No End To The Bludgeoning

Here comes another disaster contrived by the UPA government.. something that I believe should be a shock to all those citizens who have expressed optimism about the governement's intent behind reservation in elite institutions and its outcome. For us who have been piqued to such extent by only a few other things, this means another bout of angst and helplessness.

The Times Of India link

Such is the lure of votes and power that all political parties had come together clamoring in support of reservation earlier as if it were a universal boon. Not one politician came forward to talk against it. Navjot Singh Sidhdhu who was an exception, has my admiration now despite his Laughter Challenge antics. However, the bill making primary education a fundamental right is not going to be taken forward. The same politicians who until now had been claiming concern over the poverty-stricken undergraduate youth devoid of opportunities (majority of whom are supposed to from backward castes), have now washed their hands off this affair. When the poor children aren't encouraged and sponsored for the basic primary education , how do they intend to manufacture bright yet deprived poor youngsters at the 10+2 and graduate levels to benefit from their reservation policy? Is the luxury of getting a seat in a premier education institution with ease more important than the basic need of having primary education?

Perhaps it is useless to ask all these questions. Such acts of thoughtlessness and ulterior brutality are now seen as natural rather than outrageous. The government blatantly pleads the lack of adequate funds while they are ready to shell out many times the amount in question to increase seats and facilities in IITs and IIMs. That is to accommodate reservation claimants and prospective contributors to its vote bank. The so-called educationists are unwilling to let education reach all and sundry. And we, the silent watchers of this sham, continue to bury our heads in shame while the administrators continue to bury the future of the country.

For The Music-savvy Ghost

A few ghosts in a Gujarat village allegedly decided to haunt the villagers. The decision came after they unravelled the hidden invitation for them contained in Himesh Reshammiya's song "jhalak dikhla ja, ek baar aa ja aa ja " that was played on radio.

The Times of India link

The sinister song naturally was banned. I would have been pleased to have Reshammiya banned for any one of the following reasons:

1>Usurpation of the lyricist's space by having songs with only one/two words(s) dominating each....e.g. aa ja aa ja aa ja, aashiq banaya aashiq banaya aashique banaya, humko deewana humko deewana humko deewana, etc

2>Usurpation of the genuine singer's space and the actor's space obviously

3>Making songs with cheerful lyrics sound mournful

4>Causing interference with high-frequency electronic transmissions

But the ban on this particular song for spiritualistic reasons caused some trouble to my jugular veins and carotid arteries. This is despite the fact that the woman for whom the song was sung in the movie (Udita Goswamy) fell little short of portraying a real-life ghost. I find it difficult to believe that it has always been this easy to invoke ghosts.( As kids, my friends and I used to intrigue one another with learnt ideas involving pencils,candles and open books in this regard).

Apparently, the ghost of today is music-savvy and on the lookout for songs with words meaning "come" being sung. Since, I follow hindi music with more interest, I have decided to compile for the benefit of the ghosts, a list of songs that they might wish to mistake for invitations to them. The list will also be useful for those who wish to invite ghosts. Last but not the least, people who are interested in getting a few songs banned can also refer to this list (and therefore, will not ban my blog hopefully).

Here are some selected ghost-invitation songs:

1. jhalak dikhla ja, ek baar aa ja aa ja : invitation for the ghost to visit only once

2. aaja aaja main hun pyaar tera.. aa aa aaa aaja (the one picturized on shammi kapoor , asha parekh) : this is when you want to make the ghost mad and delirious as it comes

3. jaaiye aap kahan jayenge, phir nazar lout ke yahin aayegi : this doesn't have any word which means "come" but it is clearly a sweet respectful (note the word aap) threat to the ghost against going.

4. saaze dil chhedo na, aao na aaao na: for the musical kind of ghost

5. aaja saawariya , aa aa aa aa, taal se taal milao : this is for the ghost passionate about both music and dance

6. aa ja re, aa ja re o mere dilbar aa ja: this is most ideal for ghosts invoking ghosts

7. come to me , bhool jaye saara jahan: for the modern ghost well-trained in english.

8. aa re aa re aa re ..(Reshammiya's song in Chup Chup ke): this can also be used to drive the ghost wild with monotony as it comes

9. aa ja aai bahaar, dil hai bekarar: for open-air rendezvous with a ghost

10.aaiye aapka intezaar tha: for the unpunctual ghost!!!

I think we have enough varieties to suit the tastes of most of the people. Care must be taken to sing the songs fully..or else they could get misconstrued as open invitations.

Others who would not like to get disturbed by the visiting ghosts, may please try songs with words meaning "go". There has been no confirmation of whether the "go" works. So one can always make it to the news headlines if there are any results.