The Mandatory 100 Days

The Mandatory 100 Days

“The test of our patience ends in a pro-test.”

The credibility of our protest depends on what we are protesting for, as it directly stands for what we are for. If the cause in itself is to serve some unscrupulous purpose then quite evidently our intentions come under the scanner. We then manifest the existence of a self-gratifying trait, which quite naturally renders us ‘self-ish’.

But the funniest part of life, as well as tragic at times, is the paradox it shoves at us very frequently. And what I aim to state through this deluge of words, I leave you to interpret—in which category you would want to place it.

To get back to where I had started as regards to protest vis-à-vis purpose, even when the purpose is legitimate the mere way of expressing it at times, turns it into if not illegitimate, but definitely equally despicable.

I think by now you have been able to gauge what I am aiming at it. Yes, it is about the adherence to the “Theory of Bandhs”. It has really become a land of bandhs and about it I have mentioned in my blog, “City of Seasonal Bandhs and Protest Marches”, though with reference to the prevalent theme of, ‘Won’t work and won’t allow to work’, in Bengal—that too in a specific season.

I know Bandhs are the most common, if not most popular, way to protest. But is it the most potent and ethical way to do so? NO. It has the reverse effect and if things continue in the same vain, soon we might have to ‘Protest against this show of Protest’—how about a Bandh for a Bandh?! 

Just imagine, these bandhs do not spare anybody—a daily wager who loses his food for the day along with his family, a critically ill person forced to meet……on being disallowed a passage to the hospital. Are these not criminal acts?

Furthermore, Indian Railways has made it mandatory for ticket reservations to be made 90days in advance. Innumerable trains got cancelled today, the 5^th of July 2010, flights too were hampered. Who would compensate for the harassments? Procuring a reservation is very tough, to say the least, and even after that people are not allowed to undertake the journey—which they plan with some valid reasons—is it just not intolerable?

The parties say the bandhs are ‘for the people’. There couldn’t be a bigger misrepresentation of facts. They are ‘by the people’ but definitely ‘against the people’.

I don’t think this form of protest is patronized in any other country. Does that mean the politicians are insensitive to the issues? Hardly.

In our country, it seems that this Malignancy of Bandh is to continue unabated as also the Atrocities of the Government—which is duping the world with the ‘story’ of a thriving Indian Economy (ref:  my blog ‘Economics of Economy’).

So the only way to fight the problem that arises as far as planning a trip is concerned, is by making it mandatory to announce the bandhs ‘100 Days in Advance’—The Mandatory 100 days.

Sushmita Mukherjee,

5^th July 2010.

The Strangest Stranger

Destiny is Truth.
Truth is Stranger than Fiction.
So Destiny is Stranger than Fiction--by extrapolation and integration.

In fact the Strangest Stranger......the way it unfolds, the pre-destined (not known to us before hand) time it manifests itself, its nature and the ultimate result......none we expect....neither the result nor the timing.

Strange are the ways of life. Sometimes they favour you to the hilt...when you might be expecting just the contrary and at other times even the most well planned effort and intentions do not turn out the way intended.

But yes, both, the good times as well as the bad ones teach us lot.... though only if we are willing students.

Trying times too hold positive intonations.....which we need to distill out. While good times have a high propensity of pushing us to the brink of over-confidence, a precursor of arrogance.

I wouldn't want to get into the argument of what or who shapes our destiny--we ourselves or our environment or SOMEBODY UP THERE. But I would reiterate that Destiny is the Only Certainty--Whosoever or Whatsoever is The Mechanic, notwithstanding--Once it is Attained.

Maybe it is these very "UNKNOWN PLAYER (S)" which/who make Destiny an Enigma and hence a Stranger, The Strangest One.

Sushmita Mukherjee,

30^th May 2010.

Collective Fate

What does the dictionary do actually? Does it provide us with only the literal meaning of a word—which implies the theoretical aspect? Or is it capable of providing us with the correct picture: i.e., the implication(s) of the word(s) by conveying to us the essence of the word? The latter implies practical manifestation, on this physical plane.

To me the two things are more often different, than being same. The dictionary fails to take into account the physical implications of words—the implications are not invariant; are rather just the reverse. The implications and hence interpretation(s) depend entirely on the momentary issues and situations engulfing us. How we react, decides the impact and implications—which might be juxtaposed to the desired effect and ‘intended’ implications of the dictionary. Many a times this juxtaposition is an outcome of intentional distortion and misinterpretation of a word—manipulation it is, hence avoidable. Though there does arise situation when the undesired outcomes cannot be avoided, being totally out of our control.

I do not intend to demean the dictionary. I do not have the audacity to do so. Neither I am blind to its indispensable utility, given the immeasurable extent to which it helps us and in the process enriches us. We human beings would have been devoid of expression, but for it.

What I want to contest is the interpretation and implications of words. The way we interpret a word is not necessarily in congruence with the literal meaning recorded in the dictionary. Actually when the dictionary was compiled, the extent to which the meanings would be manipulated was not known! Otherwise the allowances would have been made, that I am sure of, with multitude of synonyms incorporated for the purpose!

The implied meanings of the word are all relative and not absolute. The environment shapes them.

There are many words (in my average vocabulary), which fit the bill. But the two words that draw me most are Secular and Independence—as must be evident from my earlier blogs. Here, though, I would restrict myself to the latter only.

There couldn’t be a greater misnomer than Independence. Independence doesn’t exist—that is in purest form. What is Independence? It is actually Inter-dependence……as reflected in ‘In Dependence’. The country became Independent from the foreigners but what did it get in return? Dependence on the intentions of the countrymen for a proper functioning—we are actually at the mercy of our own countrymen (read: politicians).

Shiv Khera has rightly said, “Freedom is not Free”. And to it I add, “There is nothing called Absolute freedom. Had it been so we would have been Absolutely Free”.

I know there is nothing ‘absolute’ in this ‘relative’ world. We as students of Chemistry have been taught that “Ideal” behaviour (for gases) is difficult to attain—depending upon various preconditions. And I find similarity between this craving for the improbability of “Ideal” situation and “Absolute-ness”—even if by extrapolation.

But still a nearest approximation of “Freedom” could be striven for and achieved, had it not been for the self-serving politicians. We have attained Freedom camouflaged as Bondage. And the biggest price that we had to give for our Freedom was the partition of the country—a wound, which would never heal as it has served as the precursor of chain reactions in the form of problems galore initiated by our “friendly” neighbour—a fragment once an integral part of India—created by the British in cahoots with a few power hungry Indians—as a parting kick before they had to leave India. They freed India, albeit with a malignant tumour—which was made possible only with the help of people who had their own interests in their heart and not that of the Nation. Partition was an additional tax that we had to pay to win our Freedom. As if the lives laid down by the ‘absolute’ patriots and freedom fighters were not enough.

This proves that the fate of the Nation then, now and in the future was, is and shall remain a prisoner in the hands of the collective fate and intentions of ‘We, the People’.

Even Fate is not Independent, nor is Destiny.

The destiny of an individual leads to certain circumstances that affect the rest of the family members in a specific manner. Then is not the fate and destiny of an individual a reflection of the destiny of the family members and vice-versa?

I strongly believe in my arrived at philosophy of “In this Life full of Uncertainties, Destiny is the only Certainty”. And this made me search for answers every time there was and is loss of lives in large numbers, en masse, that is. Calamities—natural & man-made as well as accidents render so many lives, ‘erstwhile’, at one go, within a span of few seconds and leaves aggrieved families in its wake. The recent incident of the tragic plane crash leading to the death of 158 people is nothing but a consequence of their “Collective Fates”. Otherwise why would they be flying together?

I know the cause of the accident shall be unearthed and corrective measures adopted, hopefully, in the future, to avert if possible, such painful incidents. But these efforts are all in the physical plane. We might come up with various explanations for the cause of the accidents—none that would bring back the departed. We might dole out compensations—but is there any compensation for the loss of a loved one? NO.

Explanations should be sought and given too—this is the least that aggrieved families would ask for. As also to remove any lacunae that might have led to the accident so as to prevent its repetition. I at no point of time intend to legitimize such incidents that actually scar the psyche. We do need to know the errors that led to the ill-fated incident(s), whenever they occur.

But do we ever spare a thought as to why so many lives are lost together?
I might be wrong, but to me, in this case as it is in other such painful occurrences, it is the forceful pull of the “Collective Fate” of the 158 people that caused the recent incident. Just as there is a manufacturing date and a corresponding expiry date mentioned on the strips of medicine, so it is with us. Only thing is that we are not privy to the information. We have been sent with an already activated pre-set timer called life—which stops functioning when the ordained time (up) is attained. These 158 people were destined to leave the world at the same time, together, at that particular moment. Contrary to this the 8 who managed to survive—did not share their destinies with the departed. Hence they are alive today. People say miraculously—but then there is nothing called Miracle. It happened so because it was destined to happen so.

My views might seem to be too destiny-oriented, defying logic with its apparent impractical intonation. But then I haven’t been able to come up with a more plausible answer for such painful occurrence(s). True we might come up with the mechanical reasons that lead to them. But these do not satisfy me. I need to know why they occur, why they have to occur and why they had to occur, in the first place, devouring people from diverse sections of the world and the society. The physical plane provides analytical answers that fail to satisfy me in totality.

I needed to know the non-apparent camouflaged in the apparent. Anguished anger to made its presence felt, with an accompanying helplessness, in the wake of such mishaps.

So I search(ed) for the answers from another plane—I don’t know if it could be called metaphysical or spiritual. Nor the nomenclature matters, but the answer does. I only need(ed) the answers. And it is this quest that has landed me at the shores of the “Theory Of Collective Fate”. It is the Collective Fate that forces—Collects—people from diverse areas of life, to unite them during death of their physical body. The “Collective Fate” in a way thus gets extrapolated to the philosophy of “Unity in Diversity”, on a poignant note.

Having arrived at a plausible (to me) answer, a feeling of peace makes its presence felt within—as if a part of the mystery has been solved with respect to how life works and why it works the way it works.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace. And may the aggrieved families be blessed with strength to bear the irreparable loss and the inflicted pain.

I would love to do something for them but at the moment I can’t do anything else but to only pray for them and I do so from the core of my heart. This is the least that I could do for them as I too am sharing some part of their Collective Fate in as much as inhabiting the world at the same time as they are.

Increment in Hoax

Increment in Hoax

The age that we are fortunate, as well as unfortunate, to live in, is resplendent with increment(s)—in various fields and are thus of various varieties. And since we accept the good without much ado and very less gratitude—taking it for granted, we have no option but to gulp the bad ones that come our way—like it or not. Life is a paradox to me—in fact the biggest of them all; presenting its ambi faces and leaving the ball entirely in our court—as to how we view the situation(s). Same it is with the ‘increments’—in type(s) as well as magnitude(s).

With the introduction of the sixth pay commission for the central government employees and graces thankfully embracing the pensioners as well; there has been a manifold increment in the pay packet(s) of the beneficiaries. As a consequence, life has improved for them drastically. This is the positive side. But on the flip side, the market rate—taking into cognizance only the increased ‘spend-ability’ of a select category comprising a minor proportion of the population, has touched sky-high. All the talk about lessening in supply causing an increased demand pushing the market rate up is less than accurate. Market rates are not solely decided by ‘supply & demand’ theory. Rather it is decided by the ‘Economics of Economy’—as I have mentioned in an earlier blog.
So what actually this increment has done is that it has brought about an increment in the problems of the people who have not benefited from the pay hike. Thus now they are being forced to spend more, as compared to earlier, and they get to save less—that is, if at all, given the extortionist policy to put up a façade of a growing Indian economy.

This is only one of the increments in the milieu of innumerable. Others are increments in--the number of mobile service providers, number of schools sprouting up everyday irrespective of the quality of education they dole out. Evil forces all around that cause an increment in the malfunctioning of the society—in a way increment in the malignancy that has encroached its all areas making the situation irreversible, almost, has seen an unprecedented increment. Maybe my words might seem a bit pessimistic but what I state is the fact and fact is a bitter pill.
There are various other increments, that are causing us more harm and if they are affecting any good at all, then it is yet to be reported and felt. One such increment is in the global warming. Conventions, summits and what not, are being held globally to discuss and search for any possible mean(s) to somehow curb this Frankenstein called Global Warming. Yes, it is a Frankenstein sort of a thing, being the creation of ‘We, the humans’ to suit our life-style. Everyday we get to read about the work being done or ideas mulled towards this cause. So herein I shall not delve into it further. My job being to look upon it as another area undergoing ‘increment’ to cause an ‘increment’ in the output of an outcome which is anything but positive or beneficial.

Given the galore of increments all round us, how could the field of ‘hoax’ be left behind? After all ours is a country, where ‘We, the people’ are ruled and governed by the ‘hoaxes’. And these hoaxes are served on a platter by the people whom we send—directly or indirectly, as our representative(s) to sustain the ‘legacy of democracy’. Yes, you have correctly assessed—these people are the professionals called politicians. True, all politicians are not bad and all are not in the profession of politics to meet their own ulterior agenda. But this also is true that coming across a politician who has jumped into the ‘ring of politics’ considering politics as a way to be of service to ‘We, the people’ and not as profession, are very few and far in between. They are, were they are, because they want to be of service to themselves—self-servers, through their parties.

And there is an increment, everyday of such politician(s) and correspondingly in their hoaxes.

One such glaring hoax was served by the Hon’ble Finance Minister of the West Bengal Government. He announced in his budget speech for 2010-11 that “an increment of 35% in the salary of Part-time teachers in Colleges is being brought about”. Good to hear but impossible to be true! At least, the teachers shan’t be getting those! If at all the money is allocated for the purpose, where it would go is anybody’s guess.
This I state because, as of today the part-time teachers in the Govt. Colleges of West Bengal—irrespective of the duration of their services—have been laid off. And mind it, this is not a view from the sidelines. This is an ‘on-field’ reporting. I myself am sailing in that boat with the teachers, after serving the college with utmost sincerity and to the best of my abilities for the past six and half years. We were not even shown the courtesy of an official termination letter.

So to whom the Hon’ble minister and the Govt. would give the incremented salary—to non-existent teachers?

And sadly enough, neither the print media nor the electronic media consider it an issue worth taking up. Maybe highlighting the issue won’t bring an increment in their circulation and TRP. After all teachers (several thousands have been affected) and their issues don’t fall in that ‘glamorous zone’. This is not about myself but about the entire community and that is why it is saddening and appalling. This is how teachers, considered the builders of the society are meant to be treated in the era of increments. I could no longer do nothing and wait for somebody else to report this injustice, subsequently followed shamelessly by this ‘announced hoax’.
It would be interesting now to see what other promises—actually hoaxes—the Govt. has in store!

The nation is full of gullible people and they consider the words of politicians as etchings on stone. I myself have been congratulated for an increment in my salary—though the job is non-existent. These well-meaning people were not aware of the true scenario and were smitten by the commitments of all persons, the ‘politicians’. I don’t know what to call them. Well-wishers they are but naïve.

So keep an eye on my blog space. Maybe next time I might be reporting yet another increment in our salary—India has become so rich that jobless people too are getting paid—in the form of HRA, medical allowances. And why stop here, maybe quarters might be constructed and allotted to us—on paper. More increment they can bring to their repertoire of imagination more would be the increment in the hoaxes!
But not always ‘More is Merrier’.

We deserve an increment but not in ‘hoax’, rather in sincerity, transparency and concern for ‘We, the people’, of which we teachers too are an indispensable part. Otherwise, this politics of ‘increments in hoax’ would cause ‘increment in the degeneracy’ of the society and the country as a whole.
Did we fight for our Independence for this day? Under the circumstances the term Independence has become a BIG HOAX.

Sushmita Mukherjee,
April 24th 2010.

Mediclaim for Education

Mediclaim for Education

It has been quite some time since I was last seen on my blog space—but I assure you that it was not without any reason(s). After all whatever we do, or end up doing,the incidents that happen around us, and to us as well---all have reasons, for unfolding the way they do. Though it is equally true that most of the times we are clueless as to why they happened, the way they happened. The reason(s) manifest themselves only later, at an appropriate time, which is ascertained by the discretion of the laws of nature. Fortunate are those who can correlate these ‘delayed’’ manifestation(s) of the reason(s), with their actual and ‘corresponding incident(s)’. But in spite of the apparently non-apparent reasons and thus seemingly illogical occurrences, both with me as well as my surroundings—all encompassing, with the inclusion of environment in totality comprising of my acquaintances and nature as a whole—I remain a staunch believer of the existence of a “theory behind everything”. Just as the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, who has authored a book of the same title—Theory Behind Everything.

Armed with this belief I have tried to assess various prevailing situation(s) in the society—the society serving as a unit, which makes up the nation and when extrapolated, the world as a whole. During the ‘assessment assignment’—self-imposed, of course—I have quite naturally come to accept and appreciate the development(s) that has (have) taken place all around and which continues to do so. These are the fruits of scientific endeavours and toils of innumerable individuals—after all “success & development” is a team game, requiring the involvement of one and all. In fact, more the merrier, though at times too many cooks do spoil the broth!

Anyway, one ‘positive’ that I want to discuss here, is the help—towards medical expenses—extended by the various ‘Mediclaim’ policies—floated by as many insurance companies. One needs to pay a ‘premium’ for sustaining the policy(ies) and in turn they sustain us by taking care of our medical expenditures—in case of surgeries and hospitalization(s). The medical bills, given the exponential increments they are undergoing, add up to the mental agony; over and above the physical pain that a person or a family member has to endure—and members of the family too do not stay immune to this pain. Hence this concept of “Mediclaim” can claim its place as financial anxiolytic (anxiety breaker), in the wake of acute medical condition(s).
There are certain pitfalls of such policies. Then what doesn’t have? So in this context I think considering the negatives would not be appropriate. And also it is equally true that these policies are yet to reach the economically weaker class—a paradox, as they need it the most. That would require a discussion entirely and exclusively devoted to the cause though. By dealing with it here I do not want to dilute the seriousness of the issue.

So now I move on to something else, pertinent to my ‘reason’ (again!) of indulging in this discussion primarily, and that is the education in India.

The kids of this generation have been found to be more receptive, given the subjects that they are subjected to, from a very early age. But its after-effect is, a fast burnout. The faster the brain accepts the information, the faster it rejects, by ejecting it out—from the brain—the moment its utility: read exams, projects, etc., is over. The retention is found to be difficult, if not impossible. This after-effect seems to be an extension of the “Use & Throw” policy, which first came into vogue with regards to commodities, but frighteningly is being applied for qualities and relationships as well, along with finding application in what we call ‘education’.

Another thing, which has come out as the direct fallout of the current policy adopted by the schools, is the physical fitness—rather the lack of it, of the kids. I have found that more and more of the kids have started to suffer from neuralgic pains—severe back pains, spondylitis and the like. And on intense analyses have found the cause to lie with the school bags—the kilograms they carry are of frightening proportions. No wonder they are suffering from such degenerative ailment (s) in their formative years! When the body is still in the process of growth, it buckles under the inhuman weight the school bags have come to signify.
In our times, we had definite routine for each day and carried the books and copies of the corresponding subjects only. But nowadays, the routine is not specified. The kids have to carry all books in their curriculum and copies too, rendering them assess with mass of books on their back.

Accepting the prevailing norm, in the name of education, various manufacturers of school bags have hit the market with a ‘ trolley’ incorporated in the bag. This allows the kids some relief, as they are spared from carrying the bag—in fact baggage—on their back. But how many can afford such an innovative bag—only a select few. That leaves the majority with no option but to lug their bags, on their shoulders—shoulders too weak and small for such weights, which thus become burden.
This burden manifests itself in various forms—mental and physical. And as I am with the physical part in this discussion, I think, the insurance companies should induct ‘education’ too in their mediclaim policies—wherein injuries inflicted by such norm for education too would have the medical expenses borne by them. The companies would reap rich dividends having thus increased their area of applicability. While the kids and their parents can be spared from bearing the heavy medical expenditures that follow such ‘criminal education’.

Yes, it is a type of crime that is being committed in the name of education. Education is a quality, whose attainment is the birth right of every individual. It is not a quantity, which needs to depend upon the kilograms of books that are being enforced on the shoulders of the student(s).
There are number of reforms that are being tried to improve our education system. But it is restricted, as of now, to the arena of exams, marks and no-marks! I sincerely hope that steps would be mulled over, in the future—not distant but near—to address the issue. The ‘baggage’ should be reverted to the ‘bag’ it once used to be. The kids can only then blossom mentally—with the elimination of the physical burden.

I know people might disagree with me, and put forth as evidence, a very low ‘percentile’ of such ‘painful’ cases. But one cannot disagree with the existence of, even if, a low percentile! And in any case exception(s) prove(s) the rule. So if all are not suffering, then sufferings of a few, is a valid enough reason to bring about the downfall of the prevalent ‘norm’.
But till something is done in this direction, education would continue to be disbursed as a baggage, in the name of norm and in the form of ‘educational baggage’. And in the interim, this ‘education’ would be claiming the health of many more hapless kid(s).

Since education, synonymous with unimaginable weights, is causing such severe medical condition(s), there needs to be a Mediclaim for Education. That would be some solace in the wake of the irreparable damages that are incurred at times— by taking care of the financial worries. The actual damage though could never be compensated.
So either the schools, or the Government, should come up with such group insurance schemes in collaboration with the insurance companies.

As for what should be the name of such a scheme, I can propose one: EDUCLAIM.

Sushmita Mukherjee,
Thursday, 8th April 2010.

Empowered State, Belittled Nation

Empowered State, Belittled Nation

Who are we supposed to be? Residents of this country or citizens of this country? Or are we merely natives of a particular place belonging to a particular state; having total loyalty, obligation and sense of belonging to that State only, relegating the Country to a secondary status?
There is a major difference between a mere resident and a bonafide citizen. Though it seems we are bent upon forsaking this citizenship for the “myopic regionalism”. Also on innumerable occasions we are forced by the socio-economic and socio-political system to accept the superiority of regional loyalty over love for our nationality.

This I state, without malice towards my fellow citizens. Rather these are all statements of facts rooted in my own experiences. And I am sure each and everybody has had his or her share of fling with regionalism---at times voluntary and at other times involuntary. I have been at the receiving end of such loyalty towards regionalism and herein I would like to share with you all some of them, which have had profound impact on my life.

I was born and brought up in Bihar, the much-maligned state for reasons galore and at times without any, as well. Well, that is not my contention here, rather my experiences are. My father was a University Professor and a teacher of great repute, and is still much loved and respected. He superannuated from his service in December 1999. During that time he held the post of Dean, Faculty of Science. Incidentally, he too has been born and brought up in Bihar, my grandfather having shifted his base there for his profession.
I had my entire education there. First, school and subsequently, B.Sc, from a college, which is over 100years old, followed by M.Sc from the University. We moved to Kolkata lock, stock and barrel in the year 2000 after my father’s retirement from service. In the meanwhile I qualified in NET (National Eligibility Test), a must for Lectureship in India, from a center in Kolkata.

These are the facts. Now come the effects and experiences.

In spite of our long, to say the least, association with the place, the respect that my father gets there from his students and colleagues, it couldn’t become our home. Time and again, we were discriminated by the people, in general, as, “Bangali hai na (After all is a Bengali)”, “Bangali aisa hi hota hai (Bengalis are like this only)”, etc. True, at the same time, the love that we continue to get from our acquaintances is unparalleled and we feel blessed for that. In fact when we left that place, I didn’t find single such an eye, “tear-less”.
But still, the discrimination hurt beyond expression, graduating to Rejection.

Well, this is not the end of the story. There are two more to follow.
Let them be in the chronological order of their happening.

After securing high marks in my Class 12th exam, I was fortunate to get admission in Miranda House, New Delhi with Honours in Chemistry. But I had to forgo the admission after attending classes for about 8 weeks as I was denied an accommodation in the hostel despite my having maximum marks in my stream. All because I hailed from Bihar and had dared to speak the truth during the interview conducted for admission to the hostel. How could I be taken in? I was a Bihari sitting in the confines of the Principal’s room in India’s capital and still daring to speak the truth!

Then comes an incident that took place later. In an earlier paragraph, I’ve specifically mentioned that my center was in Kolkata for the NET, which is conducted, twice a year, jointly by CSIR & UGC and qualifying in the test is a prerequisite for getting appointed as Lecturer in College/s in India. Thus having cleared the “net of NET”, I was assured of Lectureship, in a college with vacancy in the relevant subject. In the interim, I started my PhD programme in a renowned institution, where I got chance after a rigorous interview and due to my “NET qualification”. The research got discontinued, due to certain physical limitations that developed subsequently and the rigidity of the people concerned. They didn’t want to modify the working condition nor the approach towards the assignment was changed.

I knew that I would face stiff competition for Lectureship, but my candidature would be summarily rejected, that I didn’t envisage. Because I had the “specified” credentials. Even my “demo” class impressed quite a few in the interview panel: in the interviews that I faced.
But I was not considered. That didn’t hurt me because in interviews such things do happen. You can’t succeed in all. But the reason angered, hurt and perplexed me. The reason that was made to do the rounds “pseudo-officially” was my lack of a PhD degree. With due regards, PhD can’t be the deciding parameter for Lectureship and teaching acumen. To become a good teacher, it is not essential and that is what has been stated by the UGC, though NET is the decider. To be a good teacher the communication skills plus the grasp over the subject are quintessential. Furthermore, it is not my fault that I don’t have a PhD. I won’t get into it as it is a different issue altogether in the given context.

The actual and unofficially aired cause for the rejection of my candidature, that did the rounds of the corridors that mattered, was my Bihar connection. Lo and behold, I appeared in the NET from Kolkata, withstood interviews and made my dedication towards my chosen profession very clear. But it is the stigma of Bihar, which became my undoing.
At present, I am a part time Lecturer in a reputed Government College, where I have been teaching since November, 2003.I got the job because of my NET eligibility.

But then I could’ve had full time lectureship.

I am not complaining, but merely stating that now I have become a “Bihari”. If my degrees, from Bihar, were false, how did I clear NET, faced long interviews, have my students well placed abroad by competing in various relevant competitive examinations? Here I do not want to extol about my capabilities but want to lay the bare facts out in the open.

Just imagine, in an Independent Country, I do not know who I am: a Bengali or a Bihari? Nobody (people who decide the fate of a person’s career) considers me as an Indian. While in Bihar, I was a “non-resident Bengali”, in Delhi I was a “resident Bihari non-resident Bengali” and in Bengal I have been labeled a “non-resident Bihari, speaking Bangla”! And amidst all these, the concerned people have overlooked my Indian citizenship. So it is with many others, I am sure, Maharashtra projecting one of the most glaring examples in recent times.

I am afraid that this problem will rise exponentially, with the demand for and creation of many more states. The country is being fragmented or rather fresh boundaries are being drawn as new states, in our country’s map. True, this might help in better governance and addressing the local issues, by the decentralization of power.
But a serious backlash would be a further rise in this regional feeling; as if other discriminations based on caste and religion are not enough. Rather with more and more states, this uprising of regionalism will get a license to be exercised: nationalism being torn while the boundaries are etched.

I sincerely hope, the states do not become malignant tumour crippling the working of a united nation. We should’ve the right to exercise our rights as Indians instead of being pushed into the regional quagmire of being a Bihari, Bengali, Punjabi………etc. the number of such “names” being equal to the total number of states!
States are building blocks of the country, like a “dx” in Calculus, which when integrated over a specified range gives the entire picture, here the country. But they can never supersede the country in significance and importance.

I am sure of my identity. I am an Indian.

Sushmita Mukherjee,
11th January, 2010

Self-Proclaimed Judge

Self-proclaimed Judge

We are all self-proclaimed judges, albeit to a varying degree. Simply because we are judgemental. But “judgement” means, as per the dictionary (yes, again that sacred book which is indispensable to me and without its help I refrain from using words: from fear of misinterpretation on the part of the readers and unintentional distortion of views and facts that need to be expressed, on my part!), “ability to make sound decisions”; while “judgemental” is scripted as adj (i) of judgement, (ii) being overly critical of others.
Whence I don’t know whether “being judgemental” can qualify at all as a positive trait. “Judgemental” can indicate towards a positive lineage only if the judgement is a judgement in the true sense (which it seldom is when one is judgemental) and not a proxy, which is primarily based on hearsay and prejudices. Judges are supposed to pass sound judgements instead of being judgemental. Judgemental, brings an element of self-involvement and makes it all the more difficult to elevate the self beyond the horizon of “bias”.

We as human-beings, on being exposed to various happenings: from downright mundane to outright adrenalin pumping----come up with theories behind it. We pass our judgement on the role of the participant/s and the validity or otherwise of the incident/s.
Theorizing, which we as students of Chemistry do quite a bit, is an outcome of, either or combination or all, the following factors:

(i) Generalisation :- When the same outcome is had from similar ingredients: participants, circumstances etc., we generalize that given the similar situation, the interaction between amimate or animate & inanimate subjects will yield the same result.
(ii) Retroanalysis:- Analysis done in retrospect . It is somewhat analogous to generalization, rather is its precursor, differs a bit in as much as a generalization is laid only when it attains the tag of “ being unarguably true” after innumerable analyses & retroanalyes. In analyses we need to keep an open mind instead of being rigid. We shouldn’t be afraid to find faults in our assessment of the situation. Rather should be our own biggest critic, as it is quite possible that we might be wrong (to err is human). Only then, possibly, we will attain the absolute truth.
(iii) Call of Prejudice:- This makes us do things which we deem to be correct. Prejudice blurs our vision with a wrong notion that we are right and others are wrong. We wish to see events unfurl according to our thought-to-be correct way/s. We want others to behave as per our dictates (doesn’t that make us dictators?!). If they fail to do so, we adjudge them to be in the wrong. All this because prejudice as a word, ‘has its root’, if I am not wrong, in “prejudge” which means “to form a judgement before knowing all the facts”, while “prejudice” is “an opinion based not on reason or experience”. In other words, being predisposed /pre-committed towards a particular judgement irrespective of the facts, which aren’t cared to be considered in totality.
Thus, prejudice leads to bias, rather is synonymous. Whence theories when lean upon (i) more, with help from (ii) but not entirely on (ii) and definitely not even a bit on (iii) for their existence, are successful in doing so. If not they end up being mere smear on the pages of time.

We all are liable to such indiscretions: intentional and unintentional as well, if we are not careful with our views. True, our Constitution accords us the “Freedom of Speech” but while speaking, either through our voiced words or written words, we should remember that the “freedom” is not from the underlying responsibility that comes with it as a “combo-pack”. In trying to utilize the freedom of speech the barrier of responsibility is not to be breached and domain of irresponsibility is better left un-encroached, at least by the educated, in the true sense, people. Issues need to be raised; more so if they have a high controversy quotient, in proper manner at a proper place at a proper time, instead of trying to encash its publicity possibilities. That is, if the corrective measures are really meant and desired.

Thus, when I came across the two articles in Pune Mirror (of TOI, Pune), dt.28th Oct.’09, I was stunned, to say the least. One has the excerpts from the book “Who Killed Karkare” by the honourable former IG Police, Maharashtra, Mr.S.M.Mushrif and the second one, a review of the book by Dr.Sumit.S.Paul.
As we approach the day of 26/11 a year after the deplorable acts of indefinable magnitude, I can’t quite express the feelings welling up within and so it is, I am sure with all my fellow citizens. I have no words to express my solidarity with the people who have lost their loved ones in the incident. But I am with them, for sure, in however minuscule way possible. All of us, as a whole nation and human-beings have lost our fellow beings (there were many non-Indians too at the receiving end of the massacre) and I pray to the almighty to empower them with more strength, to combat their grief, that they have been doing so courageously for the past one-year.

And to decide to pass his own judgement, in the form of his explosive book, to “shed light” on the “factual” happenings: I don’t know how responsible it is. We don’t want to see light in an explosion. We already have had too many real ones and now we want to be spared of the metaphorical one too.

I do not want to question the authenticity of the data he has been supplied with, which he has compiled in the form of the book and complied with his urge to tell the whole world about the “actual” culprits. I am not that qualified nor do I have the requisite privileged information. But I too want to utilize my freedom of speech, as I can’t refrain from asking the following questions:

(a) Whether the case pertaining to the whole chain of spine chilling incidents of 26/11 has been completed & the real and authorized judge has passed the judgement?
I think not. The court of enquiry has not yet been closed.

(b) If so, then the matter is subjudice , pending with the specific court of law.
Under the circumstances coming up with a book with parallel views on the issues (sorry, I haven’t read the book as yet but as much I could envisage from the excerpt) on a subjudice matter is nothing short of “contempt of court”(as much as I know about it).

(c) If he really wants to bring the truth out in the open in the truest of senses, why didn’t he go to “the court” with his findings?

(d) By his insinuations, the evidences collected by various investigating agencies: international as well, and most importantly the FBI; and theories forwarded subsequently by them will be projected as false, at least partially. Did he meet with them and try to “dispel their notion” based on “their less than accurate findings”? He has said that IB will not help in his mission of unraveling the truth. But what about the FBI? He could have surely talked to them. Or has he?

(e) He has tried to solve the mystery of who killed the top cop Hemant Karkare. In that he has adjudged the “Brahminists” (for the first time I was made aware of the existence of such a sect and for that I am really thankful to Mr.Mushrif) as culprits and those as “criminals” who carried out the rest of the very meticulously planned heinous chain of events. Well, it has been proved beyond doubt that our friendly neighbouring nation was involved in it, at least indirectly by allowing the perpetrators use of their soil for the entire planning, if not directly by supplying them with the necessary logistics (that they are strongly denying).
So does Mr.Mushrif wants to state that the evil spirits from the neighbouring nation joined hands with their religious and ideological rivals, “Brahminists” in this country and worked in cahoots sending the “criminals” for the purpose to our country? Does he mean to say, the murder of Hemant Karkare formed a part of the planned mass murders of innocent people? Then how are the “Brahminits” different from his “criminals”, as all perpetrators of crime are criminals in the broad sense? And then who are terrorists? Definitely who spread terror by their dastardly acts. So is spreading terror not a crime? By redefining of terms, as I perceive (I might be wrong), has he not ended up lessening, if not obliterating, the participation of our neighbouring nation? And if so, what message will it carry to the world as a whole when they are trying to help us out on this matter?

Questions can be aplenty. I too have a compelling one, that which has disturbed me for the past one-year: why the three top cops, heads of three different wings, the slained Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar and Ashok Kamte were moving together? Who had given them the orders to go to the same place at the same time in unison? What was the logic behind centralizing/localizing all three, instead of decentralizing them and allowing them the freedom to plan counter attacks from three different sides? God only knows, but I feel in that circumstance they wouldn’t have, at least not all three of them, met with such a cruel fate.
I too can add two and two to get four, but I refrain from doing so, as my retroanalyses might lead me to different two’s than the actual ones in action and would thus make my arrived at four to be inaccurate.

So instead of passing my judgement on a subjudice matter, that which is not pending at my court of law, I pray that the real perpetrators are brought to book via a process that will not utilize the religion of the people concerned as a tool to either falsely implicate them or illegitimately exonerate them. Only then the souls of the departed will rest in peace. My religion, as a true Indian, has this indelible philosophy and ideology imprinted on my heart, soul and mind. And I am sure, so it is with the majority of the fellow citizens. We want justice to be delivered. This is the least that could be done to assuage the pain of the still mourning families and a bleeding nation as a whole.

Lastly coming to the terminal lines of Dr.Paul’s review of the book. He has urged us to read the book, not to discard it and even if we do not agree with the author, we should challenge his views and not the individual. Dr.Paul further states that the sign of an educated and enlightened mind is to entertain an idea, even though one doesn’t agree with it. Very true. Though, I don’t know whether I am properly educated and posses an enlightened mind, at least in this context. But I do know that I wouldn’t have written a book on a subjudice matter. If I had the requisite information worth vouching for, I would have gone to the court of law.
Yes, I challenge this very concept of the author. I challenge the prudence of writing such a book in an already volatile situation. True, the urge to proclaim self, as a judge, is an irresistible lure. But writing a book (which is a finished product of a reaction) on a subjudice matter (which implies the reaction is still in progress), can be LEADING, MISLEADING or MANIFESTATION OF PREJUDICE, if not CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Sushmita Mukherjee,
21st November 2009