LE BALAIYA, Ee Kaa Hua ?

LE BALAIYA, ee ka hua ?

Kahe albalaye huye hain ? 

Etna narbhasane se kuchchho nahin hoga.

O-mi-gosh, what's this? Why are you so flustered? Such nervousness won't help matters.

The inveterate linguist may scream at such an apparent contamination of Hindi language but the average Bihari simply loves to throw all narrow parameters of grammar to the winds. For them, the funnier they are, the better their adaptability is into their inimitable lingua franca. Over the years, Biharis have invented a language, which has an unmistakable stamp of their own.

In recent times, its popularity has traveled far and wide beyond the borders of the State many screen heroes, including Amitabh Bachchan, have mouthed Bihari clichés with characteristic élan - a far cry from the days when it was thought to be an infra dig of sorts for anybody other than country bumpkins and unscrupulous politicians to perpetrate such "verbal atrocities".

All that, however, is passé now. Bihari Boli is sweeter than honey now not only in Bollywood but also on the campuses of prestigious universities and IITs across the country. Words like harbaraye, garbaraye, bargalaye, thartharaye and dhanmanaye which would have sounded Greek to outsiders earlier are being used with gay abandon by the hep youngsters there.

Sobriquets laced with double entendres like "garda", “bawaal” and “dhuan” denoting the varying degree of a girl's beauty can be heard not only in Patna University colleges but also faraway Fergusson College in Pune. Moreover, a-go, dugo, teengo and chaartho type of numerology that was a matter of disdain not long ago is being accepted even by the stiff upper-lips without any qualms. So, notes sarka do (pass on the notes),"batti buta do (put out the lights)", Principal ko harka do (bamboozle the principal), burbak kahin ka (you stupid fellow!), hum to biga gaye (I was thrown out) and Hum to huan thebe kiye the (I was very much there) are some of the expressions which have conveniently made their way into the otherwise prim-and-propah St Stephens, New Delhi. Similarly, coinages like dhakiyaye (shoved), mukiyaye (punched), and latiyaye (kicked)are the current rage. Hiyan (here),huan (there), kahe (why), enne (this way) and onne (that way) are some of other typical words, which are spoken rather nonchalantly by so-called educated lot.

One, therefore, does not get surprised if one hears tanikke for little, nimman for good, anhar for darkness and ejot for lights. For them, colloquial language need not be tied to any narrow rules. E topicwa par maatha khapane se kuchchho nahi hoga (nothing is to come out of this topic), as one wit commented. Among many characteristics of this language are its terms of endearment. Seldom does one hear people on the streets calling each other by their real names. Raju automatically becomes Rajua, Pappu turns into Pappua, Rajesh into Rajeshwa and Shatrughna at best Satrohna.

This potpourri of all Bihari dialects has also coined new terms for human anatomy which would baffle an FRCP if he were to land here straight from Edinburgh. Here gor means legs, moori is substitute to head, ongree is equivalent to finger, thor denotes lips and kapar is synonymous with forehead. This language also has more onomatopoeic words than probably any other. 

Words like tapak se, gapak se, and japak se can be understood by listening to their phonetical sounds. No longer is Bihari language associated with a few howlers like eskool (school), teeshan (station)and singal (signal) only. There are certain words which carry the precise meaning but which cannot be properly substituted by any word in other languages. Machchar bhamhor liya is probably is one such example. Bhamhorna is a super word, which means the collective assault of mosquitoes to "bhamhor" you. But then, one might argue, where else do you find so many mosquitoes to bhamhor you. Similarly, routine sariyana (to arrange one books and notebooks in the schoolbag according to the class schedule), Dupatta lasiyana (when a girl's dupatta sweeps the floor as she walks unknowingly)give the exact word for which other languages will take a sentence to convey the meaning. Right from Laloo Prasad Yadav, who emerges as the best speaker of his ghar ki boli to the inimitable Shekhar Suman, everybody loves to flaunt his native command of the language. Earlier, Biharis were notorious for atrocious gender sense and shoddy pronunciation.

Now, the same traits have become the tour-de-force of their conversation. The time has certainly come to raise ekadhgo (one or two) toast to the longevity of the Bihari language.

"Teengo" cheers to that!

VINIT VIJAY 

vinitvijay@ymail.com

"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar"

"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar".

I was standing at New Delhi station when my attention went towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban having a long beard and wearing a kirpan over his shirt looking similar to a terrorist.

After a while, one local train arrived, which was totally packed. The Sikh youth tried to alight the train but failed to do so.

Just then a voice was heard from the back coach 'Sardarji Barah Baj gaye' (Sir it's 12 o'clock!)

The Sikh youth looked over at that voice maker who was a young Mischievous type of person and instead of showing any anger made a smile towards him.

The smile made was so enigmatic that it seemed as if some type of truth lies behind it. Not able to resist my temptation, I walked towards him and asked why did he smile at that person who teased him. The Sikh youth replied, 'He was not teasing me but was asking for my Help' . I was surprised with these words and he told me that there was a big history behind that which one should know. I was eager to know the History and the Sikh youth narrated:

During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by Mughals, all the Hindu people were humiliated and were treated like animals. Mughals treated the Hindu women as their own property and were forcing all Hindus to accept Islam and even used to kill the people if they were refusing to accept. That time, our ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadarji came forward ,in response to a request of some Kashmir Pandits to fight against all these cruel activities. Guruji told the Mughal emperor that if he could succeed in converting him to Islam, all the Hindus would accept the same.

But, if he failed, he should stop all those activities . The Mughal emperor happily agreed to that but even after lots of torture to Guruji and his fellow members he failed to convert him to Islam and Guruji along with his other four fellow members, were tortured and sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk. Since the Mughals were unable to convert them to Islam they were assassinated.

Thus Guruji sacrificed his life for the protection of Hindu religion. Can anybody reading this lay down his life and that too for the protection of another religion? This is the reason he is still remembered as "Hind Ki Chaddar", shield of India. For the sake of whom he had sacrificed his life, none of the them came forward to lift his body, fearing that they would also be assassinated

Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji! , Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) founder of the Khalsa made a resolution that he would convert his followers to such human beings who would not be able to hide themselves and could be easily located in thousands. At the start, the Sikhs were very few in numbers as they were fighting against the Mughal emperors. At that time, Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan treasures and nearly 2,200 Hindu women along with him. The news spread like a fire and was heard by Sardar Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. He decided to attack Nadir Shah's Kafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu women and they were safely sent to their homes.

It didn't happen only once but thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis had attacked and looted Hindustan and were trying to carry the treasures and Hindu women along with them for selling them in Abdal markets, the Sikh army although fewer in numbers but were brave hearted and attacked them at 12 o'clock midnight and rescued the women.

After that time when there occurred a similar incident. People started to contact the Sikh army for their help and Sikhs used to attack the raiders at Midnight, 12 o'clock. Nowadays, these "smart people" and some Sikh enemies who are afraid of Sikhs, have spread these words that at 12 O'clock, the Sikhs go out of their senses. This historic fact was the reason which made me smile over that person as I thought that his Mother or Sister would be in trouble! and want my help and was reminding me by saying 'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye'

Pease don't make fun of religions. Every river is different but they all flow into the ocean. "Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar"

- Vinit Vijay .

( vinitvijay@ymail.com )

"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar"

"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar".

I was standing at jalandhar station when my attention went towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban having a long beard and wearing a kirpan over his shirt looking similar to a terrorist.

After a while, one local train arrived, which was totally packed. The Sikh youth tried to alight the train but failed to do so.

Just then a voice was heard from the back coach 'Sardarji Barah Baj gaye' (Sir it's 12 o'clock!)

The Sikh youth looked over at that voice maker who was a young Mischievous type of person and instead of showing any anger made a smile towards him.

The smile made was so enigmatic that it seemed as if some type of truth lies behind it. Not able to resist my temptation, I walked towards him and asked why did he smile at that person who teased him. The Sikh youth replied, 'He was not teasing me but was asking for my Help' . I was surprised with these words and he told me that there was a big history behind that which one should know. I was eager to know the History and the Sikh youth narrated:

During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by Mughals, all the Hindu people were humiliated and were treated like animals. Mughals treated the Hindu women as their own property and were forcing all Hindus to accept Islam and even used to kill the people if they were refusing to accept. That time, our ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadarji came forward ,in response to a request of some Kashmir Pandits to fight against all these cruel activities. Guruji told the Mughal emperor that if he could succeed in converting him to Islam, all the Hindus would accept the same.

But, if he failed, he should stop all those activities . The Mughal emperor happily agreed to that but even after lots of torture to Guruji and his fellow members he failed to convert him to Islam and Guruji along with his other four fellow members, were tortured and sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk. Since the Mughals were unable to convert them to Islam they were assassinated.

Thus Guruji sacrificed his life for the protection of Hindu religion. Can anybody reading this lay down his life and that too for the protection of another religion? This is the reason he is still remembered as "Hind Ki Chaddar", shield of India. For the sake of whom he had sacrificed his life, none of the them came forward to lift his body, fearing that they would also be assassinated

Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji! , Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) founder of the Khalsa made a resolution that he would convert his followers to such human beings who would not be able to hide themselves and could be easily located in thousands. At the start, the Sikhs were very few in numbers as they were fighting against the Mughal emperors. At that time, Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan treasures and nearly 2,200 Hindu women along with him. The news spread like a fire and was heard by Sardar Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. He decided to attack Nadir Shah's Kafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu women and they were safely sent to their homes.

It didn't happen only once but thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis had attacked and looted Hindustan and were trying to carry the treasures and Hindu women along with them for selling them in Abdal markets, the Sikh army although fewer in numbers but were brave hearted and attacked them at 12 o'clock midnight and rescued the women.

After that time when there occurred a similar incident. People started to contact the Sikh army for their help and Sikhs used to attack the raiders at Midnight, 12 o'clock. Nowadays, these "smart people" and some Sikh enemies who are afraid of Sikhs, have spread these words that at 12 O'clock, the Sikhs go out of their senses. This historic fact was the reason which made me smile over that person as I thought that his Mother or Sister would be in trouble! and want my help and was reminding me by saying 'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye'

Pease don't make fun of religions. Every river is different but they all flow into the ocean. "Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar"

- Vinit Vijay .

( vinitvijay@ymail.com )

"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar"

"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar".

I was standing at jalandhar station when my attention went towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban having a long beard and wearing a kirpan over his shirt looking similar to a terrorist.

After a while, one local train arrived, which was totally packed. The Sikh youth tried to alight the train but failed to do so.

Just then a voice was heard from the back coach 'Sardarji Barah Baj gaye' (Sir it's 12 o'clock!)

The Sikh youth looked over at that voice maker who was a young Mischievous type of person and instead of showing any anger made a smile towards him.

The smile made was so enigmatic that it seemed as if some type of truth lies behind it. Not able to resist my temptation, I walked towards him and asked why did he smile at that person who teased him. The Sikh youth replied, 'He was not teasing me but was asking for my Help' . I was surprised with these words and he told me that there was a big history behind that which one should know. I was eager to know the History and the Sikh youth narrated:

During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by Mughals, all the Hindu people were humiliated and were treated like animals. Mughals treated the Hindu women as their own property and were forcing all Hindus to accept Islam and even used to kill the people if they were refusing to accept. That time, our ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadarji came forward ,in response to a request of some Kashmir Pandits to fight against all these cruel activities. Guruji told the Mughal emperor that if he could succeed in converting him to Islam, all the Hindus would accept the same.

But, if he failed, he should stop all those activities . The Mughal emperor happily agreed to that but even after lots of torture to Guruji and his fellow members he failed to convert him to Islam and Guruji along with his other four fellow members, were tortured and sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk. Since the Mughals were unable to convert them to Islam they were assassinated.

Thus Guruji sacrificed his life for the protection of Hindu religion. Can anybody reading this lay down his life and that too for the protection of another religion? This is the reason he is still remembered as "Hind Ki Chaddar", shield of India. For the sake of whom he had sacrificed his life, none of the them came forward to lift his body, fearing that they would also be assassinated

Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji! , Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) founder of the Khalsa made a resolution that he would convert his followers to such human beings who would not be able to hide themselves and could be easily located in thousands. At the start, the Sikhs were very few in numbers as they were fighting against the Mughal emperors. At that time, Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan treasures and nearly 2,200 Hindu women along with him. The news spread like a fire and was heard by Sardar Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. He decided to attack Nadir Shah's Kafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu women and they were safely sent to their homes.

It didn't happen only once but thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis had attacked and looted Hindustan and were trying to carry the treasures and Hindu women along with them for selling them in Abdal markets, the Sikh army although fewer in numbers but were brave hearted and attacked them at 12 o'clock midnight and rescued the women.

After that time when there occurred a similar incident. People started to contact the Sikh army for their help and Sikhs used to attack the raiders at Midnight, 12 o'clock. Nowadays, these "smart people" and some Sikh enemies who are afraid of Sikhs, have spread these words that at 12 O'clock, the Sikhs go out of their senses. This historic fact was the reason which made me smile over that person as I thought that his Mother or Sister would be in trouble! and want my help and was reminding me by saying 'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye'

Pease don't make fun of religions. Every river is different but they all flow into the ocean. "Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but it's too difficult to be a Sardar"

- Vinit Vijay .

( vinitvijay@ymail.com )

Check out Save Our Tigers | Join the Roar

Title: Save Our Tigers | Join the Roar
Link: http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=787337281844989691141

Live Life, Don't Just Spend It...

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,

When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,

Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class

and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly,

He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar

And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured

them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively

filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

‘Now,’ said the professor, as the laughter subsided,

‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things - family,

children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions

Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else –The small stuff.

‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ He continued,

there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,

You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So…

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Play With your children.

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

‘Take care of the golf balls first –

The things that really matter.

Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.

‘I’m glad you asked’.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,

there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.’

Please share this with other “Golf Balls”

I just did……

Sharing ! That oft repeated term in our existence, seldom put out to practice. Sharing ! The joy of giving to another without question and cause. Sharing ! That elusive act that demarcates the ultimate sacrifice for the other. When you share the ‘other’ ceases to be the ‘other’, it becomes your own. It becomes my possession and pride. When you give me something of yours, the ‘y’ disappears ; it becomes ours. From singular to plural. We multiply when we give - happiness, joy, achievement, good will. We decimate and diminish when we share sorrow. We still share. Only our mode and cause changes. I want to share my happiness with you, my ‘golf balls’. But I hesitate to share my sorrows and pain. I find it selfish and opportunity ridden. I would include you in joy, but my pain must remain mine, even though I propagate that it would diminish if shared.

On occasion when I have demonstrated anguish and anger and discomfort, the immediate concern has been most reassuring and welcome. It felt as though my pain was being felt by others. That, I abhor and dislike. I cannot and should not become the reason for another’s discomfort. And if I do and have, then it is time for redresser and retribution.

May there never be a situation where I could have given reason for such behavior.

--

Vinit Vijay

( vinitvijay@ymail.com )

Letter To Narayan Murthy (Infosys)

Dear Sir,
It is indeed an honor that one of the most Respected Indians is reading my letter today. It’s been a long time that I was mulling about writing to you, but as you know, we IT people are busy (without work, sometimes) and under observation in offices. So, I kept on postponing this communication [I hope it does not end up being one way communication] What prompted me to write to you was a piece written by you in Indian Express that IT alone would not be able to make much difference. All sectors including Manufacturing and Agriculture have to come together to take the nation further. I thought that see this person, how much he is concerned about India. Even now after establishing Infosys in global bigwigs, he is concerned about India and Indian economy and not gone to US in a cozy Villa or Farmhouse.I agree with you, not less than my own self. You are right (as always). I see you as a Leader, a visionary (not like President Kalaam. who wrote India 2020 and kept quite). I admire you and follow what you say. Being ethical, honest, getting up early, sincere to work etc is what I have learn from you. But as they say, love brings hate too; I see some drawbacks in my ideal personality (that is YOU) which came to my mind because of long observation of you, your words and actions.In you, I (and many of my friends) see a person who should be at the helm of affairs in this country. You should be there to guide this country of highly ill-informed, mislead, misjudged, ill-treated, illiterate and many more Ill’s. We keep thinking about how things should be. We keep on dreaming how we would have GREAT NATION to live in. I always get frustrated to learn that some politician did this, some criminal did that, Courts are slow, Police is corrupt, System is corrupt, public property was burnt, girls were burnt alive in a bus and many more. I feel like taking a gun and shooting all those who are at fault. Sometimes I get frustrated so much that I feel like killing every criminal. No, not because I have suffered, it's because I am not able to do anything for my country. I wish you could understand how much energy flows up and down in this age (you might have observed it in your young age I believe). But unfortunately, if I do something like that, I would be declared to be a Terrorist, a tyrant. Nobody knows me so I can’t make much difference although I want to. You know the system well. You are also sad about it, you have also thought creatively/out of the box (as u say) to break all the system-created hurdles in our way to prosperity (a 2 Billion Co is enough of example).But somewhere I smell a “no-no” attitude in your thinking and actions. You want the system to change but you don’t want to join the fight. You want to clean the house but want to avoid the dirt catching your hands. That is what frustrates me even more. If you could come in front of us, to lead the youth, we want to bring down the current day corrupt people from every place in system. Isn’t it too much for you yet? Aren’t you fed up of strikes, killings in name of religions, crimes, looting in every aspect, rising prices of everything Humans require.We need someone whom people know, respect, admire to come in front and take a lead. I am not saying fight elections or something. But please be active to some extent. It was sad to see that NRN refused publicly (in a meeting with Pronnoy Roy and Bill Gates) to enter politics. Sir, you drive simple car and live in simple houses just because youth will follow you and it will bring down the greed and all. Then why not take active part in politics to set the pace among youth. You need not say anything about Laalu, Jayalalitha,Mulayam or anyone (considering Infy’s Business Interest). But sir, you can teach the 50000 workforce of Infy to take interest in this country’s system. I know you can convince all of them. If you start, everyone (including Premji, Shiv Nadar and everyone) will start something on these lines. We need people to know the issues of country. If you are scared of speaking in public, do it internally in Infosys and classify the Speeches/Mailers. Do something sir!!! It is getting late and late by everyday. Waiting for your reply through your actions, Sincerely,
Vinit Vijay
(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

24.10.2009 (Definition Of Pain)

Pain has the ability to destroy the mind and the being. You may be exalted in position, overjoyed at success, happy at company, but were you to be in pain it would rob you of all accomplishments.

If the body cannot respond to the joys of nature and mind, it is best not to have a body at all. I feel a bit despondent and tempted towards the latter. When all else around you buzzes with activity and achievement, when the mind is ready to soar involuntarily, when it lovingly coaxes you into acts of creative ingenious levels and you discover that there is no ‘body’ to acknowledge it, then it is that you want to disassociate yourself with all else and succumb to the misery that has been implanted upon you.

Human lives are full of such painful episodes. You could be in the poorest of health but in the eyes of an admiring mass you would need to put on that brave and positive face. A face that defies defeat and dishonor, pain and misery, distress and discomfort. Ever tried to smile continuously in grievous pain, ever never failed to wave back at an ecstatic fan irrespective of the state of the mind ? We are a tribe that get subjected to such odds in our lives. We are a tribe that shall be pulled up and over for an act that does not suit the convenience of the other. We are a tribe that are expected to be more than a hundred percent in more than one occasion, despite handicaps. We are a tribe that when you resist or complain, status, position and wealth shall be thrown about you. Oh.. you are a man, a person of immense responsibilities, this is what comes in your territory and you had better not complain about it.

But just because we have responsibilities, are we devoid of emotion and feeling ? Will every act of ours be leveled in such manner ? When are we supposed to be treated like other normal humans ? Or do we not deserve to be ? Who then will ascertain what we ought to be ? Why should an ‘other’ ascertain what we need to be ? And if for arguments sake we consider this to be applicable, who’s judgment shall we adopt ? Yours or mine ? There are so many confusions !!!

I have many thoughts on this, but now my hand prevents me from any further activity.

My feelings are unabated … though somewhat marred with my condition at present …

No .. I do not expect sympathy or anxiety over what I am .. that would pain me more. Resist and desist then, till I am in your midst again ..

- Vinit Vijay .

(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

06.10.2009 (My Silence)

I acknowledge the more serious concerns raised by those with a voice in the public sphere in India with regard to the potential cultural significance and ramifications of the most private acts of the most public individuals, particularly when India is passing through a time of exciting change and dramatic flux, both within its borders and also within a wider global context.

I also acknowledge that the spheres of the public and private are strenuously contested in the modern world, as I believe they should be and should always be so, open to change and modification of their boundaries. This is essential for the sake of transparency against corruption and also to maintain a healthy culture of civic ethics. Public identities are always thus contested, between the public and private spheres, and within the public sphere itself. The same applies to private ones, for that matter. But public and private identities simply cannot be wholly collapsed into each other, for that would create injustice: they are two distinct kinds of identities for good reason.

I believe in the collective right to freedom of information as much as I do the individual right to privacy. But it is the ambit of our democratically elected representatives to debate the particular balance of these rights at any given time and adjust them to correspond, in formal law, with the particular values and circumstances of our civic culture.

I am not in a position that would give justification to my personal views on the subject. Thus I remain silent.

I am, all the same, aware that it is for all of us our duty as citizens to preserve a civic ethic of responsibility to protect these defined rights. I have thus tried to act accordingly as an individual, with what success I do not know. By contrast, I do feel that we owe much gratitude to the professional media in this country. Its individual journalists, writers and reporters are the greatest champions of our freedoms. I do believe that the Indian media is responsible to our democratic and liberal way of life in this great nation. A free media must also be a just and fair media, where there is a clear distinction between private opinion and public rational argument, where their information is soundly verified by factual evidence, where there is a judicious balance of debate. I salute their ideals and achievements.

I would also like to say that I do take note of the particular focus of some in the media on my private religious practice and beliefs. I am always keen to learn, but regardless of its welcome personal educative content on the subject of more abstruse rites and rituals, I can appreciate the greater concern regarding the possibility of their wider cultural ramifications, although I would add that I have absolutely no intent to set a wider example by my private acts of devotion. However, I am also aware that intent is not enough.

It is more than a possibility that all complex and diverse societies with a secular state are equally fragile, where the principles of mutual tolerance and mutual respect that sustain peaceful co-existence between different religious and cultural communities within the whole must be renewed constantly in practice. Eternal vigilance is indeed the price of freedom, of all manner of freedoms, and so any apparent sign of public sectarian tendencies must indeed be treated as a serious concern. Nevertheless, I am aware that one must equally guard against the pursuit of vigilance with excessive enthusiasm.

Therefore, to strengthen mere intent and clear any misunderstanding on the issue, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly affirm my loyalty, not only to the profoundly democratic society and liberal culture, but also to the secular state, of India. As I think a secular state a necessity in order to preserve the right of the individual to their private religion or to none at all, so I will refrain from discussing my own religious beliefs and practices. And so, I remain silent.

Anyone in general is free to draw what conclusions it may, based on accurate fact, or hearsay, or even the most surreal rumor. They are free to choose whom they believe and trust, for after all, there is more than one newspaper, journal, news channel or website at their disposal. They are free to seek the truth, or to seek entertainment, as they wish.

You have felt that “these practices show a medieval element, show a problem that runs through our society.

Quite obviously the observations are defeated at the very outset because the very nature and premise of your thoughts emanate from a wrong base. In the absence of any “practices” alleged to have been committed and strongly denied by us, the question whether it shows a “medieval element” or not is irrelevant. Your fear that this is a problem that “runs through out society” may be relevant. It could perhaps be entertained as a subject for debate.
But it is beyond the reach of my intellectual capacity to comment upon.

Your other observation, wrongly assuming that we follow superstitious beliefs, directs us to go to religious heads for medical relief as opposed to a scientific professional in the shape of a doctor. Here too the argument is defeated because of my earlier notings.
I need your comments on it.........
-- Vinit Vijay .
(vinitvijay@ymail.com)

05.10.2009

I acknowledge the more serious concerns raised by those with a voice in the public sphere in India with regard to the potential cultural significance and ramifications of the most private acts of the most public individuals, particularly when India is passing through a time of exciting change and dramatic flux, both within its borders and also within a wider global context.

I also acknowledge that the spheres of the public and private are strenuously contested in the modern world, as I believe they should be and should always be so, open to change and modification of their boundaries. This is essential for the sake of transparency against corruption and also to maintain a healthy culture of civic ethics. Public identities are always thus contested, between the public and private spheres, and within the public sphere itself. The same applies to private ones, for that matter. But public and private identities simply cannot be wholly collapsed into each other, for that would create injustice: they are two distinct kinds of identities for good reason.

I believe in the collective right to freedom of information as much as I do the individual right to privacy. But it is the ambit of our democratically elected representatives to debate the particular balance of these rights at any given time and adjust them to correspond, in formal law, with the particular values and circumstances of our civic culture.

I am not in a position that would give justification to my personal views on the subject. Thus I remain silent.

I am, all the same, aware that it is for all of us our duty as citizens to preserve a civic ethic of responsibility to protect these defined rights. I have thus tried to act accordingly as an individual, with what success I do not know. By contrast, I do feel that we owe much gratitude to the professional media in this country. Its individual journalists, writers and reporters are the greatest champions of our freedoms. I do believe that the Indian media is responsible to our democratic and liberal way of life in this great nation. A free media must also be a just and fair media, where there is a clear distinction between private opinion and public rational argument, where their information is soundly verified by factual evidence, where there is a judicious balance of debate. I salute their ideals and achievements.

I would also like to say that I do take note of the particular focus of some in the media on my private religious practice and beliefs. I am always keen to learn, but regardless of its welcome personal educative content on the subject of more abstruse rites and rituals, I can appreciate the greater concern regarding the possibility of their wider cultural ramifications, although I would add that I have absolutely no intent to set a wider example by my private acts of devotion. However, I am also aware that intent is not enough.

It is more than a possibility that all complex and diverse societies with a secular state are equally fragile, where the principles of mutual tolerance and mutual respect that sustain peaceful co-existence between different religious and cultural communities within the whole must be renewed constantly in practice. Eternal vigilance is indeed the price of freedom, of all manner of freedoms, and so any apparent sign of public sectarian tendencies must indeed be treated as a serious concern. Nevertheless, I am aware that one must equally guard against the pursuit of vigilance with excessive enthusiasm.

Therefore, to strengthen mere intent and clear any misunderstanding on the issue, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly affirm my loyalty, not only to the profoundly democratic society and liberal culture, but also to the secular state, of India. As I think a secular state a necessity in order to preserve the right of the individual to their private religion or to none at all, so I will refrain from discussing my own religious beliefs and practices in my public capacity. And so, I remain silent.

The public in general is free to draw what conclusions it may, based on accurate fact, or hearsay, or even the most surreal rumour. They are free to choose whom they believe and trust, for after all, there is more than one newspaper, journal, news channel or website at their disposal. They are free to seek the truth, or to seek entertainment, as they wish.

These practices show a medieval element, show a problem that runs through our society strengthening it with comments.

Quite obviously the observations are defeated at the very outset because the very nature and premise of the thoughts emanate from a wrong base. In the absence of any “practices” alleged to have been committed and strongly denied by us, the question whether it shows a “medieval element” or not is irrelevant. Your fear that this is a problem that “runs through out society” may be relevant. It could perhaps be entertained as a subject for debate.
But it is beyond the reach of my intellectual capacity to comment upon.

-- Vinit Vijay .

(vinitvijay@ymail.com)