Allahabadi Worldview

The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.                                                                  - Robert M. Hutchins Democracy is, as said, of the people, by the people and for the people, which means we the people are the driving force of the democracy. Therefore for a democracy to thrive, we need a system which works for the people, which serves the people and we need people to be part of that system selflessly. But after 70 years of democracy in so called largest democracy of the world, i find something missing. I see our founding fathers forgot to put the most important brick in the foundation of this great nation.  That brick is the 'Value of Life'. For most of us, if not all, somebodys death is just a news. Forget about commoner, we are least bothered for lives lost at the border who give supreme sacrifice for our future. We are a co

Originally published in May 2011 : “Long ago, there was a king called Kamunist, he was a great ruler and had a great control over his state. He was very clever and had immense administrative acumen. With his wisdom and acute knowledge of people management the King became almost invincible and ruled his state for decades”. One fine morning a noble Brahmin came to the state and after looking at the status of people and the economy of state, he decided to go the king. When king heard about the Brahmin he gracefully invited him to his court and welcomed him to the court. Then the king asked the brahmin,“Hey brahmin, I am grateful to you that you arrived at my door, what can I do for you? Brahmin replied, “Rajan! I heard a lot about you & your administrative acumen and therefore I came all along to see you and to see the people. King Kammunist became happy after hearing Brahmin’s words, he further asked,”so what did you find, did you liked my administration, my courtmen, the prosp

Saturday. time: 7:30 pm venue: a very old architecture with red bricks and wooden chairs along with Teak-tables, a waiter in posh-white outfit reminding me of British era, this place is "Coffee House" in the Civil lines area of Allahabad city. . Over the corner table on my left there were two oldies sitting, not just sitting though, but sipping there coffee. complete silence, a pin-drop per say. only the crumble sound of news-paper, if at all turned. both oldies very so carried away with that news-paper article that they forgot the world around them. sudden electricity fails, one of the two said, Jyoti Babu chole geche !!!! and there was big laugh all around,,,,, i was perplexed what electricity has to do with Jyoti babu?? i asked the gentleman what he meant by that? he offered me a chair and ordered a cup of coffee for me as well. he told me that both are Bengolis and they were part of Communist movement in the late sixties and late seventies whi