Column | Pathe Prantare

Samay Taranga 30.12.18

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee 30.12.18

Do something about our Justice Dispensing System

Recently I came across a letter to the editor in a local Odia newspaper asking the government to build new jails to accommodate the growing number of inmates of the existing jails, which are already overcrowded thus forcing the inmates to live in inhuman conditions. A large number of the inmates are under trials.

A quick google search revealed that in Odisha more than one and a hundred thousand criminal cases are pending in courts- some for more than a decade. In fact Odisha figured at 6th in the country when it comes to pendency of criminal cases for over a decade in subordinate courts.
The backlog of cases in the courts of our country are touching 3.3 crore cases. While 2.84 crore cases are pending in the subordinate courts, the backlog clogging the High Courts and Supreme Court (SC) is 43 lakh and 57,987 cases, respectively. According to National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG), the five states which account for the highest pendency are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat. 
Justice is one’s basic right. A speedy, fair and reasonably priced justice dispensing system, is necessary for a just society. But we do not have that.

Why is so? There are some well-known answers. Lack of adequate number of judges in courts. Less number of working days in Courts. The unnaturally lengthy and meandering legal procedure. Add to that the recent phenomena of lawyers stalling the court business. It is happening with alarming regularity all over the country. Take the example of Odisha. Lawyers in Odisha in 2018 have gone on strike and forced the court shut for over 90 working days. In Western Odisha, the situation is worse as the lawyers are on strike demanding a permanent bench in Western Odisha for a very long time. As a result the under trails are not even getting bail and languishing in jail putting more pressure on the already overstretched infrastructure. .
It creates another problem.  It is a known fact that hardened criminals recruit rookies form the under-trial prisoners. Longer they stay in jail; greater are the chances of their being indoctrinated into criminal gangs.
Denial of fair justice is denial of one's basic human right. If it continues to happen, people will lose faith on the justice dispensing system. Justice is the foundation on which modern society stands. Without that- the society will degenerate into lawlessness. We are fast heading towards that. Sooner we realise this and make some course correction- better for us and the country.

Parenting

I often find young parents treating parenting like a competition. It seems they want to be the best parents by providing their children, what they think the children need or supposed to have.
They think they should buy the best new toys, admit them to the best schools, get them multiple tuitions, take all decisions that the child ought to take, guide them at every crossroads in their lives. They need to guard and guide their children at every step- better than all other parents. 
Parenting is not a competition. Parenting is allowing the child to realise his/her full potential. Hold his/her hands, nudge if you may, but don't push him or her. Don't try to fulfill your dream through your child. Let him/her pursue his/her own dreams. Let him/her struggle, fall some times and get up on his/her own. That will make him/her stronger. Let him/her, like a plant grow. Don't provide him shadow for longer than necessary. That will stunt his/her growth. Let him face and soak his/her share of sunshine and grow to his/her potential.

Perception of Fun

Come X-Mas or new year, and all the picnic spots are full of people. One finds families and young couples. These days I find groups of young men and women moving around with gay abandon. I also find them spending more time and energy in taking photographs of themselves with the river, hill, statue at the background. Most of them prefer to take selfie or wefie.

I am amazed at how mobile phones and selfie have become integral parts of any celebration. We prefer more to record ourselves being part of the celebration and to let others know that than to celebrate ourselves. That is the reason we take the photograph of the food in fancy restaurants and share before eating. At scenic spots we don't see the scene in our naked eyes- we look at through view finders. In our eagerness to record and share we miss the fun and pleasure of actually looking at the scene. Or probably the concept of fun has undergone a drastic change.

Sri Aurobindo

Millions of people including some top intellectuals across the world revere (there are quite a few detractors too) Sri Aurobindo for his inclusive philosophy of life and spiritual guidance. But few know that he was one of the great editors of India, though his tryst with mainstream newspapers was not long- less than two decades.

Three of the newspapers, with which Aurobindo Ghosh ( born August 15, 1872; who later turned into Rishi or Sage Aurobindo) was associated with shows the metamorphosis of an educated young man with revolutionary zeal into a sage, who delved deep into philosophical quest. 
Yugantar (first published on 26 August 1907) was a revolutionary newspaper. It demanded absolute denial of the British rule and openly called for armed revolution to end the alien rule. It urged all Indians to join hands in opposing the foreign rule. The emblem of the paper included the symbols of two faiths, the trident and chakra of Hinduism and the crescent and sword of Islam.
Bande Mataram ( first published 6 August 1906), a daily that Aurobindo started with Bipin Chandra Pal had to keep within the letter of the law; its advocacy of freedom had to follow as far as possible the lines of peace, its path had to be that of passive resistance.
He started the English weekly Karmayogin (1909) after his release from the Sedition case. Unlike his earlier works of political nature, it concentrated on cultural and philosophical lines. 
From 1909 onwards he gradually moved towards philosophy and went to French occupied Pondicherry (Puducherry, now). Eventually he turned a sage and began a completely different life.

Gurugyan

Kantha is any day better than blanket. 
And ghar ka khana is better than market.

(Kantha is a quilt made of old clothes, especially sarees)

Tailpiece: Kya Jamana Aya

Kya Zamana aya!
3 idiots
2 states
Dedh Ishqia
Ek Villian
Aur ab Zero

***

Mrinal Chatterjee a journalist-turned media academician lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He writes fiction and plays. With Snehasis Sur he has recently edited and published an anthology of lectures and essays on Mahatma Gandhi as a Journalist and Editor.

This column is published every Sunday in Sikkim Express and www.orissadiary.com

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee 23.12.18

Early morning train journey

Early morning train journey has always been fascinating for me. As you have to get up very early to get ready to reach station, there is always that tension of the cab not reaching in time, or the alarm bell not functioning. As a result you keep awake the whole night or have a fitful frequently interrupted sleep.

Then, as you reach the station, even the familiar one also looks so different at early morning. It is like meeting a prim and proper gentleman you are accustomed to see in business suit in lungi. You see people sleeping on the platforms, some just waking up. The smell of freshly brewed tea floats lightly with winter mist. As the train chugs into the station in what seems like slow motion, passengers scramble into compartments. In unreserved compartments there is a rush to grab the window seat. Luggage shoved under the seat or piled overhead beans, passengers settle down as the dawn just breaks over the corrugated tin dome of the platform fighting the tenacity of darkness.

Happiness

Last week I was invited to speak on happiness at the newly opened Janardan Pujari Centre for Happiness at Sambaplur in Western Odisha. I do not why they invited me. Probably I always look happy  though my wife tells me otherwise.

So I was reading about happiness. Happiness is a state of mind. It has been studied from sociological, psychological, theological, spiritual perspective; also from medical angle. It is interesting to note that though we covet happiness, many people are actually scared to be happy, lest it brings something bad on them. 

One school of psychologists believes that some people are genetically wired to be happy. Some are not. It is a trait. The other school believes that one can learn to be happy. It is a skill that can be acquired. So much so that several known universities across the world are offering courses on happiness that teaches how to be happy.

I did some quick reading, especially recent research on happiness from psychological and neuro-science domain, which focuses mostly on functional neuroanatomy of pleasure. Interestingly, both have some strikingly common points:

1.      Happiness does not lie in amassing wealth or materials or even in its complete absence.

2.      Your happiness is deeply connected with everyone around you.

3.      Social isolation/rejection causes pain. Good social relationship is a critical factor in happiness.

4.      Positive surprises make us happy.

RBI Governor

As Urjit Patel resigned, the government appointed retired bureaucrat Shaktikanta Das as the new Governor of RBI. Mr. Das is the first Odia to be RBI Governor. He is not a career economist and that has created a furor.

As my friend economist S N Misra writes, “Of the 25 RBI Governors appointed so far, 11 have been from ICS and IAS. The rest have been distinguished economists and bankers like I.G. Patel, who opposed demonetization move of Mr. M. Desai in 1977, or C. Rangarajan and M. Narasimham, who provided gravitas to the institutional autonomy of the RBI and introduced path braking banking reforms.

Mr. Y.V. Reddy, an IAS officer, as RBI Governor ensured financial stability during global financial crisis of 2007-08, going against the political pressure of P. Chidambaram to reduce report rates. He was the lone Indian, who was included by Prof. Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Laureate, to be part of the Commission to examine the financial crisis.

We also have example of Mr. S. Venkitaramanan, IAS who on joining as RBI Governor agreed to transfer reserves from RBI equity to the government, a move opposed by his predecessor Shi R.N. Malhotra, an IAS officer.”

Mr. Shaktikanta Das, the new appointee is a student of history from St. Stephen’s. However, as a Secretary Finance he has had a long exposure and experience in handling economic matters. History has shown how many IAS officers have changed bureaucratic acquiescence and shown excellent professional judgement, like Mr. Y.V. Reddy and Mr. D. Subbarao.

The RBI Act mandates the Governor to do three basic duties: ‘Regulate Money Supply and Credit Flow and Maintain Stability of Rupee’, by ensuring that inflation does not exceed 6 percent and it’s exchange rate does not drop propitiously. The original Act of 1934 also advised not to be ‘politically influenced’. These words were deleted when Nehru’s India became a Republic. But the Constitution mandates in Schedule III that a constitutional functionary should operate ‘without fear or favour, affection or ill will’. This oath should apply to statutory authorities like the RBI Governor.

Hope the new Governor will abide by that spirit.

Tea

15 December is observed as International Tea Day  since 2005 in tea producing countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India and Tanzania.
Tea happens to be the second most popular drink in the world after water. It is also the most democratic drink, after water- though it can be exotic.  In Japan elaborate ritual is associated with Tea drinking.
Tea has occupied a prominent place in literature across the world. Recently I discovered a bunch of sher on Tea on social media. I do not know who the original author is- must be an avid tea drinker like me.
Savour these with a steaming hot cup of tea.

Ek tera khyal hi to hai mere pas

Warna koun akele me baith kar chai pita hai!

(Your  memories give me company

Otherwise, who drinks tea alone!)

Aaj lafjo ko maine

Sham ki chai pe bulaya hai

Ban gayi baat to

Ghazal bhi ho sakti hai

(This evening I have invited

words for tea

if things go well

songs could be composed)

Tailpiece 1: Exit Poll

Isha Ambani's wedding is like exit polls. Everyone discuss about it. Media covers it with much enthusiasm. But no one you know has ever participated in it.

Tailpiece 2: Election Result special

Issue: Cow

Result: Cowdung

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

Mrinal Chatterjee, a journalist-turned media academician lives in Dhenkanal a Central Odisha town. He also writes fiction. mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

This column is published every Sunday in Sikkim Express and www.orissadiary.com

PR Roundtable at IIMC, Dhenkanal

For Details Contact: mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com

Mini stories in Odia

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Column | Pathe Prantare

Samaya Taranga 23.12.18

Column | Satrangi Batein

सतरंगी बातें

बाली यात्रा

मृणाल चटर्जीअनुवाद- इतिश्री सिंह राठौर

कटक का बाली यात्रा बहुत प्रसिद्ध है । पूरे ओडिशा में सबसे बड़ा मेला यही है । महानदी के किनारे इस मेले का आयोजन किया जाता है । कार्तिक पूर्णिमा के दिन इसकी शुरुआत होती है और यह सात दिनों तक चलता है । बालीयात्रा में लोगों की भारी भीड़ होती है । मैं हर साल जाता हूं । इस साल भी गया था । हर साल वही स्टाल, वही दुकान, वहीं मिठाइयां, एक के साथ एक अाइसक्रीम फ्री, वह गुम हो गया है, पांच साल की बच्ची मिली है, गुलाबी रंग की फ्राक पहनी है । उसके माता-पिता आकर उसे ले जाएं । वही धूल । भीड़ । हर साल एक ही दृश्य । फिर भी मैं हर साल बालीयात्रा जाता हूं और भीड़ में चलते-चलते सोचता हूं कि लोग बाली यात्रा क्यों आते हैं ?सामान खरीदने ...? पहले जब आनलाइन शापिंग की व्यवस्था नहीं थी तो लोग इसी तरह मेले से घर का सामान खरीदते थे लेकिन अब आनलाइन शापिंग ने सब आसान कर दिया है । मुझे कुछ दोस्तों ने कहा कि वह केवल खाने के लिए बाली यात्रा जाते हैं । बाली यात्रा में खाने-पीने का सामान सबसे अधिक है । दहिबड़े से लेकर मटन बिरयानी, पिज्जा-बर्गर सब उपलब्ध है लेकिन यह सब तो बाहर भी मिलता है । बाली यात्रा में धूल-मिट्टी के कारण खाने को मन भी नहीं करता । उसपर स्वच्छता का भी खयाल मन में आता है । तो फिर लोग क्यों बाली यात्रा घूमने आते हैं ?  कुछ दोस्त कह रहे थे कि लड़के-लड़कियां एक-दुसरे से मिलने बालीयात्रा आते  हैं । लेकिन बाली यात्रा की भीड़ में भला कोई भी किसीसे शांति से कैसे मिल सकता है ? आजकल के इंटनरेट, मोबाइल फोन, शांपिग माल के जमाने में भला कौन प्रेमी जोड़ा बाली यात्रा में समय बिताना चाहेगा ! मुझे तो कम से कम यह कारण नहीं लगता ।तो फिर लोग बाली यात्रा क्यों आते हैं !और किसीके बारे में नहीं कह सकता लेकिन मैं बाली यात्रा जाता हूं -इंसानों को देखने । एक साथ समंदर की तरह लोग । लाल, नीला, सफेद, काला  इंसान । अच्छा इंसान, खराब इंसान । लोभी इंसान, भोगी इंसान, त्यागी इंसान । ख़ूबसूरत इंसान । बदसूरत इंसान । लंबा इंसान, छोटा इंसान । मेले में खाने का स्वाद लेता इंसान । बंदुक में गुब्बारों पर निशाना दाग कर कुछ जितने के बाद खुश होता इंसान । दुसरों के सामने अपनी वजूद का दिखावा करता इंसान । दुसरों का पाकिट मारने के लिए कहीं चुपचाप खड़ा जेबकतरा इंसान । किसी के इंतिजार में इधर-उधर भटकता इंसान । कहीं सबसे अलग खड़ा अकेले चुपचाप देखता इंसान । कितने इंसान हैं यहां...भांति भांति के इंसान...

Dec. 2018

http://www.hindikunj.com/2018/12/bali-yatra-festival.html