It's hammer and not humour!

An open letter to Mir regarding Mirakkel:
Dear Mir,
Though I admire your sense of humour and your consummate skill to anchor a program, I can’t stomach many of the humours dished out in your much hyped program Mirakkel .They’re more hammers than humours as their punch lines more often than not grievously punch the listeners-cum- viewers’ mind. If I’m not wrong your Mirakkel is primarily a family show.But many of the humours are so overtly bed-pan type that they cannot be viewed or listened to with children. Of course, you might well contest my sense of obscenity and it might trigger a never ending debate about what’s obscene and what’s not. You might call me puritan too. Anyway, I’m not going to delve into such a debate and simply speak my mind and for that matter my opinion as a viewer. In fact, what’s shocked me is many of your participants have penchant for presenting sex-oriented jokes, that too bordering on vulgarity. What’s more shocking you along with your judges greet the contestants with thunderous applause when such jokes are presented. However, nothing is unmixed good or bad in the world. Many of your contestants on the other hand really present brilliant and sometimes thought provoking jokes that can cheer up even the most depressed and melancholic personalities. Admittedly, it’s really difficult to prepare intelligent jokes but it doesn’t necessarily means the contestants would indulge in openly sex-related jokes and you would encourage them by deafening claps. Isn’t it unfortunate?

An impotent Lokpal Bill!

It has happened what we were afraid of.Govt has approved of long awaited Lokpal Bill.But the Bill is toothless,clawless an impotent one and it's purportedly conceived to perpetuate corruptions.Since 1969 the anti corruption bill(Lokpal) was revived in parliament as many as ten times in long 43 years but it couldn't see the light of the day. So after inordinately long wait our parliament would deliver us a weak crippled and maimed Lokpal baby(Bill).If people don't vehemently oppose the approved Bill in the present form that would soon be placed in Parliament and to all probabilities easily passed dashing all our hopes to have a very powerful and all-encompassing Lokpal Bill that would effectively take on corruptions in every sphere of life and ours would be the least corrupt country of the world would be dashed to the ground.

Govt officers in the A grade and above are placed in the purview of the Bill though corruptions are found to amply pervade the lower rungs too.So unless a comprehensive approach is made to eradicate corruptions among govt officials the Bill is unlikely to produce desired effect.CBI has been left out of Lokpal and it's an open secret people in high places in govt are apt to influence CBI.It's under duress CBI has recently charge sheeted two union ministers who're now behind the bar.It's looked upon as more an exception than a rule.PM and higher judiciary are not placed in the ambit of Lokpal Bill despite strong and repeated suggestion by the members of the Civil society and innumerable people of our country.Even MPs' accountability to Lokpal for their corrupt activities in parliament like cash for vote etc. has not been conceded to.What's more, govt is trying to gag the dissenting voice regarding the Bill.Anna Hazare who initiated movement against corruptions through his fast unto death that gave a jolt to the union govt which was virtually caught napping over Lokpal Bill has now been denied permission by the adminitration to observe indefinite fast at Delhi in protest against the toothless Lokpal Bill.In fact, most of the important and valued suggestions of Anna's civil society have been honoured more in nonchalant defiance than in acceptance by the govt.

In jest only!

(1)Gorkhaland
Son: Dad, Center initially objected to the term Gorkhaland in the tripartite accord that has been signed but Didi convinced center that the term would do no harm. Why?
Dad: Because Gorkhas were unwilling to part with their land.

(2)Demand for statehood.
Son: Dad, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) say they have not given up their demand for Gorkhaland as a separate state.
Dad: Similarly, Didi has not given up her demand for undivided Bengal, my son.

(3)Greater Coochbehar
Son: Dad, we all should support the demand for Greater Coochbehar.
Dad: Why my son?
Son: Then we’ll obviously get greater Bengal, dad.

Why in so hurry?

Mamata's fulfilling electoral promises:
Even the worst detractor of Mamata Banerjee would admit she's a woman gifted with inexhaustible treasure of energy and rare ability to work hard and fast too.She is an extraordinary personality ingrained with remarkable quality of taking drive and initiative whenever necessary.With in two months of her assuming office as Chief minister she's tried hard to fulfill many of her electoral promises.

What's interesting is she's always in a hurry and this hurriedness more often than not makes a mess of things.Immediately after taking oath as CM she attempted to make the treaty that LF govt made with Tatas on Singur Nano factory public.But due to legal hurdle she'd to back track.

To fulfill her electoral promise to return land from Singur Nano factory site to the 'unwilling' farmers she hurriedly made an ordinance.But she'd to hark back as the ordinance was later found to be unconstitutional by legal experts.So she hurriedly again passed a special legislation for return of the promised land in Singur in the assembly amid walk-out of the opposition.Later this legislation was contested in court of law by Tata Motors and is still subjudice.

Next to solve the problem of GJM who was long agitating at hills for separate Gorkhaland she made a Tripartite treaty between state govt, central govt and GJM on Gorkhaland Territorial Administration which has conferred maximum possible autonomy to GJM along with a portion of Dooars and Terai to be added to their territory.GJM is happy with this treaty particularly for inclusion of name Gorkhaland which paves the way for future movement for statehood.Not only that, the treaty itself categorically mentions GJM is not parting with their demand for separate Gorkhaland.In fact GJM leadership is making no bones about their demand for separate statehood.It simply means division of Bengal can't be altogether ruled out in days to come.What's more, resentment is running high among the tribals and other ethnic groups in Dooars and Terai against the merging of their land with Gorkhaland territory.That apart,the treaty is a shot in the arm of the sponsors of movement for Greater Coochbehar, who have started indefinite fast at Delhi and Coochbehar in support of their demand.

To bring peace in Jungalmahal she visited the place and promised to begin developmental activities there shortly.She declared all tribals of Jungalmahal were entitled to BPL cards.However,Maoists have their persistent demand for withdrawal of joint forces and release of all prisoners.CM has called upon the Maoists to open dialogue with the govt,abjure violence and return to main stream of politics.So whether peace would return to Jungalmahal depends on how Maoists react to CM's overture of peace.However, political circles are not very optimistic in this regard.

What is important is Mamata Banerjee's claim yesterday during her speech at victory celebration and observing martyr's day at Brigade Parade Ground that she solved all the above noted problems with in record time of two months has not yet proved true and we need to wait and watch for some time more for the results.

Hoax?

When LF govt, routed in assembly polls ,left writers’, coffer was reportedly empty. State’s now over head and ears in debt. However, Central govt has assured state to pay assistance to partially wriggle out of the financial crisis and advised it to earn revenue to strengthen economic position. But state govt fight sigh of taking measures to augment state’s income by levying taxes in some form or other lest it could be unpopular to public. Nevertheless it continues to make promises galore of developmental activities almost everywhere without caring for money to implement these developmental programs. The state has promised almost 70,000 new jobs in different spheres. Who will pay their salaries while state feel constrained to pay salaries of those who are already in service? Then are most of these promises made simply hoax? If so, isn’t it very unfortunate?

Paving way for statehood!

It’s not wise to believe Bimal Gurung’s statement(July 19) that GJM has not budged from their demand for separate Gorkhaland state almost with in 24 hrs of signing the tripartite treaty on GTA was made under duress to satisfy the sentiment of the hill people. It’s more so because in the treaty itself it has been put on record the GJM is not parting with their demand for separate statehood. The treaty has, in fact, officially accorded the right to GJM for movement for separate Gorkhaland perhaps in near future. In reality Mamata Banerjee has been able to purchase peace in hills in record time after assuming office. What’s interesting is a section of press has been almost hysteric about this treaty calling it ‘historic’. However, the word ‘Historic’ has lost its gloss due to frequent use. What’s certain our state is to be prepared to face a serious movement for separate Gorkhaland in days to come.

A Letter to Tara News

Dear sir,
I'm more or less a regular viewer of your News Paper Headlines program.I'm constrained to say your news analyst Mr. Ganguli, of late, analyses news so superficially and perfunctorily that it's unlikely to satisfy any serious viewer of your program.One certainly expects in depth analysis of a story from journalist of his stature and not the run of the mill interpretation.For example, today his discussion on tripartite treaty signed on GTA has been very commonplace and betrayed his lack of home work.More over, it was one sided and tinted with bias.He down played the story of Pratidin which said whenever CM was speaking of various developmental activities to be embarked upon for the hills,the body language of people at Pintail clearly indicated their ecstatic mood but when CM told Bengal would never be partitioned again their body language transformed into mellowed one.However; Mr. Ganguly could read the mind of GJM leaders when they categorically said the treaty did not mean they parted with their demand for separate Gorkhaland.According to Mr.Ganguly, they had to make such a statement out of political compulsion and as if it was not wise to read too much in such a statement.Nor did he dwell on the sentiment of the people particularly of tribals at Dooars and Terai vis-a-vis this tripartite agreement.


For sometime it's marked whenever comes the question of Lokpal Bill Mr.Ganguly spews venom on Anna Hazare and the members of the civil society for their insistence on inclusion of PM and higher judiciary in the Bill and Anna's threat to go on indefinite fast again if their demand is not conceded to,though they are not elected members.But what have our elected members so far done, Mr.Ganguly?They have simply pampered corruption in high places, if not try to perpetuate it.Isn't it a matter of shame on the part of our elected members that since 1969 Lokpal Bill was revived in parliament as many as 10 times in 42 years but it couldn't find the light of the day as yet. In the mean time corruptions have increased manifold and India has emerged as one of the most corrupt countries of the world.We should be rather grateful to Anna Hazare for initiating movement against corruption through his fast unto death.The way people have extended unstinted support to him in war against corruptions is unique and unprecedented and it's given a jolt to members of the govt who according to Ganguli are people's elected representatives.Admittedly,what's most unfortunate is we've had to lose confidence in our elected representatives.Now we repose all faith in Anna Hazare and his civil society, may be it's extra constitutional power of center.That apart,corruptions are so deep rooted and burgeoning by leaps and bounds we need a very effective and strong Lokpal Bill to contain them.It's believed only Anna Hazare and his civil society can forge it.

Tripartite Treaty on GTA

Shakespeare said,"What's in a name'?But, in fact, sometimes there's much in a name.Yes,I'm referring to Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA).GJM has long been agitating for a separate Gorkhaland state.New govt under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee has not offered GJM a separate state named Gorkhaland but territorial autonomy under the name GTA.A tripartite treaty would be signed today in this regard.Perhaps nobody except state govt, central govt and GJM who're party to the treaty knows about its contents.Even the leader of the opposition is reportedly kept in the dark about what has been incorporated in the agreement.Naturally, though invited, he's not agreed to be present at the time of signing the treaty.However, he's dead against the word 'Gorkhaland' in the name of autonomous council(GTA).He's afraid the very name would pave the way to division of Bengal once more in future.A part of Terai region and Dooars would be included in Gokhaland Territory, hunt for which would be made by a 9-member committee.However, a section of people in these regions have started agitation against inclusion of their regions in the territory of Gorkhaland.

But why have GJM so happy over the treaty, though their main demand for separate state has not been concede to?So far it's known GTA has been given much greater autonomy than before.That apart they've been promised by the Central govt to pay Rs200.0 crores each year for developmental activities.. What's more, they see the name Gorkhaland as a stepping stone which would help them carry forward their movement of separate state more easily and logically too.In fact,their leaders have minced no words and categorically declared that they've not parted with their demand for separate Gorkhaland.

Transport Strike & New Govt

Whenever fuel price,particularly that of diesel, registers an hike substantially private transport operators start clamouring for fare rise.Initially govt flatly refuses to raise fare and the operators threatens to go on strike in return.Ultimately they resort to strike- first one day and then indefinite strike.However, they need not go on indefinite cease work as the govt in the mean time agrees to raise fare after negotiation with them.This drama is normally enacted in our state each time when fare is hiked following fuel price rise.Perhaps this time too in the regime of new govt there will be no exception.But caught in the crossfire of govt and private transport operators it is the commuters who suffer most.They' rather feel it's better to pay a bit higher fare than to be harassed by transport operators.The way rise of essential commodities takes place people have been made accustomed to pay higher price everyday.So rise in transport fare doesn't matter them much.They've been pushed to the wall and so have resigned to fate.
What's shocking is transport operators here never care for amenities of passengers.That ramshackle buses ply with passengers getting haplessly drenched in side the crowded bus is no uncommon scenario in Kolkata streets.So are the taxis which often greet the passengers with foul smell emanating from inside the vehicle.That apart taxi drivers here are very choosy.More often than not they decide which direction they like to go rather than the passengers.Taxi drivers' refusal is a chronic problem in the city and no serious and sustained efforts have ever been embarked upon by the administration to tackle this problem.Sometimes knee jerk attempts have been made without any result.This uncivilized practice of the taxi driver would continue even if fare is hiked even substantially.

New Education Policy

New education minister Bratya Basu has suggested some changes in school education.He's introduced English at primary level from class I, which is undoubtedly a welcome step.In addition he's made a novel but an extremely necessary move that teaching spoken English would be made compulsory at primary level.Some times despite knowing English well students can't communicate in English properly.Now a days in service or in practical life communicative skill becomes extremely necessary.More often than not students fail to qualify in interview for jobs because of lack of communicative skill in English.Perhaps this far no body will contest the move.But the implementation part of the move is not that easy.Where are the competent teachers at primary level in most of the academic institutions who would teach spoken English with proper pronunciation and accent particularly at districts, if not at Kolkata too?So the teachers should be first properly trained at renowned institutes of spoken English.So it'll take time to implement the new idea.

Minister's other suggestions might draw flak from most of the educationists.It's proposed that pass-fail system till class-VIII will be abolished.Nor there would be any unit tests till class VIII too.Half-yearly and annual examinations would be made optional.These moves, in fact,would do more harm than good to the education system.A student might make it to class IX practically without taking any examination.Isn't it absurd?

World Population Day

1)Birth right!
Son: Dad, as per 2011 census India's population is 1.21 billion,next to China.Why is population in India and China so high?
Dad:Because most of the people in the world prefer to be born in China and India, my son.

2)Man power!
Son:China has the highest man power in the world.
Dad:It's difficult to say, my boy.India may have higher man power than China.
Son: How dad? China has higher population than India.
Dad: May be, but man-woman ratio is much greater in India than China because of female foeticide,my boy.

3)Accommodative!
Son:Dad,India accounts for 2.4% of the world’s surface area yet it supports more than 17.5% of the world’s population.
Dad: It's simply because Indians are very accommodative in nature.

Engineering lowering of standard!

To fill up the vacant seats in private engineering colleges quality of engineering education is largely compromised. All India Council for Technical Education that is supposed to improve the standard of engineering education in our country becomes instrumental in degrading it simply because corporate houses that have invested crores of rupees for establishing engineering colleges are financially suffering for dearth of students.So eligibility for admission to engineering colleges has been made drastically low.A student can get him/herself admitted to engineering faculty even without appearing at JEE exams.Mere 45% marks in physics ,Chemistry and Maths in H.S exam are sufficient for one to seek admission to an engineering College.What's most ludicrous is initially this percentage of marks was fixed at 50% but still it failed to serve the purpose and so the percentage was further lowered.No body knows required marks might not be again decreased if seats still remain vacant in engineering colleges.Now the question is will different companies recruit these low grade engineers?Engineering education in private colleges has now been very much expensive.After spending so much of money if these students fail to secure jobs, will not they be extremely frustrated?

Crib deaths-more a social than a medical problem!

Following the crib deaths in B.C.Ray hospital our new CM has declared to establish another pediatric hospital in Kolkata.It's certainly a welcome move.But what's is more important is to ensure that ailing children could get proper treatment at rural health centers so that they don't get so critically ill that they need be rushed to Kolkata hospitals.Hence proper attention should be given to improve the infrastructure of rural health centers.Admittedly, it's easier said than done.In the first place in our country compared to patients, number of doctors is abjectly inadequate.That apart,doctors are,definitely not all, averse to going to work in village hospitals so that these health centers always run short of doctors.Sometime ago to address this chronic problem of dearth of qualified doctors in villages proposals were made to have specially qualified health service providers(less qualified than MBBS) for rural health services.Perhaps for some reason or other move could not materialise.What's most important is due to abject poverty mothers don't get any prenatal care in most of the cases in our country and more often than not they give birth to premature babies as our CM herself observed at B.C.Ray hospital during her visit.These babies are extremely under weight and chance of their survival after birth is quite poor.So crib deaths are more a social than a medical problem.True, medical negligence or non availability of medical facility might aggravate this problem but unless pecuniary condition of people improve crib deaths are unlikely to reduce.