A New May Day

Message Parlour extends its heartiest thanks and good wishes to all of its readers and well wishers on the eve of May Day or also called International Workers’ Day. Way back on May 1,1886 workers won their legal right for eight-hour work day after prolonged struggle. Prior to it they’d to work twelve to fourteen hours daily. Interestingly, although the heart of their movement was in Chicago, May Day is not recognized in United states along with Canada and South Africa.

Perhaps, while not recognizing May Day United States could foresee eight-hour work day might stand in the way of progress of IT and ITes which need just the reverse of what the workers achieved long way back- only eight-hour non-work day. Joke apart, it’s really inhuman to make one do work for inordinately long hours like a robot. Those who can stand the physical stress of long working hours coupled with mental stress of fulfilling target set by the company are fortunate, but the rest are destined to burn out early. They ultimately become mental and physical wreck. At present May Day has no significance, whatsoever, to these ‘human robots’. However, a day may come when these forced workaholics, mostly victim of circumstances and exploited by money power, would rebel en masse against unspecified long working hours and move for a reasonable period of work a day that’s congenial to human system. Hopefully, their employers too would concede to their demand, may be with all reluctance, and a new ‘May Day’ will be born for these white caller personnel.

Bandh-A Weapon Of Protest

Yesterday’s Bharat Bandh was practically eventless. Such is normally the nature of what the opposition say state sponsored bandh.These bandh are primarily of ‘Veg’ nature where as in Non-Veg bandhs, normally called by opposition, public transports are burnt and as a result violence erupts, police chase the miscreants who freely and fearlessly throw both veg and non-veg missiles, sound pollution far exceeds the permissible limit and city streets assume the look of battle field. However, the bandh-enthusiasts are not to blame for this lack-luster nature of govt-sponsored bandhs as they find no public vehicles to set on fire on roads to create a violent ambience that would trigger a chain reaction.Notified much earlier that bandh will be held, people normally reschedule their programs and keep themselves shut indoors enjoying a state sponsored holiday. Only the unfortunate few who have the exigency of stirring out really get in to trouble.However.what’s unfortunate such almost incident free bandhs starve the media of fodders for news materials. They only go on chanting as on earlier occasions that bandh can deliver no goods and rather do immense harm to our economy, which’s partly true. It’s no denying the fact Bandh is a democratic weapon of registering protest, but frequent use of this weapon has made it blunt. It’s not fault of the bandh itself, fault lies with those who use it on frivolous ground. True, yesterday’s bandh won’t decrease the price of essential commodities today, but it would send a message to the appropriate authority that people are not taking this abnormal price-hike lying down.

Seat-Sharing!

Efforts are being made in full swing and on war footing to arrive at a solution in seat-sharing by Congress and Trinomool in forthcoming municipal and Kolkata Corporation elections. As on earlier occasions this time too its a breath taking drama, where nerve-wrecking suspense prevails all the time regarding success of Jote formation particularly for those who are determined to throw the Left in the Bay of Bengal in the next Assembly poll. This time however, cong cadres are more belligerent in favour of respectable seat-sharing as are evident in the incidences of their violent out burst at party offices. Nor are they in a mood to listen to their leaders for forging a Jote under any circumstances. The Pradesh Congress leaders too are reluctant to have a Jote by any means either .Apparently, in the present circumstances if TMC does not relent in conceding more seats to Congress or Delhi does not actively intervene , Jote formation would be a remote possibility.But predicably,this exciting drama will continue till Sonia Gandhi pulls down
the curtain on this issue- obviously in favour of Jote.

Bandh!

(1)Relief!
Son: Dad, why do the political parties call Bandh?
Dad: Mainly considering those in unorganized sector.
Son: Why? They’re most affected in Bandh.
Dad: That’s financially! But they get a day off and relax.
It’s beneficial to their physical and mental health, my son.

(2)Preference!
Son: Dad, which bandh do you prefer –Bangla Bandh or Bharat Bandh?
Dad: Bharat Bandh, my son.
Son: Why, dad?
Dad: It helps national integration, my son!

(3)Benefit!
Son: Dad, in your opinion how are people in general benefited from bandh?
Dad: True, people are not directly benefited but they’re benefited indirectly as
they get mental satisfaction.
Son: How?
Dad :They receive thanks and congratulations in abundance from Bandh organizers at the end of the day for making Bandh a grand success even if it’s a total flop!

e-Panel Discussion

Panel discussions on TV channels are very common now a days. Discussions range from football to food grains. However, some panelists are common. They take part in all sorts discussion and offer their ‘valued’ opinions at different channels. They are almost know-all. They hop from one channel to other with in a very short span of time to participate in discussion, whatever may be the topic. They never feel ill at ease even when a viewer in a phone-in program put in a very embarrassing question. Nor they parry any question however difficult it may be. Some panelists are so busy, one might think they stay at TV studios all the time. Panel discussions are held out side Studios too. You’ll see these common faces there also. You’ll find an academician of a reputed institute at almost each and every discussion most of which are far away from the topic he is supposed to teach at his premier seat of learning. One might wonder how he could afford so much of time at discussions in electronic media! It’s better he could spend this time in pursuit of knowledge in his field of specialization. It's a sort of obsession or addiction to present one self on TV screen to innumerable viewers irrespective of the occasion he fits in or not. He might be to some extent a victim of Narcissus complex.

Match-Fixing!

(1)Match-fixing!
Son: Dad, they talk of match-fixing. But what’s it all about?
Dad: You’re too young to understand it, my son!. Any way, it’s simply
selection of bride or groom for marriage!

(2)ICL!
Son: Dad, IPL is the brain-child of Lolit Modi.However, he initially conceived it as ICL and later changed its name, reports news agency.
Dad: Correct,my son! Modi first thought of Indian Currency League(ICL)and changed his mind later on to name it International Payment League(IPL) to broaden the field of money flow!

(3)Stone Age!
Son: Didi’s almost daily laying foundation stones at some place or other.
Dad: Perhaps, Stone Age is round the corner, my son.

Doggedness!

(1)Seat-sharing:
Son: Dad, haggling over seat sharing between TMC and Congress
still continues. Can’t they find a easy way out of such a situation?
Dad :The only easy way-out is Congress men to join TMC en bloc, my son.

(2)IPL!
Son : Don’t you think Modi’s doomed?
Dad : My son, as cricket is a game of uncertainty, so is the cricket related scam.
You can’t say who’ll win till the last salvo is fired.

(3)Doggedness!
Son: Why doesn’t Kabir Suman quit Trinomool after so much of humiliation?
Why is this doggedness?
Dad: Perhaps Suman likes to pursue dog in the manger policy, my son!

Reading between the headlines

Unlike other news TV channels, which overtly betray their tilt towards ruling or opposition parties, as are evident in their presentation of news and views, Tara News, of late, tries to dish out news and views in more or less unbiased manner.To be frank, now a days particularly when Press council has to censure media for catering “Paid news”, honest journalism stands virtually a myth.

What’s unfortunate there’s no unmixed good. It’s no exception for Tara News too.I like to refer to a program titled Headlines beamed in morning slot(7.30am&8.30am) where news items in the front page of different news dailies of the day are analyzed by a veteran and reputed journalist. Regrettably, while discussing the news items most of the times the journalist concerned can’t help speaking his mind bluntly in favour of a particular political party and primarily of its Supremo.Sometimes it seems he’s brokering(excuse me for using such a harsh term) for her party and earnestly wishing its success in the next assembly poll. Its no harm to be a sympathizer or supporter of a particular political party, but TV channel like Tara News, that is apparently making an effort to maintain neutral stance in dissemination of news, is not the right forum to betray news analyst’s bent of mind, to be precise his one-track mind. It tarnishes the image of Tara Newz and does more harm to journalism in particular which has already sustained much harm, thanks to some unscrupulous gate-crashers in its arena.

Travel Agency!

(1)Lucky!
A: I envy him!
B: Why?
A: Luck smiled on him just before his child birth.
B: But so far as I know his only son is a notorious criminal!
A: What you don’t know he was a posthumous child.

(2)Crime!
A: See, crime does not pay!
B: But I beg to differ.
A: Why?
B: It at least pays to some news TV channels.
A: How?
B: They dramatize crimes and telecast them to enhance their TRP.

(3)Travel Agency!
Agent: If you travel with our agency you’ll always feel as if you’re
at home!
Client: Then why should I spend so much of money to travel with your
agency? I’ve better stay at home.

Knights!

Gone are the days of kings and queens, Rajas and Maharajas.So gone are the days of Knights who fought for the king armoured and riding on the horse.Predictably, they’re likely to feel misfit in the present milieu. So are our IPL Knight Riders who quite naturally failed to click. On the contrary, they’ve earned the dubious distinction of not making it to the Semifinal thrice in a row-a hat trick indeed! Unfortunately, they’ve no parallel in this respect. Even Super kings and Royals, their cotemporaries, managed to reach that goal. However, they’re not contemplating to relinquish Knighthood and call it a day. Mind, IPL would continue for years to come and Knights too would keep looking forward to their good old days of crowning glory!

Pigs' Den!

(1)IPL!
Son: Dad, Lolit Modi’s helped UPA govt to shrug off Sashi Tharoor
who often makes the govt feel ill at ease by his controversial remarks.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Then why has Modi incurred the wrath of UPA?
Dad: Money is the root of all evils, my son!

(2)Pigs' den!
Son: Dad, why is TMC abstaining from Parliament session now going on?
Dad: Perhaps induced by Maoists, TMC too now does not believe in Parliamentary democracy and call Parliament pigs’ den.

(3)Jote!
Son: Dad, there is too much of confusion in seat-sharing between Trinomool and Congress in the forthcoming Municipal polls!
Dad: Don’t worry, my son. There will be jote.Each time, seat-sharing between these two parties starts with an apparent fiasco but ends in a fanfare!

Boycotting Parliament Session

It’s not true TMC has now boycotted Lok Sabha session. TMC supremo is intelligent enough to skip Lok Sabha session only to avoid being grilled by members there. She knows it’s easier to make sweeping remarks like ‘there’re no Maoists in Lalgarh’ or demand withdrawal of joint forces to the Press than make such statements in Lok Sabha where she’ll have to face volley of questions from members of the house and give satisfactory answers to these queries. Her utterances and remarks of some members of Congress itself have subjected UPA to the scathing criticism of the opposition in both houses of the parliament and noticeably, none of the ruling party came to her rescue in her absence. In Rajya Sabha, in particular, Arun Jaitley lashed out at her in the strongest possible language for her soft stance in Maoist issue vis-à-vis tough stand of her cabinet colleague Home minister P.Chidambaram .Mr.Jaitley did not even stop short of calling her ‘half-Maoist’. But she’s yet to spare a single word in protest against such an allegation. She should explain her position on Maoist issue and come clean. This escapism which a section of press euphemistically call ‘boycott of Lok Sabha’ won’t help her in any way.

Apolitical!

(1)Housing Complex!
Reader: How do you portray so many varied characters in such a lively way in your novels?
Writer: As I live in a housing complex where each multistoried
building is a lively multi-character story!

(2)Dangerous!
A: I always avoid vastly learned person!
B: Why?
A: If a little learning is a dangerous thing, imagine, how dangerous is vast learning!

(3)Home delivery! Dad: What a coincidence! Your child’s born in the same hospital where you were born.
Son: Dad, where were you born?
Dad : I was home-delivered, my son.

Imginary Intreview!

Didi: There’s no Maoists at Lalgarh, I swear.
Reporter: Then why is this Operation Green Hunt?
Didi: It’s, in fact, Operation Ground Hunt.
Reporter: What does it mean?.
Didi : It means retrieving of lost ground at Lalgarh by CPM with the help of joint forces.
Reporter: You say there’s no Maoist at Lalgarh, then who kills CPM?
Didi : It’s intra party rivalry- CPM kills CPM.
Reporter: Who killed EFR Jwans at Silda camp?
Didi :They are CPM goons in guise of Maoists to establish there’re Maoists at Lalgarh and misguide people.
Reporter: Do you think joint forces be withdrawn from Jangalmahal?
Didi:Yes, immediately!

Suvo Nababarsha!

Welcome to 1417! Message Parlour(ukpkolkata.blogspot.com) extends its best wishes to all and to its readers in particular on the auspicious occasion of Bengali New Year. It ardently prays for their happiness and prosperity in days to come. It fervently hopes shortly good sense will dawn on the Maoists and they’ll abjure violence to join main stream of life. Our country will wriggle out of the present turbulent situation and peace will prevail all over.

Inhuman!

The tandava that happened at Peerless Hospital was really unfortunate. But what was more unfortunate was the hospital’s refusal to treat accident victims. Though there’s a standing govt circular based on Supreme Court verdict that a private or public hospital can’t deny treatment to accident victims, Peerless hospital allegedly refused to treat such a victim, who was still alive after accident at EM bypass, unless money was paid and he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. It naturally infuriated the people there and they went on the rampage damaging what ever they lay their hands on. The loss incurred by the hospital perhaps surpassed all past records of damage done by mob in such circumstances. Though hospital authorities denied all allegations and rather say it was preplanned, but it can be taken with a grain of salt. Even in absence of any govt circular or court order, hospitals at least on humanitarian ground should not deny treatment to a critically injured person as he or she can’t pay money. Unfortunately, denial of treatment to critically ill patients even by govt hospitals is nothing new in Kolkata.Hoewever, many hospitals which earlier behaved inhumanly like Peerless hospital in the present case, now have made amends, of course under duress from public and govt as well. Ill luck, Peerless authorities have to pay so dearly to learn a simple lesson of humanity and hopefully this nightmarish experience would stand in their way of repeating such incident in future.

To Editor,TOI

Dear Sir,
Thanks for dishing out the news of upcoming Mamata TV(exact name of the channel is perhaps yet to be decided). Now no body would beat her in beating her own drum in TV channel. Nor, any body would grudge Subha Prasnna(owner of Mamata TV),who’s ever aprasanna(displeased) with CPM and who can put even the Talibans to shame in Buddha-bashing, eulogizing Didi even through her painting. Perhaps, this new TV channel will lessen the burden of Kolkata TV which has almost gone out of breath for persistently brokering for Didi’s cause, for that matter the cause of the country. Kolkata TV also belongs to TMC as it has recently been taken over by Didi (http://www.livemint.com/2009/08/25003234/Mamata-entrepreneur-take-over.html?pg=2).So, now, as the matter stands, there’d be two dedicated TV channels exclusively for Didi, to be precise upcoming Mamata TV and existing Kolkata TV. That apart, there’re other pro-Didi channels too along with fence-sitters like Star Ananda and to some extent now Tara Newz.Howeever, in print media there’re umpteen dailies those favour Didi’s ideology(anti-Leftism, to be precise anti CPM-ism).Among them Bartaman deserves special mention. It fears none except Didi.In fact, CPM’s Ganasakti is to Didi’s Bartaman, some naughty people say. Happily, allegiance to Didi’s ideology has crossed language barrier too. Many leading English dailies also contribute to her Left-baiting.Jai Ho, Journalism!

Naxal Movement

Way back in late sixties when Naxal movement started it initially received support from the middle class. To them it was a battle against poverty , corruption, social inequality and burgeoning chasm between the rich and the poor, which they too liked to protest against prodded by experience, conscience and moral values but could actively do nothing better than exercising franchise to vent their rage in ballot box. So they stood behind the young crusaders who were determined and dedicated in their mission to change society. Many of them were brilliant scholars from reputed academic institutions. They shook the administration and made the corrupt and the dishonest tremble in their shoes. The movement was mainly confined in urban areas. But the middle class though continued to support the cause but could not bear with the way the movement was conducted. It was politics of violence and murder. Many policemen and innocent people were killed and many brilliant youths sacrificed their lives. In fact, they were gradually alienated and lost popular support they got to start with. At last the movement fizzled out but causes remained unattended by the administration, let alone go to their root and take necessary measures to minimize them. Rather govt heaved a sigh of relief and got complacent such things will never happen again.

Yes, Naxal movement is back again with much greater strength and momentum than before riding on the same social and economic factors those remained uncared for long. This time it poses the greatest internal threat to our country. It’s thrown the administration on tenterhook .Though Naxals, now called Maoists, have some supporters and sympathizers among urban middle class and intelligentsia, the rural poor are their main stay.Poverty, underdevelopment and administrative indifference and neglect are their stock in trade. Unlike earlier occasion, Maoists now mainly operate in rural and semi rural areas. The rebels have declared war against State to capture power to bring about revolutionary change in social and economic milieu for the deprived and the down trodden. But what’s important, no right thinking people across the country extend support to their politics of ‘ blood bath’. In that sense, they’re a segregated lot and state power is strong enough to curb this insurgency. However, it is true even if the Maoists’ movement is defeated, it’ll reappear after some time if the root cause of such upheaval is not duly attended to and redressed as on earlier occasion.

Power Crisis!

(1)An imaginary dialogue!
Reporter: Why does Trinomool blame CPM even when the Maoists claim
to have murdered its party man?
Chief minister: In fact, I find no fault with Trinomool in this regard.
Reporter: Why?
Chief minister: How can one believe a friend can kill a friend?

(2)Compensation!
Son: Dad, the Maoist have reportedly offered to pay compensation to kin
of those whom they killed in Dantewada ambush.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: But why?
Dad : Perhaps, they’ve helped the Maoists flaunt their strength!

(3)Power crisis!
Son: Dad, why is this massive power crisis?
Dad: It’s due to crisis of power in Left Front, my son!

In Lighter Vein Only!

(1)Kabir Suman!
Son: See dad, Trinomool tries to shrug Kabir Suman off its shoulder. But Suman’s determined not to climb down.
Dad: It reminds me of ‘Bikram Aur Betal’, my son.

(2) Chidambaram!
A: See, Chidambaram has taken the responsibility of Dantewada massacre.
B: But why? Was he with the Maoists during operation?

(3)Binoy Konar!
Son: Dad, why has veteran CPM leader Binoy Konar accused Judiciary and Governor of
colluding with others to remove the Left from power?
Dad: It’s due to old age and excessive summer heat , my son?

Much harder than it looks!

During recent visit at Bengal Home Minister P.Chidambaram expressed dissatisfaction over law and order situation in certain pockets of the state echoing the allegation of the opposition. He was not very happy over the operation Green Hunt either. He advised the politicians to visit Lalgarh and talk to the people there as he did himself. He also asked the state govt to try to redress their grievances .But hardly 48 hrs had elapsed when Maoists struck at Orissa and Chatrishgarh killing 18 and 75 Jawans respectively.Chhatrishgarh carnage is worst ever killing by Maoists in their history of atrocities. Now Center is on the back foot so far as Operation Green Hunt is concerned and so is P.Chidambaram at whose table buck should stop- Buddhadev Bhattacherjee might now say paying him in his own coin.However,this is not the time to squabble over such ghastly incident and administration should investigate how so many Jawans could fall easy kills to the Maoists. Strategy should be overhauled to combat Maoists fruitfully. Though Naxalites have declared war against the state but it’s difficult for administration to strike back with all its strength considering loss of civilian lives along with the Maoists. That apart the state waging a war against its own citizens though considered to be the greatest internal threat might not send a good message to many. So task is much harder than it looks and should be dealt with utmost caution and patience.

Interparty Clash!

(1)Interparty Clash!
Son: Dad, why does CPM get involved in interparty clash with Trinomool?
Dad:Trinomool is not on speaking terms with CPM.So they can’t sort out their problems through dialogue. Hence they’ve to go in for clash! That apart, there’s a popular saying ‘ You’ve hands, then why go in for verbal duel?’

(2)Buck!
Son: CM commented on P.Chidambaram’s remark,’ Let buck stop here’. But
he refused to say it was slang or it smacked of poor taste. He simply said it was unbecoming of a politician. What did he mean to say?
Dad:CM perhaps liked to say Chidambaram should have chosen more diplomatic language to accuse him of the present situation in the state.

(3)Women’s bill!
Son: Dad,TMC is one of the biggest partners of UPA govt. Why does Didi join hands with Yadavas to oppose Women’s bills?
Dad: For long Didi has been opposing anything and everything the State govt proposes. So this habit has been so ingrained in Didi that she’s always in opposing spree. Now she opposes even what Central govt proposes. In fact,Didi is not to blame. Habit is the second nature.

Skipping Visit!

(1) Skipping visit!
A: Can you tell me why P.Chidambaram excluded his visit to Bardhaman
from his itinerary?
B: Just to show respect to Didi.
A: How?
B: Chidambaram is Didi’s cabinet colleague.Didi’s complained of CPM-
led terrorism at Mangolkote and other places in Bardhaman. Doesn’t it look indecent for Chidambaram to visit the place to verify the element of truth in Didi’s allegation? So he skipped the visit. After all Mr. Chidambaram is a perfect gentle man.

(2)Fire!
Son: Dad, experts say most of the high-rises and old buildings in the city are prone to fire.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Would the govt sue the owners of these houses for flouting safety norms and law would take its own course?
Dad : No.Govt will only wait and see fire take its own course!

(3)Changing name!
Son: Dad, why have they changed the name of Nimtalaghat and made it Rabindraghat?
Dad: To do poetic justice, my son!

Noble Gesture!

(1)More powerful!
Son: Why does TMC repeatedly complain of assault on their cadres
by CPM?
Dad: What’s wrong in it?
Son: It sends wrong signal to people!
Dad: Why?
Son : People might think TMC is much weaker than CPM, so they take
beating lying down.
Dad: It rather projects TMC as a peace loving party.
Son: No dad, people would think a party that can’t defend it self, how
would it defend public if CPM do them wrong?

(2)A noble gesture!
Son: Dad, why does TMC supremo demand municipal elections and assembly
elections be held at the same time?
Dad: Although a hard-core CPM hater, at heart she’s its well-wisher too.
It’s called a split personality.
Son: I don’t believe it.
Dad: See, she’s confident of winning all the municipal polls as well as Assembly polls whenever they’re held. After spectacular reverses in municipal election, how would CPM continue in office till Assembly poll? So to save the party from this awkward situation she’s made such a demand. It’s a noble gesture but CPM is taking it amiss. Sad!

A Breaking News!

Kabir Suman MP, TMC after much of self introspection has realized that he’s not done right in washing dirty linen in public. He should have done this job in private. Nor has he done well in venting his intention of resigning from party or parliament either. He’s admitted MPLAD is ,in fact, party’s LAD and he’s the surrogate father. He’s added the LAD could not have seen the light of the day but for Party’s help. So this LAD’s future would be guided by the Party and not by him. He’s also confessed there’s nothing wrong in politics as in love and war. After this frank confession, Didi absolved him of all his misdeeds and asked him to forget what he’s done. He’ll live happily ever after with the party without any hitch, whatsoever.