Goddess Durga is called Shailputri . She is considered the daughter of the Himalayas. She is a form of Shakti, the consort of Lord Shiva.

Bharmacharini--She is worshipped on the second day of Navaratri and is the second form of Mother Goddess. Her name is derivative of the word 'Brahma', which means 'Tapa' or penace. She is also a form of Uma or Parvati, a form of Mata Shakti.

Chandra Ghanta--The third facet of Goddess Durga is ‘Chandraghanta’, who is worshipped on the third day of Navaratri, for peace, tranquility and prosperity in life. She is the symbolic representation of beauty and bravery.

Kushmanda--Kushmanda is the fourth form of the mother goddess and is worshipped on the fourth day of Navaratri. It is believed that Kushmanda is the creator of the entire Universe and she has created the entire Universe by her laugh.

Skanda Mata--The fifth aspect of the Mother Durga is known as ‘Skanda Mata’ - the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons. She is worshipped on the fifth day of Navaratri.

Katyayani--The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as ‘Katyayani’, who is worshipped on the six day of Navaratri. The legend behind her name goes thus: Once upon a time, there was a great sage called Kata, who had a son named Katya. Kata was very famous and renowned in the lineage of saints. He underwent long austerities and penance in order to receive the grace of the Mother Goddess. He wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. According to his wish and desire the Mother Goddess granted his request. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga.

Kaal Ratri--This is the seventh form of Mother Durga and is worshipped on the seventh day of Navaratri. Her gesture of protection assures us of freedom from fear and troubles.

She has a dark complexion, disheveled hair and a fearlessness posture. A necklace flashing lightning adorns her neck. She has three eyes that shine bright and terrible flames emanate from her breath. Her vehicle is the donkey.

Maha Gauri--She is worshipped on the eighth day of Navaratri. Her power is unfailing and instantly fruitful. As a result of her worship, all sins of past, present and future get washed away and devotees get purified in all aspects of life. Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. Due to her long austerities in the deep forests of the Himalayas, she developed a dark complexion. When Lord Shiva cleaned her with the water of the Ganges, her body regained its beauty and she came to be known as Maha Gauri, which mean extremely white. She wears white clothes, has four arms, and rides on a bull.

Siddhidatri--Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Goddess. She is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri. Siddhidatri has supernatural healing powers. She has four arms and she is always in a blissful happy enchanting pose. She rides on the lion as her vehicle. She blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess. In ‘Devi Bhagvata Purana’ it is mentioned that Lord Shiva worshipped her and was blessed with all Siddhis (supernatural powers). By her blessings his half body became female and other half body male in the avatar of Ardhnarishvara.

Mantra chanted during the puja by devotees, to seek protection from evil. Following lines state the Navratri mantra as :

Ya devi sarva bhutesu, shanti rupena sansitha

Ya devi sarva bhutesu, shakti rupena sansthita

Ya devi sarva bhutesu, matra rupena sansthita

Namastasyai, namastasyai, namastasyai, namo namaha!

Sarva mangala maangalye shive sarvaartha saadhike

Sharanye trayambake Gauri

Narayani namosthute

Namoh devyai mahadevyai shivayai satatam namah

Namah prakrutyai bhadraayai niyataah pranataahsma taam

Annapoorne sadapoorne shankarah praanavallabhe

Njana vairaagya sidhyardham bhikshaam dehi cha parvati

Navaratri Arti

Jai Ambe Gauri Maiyaa

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Nishdin tumko dhyaavat, Hari Brahmaa Shivji,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Maang sindur biraajat, tiko mrigmadko,

Ujjvalse do naina, chandravadan niko,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Kanak saman kalevar, raktaambar raje,

Raktapushp galmaala, kanthhaar saje,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Kehari vaahan rajat, khadg khappar dhari

sur nar munijan sevat, tinke dukhahaari,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Kaanan kundal shobhit, naasagre moti

Kotik chandra divaakar, samraajat jyoti,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Shumbh- nishumbh vidaare, MahishaaSur ghatia

Dhumra-vilochan naina, nishdin madmati

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Brahmaani, Rudraani tum Kamalaa Raani,

Agam-nigam bakhaani. tum Shiv patraani,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Chaunsath yogini gaavat, nritya karat Bhairon,

Baajat tab mridanga, aur bajat damru,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Tum ho jag ki maataa, tum hi ho bhartaa,

Bhaktan ki dukh hartaa, sukh sampati kartaa,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Bhujaa char ati shobhit, var mudraa dhaari,

Manvaanchhit phal paavat, sevak nar naari,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Kanchan thaal virajat, agaru kapur baati

Malketu men rajat, kotiratan jyoti,

Jai Ambe Gauri maiyaa, jai Shyaama Gauri

Why Navratras are celebrated?

History of Navratras: The legend in North India goes that Mahishasura, the mighty demon, worshipped Lord Shiva and obtained the power of eternity. Soon, he started killing and harassing innocent people and set out to win all the three lokas. The gods in swargaloka appealed to Lord Shiva, to find a way to get rid of the demon. To protect the world from the atrocities of Mahishasura, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva united their powers and created a divine female warrior, known as Goddess Durga. Mahishasura, when he saw the divine beauty of Goddess Durga, got mesmerized.

So fascinated was Mahishasura by Goddess Durga's beauty that he approached her with the intention of marriage. The goddess agreed to marry him, but put forth a condition - Mahishasura would have to win over her in a battle. Mahishasura, proud as he was, agreed immediately! The battle continued for 9 nights and at the end of the ninth night, Goddess Durga beheaded Mahishasura. The nine nights came to be known as Navratri, while the tenth day was called Vijayadashmi, the tenth day that brought the triumph of good over evil.

M. F. Husain, the disgusted painter of India
(to be edited)
By Ch. Sandeep Datta

For many art lovers around the world, the death of celebrated Indian painter M.F.Husain today closed one of the finest chapter of Indian art world.

While Husain earned respect of several budding and accomplished artists in India and world for his world-class paintings in abstract art, he travelled his artistic journey from one controversy to another, particularly drawing utter hatred of Hindus.

Ardent Hindus may never forgive M.F.Husain for painting nude portraits of most revered Hindu gods and goddesses. However, many 'forward thinking' and 'open-minded' individuals view his artwork as the masterpieces of a free artist who has risen 'above' religious boundaries or public sentiments.

The main grudge of many Hindus against Hussein remained his bias against Hindu gods and goddesses whom he painted as naked characters but never used the same 'creativity' for Islam-related gods or other revered characters, whom he painted fully-clothed.

People argue a man of his experience and knowledge about India and its dominant population, Hindus, could not have initiated such a nude portrayal of their gods and goddesses unless he was aware of its repurcussions. It would be naive to think the artist of his fame and stature painted them accidently or without getting drawn to its huge scope of controversy at the fag end of his career.

It is clear he wished eternal fame through cheap controversies. He invited trouble after trouble, despite being aware that he would go down as a controversial painter, who would be remembered long after his death no matter with hatred of millions of Hindus or appreciation of a few.

In the 1970s and 80s he was caught up in controversy for painting Hindu goddesses in the buff.

His painting that first triggered public controversy depicted a bare bodied woman who was painted to look like the map of India, perhaps a take on "Mother India" referred to in cinema and literature. In 2000, cases were filed against Husain on the same issue.

In 2008, the Delhi High Court quashed three cases against him that alleged that he had hurt public sentiments though his works some of which were dubbed as obscene. The Supreme Court transferred the cases from Pandharpur (Maharashtra), Indore (MP) and Rajkot (Gujarat) to the Delhi hich Court.

In September 2008, he got a major relief from the Supreme Court, which refused to initiate criminal proceedings against him, for allegedly hurting public sentiments through some of his paintings that were dubbed obscene.

There are many such pictures, paintings and sculptures and some of them are in temples also," a bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan said, dismissing one such petition.

Also, for the past three editions, the India Art Summit held annually in Delhi has witnessed controversy regarding display of Husain's work.

In January, Pragati Maidan witnessed high drama at the India Art Summit, as the celebrated painter's works were first taken off the walls following fears of attacks with right-way activists and then reinstated after an assurance from the Delhi police and the ministry of culture.

Also, during 2008 during the art summit's first edition, organisers refused to showcase Husain works citing not enough police protection. In protest, the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) decided to organise an exhibition solely devoted to Husain's work. The exhibition was vandalised.

In 1998, Husain's house was attacked and art works vandalised. Protests against him also led to the closure of an exhibition in London in May 2006. The Asia House Gallery shut down Husain's exhibition "MF Husain: Early masterpieces 1950-70s" after miscreants sprayed black paint on his works.

Husain's film "Meenaxi: A tale of three cites" also courted controversy and was pulled out of theatres after some Muslim organisation raised objections to a song in the film and filed a complaint with the Mumbai police. They alleged the qawali was blasphemous.

What do you do?

By Sandeep Datta, May 6, 2011

The very first question that everyone asks to any man is how does he manage his living. It turns the most uncomfortable question when it is put to a person who is unemployed. The reason may be many and may not serve any purpose of the interviewer, but still it is asked.During college days or when you may have just passed out it gradually turns the most traumatic of all problems of the day.

Almost everyone, daring to survive on his or her own guts, may have faced the similar struggling time in life, but still people turn insensitive to its impact on the person's psyche. At times, it just evokes disgust, as many a times it is asked to make fun of someone's bad phase of life. It is surprising, such a question is most often asked by so called highly educated or successful people and not the uneducated individuals out of ignorance.

Another shade of the question 'what do you do' is when it is asked to those who are into some advance or a bit little known jobs or profession. Or, especially when some one is holding a profile not usually known by common people. One such question was asked to me on the day of first meeting of my sister's would be in-laws. A group of women accompanying by brother-in-law wanted to know what do I do? They were told I was a journalist. Hence, I could understand their curiosity.

It, however, felt a bit challenge to easily make them understand my job profile at the foreign desk of a news agency. After I told the name of my present employing organisation and the nature of work I have to do, I was somehow asked again: 'Basically, what do I do'. I was at pains to make a group of inquisitive housewives in their late 30s to tell them briefly in a drawing room where so many other family members were sitting.

I opted to narrate how a reporter and a desk person do different works. How does a news agency, where I worked, is not any newspaper but a contributor to many newspapers across India and the world. I used the very old formula of stating about organisation's role in common man's language: Our organisation is like a manufacturing factory which supplies its product to retailers. And, why am I in that journalistic job? I said: "Simply, because by mistake or over enthusiasm I studied too much and to vomit it out and satisfy my addiction of learning something new and important, I had no option but to become a journalist.

Every one of the ladies laughed and said OKKK. But did I do the 'two year course' to join journalism was the next question. I said, "Yeah I did two PGs in journaism". But did you do a regular course (as if to mean if I attended a regular college or usually demeaning the correspondence course) was the next question? I said: "I did part-time." Part-time? They looked as I talked of some object unexpected to have taken place on planet earth. I added: "It is usually done by working people side-by-side their regular job by attending evening classes instead of morning to evening classes for something which can be taught in less than two hours of classroom teaching."

And what exactly I do, was the next question? Well, I deal with international politics and other related stories, I replied. "Okss", came the reply.

I felt relieved that finally our conversation reached the "Okss".

The Park

By Ch.Sandeep Datta

Me and my friend Rajesh once felt quite disturbed to notice the condition of our block’s one and only park. It was a place where both of us had once played so many games with children of our age. For us, it was a place which reminded us of our childhood memories.

But it peeved us to see its bizarre condition. It was in ruins with not a single blade of grass left in it besides it had been literally encroached by some grown up boys, who were into gambling. They had turned our park into a venue to bet hundreds to thousands of rupees through cricket match. Whoever played was expected to contribute some money for the total amount of bet, otherwise he was not welcome.

The main thing which used to disappoint us was that the participating players in such matches were those who would be part of bets. Many of the youngsters in their teens would steal money from home or would arrange it by hook or crook whole week for the Sunday matches.

But more precarious was the sight of those little children who would stand outside the grills or railings of this park, just because either they didn’t have money or were not so called as good as the senior boys.

They had mere turned spectators to such gambling in the name of cricket and high decibel use of expletives. They were hardly ever allowed to participate, if at all then as extra or useless players.

The entire social environment of our area had come to ruins. Nobody would come out in the day time, as most of these youngsters involved individuals from slum sectors or strangers from other far away blocks of our colony.

Every family was irritated but always felt helpless to take on such grown up youngsters who were into betting, abusing and aggression to anyone confronting them. It was a helpless stage for everyone, as the families had lost the sense of being united.

Both of us used to have long discussions at times over such a growing problem and its escalating effect. Whenever we discussed with others, people turned away fearing repercussions of even uniting against such a menace.

During one of the games, my friend Rajesh had a tiff with someone over the condition of contributing some money to be eligible to play in one such match. He was told that only those who would put money on the game, could play. He felt agitated after observing that sportsmanship had vanished completely, only money-mindedness or gambling remained in the park.

He smashed the wickets in disgust and declared that henceforth nobody would play in the park. It will not be allowed to become a gambling venue for anyone.

Watching him from my house's balcony, I rushed down and supported his declaration. Being a little senior to rest of the youngsters present there, the announcement was respected.

He told me that these youngsters had stooped so low that there was no cricket or sports left in the park here. It was purely a gamble.

The youngsters, thankfully, obeyed and left the park.

At night, both of us discussed and decided that cricket would no more exist in the park. But it was quite a challenge for us to prevent them from playing. Nobody helped and we were viewed as funny people making stupid attempt to restore the park.

We managed to let it remain closed for two years. But we couldn’t do much to bring a perceivable change in it. We had assured all the youngsters of bringing this park to its old glory and make it worth calling a garden.

But in the meantime, we almost turned laughing stocks. Youngsters will ask for a fixed date or month by which they could check us keeping our word of bringing a real change in it.

We faced threats, mockery, and criticism for becoming a hurdle of those gambling youngsters, who used to come here and had a good time gambling in the disguise of cricket previously.

We persuaded our gardeners, who had stopped visiting that park, fearing for their lives from youngsters. They didn’t wish to come and water the barren land. We assured them of security and our full cooperation. After long persuasion, they started opening the water tap of the park.

The notorious youngsters had spread so much sand on it to make it cricket-friendly that hardly any blade of grass or plant had left in the park. We persisted with the gardeners with request and persuasion despite everything odd. We succeeded in that.

Slowly but steadily, we moved on to a stage where we managed to have grass planted in the park. Due to sand, it had to be planted more than five times. We also continued to request the youngsters to let it develop.

We were made fun of for such a foolish step or dream. It was viewed as a hopeless dream of two stupids. As the park’s boundary touched my home’s boundary wall, any movement in the park directly affected me and my aged mother. Noticing our concern for the park and realizing our objective, she used to take charge of pointing out and objecting to children entering the park to play in the noon. When both of us would be in office, she would confront the foul-mouthed children for our sake on her own on our behalf.

Finally, there was a time when the barren ground developed small green patches of grass. It excited us to carry on with our determination. We pushed for planting some plants in sidelines of the park. The children never wanted us to prepare the park in such a way that cricket could not be played forever. At times they were provoked to play.

Following uncountable rounds of arguments and persuasion, we managed to convince them to not play ever and let us develop it properly.

Without wait, we planted saplings of plants. We would ensure they were watered almost every other day. We always feared return of notorious children and gambling youngsters.

Every new branch of the plant or new green patch of grass was cherished by us as a festive moment. We would share with each other greeting for new success; of covering new barren patch into green.

There came a day when MCD officials came for pruning. Their aim was to cut out the maximum for selfish purposes. Our friends Satish and Deepak adapted aggressive attitude to save peepal trees. We came forward and other friends like Harish Batra and Vijay Malhotra joined in as our support group. We finally won in having our say and not let neighbours fell the trees in the name of pruning. We forced the visiting MCD staff to follow our directions or face the evidence we had collected of them in our mobile cameras.

We made them just prune the unwanted or over grown part instead of following neighbours’ directions to cut it thoroughly for their selfish purposes. It gave us great sense of satisfaction to have saved some trees unitedly.

On the other side, we also reached a stage where there was greenary all around in the park. The once-barren piece of land now had at least grass all around and some plants. We planted some more with the passage of time. Other friends of the neighbourhood joined in later.

People started appreciating our endeavour. It was after a long wait of almost five years, we had marigold flowers blooming around Holi festival.

We organised Holi outside the park’s gate. All heads of the family, joined in to wish each other voluntarily. After colouring each other with deep sense of festivity and coming together on the festival of colours, we allowed all to enter into the park for the first time in years.

Individuals, who had stopped being in talking terms with each other or could not meet each other for so many years met and embraced each other.

Our one-hour scheduled event, envisaged by me, Rajesh and another neighbourhood friend Harish, turned a big success. All men, who had once played together 25-30 years ago in that park were given a place to sit together surrounded by greenary and spend time with each other with long forgotten joy.

We couldn’t believe that they spent five hours together with someone’s wife bringing tea, someone preparing Bread Pakora, someone preparing Chuttni and someone later buying Kulfi for all of them. Overall, it was a day we had worked for all these years.

The event was a grand success with more and more people appreciating our cause. Surely, we accomplished a great success – a green success!!

Writing, my passion

In the last 10 years or so I have lived by writing, enjoyed my life by writing and dreamt big by writing almost every day. Irrespective of what others thought of my deep desire to write more and more about anything and everything happening around me, I have tried to put down the happenings around my world through various write ups.

Whether they were my strong thoughts about any issue of social or political significance or occurrances in my personal world, I used words as my weapons to deal with them.

My latest venture into Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) is an attempt to sharpen my skills and learn more about writers' approach to language. However, there is a catch.

Even as I am feeling a bit comfortable in using language in this short stint at the Foreign Desk of IANS, I am feeling away from writing. I haven't been writing my usual write up on different issues like before.

Besides, the unabated pin-pointing, despite being of its own importance, is affecting the hidden writer in me. At times, it leaves me so scared to write that I avoid to come closer to writing. This is quite strange.

I wish to get into newspaper, which is my dream. I pray that I finish off my stint for a good reason and prospect with a big smile on my face.

My lord , help me in accomplishing that.

Sandeep Datta
April 3, 2011