The Engineering Escorts (A short film) must watch! -by Mohit Karekar

A Short Piece: Mom I love Science!

There’s this kid, who has just returned home from school. His eyes show the excitement of what he has learnt today. He throws off his bag and rushes to his mother. “Mom! I can’t wait it to be night! I want to watch the twinkling stars and the round, big as football- planets!” Mom laughs, flipping the omlette she was making. “Oh dear, nights come every day, you are not going to miss the stars anyway! Come on now, have your lunch.” His smile broadens as his mother looks at him and does the same. He eagerly waits for the night that day.

That night he watched the stars, glittering. His eyes showed the reflection. As he grew big, he had become a frequent star-gazer. He loved physics; relativity, about which he had read somewhere. He wondered what filled that empty space up there in the sky. One day, he was with his mother. He couldn’t hold up to himself what he had read in a book. “Mom, do you know what this book says?” His voice was clearly showing the amount of attention he demanded for. “If we travel at a speed near to that of light, time will slow down for us!” His complete body showed how amazing it was for him. “OMG! That’s unbelievable! Mom I love science!”  His mother had been listening to him throughout and smiled and startled at times. He was very happy. The long held words had come out that day.

Later, he overheard his mom telling his dad, “Our son loves science, space and stuff like that, he says.” “Oh! I knew it very well! I believe he’ll opt for science after his class 10!”, his dad replied.  It was a shocking but awesome news for him. All life he was going to study physics, science; most importantly the stuff he loved. Time had slowed down for him that day.

Do I remind you, by this, of something which you experienced in the past? If yes, then you would clearly know what the future would have been. Look at yourself! Did you ever tell your parents you love science? What did you actually love? Physics? Or chemistry in certain? In India, it’s a general concept that if you love science, and hate biology, you ought to do engineering. So there are many among us who didn’t want to be engineers but fell prey to this tradition of our country. A few lines by an IISER graduate:

“Life after Death. Our degree is still hanging in balance. We are not sure when we will have our convocation… Before you join IISER, I would suggest you to think hundred times (not twice), as there isn’t money in this field, and you have to do a PhD later, so another 10 years of efforts after your 12th standard.”

This shows how bad the condition of research and pure sciences sector in India is. I feel jealous when I watch Dr. Sheldon Cooper. He’s a physicist. Why can’t a person in India be a successful physicist and still be a respected person in the society? (Sheldon’s not the example here) Our tradition. That boy loved science. He meant physics. But science here is usually engineering. Why don’t we get to do things which we love? I remember my math teacher scolding us, “Do you even know that parents in the US stop giving funds to their children right from the age of 14! And you idiots! Come to an engineering college and spend life enjoying!” Oh sir, I wanted to reply there and then, do we have an education system like they do? Do we encourage what actually a child loves? We expect our child to follow the same ‘path to success’, which has been opted by infinite in the past. We fail to try something new, and the environment prevents us from doing that.

What we need is open mindedness. Why does India lack in research or innovation? Why don’t we have superfast computers that can even compete with other s in the world? We only produce skilled workers. Pure science requires support in our country. We, at least must try not to suppress anyone who likes science. And the generality about science being engineering must be erased. Engineering is science, but not the vice versa. The boy, who dreamed of space, stars, should continue exploring! At last it was what he really loved…Peace.

In the State of the People..

I had been to UAE for almost a month. The best thing about the country is that you get to enjoy almost all democratic leisure, which is basically required, and still remain ‘peacefully’. The climate is very hot, but you rarely get time to face it. Your homes have air conditioners pre-installed. When you have to move out you either book a taxi or go by bus. Both of them have ACs or coolers. When you enter a shop, where the taxi drops you, it is air conditioned. Buy stuff, hire a taxi and back home! The sun only get’s a chance to burn you when you get out of your house for a taxi. Maybe that’s why it burns even more. o.O.Well, everything’s good for you to have a peaceful life there. But one crucial thing hurts. Everything’s very peaceful. Silent. You miss the liveliness of India. And I missed it!

When I first entered India, I loved the noise of horns, vehicles, traffic! We always criticize traffic jams and noise on roads. But I loved it them. It was steaming hot and the ‘taxi’ I booked was a yellow-black Omni. No AC but a small fan on the front deck. In UAE, you hesitate to open the window, the ‘AC effect' might die off. I had my window wide open in the Omni, one arm on the side. It even got tanned. But I loved the feel. Even when the humidity around was trying hard not to evaporate my sweat, I let it flow free. I hadn’t sweat for a month! Back home, there was no electricity. But I had FM which did not play all belly-dance-seeming songs. In the evening, I switched on my TV. I had missed it! News. And I saw this. It just came in as a blue screen error in pc. All crashed. ‘A new hardware or software change might have caused the error’..it says…

Democracy surprises me most of the time. One day, during a debate with my friend, I went on claiming the advantages of democracy. And he of monarchy. He had a stupid idea of killing everyone who commits a crime. I was always speaking of it being illogical. But now UAE was a live example. The punishment there is very strict. Now I have no point against him! Only the aggression which comes to our mind, when we think of killing people, never comes while living there! Why? Because crimes have reduced in number! In India, our constitution gives equal rights to the ‘accused’. The person has the right to plead for guilty. Okay, coming to the point. Democracy is very open to say. Very open.

“Two girls were gang-raped and left hanging from a tree, dead.” The news flashed. The happiness of returning to India became hazy. (Well I had my personal reasons to be happy.) The situation was still the same. The incident which occurred two years back in Delhi had moved the country. Huge protests and uprisings were seen during the period. Seemed like the ‘warranty period’ of noble thoughts had finished. Rather therenewal had expired. I feel helpless sometimes, watching around what is happening. What goes on in the minds of people?! So much of desperation? By the way, it won’t be wrong to say that we all are rapists. Just because we have a society to live in and ‘relationships’ to maintain, we fear. Respect towards an individual is rare. It’s just the gratitude; external very often. And there is no use in talking psychology. Humans made psychology to study themselves. Sorry, it should be said with ‘WE’.

What good has democracy done for India. A question? What has it?! It saved India from going into some wrong hands at the time of Independence. It brought up people, out of atrocities, made equality a fundamental right. Democracy, it is a path of struggles, but a travel bearing sweet fruits. We have failed to attain this. Frankly speaking, India has failed to implement the model of democracy. People, we, so much think of ourselvesthat nothing is left for the country! And thanks to these anti-social elements! Their anti-social acts encourage societies to be together. Only then people realize how much wrong is going onaround in the country. In schools, we are ‘taught’ social science, made to mug up fundamental rights and duties! What do you think, teachers, mugging up and bringing top results for the schools was the reason educationists like Maulana Abul KalamAzad, Radhakrishnan, Tilak fight for India?! So much of irony that we teach about equality, and then come home, watch some terrorism news and say, “Ye log aise hi hote he. Ye dharmhamesha aakrosh aur hinsa paida karta he!” A few days back, I read about some disturbing posts on Facebook which led to violent reactions in Pune. The posts were really disturbing, and action was required to be taken. But some group men came out on the streets and attacked the buses?! What the fuck? What did the poor buses have to do with the post? They aren’t even humans to be on Facebook.

The anger isn’t only on the protestors, but the culprit too. I don’t know how did he generate such high level of hatred towards a religion, but I knew he was wavered. Maniac. Or controlled. We, responsible people, should act accordingly right? If we go on doing things similar to such people, we would require others to control us! And then the real matter goes to hell! I don’t know what people find in creating an issue. It is a tendency to get famous. Becoming famous has only one reason in India, votes. If you are famous among people then you have their votes, and eventually you have the power. People, yes you, are too gullible. We prevent thinking before following an idea or an opinion. We follow the flock! And these people in greed of power, if have an additional capability to influence, then only Barack Obama can stop them from getting into power, I don’t know how. This problem of the Indian community has led to several problems. "My son will do Engineering! Yay!! Mine too! Here’s mine take him too! Delhi gang-rape was bad! We must have stricter laws and regulations! Girls aren’t safe anymore!."...........Guys, laws will only punish the criminal, or in some case prevent him/her from doing such crimes. What about the crime! They still tend to happen! Why? Because we are stupid! Our life is like twitter! Thoughts come to us like the tweets and there’s a ‘trending list’.Which keeps on updating regularly. We forget the importance of severe matters and just pull down the page to refresh…

Now, I bet half of the Indian population does not come into the ‘flock’ I talked about! Yeah, it doesn’t. It’s nothing to be proud of. It is only because half of us simply don’t care! We neitherknow about the sheep nor about the flock! We are the lonely lions, leading our own life. Take up any student from class 11 or 12. Let him be a topper or one who performs exceptionally well in competitive exams. Does he even care about what is happening around? He might. But what would he choose, a practice test or election results? A dilemma. Talk to people who are striving hard throughout their college life just for a job outside India. In the US or Europe. I have no offence against you guys. But please, think a bit about the country too. Has living a good, luxurious life overtaken the feeling of national devotion? Way back! A very simple answer.

You might think about the relation between the gang-rapes and people flying to the US. It’s all about not thinking about the social environment, it’s all about selfishness, greed! The only difference being that those flying away think only about themselves being on the top, while the other want all to be under them.

Know about what reaction Mr. Chief Minister of UP gave? When asked by media about the incident, he replied, “You look after yourself, we’ll take care of the state. At least you are safe now!” Really? This was all, rather only this was what you had to say Mr. Akhilesh? The people made you the CM with hopes that you would complete the promise you gave, ‘After 6 months of leadership, UP will be free of crimes’. Huh, the irony. And still the golden words come out, “We are trying our best to improve the condition”. Don’t you think people you believed so much in him? Smart gullible we. These leaders have so much fun due to this specialty we possess! Guys, wake up.

Even after 2 years post the Delhi incident, if te situation is still the same, waste were those candle marches, those protests, those angry faces, those posts, which were against the rape. Democracy is funny. It gives you gifts about which you never know! Relish these gift people! Only then you can proudly vote, only then you would have deserving names on the voting machine, oly then these rapes and incidents like these would stop. Know yourself first, because those in power are very hazy, you can be used anyway for their benefits. Realise the power of democracy! Realise the fun of it, you would start living the life of a real Indian then. Scoring high marks, getting a highly paid job, was never the aim of our educational system, neither was rave parties, or these rapes. The most sarcastic thing here is that the highly ‘educated’ leave the place, and the most lowly, come into the power. Huh, educated people. Decide yourself, what education is, what living in a democracy is, the rapes might not stop, but you would get ready to fight against them for sure. Our country is of the people, neither can a king rule it nor it can ever be ruled by someone; it lives because of it's people, us. Refresh yourself, the country would be refreshed then..

Realisation vs Imposition

It was evening time. The family sat together having tea, the kids- milk. It was rare that they all met at one place. Father remained out for work regularly, mom taught Senior Secondary students at a private school. The elder of the children was Roshni, in her 20s. Rohan, the younger one, was twelve years old. The television was on, a reality show being broadcasted. The father was happy; he was spending leisure time with his family after almost 3 months. Lately he had been to West Bengal to visit a factory there. He had audited thousands of companies before and was an expert in the work. Now he was on a long holiday, so there wasn’t any hurry and thus a lot of time for the family. He was worried that his children did not lose critical parental teachings. Both parents remaining out of home, he had always thought of the kids.  That day he smiled within, watching his children happy.

Mother had a similar concern. She had been teaching at school for seven years now. Children grew up into adults within two years, but she hadn’t got the chance to watch her own going through that phase. Rohan was yet young, but Roshni, she had successfully crossed the transition, she thought. That day she was joyfull, seeing the family together. Sipping the tea, she asked Roshni, “So when’s the next Sem Exams?” Roshni, who hadn’t yet left milk when others of her age had hopped on to vodkas and beer, gestured that they were in the next month. It wasn’t that Roshni was not modern or dynamic, she was very much both. But she had been very careful about addictions. None knew whether it was the independence she had, which she respected a lot, or the nerve-bending story of her uncle, who had died of drugs. Difficult story it was. For now, the story had been off their minds, the grief had gone.

The advertisements were taking a lot of time now. Father lost his patience. He tuned into another channel. News. This was yet another thing he had missed since his appointment as an auditor. Yes, mobile phones gave an alternative, but the excitement and spicy nature of television news kept it a step behind, for the father at least. The breaking news then was of the popular IPL Spot Fixing. One small incident had led to huge secrets being unearthed. Many big names were now being linked to the fixings. The father finished his tea; mother was already into the kitchen. He picked up the mugs, dishes and moved to the kitchen. Roshni had got a phone call and was in the balcony with her coffee. It was beautiful out there in the balcony with cool breeze. Rohan, as usual was still with his mug full of milk, staring at the yelling news reporter. Tea time was over.

The father was done with arranging dishes in the rack, one more pleasure he had missed for long, with his wife. They both had made up a very good couple and the marriage was very successful. He moved out of the kitchen to remind Rohan to empty his cup faster or else he would remain glued to the television. But he knew he had left the news on, nothing interesting for the little Rohan. He entered the living room and to his surprise or shock, the news had changed. IPL Spot Fixing was done and news, rather an awareness program was being shown, one which made the Father feel awkward. The line flashed in red on white- ‘Should Porn be Banned in India?’ He remained frozen between the little space which joined the kitchen and the living room. His mind stuck between yet smaller one. What should he do now, was the only question moving in his mind. Rohan continued watching the show, sipping his milk.

The situation was ‘critical’. Dilemma; a huge one for the father. Several thoughts were now brushing past his mind. He had two options: either he could call Rohan and ask him to finish the milk faster and switch off the TV, pretending there was so much work to do, or he could ask him, talk to him about the thing he was watching. The first one was easy enough, he could just walk past Rohan to the switch board and turn off the TV, and tell him to hurry up and that he had his homework to do. Topic finished! The second option was much more difficult. He had to gather courage and sit beside his son and tell him what he was watching about. He had ‘feared’ that this situation would come sometime for him, but he hadn’t prepared for it. How would he face it, he had either driven the thought off or had thought of how to drive away the situation. While he was stuck in the little space, the mother entered. Same reaction. She tapped her husband on the shoulder, and in the language of the eyes, asked him to do something. He was too involved into doubts that nothing came to his mind but just one word to his vocals; “Rohan!” It was a strange call in terms of the pitch and tone. Never had he called him like that. Actually he hadn’t this time too, it had just come out. Rohan turned to his dad, expecting him to say something more. Surely, he knew nothing about the ‘word’. Or else he would have jumped out of surprise knowing his dad had been watching (something which wasn’t wrong). Father knew nothing ahead. He walked towards him and asked whether the mug was empty. Rohan, like any other child, gave a witty smile and stuck his mug to his mouth pretending to drink the milk. His cuteness hit the father really hard. How more can anyone be innocent? He was worrying worthlessly. It was rare; children getting to know about porn through things which were meant to stop it. But rare did happen that day.

The situation hadn’t passed yet. The father had sat beside Rohan, the TV remote now meters away from him. He sat watching helplessly. Atlast he decided to take up a step. Words blurted out of mouth, “So do you know what you are watching about?” Rohan looked up at him and nodded in refusal. “Dad what is P-O-R-N?”, he could not pronounce the word. Father took a pause, organized his words and said, “Son, you know how a lotus grows?” It was a strange reply. Rohan gathered interest now, as his dad had replied indirectly. “No! How does it dad?”, he asked. “It’s very interesting fact, you know! Lotus is a beautiful flower, but it only grows in mud. If you lift a pink beautiful lotus, you’ll find a huge muddy net of its roots. It’s natural miracle that such a beautiful flower grows out of mud and turmoil.” Rohan stared at his father; the real explanation was yet to come. “So now consider a person who lives underwater, okay? And another one living above it. What will the man underwater see when he looks at the lotus?” “Roots, mud!”, Rohan exclaimed. “Perfect!”, the father smiled. “And what would the man looking from above? What would he see?”  “The flower! Pink!” “Yes, you are right again my boy! So now if the man living underwater remains there for long time, he’ll have a permanent notion about the flower, rather the thing he sees, that it is muddy, tangled. On the contrast, the man above will have a beautiful impression of lotus!” “Hmm”, Rohan was so much into listening that only this came out. “So why did I tell you this? Because, P-O-R-N, ‘porn’, is a thing visible to us when we see a ‘lotus’ from below, the mud, the dirt. And what is the lotus here? Love, intimacy, relations, human reproduction.” “Human reproduction?” “Yes. You’ll soon have a chapter in science on it. Come to me when your teacher starts it.” Rohan nodded. “It’s all about how you see it, my son. Look from the above, you find beautiful things such as love, and look from the below, you find this dirt.” Rohan had understood it well what his father had been telling. Mother smiled, who had been constantly watching the episode. A child was saved from being introduced to sex through porn.

It’s common now that children aged 11-12 years are being introduced to sex and sexual matters through media like porn. This medium is not only creating a bad impression of a beautiful thing, but also inviting an addiction. What we need is a good conversation. The awkwardness in discussing sexual matters must be removed, and charity always begins at home. Curiosity is the biggest teacher, both in a positive and negative way. If Rohan would have been imposed upon that porn was bad, a curious mind would have surely led him to find a way to it. That’s the difference between imposition and realization. If rapes and sexual harassments have to be stopped, such crucial steps must be taken. So stopping major social problems is into our hands, open up your mind and save the world or shut it up and help it rot.

Brain sticks down, when Heart flies in the Air

They nurtured, taught me the right values,

Made me a man out of a boy,

Rose up high, out of the shallows

Of deep down-trodden scum.

Thoughts were carved on the mind so bold,

Now when heart tries to fly,

Brain sticks down, still old…

Books said these were the best of all,

The morals you learn will save you from a fall,

Stepping out into this very real world,

Shy are the books, for every single word.

My mind’s engaged in sorting out things,

Brain-- still way within,

Yet the heart feels no worry in moving ahead,

Ideals are bondage to it,

And all that’s already said.

The Delhi case; the prime reason.

Heart: enraged, mind: conscious and the Brain stubborn.

Blood was pumped to redden my face,

My heart strongly showed signs of its increased pace

Books, ranks, and money after all

Were flashed by the brain to give the heart a stall!

So much confused are we,

Talk of idealness when we lack real.

Sitting in a train, watching people flow,

Looking how busy could life be,

Contrast to the reel life show,

Mind takes a philosophical stance

Packs up the heart’s rage and the brain’s wants,

Like a tooth-fairy it picks up wrong,

Leaves in return a healed wound;

The scar wouldn’t last long...

Your mind matters...

Face whitens, not of death.

Wants diminish, not the passion.

The reason requires conscience,

Rather than anger,

‘Ideals in a real world’… can’t be stranger!

Reach out for the perfect, while living through the real,

Heart would fly up, and brain stick down,

Situations may grab you, confuse you,

Yet… the Brilliant Mind would never let you down…

The Stolen Years (II)

While writing the first part of 'The Stolen Years', I didn't know that I would go on to write the second. But then, you see, how vast is the issue! Living in that atmosphere makes me find, wherever I see, the same situation. Recently I had been to Airoli for an entrance test. It was yet again an engineering entrance test. The level wasn't that high, regarding the difficulty of questions. Moreover there was another factor on which, nowadays, the difficulty of an exam depended. It was an easy analysis! If there exists any kind of coaching for an exam then consider it to have good standards, in terms of questions, competition and repute of the institute. I hadn't found many institutes teaching for VITEEE, yet there were few odd ones out of the crowd. The test was a quite easy one but my head ached badly due to continuous exposure to a computer screen. My dad and I headed to the station and waited for the train.

At the station, also at many others which I had noticed while arriving at Airoli, were numerous banners of coaching institutes, shouting out there results saying 1,2,3,4.. rankers were from this n this institute, 'we teach success' and stuff. I enjoyed reading these slogans or what you would call 'taglines', most of them were quite interesting! You too might enjoy some,

-Our results are results of our intentions!

-We create champions!

-A nourishing ground for future IITians and Doctors!

-Because success is yours!

-Pioneering scientific learning process since 1984's! (OMG!)

-Creating interest to work rigorously! (Thank You!)

-Where discipline is the way of life! (Is that a coaching institute?!)

-Where success is a must!

-Your search ends here! (Oh thank You!)

-Because tomorrow is yours! (Sure!)

I get to read such tags usually when I read some educational magazine. That day at the railway station I saw similar. But this one was a bit more serious. My train had yet minutes to come, so I went on reading everything on that banner. It started with a statement which disturbed me...

What would you save, money or your child's future?

 This one line somewhat enraged me and much more surprised me as to how this banner was still hanging up there?! It indirectly said, "Come, come to us parents! Pour on us the serene money you have! No, don't think of saving it, pour it all! At last we make your child's future!" It kept me thinking that how come these institutes have so much of guts to banner out such statements which could hurt feelings. Obviously guys, a parent not able to afford such a high amount will feel low as he cannot do the 'best' for his/her child. Digging deeper, we find the shining reasons, for why this prevails in India...

Reasons for these stolen years are quite basic. The most fundamental one being lack of equal respect to every occupation. We have formed a hierarchy of professions in India, rather it is present in the whole world but more prominent here. Watch any movie portraying a poor family, usually would be a farmer's. A young child would be encouraged to become an engineer or a doctor so that the same harsh conditions do not fall upon him. Escaping out of farming has been a dream for every farmer family. And then to make this escape a success, these institutes come into role! So why does every farmer want to run away from farming? Past few decades our cities have seen numerous immigrants from rural areas, such people who come in search of jobs, having lost their crop. A real life description in my English textbook speaks about it...
"Food is more important for survival than an identity. “If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain,” say a group of women in tattered saris when I ask them why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers."

Migration is now common in India, rural people migrate to cities for better conditions

So it is human to migrate for survival when conditions worsen. But then cities do not promise any luxuries! Mumbai is rightly quoted as 'Mayanagari', as miracles happen here. People enter Mumbai to fulfill their dreams, some fail, some succeed. Atlast luck and money matter a lot! So we too have migrated from coaching classes to this struggling life of rural people, which clearly tells how deep rooted the problems are. A major point comes into limelight: India's developmental strategy. We have been praised as the gonna-be world's economic power. Many futurists say that India will soon develop economically. But the shoot's leaving the root. We are flying into the air so high that we are leaving our foundation.

Glancing at India's developmental process, we find a trend different from a regular seen in many now-developed countries. A general trend observed in many developed countries is that the progress was made step by step; first agriculture, then industry and then services. India had jumped onto services even when agriculture was still handicapped. We are losing a lot due to this leap. Weak agriculture sector is making everyone leave it and now the drought has worsened the conditions. I recently read a news and personally noticed that many farmers from west and central Maharashtra had migrated to cities like Mumbai and Pune. The worst part is yet to come. They were found begging at the railway stations, bus stations and other public areas. Still, the vice CM of Maharashtra talks of peeing into the dams to fill them. Strange! Stranger the fact that these issues are well knit with the one in the title! So it's like a well linked cycle of problems. Weak agriculture leads to tendency to escape, escaping out into urban lifestyle means financial stability, it requires a good job, a good job is only promised by good colleges, and to get into good colleges, yes! You can try hard alone! But there are escorts available which make your journey easier..and you join an institute!

Another point which came to my notice while talking to my friend was that too much involvement into coachings has led to negative effects on nurturing creative ideas at the +2 level. At her school, students of Class 11 refused to design a science project just because they were too busy with tests at their institutes. So what are the solutions? One big step by CBSE to combine all tests into one: JEE Main, has done no good to reduce the coaching class influence. They have moulded themselves to the change. Solution lies in our hands. More we feed them, more would they flourish. Complete dependency must be avoided. A good school must be the first preference at class 12. Juniors, you must not think that joining a good coaching institute means better future. Rather studying well must be the first aim. Remember, IITian's Pace may ask your parents whether money is important or their child's future, answer it plainly, I am important. Many others will ask for humongous fees, ask them the reason. Get every single detail about their plan, strategy, and make it sure that, if you pay, your money doesn't go in vain. Many don't know that complaints can be filed against coaching classes at the consumer forums, if the service is not felt apt. Use this feature if required. Two years are precious, I say this again, don't let anyone steal them, make them productive yourself...

The Stolen Years

Recently I gave a visit to my house at Alibag on the day of Gudi Padva. My family was with me, the trip was beautiful. The change from a busy scheduled lifestyle in New Panvel to a flexible one was awesome. Met good old friends. I had just given my engineering entrance exam, the JEE Main,so had many of my friends. A bit of load had moved away, not to empty my mind but just to give it a warm up session to welcome yet another one; the State CET and others. My mind was like making every single excuse to have a break now. This visit was a good solution. Almost after a year I had been to my house. The mangoes had grown bigger, yet bore no fruit. The neighbour's trees were bowing down due the weight of the fruits. In New Panvel, I saw them on footpaths, vendors selling them. The saying, "When you leave Mumbai, you hug nature" proved right! Yet another fact, "With nature, you are in peace, and in peace, your mind works" was gonna be true very soon...

On the day of Gudi Padwa, my dad invited his friends home, he hadn't met them for months! A small amount of snack was arranged- Samosas and Jalebis. Guests arrived, beautiful evening it was; humorous and full of joy. The evening went by, soon. Our stomachs were filled so mum decided not to make dinner and we decided to go to the beach that night. House was a bit far from the beach and thus we needed a transport. My dad's friend had left his motorcycle, in case we needed it. And yes we did! I drove my dad and then mum and bro in two trips. It was low tide then, the beach had become dirty due to the things that had washed off to the shore. Mosquitos enjoyed blood. We sat on a bench, me, mum and dad. My bro and cousin went on the sand to play. Waves enjoyed their way to the shore, one by one. Just then my father's phone rang. It was his friend. It had been a bit of practice now, that people enquired about schools to join, streams to opt and other vital decisions to take, to me. But then one more question was becoming more frequent now. My dad held the call and asked me,
"His brother's son has just given Class 10 board examinations. Now he wishes to study science further and then do engineering. Which coaching class is the best among these- Quality Circle, Vidyasagar or Vidyalankar?"
I had seen Quality Circle's board one day walking home from my own coaching institute. Vidyalankar and Vidyasagar were known to me as I had enquired about them earlier. I said Vidyalankar and Vidyasagar would be better over the other. He gave my message to his friend. Silence. Waves still found their way to the shore, one by one...
Suddenly I spoke up, "It's strange, isn't it, that we care too much about the coaching institute to join, rather asking about a school?" I sensed a debate getting birth. My mum agreed to it. My dad too. But then later they gave an explanation, "These two years are crucial, considering Indian education system. You cannot let them go easily as your future depends on how good you do now. And then, we aren't so majestic that we live on our elders money. Rather it doesn't suit our ethics that we enjoy our elders hard-earned money but become independent." But I had a doubt, "Then why not the schools? These institutes have cleverly identified the need, or the desperateness of the parents of Indian students. And then again population comes into role! So many students and so little seats! It's perfectly true that, having resources, none will leave any stone unturned so as to fix a seat in the top institutes of the country." My dad said," Yea, you're true, but then who wants to be poor? Parents commit a mistake here." Mum said, "Yes that's right, we parents mistake here. Many invest so much into coaching institutes that they forget about the education which lies beyond this period." I recalled Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020, Gopal's dad spends all his savings onto a coaching institute at Kota, hoping he gets a seat in IITs. The night went long, I wished to talk more. We hit more topics, very far from this small one. Waves now silently were conquering the shore ahead. The sand was wet now. My mind had already soaked into the thought, I was conquering many ideas, it was a high tide approaching...

The problem at hand was very big one. Coaching institutes had landed in almost all competitive areas of education; the most evident one being engineering entrance, as engineering still remains among the most preferred side. The success of coaching institutes meant a huge failure of our +2 schooling system. Somewhere a loop hole was so big that we had started emphasising coachings more than schools. I remember an article I read regarding the coaching business in India. The research says that the industry has profits in some billion dollars, including just those institutes which are recognized. The ones owned by an individual, conducted at home remain unnoticed. Anyone who thinks is capable of teaching opens an institute. It's interesting to see how one problem is superimposed on other, when coaching institutes find scarcity of place! Then classes are opened in places meant for shops, markets. The building which collapsed in Thane had a coaching institute too! So what are we losing when we are fixing a seat into the best colleges, which would mean a good job in the future? The answer lies within...

Competition to the top..none leaves no stone unturned

The 'fees' demanded by these institutes are overwhelming. Irony lies in the fact that we are ready to pay them lakhs of rupees but hit stones and conduct strikes when our schools declare a fee hike! I am not in favour of huge fee hikes at schools, but the equality of rage towards coaching institutes goes missing. Moreover, there is no basis on which institutes ask for such a big amount. They say look at our results. We fly in air when we see posters showing AIRs in top ten or hundred, proud to be a part of an institute which produces quality students. We so give so much importance to them that we keep our schools aside. Coaching seems a gateway to IITs. Many times, these institutes tend to break laws by building fake castles in air. Even many school teachers have now hopped into this industry. It is expected that schools must stress upon preventing students from joining tuitions, but this situation invites the problem. This problem is a statistical one. What further itches is its emotional and social impact.
India has been so much in the so-called developmental era that struggle has remained a part of every Indian's life right from the Independence. The only solution one finds out of this struggle is escape. Many try to earn more and have a healthy lifestyle. So in a way, in India, we have mechanised our life, leaving no time for the country, the people, the social issues, nothing. And then these coaching institutes have become our travel agents, assuring us best service. And what an agent does not forget is commission! So do the institutes! The two years of our life, get stolen. The time when we are meant to build social, economical ideas for the betterment of the country, we sit in a coaching institute, learning to secure a high rank. What I mean to convey through this article is not complete isolation from coachings, but prevention of complete dependency and devotion to coachings. Guys, it's impossible to live without a coaching, I know. Today there are coachings even for small kids! Somewhere it roots to very basic problems in our society. Time for us to identify them. Decide cautiously, two years of life do matter. Atlast, it is you who mark your future, achieve it yourself...

The 'Legal' Bribing

Corruption...the word reminds us of cash bundles packed in a suitcase or a handbag to be delivered to a 'white-dressed' man, be it a politician or some mafia. Or, to some, it might portrait rallies, with people demanding corruption free politics and governance. To some others, it may also mean Mr. Khejriwaal! Whatever it might mean to us, it globally means this,

Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

Our generation must have been the 'most-corruption-cases-witnessed' one. During the past few years huge scams have come to our notice where those in power, or those in contact with the ones in power have earned millions. Such scandals have led the country to bear huge losses. Even knowing all this, we fail to stop the wrong or even act strongly against the wrongdoers  Analysing the reason for the act of bribing leads us into various psychological factors. It also roots into the man's never ending wish to achieve(define the word) more. Researches and social activists, including myself, stress upon the need to end this practice at the grassroots level. Largely it is we people responsible for tempting them to ask money. I get a thought to my mind, always when I talk or think about corruption, an idea which my Social Science teacher had...

"Bribing for getting your job done faster has held almost all the structures of Indian Democracy. We people, tired of this money-under-the-table process try to speak against it. A feeling of revolution comes to our mind. We revolt. But why don't we think for a better solution? My view upon removing corruption is making bribery legal..."

The class remained dumbstruck! Out there, the world was demanding for a corruption free world, and this man was trying to make bribing legal?! Some, including me, refused! Call it our awareness, or immaturity, that we were unable to digest his idea.

He continued, "Making bribing legal would solve almost all our problems, setting particular rules on bribing, about the amount and time period, will help remove the stagnancy in our governance. Further, this would 'sieve out the loopholes' in our system."

The idea was yet not digested by us. The thought of making bribing legal would mean rich getting richer and poor poorer! I was not then, not even yet, that mature enough to get the seriousness of his point. The class ended in a haste, our minds refusing an alien into a crowd of set beliefs, which called themselves 'the seeds of revolution'...

Today when I recall that class, I try hard to understand what my teacher actually meant, because somewhere I sensed in it the potential to cure the wound. But till today I fail. The question keeps me thinking and the answer seems to be far off. One day, I was reminded about this, I was watching television then. Commercials were on, me waiting for some show to resume. My mind hovered to find answers, when I struck to something, not the answer, but a symptom. Deeper, I could see the seriousness of this symptom...

I realised how it had remained unnoticed to all, how under-the-table money was being offered so 'publicly'. Television Life...the addaa of 'legal' bribery! The commercials I was viewing were the most important and clear-cut symptoms of how money was being played with, using 'vital nutrients' as a shield. The commercials switched too quick, giving no time to the viewer to judge and mostly fall prey to the glam of the advertisement. The list would go long if I mention some examples. You must have watched various advertisements boasting of their products first and then mentioning some attractive gifts free with the good. I have lived that time when Lay's wafers had a hard time and used to give a free gift with the packet to attract buyers(we children). But where's bribing involved in all this?! Right? Money doesn't seems to be involved in black in this industry! Then how am I making such blames! Wait...you need to broaden the way you define bribing.

This is what I mean by it,

Bribing is an act of doing or making someone ready to do something which does or propagate wrong, wrong by law or humanitarian values.

This definition tries to include all such acts which are encouraged by any influence, money or thought. Now you might have gotten something regarding why I am calling TV commercials active sites of bribing. The definition generalises, now I would also call making of terrorists as bribing, they are bribed by thoughts. Various politicians, devoid of any practical or sensible social reform, usually bribe people by cheap divisive beliefs, and it's our weakness that we fall prey to them! It is usually seen that elders tend to 'bribe' children, promising them to offer something upon certain conditions. This bribery of thought has much more affected than that of money. Speaking about commercials, I put forward three major issues that compel me to call TV advertisements foul:

1. Truth based upon fake foundation: Most of the commercials today do not have anything to do with the genuineness of the product. Most of them boast so much about their product that the true quality remains behind curtains. Regarding bribery, the actors involved in promoting such 'fake truths' are misleading people and spreading a lie. Money is poured onto them just to increase sales, even if the matter in the advertisement is false. This is clear-cut bribing!
2. Deny our Right To Choose: We might get tempted to see, in supermarkets, soaps available in packs of four saying 'a combo offer', rather nowadays single soap bars have disappeared! This attempt of soap manufacturers is indirectly an encroachment upon our right to choose! We are left with no option but to buy the four together. Many others have opted this as it leads to a good sale of their products. Irony lies in the fact that it is presented as an 'offer'!
3. Increased Dependency: My brother usually questions me that if we had no energy drinks, body growth supplements, where would have we been? How did men in history manage to live such a period of evolution? This makes me think about how dependent we have become on such items. PediaSure, Bournvita, Complan and many others give scientific reasonings in their advertisements. But ever wondered how nutritious is plain milk?! More DHA, more vital nutrients and what not do they promise! People remember one thing, our ancestors lived much more 'easy' life than we do now. They lived on natural plain diet. Our wish, being specific, our greed to achieve has made us leave no effort. Lifespan has increased, on bed. 

The points mentioned above are worth giving a thought. We live in this world, where in front of our eyes money is earned on lies. Legal bribing happens on a wide screen! Still we wait for the show to resume, yet enjoying the ads. Bribery is a part of our life, as my teacher said, it has become 'legal' now. We just fail to recognise its presence. We forget the most seen!

We fight to end corruption, but it ain't so easy process. My friend says- "Why do you write about environment? Go! First end corruption in the country!" I said it is not that easy. You need to go step by step. He looked impatient. It is natural when you find so many cases coming up around you and can do nothing but prepare yourself for an entrance exam which is gonna set your future. We read, hear, watch about corruption every now and then. News channels do sting operations to bring out the hidden. You watch the news, your mind heats up. Thoughts come to your mind so as to change the world. You rise, virtually. You see a change. For a moment a patriot gets birth. For a moment. Then you realise that you have your exams and you aren't ready yet! The initial thought dies, the patriot fades, the transient feeling returns to dormancy...you set to work to set your future...Future that promises leisures, happiness, money...And then you get bribed...and then you get bribed...

In the Midst of the Journey..

Walking on the road newly tarred,

It was difficult for me

To walk, a bit hard;

The road looked new,

I never saw it being made

Just as a gift to me it flew.

Rare it is to have difficulties with gifts,

But this one was not ordinary,

Elders said ancestors had laid it, struggling, in bits

Still I knew my feet struggled,

But I didn't know what it was

My mind, my heart couldn't just walk on it past..

It reminded me of the Golden Quadrilateral,

The Social Studies books presented them,

So great their name sounds, 'literal'.

Walking further, vehicles 'flew' past me,

There wasn't any toll!

I wondered who the authority could be!

Initial six years were vague,

I knew no rules and no regulations

Nothing was real, none 'fake',

But next six were rigorous though,

Helmets, seat belts were indispensable,

My teachers taught.

And today, me too like others,

Is walking..

I remember I had heard someone saying:

"The road's not complete, somewhere it ends! The people are supposed to build it further"

I wanted to see where it ended,

I wanted to see what I had to work on.

My feet ached, but now I knew why,

The road pimpled further,

Tar had washed off,

Or was it the end?

Ahead the road deteriorated,

And I couldn't walk any further.

I stopped.

How shall I move on?

I had promises to keep, dreams to be made realities,

How could I move on, on this rusted road?

Thought I..

Aha! A man came to my help!

Brilliant solution he had,

My feet would be safe

Sooner would I be on the other side.

He had a vehicle 'India's Development'

Feeling proud, I sat into it.

My feet felt a drastic transition,

From hard, thorny stones

To the velvet mattress of the 'India's Development',

Engine blew to fire,

And the vehicle lifted into air!

Amazing experience it was!

The feeling of Modern India ruled every corner.

A curious young mind led me to peep down,

I was too high, perhaps that was the reason

I couldn't see any road further,

I rested into the cozy seat, waiting for the stop.

I was a responsible person,

Contributing to the modern India..

As a second try, I once again peeped out,

And this time I could see some pedestrians,

Trying to make their way out,

But still..It was missing!

The Road showed no sign!

My young mind tried to analyse, 

Words flew past me..

"The road's not complete, somewhere it ends! The people are supposed to build it further"

Who were these people?

Labourers? Mazdoors?

But... I was supposed to complete the incomplete!

Yes! I was among the people!

A thought choked me, the man who helped me,

Hadn't actually.

I was kidnapped.

Kidnapped by thought, by heart..

Modern India was a bait,

And I was rat-trapped!

I had to free myself,

And I did..In the Midst of the Journey, I tried to look back.

Smashed the window and I jumped out, height did not fear me now.

With a thud I landed, the velvet bid goodbye,

I was back..on the Road,

I was Gifted.

They laughed at me from above,

Some clicked photographs,

Unusual was the property of the YouTube though.

But I was firm, I had to build the road.

Back to the point I went,

Where the road started fading,

Another bait asked for me, in vain.

But not my ancestors' efforts.

I was to build the road,

I was to take it ahead,

Now I knew, Aerial journeys weren't what I needed,

At last, roots are the best for a plant to-be-fed...!

Guys, we have come so far from that point, where the road started spoiling, and we are flying so high, that the ground foundation level of our country becomes invisible to us. We aren't still so free, to think completely of ourselves(and one never should be). We have a lot more to do for our nation, a lot more to make everyone able to fly. Baits would keep attracting you, have control. Look how beautiful our country is, and imagine how much more it could be if everyone would start thinking for its good. Never think it wouldn't do any good, it's your effort, love that counts and rewards. Let's make every citizen able to fly, you must be remembering the pigeon story! How they flew together. Guys please do not fly away alone, think about the people, your brothers, start from that point, where the country lost the route, start from there..look back in the midst of the journey.. Wish you all a Happy Republic Day!! 

The Road(s) Not Taken

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference"

Robert Frost beautifully and metaphorically mentions how he chose to be different. The roads meant all those thoughts or practices, followed all over since evolution and those which were new, tender. Few tried to deviate, but fear made others to confine themselves. Innovations are seldom. Today in India many young men and women are making a difference. The brutal incident of Delhi moved all of them and this has made them choose differently. 

Country at present sees many such protests and rallies against the ill-happenings. Many are actively participating. One such rally was planned to be held in my town. People were informed, message was spread. The day of the event dawned, just to set down the idea! None turned up. I am sure the organizers would have thought the ones who didn't turn up as cowards. Hmm..may be it was true. But here I think a bit different and a message to those unlucky organizers..

Rallies and protests are today trying to be more peaceful, which is a very good sign. But still they fail to be completely. 23rd December was an example. The protesters grew violent and the situation invited a lathi charge. Some peaceful protesters were also hit and this created huge outrage. So a series of concentric protests were happening. One against the inhuman activity and other against the act of hitting silent protesters. People demanded stronger laws and strict punishment. Social networking sites saw recently various pictures regarding the punishment for the accused. People by words, by videos, by slogans were and are supporting the uprising. Some were serious, their eyes spoke, some were there for fun, enjoying a chance to join hands to blame the Indian Government. Many were there who didn't know the cause, only knew that rape was bad, but words called abusive(the F ones) ruled their tongues. So, what was it all about and how good?..

The girl, called Nirbhaya, left us on the 30th of December, victim of so inhuman act. She battled for 13 long days but at last, the brutality showed off. So why did she face all this? What made the men do such a soiled act?...Recently the world welcomed 2013 (A happy new year to all!). Me hadn't any plans except sitting at home and watching TV. Something had to be special! So I decided to remain awake to welcome the new year. Entertainment channels showed new year party-cum-award-shows(I always wondered how they could fake a new year days before, just to get it on TV at the right time!). I stuck to one of them which seemed to have most of the celebs I knew. There were awards, comedy punches and yeah! Dances of course! Beautiful senoritas danced on some of the trending songs of the time. The party was over, countdown done..and..the new year came!! It was 2013 now, I said to myself. Nothing much, the show ended and I had some very good cake my mum had made. Enjoying the orange filled somewhat-crunchy crust, I got something in my mind. This moved me, giving me a sense of realization saying 'Look that's what it is!', 'You are ignoring the most seen'..

Those dances were being reminded to me. More-over the songs. One said 'Fevicol something,..misscall something'(Notice the height of mistakes; English used in Hindi that to 'misscall' which is rightly: missed call') another said, 'Halkat jawani..something'. Many of these sounded stupid, as if the poet just looked up into a dictionary to match the rhyme. One thing was common, all of these had a lady dancing, asking attention. These are called, popularly, 'Item Numbers'. These shamelessly and very frankly put forward a lady as a piece of art, to be adorned, to be tossed money at, in service of males, to fascinate them! What made me anxious was the number of males aroused by such a dance, these dancers were safe with bodyguards all around. But what of those who live unprotected, always under hunting, tempted eyes?..

We all use 'F' words, don't we? I don't know how these were born but I'm pretty sure 'he' had a great revenge to take on women. Today all of the abusive language used has words which slangly relate to woman's body. We unknowingly tend to use them, because it's a trend now right? And I bet, there might be people, calling those people with these words, who didn't turn up for rallies. So friends, a rally for a girl, still abusing her??
Robert Frost rings bells again, tempting me to add something..

"Two roads diverged into the woods

I took the one less traveled by

And that's all that made the difference...

I now come to this famous place,

Where the two roads still diverge into the woods,

Yet none of them is less traveled by

Trodden grass lays both ways.

I wonder which is the 'second' one.

Moving ahead, there's a board;

'The Less Traveled By'

But I couldn't see a trace of a sign

Which proved it wasn't a lie.

Well, the dilemma crept over me,

Of the two roads I had to choose one

A long thought led me to think

Which none would have done.

I believed in Innovations,

I believed there was a Third one..

Out here I stand,

Where the two roads diverge into the woods,

When others decide to take 'the less traveled one'

I stand alone, firm,

Looking for the third one..."

Guys, rallies, protests can lead to awareness, but it's a process just like spraying seeds over a piece of land. You just don't know how many of them will grow up and bear fruits! What I ask for is a change in the process of change. Most of us have a thought that participating in such rallies is being different. But people, if you go personally to each and every square feet and sow a seed yourself, you have the guarantee, a fool-proof one. Guys many have now chose the second road, rallies and protests lie on this path, but there is a still better road to choose. The third, where you don't think bad, you don't think negative, but you start with positive yourself. At your level you take a step. Make your friends aware, make your siblings know whats good, what's better. Respect each and everyone you have in your life. Start alone, believe me, you won't be so for long. Requirement of strong laws points at the animal instinct growing in us. We put up chains around, just to ensure they don't get wild. If we can only strengthen our Laws then what's the difference between us and the animals? We have a better possession, our mind, which rules our body. Let's control it...Let's educate the ones growing now..let's stop such people from getting birth..Let's change the process of change..Quiet but powerful..To eradicate negative but itself positive..Let's still make a change..Let's choose The Road Not Taken..

And we Ask for ‘Free’dom..!!

Listening to those words now, had a very different impact. Then, they were mere words, now they were ‘anchors’, ploughing deep into my mind. The song was one of the best I had ever heard then. My mind recited..

Can you believe we still around?

After so many hit the ground

And we ain't gon' stop now

Until we get that

Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom

Everything I have, everything I own

All my mistakes, man, you already know

I wanna be free, I wanna be free

It was after 2-3 years that this song was beating my eardrums again. Akon’s voice and the perfect words in it depicted the scenario very beautifully. It was in a way, trying to tell me, to empathize. Well, but I had already started feeling myself captivated. Last few weeks were such, when I could feel my freedom being crushed by people hailing power; I wanted it complete, as it was earlier.

My freedom of speech was recently kidnapped. But thank god! Indian judiciary brought it back safe. Freedom to migrate is always questioned in Maharashtra by some. We have got so much freedom, in India, that we tend to extravagant it. And then we ask for freedom we aren't worth  of.

My summer vacations of 2012 were fortunate enough to be spent in the United Arab Emirates; my first experience in a non-democratic country, and also the first one outside my own. I always considered democracy a very powerful form of governance (and yes! It actually is!). A typical mindset of mine was about the monarchical countries like the UAE. I entered the UAE to end the month of April and it was already drastic hot there. But this weather had no rank before what I saw there. What I saw there was a complete contrast (in terms of thoughts, people, everything rather)…

My dad had already informed me about the rules there, and yea! Quite expectedly, they were strict. My experience was best hit when I, one day, moved out on the streets walking to a friend’s place. Aha! There were ‘visible’ zebra crossings! (You know in India they are invisible) I walked on one of them, recalling the rule; first look left, then right and then again left. I moved; the road was clear. Just then a vehicle came and I stopped with a jerk! (Waiting for it to go) But to my surprise, it stopped at the crossing, waiting for me to cross first! I walked ahead, and the vehicle then sped away. I felt as if I was in heaven! Never had I got this kind of treatment (respect) on roads! (Again you know very well about India!). Shocked with pride (pride because I was ‘something’ as a pedestrian), I moved on. A next surprise was waiting for me. It was an intersection. Suddenly two cars sped towards each other and just missed an accident. Well the red one was wrong! Surprise comes now! The window of the black car opened a voice yelled. It was a woman! The other driver was sufficiently barked at, so much that he drove away. A woman! And she yelled at a man! In India it was rare and one who did it was called brave..!

These experiences (in a non-democratic country) moved me. UAE was the only country in the Middle-East, which was monarchical, but gave much freedom to the citizens. And more importantly, the citizens accepted it responsibly. I don’t know what actually it was, but it made me follow the rules there. In India I least bothered but that something was compelling me, to use the zebra crossing instead of a shortcut…

Back to India. Many people call the noisy, ever populated nature of India its special feature. I have watched several travel shows, and a thing common to them was what their hosts said..

‘India is a place of colours. You never know what you would come across a turn. It is full of surprises. And that’s what I love about this place.’

In a way, all of them try catiously to sweeten the bitter. Because, Indians love being praised as they are!

Come out on roads, you would find a group of bikers moving in a crazy manner, intending to impress a girl nearby, by their biking skills. Move ahead, you would find a driver spitting out a red stream of his car (mouth freshener it is called; the red stream). Move still ahead, but alas!! You won’t find any zebra crossing! Aha! I forgot! In India, they are painted with special invisible paint. And even if they are visible, we 'assume' they are not! That’s a true Indian! Now if you cannot drive, how about an evening walk!  People are welcomed in parks, all scented with rotting garbage! The view’s so beautiful you know! And the lakes! They don’t have any other work than to keep thermocol blocks and plastic bags floating.

Another talent was discovered in Indians, when monuments were opened for public viewing. We make them our masterpieces! The builders specially kept some walls blank, so that the names scratched on them remain immortal.

So much plastic dirt we create and just dump it into a corner which then turns into a garbage hill very soon

Indians! We drive vehicles even when we haven’t crossed 14, we litter all around like nomads (even worse) caring only about our clean homes, not of the city, monuments are our creative walls and doing all this, we ask for ‘free’dom!! Shameless is the word, best for all of us. Folks, if we do not have any respect for the rights we’ve got, we have no ‘right’ to have them. We boast of our rights, but forget our duties. We blame the system, don’t we? The thing of which I mentioned which compelled me to follow rules in UAE, was fear. I do not wish it to be the reason in India. Look within, there lies the real system. It is rightly said..

‘Soil is least thought about. We look around, we see soil. It’s almost free to us. And that’s where we attempt a suicide. We take it for granted, exploiting it completely, just because it’s free. But a day would come very soon, when world will die for a pinch of soil.’

We(Indians) have taken rights for granted as democracy delivers them right into our hands free of cost! Freedoms we have, we exploit them. In a previous article I had mentioned, ‘You have your freedom until you do not snatch other’s’. Our perspective is very casual, because we all know that a famous future predictor had said that India would rule the world one day. Aha! Not without the efforts of Indians! Friends, value the freedom you've got. I write this article because I am an Indian, UAE wouldn’t have seen such an article. Change your thinking as to why you are here. You are so lucky to be an Indian. Be proud to be an Indian, be responsible enough to ask for freedom.