5dd548679a8e81bda5ca4b23b9f1d148b8eede38bb8950cec2
Nawalesh Pathak
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Thursday, 14 April 2016
Why Indian Politicians Refuse to retire
In the coming
elections in Kerala
and Tamilnadu there
are two former
chief ministers contesting
the state Assembly
elections with hope
to get the coveted
chief ministership. One
is M Achyutanandan who
is 93 and
another is M Karunanidhi
who is 90. Both are
unable m to walk or
talk properly. But they
are in the
fray and hope to
run the state
at this age. In
Indian Parliament Lal
Krishna Advani is
90 year old
and still in active politics. He
was a serious contender for
the prime ministership had he
with some other
seniors not sidelined by
Narendra Modi and
his cohorts.
This is
a common scenario
in Indian politics. Some bureaucrats
and soldiers joining
politics after superannuation and
continuing till death. The
condolences after death
of an aged
politician in India
are printed and
aired in media
in this way,”
The meeting condoled
the “premature demise”
of Mr ...........”.
The trembling personalities coming out
of Parliament or
offices speak how
Indian politicians are so addicted
to their professions
that they can’t
even think of
deserting it or abdicating their
offices.
Ironically no
debates over the
minimum qualification or
maximum age limit
to contest an
election or to become
a minister. Indian politics
is the only
arena where any
one can enter
and continue till
buried or cremated.
Some have thought
to leave their
offices after a
particular age, but
they are considered
as exceptions. Jyoti
Basu , the chief
minister of West Bengal paved
way for his
junior Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
after being in
office for over 17
years.
Youngsters in
Indian politics are
left to serve
their seniors (called
Godfathers). To arrange
for money and
entertain them with
liquor and women. Some
who are born
in political families
and are nurtured
by their parents
have been few
fortunates who have
got positions in
“early” age ( yes 50
to 60 years
is called early
age in Indian
politics). Rajiv Gandhi
became Prime Minister
at the age
of 47. Akhilesh
Yadav, became chief
minister at the identical
age, or Laloo
Yadav’s two sons
are ministers in
Bihar or Chirag
Paswan a member of
Parliament. But all of
them had political backgrounds,
or had father
or mother to
groom them.
Apart from
qualification age is
another lacunae afflicting
Indian politics. But any
amendment on this
score seems a
distant probability as the law
makers themselves are well
past 70. A few
youngsters who would
advocate for a
better change are in
minority and would
be snubbed by
their own parents
or Godfathers.
Why Indian Politicians Refuse to retire
In the coming
elections in Kerala
and Tamilnadu there
are two former
chief ministers contesting
the state Assembly
elections with hope
to get the coveted
chief ministership. One
is M Achyutanandan who
is 93 and
another is M Karunanidhi
who is 90. Both are
unable m to walk or
talk properly. But they
are in the
fray and hope to
run the state
at this age. In
Indian Parliament Lal
Krishna Advani is
90 year old
and still in active politics. He
was a serious contender for
the prime ministership had he
with some other
seniors not sidelined by
Narendra Modi and
his cohorts.
This is
a common scenario
in Indian politics. Some bureaucrats
and soldiers joining
politics after superannuation and
continuing till death. The
condolences after death
of an aged
politician in India
are printed and
aired in media
in this way,”
The meeting condoled
the “premature demise”
of Mr ...........”.
The trembling personalities coming out
of Parliament or
offices speak how
Indian politicians are so addicted
to their professions
that they can’t
even think of
deserting it or abdicating their
offices.
Ironically no
debates over the
minimum qualification or
maximum age limit
to contest an
election or to become
a minister. Indian politics
is the only
arena where any
one can enter
and continue till
buried or cremated.
Some have thought
to leave their
offices after a
particular age, but
they are considered
as exceptions. Jyoti
Basu , the chief
minister of West Bengal paved
way for his
junior Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
after being in
office for over 17
years.
Youngsters in
Indian politics are
left to serve
their seniors (called
Godfathers). To arrange
for money and
entertain them with
liquor and women. Some
who are born
in political families
and are nurtured
by their parents
have been few
fortunates who have
got positions in
“early” age ( yes 50
to 60 years
is called early
age in Indian
politics). Rajiv Gandhi
became Prime Minister
at the age
of 47. Akhilesh
Yadav, became chief
minister at the identical
age, or Laloo
Yadav’s two sons
are ministers in
Bihar or Chirag
Paswan a member of
Parliament. But all of
them had political backgrounds,
or had father
or mother to
groom them.
Apart from
qualification age is
another lacunae afflicting
Indian politics. But any
amendment on this
score seems a
distant probability as the law
makers themselves are well
past 70. A few
youngsters who would
advocate for a
better change are in
minority and would
be snubbed by
their own parents
or Godfathers.
Why Indian Politicians Refuse to retire
In the coming
elections in Kerala
and Tamilnadu there
are two former
chief ministers contesting
the state Assembly
elections with hope
to get the coveted
chief ministership. One
is M Achyutanandan who
is 93 and
another is M Karunanidhi
who is 90. Both are
unable m to walk or
talk properly. But they
are in the
fray and hope to
run the state
at this age. In
Indian Parliament Lal
Krishna Advani is
90 year old
and still in active politics. He
was a serious contender for
the prime ministership had he
with some other
seniors not sidelined by
Narendra Modi and
his cohorts.
This is
a common scenario
in Indian politics. Some bureaucrats
and soldiers joining
politics after superannuation and
continuing till death. The
condolences after death
of an aged
politician in India
are printed and
aired in media
in this way,”
The meeting condoled
the “premature demise”
of Mr ...........”.
The trembling personalities coming out
of Parliament or
offices speak how
Indian politicians are so addicted
to their professions
that they can’t
even think of
deserting it or abdicating their
offices.
Ironically no
debates over the
minimum qualification or
maximum age limit
to contest an
election or to become
a minister. Indian politics
is the only
arena where any
one can enter
and continue till
buried or cremated.
Some have thought
to leave their
offices after a
particular age, but
they are considered
as exceptions. Jyoti
Basu , the chief
minister of West Bengal paved
way for his
junior Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
after being in
office for over 17
years.
Youngsters in
Indian politics are
left to serve
their seniors (called
Godfathers). To arrange
for money and
entertain them with
liquor and women. Some
who are born
in political families
and are nurtured
by their parents
have been few
fortunates who have
got positions in
“early” age ( yes 50
to 60 years
is called early
age in Indian
politics). Rajiv Gandhi
became Prime Minister
at the age
of 47. Akhilesh
Yadav, became chief
minister at the identical
age, or Laloo
Yadav’s two sons
are ministers in
Bihar or Chirag
Paswan a member of
Parliament. But all of
them had political backgrounds,
or had father
or mother to
groom them.
Apart from
qualification age is
another lacunae afflicting
Indian politics. But any
amendment on this
score seems a
distant probability as the law
makers themselves are well
past 70. A few
youngsters who would
advocate for a
better change are in
minority and would
be snubbed by
their own parents
or Godfathers.
Sunday, 10 April 2016
Maiden Sirens
Arc lights off.
Makeup cleared. Back home and on
bed. Then catches
up the restlessness,
physical desires and
yearning to share
the feelings with
someone. The Bollywood
sirens have beauty,
heart and all
desires and feelings
that a common
lady has. Money and glamour
does not douse
off all these. And frustration
mounts after an
age.
Many
have gone for
choosing aged family
men. Some have
preferred men several
years junior to
their age. So no
eyebrows raised when
the leading actress
Bipasha Basu announced
to tie know
with Karan Grover,
3 years her
junior. But Bipasha like a
selected few is
fortunate to have a
bachelor as hubby or
most of them
have opted for
men double their
age, married and having
grown up children.
The
trend started with
the heartthrob Hema
Malini, one of
the prettiest faces
on celluloid. Her glamour
and suces attracted
many bachelors, from
film to cricket world. But
she announced her
engagement to her
co star in
many hit films
Dharmendra, well past
her age and
also married with
grown up children.
The announcement had
sparked a row as
it was rarely
heard of phenomenon,
except for Vaijyantimala ( another
actress who had
paid huge sums
to ex wife
of hubby for
divorce and finally marriage
with her). Both Dharmendra and
Hema later adopted
Islam to solemnise
the marriage. But she
was never accepted
by Dharmendra’s family and
lived separately, though
the couple later
bore two daughters.
Then
Shabana Azmi and
Sridevi also followed the suit.
Shabana went for a noted
lyricist Javed Akhtar,
another family man
and Sridevi for
Boney Kapoor. Both “ husbands” first
divorced their wives
to tie knot
with these ageing actresses. Then there
was a long
list of Bolywood
actresses chasing family
men. No wonder
these sirens came
to be dubbed
as family breakers
and earned ignominy
from society and
media.
In
recent years there
have been a few
fortunate actresses like
Kajol, Raveena Tandon and
Madhuri Dixit etc. to
have
bachelor husbands. Interestingly they
are said to
enjoying marital lives
much more than those
opting for married
men as hubbies.
Bollywood sources
put several reasons
for the whole scenario.
According to them
these actresses despite
having all feminine
feelings put them aside
for sake of money and glamour.
A sense of
insecurity creeps up
when their demand
keeps going down.
And this financial insecurity
coerces them to go for
a male companion
irrespective of his
age and marital
status. Some fortunate ones
get, while some
are left as
maidens. Asha Parekh
is an example
who still is
a maiden. Parveen
Bobby died as
a maiden.
The
whole glamour, money
and fame are
to show to
the world. From inside
these sirens too yearn
for something in
life. Loneliness have
also pushed some
to booze, while
a few have
resorted to suicide too. But
this is glamour
world and to
gain something these
actresses are losing
something.
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
God fathers in Indian politics
“
What can I do,
if I
don’t send him
money he himself
comes over here
to collect money,”.
This
is the confession
of a member
of Bihar Assembly
late Rajkishore Keshri.
He was allegedly
killed by a lady who earlier
charged him of rape. And
incidentally the rape
story was first
published by me.
Rajkishore was a nice
man, but he had two
drawbacks, first he was a
fool and easily
gullible and second
he was extremely
greedy. Greedy for money
and also position.
Once elected he
was so addicted
to power that
he would never
think of abdicating.
And
he was elected
to the position
four times. Ironically
during every election
there was vehement
demand to cut
his party ticket
but he managed to secure
that. The reason, he
had a Godfather at
Patna. And to please
his Godfather he had to
send money and
girls at regular
intervals. And his confession
came when I asked
him one day
why he was
so busy always
roaming among officials
and traders and collecting money.
But
Rajkishore is not the
lone example. To succeed
and
climb ladders in Indian politics
one has to have
a Godfather. If
the Godfather is
father or father
in law then success
comes
easy and fast
but others have
to tread
a monetary and promiscuous path
to please his
or her Godfather,
as whatever claims
of nationalism or
popularity, Indian politicians
have two aims,
money and women. For
a male novice
he has to
manage all and
for females she
should be prepared
to sacrifice herself,
not only to
her God father
but to anybody
else too if
need such arises. As
politicians are known
for switching their loyalties
thus Godfather keeps
changing and newcomers
have to fulfil
new demands.
Besides one
also has to
prostrate ( or touch
feet) before his or her
Godfather publicly, has to
address even the servants of
Godfathers as “Sir” and has to
manage all events
concerning his or her
Godfather may it be
a rally or
birthday bash.
Earlier I
had rubbished all these but
I experienced the
facts first as a
journalist (witnessed all these
personally) and later
when I myself
tried to secure
party tickets during
the elections.
During the
2014 Parliamentary elections
I received message
from a political
party and rushed
to Delhi to
meet the party
president. At his
residence there was
huge congregation, each
one trying for
a party ticket. Then
came a man
to me introducing
himself as PA of that
party president.
“ What can
you manage,? was his
direct question.
I was
a bit confused
but being a
shrewd journalist I immediately understood
what he meant.
“ Whose recommendation, ? “ was
his next question.
The
picture was clear
to me. But
I kept patience
as he told
me to come
in the evening.
In
the evening I
saw the waiting
room filled with
half men and half
women, some of
very early age. My
number came after half
an hour. That fellow
I often saw
on television looked
like a rustic. He
listened to me
for a while
then “ retorted we have
decided party ticket
for the place.”
He called the
next person.
When
I came out
the same PA
confronted me.
“ So
you think party
ticket is that easy.
These fellows have
been Saheb’s followers for
several years. They never
come here empty
handed. And you have come
suddenly”, he seemed
to be logical.
I
contested as an Independent
candidate and came
fifth among 17 candidates
some of them
purchasing tickets for
over Rs 2
crore (20 million) and
over 100 call
girls of Rs
1 lakh per
night.
Later
during the Assembly
elections in Bihar
in 2015 the
story was repeated.
This time a
gentleman tried to
console me,” I know you
are the best
in the lot
but you would
not get the
ticket as you
have no Godfather
here,”.
According to
him Godfather was
not meant only
during the elections
but even if
elected one has to fulfil
all
demands. And knowing my
character and past
record as a
journalist no senior
politician would like
to be my
Godfather, was his assessment.
God fathers in Indian politics
“
What can I do,
if I
don’t send him
money he himself
comes over here
to collect money,”.
This
is the confession
of a member
of Bihar Assembly
late Rajkishore Keshri.
He was allegedly
killed by a lady who earlier
charged him of rape. And
incidentally the rape
story was first
published by me.
Rajkishore was a nice
man, but he had two
drawbacks, first he was a
fool and easily
gullible and second
he was extremely
greedy. Greedy for money
and also position.
Once elected he
was so addicted
to power that
he would never
think of abdicating.
And
he was elected
to the position
four times. Ironically
during every election
there was vehement
demand to cut
his party ticket
but he managed to secure
that. The reason, he
had a Godfather at
Patna. And to please
his Godfather he had to
send money and
girls at regular
intervals. And his confession
came when I asked
him one day
why he was
so busy always
roaming among officials
and traders and collecting money.
But
Rajkishore is not the
lone example. To succeed
and
climb ladders in Indian politics
one has to have
a Godfather. If
the Godfather is
father or father
in law then success
comes
easy and fast
but others have
to tread
a monetary and promiscuous path
to please his
or her Godfather,
as whatever claims
of nationalism or
popularity, Indian politicians
have two aims,
money and women. For
a male novice
he has to
manage all and
for females she
should be prepared
to sacrifice herself,
not only to
her God father
but to anybody
else too if
need such arises. As
politicians are known
for switching their loyalties
thus Godfather keeps
changing and newcomers
have to fulfil
new demands.
Besides one
also has to
prostrate ( or touch
feet) before his or her
Godfather publicly, has to
address even the servants of
Godfathers as “Sir” and has to
manage all events
concerning his or her
Godfather may it be
a rally or
birthday bash.
Earlier I
had rubbished all these but
I experienced the
facts first as a
journalist (witnessed all these
personally) and later
when I myself
tried to secure
party tickets during
the elections.
During the
2014 Parliamentary elections
I received message
from a political
party and rushed
to Delhi to
meet the party
president. At his
residence there was
huge congregation, each
one trying for
a party ticket. Then
came a man
to me introducing
himself as PA of that
party president.
“ What can
you manage,? was his
direct question.
I was
a bit confused
but being a
shrewd journalist I immediately understood
what he meant.
“ Whose recommendation, ? “ was
his next question.
The
picture was clear
to me. But
I kept patience
as he told
me to come
in the evening.
In
the evening I
saw the waiting
room filled with
half men and half
women, some of
very early age. My
number came after half
an hour. That fellow
I often saw
on television looked
like a rustic. He
listened to me
for a while
then “ retorted we have
decided party ticket
for the place.”
He called the
next person.
When
I came out
the same PA
confronted me.
“ So
you think party
ticket is that easy.
These fellows have
been Saheb’s followers for
several years. They never
come here empty
handed. And you have come
suddenly”, he seemed
to be logical.
I
contested as an Independent
candidate and came
fifth among 17 candidates
some of them
purchasing tickets for
over Rs 2
crore (20 million) and
over 100 call
girls of Rs
1 lakh per
night.
Later
during the Assembly
elections in Bihar
in 2015 the
story was repeated.
This time a
gentleman tried to
console me,” I know you
are the best
in the lot
but you would
not get the
ticket as you
have no Godfather
here,”.
According to
him Godfather was
not meant only
during the elections
but even if
elected one has to fulfil
all
demands. And knowing my
character and past
record as a
journalist no senior
politician would like
to be my
Godfather, was his assessment.
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