November - An eventful month - Newskarntaka.com
A Satirical look at the news events of the past month by Brian Fernandes, Associate Editor, ewskarnataka.com
Sant Rampal, an engineer by education and profession, changed his profession just as he reached the age of naughtiness. He started to believe he is the reincarnation of Sant Kabir, and amazingly, thousands of people thought so too… until he was forced into jail, by the power of our judiciary, which though slow , like the tortoise, always wins the race of justice. His arrest revealed a palatial ashram, well stocked with medicine, medical diagnostic equipment, a throne cum lift, which prompted our successful policemen to take a selfie aka our PM, and for dessert, kheer made out of milk in which he had showered! An incredible story of belief, beguilement, and now bemusement.
In the meanwhile, another sant, or shall we say yogi, Baba Ramdev, was accorded Z level security by the Home ministry after they opined that the threat to him had increased… despite his enduring silence on the black money issue ever since the saffron government took over in May. There was very little to differentiate between the color of his beard and the money he said was stashed abroad- his favorite discourse, during the dying days of the Manmohan regime. A strange turn of events to the say the least, when the former governmental threat, felt threatened, despite a triumph at the hustings!
Funnily, It’s not clear how this security blanket of 22 personnel by the Delhi police, the ITBF and CRPF personnel and one escort car, will be able to protect him during his many public yoga workshops. It does seem strange that reportedly, the government is providing the cover to a private citizen at its cost, even as it charges Mukesh Ambani for the same; One wonders, what the government so afraid of, that they need to watch his movements? One wonders if there is a connection between the security cover, and the fact the black money has yet to come back!
Indo Pak relations have gone into cold storage and this has coincided with the start of the winter chill in Delhi. Refusing to talk to Pakistan, after they defied norms to talk to Indian separatists on Indian soil, and retaliating strongly against Pakistan's attempt to destroy the warriors peace at the LOc, the chill has deepened and both the shawl and the sari exchanged during the PM’s inauguration gala, cannot prevent the bone from chilling.
The PM’s of Pakistan and India crossed swords at the UNGA, and kept the swords sheathed but at the ready during the just concluded SAARC summit. Pakistan stone walled India’s proposals and it was only after pressure was brought to bear by other SAARC members there was a forced a hand shake and superficial bonhomie, a single agreement was finally forthcoming. Looks like the relationship will not improve anytime soon, as infiltration efforts by state and non state actors from across the LOC, continue before the real chill sets in J&K.
Speaking of J&K, a 70% turnout, despite boycott calls by separatist leaders, is an amazing statistic for a state that has suffered like the proverbial chutney between sandwich breads. Pressed for allegiance from both sides, the voter has spoken out and only time will be able to narrate the true story of this defiance. Hopefully like a Hitchcockian novel, the vote will bring all the characters together in a final scene, and tie up the loose ends, without cutting them off.
Even as an Indian man died of ebola in Liberia, bird flu struck the ducks with a vengeance in Gods own country, leading to a massive containment operation that involved culling of the birds to prevent its spread. They did not do that when SARS, MERS and Ebola struck did they? They created screens, quarantines and sera to contain its spread. It’s a strange thought to have, but it seems relevant in some way.
In the meanwhile, even as the chickens were being culled down south, Srinivasan, the patriarch of the BCCI was being proscribed by the court, the press, and his nemesis, the other Modi, Lalith, for his inability to do a swacch BCCI Abhiyan. He was accused of conflict of interest, even when he said he had no interest in cricket, only power! It would however be a fallacy to believe, that his imminent departure, (he might maneuver the end result), make a difference to the game, which, it seems no longer has any gentlemen left.
Even as some gentlemen (sic) were fighting to save Indian cricket, a real talented gentleman cricketer, died in a tragedy on the cricket pitch, when a bouncer meant to prevent him from scoring and possibly scare him into making a batsmen’s error, hit him below the ear sending him into a coma from which he never woke up. A tragic end to an eventful month.
Funnily, It’s not clear how this security blanket of 22 personnel by the Delhi police, the ITBF and CRPF personnel and one escort car, will be able to protect him during his many public yoga workshops. It does seem strange that reportedly, the government is providing the cover to a private citizen at its cost, even as it charges Mukesh Ambani for the same; One wonders, what the government so afraid of, that they need to watch his movements? One wonders if there is a connection between the security cover, and the fact the black money has yet to come back!
Indo Pak relations have gone into cold storage and this has coincided with the start of the winter chill in Delhi. Refusing to talk to Pakistan, after they defied norms to talk to Indian separatists on Indian soil, and retaliating strongly against Pakistan's attempt to destroy the warriors peace at the LOc, the chill has deepened and both the shawl and the sari exchanged during the PM’s inauguration gala, cannot prevent the bone from chilling.
The PM’s of Pakistan and India crossed swords at the UNGA, and kept the swords sheathed but at the ready during the just concluded SAARC summit. Pakistan stone walled India’s proposals and it was only after pressure was brought to bear by other SAARC members there was a forced a hand shake and superficial bonhomie, a single agreement was finally forthcoming. Looks like the relationship will not improve anytime soon, as infiltration efforts by state and non state actors from across the LOC, continue before the real chill sets in J&K.
Speaking of J&K, a 70% turnout, despite boycott calls by separatist leaders, is an amazing statistic for a state that has suffered like the proverbial chutney between sandwich breads. Pressed for allegiance from both sides, the voter has spoken out and only time will be able to narrate the true story of this defiance. Hopefully like a Hitchcockian novel, the vote will bring all the characters together in a final scene, and tie up the loose ends, without cutting them off.
Even as an Indian man died of ebola in Liberia, bird flu struck the ducks with a vengeance in Gods own country, leading to a massive containment operation that involved culling of the birds to prevent its spread. They did not do that when SARS, MERS and Ebola struck did they? They created screens, quarantines and sera to contain its spread. It’s a strange thought to have, but it seems relevant in some way.
In the meanwhile, even as the chickens were being culled down south, Srinivasan, the patriarch of the BCCI was being proscribed by the court, the press, and his nemesis, the other Modi, Lalith, for his inability to do a swacch BCCI Abhiyan. He was accused of conflict of interest, even when he said he had no interest in cricket, only power! It would however be a fallacy to believe, that his imminent departure, (he might maneuver the end result), make a difference to the game, which, it seems no longer has any gentlemen left.
Even as some gentlemen (sic) were fighting to save Indian cricket, a real talented gentleman cricketer, died in a tragedy on the cricket pitch, when a bouncer meant to prevent him from scoring and possibly scare him into making a batsmen’s error, hit him below the ear sending him into a coma from which he never woke up. A tragic end to an eventful month.
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