In jest only!

(1)Breaking a party! Son:Dad,Didi's declared her party will fight Panchayet Polls without Congress. Dad: Yes, my boy. Son: If so her party will break. Dad: Why, my son? Son: As her party is Trinomool Congress, dad. (2)Hand Of ISI: Son:Though Pranab Mukkherjee has won Prez poll, ISI might undo the result. Dad: How dare Pakistan interfere with Presidential election of India?It's our internal affair.. Son: Don't blame Pakistan in every matter, Dad. Dad: Then? Son:Hand writing experts have found Pranab babu's signature on his letter of registration from Indian Statistical Institute(ISI) forged,claimed BJP. 3)Center&State: Son: Dad, why are TMC and Congress at daggers drawn both at Center and state? Dad: You know like forces repel each other, similar are like words. Son: Please explain, dad. Dad: Very simple! 'Congress' in TMC repel 'Congress'.Because of unlike word Trinomool the repulsion is not that great and so they some how remain together.

Consistent!

1)Consistency! Son:Knowing fully well Sonia Gandhi wouldn't accept Gopal Krishna Gandhi or Krishna Basu as vice presidential candidate, why did Didi propose their names? Dad: Only to show she's honestly and sincerely consistent. Son: How? Dad: Didi's so far opposed every proposal mooted by PM or Sonia Gandhi. 2)ATM machine: Son:In mass molestation incident in Assam Police came late at the spot and when questioned DGP said "Police are not like ATM machines so that whenever you insert card money will instantly come out". Dad:Analogy is imperfect, my boy. Son:Why dad? Dad:Of course, police are like ATM machines but with frequent link failures. 3)Stitch in times! Son:Dad, imagine sweepers are reportedly engaged in stitching wounds, pushing injections etc in govt hospitals. Dad: See, I find nothing wrong in it. Son:Why? Dad: Who cooks does hair too, goes the Bengali proverb!.

Smile, please!

1)Underachiever Son: Dad,Time magazine has called our PM Monmohan Sing an underachiever. Dad: They've said nothing wrong, my boy. Son: Why ,dad? Dad: Because whatever Monmohan Sing has achieved is under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi. 2)Licking one' s own urine: Son:Have you heard at Visva Bharati a girl student was compelled to lick her urine for bed wetting at hostel? Dad: Yes, my son.It's really inhuman.The warden must be punished. Son: Dad, what would happen if Morarji Desai were the Chancellor of Visva Bharati now? Dad: The warden were rather rewarded! 3)Political somersault: Time was there when a Panchayet minister could not tell which political party he belonged to.He said,' Please ask my secretary, I can't exactly remember it now'. 4)Incidence of rape: HM: See, women are not safe in Bengal.Incidences of rape have now increased manifold. CM:It's down right falsehood to malign Bengal .We don't even allow rape seed to grow in our state.

Smile a day!

1)God particle: Son:What's God particle the scientists are looking for? Dad:It's nothing new, my son.It's known to us since long. Son:How dad? Dad:See, God is omnipresent.He's present in you and me.So He's present in all particles.Western scientists call them God particles. 2)Law of mass action: Son: Dad, what's law of mass action? Dad: It's the action taken my mass when it turns into a mob. 3)Diabetes: Son: What's Diabetes Dad? Dad: It's the cottage industry of sugar in human system. 4)Vegetable state: Son:Dad, we do clamour against too high veg prices but not that vocal against extraordinarily high prices of fish.Do you find anything fishy in it? Dad: No my son.Perhaps it's because most of us live like a vegetable.

In lighter vein!

1)Fortune: Son:Dad, they say crime does not pay. Dad:Yes, my son. Son:But dad, many hard-core criminals have made huge fortune and got never punished. Dad; This is because fortune favours the brave. 2)Green chilly: Son:Dad,why is green chilli selling at exorbitantly high prices in the market? Dad:Because our Food minister has banned use of red chilli. 3)Prez Poll: Son:Knowing fully well he'll lose why's Sangma contesting Prez poll? Dad: It's Sangma's not-to-win-but-to-take-part spirit, my son! 4)Euro Cup: Son: Dad, why did Italy fare so badly in Euro Cup Final? Dad: Spain played and Italy enjoyed their(Spain's) play, my son.

In lighter vein only!

1)Brownian Motion: Son: What’s Brownian movement, dad? Dad: Very simple! It’s the way Robert Brown, a Botanist, moved. 2)Hacking: Dad: Cops took the accused in custody to hack him. Son: Dad, how can cops hack a man like a criminal? He might die. Dad: But they always do it to extract secrets.. See, hacking is no crime to police men, may it be computer or human being. 3)SOS: Dad: The doctor ended the prescription with S.O.S and the patient became very angry. Son: Why dad? Dad: He took it for Son of Swine. 4)Prez Poll: Son: Dad, whom do you think Didi would vote for in Prez Poll? Dad: Pranab Mukherjee, of course. Son: But Didi dislikes Mukherjee.. Dad: True, but she disliked him as Finance minister. 5)Reforms: Son: PM would soon start economic reforms. Dad: But these proposed reforms will soon deform your economy.

Pez Poll

There's nothing much to read in APJ Abdul Kalam's letter regretting his inability to contest the Presidential poll.The language he used to praise Mamata Banerjee simply displayed his profound sense of courtesy as Mamata herself was carried away by her effusiveness in eulogizing him in the choicest possible words and tried to impart him a larger than life image in her Face book.However, it was any body's guess he'd not throw his hat in the ring of Prez election as he was not a consensus candidate.To start with he made it crystal clear he'd offer his candidature for Presidency in the event he became a unanimous choice.But it's difficult to understand why Mamata pushed his name so emphatically as a candidate for presidential poll in Face book even after knowing his mind.In the present political scenario Kalam has lesser chance of winning the poll than Pranab Mukherjee.So one-time President Mr. Kalam is no fool to stake his claim as a Presidential candidate to sustain loss of face under present circumstances President is elected by electoral college and not by electorate in general.So it's no use influencing public at large by campaigning in favour of a particular candidate.Such campaign might work in case of general election and not in Presidential poll.So Mamata's sustained canvassing for Mr.Kalam has hardly any effect on Prez Poll. So far as ethics or morality in politics is concerned it has been a myth.Now political maneuvering or back door deal has been a part of the game.No politician is a Caesar's wife so far as political honesty or integrity is concerned.So it's of no use questioning Machiavellian machination in politics. It's wise to admit of ground realities and act accordingly.

Fitness test and a tragic death!

While fierce heat wave was relentlessly sweeping the state and it was mercilessly taking toll of precious lives everyday,thousands of young people from across the state were participating in physical ability test for jobs of constables amidst this hellish atmosphere.A job , in fact, seems more valuable than life itself.Police officials who were conducting the test should have considered the impact of of such grueling heat on the contestants.Perhaps they forgot the youths who participated in the test were not trained personnel like those working in police or military services who have much more endurance than average people.These youths were ordinary people who had at best practiced ability test at home, that too not in such an extremely scorching heat.A section of press and some well meaning people cried foul and appealed to the authority not to conduct the endurance test in such extremely hot and humid weather.Even the chief minister herself reportedly suggested to postpone the test. But no body cared till the contestant Avisek Pal(22) fell ill during test and ultimately died.Chief minister has reportedly ordered to postpone fitness examination.Had the police officials paid heed to what press and people clamoured for Avisek would not have to die so young.Isn't it very tragic?

Freedom at Midnight

KKR winnig IPL: It was a freedom at midnight for Kolkata Knight Riders.It was freedom from humiliation of not winning IPL trophy ever since the game came into being.In fact, KKR ever failed to make it to the Final since the beginning of this corporate cricket.In some years it performed miserably even under the stewardship of Sourav Ganguly, one of the finest captains India has ever seen.Shaha Rukh Khan himself perhaps stopped short of dreaming of winning IPL and resigned to fate, although outwardly he flaunted determination to see his team win the laurels.Similar was the plight of KKR fans.However, earnest lovers of KKR were hard-core believers of the adage- failures are the pillars of success.But little did they know how many failures would make the pillars.Nor did they know pillars of success for KKR were looming large on the horizon.Now their wisdom has paid them handsomely and mercifully they'd not to wait long.KKR has clenched IPL trophy at last.

Drug Scam!

It's really unbelievable that drug manufacturers themselves write certificates about their own drugs only to be signed by medical experts to be launched in the market after formal endorsement by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).What's more, these medical experts are no lesser mortals than very renowned doctors of the most renowned medical establishments of our country.Normal practice should be that medical experts will recommend a drug for use only after proper scrutiny.Money obviously plays a pivotal role in this blood chilling story of drug scam.It's well known that our country is a dumping ground for drugs which are already banned in other countries.Not only that, those drugs which are even banned in our country are freely available in the market and sold under the nose of the administration.That apart, spurious drugs are a great menace.Corruptions around us are so rampant that we've got used to such evils.If the drug monitoring agencies themselves are corrupt who'll see to what's going wrong in drug manufacturing industries ?We've, in fact, nothing else but to resign to our fate.

Changed Stance!

Only a couple of hours back Mamata Banerjee seemed to have found nothing wrong in the behaviour of Arabul Islam ,President Governing body of Bhangar College and nor in the threat openly spelt out by Shanku Ponda, the State president of TMCP to those teachers of the same colleges who're supposedly supporters of Communist Party of India( Marxist).What's more, the Panchayat Minister Sri Subrata Mukherjee on her behalf defended what they have done at Writers.Not only that, Mr. Mukherjee unbelievably presented a tenant of the the lady teacher who was locked in heated conversation with Arabul Islam before the journalists at Writers' to prove how ill tempered the lady is.But the day after Mamata Banerjee summoned both Arabul and Shanku at Writers and reprimanded them for their work.It's difficult to explain what exactly changed her stance over night.True,both Arabul and Shanku were drawing flak from different corners and image of the party was supposed to be getting tarnished.But Mamata Banerjee is a hard nut to crack and she is unlikely to retract in the face of public pressure only.Perhaps,Governer's attitude to the incident might have influenced Miss. Banerjee to some extent.Teachers of Bhangar College accompanied by the leaders of WBCUTA met the Guv who showed sympathy with the aggrieved teachers and assured them he'd look into the matter.What's more, he reportedly advised the lady teacher who was hurt by the jug allegedly thrown by Arabul to lodge a FIR with police.Incidentally, Subrata Mukherjee at Writers' refused to recognise the incident of jug throwing and injury inflicted on the lady teacher in the process in absence of any FIR and a medical report..After interview with Guv the lady teacher made FIR and also did meet a doctor to secure a proof that she was hurt.In fact, the scenario changed there after as was evident in Miss Banerjee's censure of Arabul and Shanku..

Merger of Mouzas with GTA?

Though hills are comparatively calm now, plains are burning.However,hills would soon feel the heat.GJM has already threatened to pull out of GTA treaty.Before signing GTA treaty people of Doors and Tarai should have been taken in to confidence as a host of mouzas from their land were decided to be merged with Gorkha territory.At least pulse of the people there should have been felt if they were agreeable to such merger.In fact there's a strong resentment among the most of the inhabitants of Terai and Doors against being included in GTA..GJM too know it well and so it's taken field to convince people on plains to join GTA.John Barla who was initially against merger but now is spearheading movement for merger.He was once the president of Terai Doors regional unit of Adibashi Bikas Parishad and is now expelled from Parishad.GJM tried to form Gorkha Land and Adbashi Territorial Administration(GATA) wtth the help of John Barla but the efforts some how fizzled out.Now it's any body's guess what will be the relevance of Shyamal Sen's committee to identify the mouzas those would be included in GTA..Now if the tribal take a determined stance not to be acceded to GTA or very few mouzas are available for merger, what will GJM do?Ultimate goal of GJM is to have a seperarte Gorkhaland which is also incorporated in GTA treaty.So the greater is the area of their territory the better will their dream land-a separate Gorkhaland.GJM has already signed the GTA treaty will they now back out as it's threatened to do?Or will it accept the present deal only to be prepared for a greater movement for separate Gorkhaland?However, the division of Bengal once again is by all means an impossibility.

Taxi ride at night!

Now taxi drivers would claim 15% extra fare for travel from 10-30pm till 4-30am.But would this extra money to be coughed up by the passengers ease availability of cabs at night?Among the metro cities Kolkata has the dubious distinction of highest taxi refusals.Even by day cab drivers refuse to go the way the passengers like to, let alone at night.Refusals get momentum after dask.The reason is the standard one-passengers will not be available on way back.In the evening if you like to go to Sealdah from Shyambazar driver will not mind to carry you to your destination but if you need to go to Dunlop from shyambazar there's a fair chance that you'll be denied a ride.You may be at best advised to go in for a shared taxi.Now to empower the cab drivers to demand 15% extra fare from 10.30pm only legitimizes the fact that now on it would be no wrong to demand extra fare from the passengers at night.Certainly extra fare would not be confined to 15% only-it'd be much more in most cases.Incidences of taxi refusals would have no quantitative change either.

Hate Campaign!

The food minster Jyotipriya Mallick's advisory to boycott CPM is nothing new.It's TMC's policy long since.When in opposition no TMC leader did share dais with their CPM counterpart even by mistake.It so happened a TMC leader made a u-turn at the sight of a CPM minister present on the stage at a certain occasion.It's for this reason TMC member never did attend all party meet convened by Left front govt.In fact, there was a standing instruction from TMC supremo to avoid CPM by all means.CPM too called upon their cadres to socially boycott the opponents, in a very subtle way of course, particularly in rural areas.What's very interesting is Mamata Banerjee did never so openly asked her cadres or leaders to ostracize CPM as Mr.Mallick has done.What's more,unlike Mr.Mallick Mamata Banerjee did never so vociferously issued dictum to her cadres not to go in for marital relation with CPM or boycott them socially in all respects.Nor has she ever said CPM need be hated otherwise revenge can't be taken on them like Mr.Mallick.This hate campaign is very dangerous as it might aid and abet political violence.This part of Mr.Mallick's statement would not be certainly approved of by Chief Minister herself.

Transfer of Ms.Damayanti Sen

Though govt claims transfer of Damayanti Sen, Joint Commissioner of
Police(Crime) is just a routine affair, people are not ready to buy
this argument.In view of Ms.Sen's painstaking efforts to have made a
break-through in Park Street rape case ,which Mamata Banerjee claimed
to be a concocted story to malign her govt, she should have been
allowed to continue in her present position till the investigation was
complete as the main culprit is still absconding.Instead of doing that
Ms.Sen has been transferred to a less important post at Barrackpore
.One may be afraid the on-going enquiry in the rape case might suffer
a set back because the present incumbent in Ms.Sen's post might not
dare take that initiative as Sen considering her fate.Mamata took
this decision deliberately to defy public sentiment as well a section
of press that is highly critical of some of her activities and
illogical utterances.In fact, it betrays her egoistic attitude.

It may be pointed out during Left Front regime Prasun Mukherjee, the
then Commissioner of Police had to relinquish his post under the
pressure of public and media as well in view of his unwanted remark
in Rizwanur Rahaman's death case.Incidentally, Mamata Banerjee who was
then in opposition lent her full throated support to the demand to
remove Commissioner of Police from his position.But now public
opinion to have Damayanti Sen to continue in her present position to
pusue the Park Street rape case has been more hounered in defiance by
Miss.Banerjee as a Chief minister.

However, if Damayanti sen were transferred to a post that is more
challenging than the present one, it could have been a consolation
that she's atleast received appreciation for her skill and efficiency
as a police officer.But her present posting as DIG(training) at
Barrackpore might send a wrong signal to people that she's been
tranferred to a position of lesser cosequence as she proved
Miss.Banerjee wrong in Park street rape case.

Dream will come true?

Mamata and Media:
It's no denying the fact many acts of omissions and commissions of the Left front govt and arrogance of its leaders and cadres brought about its fall.Another factor that mostly contributed to end Left rule was the decision of the Left to pull out support from the central govt and make an unsuccessful attempt to topple it.As a result TMC and Congress unitedly fought the Left in Assembly polls.But the third factor that was in no way less important than the earlier ones was the role of media.Since Nandigram episode both print and electronic media made all out attack on the LF govt.No doubt govt deserved such onslaught from Press.But the Press was far less mild in its criticism of Mamata Banerjee when she staged dharna totally blocking Durgapur express way for as many as thirteen days.Press was equally soft with Miss.Banerjee when she insisted on return of 400 acre of land to the so called unwilling farmers from Nano project site. Mamata Banerjee's sustained agitation and her continued adherence to her demand for return of land ultimately drove Tatas out Of Bengal with their automobile project after ninety percent of work done to Gujarat.She made her demand a prestige issue rather than consider the interest of the state.What's more even after frustrating a near complete project Miss. Banerjee didn't draw flak from press the way she deserved.What's very interesting is media continually spewed venom on the Left( however, the Left deserved it) making them villain and extended full-throated support to Miss Banerjee. Primarily, Left's lapses and media support combine brought Mamata in power with absolute majority.It should be reckoned with Mamata's sustained efforts backed up by unfailing media support made her a charismatic leader.It'd not be an over statement Mamata was sometimes pampered by media.

After Mamata came to power media were all- praise for her almost from day one.Her every movement was monitored and generously lauded.Normally during honeymoon period Press maintains a good relation with the ruling party.But in this case the relation was too good.Now Mamata has fallen from grace of a section of press,of course for her own fault and is sometimes subjected to scathing criticism.As a pampered child can't tolerate any body's criticism, may it be for his or her good, similar is the case with Mamata. Her ears are tuned to listen to praise only from the obsequious press.So any criticism sound cacophonous to her.As the all powerful leader of her party and govt where other members,even ministers, are practically non entity,it's no wonder she'd have intolerant mind-set that breeds authoritarian attitude.So when criticised she sees red and behaves irrationally.She often makes unbridled utterances that put her on the spot.She hardly reverses her decision or withdraws her comments even made inadvertently.It hurts her ego.These are all authoritarianism syndromes.Her win in every battle (mostly one-sided) with the Center has made her all the more confident that hers is the last word.

What's very interesting is her entourage are sometimes more aggressive than her perhaps to curry favour with her.In recent press censorship issue Sisir Adhikari's statement and the most arrogant body language is a case in point. Intolerance and confrontational attitude of ruling party has vitiated the political ambiance of the state and adversely affected the developmental activities govt has under taken.Pepole brought this govt with massive mandate to see Poribatan(change) and expected peace and tranquility would prevail and ruling party and the opposition would work in tandem for the progress of the state.But they are already disillusioned to a great extent.Nevertheless we hope, may it be hoping against hope, good sense would dawn on the ruling party and real Poribartan that we dreamt of would usher in.

Small is Beautiful!

They say Small is Beautiful. Didi also finds beauty in small.So it's no wonder Didi would recommend only small news papers for public reading in govt aided libraries.She claims it's a 'small' decision..She actually means it's the 'beautiful' decision of her Ma, Mati and Manus govt.Didi also believes as the big fishes deavour the small ones,similarly big news papers engulf the small ones.It means small news papers are neglected in presence of big ones in libraries.If the leading dailies are removed from the reading rooms of public libraries readers would be left with no choice but to read small and lesser circulated news papers and thus they would gradually develop the habit of reading these dailies.That apart,the monetary allocation of public libraries is so limited it can't afford funds to buy big news papers which are costlier than small ones.What's more, to stand by big publishing houses of news dailies is as good as carrying coal to Newcastle.However, Times of India is only an exception and inclusion of Ajkaal indiactes Didi is above Dalatantra as the latter is supposed to believe in Left ideology.

Perhaps, Didi believes the small papers promote free thinking while big papers badly influence and vitiate people's mind against the establishment.In that sense these dailies are out and out anti- people and duly merit total boycott.Govt should launch awareness program to teach people which books or newspapers they should read and which not.This attempt would be made to allay the prevailing confusion in people's psyche against the govt..Not only that big papers grandiosely promote consumerism and make the gullible 'Ma' & 'Manus' of our 'Mati' greedy and corrupt.

Some people clamour that govt has stopped or minimised offering ads to small news papers and it has put them in sheer financial constraints.In fact, it's wrongly interpreted by the detractors of the present govt.It has been done only to give them opportunity to struggle with poverty and ultimately stand on their own leg.It's Darwinian theory of 'survival of the fittest'.

An authoritarian attitude!

Circular for keeping selected news papers in public libraries:

The tone and tenor of Mamata Banerjee's statement made with some selected TV channels are quite alarming as it unmistakably reeks of authoritarian mind-set.She lashed out at the larger section of media that vehemently keeps criticising her govt's recent move to select a few news papers those should be only kept at govt and govt aided libraries for public reading.She claimed she's not as yet asked people what to read and what not to, but if the press continues attacking her this way, she threatened, she'd even do that.Though initially her govt argued these particular news papers were chosen to 'promote free thinking' but now stance has changed.She claims the move has been made to promote financially weak news papers.However, later inclusion of Times of India in the list, a news paper from the most affluent publishing house, finds no explanation.Miss Banerjee refers to the circular of Library department as the 'small circular' of a 'small department' .But it's deliberately blown out of proportion to malign her govt and stall all developmental activities her govt has embarked upon, she alleged.There's a deep rooted conspiracy behind the present concerted attack on her by the politicians and a section of press as well, she fumed.

Press Censorship@Public Libraries

There's no room for intolerance in democracy.Unfortunately, the present govt in our state is too intolerant.It can't stand criticism at all.It's so much so that it's instructed the govt and govt aided libraries to keep eight selected dailies only for public reading.Incidentally, these chosen papers blindly support every move of the govt irrespective of its merit. On the other hand, the leading and the most widely circulated dailies those have incurred the displeasure of the govt and hence are denied entry to these libraries criticise govt activities in no uncertain terms whenever needed.But govt want press to be docile and sycophant.It'd eulogise the ruling party in every issue.

In fact, the press that blindly endorses whatever govt do does more harm than good and govt is misled as a result.Press should act as the watch dog and mince no words in criticising the wrong policies of the govt.On the other hand, press would not fall short of lauding and encouraging the govt either when it do good job.In fact,all authoritarian rulers consider even the constructive criticism of press as hostility and try to gag its voice.It's no wonder Mamata Banerjee with her full dictatorial temperament would do the same.However,such activities of the govt would certainly send wrong signal to people and adversely affect its support base.

Interestingly, people normally go to public libraries to read most of the papers those have been banned .If these leading papers are not available the readership of dailies in public libraries is likely to drastically fall.That apart,the major and national dailies are preserved in library archives for reference reading in future particularly by researchers.If the entry of these dailies are prohibited , how could they be preserved in archives?That apart,govt can't dictate as to what to read and what not to.It's as good as infringement of fundamental right.

In fine, the govt is requested. to rescind the order immediately in public interest as well as for its own good.

Fire in the city!

Fire breaks out almost everyday in the city.In most cases fury of fire is devastating and it engulfs wide area making innumerable people destitute.In some cases fire has taken heavy toll of lives too.In fact,fire has spared none, right from patients in modern corporate hospital to slum dwellers.

After each incidence of major fire break-out administration embark upon some knee-jerk measures to prevent fire.They visit high rises and large establishments to see if people properly maintain fire safety norms and have fire detecting and fighting devices.In most cases they're disappointed by utter indifference of the management there regarding fire safety.In some old buildings electrical wiring is in such a bad shape that cluster of wires dangle menacingly causing concern for fire breakout by short circuit at any moment. Fire department caution them against being so callous about safety and advise them to duly follow fire norms.But all suggestions fall flat on the deaf ear and things go on as usual till a major fire breaks out again some where.

Kolkata is a pretty old city and so it is built mostly in unplanned way.Particularly North Kolkata is so congested that space between two buildings and approach roads as well are so narrow that fire engines can't enter many areas to combat fire.In most places lack of water badly affect fire fighting.In fact, to minimize the incidences of fire many old building and new high rises as well need be demolished but it's no practical proposition.Occurrences of fire should be controlled with in the present frame work.For it what's most needed is public awareness and sustained efforts of the administration.Let us hope our collective determination would make it possible the devastating fire at Hatibagan is the last episode of major fire in the city.