Ranchi Express

There are somethings in life for which you wait desperately, your first date, your first (you exactly know what!) and your close friend's marriage. Manav one of my close friends, fortunately or unfortunately (depends on your experience) got married couple of weeks back. His marriage was nothing less than an epic adventure which would give JRR Tolkien a run for his money. Unfortunately, I can't tell you the entire story (as then I have to write a triology similar to Tolkien'e Lord of the Things or Hobbit) but would certainly give away the juicy part of it, just like watching an epic trailer at your nearby imax theater.

The wedding date was announced as a threat to me that if I failed to come, then my house would be raided by Naxalites or an air plane will be crashed by Al-Queeda to my building. As I live on the first floor and it pretty much makes up for the top floor as well, I didn't have any other option than to give in. I blocked the entire last week of January for the wedding and my boss not so happily approved it. I practiced some killing dance moves for the wedding and also taught them to my fellow friend Shoorbir who would accompany me on this journey. Shoorbir is a Michael Jackson in his own, he doesn't require any dance steps in fact I could bet a million that he hardly requires music as  well. So, dance steps had been practiced, appetite deliberately been increased for that special day and I rehearsed my one-liners to woo away girls from the bride's side.

In the month of January, I get to hear a bad news, as destiny wants to have her own way the wedding had to prepone (my English teacher taught me that this word doesn't exist but so did she for me). Sometimes we become so helpless that even our karma can't overcome the circumstances that life puts in front of us.

Now, the wedding was in the middle of January. Manav informed us the new dates and this time requested (not with a threat) for us to come. I was in no mood of giving a heart attack to my boss, if I had told him that I need a week off two weeks earlier as mentioned, then Mayans might have got their predictions right of doomsday. Manav was in for a real harsh times and even he accepted the fact that we wouldn't be able to make it. But one thing for sure don't underestimate Manav, he came out with a shrewd plan with his shrewd mind. He proposed (and this time with a threat) if we can't come in the wedding that's fine but we should come in the reception as it lied in the weekend. Manav was being practical, as the place where reception was going to take place was Ranchi, just 1200 kms from Delhi where we lived and Manav had this master plan that depended on Indian Railways time table.

Finally, Shoorbir and I gave in (once again), we booked our tickets a day earlier and reached the platform at perfect time. A small brief about Shoorbir and me: We both are most unpunctual person, Gandhi would have thanked Godsey for killing him, he should thanked his gods that he never met us or heard about us. But at this time we reached two hours earlier at the platform just to know that the train is two hours late. We were supposed to be travelling in Rajhdhani who supposedly run on schedule but only on papers. Train arrived, we took our seats had some food and then got in discussion. The most debated and discussed topic in this world is politics and I learned this fact on this journey. Train was just 4 hours late to its scheduled time and I am not being sarcastic because I had heard some horrific stories of train journeys at other parts of India.

To my surprise, Ranchi seemed to be a pleasant place. It was quite, roads were neat and clean and so was the railway station. We called up Manav and he arranged our ride to his place. We both met Manav after a long time and for the first time (of-course) his wife. They both make a lovely couple, who complements each other very well. Felt nice that our friend had got such a nice person as his life-partner. Manav then announced that we are just few hours away from the reception, but now my heart was broken, what about my killing dance moves and my one-liners that I practiced for girls? My appetite was more or less killed by a long journey. Nonetheless, we both went straight ahead and break a leg and the dance floor (literally) with  some help of Manav. After a delicious meal we went back to our rooms to take a nasty nap of all the hard work done.

Next day, we decided to give Ranchi a visit. The place is famous for its waterfalls, everything was in order, except one thing. I got to see clash of the titans or may be dragons in which my friend Shoorbir was in the lead role. Manav was just a supporting actor and I was a junior artist one of those people who stand among the crowd. My friend Shoorbir is also Hercules when he is not Michael Jackson, he was involved in a feud with a fellow greek god. Its hard to predict who won but nonetheless the war was over at least for the time being. We both packed our bags and headed straight towards the nearby railway station. I was following Shoorbir just like a lost puppy follows his master. We had no train tickets and so far had no success in finding one. Thankfully Manav came to our rescue, he arranged our tickets and a decent place to stay as our tickets were booked for next day.

Finally, the time had come when we had to bid farewell to Ranchi. Due to shortage of time Manav booked our ticket in Garib Rath, co-incidentally this train name matched our socio-economic status. This time the train was on time and we both were happy but we reached Delhi six hours late as per the scheduled time, what can we say its the same story with each train.

I wish all the luck to Manav and Manisha, that you have a very sweet life ahead. Manav had another story to tell about the same event and trust me its much more thrilling. May be in the next blog you get to hear the tale from the horse's mouth.

Tarun Bahuguna
Correspondent
Pahal A Milestone

Happy Republic Day

The Greatest Ever!!!?

Lionel Messi at an age of 25 created history which looks hard to get repeated when he won the 4th consecutive award of Ballon d'Or. The award is regarded as the most prestigious in football. It was first created in 1956 by a French magazine and later merged with FIFA's World Player of the Year in 2010. Messi became the first ever player to win it four times which makes him one of the best or may be the best footballer that ever played.

Messi set a record of scoring 91 goals for his Spanish club Barcelona and country Argentina in a single calendar year including five hatricks and five goals scored in a single match. Before him the record was held by a German footballer Gerd Mueller for 40 years who had scored 85 goals in just 60 matches. Unfortunately, Messi's magical run of goals couldn't help his Barcelona team to win a Spanish League or Champions League in 2012.

Messi was born in Argentina to a steel worker and a part-time cleaner  in the city of Rosario. In childhood he was handicapped from growth hormone deficiency. He left Argentina at 13, though he was a child prodigy but his size was a major drawback, his height was below the third percentile of his age. When Messi's parents and the local club could no longer afford the $1,000-a-month hormone treatment to rectify his childhood deficiency, FC Barcelona agreed to recruit him and bear the expenses.

Messi, who is loved among football fans across the globe is disliked in his own country. His country see him more of a Catalonian (region, whose capital is Barcelona) than their own. Many Argentines find it hard to relate to Messi who has played his entire professional career abroad. To add insult to injury, Messi is not able to convert his club glory for his national team.

Some of the giants of the game consider him the greatest footballer ever lived but their claims could only be proved once he helps his country Argentina to achieve the biggest glory of all, to lift the Football World Cup.

COVER PAGE OF JANUARY 2013

DEBATE ON TV 100 HIMALAYA on the issue of UK Capital

Sunil Negi ,Journalist

I was invited by the TV hundred Himalaya, the prominent news channel of UK on Sunday, the 6th of January' for participating in a debate on the issue of Gairsain,the would be Summer capital of Uttarakhand as recently announced by the Chief Minister of UK Vijay Bahuguna, seven months after assuming the charge at the helm of the Congress government. Participating with me in the debate were two other colleagues namely Harish Joshi and Gopal Upreti, active in the Uttrakahnd movement . The agenda of the discussion was whether Gairsain should be the full fleged or a part time capital of UK as announced by the CM, Vijay Bahuguna or his simultaneous decision to construct a full time capital in Dehradun at the cost of Rs. 87 crores is the correct decision and in conformity to the wishes of the people of Uttarakhand. The anchor of the debate which lasted for an hour and was live telecast in whole of Uttarakhand Jagdish Jarait also asked whether the opposition of BJP, the main opposition of UK is right in outrightly condemning this move of the incumbant CM for partially announcing the decision of making Gairsain as only the grishmakaalin Rajdhani of UK than to declare it a full time capital as per the wishes and aspirations of majority of the people of UK. The debate was quite acrimonious and hectic as all the participants were for the full time declaration of the capital of UK as Gairsain then to name it merely the summer capital by way of starting the construction of the Vidhan Sabha Building there from 14 of January 2013 on the pious occassion of Makar Sankranti to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister as the formal programme of UPA, chairperson visiting Gairsain earlier had been cancelled in view of the inclement and bad weather. Being the key participant as journalist and the Chairman of the Uttarakhand Journalists Forum, I strongly castigated and condemned the BJP and the UKD for being so cool, ignorant and complacent towards declaring Garsain as the capital of UK when they were collectively ruling Uttarakhand since 2000 till 2012, including the ruling Congress. I questioned the BJP leadership of the state, outrightly to answer my question as to where were they during all these years when they had Khanduriji, Pokhriyalji, Nityanand Swamyji and Koshiyariji as their chief ministers and where was the UKD all these years, particularly when their MLA Diwakar Bhatt was the Minister of Cabinet rank in the BJP government from 2007 till 2012. Now when the present CM of Congress Vijay Bahuguna has soon, after coming into power merely after seven months declared Gairsain as the summer capital of the 12 year old state, then instead of appreciating him and patting him on his back they are as usual just condemning him as the former's historical decision has put the BJP literally on the back foot on this historic and long pending issue which has resulted in straightaway honoring the sentiments and emotions of the movement workers of the separate state who have sacrificed their precious lives for this most noble cause. My point was, why should we not give Mr.Bahuguna an opportunity to at least let the work of the summer capital or Vidhan Bhawan start formally in Gairsain at the cost of Rs. 25 crores at least for the time being and can later on pressurise the government on the issue of making Garsain the fulltime capital. If this vexed issue was not thought about during the last 12 years by the BJP, UKD and other participants in the previous governments, how can it be possible to arrive at a one time solution of fullcapital,in Gairsain which practically involves tremendous amount of various formalities and official notifications and involvement of hundreds of crores of Rupees. The fact of the matter is that after the announcement of Mr. Bahuguna to name Gairsain as the summer capital of UK, the UKD and the BJP has been compelled to goon the back foot and now the issue of political credit has been hijacked by Bahuguna and Congress from these politically greedy and overambitious parties. The debate was in totality very interesting and acrimonious and reached the conclusion that if a positive start has been made by the incumbant chief minister everybody should welcome it subject to exercising more pressure on the government to gradually declare Gairsain as the full time capital than to just unhealthily criticize for the sake of criticizm.

 

On Assa Ram Bapu's Comment

“The Commission took note of the reported derogatory comments about the Delhi gang rape victim, made by Asa Ram Bapu and expressed deep shock and anguish. The Commission resolved to demand that he should publicly withdraw his unfortunate comments immediately because these comments have not only insulted the victim but have also lowered the dignity of all women. Further, the Commission hoped that nobody, in future, would make any such irresponsible, meaningless, insulting and hurtful comments about any woman”.

(SUNIL NEGI)

                                                                                                                             MEDIA CONSULTANT

Let' inspire ourselves from Damini's bravery and safeguard the women's dignity in the new year 2013 at all costs

I am quite shocked aggrieved and ofcourse badly sorrowful on account of the sad demise of Damini the icon of protection of women world over but things have to move forward come what may. While wishing one and all the very happy New Year for 2013 let's collectively pray and wish for Damini's soul to rest in peace and God give enough strength to their most distressed family to bear this most irreparable loss and also for expeditious recovery of her most shocked mother who is lying unconscious in one of the Delhi Hospital having not eaten a single bite for the last many days badly worried about the extremely worst health condition of her now dead daughter. It is for the first time in the history of India and the globe that all the countries of the world have expressed their most shocking and serious concern over the tragic death of this innocent23 years old paramedical student by way of organising demonstrations and expressing severe anguish over the most in human, drastic, gruesome, horrendous, brutal, ghastly and shameful gang rape inflicted on her by criminals most inhuman and worst that the beasts. January 3rd is therefore being observed as the black day all over the world to sadly commemorate the unfortunate sad demise of Damini as a mark of respect and reverence to her memory and to salute her bravery with which she valiantly fought these dreaded criminals to the lst to safeguard her modesty being outraged by 7 beasts in unison in a running bus in South Delhi. While the outrage of crores of people of India against the sad demise of this brave girl have compelled the government to work on making the laws of rape most stringent, it has been learn that the government is strictly planning and striving hard to inflict death penalty to such hardened criminals in the rarest of the rare cases as above and also working on giving 30 years of harsh punishment to the rapists in general catagory with chemical castration as a strong deterrent to apply expeditious brake on such shameful and obnoxious incidents in the immediate future. Let's hope that the government of the day thinks and acts on this issue most expeditiously and gives capital punishment to these guilty criminals within two months as directed by the Apex Court of the country and save thousands of other Damini's in the days, months and years to come.
Happy New Year to all of You with humble request to continue their incessant fight against such undesirable elements to the hilt with full zeal and enthusiasm in the immediate future in wider public and women's interest.

SUNIL NEGI 

Prtesident, UTTRAKHAND JOURNALISTS FORUM

Delhi Women Commission condemns MP Minister For HIs Anti Women Remarks

The Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women Barkha Shukla Singh has condemned the anti-women statement of the Cabinet Minister of Madhya Pradesh Govt. Mr. Vijay Vargeeya in strongest possible terms and asked for his immediate resignation accusing him as anti-women as his most obnoxious and derogatory comments straightaway amounted to outraging their modesty and dignity. It may be recalled that Mr. Vijay Vargeeya has commented that women should not transgress their Lakshman Rekha failing which their modesty will be outraged (Mahilyaan Apni Laxman Rekha Paar Naa Karen Verna Unhe Ravan Uthah Ke Le Jayega Ya Sita Haran Ho Jayegi).
While condemning his statement in strongest possible terms and deploring him strongly Mrs. Barkha Shukla Singh questioned him whether the icon of women’s safety and security, Damini had ever transgressed any Laxman Rekha who had been unfortunately so tortuously, ghastly, gruesomely and brutally gang raped on December, 16 and subsequently thrashed to death. She said, instead of expressing his heart felt condolences for Damini for having scarified her precious life while bravely and valiantly fighting the hardened criminals to safeguard her modesty being outraged, Mrs. Barkha Shukla Singh said that he is commenting adversely against the dignity and modesty of the women community saying that women should not transgress their Lakshman Rekhas otherwise their modesty will definitely be outraged.
Accusing the Madhya Pradesh Minister Mr. Vijay Vargeeya for his anti-women remarks Mrs. Barkha Shukla Singh said that it seems that he has lost his total mental balance and have gone mentally bankrupt. She advised him to go to an experience psychiatrist to get better treatment of his sick mind and demanded immediate resignation as well as public apology from the entire women community of India.

SUNIL NEGI 

Prtesident, UTTRAKHAND JOURNALISTS FORUM

Help Generously The Shelterless

On the one hand people of the country are bading good wishes to their close acquaintances, friends, near and dear ones and wishing them good luck for good fortunes during the New Year 2013 which has just started on a low key note on account of Damini's worst death on the other hand our fellow human beings - the poor, hapless, shelterless and sick to the tune of thousands and even lacs are literally dieing on the streets of Delhi , the capital city of the largest democracy of the world for want of proper shelter and clothings of which they are completely bereft of. I couldnot go to my work today for the fact that it's a bloodstagnating cold that may easily lead one to heart attacks. Wonder what might be having to thousands of those poor street children, women or old people who are shiverring in the open for want of proper clothings and shelter particularly in the nights of these seething winters hell bent upon to take the toll for sure. Yesterday I was watching the TV News reports and today read in the papers that there are more than three lac homeless people in Delhi only who are badly suffering in this shivering cold and the governemnt and the administration is not able to do the needful for them despite of the fact that as per the judicial directives of the Honorable Supreme Court of India the Government is bound to construct atleast one Night Shelter for the population of every one lack people of the city so that atleast 40 to 100 hundred people suffering from cold can be comfortably housed in these rain Baseras during the winters but all in vain. Similarly is the condition of poors, hapless and the starving people in other states of the country. If we go at the bigger hospitals like Safdarjung Hospital and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences we'll be surprised and shocked to find these patients of critical illnesses taking rescue and shelter inside the toilet blocks nearby the hospital vicinity because the Health Ministry has made no arrangements, whatsoever, for their proper rehabilitation, safety and security during the winter nights. This is really disheartening to note that on the one hand we boast of our country touching the super power status in the comity of nations worldwide and on the other hand we are no able to give the poor the adequate shelter and clothings during the winters who are dieing relentlessly on the open streets. Let's pray to the ALMIGHTY TO Save them, OUTRIGHTLY AND I ALSO APPEAL TO MY FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES, RICH ONES, ESPECIALLY TO DONATE GOOD QUALITY BLANKETS TO SUCH DEPRIVED PEOPLE WITHOUT FAIL AND ALSO THE OLD CLOTHES SO THAT WE CAN CONTRIBUTE A BIT ATLEAST TOWARDS God and Humanity in our gesture to help the poor, hapless, needy and the starved in this genuine hour of crisis.

SUNIL NEGI 

Prtesident, UTTRAKHAND JOURNALISTS FORUM

Special Correspondent, Pahal a Milestone

पीड़िता के गांव में क्यों दहशत में हैं लड़कियां?

बीए में पढ़ने वाली शांति को जब से दिल्ली सामूहिक बलात्कार और बाद में पीड़ित की मौत के बारे में पता चला है, तब से उनके भीतर डर बैठ गया है.

उत्तर प्रदेश के बलिया जिले में शांति का घर 23 वर्षीय बलात्कार पीड़ित छात्रा के परिवार के घर से थोड़ी ही दूर है.
शांति का कहना है, “पहले मैं बेफिक्र घर से बाहर चली जाती थी. अगर शाम को छह बजे भी बाहर जाना होता था तो पापा के बिना बाहर चली जाती थी, लेकिन अब पापा के साथ ही बाहर जाती हूं.”
डर इतना गहरा था कि शांति ने बीए की अपनी प्रैक्टिकल परीक्षा भी छोड़ दी.

पढ़ने की चाह

शांति के अध्यापक उनकी अनुपस्थिति का कारण जानने उनके घर तक पहुंच गए. शांति ने बताया कि कुछ लड़कियां तो स्कूल ही नही गईं.

"पहले मैं बेफिक्र घर से बाहर चली जाती थी. अगर शाम को छह बजे भी बाहर जाना होता था तो पापा के बिना बाहर चली जाती थी, लेकिन अब पापा के साथ ही बाहर जाती हूं."

प्रियंका, पीड़ित के गांव की एक लड़की

इस बेहद पिछड़े इस गांव में दूर-दूर तक स्कूल नहीं है. लेकिन यहां की लड़कियां पढ़ना चाहती हैं. हमने गांव की मुश्किल राहों से गुजरकर अपनी साइकिलों पर स्कूल जाती कई लड़कियों को देखा.
शांति का कॉलेज 16 किलोमीटर दूर है, और वो भी ये सफर साइकिल से तय करती हैं.
रास्ता इतना खराब और ऊबड़-खाबड़ है कि यहां से गाड़ी का निकलना भी मुश्किल हो जाता है.
एक गांव वाले ने बताया कि बरसात में रास्ता इतना खराब हो जाता है कि कई मरीजों की तो रास्ते में ही मौत हो गई क्योंकि उन्हें सही समय पर अस्पताल नहीं ले जाया जा सका.

पढ़ाई पर असर

कक्षा दस में पढ़ने वाली प्रियंका भी डरी हुई हैं. उन्होंने बताया कि घटना के बाद रास्ते में लड़कों के एक गुट को खेलते हुए देखने मात्र से उनमें दहशत बैठ जाती है.
प्रियंका के माता-पिता को भी समझ में नहीं आ रहा है कि इस स्थिति से कैसे निपटें.
प्रियंका की माँ कहती हैं, “सरकार को महिलाओं की सुरक्षा बढ़ाने के लिए जरूर कुछ न कुछ करना चाहिए.”

ग्रामीण इलाकों में लड़कियों की शिक्षा अब भी बहुत आसान नहीं है

उनके पिता कहते हैं कि असुरक्षा के इस माहौल का असर लड़कियों की पढ़ाई पर पड़ेगा.
बलात्कार पीड़ित छात्रा की तरह यहां की तमाम लड़कियां अपना भविष्य बनाना चाहती हैं.

कड़ी सजा की मांग

गांव के पुरूषों को मैंने बार-बार ये कहते सुना कि इस इलाके में छेड़छाड़ की घटनाएं नहीं होतीं, लेकिन जब मैंने पुरुषों के सामने लड़कियों से पूछा कि क्या ये सच है तो एक लड़की ने अलग ही कहानी बताई.
उसका कहना था कि गांव में उन्हें भी छेड़खानी का सामना करना पड़ता है, और ऐसी कई बातें है जो दबा दी जाती हैं.
इस बात पर आसपास के युवकों ने आश्चर्य जताया.
गांव वालों ने बताया कि कुछ हफ्तों पहले ही एक सात साल की बच्ची के कथित बलात्कार को लेकर यहां बहुत हल्ला मचा था.
दिल्ली में हुई सामूहिक बलात्कार की घटना के अभियुक्तों के लिए यहां के लोग कड़ी सजा की मांग कर रहे हैं.
गांव में गुस्सा है और लोग चाहते हैं कि दोषियों को मृत्यु दंड मिले.
कई लोग तो ऐसी भयानक सजा दिए जाने की बात करते हैं जिसका वर्णन करना भी मुश्किल है.
गांव वाले इन खबरों को सुनकर भी नाराज़ हो जाते हैं कि छह अभियुक्तों में से एक नाबालिग है और उसे कम कठोर सज़ा मिल सकती है.
 पहले मैं बेफिक्र घर से बाहर चली जाती थी. अगर शाम को छह बजे भी बाहर जाना होता था तो पापा के बिना बाहर चली जाती थी, लेकिन अब पापा के साथ ही बाहर जाती हूं."

प्रियंका, पीड़ित के गांव की एक लड़की

बिहार की कैबिनेट में कई करोड़पति

बिहार के 29 में से 15 कैबिनेट मंत्री करोड़पति हैं जिसमें मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार और उपमुख्यमंत्री सुशील कुमार मोदी का नाम भी शामिल है.

बिहार में भ्रष्टाचार रोकने के प्रयासों के तहत मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार ने हर वर्ष अपने कैबिनेट मंत्रियों को संपत्ति का ब्यौरा सार्वजनिक करने के निर्देश दिए हैं और इसी के तहत ये जानकारी सामने आई है.
कैबिनेट मंत्रियों में नए करोड़पति होने वालों में जो नए नाम शामिल हैं वो हैं अश्विनी कुमार चौबे, श्याम रजक, भीम सिंह और बिजय चौधरी.
कैबिनेट के सबसे धनी मंत्री हैं मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्री पी के शाही जिनकी कुल संपत्ति छह करोड से अधिक बताई जाती है.
सबसे कम पैसे वाले मंत्री हैं सुखदा पांडे जिनकी कुल संपत्ति है 28.55 लाख.
मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार की कुल संपत्ति 59 लाख है लेकिन उनके बेटे की संपत्ति मिला देने से वो भी करोड़पति हो जाते हैं. नीतीश के पुत्र निशांत के पास कुल संपत्ति 1.26 करोड़ की है.
नीतीश कुमार के पास नगद राशि 14,474 रुपए है जबकि बैंक में उन्होंने 65 हज़ार रुपए जमा किए हैं. मुख्यमंत्री के पास अपनी एक छोटी कार है. सैंट्रो.
उपमुख्यमंत्री सुशील कुमार मोदी के पास कुल संपत्ति 1.05 करोड़ है.
अन्य करोड़पति मंत्रियों में अश्विनी चौबे के पास 1.46 करोड़, भीम सिंह के पास 1.11 करोड़, नीतीश मिश्रा के पास 1.69 करोड़, रामाधार सिंह के पास 2.79 करोड़, रमई राम के पास 1.30 करोड़, पी के शाही के पास 6.11 करोड़, सत्यदेव नारायण आर्य के पास 1.91 करोड़, वृष्ण पटेल के पास दो करोड़, श्याम रजक के पास 1.26 करोड़, अवधेश कुशवाहा के पास 3.2 करोड़, चंद्रमोहन राय के पास 1.65 करोड़ और सुनील कुमार पिंटू के पास 1.57 करोड़ की राशि है.

भारत नहीं इंडिया में होते हैं बलात्कार: भागवत

राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के प्रमुख मोहन भागवत के उस बयान से विवाद पैदा हो गया है जिसमें उन्होंने कथित तौर पर कहा है कि शहरों में ज्‍यादा बलात्‍कार होते हैं और गांवों में रेप की घटनाएं कम होती है.