Buck Stops Here?

The 33^rd President of America was Harry Truman and in his presidential office in his table he has a sign which was written, “The Buck Stops Here”- taking responsibility for his country.

A few weeks ago, A. Raja former telecom minister and main accused in the 2G Scam, named and incriminated the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

A question has arisen whether the Prime Minister should be implicated and held accountable for the Scam as he is the head of the cabinet.

The action and conduct of the Cabinet members is held accountable by the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister and his Cabinet is held accountable by the Parliament. The responsibilities of every Cabinet portfolio is looked over by the Parliament. Considering the actions of the A. Raja as a Telecom Minister was not questioned or found suspicious of the PM is question is being asked by many. In reply to this the Prime Minister and his office (PMO) has denied knowing of the A. Raja’s action and that he had also managed to deceive them.

Whatever it may be, the Prime Minister is responsible for every Cabinet member’s action and has the power to review their actions. The questions to be asked is whether he should be not be charged for accountability of his Cabinet. Whether he should be forgiven for his ignorance?

In my personal opinion whatever it may be the Prime Minister should not be implicated, because simply before anyone can realize he will become a scapegoat for Indian society and every form of corruption will be blamed on him.

India?

What is India? A country, which is truly a country that has unity within diversity?

The people of South India, believe that they are related to the people of Central India. The people of North-East India believe that the people of North India are their brothers. A country where all the States celebrate Independence Day together. A country where across the State, the national flag is raised up on Independence Day and all the national heroes that are learnt in the school books are remembered. A country where all the people unite to see the Indian cricket team win.

Is this India?

The South Indian States one will find that when you try to communicate to them in Hindi or English they refuse to help and do not reply inspite of maybe... knowing either of the languages. Kashmir is a State where over half the Indian army is present there with arbitrary rights and they are there to protect the rights of the citizens of India. A country where minority communities are killed by State sponsored violence.

Could this also be India?

A greater thinker once said that countries are imaginary.

Perhaps imaginary lines that are needed. Where a number of the people just imagine, they just believe they are truly all related, they are all brothers and sisters, while some do not feel the spirit.

Could this also be what India is?

Is India just imagined?

What, if States had a chance to separate today? What would happen?

There is a possibility of Kashmir and the States of North-East grasping their freedom. But there is also the real threat of Pakistan, occupying Kashmir and the real threat of China occupying the States of North-East. It is a real threat, because that is what is happening in this present world, they are slowly encouraging and encroached upon these States.

In my personal opinion, India is imagined, but very, very much necessary inspite of its flaws.

Workshop with Vaibhav Pursndhare

On Monday, the Audio-Visual room was filled in Wilson College. Student from Third year Journalism class and Second year Bachelor of Mass Media and Political Science students were all waiting for Vaibhav Pursndhare. Vaibhav Pursndhare is a distinguished journalist for Hindustan Times and has published a book name, Sena. His journalism is specializes in politics on Maharashtra.

Before he began his address, the Political Science Association was inaugurated. An introduction was given to it and information on the various activities it conducts, including the magazine it publishes. It was introduced and inaugurated by the Political Science students.

Vaibhav Pursndhare spoke on a variety of topics, which included of State and National level.

At the State level, he spoke on Maharashtra politics and how it has developed to its current situation. He specifically spoke on the political party Shiv Sena and its importance and actions Maharashtra politics.

At a National level, he spoke about the situation Delhi on the Lokpal bill. He spoke on a broader issue of corruption and how it affects the lives of the youth and what the youth can do to tackle this issue.

“Vaibhav Pursndhare definitely raised some important points which I was not aware of,” said Shasank Moore, a political science student. According to Trishan Panchal, a third year Bachelor of Mass Media student from the journalism class, “He has very aggressive views, but he has been able to put it across subtlety by expressly communicating that these are his personal views.”

Workshop with Dr. Nachiket Mor

On Saturday, Wilson College was glad to have Dr. Nachiket Mor addressing the students. He took two sessions at the College Hall. At the first session, he addressed the students of Bachelor of Arts and at his second session, he addressed the students of Bachelor of Mass Media and Bachelor of Management studies. Dr. Nachiket Mor has a variety of experiences with him. He has worked with ICCI bank for a very long time and is a prestigious banker in his field. He has also worked with many NGOs and has ample experience in social issues.

At the first session he spoke on the various job opportunities available in the banking and financial field.

At the second session he spoke about the variety of social work he has done in India. He also spoke on the importance of journalist and how, according to him they are doing a good job in India. He mentioned the undeveloped tourism in India which he was trying to develop and gave a example in Goa. He is developing rural tourism by creating what is called homestay homes. Homestay homes means that instead of staying at a hotel, a tourist can stay at a villager or residents home at a nominal rate which includes facilities and meals. He explained the financial agreement that is needed for this, between the NGO and the home owner.

At the end of his address, he took questions, where interesting question were raised. A question was asked on the relation between the banking facilities and the rural farmers and another was asked about the use of the internet as a media for financial banking and another on the where and how villages were selected to invest money.

At the end, many students were in thrilled with the session. According to Nikhil Bapat, a third year of Bachelor of Mass Media student, “I like the session where a lot of interesting things came up and the interactive session answered question that students asked”. For however Danika, another third year student of Bachelor of Mass Media student, “No doubt the talk was interesting, but the questions asked were not sufficiently answered as he gave his opinion and did not clarify what the question was asking”.

THIS YEAR’S CARNIVAL POLARIS

Costumes, colours and fun are all seen in a Carnival and this year it will be seen at Wilson College for Polaris 2011. Polaris has adorned a variety of themes from Vintage to Darkness and this year it is Carnival. Carnival gives a variety of things to do. With over fifty five college and twenty events, Polaris is all set for 15^th, 16^th and 17^th. This is the Eleventh year of Polaris and it is set for a bash.

According to Deputy Chairperson Janice Rodrigues “Polaris will bring the Carnival to life and it will be one big Carnival”. This year competing colleges have been given a variety of carnival from all over the world. Carnival’s from Rio de Janerio to Electric Dasiy to Sital Sasti to Mardi Gras. They have to try and imitate these Carnivals and at the same time are allowed their own interpretation so that they are able to incorporate their own creative elements. A College has even asked if it could bring a ladder for Polaris.

Polaris is not only about the costumes and colours, but it is also about the celebration of the human spirit. According to Divya, the hospiatlity head, “Polaris is about the celebrating the human spirit, where people over a variety of colleges meet and discover new things”. For Aayush Puthran, the event head, “A Carnival themed Polaris will connect many people and bring out the carnival spirit, and maybe even untied all BMM students as a BMM family”. “Polaris will be an exchange of ideas and sharing a mutual bond” commented Jaydutta the Deputy Chairperson.

The platform is set and for the first time Polaris will be having a pre-Polaris Event will occur. A Parade is set to occur on 10^thJuly on Sunday. As a pre-Polaris event it is set for a big success, with every competing college coming. The Parade has already got an overwhelming response. Some College are expected to bring a number as large as 120-150 people. One College even wishes to bring a horse carriage. Aayush reacting to this overwhelming response commented, “The response just surpasses all my expectations”.

Jaydutta when asked on expectations from competing college replied, “We just want them to have fun and good completion. “We want to see crazitivity for Polaris” remarks Janice on her expectations of the competing colleges.

Also another first for this year Polaris, not only BMM students will be seen, but students across a variety of streams. This should result in bigger crowds then before. A new event added to this year is a designer and fashion event.

The students of Second Year BMM, Wilson College has prepared a spectacular Polaris. A Polaris waiting to be executed. A wait which is just a few hours away.

Purple Seven

It was in the night and I was walking briskly. I checked the time on my watch, it was almost seven. Damn, I am late. I had to reach the Charles Sports Club. This is the last and most important job. The tennis racket was slung over my back. The fences started to appear, the gate would not be far. Loud bearing rock music was playing in the night, which I suppose was coming from one of the residential buildings. I reached the gate only to be shocked. There was a huge crowd outside it and the rock music was coming from inside. There was a rock show going on inside. Still, it would be no problem, the tennis court would be in use. I pulled out my id card. I had to do what I came to do. I flashed my membership id at the entrance and walked in towards the court. It was empty. I may be able to catch him at the shower area. I moved at once. The showers were running and men were having their bath, but he was not there. Maybe I could catch him at the locker room. The locker room was very crowded, I pushed my way amoung the jostling men in towels careful not to get into a fight. I got a view of his locker for a whole minute. There was no sign of him. I watched him for days; I know his every schedule moves. My final chance would be catch him leaving in his car.

I ran out, to the parking exit and hoped I did not miss him. I was searching for a purple Honda. Nervously my eyes kept roaming everywhere. It was not long before I my eyes caught him, but he was not in his car at all. He was exiting from the main entrance. Where had he gone? It did not matter I had to get to him. He was wearing his purple suit. Where was he going? He hailed a cab and was off. I hailed a cab and jumped in, “Follow that cab ahead”. What was this guy up to? If I finished this job, I could finally go home.

The cab stopped and I paid my fare. He came to the subway station. I quickly followed him down. I had to get to him before he jumped in to the train. He moved to the restroom. I breathed a sigh of relief. I kissed the purple seven that hung around my neck. It could be done. I walked into the restroom. The dim light was hanging from the ceiling. The target could not be seen.

Suddenly I felt something hit me from behind, on my shoulder. I went crashing down. A hand swung around my throat and a blade from pressed against my neck. “Who are you? What do you want?” I heard two rapid questions fired off. I knew something was wrong about this fellow. Doesn’t matter, I just got to deliver the package. “I am nobody, but the racket on my shoulder” I said slowly, “it’s yours.” The hand slowly slid away from my neck, while the knife stayed. The racket was lifted from my shoulder. He lifted it up. I could see him smiling in the shadow, “Yes, it is mine. Thank you”. And the knife slashed against my neck. My temporary human vessel was failing me. My purple blood was flowing out. My hands grabbed my throat, but it was of no use. So this was how humans die. I was going to die, but it did not matter the job is done.

The man in the purple suit walked out cleaning his knife on his handkerchief. With the racket swung over his back he got into the train. However this man did not get out the train at all. He was searched for, but not found. In another mysterious incident in the same train a purple seven about six feet high was found.

Indira and Modi the same side of the coin

In 1971 Indira Gandhi declared emergency under the pretext of India being under threat of internal and external forces. However the actual reason was that the on the day of the declaration, the next day a court verdict was going to be announced. The verdict was on a case filed by Jayprakash Narayan on the then recent elections accusing Indira Gandhi of elections malpractices. If the verdict by the court found Indira guilty then that would mean she would be striped of her Prime Ministership, to avoid this she declared Emergency.

During the emergency there were gross violations. The press was gagged. Many political persons were arrested without being charged and tortured. There were rise in encounter cases. Journalists were persecuted. Sanjay Gandhi went wild by forcing many men to undergo vasectomy. There was a gross violation of human rights.

However the persecution for these crimes conducted by Indira Gandhi led nowhere. She successfully turned an arrest of her during the Janta Party rule into her favour. By the time Janta Party broke down she had successful converted the nation to support her. Then she died. Though the emergency is regarded as the darkest period in Indian Democracy, Indira is still regarded in high opinion because of the new heights she bought India to.

This draws on a parallel of the current Chief Minister of Gujarat Narander Modi. The main man who allowed the gross human violation to occur. The man who did not initiate the infrastructure to stop violent mobs and in doing so giving permission for mass extermination of Muslims. While ongoing investigation has given him a clean chit, many people still believe that he holds a major responsibility for the Gujarat riots.

While this goes on, a group of people have voiced out their opinions that he should be forgiven for his past crimes and the present should be looked at, where he has converted Gujarat as a model state for many.