My Lunch Box....

One of the most delightful joys of married life is to carry lunch prepared by one's wife.

I admit to have never allowed anyone to cook meals for me, as I maintained reservations about the mood with which someone other than my mother would prepare my food.

I have always believed in the age-old belief that the food must be prepared in good mood, with sense of love and care.

Sceptical of others' approach to prepare food for me and its impact on my mental health or nature, always guided me not to get it prepared by anyone other than by my affectionate mother's hands.

I always wished if there could be anyone other than my mother to prepare food for me, it would be my wife. That too, if I found she loved me by heart and not just words.

By the grace of God, thankfully, I have got such an affectionate wife in Pratibha who, I feel, can endure hardship for me.

Yesterday, she realised how she is actually missing a privileged 'work', for no reason and which could actually spread comfort and joy in her husband's life. She said, she would prepare food in the morning, despite her office.

I actually felt loved the way today she woke up early and prepared lunch for me. I felt her deep sense of care and affection for me while relishing each bite of Roti and Karahi Paneer with green salad today for the first time in last five months of my marriage. My trust in my darling wife's abilities increased today. I must say, she cooks deliciously, whenever she can.

It's raining jobs but...... I stand confused

I am a confused man today. There is a greed in mind to take up new opportunities, as they look tantalising.

A week before I decided to join new organisation I recieved a call letter from Orissa Post. My friend in Orissa says, it was a big opportunity, which I didn't take up as it required me to stay in Orissa initially.

The second one came from Economic Times. Only a month ago I had met the ET's Editor Partha Ghosh, who found me up to the mark to work in his organisation. But he wished that I stay at Gaziabad, neighbouring place of Delhi, to cover Gaziabad and Meerut. I couldn't agree to this requirement.

Recently, a senior journalist friend asked me to work for his Kolkata-based channel which is interested to open office in Delhi. Another senior journalist, who is like brother to me, wanted me to work for his news agency and earn good.

The latest opportunity came from IANS, the news agency and an organisation I always wished to work to enhance my writing-ability and excellence in journalism. I had appeared in a written test in this organisation a few months ago. It was for foreign desk and quite tantalising to me. They asked me to wait. But yesterday ( Dec.1, 2010) the head of the Foreign Desk wrote to me to come and meet him!

All this has left me so much confused, beyond explanation.

On one side is a relatively relaxing Media Consultant job at Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Depart. of AYUSH, (Ministry of Health). About 50 percent increased salary, five days a week service with nearly a fixed schedule of 8 hours, besides Govt. holidays, felt too tantalising opportunity after a long stressful life at ANI.

The present job also allows me to give family due time, especially to my wife. We have been able to spend 24 hours together for the first time on Sundays in the last 15 days since joining the new job.

But the other side is the charm of working as full-fledged journalist and handling national, international news.

I feel like losing my identity as a journalist at MDNIY even if I am the incharge of Communication and Documentation wing and expected to acquire a profile of Executive Director, as mentioned to me by the Director here.

Suriender Kapoor, the man who runs ANI actually......

Thanks Sandeep. I came to know after you left. You are always welcome. Also I wish you great success in your future. You areA good professional and a very good in nature which everyone likes it.God bless you and please be in touch I am available 24hours.All the best.

Surinder
News Director, ANI
Nov.28,2010

The bigesst certification of my excellence and expertise in journalism as issued by Asian News International (ANI) on Nov.27, 2010.

TO WHOSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN

This is to certify that Mr. Sandeep Datta s/o Late Ram Parkash Datta was employed with M/s ANI Media (P) Ltd as a copy editor from May 10, 2005 to November 14, 2010.

During this period, he was assigned to work in the print division of the company. His responsibilities included sub-editing/copy editing news reports (national) and reports coming in from various parts of South Asia and features.

He was also given the special responsibility of making detailed features highlighting the positive steps taken by various state governments in promoting development of inhabitants residing in the Naxal belt of the country, besides features from the north east.

He was found to be disciplined and diligent in the work that was assigned to him during the period of his employment. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Yours sincerely,

(I. Ramamohan Rao)

Chief Editor, ANI Media (P) Ltd.

I met Dalai Lama today!

I always wished to meet the Dalai Lama at least for once in this lifetime. The Nobel Laureate for Peace and one of the world's most respectful leader in the present time is indeed any intellectual or educated person' biggest wish. He is viewed as the biggest threat by China.

Never thought I would meet such a great personality like that. Suddenly and so unexpectely. But I did!!!

My Director at the Morarji Desai National Inst. of Yoga (MDNIY), my new workplace, suddenly called for me today and directed me to escort Swami Dr. Parmanand, Vice Chancellor of Ram Krishan Mission University, from India Habitat Centre at Delhi's Lodi Road.

I was irritated to do such kind of unjouralistic work for the first time. I visited the place and after a bit of search, finaly located him at the sixth floor of Guest Building of India Habitat Centre.

I knew he was to attend some function here with Tibetan's Spiritual Guru Dalai Lama. But I least expected both of them would be having lunch together. I tried to approach Swami ji after they were done with their lunch. But he was busy with other guests present on the occasion.

Suddenly , I notice Dalai Lama was also leaving the place. Everyone was standing in line in his honour to say bye to him. I noticed him shaking hand with a Tibetan butler even, who bowed before him in deep respect for his country's God.

I was hesitant till I saw the Great Dalai Lama even shaking hand with that butler without any discomfort. Suddenly , I gathered courage and clicked him through my mobile. And, the moment he turned towards me as he approached the door, he noticed me standing there with a big smile.

He came closer to me and perhaps believing me to be one of the guests in that dining hall, bowed as a Buddhist courtesy to accept my greetings too. He held my extended hand for three to four seconds firmly with his large and Dunlop-palm and said: "Thank You Very Much" with a smile on his face. Both of us bowed to each other while holding each other's hands and he left the place.

He left me without words!

Never expected the most wished thing could happen just like that ever. That too Dalai Lammmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaa!!!

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.