End of half of 2010

As part of the new journey I am on – I believe there are certain experiences which are worth sharing. This journey is full of wonderful anecdotes, travesties, experiences, small journeys and big voyages, collection of battles and winners of wars. There is no winner, there are no losers, no interpreters, no impostors, no beliefs, no mirages. There is a manifestation of your own self – and what you pray against is a mirror, not in a literary sense but more figurative in nature; which actually means you are praying towards yourself for yourself. The most important ingredients seem to be an unwavering faith, the intensity to carry it undeterred and a clear aim of what exactly we want to purge.

I agree I am not making any sense at all. So from now on, in my own humble way, I will try to granularise such thoughts – not only for the benefit of the readers who do turn in, but more like a soliloquy aloud. It would seem to clear my own thoughts, disentangle issues and make things simple – as it is meant to be.

In the meanwhile light returns, optimism beckons – in a week’s time. A new beginning, a fresh start and I am really looking ahead towards it. Wish me luck, well errr no… Wish us luck!!

Pattering Patil

As promised, Contramental would strive to bring some smile to anyone it can, in these hours and hours to come. For today it is some of the sound bytes that our ex home minister, Shivraj Patil emanated during his tenure. Dont be mistaken, Mr Bush, you got stiff competition. (courtesy: The Economic Times, Mumbai Edition, 1 December, 2008)

“You want Afzal Guru to be hanged. (At the same time) you are saying that don’t hang a person who has gone to Pakistan (Singh)....These people (the BJP) want others to be hanged. What are you doing? You are saying don’t hang that person (Singh) and you say hang this person (Guru) here.” Mr Patil likening the mercy plea of Sarbjeet Singh, an Indian on the death row in Pakistan who New Delhi claims is a case of mistaken identity, with that of Mohammad Afzal, the Kashmiri terrorist convicted in Parliament attack case.

“We are ready for a meaningful intercourse with the terrorists.” Mr Patil soon after he took charge as the home minister.

“There are bits of information available with us (about the designs of terrorists)...what we do not have is the time and place of the attack.” Mr Patil in the wake of twin Hyderabad blasts in August 2007.

“The terrorists are trying to spread fear and terror among people across the country through their evil designs. We will not allow them to succeed in it.” Mr Patil soon after the September 13 blasts in Delhi, which were followed by the Assam blasts on October 30 and, now, the deadly Mumbai attacks.

“I will resign only when the Congress president Sonia Gandhi tells me to go.” Mr Patil reacting to the Opposition’s demand for his papers soon after the Delhi blasts. Incidentally, under the Constitution, a minister continues at the pleasure of the President, who is bound by the advice of the prime minister.

“Naxalism in India is presented by some in a manner which does not give the correct picture. On occasions, it is said that 10 states in India, nearly 180 districts, are affected. It means that one-third of the country is affected. If one village in a district is affected, it is treated that one district is affected. If one or two districts of a state are affected, it does not mean that all districts in the state are affected.” Mr Patil in his address to the annual DGP meet in November 2008...a day after, prime minister termed Naxalism the country’s biggest security challenge.

“The Government is not interested in using weapons. They (the Naxalites) are our brothers and sisters and we know that this is a socio-economic problem rather than one of law and order. We can solve these problems through dialogue and discussions.” Mr Patil in April 2005. When criticised during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha for sympathising with Red terror, he said there was “nothing wrong in calling those born in India as our brothers and sisters.”

“Main so gaya, main patte khel raha hoon, main daru peeke baitha hoon, main dance club jaata hoon toh aap mujhe dosh dijiye (Blame me if I am sleeping (on the job), playing cards, drinking and whiling away time and frequenting dance clubs).” Mr Patil, obviously irritated at his criticism in the media after he was seen in three different suits on the day of the Delhi serial blasts in September.

“Before I could reach there, the terrorists who had attacked one of the hospitals, the Cama Hospital, had left and those who attacked the railway station had also left.” Mr Patil, soon after visiting the Mumbai attack sites.

England flee - the real reason

It has been a startling week; a wonderful awakening. From now on I have decided to spread some cheer to this world in my own small, a small signature defiance to show my right to live; amidst this pall of gloom and worry.

By a thorough recee of publications, I have just been able to dig out one of the real reasons why the England cricket team fled, just before the Guwahati ODI, leaving behind a potential possibility for a 7 - 0 drubbing (though 5 - 0 is not any worse). So here it goes (courtesy: Mumbai Mirror, 29 November, 2008)

"Birdflu outbreak in Assam, poultry set to be culled
Process of killing 30,000 birds will be completed in three to four days; 20 rapid response teams visit each and every household
GUWAHATI: About 30,000 chicken and ducks will be culled in Assam during the next four days as an outbreak of bird flu in poultry has been reported in the state, an official said. “The entire culling process is expected to be completed in three to four days as our teams are visiting each and every household in the area. We estimate there could be some 30,000 poultry birds in the area where culling is currently underway," said Manoranjan Choudhury, deputy director of the Assam veterinary department. The Indian health ministry on Thursday confirmed the outbreak of bird flu after laboratory tests confirmed strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza. Sale and purchase of poultry has been banned in the state. Choudhury said about 30,000 chicken and ducks would be slaughtered in about 40 villages of Thakurichuba village. The veterinary personnel involved in the culling process were being administered the antiviral drug Tamiflu as a precautionary measure. “The process of culling has already started, involving about 20 Rapid Response Teams with seven members in each group led by a veterinarian," he said. More than 300 birds died in the past one week in the state. Assam's veterinary and animal husbandry department sounded an alert and is maintaining a strict surveillance on farms in the state. IANS "

Meanwhile some startling revelations at Contramental. Watch out!