Anna Hazare's relevance

He’s not a Gandhi (by his own admission); he’s not a politician in the usual sense of the term (he has given enough indications of it); he’s not a VVIP with wide connections; he’s not a rich man either. Yet he counts. He has not only reinforced that it’s people’s power is the ultimate in Indian democracy, but the democracy which may be ripe for a revolution.
Mr. Hazare has emerged as a leader in his own right, trying to achieve the dreams of the ordinary Indian --- the foremost being the removal of corruption from top to bottom and across institutions.
His relevance to modern India --- despite his adoption of the traditional satyagraha --- and its people cannot be doubted. His peaceful agitation has ignited the minds young Indians whose conscience had already been tweaked by the former President Abdul Kalam. Dr. Kalam too had tried to band together the youth of the country for developmental purposes. His action plans and vision continue to guide the youth but on a different plane.
What the country needed was a spark for national-level action programmes and that came in the form of Mr. Hazare’s steadfast agitation against corruption – an issue that struck the right chord with all.
The people now realise that they need not feel helpless in challenging the monster of corruption. With able support from similar socially conscious people, Mr. Hazare took the centrestage and was the cynosure of all during the campaign that has reached greater heights.
He has sown the seeds of fearlessness, cooperation, and social dynamism among the people – the participation of lakhs of people in the movement vouches for that.
With the present government caught in a vortex of scandals and seen to be a face of corruption , the political course of the country is set to change drastically. Mr. Hazare and his team have revived the nationalistic fervour of the pre-Independence days.
If political intrigues succeed in stifling the people’s movement, it will be the saddest chapter in modern Indian history. If, on the other hand, people continue to support Anna and help achieve success in the fight against corruption and other ills of society, it will be the golden era for India.

THE MARATHON MAN

A man of measured words and action
Albert showed us what discipline and courage mean
In his own inimitable style
He struck a middle path
Knowing the glowing and burning ends of sides
His spirited defence of what’s right
Always earned him praise
His track record has been excellent
Both in work and on field
He sprinted, leapt and crossed
Hurdles a many, set records a many
He’s changing tracks and gears now
We’re sure he’ll ever be steady
And light up the path ahead
Alby, the Marathon Man
How can we not clap and pray
For you and your family


K. Kirubanidhi
30 June 2011

Roshini

I will have named you S. Roshni
Because you are
Sensitive and sensible in work
Soft-spoken in dealing with others
Straightforward in approach and attitude
Smiling even in stressful times
Service-minded in nature
Selflessness being part of it
Supersub in the making
In all
Simply Superb
Lack of your hospitality
Will make us sick!
You have given a peep into your art
For a journalist-artist in the making
I wish you all the best

Call from mother

As the 18th death anniversary of my mother, K. Gnaneswari, drew closer, I had enough indications that mother is still with us, guiding us and showering her affection in many different ways. A few days before, one of her close friends and colleagues, Mrs. Achamma Jacob, called me, through my sister, and asked me to come for a prayer- cum-meditation at a place of worship and talk to a group of senior citizens about my work.

I was pleased and took it as a call from mother and promptly accepted the offer and went there. I made it a point to mention this at the short talk that I gave. The family friend also gave me a small memento, which I took it as that given by mother.

Then during my work I came across, in the past two days, words and phrases that made me remember her and the job she did – Central Statistics Office, for example. She retired as an Addl. Director of Statistics, Tamil Nadu government. Then on March 27, a day before, she came in my dream as a slightly younger person and I was telling someone, after briefly seeing her in close quarters and following her, that she remains very much with us. And, even as I finished writing this small piece, a colleague of mine gave me and others at work some sweet and chips saying her mother brought it for her. Mothers have a hold on us as long as we live.

Straussed Out

Come on, I have my own headings or comments for the 2011 World Cup
Cricket matches; it may or may not reflect the ones you find in the
Paper or aired on TV. But believe me its my own.

Here goes the first one: when India and England drew the match on Feb 27
I had in mind this heading which I haven’t seen in popular English
Dailies the next day. “Straussed out India manages a draw.”

WIND FROM THE NORTH

The wind from the North
Came and swept the southern fort
And that is THRAL
And she did ENTHRAL
By her performance
In her short stint
You ‘ve got the eye for details
And ears of a shrewd girl
True for a journo
Facts are sacred
For this GG-
Aptly named Google Girl
You would say
Sir, I checked it on the Google
And that was it
For the copy to clear
You may be a chatterbox
But you opened the mouths of many
Including mine on
Difficult subjects
You have all the thing
To make a star in this profession
You are from a star constituency
And wind from the North
Keep it up
We’re with you



K.K.
December 22, 2010

A reflection on 9/11

Anniversaries come and go; they remind us of things past: how we were born and grew up, who influenced or inspired us, what are the dates or events that went with the celebration or observance. But most of us do let go of the spirit behind these anniversaries once the day or perhaps the week is gone.

The run-of the-mill story goes on and on again until the next date comes up.
Are anniversaries only rituals that lose their significance over the years?

Today, the world is observing the anniversary of the collapse of the World Trade Center nine years ago in the United States. The strife is not gone yet though there are traces of a positive fallout this year with plans to open up a religious centre near where the disaster took place.

We need to focus on what needs to be done or not done day in and day out in order to make an event or date worth remembering or add significance to human advances already made. This alone can lead to a conflict-free society.

What happens after a disaster or tragedy? Blame games, inquiries, and revenge-taking. On the other hand, it can also open up new ways to find solutions to the problems that tie up nations in deep knots. A new awakening in the minds and hearts of people directly or indirectly affected can heal wounds, feelings, and renew hopes and lead to positive action.

History is full of such opportunities and it is for all of us to let this deeply take root in the mind and create situations conducive to world peace and brotherhood.


12/09/2010