Is it better to be good-looking or an influencing mind?

July 8, 2009

Sometimes, some small things bring out the best of our minds or some unforgettable thoughts. It happened yesterday on July 7, 2009, when I finally met my old office colleague-turned-friend after fixing dates for over one-and-a-half years!

The meet could never take place until that fine day due to our different timings of shifts and despite our offices routes being same.

It was also a day I had a bitter argument with my stupid and comedian boss over increment-issue. I reached one hour late and was all-apologetic at heart.

And, here she was presently dressed with dark brown goggles on and having shining pink lipstick instead of her old dark brown colour, wearing trousers and carrying a cheerful smile. She’s my age and didn’t marry for career like me.

We decided to go on a long drive and I welcomed the suggestion. We interacted like two friends meeting after 100 years of longing. The mood turned joyful despite office’ exhaustion and irritation suffered on that day.

Here she was…”Bhaisahab! Larki ko time de kar late nahin aate (Mister, you should keep waiting a girl after promising for a fixed time). And, Oh my God! What have you done to yourself she remarked after noticing my a day-old grey beard.”


Naturally, she is my friend and intended to improve in all respects in life. So the first thing she did was to suggest three things—one should have clean shave, one should perfume himself well, and be presently dressed up.

I smiled at the suggestions and asked her to let's go to some nice place. We wanted to talk to each other for long time but couldn't. We had a pleasant evening and heartiest talks full of laughter and joy.

But by the end of our four-hour meet at India Gate, I felt like sharing my opinion on life and maintaining one’s personality.

I mentioned that after an age one realises we need to look at intellectual beauty and refinement in tastes, as the skin soon fails its charm but the original thing developed in us over the years carries on fascinating till our last time.

We are ultimately remembered for that and not skin, at least among our loved ones including actual friends. I think, she liked the thought.

The letter which changed my life as an amateur writer

(This letter was written by Jordan Thornton, whose encouraging words lifted my dejected spirits and saved me after having developed a suicidal thought)

Thursday, 13 December, 2007, 1:52 AM
Jordan Thornton <dissident420@hotmail.com> wrote:

Sandeep,

I read your article "The Writer's Strugle" on IndyMedia, and tried to post a comment, but probably due to the new format, the comment didn't go through.I thought the piece was excellent, and probably good therapy for the frustration it sounds like you've been feeling. Don't worry, we've all been there.As an aspiring screenwriter, I got ahead of myself when I first started, and my friends called me on it. I'm not saying that I won't succeed, but when I went on about my lofty dreams, when I had barely written a thing, my firends were the first to point this out.At the time, I took their words to be uncalled-for insult, but now look at it from a different perspective.First of all, they are not writers, so they don't understand what drives me, nor the fact that I live in my own head a large amount of the time, and
thus, didn't understand how damaging their words were. Also, many of them made comments without the knowledge that others had as well. They didn't understand that I was being inundated with Doubt. However, I learned from that, and now, before tossing criticism and insult aside off-hand, I analyse it to see if there is some truth to what they say, and try to learn from it and use it.This does not account for all criticism. To be completely honest, I think some people are motvated by Envy. They don't understand the possibilities, nor the passion which drives us, so they ridicule instead, because they seem threatened by what we have that they don't.In the months leading up to the illegal war of aggression for profit against Iraq, I pushed my scripts aside, and devoted nearly all my attention on political writing, producing articles for websites and magazines throughout the world. This was a great experience, but set me back as far as my sceenplays are concerned.When the war started, I felt defeated, and simply did not write for months. After this, I found it really hard to get restarted. A website I visited helped get me fired up, and it might help you, and give you the support you need. It's www.absolutewrite.com and features articles, resources, and best of all for me, experienced writers who can answer questions, give advice, or just offer some friendly words of encouragement.When I needed it most, one of the people commenting on the site reminded me that it's alright to write a crappy first draft. It was the slap in the face I needed, and got me back on my feet.If you can find one, I would also recommend joining a writers group, or starting one if you know some other aspiring authors. Immersing yourself in a writing community helps to get the creative juices flowing, and will do
great things to counteract those criticising or ridiculing voices.Also, don't focus too much on future success. Write because you love the craft, but with the knowledge that everything you write gets you one step closer to becoming the person you wish to be. If you write with passion, because of a love of words and expressing yourself, success will eventually find you.Remember the words of John Lennon "The Love You Take Is Equal To The Love You Make". In other words, your success is completely dependent on the amount of work you are willing to put in.You will go as far as you allow and drive yourself to.Aside from that, write, read lots, and keep your head up.And if you ever get stuck, or just need somone to talk to, please do not hesitate to contact me.I wish you all the best of luck!Jordan ThorntonCanada, EH?PS - (Political plug) If you haven't yet read it, I urge you to read "Strengthing America's Defenses" at www.newamericancentury.org - This will put the enire "War On Terror" into perspective for you, and show you just how threatened we all are as human beings. (And if you want a real scare, check out "The National Security Strategy Of the US of A" at www.whitehouse.gov - The ag

A Writer's Struggle (My first write up)

(http://www.indymedia.org/nl/2003/12/110210.shtml)

By: SANDEEP DATTA (INDIA) 17 Dec 2003 08:52 GMT

(A brief revelation of the insults of an individual who dares to take writing as a career. How every other person behaves discouragingly and demotivate the nice initiative of a future hero.)


A Writer’s Struggle Dec.16 , 1.15 a.m.

Rarely do we hear of great writers having lived a happy life. Instead they face more bad times than you or me do in our lives. Like any other ordinary guy they dream and give their wish a try. Like most of us they do have very frustrating times when writing even a single sentence looks an uphill task. They feel frustrated like any one of us.


They are not just laughed at but sometimes even face the hooting too. In such odd times they search for people who do not remind them of their failures. At times the discomfort is too much to bear. But do they stop trying any more? No way. Rather they take it as a challenge to prove themselves before all.

Life does not offer flowers or appreciations of peers to them. It is the insult that they usually receive. Generally they are left to boost up their pride on their own. No friend, no family member helps.

At times they confront disappointment, bad-luck and sometimes even rejection of their talent like no one else does. Everyone hurts and discourages. But do they submit to these obstructions? Perhaps not.

May be they know that to rise higher than others they got to deal with these things wisely and bravely.

Living in vulnerable conditions or among most frustrating people does not stop them from working hard. They try with a self-belief of proving thier true potential on the highest platform. They refuse to submit no matter how much tough they are tested by time or luck.

To them everything is not available instead they have to manage in its absense too. They develop themselves in such an adjustable personality, which can work without many important things.

Any needful object or facilities are not allowed to become an impediment. For they know that they have to produce results in any condition.

People make fun of them when they mistakenly reveal their plans. Their potential is doubted as if it has been exaggeratedly mentioned.

Many names are given to them by hooters to humiliate. Probably not just to insult but to finisth every single motivation nurturing inside their mind. Any claim of quality is treated as a joke.

No one raises hand of friendship but even loved ones behave like a foe. The life is made like a hell by others. The questioning gestures of others look like abuses remarked on one’s face. Ignoring any bleak possibility of one’s fortune people behave like enemies.

Perhaps this shattering experience of life makes one a resilient soul. The hidden writer gives a push of creative flash and the power builds up from within. The heart begins trusting the emerging mind-flashes and confidence comes in.

The consistency maintained over the years starts paying off. The destination seems within one’s reach. Despite loosing in early battles the determined mind gets certain to win.

The pen starts producing great expressions with unbelievable smoothness. First the individual himself or herself get surprised then the rest of the world gets amazed. And when, on some fine day, any big reward is bestowed by the lord’s blessing then this same world applauds.

On that occasion this applause is the admission of the world who ones ‘s doubted this hopeless soul. And all this becomes possible because of that resilience that a writer shows in all phases of his or her struggle-filled life.

Dec.16
2.35 a.m

“I can”

I remember when I started writing I used to often write long letters to my friends on any occasion.

But whenever it used to come to say how much happy, bad or nice I felt for them, I would use "i have no words to explain or express how much..."

It started frustrating me day by day that i had use "cannot"
I developed a strong sense that i will make it "can".
That's how I started writing the maximum which was possible and whatever it would take.

I kept on attempting long letters to my friends and loved one to make sure day by day whatever I wished or needed to say gets expressed in writing as clearly as I felt. I always wanted to reach that special day...when I could say: "I Can

It's been about 12 years that I am working against that 'Cannot' to make it "Can". God knows how much I have improved over the years having rewritten over 6000 feature stories and articles!

Beggary—a curse on cosmopolitan life of Delhi

As Delhi prepares for the Commonwealth Games 2010, widely expected to draw a large number of international sportspersons and sports lovers to the national capital, the existence of child beggars (read slaves) across the city is all set expose the darker side of ‘a prospering economy’ like India.
Frayed children begging by knocking at the windowpanes of tourist vehicles, irritating any white-skin visitor to buy petty articles or glossy magazines, or at times, abusing or gesturing anyone turning them off, would be an experience which may find wide mention in the visitors’ blogs and journalists’ columns.
A look at the existing state of affairs with regard to beggars in Delhi and authorities’ casual approach flummoxes the mind.
Child Helpline—Dial 1098…..The government’s Child Helpline meant to rescue beggars by preventing victimization of children in the city with citizens’ help find its criticism from the people who understand the problem by its pulse.
“Once you make a call, the information given and caller’s identity is duly recorded. But nothing is recorded to explain what action was taken on that call. What happened to that child after information was passed on to the authorities is a question nobody explains. People should not be surprised to learn that not a single child has been rescued by any child helpline till date,” said Rakesh Senger, National Secretary of Bachpan Bachao Andolan exclusively to Sopan.
Traffic signals and traffic sergeants and Delhi Police…
Rakesh says that every traffic signal has traffic cops and Delhi Police personnel to ward off any untoward incident. But if they also show a sincere willingness and determination at these traffic signals about keeping off beggars, the problem of child beggary can be affected quite convincingly.
Sources of child beggars…..
There is a need to stop prospective child beggars or labourers in their source areas so that child-trafficking cannot take place, says Rakesh while giving insight of the begging world.
Rajasthan and Bihar have been observed as the key states playing a dominant role being sources of child beggars. Rajasthan, in particular, has various areas including Jodhpur, where children of the Banjara community, Jaipur, where some of the hamlets have denotified tribes, Churu, the place with maximum areas of denotified tribes, Seekar, Mahasamund, Jaisalmer, and Udaipur (are full of denotified tribes).
Local agents approach poor parents in villages to befool them with a pittance (Rs.500) in lieu of sending their children for six months or a year to study and also work in Delhi and grow up being a help for the family. In reality, it is these children who are pushed into beggary in the daytime and many of them in prostitution by night at times.
Besides Rajasthan, in Bihar, the areas being source of child beggars include Chapra, Dumka, East and West Champaran. In Uttar Pradesh, such areas are Agra, Saharanpur, Bagpur, and Kanpur. In West Bengal, the areas include 24 Pargana, Midnapore, and Howrah.
Last year floods in Bihar led to child-trafficking at a large scale. The list of missing children keeps increasing side by side. In 2008, about 12,000 children were allegedly trafficked to metropolitan cities between October-December from areas hit by the Kosi floods last August, according to a media report.
Sex and Drug-peddling
While there is no direct evidence of children being pushed directly into prostitution, their sexual exploitation cannot be brushed aside as a product of public’s prejudiced imagination.
“In one case of Delhi’s Hauz Khas and Moti Bagh areas, there are two children aged between 12 to14 whose legs were broken. Today, the crawl as they beg,” said Rakesh Senger of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan.
About sexual exploitation, the girl children cannot explain or point out when it happens. They find it hard to differentiate and explain between a friendly touch and an objectionable touch. They usually live with the belief that just because someone belongs to their village is a reason enough to not doubt or object him for such things. But the prevailing conditions are not too difficult to understand either.
“If five to six children of both the genders aged 8 to 12 share a common place to sleep, there are obvious chances of sexual incidents at any given time, especially at night. Particularly, the Leaders, assigned to supervise the children during day, are usually into taking drugs or alcohol. At Nehru Place, one can find teenaged girls and boys quarreling or teasing each other in the day time. By night their chances of physical exploitation gains strength with such people,” says Rakesh.
Many of these children are at work till 11.00 at night and also become targets of paedophiles. For instance, at Hazrat Nizammudin the beggars include Bengali-speaking children who have been found selling things along with narcotic drugs.
“I have personally noticed an incident in which the child was trying to sell off a packet but the car driver was repeatedly inviting him to get inside the car. It was winter. But the child kept insisting on selling his packet comprising pen, pencil, a torch and drugs! Interestingly, Police are aware of the racket being run through children and which involves selling of drugs here,” says Rakesh.
“Moti Bagh is a VIP area for beggary. It fetches Kali, a child beggars’ group leader in this area, a whopping Rs.90,000 to 150,000 a month. The earnings were admitted by Kali as well as children working under his custody. This gang leader used to operate with a person named Menia, who used to maintain four cellular phones. Despite best efforts, we failed to have a personal meet with him during one of traps, as he turned suspicious about our intentions.
“At Lakshmi Nagar near Kakarduma, there is a cluster of Jhuggis where there are maximum number of child beggars who are brought to different parts of the capital with their bandaged legs or hands or pretending to walk as any lame person at a traffic signal. They are dropped at different places on RTV bus. They are dropped at Paras cinema near Nehru Place, as there are several Dhabas or, the roadside eateries where beside food liquor consumption is also quite high,” says Rakesh.
“These children usually stand outside to collect empty bottles. But most of the time these children would be found requesting visiting customers to leave some quantity in the bottle for them. So, they not just enjoy collecting these bottles to sell off but also get drawn to drinking habit at an innocent age,” Rakesh adds.
Delhi Government’s over ambitious approach…..
Delhi Govt. wants to declare city as ‘Child friendly city’. But a political will power is required which should be sincere to ensure no children should be sighted on traffic signals. Before declaring the entire city ‘Child friendly’, there should be an attempt that first at least one district be made ‘Child friendly district’ and be projected as model district.
“Delhi Govt. wants to declare North West District as Child Friendly District without caring about the fact the problem in that district is almost the worst of all other districts of the city. The pilot project has been prepared for that area which many not be controlled even after five years of efforts. The area involves the dangerous Lal Quarters in Rohini area, where children are trained for begging and other crimes. We want easy areas be declared with minimum effort and be made model for others,” says Rakesh.
Social Welfare Department’s role should be identification, knowing child beggars’ whereabouts, and imparting vocational training or education to such kids. They can be given some financial reward or package during the number of years they take to learn things and stand on their feet at these homes.
Enforcement by police, social welfare department should act and rehabilitate these children, and the society must stop giving alms to begging children. We must stop giving alms to begging children. Once we stop giving them, their demand will stop or decline dramatically.
The public can make a difference in children’s lives if it stops buying things from these children at traffic signals. A real change is possible by just remembering that our every penny given to any begging child ensures supply of five more beggars on that very traffic signal or street.
Wouldn’t it be major help if after completion of their training at Homes, the children are given the entire collected amount along with some extra monetary reward which could lay foundation of their first venture in a respectable society?
Public awareness is important as well as boycott of such kids by people is also crucial to solve the menace of beggary.


“We collected data base of the city and found that in South Delhi’s Moti Bagh area there was widespread child beggary taking place. We established contacts with some of the children who worked under Moti Bagh flyover. During personal interaction, the children revealed that they actually belonged to their parents who lived elsewhere. And, here they work under a woman caretaker,” said Rakesh.

“We jotted down their details about their original native place and parents whoever remembered it. But there were four of them who were orphans and didn’t know about their actual native place,” Rakesh added.

“We approached Govt’s Child Welfare Committee which further ordered for their help. But soon it was learned that not much was being done. We approached police and a rescue plan was prepared. The compliant also mentioned about the children’s middleman or so called ‘caretaker’. Fearing that revelation about the place may cause danger to children’s lives, we contacted the kids again this time at night and asked them to show up when we would arrive the next day with a rescue team. They said if their ‘caretaker’ named Kali could be kept away somehow , they would not hesitate or fear showing up when required,” said Rakesh.

“Kali, the woman caretaker of beggar children, was arrested. And, children were rescued the following day. But both sides were taken away together in the same vehicle. She kept abusing and threatening them in the meantime. At police station, the rescued kids requested that she be put inside the lock up so that they could feel less threatened. But the request was not complied with. The moment they were to be taken for medical check-up, suddenly, some of the kids rushed towards Kali and hugged her. The looked confused as some of them would rush towards her as well as me and would hug both of us,” he said.

“A senior lady police official arrived and Kali shouted at her saying: “Everyday you come to me. Today, instead of coming yourself, you sent this team.” For publicly revealing the secret collusion, the officer beat her black and blue in front of all of us,” Rakesh informed.

Rakesh says that there is a general misconception that these children are runaway kids, which is not the case. These beggar children are those who are borrowed from villages on false promises of being trained for work and be given education in cities like Delhi. Poor parents get tantalized to such malicious traps of agents, especially when a sum of Rs.500 to 1,000 is given to them in advance. --

According to Indian Penal Code’s Article 363 A. (Kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging): Whoever kidnaps any minor or , not being the lawful guardian of a minor, obtains the custody of the minor, in order that such minor may be employed or used for the purpose of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Whoever maims any minor in order that such minor may be employed or used for the purposes of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

Begging means soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, whether under the pretence of singing, dancing, fortune-telling, performing tricks or selling articles or otherwise. It also includes anyone exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease, whether of himself or of any other person or of an animal besides using any minor as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms.

Mahatma Gandhi--A man who redefined how to rule world beyond time with the power of argument and oratory.

He lived an ordinary life and set example before commoners with his dedication towards a bigger cause.

But, to me, his bigget achievement lied in living a simple, principled and committed life to depict the Power of ONE.

I salute your guts to take on American regime.

Someday the history will remember you for your bravado against the Bush regime.

A letter to Pakistan President General Parvez Musharraf

11/5/07 (written for his website)

Honourable President General Musharraf

Aslam Wale Kum! and Namaskar!

As Pakistan is going through a turbulent time due to the loud mouth political leaders begging for a chance to rule the country for personal motives, I support your latest move to impose emergency to straighten all imperfections.

The world will take time to understand your role to control the terror of extremists and the greedy leaders. But you must follow your heart and intelligence acquired through a vast experience in your career so far.

Let the people around the world learn everything by themselves in due course of time how unwanted air was being given to the difficulties of Pakistan as a nation by political theatre of the country.

In this challenging hour, when cynicism and rumours are doing their rounds, I am sure your self-belief and understanding of these corrupt and power-seeking politicians will bring under the needful control.

I am sure you will remain committed to the welfare of the common man even in this hour turbulence.

I wish you luck and my best wishes.

Let’s expand our horizons and be known in this world

Hundreds of cheerful moments go wasted just becasue we don't take proper note of them, the way any writing enthusiast does. We just remain busy in our routine unmindful of small or big development away from our lives.

There is always something to know, something to appreciate and something to learn in daily life. This blog is just an attempt to reveal significance of various moments that we come across but fail to notice properly.

We just have to be ready to open up our minds and embrace the world hidden in or outside our personal world.

The importance of everything nice need not be explained or understood in terms of money always. It may be in terms of personal expansion or exposing ourselves to new extremes or touching horizons.

For, today, the world recognizes us for our distinction in our observations and expression in our chosen form in day-to-day life. We are known and mentioned the way we perceive or view any development or handle a challenging situation. And, we must explore such a welcoming trend.

I believe, we all have the heart to feel and a mind to understand it all, only if, it is properly explained. Hence, it is an attempt to give expression to what comes to one's mind on different occasions.

As, I believe, all of our views are precious in some way or meaningul in some context,we just have to share them openly with interested people around and see the results ourselves.

Do you deserve love?

When two people enter a relation it involves expectation of being fair and honest.

The world may have changed. But in the sanctity of relations it has not and perhaps will never. For, it remains an eternal reality that relations are nurtured on the basis of purity of emotions and respecting each other's sentiments despite lacunas of personality.

It is so mediocre of some new-age individuals who have started bringing a bad name to sweet and innocent relations like LOVE. It feels disgusting when we notice or learn about people entering into a relation for fun and never bothering about the commitment and loyalty.

The upcoming new culture is anti-relation culture. For, it looks as if it has become ok if someone is found applying or advocating, 'relations till convenience' or multi-lovers or 'use and throw' kind of mentality.

But it is equally true the people who do so for the time being and enthusiastically support it in others' matters, would complain if is done to them or their loved ones.

Even in relations like marriage, many individuals are ready to walk out of the marriage as if it is about breaking a friendship with a casual friend. The ramifications are felt later.

I believe a person who cannot value a friendship is not fit enough enter a pious relation like marriage which requires deep affection, respect, sense of sacrifice of ego and an open-mindedness to embrace the fellow despite weaknesses in personality.

The persons presently enjoying sadist pleasure in playing with others' emotions, perhaps, do not know they might just be popularising a culture and habit that may hit them or any loved one very soon in the days to come. They should be ready for that to happen...as the rule is NATURE RETURNS!!!!!!

==========Part II
Friendship is proverbially valued as the best relation on earth after the one shared with one's mother. The kind of friendship we maintain with others defines our extent and horizon of love.

Our reactions, our feelings, our tolerance, our sense of giving for other person's joy are some of the aspects that define the kind of person we are. The same qualities define our capacity to love.

It surprises to notice people who cannot be good friends with anyone, seek ‘finest’ people to love and would be ready to shift from person to person in search of ‘the WOOOWW person in life’.

It amuses to find that it such persons don’t bother to develop themselves to deserve that kind of person as a friend but would spend all life searching it as a lover. Even if they get such a person for the time being, it doesn’t surprise to see losing such a person at the earliest.

Yes, I criticise Raj Thackeray but.....

The last few weeks (October, 2008) saw almost everyone in offices and general gathering discussing the Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and its activists' terror in Mumbai. His party workers resorted to brutal means to help their firebrand leader acquire frontpage headlines and create space in Maharashtra politics.

The protest was regarding the unrestricted inflow of migrating public to Maharashtra, the city of dreams Mumbai in specific. And, hence the MNS's activists' target was non-Marathi public, Biharis in particular.

Most of the people looked justified to an extent in condeming Raj for his political stance, which clearly looked more like anti-Indian than pro-Maharashtrain. There was no doubt that MNS's only aim was to thrive in political circles with pro-Maharastrian sloganeering.

It looked quite flabberghasting to the rest of the India, especially the north Indians (Bihar in particular), as the protest was to oust them by force to assert Marathis' claim on Maharashtra and Mumbai in specific.

People across India watched in disbelief how Raj Thackeray's party workers went overboard to proclaim their 'right' as natives. Knowledge about Indian constitution's provisions allowing all citizens to work and reside at any place of India, except in Jammu and Kashmir, was unexpected from MNS' activists. And, perhpas, that was adequate for a emerging polititian like Raj to secure a vote bank.

At one time, it felt like the violence of Mumbai may spread to people across India, claiming locals' right to oust others and that too by citing examples of the MNS team. Many demanded that he be put behind bars for projecting Maharashtra, as a separate nation existing in India.

In my personal view, I believe people should be encouraged to shift to different regions to learn and share a different culture, tradition and way of life. Biharis, in particular, deserve the biggest appreciation for firmly holding to their original culture and demonstrating a thoroughly hard working and determined mind, which believes in rising despite all challenges of life.

But that’s my personal opinion may be because of the role they played in transforming life of a non-serious Punjabi lad like me and encouraging me for higher studies and become a journalist.

Everyone expressed hatred for MNS and its President, may be because the real objective behind such a rough politics or extreme measure ahead of elections was an open secret for anyone.

The only difference Raje’ approach of influencing local voters is that 'language and regionalism' are perhaps new factors for most of the new audience.

Otherwise, the existing political factors like caste, religion or reservation, or even so called 'Secularism', is nothing less dangerous than the new feature of Indian politics. One can review vote bank politics prevailing in any State of the country on the basis of these factors. North to South, East to West, these factors dominate the political leaders' mind, the ongoing distribution of election tickets bespeaks it loud n' clear.

As per general opinion, Raj’s was a case fit for triggering internal disturbance and deserves harshest punishment for dividing nation and creating terror'.

Media’s role looked more notorious than Raj himself. The issue went blown out of proportion courtesy electronic media. I believe it could have been discouraged to get unwanted publicity. But the electronic media proved an ultimate help for Raj Thackeray to gain immense popularity in just two months.

Government’s role also deserved criticism. It was too painful to imagine innocent people from north Indian being beaten mercilessly for no reason of theirs. It was State government who should have ensured better sense to prevail. It could have assured the agitated people, not just MNS, to do something under law to regulate things and welfare of locals.

But my thoughtful mind also asks me to be fair in evaluating the issue that is the problems caused by migrants in any State. I believe Raj raised the issue, which irrespective who raised it, needs a thorough discussion.

It would be unfair to close eyes and mind to the main issue—the unregulated migration and its ramifications.

It is true that local Mumbaiite are today faced with a serious problem due to migration from across the country. I believe they must get their first right to their native place and its opportunities. But this right cannot be expected to be absolute.

Be it anyone, all citizens of the country must enjoy equal right to work, live and practice religion and culture at the place of their choice in THEIR country. But the natives do deserve to have the first right.

In Delhi, the scenario is nothing different. The pain of Delhiites also got its voice in Delhi's Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Lt. Governor Tajinder Khanna who failed to garner adequate support from meek Delhiites. It was interesting that both of them were not original natives (born and brought up) of Delhi. But still they cried for its present condition when they could.

Delhi is crippled because of being a Union Territory. Most of the people from other States provoke hatred of the locals by enjoying to criticize the very place which has given them shelter and a place to earn livelihood. Most of the people despite coming from rural or comparatively backward areas of the country find fault in everything they find here.

I wonder when anyone from the north-east, one of the most backward and militant affected region, criticizes Delhi for ‘security’ and conservative lifestyle.

Isn't it a fact that the Kashmir gives preference to Kashmiris, Punjab gives preference to Sikhs and West Bengal gives preference to Bengali speaking individuals, Biharis embrace Biharis in all jobs and the southern States prefer their natives for opportunities available in their respective State.

If that is true to even little extent, Thackeray was not absolutely wrong in encashing public support in the disguise of Marathi manoos' social cause. He did what any professional or politician would do to enjoy the best of opportunity in the disguise of social cause.