Barack Obama - An Outstanding Orator

From the central hall of parliament when the applauds were reverberated to that passionate speech of the Barack Obama, the US president, on a winter evening of November 8^th 2010, a generation of the politicians, spanning most of the age group, must be feeling the goose bumps in appreciation of the orating skills of the Nobel laureate.

There have been great orators who make you feel and imbibe every word they speak, they make you soak with the passion they deliver, and just leave you awestruck. Unlike many other political leaders who read few lines written by someone, as if they lend their voice to someone’s ideas or words. That never inspire or create an impact as few lines from Barack Obama could do so.

I heard him speak live multiple occasion during his visit to India, the first one in St Stephen’s college speaking to the ignited minds of future India, the other at parliament in front of leaders of the biggest democracy. The aura and conviction that he had, to make his point, was crystal clear, so was his confidence and gestures. I must admit, I wish, there will be a few reflection of this great orator in my future public speeches, if any!

The changing face of my village in a decade!

It was yet another Puja vacation in the years. After quite some time I was in my village in a Durga Puja vacation. It was the longest in-school vacation for school or college going kids after the summer one. Undoubtedly, one of the best festive time in my village. I stayed longer this time. The demography and geography has changed a little, since I visited more than a year back.

Street view

Few positive developments:

-          From Brahmapur to my village I rode on motor bike and it took around an hour, that it-self  certifies the improvement in the roads, which is close to 40-45KM in length. I didn’t have to face a single path-hole or a stretch of rough road/kaccha rasta. It is off course an important development in last 10 years.

-          I saw a good concrete road inside my village, which otherwise used to be a muddy one. Though didn’t notice overall major changes in sanitation habits, the developments were positive.

-          The major part of improvement was 12 million allocation to repair the irrigation project. There was a small dam near my village for the irrigation. It used to be the most happening place for the kids since my childhood. Many hours were spent there in swimming and watching people fish. Possibly it was the most talking point of my village in recent years.

-          There is a 500% increase in the number of motorcycles. Every other household has multiple numbers of motorcycles. I remember there was only one “bullet” with our village headman, who used to be the richest among us. He had the only tractor as well. But today there are around 3-4 tractors in the vicinity of 50 meters.

-          There was/were only one or two telephone connections in 2000. Now every household had more than one cell phone. The telecom revolution has just surfaced in my village in just a year or two.

-          There are more students in science stream than arts post class 10^th. Few are  studying engineering. School kids are more aware and alert than my generation. But in the equal note, I couldn’t measure the moral character… I don’t know if it has increased or declined….

-          Meteoric rise in the number of televisions – for there used to be one or two a decade back. The only serial Mahabhart or Chandrakanta used to watched by all the kids, crowding and hence causing inconvenience to the household. I remember, when we used to visit, other villages, we evaluate the richness of it by counting the number of antennas erected. Today, situation has changed, even hardly I saw any antenna, thanks to the satellite television penetration!

-          Though didn’t count number of houses without electricity, but mostly, the number has reduced a lot.

-          “Indira awas yojana” has changed the look by helping people with concrete roofing, where there used to be roof made up of “straw”, and quite a painful moment during rain season. Though there exists a couple of asbestos roofing. 

Village Pond

There is a historical lineage to its formation as a “Brahmana Shasan”, a place donated by the king for Brahmin’s to stay. Today, with the advance of time, it’s villagers not only depend on priesthood, but an array of occupations starting from agriculture, teaching, to business.

A fisherman near a rivulet

Those lash paddy fields

That old banyan tree - a resting place

Coconut trees inside village 

Politics has it’s own share. I don’t remember if there was any major conflict in the past. Possibly today it’s more democratized with true multi party support. I don’t know how healthy is this democratic process as compared to the past unity, where it was known as a loyal supporter of it’s queen !!!

paddy fileds

Overall, it was a refreshing vacation, without the pollution or the traffic chaos of cities. For those environment were pristine with natural surroundings - evergreen paddy fields, multiple rivulets, the canals, near-by hills, and rich natural flora and fauna. The recent development just augurs to it’s strength.

Happy State Formation Day

I got up late today, and was on time for my cab at 8.30AM in Motinagar....and started reading the daily dose of Hindu in cab...But surprisingly there was not much traffic and roads were little deserted and reached office early around 9.10AM. Momentarily I forgot that it's Nov 1st...and if you live in Hyderabad or Bangalore, you must have enjoyed holiday on this day. Our's is NOT a holiday...That's fine...but the sorry state of affair was reading that article, where a section of people object on this day casting it a black day.

I just got couldn't fathom, the idea, which was converted from a glorious day to a black day....with due respect to those, who have a genuine sentiment of a new state...no arguments to their sentiments, as there is a commission to decide...but if we can't understand the basic premises on which these celebrations stand, I believe, it's better to remain silent than voicing the anger which is NOT good for any one...

ON that light, sometimes, I wonder, what's patriotism and nationalism really means....Fortunately, got an answer yesterday while reading, Nayantara Sahgal's interview and book review on Nehru... No great and true leader ever said, only my countrymen are great, and only my country deserves to prevail... Proud to be of my faith which Preaches, universal brotherhood by declaring "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"...May humanity be the guiding factor for all our political activities......May truth and honesty prevail!

Independent day-2010 celebration: A unique experience

It's been a long time since I attended a school celebrating the independence day. Once out of the high school, there was no much of compulsion to celebrate august 15. The enthusiasm of the NCC parade practice, preparing for those debate competition or sports days. Gone are those days, when we were so keen to pluck flowers and make garlands to adorn the national leaders. At least, to sought "Bharat Maata ki Jaai" slogan, amidst those street processions.

We didn't have mandatory independence day celebration in pre-university or college. It was just a holiday from the regular hectic class days. A relief with some parade watching and patriotic movies on television.

Then came, work life. Here holidays are most wanted from hectic work days. By then, the wireless telecom revolution has taken our lives to SMSing in every occasion. So most of the days are celebrated by forwarding "feel-good" patriotic messages. Even, celebrating Independence day as Happy B'day to mother INDIA!

But this year it was a little different then all the previous ones I had encountered. This time, I went to a school, sang the national anthem with quite a few folks, ages ranging from 5-50, and belonging to every strata of contemporary India. Yes, it was in the MV foundation's Residence bridge school. Qualcomm sponsors for operations of the same. So we went to celebrate August 15 with the school kids. The kids are mostly picked from the slums or how have been working as bonded laborers. This school helps and prepare these kids to join government schools to mainline their schooling.

Finally, I was on the other side of a award ceremony. We distributed the prizes to the kids. And, I could sense the happiness they had in their face. It's a reminiscence of those juvenile moments - holding trophies and certificate, with pride and satisfaction of achievement. Which, of course, fosters and motivates one to walk an extra step - towards excellency. This celebration was for a cause, towards helping those little souls, to shower them with the light of knowledge. Not to mention, a self-fulfilling experience.

I wish, after a few years, some of these kids will go to such camps to distribute prizes. These initiatives off course can bridge the gaps we have between India and Bharat. Congratulations to all those who have been part of it.