Palampur braves chill to celebrate Holi
Palampur celebrated Holi with
gusto, as usual. Though the prevailing chill was forbidding, yet, for a
change, it dawned bright and sunny on Sunday. And as the cold morning matured
into a warm, welcoming forenoon, the Palampurwallas began stirring out of their homes with
gulal packets in hands. And soon all the neighbourhoods were full of joy and
joviality, mutual warmth and good-will with faces and clothes smeared with the
varied colours of Holi: red, green and yellow. The younger lot, not content
with the dry powdery stuff, revelled by throwing buckets of coloured or even
plain water at each other. It seemed the weather gods had made a special
concession for us to celebrate Holi for a brief period only. For, by the afternoon,
the clouds had resurfaced and the cold had returned. At the Capt Batra ground
the state level evening cultural show had been underway. Cold-stung, I stayed indoors
though the music and voices from the ground that could be heard over long
distances seemed inviting. But hats off
to the intrepid lot who had thronged the grounds to enjoy the events live. What makes Palampur Holi (and likewise that of other Kangra towns
too) so fetching and special is the beautiful jhankis aloft on tractors that
meander through the main bazaar and the roads of Ghugar, Bundla, the Mission complex etc. These jhankis mostly depicting scenes of devis and devtas
from our rich Hindu mythology are indeed a treat to watch. And the residents
come out in throngs and wait eagerly for these jhankis to pass by to pay their
obeisance to. May this lovely
tradition endure and flourish! At Sujanpur, the abode of Katoch rajas of
Trigart (Kangra) once, the Holi is celebrated at the national level, as we all
know. I wish I had gone to hear the soulful music and songs of the Wadali
Brothers, the famous Sufi singers from Amritsar who regaled the Sujanpur crowd
during one of these evenings.
*
Election lessons
The BJP’s landslide win in UP in
the just-concluded assembly elections is nothing less than stunning. The oldest
party, Congress, stands decimated. The SP and the BSP, the two regional
political power houses too have been left badly shaken and shattered. Although
in the shifting sands of politics nothing can be said with absolute certainty,
yet if these elections are any guide, it is obvious that:
Politically, the country has
grown wiser, savvy and discerning with each election. People seem to be sick
and tired of the old, rusty edifice, the Congress, where its jammed windows do
not permit any free passage for fresh air of new thought, debate and energy. The
Gandhis’ charisma used as a magic wand to sway the masses and win
elections is over.
The regional parties and their
satraps, the Yadavs, the Bhenjis/Buas and the Kejriwaals are fast losing their relevance.
They can’t any longer ride piggy back on the voter on the basis of caste,
Dalit, religion, region or community. With increasing awareness, the voter
knows that the ultimate mantra for emancipation and empowerment lies in good
governance and development.
Success or victory - that too
such a stunning one - can be heady. With it comes responsibility: immense
responsibility. Responsibility to deliver.
Responsibility to perform. For, greater the success, correspondingly higher
are the peoples’ expectations too. Now the million dollar question is: Will the
BJP prove itself equal to the challenge? Or will it get too drunk with the
opium of power and success? The country expects the BJP to now get down
seriously to providing a model, efficient, clean, inclusive government in UP
and the other states where it has gained power. It needs to build bridges
between communities, take each and all along, provide a healing, soothing touch
to those marginalized on parochial considerations of religion and caste and
take the states on the path of harmony and wholesome progress. Let Hindutva be
given a burial. The fractures and hurts caused by rabid jingoists, fanatics and
bigots need to be healed and such elements not allowed to run the show at all. Let the country now move forward on the road of progress and prosperity.
As for the Congress, it is time
now to rid it of dynastic stranglehold.
It is in desperate need of bold reforms and intra-party democracy. The
senile oldies who are clinging to power and perpetuating their own dynastic
fiefdoms must be shown the door. Let fresh new talent now take over, let the
old order change. Will it happen? Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Punjab has
come as a face saver for the Congress. But this win was a forgone conclusion
because of SAD-BJP misrule. Anyway, can Congress shed its hypocrisy, its double
standards about secularism and corruption and make a fresh new beginning in
Punjab? Will the high command give Captain Amrinder Singh enough leeway and
space to provide corruption-free, transparent, vibrant government and bring
back prosperity and pride to this land of the bold and brave? It can either be
a turning point for the party or the final death knell. Again let’s watch and
keep our fingers crossed?
*
Quotes of the week
"You are my masterpiece."
- Mahesh Bhatt on Alia's birthday
"Music is God's gift...must be utlilzed."
- Nahid Afrin, a 16-year-old singer from Assam who is fighting fatwa
"2016 was worst year yet for Syria's children."
- UNICEF
*
News headlines-random pickings
Beggar, 60, helps woman deliver a baby girl at busy junction (Bengaluru)
- ToI
Woman burned after headphones explode while she slept in flight
- AOL
Bengaluru has worst 'infra' among Indian cities
- (DH)
UK cruise ship damages pristine Indonesian coral reef
- (DH)
Delhi's air quality improves, cleaner than Mumbai's in past two weeks
- Zee News
Fossils unearthed from India from 1.6 billion years ago may be oldest known plants
- Livemint
Watching TV for 3 hours daily may up diabetes risk in kids
- The Indian Express
Mediterranean diet may improve sperm quality:study
- DH
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I admire your attempt in highlighting the 'Holi' festival in Palampur valley and the fervor of people who throng to the site of festival celebrations. regarding your treat of the recent election results, I have to offer a line or two. There was a lot of commotion in the Indian press at large about Yogi Aditya Nath being hoisted UP CM.There was no ripple or eyebrow raised when inexperienced and callow Rahul Gandhi was projected as future PM of India. No fingers were raised when Akhilesh Yadav having no administrative experience was forced on the people as the youngest CM of UP.Our so- called enlightened Press especially those sections dyed in the mold of Nehru -Gandhi legacy did not raise their accusing fingers.This duplicity of the highest echelons of our society are a hindrance to out- of -the box future course this country wants to chalk out for itself.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dr Kaushal for your appreciative words on my Palampur Holi post.
ReplyDeleteAs regards your comments on the political scene, well, of course it is quite true that media quite often does let us down. The electronic media is mostly in the hands of big and mighty people. It generates more heat than light. Therefore it is very difficult to obtain objective and balanced inputs on the current events. Our politicians' lack of scruples and unprincipled behaviour is known to us all. Look at the arrogance and shamelessness of one Mr R Gaikwad and his deplorable conduct. But I think the voter is showing them their proper place. Let's hope for better things to come in future.
Thanks again very very much.