COALITION'S OSSIFICATION

“Unfathomable,” is synonymous to 'India', midst the scholastic societies. Astronomical economic and populated growth coupled with extreme poverty, a patriotic citizenry coexisting with intense corruption, and modernity dyed-in-the-wool with inflexibility, makes one a confused observer of unreal times. The complex concoction is further thickened by the Coalition Governance, which is a continued hallmark of the country for nearly two decades. It is clear from this diversity of the country, that transformation will not happen overnight, and that its success cannot be left to chance alone.

India is one of the 81 countries of the world which has coalition government in power, as of today. Probably, the first instance of a Coalition Government was the ‘Delian League’ around 431 BC, which today has become an inseparable feature of the modern day democracy. There are some interesting facts associated to it - A coalition government created the great nation of Canada. In 1915, during the First World War, an all-party coalition was formed in UK, which replaced the last Liberal government in British history. Since, the independence of Finland in 1917, it has been governed by coalitions only. In Germany, the coalitions rarely consist of more than two parties.

India’s baptism to coalition was at West Bengal, when the Left Front comprising of Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI (Marxist) and others came together under the flagship of Jyoti Basu as the Chief Minister. Late Shri Morarji Desai Ji, pioneered the first coalition at the Centre for about two years, 24 March 1977 to 15th July 1979. However, the actual trend of corroboration started in the 90’s, when the bible of ‘Jood Tood Tamasha’ was written during 1996-1999. The period saw four Coalition Governments and two mid-term elections in a period of four years. The country finally harnesses the coalition horse in 1999, when the first successful coalition government completed its five year term. Today, it consists of 13 parties, with suffixes and prefixes varying on hourly basis.

The continuity of coalition governments indicates decline of one party rule and rise of regional and smaller parties. It showcases the dominance of a single party led by a charismatic leader over a cluster of smaller parties. Both the stable coalitions of the country have had their share of chaos with internal disputes because of differing manifestos of each member, however, the success of governance in such scenarios is dependent upon acceptance of Common Minimum Program ahead of their own ideologies

Over the year, the Indian Command Center’s resume has migrated from identity based politics to identity based parties with varying degrees of patronage. Essentially there have been two main stream alliances of NDA and UPA, and a burrping third front. Though the chances of emergence of any more fronts in the near future are bleak, but not impossible. If by some sort of a miracle, AAP of Mr Kejriwal, for which lot of us are hopeful, makes it to a respectable number, then with some permutation and combination, numerals of 4th, 5th or 6th front are possible. But, Mr Manish Tewari feels that – in the history of coalitions in the last 20 years the reality of a 3rd, 4th or 5th front is the "most enduring mirage of Indian politics."

The present day perplexion of ‘buy and sell : cash for votes’ and ‘portfolios : prospective gains’ have more relevance for the recant foggy chronology, which leaves us with following questions…

• No one in the world has been able to come up with a working model of ‘Coalition Governance’ and hence, there is large void of understanding. Can there be set rules of governance for a coalition?

• Do we have a choice for our ‘first-past-the-post’ electoral policy?

• The legacy of British – ‘Westminsterial Democratic Parliamentary System’. Do we have an alternative?

• Two party system is better way of ensuring continued reforms. Is that an option for us, considering our vast regional diversity and interests?

• Is it time to define the ‘Terms of References’ for the ‘Hostage Policy’ and ‘Hostage Politics’ in the Country? 

Think India, THINK !!! 

INDIA'S HOLI: SPANISH TOMATINA

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, a multi starred ensemble cast of the new decade which introduced the youth to an alternate lifestyle. Three richie-riches, who wanted to celebrate the last few days of bachelorhood of their friend, wondered some of the most exotic locations of Europe, and made ‘Tomatina’, a wish list of all. Everyone wanted to take off their shirts like Hritik and squash tomatoes on Katrinas’. Incidentally, it was not very surprising, when a cool goateed dude called Holi as ‘India’s Tomatina’.

La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol near to Valencia in Spain. It’s the 'World's Biggest Food Fight' where more than hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. The week-long festival features music, parades, dancing, and fireworks. The fight is preceded by dropping of a ham piece from a greasy pole and a water canon shot which marks the alpha of the combat. The tomatoes are tasteless inferior quality, imported from ‘Extremadura’, a Spanish autonomous community. The history of the festival dates back to 1945, when it started as a fight between groups of brawlers on street, who used the vegetables from by-standing hawkers as weapons. Over the years, it has inspired numerous similar commemorations across the world – in Columbia, Chile, China and USA. In India, the hosting of a Tomatina event in Banglore, Mysore and Delhi were denied by the State Governments, where they said, "In the name of Tomatina, permission should not be granted to waste tomatoes". Guess, it was a good decision. 

If one sensibly looks at all the whys and whats of Tomatina, there is no logic that emerges. Except, that this helps the small sleepy town of Bunol, a business worth €300,000 (approximately 2.1 Crore INR).

Holi, one of our staple festivals is celebrated for a larger cause than Toamtina.  It has mythology of the victory of God and Good over the demons and evil.  It also marks taata-a and farewell to winter and welcomes the spring. If anyone of you doesn’t know the heroic poem of Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu and Holika, then you deserve a strong toed kick on your posterior and a admission to the best retard home in the country at Agra. ‘Bhaang and Bollywood’, have an intrinsic relation to Holi, and in 80’s it was trend to shoot minimum one song on Holi in the movie. Gabbar’s famous dialogue of Sholay, ‘Holi, kab hae holi’, went viral on Facebook during the last week.

On 18^th September 2009, in an episode of the USA Network series Psych entitled "Bollywood Homicide", Holi is first depicted on an American network television. Color in Motion and Color Me Rad are starting to spread over the United States. They combine the bright colors of Holi with the intensity of a 5 Km race. Runners show up wearing white running outfits and every kilometer they run, they are doused in a different color. In the music video of “The Catalyst”, rock band ‘Linkin Park’ shows band members playing Holi. The videos director, Joe Hahn says, “People collect these pigments throughout the year to release them in this festival as a celebration of life and tribute to Vishnu”. One can research hundreds of accounts of various cultures and Nationalities, willing to associate themselves with the Indian festival of colours. But on the contrary, we want to play Tomatino, especially when it has no moral message and is a shear waste of edible material. I have some big questions to ask, that goateed cool dude and ourselves..

• Why is Holi, India’s Tomatina and not Tomatina a Spanish Holi?

• Navi Mumbai Holi Riots of 2006, infinite unpleasant events of rowdism, cheap tacts and cliché ‘Bura na maano’ which makes most girls uncomfortable – are just a few examples of why it has become a day of fear rather than fun. Shouldn’t we have the boundaries of “playable Holi”, clearly demarcated? Let’s save our Holi.

• ‘Bhaang’, which has association with ‘Shiva’, have been officially declared the drinks for Holi, for reasons unknown. Can anyone tell me why? If not, then let’s stop it, its Cannabis plants or Marijuana.

Think India, THINK !!!

The Thoughtful Indian Team, wishes you and your family, a very

Happy HOLI..

BUT HE SURE SELLS A LOT OF T-SHIRTS

          Out with the flora and fauna, the Indian designers are experimenting with ‘Che Guevara’. Beret cap, high necked jacket, disheveled hair and smoking pipe is Che’s contribution to Indian fashion. Many dudes dawning double breasted pocket on khaki shirts and loose pants are a common sight at any corner tapir of collages. But, when I enquired an up market Mall shop owner, if he knew the person on his merchandise, he said, “don’t know who this guy is, but he sure sells a lot of T-Shirts”. Surly, many of those wearing him will also remark the same.

       A Latin American Revolutionary (1928-1967), Ernesto Che Guevara was born into a wealthy family in Argentina, where he studied medicine. He pushed his hunger to explore the world by undertaking long Motorbike journeys across South America where he adopted left wing Marxism. The first expedition in 1950 was a 4,500 Km solo trip through the rural provinces of Argentina on a bicycle fitted with a small engine. This was followed in 1951 by a nine month, 8,000 Km continental motorcycle trek through most of South America. In 1955 he met Fidel Castro in Mexico, they prepared a revolutionary expedition to Cuba and finally brought an end to dictatorship of Batista. His professional revolutionary concern, however, made him leave Cuba go to the Congo, where he fought in support of the ongoing revolutionary movement, convinced that only armed insurrectionary action was effective against imperialism. Later he fought against the Bolivian regime, but was betrayed, captured and killed. If one had to define him in one line then, Che was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, diplomat and a military terrorist. All about him cannot be written or understood in a mere blog, as he was infinite. But, there were some things about this man, which are worth introspection.

THE SPEAKING GENERALS

During the India Today Conclave 2013 held on 15-16 March at New Delhi, General Bikram Singh, Chief of Army Staff faced a volley of four questions from a Pakistani journalist. He responded to the targeted questions in a firm militarized manner and with diplomacy shoved under the carpet. For all of you, who missed it, here is the link .

Indeed, we are a great Nation of democracy which propagates and permits freedom of speech, as the General said, but unfortunately soldiers have theirs impeached with numerous restrictions. So much so, that it’s a laboriousness and tedious procedure to even appear for a TV game show, and one can absolutely forget about giving a media bite.

So, if we see a Chief of Army coming out in open and taking questions from a journalist of a not so friendly neighborhood in a National Forum, then it seems, either he is claustrophobic about the whole anti-military sentiment in the Government (after Gen's age controversy and ASFPA), or is looking for a Governorship after retirement. It was evident from his demeanors and tone that he wanted to clear the air between the bureaucracy and military divide. More than once, he sounded bowed in respect, expressing his assertions for the decisions of Political administrators. Nevertheless, it was indeed a matter of pride for all of us to see a Chief of Army, with clarity of thought and ‘Hazir Jawabi’.

DEMOCRATIC MILIESTONE FOR PAKISTAN

Majilis-e-Shura, the National Assembly of Pakistan was last elected on 18 February 2008, and all cheers for it, to have successfully completed five years in term on 17 March 2013, when it was dissolved for holding fresh elections in May 2013. It is record of sorts and a milestone in the 65 years of independent history of Pakistan, where this election will mark the only democratic transition between two elected governments, albeit, if it happens. The Prime Minister has advised the President to announce a suitable date for holding the general elections and 11^th of May, will be etched in the annals of Pakistani History. The prospect of an elected government and metamorphosis of electoral power to successor is an unprecedented event, and as neighbors, we must be alarmed. Forecasting the outcome of this balloting is not my agenda, and nor do I have Godly powers to predict this uncertainty. The motive is to identify the non-state actors who could play a major role in the process.

Judiciary              Pakistan’s judiciary, led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has been able to establish its authority and independence over the other bureaus of the system. During the last half a decade the country has experienced a strongly argued and contested decentralization of power, and the Supreme Court of Pakistan (Adalat-e-Uzma) surmounted the pyramid. The de jure powers of the court as outlined in the Constitution can only be understood in the context of Pakistan's historic martial laws. Despite the military interventions in the government, the court maintained its institutional integrity and authority, albeit to some degree. It may be the only court in the world which could announce and ensure execution of a former head of state (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto). And may be the only audacious one to dismiss a Prime Minister, retrospectively, for not initiating corruption cases against a sitting President. In a country which is torn over numerous dissensions and agendas, this is a perfect example of moral supremacy. Despite its controversial rulings over the year, the Supreme Court has the strong support of the people and the elite, and is one of the most respected institutions in the Nation.

THE ITALIAN MAFIANO's

 Today we are so starved of accolades, that we chooses to proclaim and draw mileage out of silly “victories”, as a major diplomatic coup. In the recent stand-off between India and Italy the Government has made itself a laughing stock of the world.

We have not been able to take out time to pursue and ensure justice for martyred Capt Saurabh Kalia, and cross the continents, the Mafianos swiftly on their feet send their Defense Minister to negotiate the release of the Italian marines arrested for “allegedly” killing Indian Citizens. We getting killed, bombed, dying, raped, tortured, or taken hostages doesn’t seem to be a priority as we are a dime a dozen.

At least the Italians stood by their citizens in a way that we can only hope for ourselves.  This script is not to praise the Mafianos, but to discuss what we lost during whole period of cunny-diplomacy. They conveniently disputed the legality of the shooting incident from the start. But, finally if someone had a foot in their mouth, it was them. There is already talk that given the timing  when the Italians are investigating the ‘Agusta Westland Chopper scam’  there is indeed more than what meets the eye in this “deal”.

The amount of time spent playing ‘passing the parcel’ at the Foreign Ministry, and by the IFS lobby with Italian counterparts is depressing and infuriating. More so is the endless debating on the same at the Parliament. Who, where and when is the time to discuss the real issues of poverty and illiteracy?

Today, the Italians have landed and there has been much speculation about the famous assurance of our Foreign Minister for a mercy plea and no death sentence. There is also an unannounced assurance of letting them serve their time in Italy after judgment on the Indian soil. Is all this a drama, just an eye-wash for our ruminating audience or is there a murkier political game afoot?

MUNNA GOES TO JAIL

In 2006, when Munna was behind bar for ‘Gandhigiri’, he was drunk, jovial and enjoying the comradire of ‘Circuit’. He had revenged ‘Lucky Singh’ and got the beautiful Bengali queen as the reward.  But the reflections have changed a lot over the years.

In his non-cinematic and non-scripted life, Munna is a second generation actor of the modern era and the beloved son of ex-cabinet minister for Youth Affairs and Sports of the Manmohan Singh Government. He has had, his share of recognition and acclaim with major success in movie genres ranging from romance to comedy. The roles of a gangster to an upright police officer which he has also portrayed on reel seemed to have etched itself in his real life. A bitter irony if there was any. The SC of India also seems to have agreed to the melody of “Nayak nahi Khalnayak Ho main” which he portrayed on screen.

But the 53 year old Munna who has a Rocky past, is today asking for Meera Haque. In court had he got a fan in the judge he may have tried to woo him saying this

QUID PRO QUO, BUT SORRY

If the Urban Dictionary of SMS, social networking and, ever shortening expressions of disbelief and exclamations, were looking for a new coining today, then I definitely have a contribution – QPQBS. “Quid Pro Quo, But Sorry”, is a sorrowful tit for tat and an appropriate felicitation of ‘Sonia Madam’ for the not so spined DMK. The entire of episode of pulling out, getting raided, and then being apologized is very similar to what one sees in a ‘C’ Grade masala bollywood.

Two days back, the wheel-chaired politico King of the South, raises his voice for his men, which the close rivals believes is cover up. She digs up the parchments of 2007 and says, had the Goggled King done something then, at the peak of Elam War, then things could have been different. Later after a brief pause of uncertainty in the National Politics, the Prince of the King is raided by CBI, for a Luxury Car purchase done half a decade back. But the most dramatic event of the entire fairy tale was the Loud and Heartfelt volleys of regrets conveyed by the entire UPA brigade, which orders the CBI to suspend the raid for the time being.

This is no less than a “Mr Beans epic of Indian Constitutional Broadway,” and as I am writing this, sources say the casting for the same is underway at Ram Gopal Verma’s Studio. However, I am a common ‘mango’ maggot of this cocooned society who has an opinion. There are certain questions which arise in my naïve and sluggish mind, and I am looking for equally naïve and sluggish answers.