Need politicians be such a privileged class?

You might have wondered as often as I do why after all our politicians are such a special, such an elite class? Have they descended from the heavens above? If not, then why they have a different set of rules for them? Why there is no retirement age, no qualification criteria for them? Why is it that there is no pay commission to regularise and rationalise their salaries, perks and pensionary benefits? Why is it that they enact laws helping themselves to hefty hikes at will while the country looks on helplessly, numb with shock and disbelief? And when the whole nation is all keyed up expecting  a reasoned debate on vital matters of national interest they shout and fight putting the country to shame before the world? (Did you see the sorry spectacle that played out at Tapovan where the winter session of HP assembly just concluded? The Amar Ujala headline says it all: पांच दिन में करोड़ों ख़र्च, हासिल हुआ सिर्फ़ हंगामा ) Or, some are even sleeping and snoring blissfully even when an important matter is being debated, if at all? Hold on; some have even been caught watching porn on their cell phones…damn the discussion! Haven’t you often seen so many vacant seats in our parliament even when some important issue has been enlisted for the day, though the camera avoids longer exposure lest these worthies are shown in poor light? Why the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ not imposed on them, as has been rightly suggested by some conscientious MPs? And what is the blessed justification for subsidised canteens for these well provided for 'leaders'? Isn’t it a matter of  shame that while the country’s multitude groans  under the weight of poverty and hunger,  these self-proclaimed, well-off 'public servants' gorge on their बिरयानी,  मुर्गमुस्स्ल्लम and mutton kormas at ridiculously  low prices...and vehemently resist moves to do away with this practice? Then, is it fair and proper to have an 80-year-old formulate policies and take crucial decisions on public matters and vital national interest? Are they above the unavoidable age-induced wear and tear and senility? Do we not have young, brilliant, energetic minds amidst us to substitute them and provide better governance?...Will the oldies let the old order change? Further, why there is no scrutiny and auditing of funding to the political parties? And why at all they should not come under the ambit of RTI? Why this conspiracy of resistance to electoral reforms? Why this conspiracy of silence and obfuscation over putting in place an effective ‘Lokpal’? Why should a particular family or clan treat politics as its personal fiefdom, crush dissent, stifle talent and perpetuate its own dynastic hegemony? Is politics so lucrative?  A wonderful family business idea? Then why assume idealistic postures? 

Please forgive me for this rather rhetorical rant…an emotional outburst. But believe me, these disturbing questions do rankle in my heart and make me wonder when we will ever have a vibrant, robust democracy with a political class worthy of  worship and reverence...capable, selfless, greed-less leaders of sterling qualities; educated, enlightened, well-groomed minds imbued with idealism and good education to take my beloved  motherland to the heights of glory and greatness that it is so deserving of...

Tailpiece 

I recall an incident when about a decade ago we at our institution (an autonomous one on paper) were ‘instructed’ by a चाटुकार  bureaucrat registrar (while the then CEO chose to look the other way!) to leave work and line up the two flanks of the road skirting the campus to ‘garland’ a political bigwig and 'cheer' his passing convoy. And we obliged!

But friends, do we must garland them? Or…….???

                                    *

Keeping Kangra folk tradition alive

Andretta is a lovely, sprawling village about 5-7 km south of the Palampur town with a magnificent view of the Dhauladhar. And here nestles the world famous Sobha Singh Art Gallery, as all of us know. In the aesthetic ambience of the gallery, a festive five-day art festival went underway recently to mark the 116th birth anniversary of the saint-artist Sobha Singh. This annual feature is  the brain child of Sobha Singh's grandson, the pleasant and amiable Hriday Paul Singh, Secretary, and smilingly yours KG Butail, the president of the Sobha Singh Memorial Art Society. The event is a commendable endeavour to promote and preserve folk art/craft, lore and culture and attracts schoolchildren and rural women to the event to display and hone  their creative  talents. I was witness to this event last year and found the aroma and beauty of our folk traditions being played out, delightfully sensuous. If you  love Kangra's beautiful folk arts, don't miss it next time. 

Well done KGB and HPS!  Keep this flame burning bright....To give you a real good flavour of what Kangra folk lore is all about, I have for you a photo I got from Dr Hriday Paul (thanks to him), and a video clip to share, posted by the COBS group on WhatsApp.

                   Folk art in display at the Art/craft festival, Andretta (Photo courtesy Dr Hriday Pal)

                                    
                                          

                                      
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Stars of the week

My first pick this week is Orissa MP Baijayant 'Jay' Panda (BJD) who, in view of the wash-out of the winter session of the Parliament decided to return part of the pay in proportion to the time wasted and lost.

May your tribe increase Mr Lawmaker!

And no less laudable is the victory of our Junior National Hockey team. Led brilliantly by Harjeet Singh, the team played outstanding, almost flawless hockey in the Junior World Championships concluded last week. The sizzling goal struck by Gurjant Singh in the final match against Belgium was a stunner and to my mind must rank as one the world's best field goals.

Congratulations Harjeet and your team on lifting the world cup!

The third and equally deserving  star of the week is also from the sports field. He is our "shy and subdued" 25 year old cricketer Karun Nair who scored a scintillating triple century - the second Indian after Sehwag to do so - against the visiting England team in the 5th and final test match. Incidentally, he had survived a close brush with life in July last when the boat he was on, capsized.

Wishing you many more glorious innings Karun- both in life and in cricket! 

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Dhauladhar view

Sadly, still no rain or snow and though the Dhauladhar never seizes to enchant and amaze, the peaks and slopes all look so bleak and barren. I share with you this weekend the 'Dhaualdhar view' as it is now and how it would look later in the three pics below, so aptly clicked by my friend Dr R G Sud (to him my many thanks). Plus, I have scribbled a few lines to supplement the pics hoping that it would help you capture and feel the scenario more intimately - our dear NRPs (non-resident Palampurwallas) in particular -  to whom I humbly dedicate my composition.

धौलाधार को पुकार

 ऐ मेरे देश के ऊँचे पर्वत , ऐ जन-जग  रक्षक धौलाधार,

हिम-शून्य हुए क्यों,  क्यों सूना  है रे  यह  वक्ष विशाल ? 

सुनो  तो खग-खग का क्रंदन, वायु का भी सूखा सा  है  नेत्र -नीर,

सूखा रस, रोएं वन  मन मन, नदियाँ भी हैं हाय! अब हुई अधीर।     

   

धरती  के हैं सूखे ओंठ और गाल, माटी का जीवन  हुआ  है  धूल,

सूखी खेती हुआ श्रमिक निढाल, ना भंवरा ही बैठे अब सूखे फूल।  

                                         

                                           २ 

ओढ़ाएँ  नभ  पर मटमैली  चादर - दो तो मेघों को  यह सन्देश, निमंत्रण,

'हो नभ -धरा मिलन' - कहें  मेघ गरज कर, बरसे  फिर  जल, रीझे  कण कण।

                                            ३ 

लगे कि अब  मढ़ दी  है  (पर्वत ) तुम  पर, क्या  चाँदी की माला  सुन्दर !

या  जैसे  आये हो कल  रात तुम , चांदनी  से ही  मधुर, मधुर   संगम कर !

या मानो हर शिखा  को  हो  दिया  ओढ़ा, श्वेत  वस्त्र , सुन्दर कुंवरी परी-बाला का। 

हो  भूल  गयी  नभ -गौरी  या , अपना  आभूषण वा  निर्मल, उज्जवल  दौशाला सा।  

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Quotes of the week

"We are living in a world in which 85 individuals have more wealth than the poorest 3.5 billion. It is a world in which 99% of wealth is owned by less than 1% of the population."

                     - Peter Casey (Economic Times)

"Want to go to space again, as a tourist."

                     - Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian Atsronaut

"Hypocrisy is a boil. Lancing a boil is never pleasant."

                      - Game of Thrones, season 5, 4th episode

"I felt naked in front of the world."

                      - Kangana Ranaut on Hrithik Roshan affair (The Indian Express)

"Landlords (are) sexual predators."

                       - Politician Azam Khan

"Wrestling requires strength as well as brains."

                        - Aamir Khan

"We Indians work on the principle of rocket- we don't start our work until our bottom is on fire."
                        - A quote in a DH 'middle'

"My life is my gym."
                         - Priyanka Chopra

"Certain things in life are meant to happen."
                         - Karun Nair, cricketer who scored a Test triple hundred
Beware: 
"Clogging the arteries of Indian medicare is an everyday

scam, involving imported stents of dubious quality, bribes and unwanted procedures."

                          - Outlook comment on the cover page, December 26 issue

                                                                       *

Newspick

Climate change may impact Hindu-Kush-Himalaya water supply

The Antarctic Ice Sheet plays a major role in regional and global climate variability (Daily Excelsior)

Dwarf planet Ceres is flush with ice:NASA (The Indian Express)

NASA scientist warns we we're not prepared for surprise asteroid or comet strike (CBS News)

Dhauladhars losing glaciers (Chandigarh Tribune)

Tourists paraded in 'walk of shame' in Indonesia

Intrauterine devices taken out from millions of women in China

Zayn Malik beats Hrithik Roshan as sexiest Asian of 2016

Woman 'raped' in a car in Delhi's Moti Bagh

Higher incidents of rape in India linked to open defecation

Babies born from three parents approved in UK

EC seeks ban on anonymous contributions to parties above Rs 2000/-

BJP gets lion's share of donations above Rs 20000/-

Airlines to pay Rs 50000/- for emptying toilet midair-NGT

Girl (13-year-old) kidnapped and held for five months; six held( in Palanpur, Gujarat)

75मिनट ही चल सकी दूसरे  दिन कार्यवाही (हिमाचल विधान सभा शीत सत्र, तपोवन)- Amar Ujala

पुत्र मोह में फँसी हिमाचल की राजनीति: आप  (Amar Ujala)

बारिश न होने से हिमाचल में 80 फीसदी  गिरा बिजली उत्पादन (Amar Ujala)  

Clock of ageing may be reversible:study(The Hindu)

Pregnancy alters brain to boost mothering skills

Camel, Llama antibodies inspire new cancer treatment

Certain high BP drugs cut spread of cancer in body (ToI) 

                                                       *

WhatsApp pick of the week

पिता ने बंदिशें लगाईं, 

उसे संस्कारों का  नाम दे दिया !

सास ने  कहा अपनी इच्छाओं को  मार  दो, 

उसे परम्पराओं का नाम दे दिया!

ससुर ने घर को क़ैदखाना बना दिया,

उसे अनुसाशन का नाम दे   दिया! 

पति ने थोप दिए अपने सपने अपनी इच्छाएं,

उसे वफ़ा का नाम दे दिया!

बच्चों  ने अपने मन की की,

और उसे नयी सोच का नाम दे दिया!
ढगी सी खड़ी मैं ज़िन्दगी की राहों पर ,
और मैंने उसे किस्मत का नाम दे दिया !

मंदिर में गयी तो महाराज ने उसे कर्म का नाम दे दिया !

ज़िन्दगी तो मेरी थी एक पल जीने को तरस गयी,

फिर भी इन चलती साँसों को हमने ज़िन्दगी का नाम दे दिया!

Salute to all women!

                                     *

Quiz: Do you know who is (beautiful) Melania Knauss?

              ...If not then keep your fingers crossed till next weekend!

                                *

And lastly yours truly wishes you

 A Very Merry Christmas!

                           

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