From Darkness to Light

Let there be a few poles, there would be light all over Rajarhat New Town, keeps asking or begging the state minister for housing, Goutam Dev.But that is not to be. But if Didi once says let there be light, there’ll be light over all. Here’s the difference between Didi and Dev, between a petty state minister and a cabinet minister cum would-be chief minister of Bengal. Now question is-who will dispel the darkness of Rajarhat? Definitely Didi who’ll bring ‘light’ to Bengal only after a couple of months from now as Prometheus brought fire to earth and Bhagirath Ganga. True, people will have to patiently wait to see their mother land to have retrieved her full glory as it would take some time to undo the colossal damage done to the state during 33 yrs of misrule of the Left front.Dev is unable to make out this simple truth and cry himself hoarse for light at Rajarhat.He has even threatened to sue Didi on this count. What a temerity!

Fire Committee!

(1)Enquiry Committee!
Son: Dad, govt’s formed an enquiry committee to investigate
incidence of fire at Stephen Court.
Dad: It’s no enquiry committee, my son.
Son: Then?
Dad: It’s, in fact, self-introspection committee.
Son: Why dad?
Dad: As those might be held directly or indirectly responsible for this fire episode are on the committee!

(2)Kabir Suman!
Son: Dad, why did Kabir Suman join Trinomool Congress?
Dad: To bring about a socio-political change in Bengal.
Son: But why does he now like to resign from the party?
Dad: Perhaps being afraid of “change’ to come!

(3)Tooth and Nail!
A: I fought tooth and nail but failed.
B: I know why you failed.
A: Please tell me.
B: While fighting you used only finger nail and not toe nail!

Rumour Mill

Park street Fire!
It’s very unfortunate that some top ranking leaders of the opposition tried to derive political mileage from the most heart rending disaster in recent times by spreading rumour. Immediately after devastating fire was extinguished in Stephen Court and dead bodies were being retrieved from debris and people were looking for their dear and near ones missing since fire with anxiety writ large on their faces, some politicians joined the rumour mill that many dead bodies were being stealthily removed to secret places in polythene bags to avoid awarding compensation to the next of kin of the deceased only to instigate public against administration. Yes, a top ranking leader of a particular political party said the same thing before the camera of a TV channel. Since then many more burnt dead bodies have been recovered and search is still going on for more bodies. It’s expected number of bodies claimed would tally with the number of dead bodies found. However, there might remain some unclaimed bodies as are found in calamities of such magnitude. Does not it sadly indicate how irresponsibly and heartlessly politicians could behave for their narrow political gain?
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Post Fire Tragedy

It’s utterly shocking when someone eagerly waits for dead body of a missing person rather than getting him back alive and feel fortunate when he gets a charred dead body that he can some how recognizes as that of his dear and near one without any other claimant of the same body. In Stephen Court Fire all are not that ‘lucky’. Many dead bodies are charred beyond recognition and hence there is more than one claimant of a single dead body. So administration has no alternative other than going in for DNA test. DNA test is a complicated and time consuming process and so it’ll be long before the report comes to hand. Now imagine the state of mind of the claimants who have to bear with this grueling situation till then. What a tragedy!

Heritage Building!

(1)Heritage building!
Son: Dad, how is Heritage status awarded to an old building?
Dad: By assuaging its potentiality of catching fire at
any instant?

(2)Don’t follow me!
Dad: Who did say ‘Don’t follow me, but follow what I say’?
Son: Definitely a doctor!
Dad: What on earth makes you think so?
Son: Because a doctor himself hardly follows what he advises his patient
to maintain good health!

(3)Best option!
Good: Read more, think more.
Better: Read less, think more.
Best: Read not, think only. Last option won’t affect your original
thinking!

Park Street Fire

Stephen Court fire at Park street, Kolkata is one of the fiercest fire disasters in recent memory in Kolkata, particularly in terms of loss of many precious lives. Blood curdling scene of people jumping to death from high-rise in a bid to save themselves from fury of fire in presence of thousands of helpless on-lookers standing on the ground beggars any stretch of imagination. It was easily horridly conceivable that those trapped in the inferno were running helter skelter for safety. The fortunate ones could manage to negotiate the blaze and saved their lives and the ill-fated ones were horrendously burnt alive or suffocated to death. However, thanks to those common people who staked their lives and swung into action to help save many valued lives even before fire services reached the spot. Short circuit in electrical wiring is believed to have triggered fire. Whatever be the cause, it was the human callousness and greed that defied all norms of safety to serve personal cause only, brought about the heart rending disaster. A section of corrupt people in administration who’re supposed to look over if safety norms are obeyed or construction plan strictly adhered to simply overlooked these aspects for money.Kolkata has many such heritage buildings which might have the same fate under similar circumstances if govt fail to take proper lesson from this macabre incident

What’s most unfortunate is the role of the Opposition at this moment of grave crisis. Nero fiddled when Rome burnt and similarly they were busy making their game plan to discredit govt and derive political mileage out of such horrific human tragedy even when fire was burning.Instead of helping the administration to combat such a grave situation
they made all out efforts to find its lapses and lacuna in aptly tackling the incident and spewed fire and brimstone on the ruling party for such a ghastly episode. Isn’t it very sad?

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Astrology!

(1)Astrologer!
Astrologer: You’ll have a road accident shortly!
Man: Can’t it be avoided?
Astro:No.But there’s a way.
Man: Please tell me.
Astro: Cough up some money, I’d give you a charmed amulet.
You’ll be rushed to hospital immediately after accident.
Man: If I don’t wear the amulet.
Astro: You’ll lie down profusely bleeding and groaning in pain.People’ll
go past only casting a glance at you!

(2)Gold!
Son: Dad, there has been much hike in gold price!
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Dad, it’s made us gainer.
Dad: How?
Son: Our past has been enriched!
Dad: Why, my son?
Son: Dad, they say past is gold!

(3)Naming a day!
The way each day is named, soon no day’ll be left unnamed!
Don’t worry, then a particular part of the day’ll be named after
particular occasion!

A morning darker than night!

It’s not long ago when Kabir Suman sang the song of ‘change’ which perhaps held out the hope of ushering in a new era where there’d be no corruption, no nepotism and no exploitation either. There’d be no violence, no terror and peace will prevail every where.Ruling party and opposition would work in unison for the development of the state and the latter will resort to constructive criticism only whenever necessary. Many intellectuals also shared this dream though they were all aware that it was too good to be true and it was enough if the dream could at least partially come true.But with passage of time they’re, except those who have been already rewarded in kind and coins for sponsoring and patronizing ‘we want change’ slogan, in fact, getting increasingly frustrated. So Suman now sings different tune scathingly criticizing his own party. Mahasweta devi, who even at this old age continues fighting for the cause of the poor and down trodden and was once swayed away by pro-change slogan now feels disillusioned and does not hesitate to tar the opposition and ruling parties with the same brush for their politics of murder and violence. If things continue to go this way, we may have to sing: A kon sakal ja rater cheyeo andhakar(What a morning that’s darker that night)!

Newtonian Law!

(1)Newton’s 3rd law!
In political science class teacher asked a student,” Can you tell me the political version of Newton’s 3rd law”? A student stood
up and said,” To each and every govt’s action, there’s equal and
opposite reaction of the Opposition”.

(2) Too good or too bad to be true!
A man was abducted on his way home. Abductors demanded hefty ransom.
His son pleaded inability to pay the sum. He was asked to pay in installment.
EMI was agreed upon and stamped paper signed. The man was freed.

(3)Taming a student!
Headmaster: Now you can’t chide a student, let alone beat him.
Teacher: Then how can I tame an unruly student?
Headmaster: Simply by persuasion.
Teacher: If it fails?
Headmaster: Let him be spoilt. Mind he’s not your child!

On 5th Birth Anniversary of 24 Ghanta

Good wishes on the happy and successful 5th anniversary of 24 Ghanta.It may be adjudged one of the best news channels telecast in different languages and the best one among those in Bengali. Its extensive news coverage, investigative reporting, incisive analysis of social and political events, excellent coverage and discussion on sports events, programs on medical awareness as Doctor on call deserve special mention.

However, nothing can be unmixed good. Dramatization of crimes,Bollywood extravaganza, tilt towards the present ruling party while airing views on news, are some features those do not go well with the channel.

Pray, long live 24 Ghanta with its head high and not cowed down by threat under any circumstances while unearthing and disseminating what’s true and become an epitome of honest and fearless journalism!

Foreign University Bill

All that glitters is not gold. Similarly, all that’s foreign is not better than Indian.Yes, we refer to foreign university bill by virtue of which many varsities from abroad would be able to open their branches in our country.Undoubtedly,the move is good and it’s likely through competition and coordination our education system would be benefited. But it would so happen only when the high ranking foreign varsities would open their branches which can boast the same standard as that of their parent institutions and not to sell their brand names only to earn money exploiting our inherent weakness for anything ‘foreign’ as has been ingrained in our psyche after being under colonial rule for long. Now like anything else education is also a salable commodity and a highly profitable business. In the age of the open economy profit is the key word. So we should tread with caution and must strictly monitor the activities of foreign players in the arena of education, certainly not encroaching upon their autonomy. We call world is a global village. So it’s no wonder that we can enrich our knowledge and standard of education by the famous universities of the world right at home and not by going abroad. That apart, we’ve no mean talents, so foreign varsities will also be benefited.

World Enmity Day(Jokes)!

(1) Terminally ill!
Patient: Doc, you say I’m terminally ill.
Doctor: Yes.
Patent: So my days are numbered!
Doctor: Not yet.
Patient: Why not?
Doctor: I’m not yet certain if my diagnosis is correct!

(2)To the point!
Student: Sir, why have I fared so badly in English? Were
not the answers brief and to the point?
Teacher: Yes, they were.
Student: Then?
Teacher: But they were too brief to score point!

(3)World Enmity Day!
Q:If ‘Who helps you in need is a friend in deed’ is the message
of World Friendship Day, what will be message on World
Enmity Day?
Ans. Who helps you fall in need is a foe in deed!

Automobile Hub

Now we should be content with automobile hubs rather than automobile industries. It’s like letting out garage to keep somebody else’s car as the owner has no car of his own. Though the analogy might not sound appropriate to many, but it’s said more in anguish than in anger. However, it does not necessarily mean Bengal’s not proud of the first-ever auto-hub in India. But certainly Bengal would have been much more proud of the automobile industry that produces the cheapest car in the world. How could we forget that we’d lose out an automobile factory that was in the making and nearing completion to other state for internal political squabbles?Isn’t it an unprecedented and the most unfortunate phenomenon for a state that is long starved of big industries? History will never forgive our politicians whoever they are. In fact, since the Nano fiasco no industry worth the name has yet come up in our state.Nirad C.Chaudhury did rightly say, 'Bengalis are a self-killing race’.

Silent Strokes(Jokes)!

(1)Silent strokes!
A: All his life he suffered silent strokes.
B: Strange, he could bear with so many strokes!
A: Why not?
B: How?
A: His wife stroke him with her knife-edged tongue
and he kept silent!

(2)Women’s bill!
Son: Dad, Bengalis often refer to Women’s bill as
Mahila Sanrakhsan bill. Are women endangered species?
Dad: It’s true in other sense. But the bill is Mahila Asan
Sanrakhsan bill!

(3)Abstention!
Son: Dad, why did Didi’s party abstain from voting on Women’s bill at Rajya Sabha?
Dad: She’s a leader of the masses. To her men and women
are equal. So her party took a neutral stance!

Mamata's Abstention

Arguments TMC chief has put forward in favour of her abstention from vote on Women’s Bill are not at all convincing. She simply played Muslim minority card , that too in a childish manner. That apart, she was well aware rule did not permit to incorporate reservation for Muslim minority in the Women's Bill at that moment. May be, he might get some Muslim votes in coming elections, but this act of abstention must send a bad signal to people at large that might cost her more than she's calculated to gain.Mamata earlier pleaded ignorant of many central decisions like deployment of joint forces at Jangalmahal, fuel-price hike and so on to shrug off her responsibility to protect her ‘pro-people’ image. This time too she claimed she was not posted on vote on Women’s Bill was going to take place. But people are not that fool as to believe a cabinet minister of her stature and chief of the largest ally in UPA govt is not taken into confidence or deliberately ignored while taking vital decisions.

Women's Bill

What's going on in parliament for the passage of Women's Bill is really unfortunate and also insulting to women .Those who are opposing the bill have their own reasons, but those who are supporting it have not much regard for women either.How many of these parties nominate sufficient number of women candidates to contest elections?In fact, they can't repose faith in women as legislators or parliamentarians.If they could afford to field more women candidates in polls, hopefully, the representation of women in assembly or parliament would have been far better than now and they would not have been at the mercy of the unwilling MPs to make room for them much to their humiliation!

Dream(jokes)!

(1)Dream!
A: Don’t you think life’s but an empty dream?
B: Never! I believe dream can’t be empty. It’s a content
whatsoever!

(2)Marriage!
Patent: Doc, I don’t like to eat at all!
Doctor: Are you married?
Patient: No.
Doctor : Then get married at your earliest.
Patient :Doc,what bearing has marriage on eating
disorder?
Doctor: A man in stress eat too much!

(3) Life!
Doctor: Such is your state of health you must stop
taking alcohol.
Patient: What else will be left in life if I’m to quit
alcohol?
Doctor: Why? Life itself!

Good sense or hypocrisy?

Perhaps good sense has dawned on Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray. He’s understood at last he did wrong in making abusive remark against Sachin that sparked country-wide protest and he was on the back foot. So he’s not let the present opportunity of awarding of Bharat Ratna to Sachin go to waste and is unusually effusive about this award and his extraordinary performance in Cricket. What’s interesting, he has called Sachin a Warrior, but has not failed to mention such warriors are born in Maharastra only. It might reek of provincial overtone he’s accustomed to. He’d better say such warriors were born in India only.

Stress-bane of modern life!

Stress is now part and parcel of modern life. Stress starts from childhood , particularly when he/she is admitted to schools. Stress is instilled in children by their parents or guardians who set them in rat race from early days of their lives and they can’t enjoy their Childhood like those in earlier generations. As they grow older,stress also grow harder. Some can cope with stress due to their inbuilt nature and some break down easily in stress due to their weak mental stature. Again, as people now a days are exposed to stress since their childhood days, stress management faculty automatically develop in many of them. But that too has a limit. Today most of the jobs, particularly the high profile ones, are associated with enormous stress. That apart, many stressful jobs demand irregular life style which tells upon health and leads to early burn out. These jobs adversely affect family lives, strains spousal relationship and ultimately brings in divorce. Their children are also deprived of parental association and affection which adversely affect their psyche too.Interestingly,some people love to enjoy stress and love their
professions more than their family and children. These workaholics are also source of troubles to their families. Some are, again, too ambitious and they too ignore their near and near ones to make their dreams come true. Unfortunately, very few people in high profile jobs can strike a balance between professional and family life.

In this competitive world we can’t afford to lead a life devoid of stress and strain and rather we should learn how to minimize stress. Our children should be trained to combat stress from very early stage of life. They should be advised regular physical exercise including Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation. If required, they should be counselled by stress management experts too. So when they’ll step in service life it would not be difficult for them to beat stress before stress beats them. We engage private tutors for our wards to teach them almost each subject incorporated in curriculum of studies in schools but how many of us employ instructors to teach them Yoga, Pranayama,Meditation and so on? Definitely, such parents or guardians are few and far between. To cope with changing time and for well-being of our children, we should change our attitude too.

Shalik(jokes)!

(1)Man of letters!
Dad: See, he’s a man of letters!
Son: You mean he’s a Postman.
Dad: I mean he’s a learned man.
Son: You think a Postman can’t be a leaned man.
Now a days even a postgraduate applies for
the post of a Postman?
Dad: Please excuse me, my son.

(2) Gold!
Mom: How would you differentiate between Gold and Silver, my boy?
Boy: It’s very simple question, mom. But I’d answer it in a negative way.
Mom: Yes, answer your own way!
Boy : By lack of lustre, mom!
Mom: What?
Boy : Don’t you know all that glitters is not Gold?

(3)Shalik!
A: I’ve seen a single Shalik bird standing on one leg in the morning.
I’m afraid what is in store for me!
B: Shalik’s seen you too.
A: May be.
B: I’m scared what is in store for that unfortunate Shalik!

Workaholic(jokes)!

(1)Workaholic!
Son: Dad, who are called workaholics?
Dad: People who can’t do any work unless they take
alcohol.

(2) Marriage day!
A: Today’s my 3rd marriage day.
B: What a coincidence! Today’s my 3rd marriage anniversary too!
A: Not at all!
B: Why?
A: Today I’m going to marry for the 3rd time!

(3)Water logging!
Citizen: Mr.Mayor, rainy season’s in the offing. You’ve done nothing
to prevent water logging in our area.
Mayor: Rest assured this year water will not accumulate in your zone!
Citizen: But how would you solve this problem?
Mayor: By regulating rain fall in your area!

Playing To The Gallery

Mamata’s populist stance!
Didi’s taken an unique stand to make sure to win assembly election in 2011.As one of the most important partners of UPA Govt she holds the key portfolio like Rly ministry. She’s tried to utilize it to her full advantage by making a populist Rly budget to please her electorate even without caring where money will come from. She desperately pressurized center to allocate more fund to implement her budget proposals, which Finance minister ultimately did. But when FM tried to retrieve a part of the allocated money by levying service tax on railways, she made no bones about vehemently criticizing it so that her pro-people image does not a bit tarnish. Now she’s started agitation against the govt she belongs to for price-hike in petroleum and diesel, again to strengthen her pro-people image. In her railway budget she’s gone much out of her way to use railways for health, education, industries and so on to display unlike her predecessors how she could benefit people in other spheres too along with running of trains, which’s supposed to be railways’ primary duty. In other words, she leaves no stone unturned to become Chief minister of Bengal. Now she’s matured enough not to secede from UPA Govt, as she did when in NDA Govt at the drop of a hat, despite UPA’s anti-people measures. She’s well aware secession from UPA might give a jolt to her electoral alliance with Congress affecting her prospect of grabbing state power. However, she’d continue her drama of antagonizing center in the interest of people as she’s doing now. Let us wait and watch how much dividend her opportunistic stance would provide her!