TWIST AND SHOUT COLLEGE  ( TASC)

Well, shake it up, baby, now, (shake it up, baby)

Twist and shout. (twist and shout)

Cmon cmon, cmon, cmon, baby, now, (come on baby)

Come on and work it on out. (work it on out)

BEATLES -LYRICS

They twist and they shout! Wondering? If we twist the hands of anyone, he writhes in pain and shouts. In politics it is different. They twist words of others and they shout! And they derive pleasure and not pain. This is practiced by the ruling party spokespersons very frequently. They have a “TASC” (Twist And Shout College). There is no faculty. Each one takes his own training and shouts! A few silent gestures, waving fingers or thumping desks might be done by inaudible and invisible TASC masters. They do not talk as they can not. If they have to talk somebody has to write. He must be Indian, not American! Do not mistake it to TASK. Tasks are for other parties.

After the unbeatable Naredra Modi was received by the people of “hither-to-considered-bastion-of-Congress” Andhra Pradesh, to a rousing reception, TASC students are out like mosquitoes on the muddy waters of Musi river that goes through the heart of Hyderabad competing with the rulers, in foul smell! First it was APCC Chief Botsa Satyanarayana. Most Telugu people do not understand his Telugu. He twisted “Modi's” address and said Modi insulted Armed Forces protecting borders. Did he say that? What he said was UPA Government was bartering the lives of soldiers. He took the “word” 'soldiers' and twisted it and shouted. Fact is most Telugu people do not understand Hindi. They read Telugu papers. It was all in papers what Modi said. He also said “Gujarat” was developed by Congress even before Modi was born. Modi was born in 1950. Supposing it was developed before that it should have been done by the British. Are natural born citizens less liked than the foreigners that ruined us for centuries? He knows better. He is from Congress, a party founded by a foreigner.

Then the CM of AP came out of hiding after a number of days to condemn Modi while half of his state is closed, his ministers fled to Delhi and he is not attending office. Even he cant understand his own Telugu! He says “what right Modi, a CM of a state, has to talk about our borders?” and he elaborated about the borders, bordering on stupidity! He is also a CM, he forgot, perhaps, as he is not attending office. The fact lost upon him was every citizen has a right to say “we should secure our borders”. Then he went on to object that Modi compared Gujarat to AP, no model here. A passing reference was made by Modi that “I want to see Andhra and Telangana both grow as Gujarat”. Is it not true that AP can not give power to farmers for even five hours a day while Gujarat provides 24 hours? Or compare other infrastructure in Gujarat to that in AP.

And then the ever shouting Renuka Jee comes out with the stupidest statement ever. “He read out a speech written by the Americans”. She twisted the tongue to please herself but had to bite it for, her leader never speaks but only reads. She tried to cover up “It is okay if an Indian writes”. She did not clarify if it were okay if an Italian born reads the speech written by Indians. She did not get the twist in the tale as there were no silent gestures, no thumping desks or waving fingers by her invisible evergreen Indian leader!

Then the forever-in-the news -for-no-purpose, Mr. Digvijay Singh comes. He always carries a spade to dig something and ultimately finds himself in the pit. Comes out and eats his words. He tweeted mockingly, on the lines of “ We now have a fake Obama too!” It is the practice since days of yore that famous and successful people are quoted. If he quoted our Prime Minister or his leader we don't know what the reaction of youth would have been in Hyderbad. To quote them too, there is a problem. They never talk. What should he quote, silence? When we can not make a delicious curry at home we borrow! It is the worst fate that India inherited in the past nine years. Mostly Mr. Singh lost it!

Then the “If a puppy falls under the wheels of a car I was not driving”. It was said in a good spirit to say “ I also pity the loss of lives in unfortunate incidents”. Then one Congressman went on record “why puppy, why not a rabbit”. Both are pretty pet animals. Is puppy “secular” and rabbit “communal”? Did people, belonging to all communities not lose their lives in one of the worst riots? Then why the twist? Because they lost all and they have to shout to show what they can do best. They have nothing else to do.

Then comes the “ I am a Hindu, I am Nationalist” comment by Modi. He further added 'I am a Hindu Nationalist “ Gandhi said it. “I am proud to be a Hindu.” He declared himself as a nationalist on the lines of Swamy Vivekananda, the first monk to spread the concept of “Hindu Nationalism” to the world. Do we disown them? That Modi had highest regard for Swamty Vivekananda is apparent when on display in Hyderabad was his huge cut out. To add to the twist one ex BJP man blogs “He should have said 'Nationalist Hindu' and not“Hindu Nationalist”. Does it make a difference to this old gentleman if he is called “Sudhhendra Kulkarni” or “Kulkarni Sudheendra”, as in West? Loss of face in public life sometimes leads to loss of mind. All secular people twisted the word and shouted from roof tops. The correspondent who interviewed him tweeted that his/her remarks were wrongly contextualized. By evening it was removed under “RTR”, Right To Removal”.

Another case of “Twist and Shout” was the “behind the veil (Burkha)” remark. They twisted it to suit their electoral needs. Pseudo intellectuals came running to studios to twist, shout and condemn him. “He is insensitive to the feelings of a community.” was the refrain. When movie after movie tries to denigrate  a particular caste in Hinduism on hair and on dress and Censor Board clears the films, these pseudos hide behind their own veils.

Poverty criterion is twisted and Planning Commision Mandarins shout “you are rich if you earn Rs.33/ in Mumbai or Delhi”. Their leader shouts “67% lack food and are poor”, another twist. To add to the twist one erstwhile actor - turned politician shouts “Barah Rupayein mein aap log Mumbai mein pet bhar khaana kha sakte” He adds “ Roti, so much of rice (he stretches hands), dal, vegetables (with onions too!)” Then comes one from Delhi “You can get a full meal for Rs.5/ in Delhi.” And the great ex-CM of J&K, the most secular ex-CM of the most secular state in India says “Re.1/- is sufficient for a meal. This is all to please India that we are not poor, but we are poor and we are poorly very poor or we are rich but poor. I can not twist more as I am not an alumni of TASC. But one thing is for sure! We are all very rich until elections and then Madam sees real poverty in India!

This is a part of the story. We can write a book on this. Our main stream media contributes to the melee. Some unscrpulous elements on Social Media take this forward. More on this in the next blog. I still feel I will release a small book on the subject before next elections, if I am helped in collecting all twists and shouts for nine years and the enigmatic silence of the “dual leadership” amidst all the chaos. If charity comes, I can get it translated in all languages. Bless me!

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Note: This blog too was inspired by a learned friend on Twitter who,while seeing the endless debates on Visual Media that land either them or us nowhere, advised me to write on the subject. I request all to contribute to the task (not TASC) for furthering the exposure of duplicity of Congress.

WISE WOMEN ON TWITTER  A TRIBUTE

Twitter is a happy medium to connect to distant people. Not always people in your “friends” list have same opinions as you have. But pleasure is derived when we take our opinions into nearest consonance with theirs or try to convince the others about our point of view. If both are not possible, I take a route of thanking the friend with a difference of opinion and say “Good Morning” each day. I found no one was above reason and those who differed with me responded cordially and still we continue to discuss issue from differing perspectives and learn new issues, without changing our stand. It is a great experience in three months and seven days with 25000 tweets and 784 followers.

I follow many 'good hearts' on twitter and they follow me. Till now, I never unfollowed any. Among these many are women, I always wonder how these women adjust their daily chores and still spend a lot of time on twitter. That is why she is called “woman”. A few skeptics say she is “woe of man” (very few). But if I meet a man with a loving woman in his life, I say, “WOW, Man, you have a woman to support you!” Swamy Vivekakananda said “West sees a wife in woman and India sees a mother”. “Child is the father of man” was an old sayiing. I say “woman is the mother of man”. For, a child looks to a mother for support, so too while ageing, a man too looks to a woman to serve him as a mother. She really cares.

If we come to Twitter, there are women there. There are social service activists, there are poetesses, there are politicians, political activists, religious teachers, preachers, management experts and real mothers too. I have in my kitty of twitter friends, a mix of all these. They belong to all religions, each preaching their faith without hurting others.

Among my early followers (I will not name them, in view of their sensitivities) were two women one a poetess and the other a working woman/housewife. This was three months back. And later, the one who tweets from our scriptures. They, in fact taught me how to use twitter. I am ever grateful to them. As time passed I started following few more and they reciprocated or vice versa. A poetess sends me a good quote each day. A religious mother sends me beautiful pictures to greet me early in the morning, sending me into religious or poetic mode. And there is one that seeks my blessings and a young girl that writes beautiful tweets. A political activist, I added to my friends' list recently. She has thousands of followers. I follow tweets of a “spokesperson' of a party that I despise, but I appreciate her tenacity in facing all the abuses here. So too, there are some from the party I wish, will rule the nation till my last breath. They too face lots of flak and abuse but keep their cool. It is not easy. Especially for women that face lots of challenges in real life too. I have friends on twitter from America who preach good things about religion. The first follower on my twitter was an author of many books, a woman. Now there are two good women authors I follow, both from America. There is one from Canada who regularly tweets to me some very good quotes and when she proudly shared a birthday photo with her son, I felt elated. She is a mother too, the wonderful gift of God to the universe. And the one from Australia who strives to keep fit and advises me too to keep fit. The profiles of all these women read "A who is who" on Linked In.

It is not about me but about the women on twitter. The one that adds a “smile” to her name. She keeps smiling and keeps you so. When she tweets “ "#Cancer never get mad for no reason. It may be over something small or stupid, but there's always a reason.", it shows her confidence. When the other says “Even A Small Dot Can Stop A Big Sentence, But Few More Dots Can Give Continuity. Amazing but True.!” it shows her positive view of life. One of my first two twitter friends sends a lot of mouth watering recipes, but her recipes to solve the problems of the nation too are quite appealing.

“on the subject of pickles ..do try Shalgam pickle . North Indian . Superb with aloo parathas “, she tweets. In the same breath she tweets “ Poonawala brings up Hitler ! Wants Modi to spell out his defence and foreign policy in a speech !” The two contrasting subjects.

A woman Corporator from Gujarat has lots of good tweets to her credit on lots of issues. She shows tremendous temerity in dealing with her political opponents. Kudos to her. Recently, I started following a woman activist of a party, who I came to know, is a house wife with children to look after. She has thousands of followers. I am one. And, I am following one from Bangalore, a political activist too. She reciprocated. It is amazing how the Social Media brought out the real “woman” in the “woman” Who said, “woman is weak?” Swamy Vivenkananda said, “The first manifestation of God is the hand that rocks the cradle” So if woman is weak, take it that our God is weak. He also said,”The best thermometer for the progress of a nation is its treatment of women” If we adore her, we progress. If we abuse her, we are doomed. We can express our opinions, not abuse, more so the women.

Someone wrote in days of yore “karyeshu Daasi...” , if translated four of the qualities look like

Duty bound she is scrupulous,

Cohabiting she is sensuous,

Counselling you she is solicitous,

Like your mother she so nourishes,

So great a woman your spouse is!

If he were born today, he would have added “Politically she is proactive, religiously she is tolerant and socially she is courteous”. Bad luck was, there was no Social Media then with special women leading from the front.

A word is like a sharp knife. It can be used to cut a fruit to subdue one's appetite or to cut a throat to subdue one's ego. Keeping our egos aside let us all strive to subdue our appetite for more knowledge and wisdom from the “Wise Women on Twitter”. They are the real Goddesses!

There has been a woman in my life too since the past thirty six years. She made a small world thirty six years back. In that she drew a picture, that of mine. Though she drew three more small pictures later (children) and more (Grandchildren) through them, she kept them in the background in the picture frame. She follows me, followed me and will follow me. She is the one that never unfollows me whatever I say or do. I am a bit cranky, true to say! In fact, she precedes me in all my Internet Ids too, as in real life. You all know her by now Even while I tweet she sits by my side. So it is a duty added to me to read out sweet tweets that my friends send. She is not on Twitter. As on all other issues, she says "You are there!". I pray God I stay a second more than her in this world so she does not feel my loss. That is "Woman Power".

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Note: This “Blog” was inspired by one learned friend who sent a link to a TOI news item about two very proactive women on twitter and asked “why cant you blog too?'” After reading what they said about their experiences, I thought I too could share my feelings towards the great women on Twitter. I treat all these women including the young, middle aged or teenagers as “mothers” befriended to bless me for a better after life too!

Disclaimer: This “blog” was intended for real women on Twitter. If any one is using a fake handle for fun, he may take this for his “fun” only”. I am confident I do not have any such “fake” Ids as I can sense the tweets when I read them.

24 comments:

Onions changed fate of many governments. This was written when onion prices sky-rocketed and reached Rs. 100 kilo before 2014 polls. Reposted now

RICHES - A STATE OF ONIONS

Shakespeare wrote,“Sweet are the uses of adversity”. He went on to add “The one left alone in the jungle finds songs in streams”. God blessed him, he was born then. If here born in Rahul land (not yet registered in his name) he would have lamented ,”Poverty is a state of mind. (Rahul's quote).The one left on road will find 'troubles' in 'vegetables' and 'tears in onions'.” (Shakespeare As You Like it ;Songs in Streams ....) Surprised! Till now onions were giving tears when they were torn apart. Now, even before you stare at them they bring tears in your eyes. If you hear at what cost you can own an onion it might even bring tears in your ears too. Even if you want to meet a ENT physician, you might find his doors locked as, “who knows?” he might be searching for an onion to eat an onion dosa. His wife might be pricking him for not being able to earn a kilo of onions in his life and become an “Onionnaire'. (Billionaire) Statisticians, research pundits and even IMF mandarins are all over India to check and find how many Onnionaires are in India. And then they compare this with the number of Onionnaires in USA and other developed countries. Finally, they might come out with an Onionneory (Theory on onions) and declare “Riches is a state of Onions”. At which the Prince might go to his mother and complain that his 'poverty theory' was sought to be debunked by the 'onion people' (read, rich people). His mother, already in tears in ears not because she cut onions but because of fear of loss of power, might say “Beta, find an onion to wipe the tears off my ears” at which the prince might be totally lost in thought what her 'state of mind was”.

They call the ever loyal servant of the family and ask for advice. (MMS). At which he might suggest “We can think of an “Onion (vote bank)Security Bill” and create an “Onion Bank” for 2014 elections. Immediately the high level 'Onion Committee Meeting' (OWC) is called for. The ever silent pseudo leader then suggests, “why not include tomatoes too, they too are bleeding”. At which every one laughs ( as is their habit, whenever he talks) except the mother of the prince who could not hear what he silently said because of .the tears in her ears. Her state of mind is now on “how to reap benefits from the tears the onions are causing”. They talk about the state of onions and how to 'onion' (retain) power again. Onionix (a la Asterix), the leader of the Committee suggests an 'onionance' (ordinance) for 'Onion Security' be issued. At which, it was decided by a 'mute vote' that an onionance be issued 'post haste' to see that people (67% of them exactly, Rahul theory 67% in India are poor) do not suffer from 'onionomnia', (insomnia) a disease caused by lack of onions. So it was decided to supply five small rotten onion pieces to each of the 67% population that might cost a meager 5% of GDP including the 4% commissions and omissions in the distribution. To see that the bill is passed in the Parliament, it was decided to bring all parties on table with “onionail” (like blackmail) or “onionultations”( like consultations). With profound satisfaction that this would change the game for 2014, the meeting was adjourned.

In fact, somebody said independence day was that day on which 'women can walk on roads' during midnight too. If he were born today, he would have declared, “If you own an onion that is real independence” If you don't know what people from Andhra Pradesh talk to their leader when they get an onionentment (like appointment) with her, read this. She says, “There is no going back on the decision on Telangana”. The leader of the delegation says, “ Madam, we came here to ask for a kilo of onions each for us poor leaders” At which she retorts, “Then we shall keep the state united, go tell your people”. They come out and declare “Amma' accepted their demand. At which a delegation from the other region might go there and repeat the 'onionail” (blackmail) tactic. Unable to say anything she agrees to their demand. While the leaders from both sides celebrate, people from each side throw 'papers' at them to ask their resignation, as they don't find tomatoes, onions or eggs to throw. Leaders make kites of the papers and fly them singing, ' Thank Onion, We need not resign”, each side in their own tune. Onion sometimes helps wipe tears from the eyes and ears of leaders.

When Onionaikars (people of Onion Town, like Mumbaikars) go to the “No Onion' restaurant and order an Onion Dosa, the waiters and owners laugh in unison so much so that it brings tears in the eyes of customers. Then the waiters bring “Plain Dosas” and they eat them under the mistaken impression that the tears were caused by the 'onions' in the dosa. If the author of “Adventures of Tintin” were born today in India he would have penned (on his Lap Top) a series of comics “Adventures of Onion” and would have earned a billion of onions by now and would have topped the list of “Onionnaires” in the world. Any Roman born in Rome and brought up in India would tell you that an onion can change the “power equation'.

An entire “ Onion Gita' would have been taught by Lord Krishna to modern day Arjuna mistaking his tears were caused by onions. Our sages included “Onions” in Satvik food and advised believers to shun them as they could foresee things that one day India would be bereft of onions. That is why we adore them. If this trend continues Indians might become too “Satvik” in nature that they would have accepted killing of soldiers by Pakistan soldiers as a fait accompli and would have pardoned Antony and accepted Nitish Kumar's Assistant's theory that Jawans are recruited to be killed by onions.

If wives approach courts with a petition that they were being harassed by being asked to cut onions, the judges might not accept the petitions but instead laugh and ask the petitioners, “Where are onions? Show us', hoping they too can have an onion each, after all. “All are equal for onion” is what the 'Onion Act “says. It does not differentiate people on rich and poor, leaders and followers or on caste or religion. The best medication to cure communalism and casteism is “onion”. In future CAG might come out with loss figures in “onions” caused to exchequer by scanions. At which the ruling alliance might accuse the “opposition ” of throwing non-existent onions on them. But Onion Gate is there for true and the investigating agencies are in the process of calling all the Prime Minister's Onions as witnesses, to know if the PM knows anything about onions. But they might end up telling nothing as no one knows what he knows. He sits like a round onion with no emotions. After all what emotion can an onion show when it is not accessible to common man?

The erudite Minister (Shashi Tharoor) in the cabinet might 'declare” the first class in air planes as 'onion' class and mock  at 'mango people' sitting in 'cattle class'. A day might come when the electorate in the largest democracy cry “Yes! We want “Onia” (e la Sonia) as our leader! As “Onias” are no more homegrown nor available here, we might again think of importing a leader for future too! (From Italy)

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N.B.: The blog was inspired by a center page column in the “Eenadu” (Telugu Edition) today by Sri Sankara Narayana. Though  most of the ideas were mine own, I was tempted to use his ideas at one or two places. I thank him for the very inspiring column on “Onion' titled “Onion Wars” (Ulli Kajjalu like Gilli Kajjalu”). Great piece by one of the greatest humorists in Telugu. Telugu knowing people may read it and laugh until they get tears in their eyes not caused by onion cutting but due to lack of onions.

Disclaimer: This is a humor 'blog' not intended to hurt anyone with an onion, as I cant afford them. If anyone wants to understand this otherwise than for fun might search for an onion in India and throw at me. 

SWAMY VIVEKANANDA -WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Swamy Vivekananda was born on the 12th January, 1863. Very soon the world will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of the great monk and man who was instrumental in the revival of Hinduism in India, instrumental in the concept of nationalism in colonial rule and introduction of Indian ethos to the west. On this august occasion it is apt to remember him for his respect towards the fairer sex. It is more so at a time when India is finding itself at the crossroads, when more and more women are occupying pride of place in nation building but sadly, where her modesty is under constant attack. 

Swamy Vivekananda believed that the first manifestation of God is the hand that rocks the cradle. In fact in few civilizations we find a cow giving milk, the earth bearing grains, a tree bearing fruit and the mother tending babies being revered equally as manifestation of God , like in the Indian civilization. Swamyji very boldly said those days that in the West woman was treated as wife while in the East she was treated as the mother. Thus, he tried to draw a distinct line between materialism and spiritualism in the treatment of women. Though unfortunate it is a 'fait accompli' that the once revered mother in India is today wailing at the malnutrition of her babies and outrage to her modesty. Allegorically, it is true in case of the healthy Mother Cow that is slaughtered, the rich mother earth that is exploited selfishly and the mother tree that faces near extinction. It's right time to remember the 'immortal' soul and mend our ways.

Swamy Jee was a monk, who renounced material pleasures for spirituality. In early days, it is said, he saw women as an obstacle in his path. But once he realized the highest Truth, he saw in them Mother the Divine. It is a case of seeing objects not with eyes but with soul.  “ The soul has neither sex, nor caste nor imperfection”, he averred. Great lesson to be learned here and that which he told the West was that once one realizes soul through meditation, he would see a mother in a woman rather than a wife, but for the duty ordained by God to sustain human race through the Divine union. He further elucidated the point by stating,”Soul has no sex,it is neither male nor female, it is only in the body that sex exists and the man who desires to reach the spirit can not at the same hold sex distinctions.”

“The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of women.”, he said. It shows the vision of Swamy Vivekananda for a nation to progress. In fact, his words are equally important to the contemporary East as with the West. He refers to the Vedanta Philosophy and quotes from the Books how women were treated by Hinduism. He lamented why women were treated like that. Woman suffered for aeons and that gave her infinite patience and perseverance.” What great words to say! How many of we, men, that feel we are running the family, have a sense of the invisible income she is accruing through her sacrifice for children through physical toil? He laments that writing down Smritis and binding them by hard rules, men have turned women into manufacturing machines. Great words from a saint that renounced all sensory pleasures nor exposed to vagaries of family life.

He lamented why women are treated as aliens when the same conscious Self is present in all, as per Vedanta. “Unless you uplift women, men can never rise in the eyes of the Divine” he stated. He aggrandizes women stating that irrespective of caste they were eulogized by the Vedas. He quotes the example of Gargi, who in the presence of a thousand Rishis boldly challenged Sage Yagnavalkya for a discussion on the Brahman. He laid stress on women education in days when women were deprived of the basic privilege. No family or nation that does not respect women never rises, he averred.

In a veiled attack on the 'masculinity' of man being eulogized with reference to the 'weakness of women', he asks men whether man can deliver a baby. He says the Universe is one of perfect balance. “If women can not fight nor can man suffer or endure the vagaries of life”, he said.

In recent times a trend developed in India where the teachings of the Swamy Jee, were sought to be misinterpreted in a way unbecoming of our culture, where as the West started seeing in him a sage that defined womanhood as Divinity in human form.

In my next blog, I will deal with the topic “ Women in the East and West: then and now” from my personal experiences in India, the Europe and the USA.


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