Cartoons and memes on recent PND Bank Fraud

Look at the vision of the cartoonist. The subject and situation is still relevant.

Yamraj Number 5003 now in English

Published by Rupa. Available on Amazon.

Culumn | Pathe Prantare

¨{$ ¨÷æ;ÿ{Àÿ ææ þõ~æÁÿ/11.2.18

Qæ’ÿ¿ ¨æœÿêß

AæfçLÿæàÿç {¾{†ÿ ¨÷LÿæÀÿ {ÀÿæS {¯ÿðÀÿæS {Üÿàÿæ~ç- {Ó$#Àëÿ A™#LÿæóÉ LëÿAæ{Ý Qæ’ÿ¿ ¨æBô {ÜÿDdç æ A™æ {àÿæLÿ QæB¯ÿæLëÿ œÿ ¨æB {¯ÿþæÀÿ æ ¯ÿæLÿç A™æ A™#Lÿæ QæB {¯ÿþæÀÿ æ ¾çF QæB¯ÿæLëÿ œÿ ¨æB {¯ÿþæÀÿ †ÿæ Lÿ$æ †ÿ ¯ëÿlç{ÜÿDdç æ ¯ÿç`ÿæÀÿçLëÿ QæB¯ÿæLëÿ œÿæÜÿ]] æ {†ÿ~ë {Ó A¨ëÎç{Àÿ {µÿæSëdç æ {µÿæLÿ ’ÿæD{Àÿ AQæ’ÿ¿ QæB {¯ÿþæÀÿ ¨Ýçdç æ {Üÿ{àÿ ¾çF QæB QæB {¯ÿþæÀÿ †ÿæ ¨÷†ÿç {þæÀÿ Aæ{’ÿò ÓÜÿæœëÿµëÿ†ÿç œÿ$#àÿæ æ {þæÀÿ þ{œÿæµÿæ¯ÿ $#àÿæ: µÿàÿ {ÜÿæBdç É{Áÿ {¯ÿþæÀÿ ¨Ýçd;ÿç æ Aæ{¯ÿ QæB¯ÿæ {¯ÿ{Áÿ ¯ëÿlç¯ÿç`ÿæÀÿç QæA æ Lÿç;ëÿ ’ëÿ…QÀÿ Lÿ$æ, Fþç†ÿç {àÿæLÿZÿ ÓóQ¿æ {þæ AæQ¨æQ{Àÿ A™#Lÿ æ {þæÀÿ A{œÿLÿ ¨÷çß {àÿæLÿ FB Lÿ¿æsçSÀÿç{Àÿ ¾æAæ;ÿç æ F{¯ÿ {þæ{†ÿ ¯ÿç xÿæNÿÀÿ FB Lÿ¿æsçSÀÿçÀÿ {¯ÿæàÿç {WæÌ~æ LÿÀÿçd;ÿç æ LÿÜÿçd;ÿç, Aæ¨~ Aæ¯ÿÉ¿Lÿ†ÿævëÿô ¯ÿÜëÿ†ÿ A™#Lÿ QæDd;ÿç æ {†ÿ~ë Aæ¨~Zÿ {þ’ÿ ¯ÿÞçdç æ {þ’ÿ ¯ÿÞç¯ÿæÀëÿ þ™ë{þÜÿ {ÜÿæBdç, Üÿæsö ¨÷¯úÿ{àÿþ {ÜÿæBdç, Aæ=ëÿ ’ÿÀÿf {ÜÿDdç æ  BF †ÿ AæÀÿ» þæ†ÿ÷, FÜÿæ ¨{Àÿ ¨{Àÿ AæÜëÿÀÿç A{œÿLÿ {¯ÿþæÀÿç Aæ¨~Zëÿ þæÝç ¯ÿÓç ¨æ{Àÿ æ F{¯ÿ {þæ{†ÿ xÿæNÿÀÿ þœÿæ LÿÀÿçdç {†ÿàÿ QæB¯ÿœÿç, WçA QæB¯ÿœÿç, þæDôÓ †ÿÀÿLÿæÀÿê QæB¯ÿœÿç, þçvÿæ QæB¯ÿœÿç æ {þæÀÿ {¯ÿ{Áÿ{¯ÿ{Áÿ þ{œÿ ÜëÿF, Aæ{¯ÿ †ÿæ{Üÿ{àÿ AæD AæD ¯ÿoç ÀÿÜÿç Lÿç àÿæµÿ æ Lÿçdç ¾’ÿç œÿ QæB¯ÿ- {†ÿ{¯ÿ µÿS¯ÿæœÿ {Ó Ó¯ëÿ fçœÿçÌ †ÿçAæÀÿç Lÿ{ÀÿB{àÿ LÿæÜÿ]Lÿç?

          QæB¯ÿæ¨çB¯ÿæ Lÿ$æÀëÿ þ{œÿ ¨Ýçàÿæ, Lÿçdç {àÿæLÿ Ad;ÿç {¾Dôþæ{œÿ þæS~æ ¨æB{àÿ Ó¯ëÿ QæAæ;ÿç, ¨çA;ÿç¯ÿç, {Üÿ{àÿ ¨BÓæ {’ÿ¯ÿæLëÿ ¨Ýç{àÿ Lÿçdç LÿÀÿ;ÿçœÿç æ F Ó¸Lÿö{Àÿ {Sæ{s Ws~æ Lÿ{Üÿ æ

          Aæ;ÿöfæ†ÿçLÿ DÝæ~{Àÿ ¾æ†ÿ÷êþæœÿZëÿ Qæ’ÿ¿ ÓÜÿç†ÿ ¨æœÿêß ¯ÿç ’ÿçAæ¾æF æ {Üÿ{àÿ {’ÿÉ µÿç†ÿ{Àÿ DÝæfæÜÿæf{Àÿ þ’ÿ¿¨æœÿLëÿ þœÿæ LÿÀÿæ¾æBdç æ BF Lÿç ¨÷LÿæÀÿ œÿçßþ þëô ¯ëÿlç¨æÀëÿœÿç æ ¯ÿç{’ÿÉ Sàÿæ{¯ÿ{Áÿ þ’ÿ ¨çB¨æÀÿç¯ÿ, {’ÿÉ µÿç†ÿ{Àÿ Sàÿæ{¯ÿ{Áÿ ¨çB ¨æÀÿç¯ÿœÿç æ BF ¯ÿÝ Aœÿ¿æß {¯ÿæàÿç œÿ¯ÿWœÿ ¯ÿÜëÿ $Àÿ ¯ÿÜëÿ {üÿæÀÿþ{Àÿ LÿÜÿçàÿæ~ç æ {Üÿ{àÿ {LÿÜÿç †ÿæ Lÿ$æ Éë~ë œÿæÜÿæ;ÿç æ †ÿæ Lÿ$æ dæÝ;ëÿ> Ws~æsç Lÿ{Üÿ æ

          DxÿæfæÜÿæf Dxÿç`ÿæàÿçdç æ QæB¯ÿæ {¯ÿÁÿ {ÜÿæB AæÓçàÿæ~ç ¨÷æß æ Üÿvÿæ†ÿ f{~ Óë¢ÿÀÿê ¯ÿçþæœÿ {Ó¯ÿçLÿæ Lÿçdçsæ œÿµÿöÓ Lÿ=ÿ{Àÿ {WæÌ~æ Lÿ{àÿ: äþæ LÿÀÿç{¯ÿ, þÜÿæþæœÿ¿ ¾æ†ÿ÷êS~ ! AæþÀÿ {SæsçF µëÿàÿ {ÜÿæB¾æBdç æ ¯ÿçþæœÿ{Àÿ É{Üÿf~ÿ ¾æ†ÿ÷ê Ad;ÿç, Lÿç;ëÿ þæ†ÿ÷ 40 f~Zÿ ¨æBô Qæ’ÿ¿ Adç æ

          ¾æ†ÿê÷ þÜÿàÿ{Àÿ `ÿæoàÿ¿ {QÿÁÿçSàÿæ æ þõ’ëÿ þõ’ëÿ µÿûö~æ - ÓÀÿÁÿ HÝçAæ{Àÿ SæÁÿçSëàÿfÀÿ Ó´Àÿ¯ÿç Éë~æ¾ç¯ÿæLëÿ àÿæSçàÿæ æ

          F Óþß{Àÿ Óë¢ÿÀÿê ¨ë~ç {WæÌ~æ Lÿ{àÿ, Éë~;ëÿ Aæjæ, Qæ’ÿ¿ Óçœÿæ Lÿþ Adç, Lÿç;ëÿ ¨æœÿêß (A$æö†úÿ Lÿçœÿæ þ’ÿ) Adç ¨÷`ëÿÀÿ æ {†ÿ~ë Aæ{þ vÿçLÿ LÿÀÿçdë {¾Dô µÿ’ÿ÷ þ{Üÿæ’ÿß Lÿçºæ þ{Üÿæ’ÿßæ Aœÿ¿ f~Zÿ ¨æBô œÿçf Qæ’ÿ¿sç {’ÿB {’ÿ{¯ÿ, †ÿæZëÿ F ¾æ†ÿ÷æ {ÉÌ {Üÿ¯ÿæ ¨¾¿ö;ÿ, þæS~æ{Àÿ Aæjæ Üÿô - Ó¸í‚ÿö þæS~æ{Àÿ {¾{†ÿ Bdæ {Ó{†ÿ ¨æœÿêß ’ÿçAæ¾ç¯ÿ æ

          Óë¢ÿÀÿê ¯ÿçþæœÿ{Ó¯ÿçLÿæZÿ ¨Àÿ¯ÿˆÿêö {WæÌ~æ Éëµÿçàÿæ vÿçLÿ W{+ ¨`ÿçÉ þçœÿçs ¨{Àÿ: {LÿÜÿç ¾’ÿç œÿçfÀÿ Óç•æ;ÿ ¯ÿ’ÿ{ÁÿB¯ÿæ ¨æBô `ÿæÜÿæ;ÿç, {†ÿ{¯ÿ LÿëÜÿ;ëÿ æ Aæþ ¨æQ{Àÿ AæÜëÿÀÿç 29 f~Zÿ Qæ’ÿ¿ ÀÿÜÿç¾æBdçç æ

          F LÿæÜÿæ~êÀÿ œÿê†ÿç¯ÿæ~êsç {Üÿàÿæ: þæS~æ ¨æB{àÿ ¯ÿÜëÿ {àÿæLÿ þ’ÿ ¨çB¯ÿæLëÿ Àÿæfç æ ¨BÓæ {’ÿB þ’ÿ Lÿç~ç¯ÿæLëÿ ¨Ýç{àÿ A{œÿ{Lÿ †ÿæLÿë ¨çA;ÿçœÿç æ †ÿæLÿë QÀÿæ¨ {¯ÿæàÿç LÿÜÿ;ÿç æ

          {Óþç†ÿç Qæ’ÿ¿ Lÿ$æ æ œÿçfLëÿ Ó¸í‚ÿö œÿçÀÿæþçÉæÌê LÿÜëÿ$#¯ÿæ ¯ÿÜëÿ {àÿæLÿ ¯ÿÝ {Üÿæ{sàúÿ{Àÿ Aæ{ßæfç†ÿ {µÿæfçÓµÿæ{Àÿ `ÿç{Lÿœÿ þsœÿ `ÿ¯ÿö~ LÿÀëÿ$#¯ÿæÀÿ A{œÿLÿ ’õÿÉ¿ þëô Ó´`ÿäë{Àÿ {’ÿQçdç æ {Óþç†ÿç AæBÓúLÿ÷êþ QæB{àÿ {þæ †ÿ+ç ™{Àÿ {¯ÿæàÿç LÿÜëÿ$#¯ÿæ ¯ÿÜëÿ þÜÿçÁÿæ {µÿæfç{Àÿ AæBÓúLÿ÷êþÀÿ ¯ÿóÉ ¯ëÿ{ÝB{’ÿD$#¯ÿæÀÿ ’õÿÉ¿ ¯ÿç þëô {’ÿQçdç æ

          f{~ ¨÷¯ÿ`ÿLÿZÿ Lÿ$æ ÓÜÿç†ÿ þëô F ¯ÿçÌß {ÉÌ LÿÀÿç¯ÿç æ {SÀëÿAæ ™æÀÿê ’ÿæÞç¯ÿæàÿæ ¨÷¯ÿ`ÿœÿ {’ÿàÿæ ¨{æÀÿ Aæ{ßæfLÿþæ{œÿ LÿÜÿç{àÿ, ¯ÿæ¯ÿæ, Aæ¨~Zÿ {µÿæfœÿ? Aæ¨~ Àÿæ†ÿç{Àÿ †ÿƒëÁÿ AæÜÿæÀÿ LÿÀÿç{¯ÿ †ÿ, œÿæ Ó¸í‚ÿö üÿÁÿæÜÿæÀÿ? ¯ÿæ¯ÿæ LÿÜÿç{àÿ, LÿæÜÿ]Lÿç Fvÿç Lÿ~ `ÿç{Lÿœúÿ þsœúÿ þç{Áÿœÿç?

Aæ{ßæfLÿþæ{œÿ AæÊÿ¾ö¿ Lÿ=ÿ{Àÿ LÿÜÿç{àÿ, `ÿç{Lÿœúÿ þsœúÿ?

- Üÿô æ Aæfç {þæ AæŠæ LÿÜëÿdç, `ÿç{Lÿœÿ þsœÿ QæB¯ÿ æ fæ~ç$æA ¯ÿû Ó¯ëÿ{¯ÿ{Áÿ AæŠæ {Üÿàÿæ {É÷Ï SëÀëÿ æ Ó¯ÿö’ÿæ AæŠæÀÿ Lÿ$æ þæœÿç `ÿÁÿç¯ÿ æ AæŠæ ¾æÜÿæ LÿÜÿç¯ÿ- †ÿæÜÿæÜÿ] LÿÀÿç¯ÿ æ

¨ëÀëÿ~æ fçœÿçÌ

àÿä¿ LÿÀÿçd;ÿç ¨ëÀëÿ~æ fçœÿçÌÀÿ ’ÿæþÿ {Lÿþç†ÿç Lÿþç Lÿþç ¾æDdç æ {Sæ{s Óþß $#àÿæ LëÿÜÿæ¾æD$#àÿæ Hàúÿxÿ Bfú {Sæàúÿxÿ æ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ fçœÿçÌLëÿ A{œÿ{Lÿ Që¯ÿ Aæ’ÿÀÿ Lëÿ$#{àÿ æ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ ¨àÿZÿ, ¨ëÀÿë~æ xÿæBœÿçó {s¯ëÿàúÿ, ¨ç†ÿÁÿÀÿ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ üëÿàÿ’ÿæœÿç- FÜÿæÀÿ {Lÿ{†ÿ µÿæD $#àÿæ þ{œÿ ¨Lÿæ;ëÿ æ

          F{¯ÿ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ fçœÿçÌÀÿ ’ÿæþ Lÿþç Lÿþç¾æDdç æ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ WÝçLëÿ ¯ÿçLÿç¯ÿæLëÿ ¾æAæ;ëÿ, {LÿÜÿç {œÿDœÿæÜÿæ;ÿç æ WÝç Lÿ¸æœÿçþæ{œÿ œÿíAæ WÝç ¯ÿçLÿç¯ÿæÀÿ üÿ¢ÿç µÿæ¯ÿ{Àÿ †ÿæLëÿ ¯ÿæB¯ÿ¿æLúÿ LÿÀÿëd;ÿç æ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ Lÿ¸ësÀÿLëÿ {’ÿQ;ëÿ æ †ÿæÀÿ ’ÿæþ F{†ÿ Lÿþ {¾ ¯ÿçLÿç¯ÿæLëÿ ¯ÿç Aæ¨~Zëÿ þœÿ LÿÀÿç¯ÿœÿç æ {Óþç†ÿç ¨ëÀëÿ~æ {þæ¯ÿæBàúÿ  æ {Ó’ÿçœÿ {þæÀÿ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ {þæ¯ÿæBàúÿLëÿ ¯ÿçLÿç¯ÿæLëÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæÀÿçàÿç {¾ {’ÿæLÿæœÿê LÿÜÿçàÿæ FÜÿæ ’ÿæþ F{¯ÿ †ÿçœÿçÉÜÿ sóLÿæ {Üÿ¯ÿ æ LÿæÜÿ]Lÿç ¯ÿçLÿç{¯ÿ? ¯ÿÀÿó W{Àÿ Ó½&õ†ÿç µÿæ¯ÿ{Àÿ ÀÿQç’ÿçA;ëÿ æ

- Aæ{¯ÿ ’ÿç ¯ÿÌö †ÿ{Áÿ þëô FÜÿæLëÿ d ÜÿfæÀÿ sóLÿæ{Àÿ Lÿç~ç$#àÿç æ

- `ÿæÀÿç ¯ÿÌö µÿç†ÿ{Àÿ {Lÿ{†ÿ Lÿ~ ¯ÿ’ÿÁÿçSàÿæ~ç þDÓæ æ ¨ëÀÿë~æ {þæ¯ÿæBàúÿÀÿ AæD µÿ¿æàÿë œÿæÜÿ] æ

          ¯ÿÜÿë ¨ëÀÿë~æ fçœÿçÌÀÿ ’ÿæþ LÿþçSàÿæ~ç æ {¯ÿæ™ÜÿëF

¨ëÀëÿ~æ þ~çÌÀÿ ¯ÿç ’ÿæþ LÿþçSàÿæ~ç æ ¨ëÀëÿ~æ þíàÿ¿{¯ÿæ™Àÿ ’ÿæþ LÿþçSàÿæ~ç æ œíÿAæ ¯ÿ¿æ¯ÿÜÿæÀÿçLÿ D¨{¾æSç†ÿæ-µÿçˆÿçLÿ þíàÿ¿{¯ÿæ™ AæÓçSàÿæ~ç ¯ÿfæÀÿLëÿ æ ¯ÿ¿¯ÿÜÿæÀÿ LÿÀÿ, üÿçèÿç ’ÿçA ÓóÔõÿ†ÿç AæÓçàÿæ~ç æ

þƒ¨{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ, W{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ

 àÿä¿ LÿÀÿ;ÿë AæfçLÿæàÿç A™#LÿæóÉ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ, ¯ÿ÷†ÿWÀÿ Aæ’ÿç ¨æÀÿç¯ÿæÀÿçLÿ Dû¯ÿ W{Àÿ LÿÀÿæ œÿ ¾æB ¯ÿçµÿçŸ þƒ¨{Àÿ LÿÀÿæ¾æDdç  æ þƒ¨SëÝçLÿÀÿ ¨ë~ç µÿæÀÿç xÿçþæƒú æ lçA ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ ¾’ÿç LÿÀÿç{¯ÿ- {†ÿ{¯ÿ ¯ÿÀÿ¨æ†ÿ÷ ¨{Àÿ {Qæfç{¯ÿ Aæ{S þƒ¨ ¯ÿëLÿú LÿÀÿç{¯ÿ æ LÿæÀÿ~ lçA ¨æBô ¨ëA ÓÜÿf{Àÿ þçÁÿç¾æB¨æ{Àÿ, {Üÿ{àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ ¨æBô þƒ¨ þçÁÿç¯ÿæ LÿΠæ

          ’ÿçœÿ$#àÿæ þƒ¨{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿLëÿ {Üÿß þ{œÿ LÿÀÿæ¾æD$àÿæ æ {àÿæ{Lÿ LÿÜÿë$#{àÿ, Aæ{¯ÿ, ¾æÜÿæÀÿ œÿçfÀÿ WÀÿ’ÿ´æÀÿ œÿæÜÿ]- {Ó Óçœÿæ þƒ¨{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ Lÿ{ÀÿB¯ÿ- Aæ{þ LÿæÜ]Lÿç Lÿ{ÀÿB¯ÿæ æ œÿçf W{Àÿ AœÿëÏæœÿ LÿÀÿç¯ÿæ æ ¾ëS ¯ÿ’ÿÁÿçdç æ F{¯ÿ þƒ¨{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ Lÿ{ÀÿB¯ÿæsæ {Üÿàÿæ ¯ÿç™# æ {Ó$#{Àÿ LÿëAæ{Ý Óë¯ÿç™æ {¯ÿÉç æ W{Àÿ ¨æo {àÿæLÿZÿë ¨í{ÀÿB læ{þàÿæ LÿÀÿç¯ÿæÀÿ œÿæÜÿ] æ þƒ¨{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ æ Lÿë~çAæ þB†ÿ÷ ¾çF AæÓç{àÿ Óç™æ þƒ¨{Àÿ ¨Üÿoç{àÿ æ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ ÓBàÿæ †ÿ ÓçAæ{Ý ÓçAæ{Ý S{àÿ æ †ÿæ¨{Àÿ œÿçf WÀÿ Óæþ§æ{Àÿ †ÿºë ¯ÿæ¤ÿç¯ÿæÀÿ œÿæÜÿ] æ àÿæBsú àÿ{SB¯ÿæÀÿ œÿæÜÿ] æ {Ó Ó¯ÿë læ{þàÿæ þƒ¨¯ÿæàÿæ LÿÀÿç¯ÿ æ †ÿæLÿë sóLÿæ ™{ÀÿB{’ÿ{àÿ Sàÿæ æ {†ÿ~ë A™#LÿæóÉ {àÿæLÿ þƒ¨{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ LÿÀÿDd;ÿç æ A¯ÿ×æ Fþç†ÿç {Üÿàÿæ~ç, ¾çF W{Àÿ  {s+ú ¯ÿæ¤ÿç ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ Lÿ{ÀÿBàÿæ, ÓæÜÿç {àÿæLÿZÿÀÿ ¨÷ɧ LÿÀÿëd;ÿç: þƒ¨ þçÁÿçàÿæœÿç Lÿç? †ÿæ¨{Àÿ {S樜ÿ{Àÿ þ;ÿ¯ÿ¿: ÉÁÿæsæ œÿçÜÿ†ÿç Lÿõ¨~ æ Qaÿö Lÿþ {Üÿ¯ÿ {¯ÿæàÿç W{Àÿ ¯ÿæÜÿæWÀÿ LÿÀÿDdç æ

          Aæbÿæ F¯ÿLÿë {’ÿQëdç A{œÿLÿ $#àÿæ¯ÿæàÿæ {àÿæLÿ œÿçfÀÿ ’ÿ´ç†ÿêß Lÿçºæ †ÿõ†ÿêß WÀÿLÿë þƒ¨ LÿÀÿç ’ÿDd;ÿç  æ {Ó$#{Àÿ LÿëAæ{Ý àÿæµÿ {¯ÿÉç, læ{þàÿæ Lÿþ  æ {þæ{†ÿ f{~ WÀÿþæàÿçLÿ ¯ÿë{lB{àÿ- {’ÿQ;ÿë Aæjæ WÀÿ µÿÝæ {’ÿ{àÿ µÿæÀÿç læ{þàÿæ! µÿÝæ ¨æBô {Lÿ{sÀÿ{þ{sÀÿ æ {Ó WÀÿ dæÝëœÿ$#¯ÿ {Lÿ{sÀÿ{þ{sÀÿ æ W{Àÿ Lÿ+æ ¨çsçàÿæ~ç {Lÿ{sÀÿ{þ{sÀÿ æ F{Lÿ {Lÿ{sÀÿ{þ{sÀÿ LÿæÜÿ]Lÿç LÿÀÿç{¯ÿ Aæjæ, Fþç†ÿç µÿàÿ æ ’ÿç{œÿ WÀÿ µÿÝæ {œÿ{àÿ æ AæxÿúµÿæœÿÛ&ú ¨BÓæ {’ÿ{àÿ, Lÿæþ ÓÀÿçàÿæ æ AæD {Sæ{s Lÿ$æ ¯ÿç Adç ..

- {Ósæ Lÿ~?

- þƒ¨ †ÿçAæÀÿç{Àÿ {¾{†ÿ sóLÿæ Qaÿö LÿÀÿ;ÿë Aæ{’ÿò f~æ ¨Ýç¯ÿœÿç æ

þëô LÿÜÿçàÿç F ¯ÿçÌßsæ ¯ÿëô ¯ÿëlç ¨æÀÿçàÿççœÿç Aæjæ..

{Ó LÿÜÿç{àÿ- Aæ¨~ {Ó Ó¯ÿë ¯ÿçÌß ¯ÿëlç¨æÀÿç{¯ÿœÿç  ¯ÿëlë$#{àÿ Lÿ~ ¯ÿëÞæ ¯ÿßÓ ¾æFô WÀÿ Q{ƒ LÿÀÿç ¨æÀÿç œÿ$æ{;ÿ!

œÿ¯ÿWœÿ-ÀÿóS¯ÿ†ÿê Lÿ$æ

1

{Sæ{s LÿLúÿ{sàúÿ ¨æs}{Àÿ ¾æB$#àÿæ œÿ¯ÿWœÿ æ ÓæóS{Àÿ ÀÿóS¯ÿ†ÿê æ Lÿçdç {¨Sú ¨ççBàÿæ ¨{Àÿ, œÿ¯ÿWœÿ ÀÿóS¯ÿ†ÿêLëÿ ¨`ÿæÀÿçàÿæ †ëÿ{þ LÿçF?

- †ëÿþÀÿ Lÿ~ œÿçÉæ {ÜÿæBSàÿæ~ç œÿæ LÿÀÿ? œÿçf ÚêLëÿ `ÿçÜÿ§ç ¨æÀëÿœÿ?

- Aæ{Àÿ œÿçÉæ Ó¯ëÿ ’ëÿ…QLëÿ µëÿ{àÿB ’ÿçF æ

2

œÿ¯ÿWœÿ :(AÓë×æ ÀÿóS¯ÿ†ÿêLÿë)†ÿþÀÿ ¾’ÿç Lÿçdç {ÜÿæB¾æF, {†ÿ{¯ÿ þëô ¨æSÁÿ {ÜÿæB¾ç¯ÿç æ

- AæD {Sæ{s ¯ÿæÜÿæ {ÜÿæB ¨Ýç¯ÿœÿç †ÿ!

- ¨æSÁÿÀÿ Lÿ~ þëƒ vÿçLúÿ $æF, Lÿçdç ¯ÿç LÿÀÿç ¨æ{Àÿ æ

*

Óó`ÿæÀÿ þæSö, {|ÿZÿæœÿæÁÿ 759 001

This column is published every Sunday in Odia Daily Samaya. 

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Why ethics matters the most in Journalism?

In an age when everybody talks about paid news and fake news it is important to recall the basics. Why ethics matters the most in journalism.

The etymology of journalism, from Latin diurnalis suggests a daily account or record. The term has come to mean the collection and editing of news for presentation via one or more forms of media. Since journalism deals with news, which basically involves a factual recording of events for consumption by common mass, and since people get influenced by the media reportage, framing and analysis – ethics becomes important.

In fact, among all professions, ethics is central to the very existence of journalism as a profession, because of several reasons. Following are five major reasons:

1.      It is the foundation of the profession of Journalism: Journalism basically deals with news: recording of events, information, data. Therefore, truth, fact, objectivity, balance, propriety, social decorum assumes more importance. Without these, information does not remain information. It becomes gossip, propaganda, fiction, worse- out and out lie. In other professions like law, medicine, etc. expertise in the skill domain is the core area. Ethics remain at the outer fringe. In journalism ethics is the core. For without adhering to the basic ethics associated with the profession of journalism like confirming fact, being objective and balanced, etc.- it cannot be practiced at all.

2.       It gives credence to the profession: Journalism as a profession derives its social acceptability and respectability from credibility. Credibility is the fountainhead of its social acceptability, respectability and power. Credibility warrants ethical treatment of issues and events. Therefore, ethics comes to the centre stage. Impartiality, objectivity, balance, proper investigation, etc. become important. Without credibility, journalism has no use. It requires ethical back up for survival.

3.       It is a moral obligation as media has the unique identity of both ‘observer’ and ‘observed’: A theoretical issue peculiar to media ethics is the identity of observer and observed. The news media or press has taken unto itself the role of one of the primary guardians in a democratic society of many of the freedoms, rights and duties. Therefore, the ethical obligation of the guardians themselves comes more strongly into the foreground for the media.

4.      Ethical consideration is the benchmarking: It is true that unlike other professions, credibility of the information is the major consideration for people’s engagement with news media. Skill of collecting, collating and presenting the information is important. But in certain cases media also has to consider questions like: ‘information for what’, ‘to what end’, ‘how to present’, ‘what will be the consequence’. Often the conflict is between Consequentialism and Deontological ethics. It is the adherence to ethics that sets mainstream media apart from other information dissemination agencies and/or individuals.

5.      Journalism is for Service: The ultimate aim of journalism is service. Gandhi wrote in his autobiography The Story of my Experiments with the Truth, “In the very first month of Indian Opinion, I realised that the sole aim of journalism should be service”. Media, especially media in India rests on the philosophical base of service to society. According to Indian philosophy: the purpose of communication is service. And it is not possible to ‘serve’ without an ethical underpinning.

A Temple Visit

On 14 February which was Shivaratri and also Valentine Day I took my mother to a Shiva Temple. The temple was understandably crowded. Most of the crowd consisted of young girls with diyas in hand. There were men with their wives and kids in tow. Few old women like my mother were also there with their puja thali in wrinkled hand.
As I stood waiting for my mother to finish her puja, it occurred to me that a crowded temple complex is the best place to observe human nature. It also gives you some indications of a community's collective character. 
There were people who would stand in the queue, and then there were people, usually wearing better dresses and more jewelries, who were trying to enter the sanctum sanctorum from a side, without joining the queue. It is not that they were in a hurry, for I saw many of them taking selfie even half an hour after they finish their puja. It is just that they don't like to join the crowd and want exclusivity. 
See the irony: they are seeking exclusivity in a temple whose presiding god is supposed to be the most democratizing one.
I tried to persuade a pujari to ask people to stand in a queue. But he was least interested in ensuring crowd discipline. He was more interested in collecting the dakhina (offering). 
I saw people throwing coins at the altar, thinking by doing so they can please the God, who as the scriptures say leads the most Spartan life. 
I overheard young girls discussing their plans of celebrating Valentine Day in the evening. They were blushing and giggling and taking selfie at the temple garden. 
Temple in deed is a strange place.

Art

Any good piece of art makes your eyes moist. I often wonder about the true nature of tears, which flows both in pain and pleasure.

Day

If you marry the right person, everyday is Valentine's Day. 

Marry the wrong person, everyday is Martyrs Day.

Marry a lazy person, everyday is Labour Day.

Marry a rich person everyday is New Year's Day

Marry an immature person, everyday would seem like Children's Day. 

Marry a cheater or liar, everyday will become April Fool's Day. 

And if you don't get married, everyday is Independence Day!

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

The author is a journalist turned media academician. He lives in Central Odisha town Dhenkanal. He also writes fiction.  English translation of his Odia novel Yamraj Number 5003 is being published shortly. mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

***

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

Column | Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaja Saptahika, 17-23 Feb. 2018

Great Indian Editors 4 | Kristo Das Pal

Great Indian Editors 4 | Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee

Kristo Das Pal: Champion of Chaste Journalism

In 1838, a son was born to Ishwar Chandra Pal, a man of modest means, in Calcutta (now Kolkata) in Bengal presidency (present day West Bengal), whose mastery over the English language would invite praise even from colonial masters. This boy by the name of Kristo Das Pal was to turn an ace journalist, editor, orator and bureaucrat. Twenty two years time was enough for Kristo Pal to prove his mettle in the fields of mass media, mass communication, legislation and public service.

After receiving an English education at the Oriental Seminary and the Hindu Metropolitan College from Calcutta, he devoted himself to journalism from an early age. A student of D L Richardson, he acquired an admirable proficiency in English. In 1857, Kristo Das Pal started the Calcutta Monthly Magazine jointly with few friends, but it survived only for about six months. He then contributed regularly to the newspapers such as Morning Chronicle, the Citizen, Phonix, and Harkaru, and occasionally to the Englishman. When the Central Star was started at Cawnpore (now Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh), Kristo Das became its Calcutta correspondent. He was next enrolled as a staff of the Hindu Intelligencer. He also wrote a series of articles to the newspaper Hindoo Patriot on 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, which made its editor Hurish Chunder Mukerji think that Kristo Das Pal “would be able to do much for his country, if God spared him”. Kristo Das Pal wrote several pamphlets on such subjects as ‘Young Bengal Vindicated,’ ‘The Mutinies and the People’ and ‘Indigo Cultivation.’ The first paper was read at an anniversary meeting in commemoration of David Hare, and it was printed and published for Hurro Chunder Ghose, a Judge of the Calcutta Small Cause Court, to whom it was dedicated. The essay attracted much attention, and was severely criticised by Meredith Townsend, in the Friend of India, in an article entitled, ‘Vanitas Vanitatum.’ The Calcutta public was surprised, when it was subsequently announced in the Calcutta Literacy Gazette that the author of the essay was only a schoolboy.

This fame made Kristo Das’ childhood aspiration to work for the Hindoo Patriot a reality. In 1860, he was appointed assistant secretary (and afterwards secretary) to the British Indian Association. This weekly magazine was transferred by a trust deed to some members of the British Indian Association. Hurish Chunder Mukerji, the editor of the Hindoo Patriot died the following year; the paper and the chief editorship was handed over to Kristo Das. Under the editorship of Kristo Das, the newspaper grew in stature.

As a journalist, he came more than once into conflict with the authorities. In 1866, Sir Cecil Beadon, the then Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, replied publicly to certain remarks made in the HPabout  famine, and in 1874, Sir George Campbell recorded in a  minute that the Hindoo Patriot was a paper which  cherished  ‘ill-will towards government’, to which, of course, Kristo Das sent a suitable reply. Critics say in later years, the paper was looked upon with great favour by the authorities and they referred to it always to ascertain native opinion. He edited the paper with conspicuous ability for twenty three years. Not one to practise lopsided journalism, his flair for accuracy and balance in news reporting won him praise from the Europeans as well. Law member of the Viceroy's council Sir C P Ilbert remarked, “Succeeding, at the age of some of the graduates of today, to the management of some of the oldest organs of public opinion in this country by the readiness and versatility of his pen, by the patient industry which he displayed in mastering the  details of the subjects with which he undertook to deal, by the fairness, breadth, and moderation of his utterances, he  gradually and  steadily advanced its (HPnewspaper) reputation during his twenty-three years of editorship, and raised it from a nearly moribund condition to the first place among native Indian journals.”

In 1879, he was made Secretary of the Board of Bengal Landlords – the British Indian Association. As editor of a widely read native newspaper of the day, and as Secretary to the most important political association in Bengal, Kristo Das rose rapidly in public office. He was appointed a Municipal Commissioner and a Justice of the Peace in 1863. In 1872, he was nominated a member of the Legislative Council of Bengal. The following year, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire, a rare distinction for an Indian during colonial rule. In 1883, he was elected by the British Indian Association as its representative in the Imperial Legislative Council, with the approval of the Viceroy. He was also a Fellow of the Calcutta University. In all these different capacities, Kristo Das Pal laboured hard to earn distinction. “However keenly he may have felt, however vigorously or eloquently he may have defended his own position in any matter, he could speak and write on the most burning questions, with an amount of good temper, and fairness, and moderation which was an example to all public men,” said Sir Richard Garth, late Chief Justice of the High Court of Calcutta.

Despite rising to the top most echelons in journalism and politics, he remained humble. After being conferred the title of Rai Bahadur at the Imperial Assemblage, on the January 1, 1887, Kristo Das Pal was reluctant. Made light of the honourary title, he had remarked, “May we ask what dire offence did we commit for which this punishment was reserved for us? We have no ambition for titular distinctions. If we had a voice in the matter, we would have craved the permission of our kind and generous rulers to leave us alone!”

Domestic happiness, however, eluded Rai Kristo Pal Das Bahadur. He was married in 1856 and had 2 children. In 1874, he married again after being widowed for two years. None of his three children from both weddings survived. He died on the July 24, 1884, reportedly of diabetes, leaving behind no bloodline but his legacy is etched in India’s history. Among the numerous verbal obeisances paid to him, that of the father of local self- governments in India – George Robinson - stand out. Viceroy of India Lord Ripon had condoled, “By this melancholy event, we have lost from among us a colleague of distinguished ability. Kristo Das Pal owed the honourable position to which he had attained to his own exertions. His intellectual attainments were of a high order, his rhetorical gifts were acknowledged by all who heard him, and were enhanced when addressing this council by his thorough mastery over the English language.” A full length statue of him was unveiled by Lord Elgin at Calcutta in 1894. The emphasis on presenting moderate views as an editor and sobriety of Kristo Das Pal’s criticisms is a lesson for the present lot of in-vogue opinionated reporters, and against propaganda journalism.

**

References:

1.          Ghosh, Nagendra Nath (1887), Kristo Das Pal – A Study, S K Lahiri, Calcutta.

2.          Pillai, G Paramaswaran (1902), Representative Indians, Second Edition, Reprint: Sahitya Academi, New Delhi, 2012

3.          http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415485432/44.asp 

Silver Jubilee Celebration of IIMC, Dhenkanal

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Adivasi

The English word for ‘adivasi’ is ‘indigenous’ people. Some call them ‘tribal people’. Usually they live in forests and have their own culture, which is usually different from the culture of the plains. In many of the states of India, tribal people are lagging behind in all indicators of development except the sex ratio.

In many states including Odisha which has 22 per cent tribal population (the country’s tribal population is about 8.6 per cent of the total population), Adivasi Mela (Tribal Fair) is organised to showcase their culture and products. People, usually from urban areas visit these fairs, look at the tribal men and women wearing their traditional clothes and jewellery, try their food and buy stuff produced and made by them.

When I see the tribal men and women in this type of set up- I have a mixed feeling. Are the organisers showcasing them? Do people go to the mela (fair) to 'see' them as we go to the zoo to 'see' exotic animals? Is it not demeaning? From a different angle, this probably gives them an opportunity to come to the big city and 'see' the city life. Perhaps this is the first step of 'mainstreaming' them.
Then again is the ‘mainstreaming’ necessary? Can’t they be left alone to pursue their way of life?
I am not sure of either.
(Adivasi girls at the Adivasi Mela, Bhubaneswar.Photo: Ashok Panda)

Media Literacy and Democracy

Media Literacy is the capacity to access, analyse and evaluate the power of the images, sounds and messages with which we are faced every day and which play an important role in contemporary culture. It includes the individual capacity to communicate using the media competently. Media literacy concerns all media, including television, film, radio and recorded music, the press, the Internet, any other digital communication technology, alternative and traditional media. The purpose of media literacy is to raise the level of awareness of the different guises taken on by the messages transmitted by the media that we find in our lives every day. This must help citizens to recognize how media filter their perceptions and convictions, mould popular culture and influence personal decisions. It should provide citizens with the capacity for critical analysis as well as creative problem-solving capacities, turning them into aware productive consumers of information themselves.

As media academician McChesney says, the problem we face with a hyper-commercial, profit obsessed media system is that it does a lousy job of producing citizens in a democracy. A solution is real media literacy education that doesn‘t just make people more informed consumer of commercial fare, but makes them understand how and why the media system works- so they may be critics, citizens and active participants.

The important question is: are media teaching institutions in India trying to develop this critical faculty in their students?

Tailpiece: What do you do when you feel stressed?

My Doc: What do you do when you feel stressed?

Me: I go to temple...

Doc: Good…and do meditation?

Me: No...I mix-up all shoes and watch people looking for them.

Party

If you want to know the positive aspects of Budget, watch Zee News

If you want to know the negative aspects of Budget, watch NDTV and ABP News

If you want to know the ground reality, watch your bank account.

Valentine's Day Special

Husband:  Kaisi ho dear? Tum, mujhe miss kar rahi hogi toh socha call kar lu.

Wife: Itna hi pyar aa raha tha to ladaai kyun kiye subah subah??..

Husband: Silent. Thinking…thinking…..Saala, yeh to Ghar ka number lag gaya.. 

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

The author is a journalist turned media academician. He lives in Central Odisha town Dhenkanal. He also writes fiction.  English translation of his Odia novel Yamraj Number 5003 is being published shortly. mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

This column is published every Sunday in Sikkim Times and posted in www.odishadiary.com

Media Jobs

Vacancy for content writers at Corporate Communication Dept. with a leading fintech in Delhi.

Role: Content writer

Experience: Freshers or 1-3 years of experience in writing

Location: Gurgaon (Delhi NCR)

*Required Skills:*

-- Should be a good writer and have a basic understanding of business-related subjects
-- Should be familiar with the business terminology, especially insurance and investment-related topics
-- Must be good with communication skills and a team player

If interested, please send in your CVs and applications at nivi.iimc@gmail.com

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Sustainable Development

The Earth is a little over 4.5 billion years old. The history of life on Earth began about 3.8 billion years ago, initially with single-celled prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria. Multicellular life evolved over a billion years later and it's only in the last 570 million years that the kind of life forms we are familiar with began to evolve, starting with arthropods, followed by fish 530 million years ago (Ma), land plants 475Ma and forests 385Ma. Mammals didn't evolve until 200Ma and our own species, Homo sapiens, only 200,000 years ago. So humans have been around for a mere 0.004% of the Earth's history.

But the homo sapiens had one thing that other creatures did not have: intelligence to transform one thing to the other to accomplice a task or find a solution to a problem; and utilise/exploit nature. Call it technology.

The roots of civilization reach back to the earliest introduction of primitive technology and culture. Humans make the first tools from stone, wood, antlers, and bones some 10 million years ago.  Humans discover fire 1–2 million years ago. Humans first wear clothes in 25,000– 50,000 BCE. Earliest boats are constructed sometime in 10,000 BCE.  Humans begin agriculture and settlements in 8000– 9000 BCE. Agricultural Revolution followed, which marked a change in human history, as humans began the systematic husbandry of plants and animals. Agriculture advanced, and most humans transitioned from a nomadic to a settled lifestyle as farmers in permanent settlements. The hand-made bricks were first used for construction in the Middle East during 6000– 7000 BCE.

As farming developed, agriculture became more sophisticated and prompted a division of labour to store food between growing seasons. Labour divisions then led to the rise of a leisured upper class and the development of cities. The growing complexity of human societies necessitated systems of writing and accounting. Many cities developed on the banks of lakes and rivers; as early as 3000 BCE some of the first prominent, well-developed settlements had arisen in many parts of the world.

Iron was used for the first time in decorative ornaments during 4000 BCE. However, iron age began in 1000 BCE as it was widely used for making tools and weapons in many parts of the world by 1000 BCE. By that time wheel had already been invented (3500 BCE). From then on gradually man started inventing machines that made life easier by making tasks and chores easier.

By 18^th century man was inventing machines and processes more frequently. Italian Alessandro Volta made the first battery (known as a Voltaic pile) in 1800. In 1801 Joseph-Marie Jacquard invented the automated cloth-weaving loom. The punched cards it used to store patterns helped to inspire programmable computers. In 1814 George Stephenson built the first practical steam locomotive. Between 1820 and 1830 Michael Faraday built primitive electric generators and motors. In 1880s Thomas Edison opened the world's first power plants. About the same time Carrie Everson invented new ways of mining silver, gold, and copper and Charles Parsons developed the steam turbine. In 1908 American industrialist and engineer Henry Ford launched the Ford Model T, the world's first truly affordable car.

In less than 250 years, an industrial revolution swept the world and it changed human being’s relationship with nature. Human being, who was dependant on nature for its survival and sustenance thought of mastering it. As technology progressed, anthropocentricism became the norm. Cosmocentrism took back seat, or summarily rejected. Human development happened at the cost of environment. Natural resources were utilised, as if the resources were infinite. Rivers were dammed, forests cleared, wiping out hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Minerals extracted. Fossil fuel burnt like there was infinite supply. Human beings went on an ever increasing consuming spree.

Natural resources, including materials, water, energy and fertile land, are the basis for our life on Earth. All of these were threatened by the wanton misuse and mindless exploitation.

And then, gradually Mother Nature began to react. Rivers changed its course. Rivulets and streams dried. The sea rose and cyclones struck with greater frequency and destructive power. Rain fall became erratic. Summer became harsher. So did winter. It was a warning bell.

Scientists could hear it, even as millions began experiencing it across the world. Scientists and philosophers could realise what was on the offing: apocalypse, unless the present rate and manner of consumption was contained. The world is already experiencing a severe potable water shortage. By the year 2025, an additional 2.9 billion people will strain tightening water supplies, and the world's energy needs will go up 60 per cent by 2030, according to the United Nations. Fossil fuel will exhaust in less than 50 years. Large tracts of land will be gulped by rising sea.  The future of the planet seems dark.

Wasteful energy policies, overuse of resources, water supply shortages, global climate change, and deforestation are just some of the issues experts say need to be addressed for humans to achieve sustainable living on this planet.

To do these, we need sound policies and people who can frame and implement the policies. We need good leaders, who care for the future. We need leaders who frame or will frame eco-sensitive and eco-friendly policies for sustainable future. We need strong eco-sensitive leadership that can stand against the avarice of business houses to save the planet. We need leadership that can drive home this point in the mindscape of ordinary men and women and change their consumption pattern.

Media with its power to influence people and decision makers can and should play a major role in this.

Wear that old jeans..

One question that I am often asked, how we can contribute to the sustainability of environment. The answer is very simple. Reduce consumption. Go for minimalism. You don’t really need a dozen T-Shirts or ten pairs of jeans.  

Before you rush to buy new clothes every festive season and/or every time an e- commerce company announce a big sale, consider this: textile industry is a bigger greenhouse gas emitter than international aviation and shipping combined. As you buy new clothes frequently (and data shows we are doing that. Between 2000 and 2015, the garment production doubled. People now use their clothes 36% fewer times before giving or throwing them away), consider its impact on environment.

So, wear that old pair of jeans a couple of months more. Don’t buy a new pair of shoes  or that new mobile phone unless you really need them, even if the offer seems irresistible.

Tailpiece: Party

Look, I am not a political person.

But I strongly feel there should be two parties in this country. One on Saturday night and the other on Sunday night. 

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

The author is a journalist turned media academician. He lives in Central Odisha town Dhenkanal. He also writes fiction.  English translation of his Odia novel Yamraj Number 5003 is being published shortly. mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

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

Column | Point by Point

Pratibimba, 28 Jan-3 Feb. 2018

Theatre Festival at Dhenkanal, Odisha

Column | Satrangi Batein

सतरंगी बातें 2

नेता और अभिनेता

मृणाल चटर्जी

ओड़िया से अनुवाद इतिश्री सिंह राठौर

रविवार को मैं देर से उठता हूं । उसदिन  मार्निंग वाक पर भी नहीं जाता । मेरा हिसाब बहुत ही सीधा है-सप्ताह में छह दिन वाक, रविवार को आराम । भगवान ने  भी शायद सप्ताह में छह दिन इस दुनिया  को बनाने में लगाया होगा और रविवार को आराम किया होगा । लेकिन रेस्ट डे का सत्यानाश करने उसदिन सुबह-सुबह नवघन हाजिर हो गया ।  मेरे घर पहुंच कर मेरी बीवी को दो कप चाय बनाने का आर्डर देकर मुझसे कहता है, मुझे एक रास्ता बता । 

-मैं तुझे क्या रास्ता बताऊं ? तू तो सारी दुनिया को पढ़ाता है । प्रोफेसर है तू ।

-देख, प्रोफेसर को भी कभी-कभी पढ़ना पड़ता है । कालेजों में जाकर देख, अध्यापक भी लाइब्रेरी में बैठकर पढ़ते नजर आएंगे ।

-अच्छा बोल, कौन सा रास्ता बताऊं तुझे ?

-मैं सोच रहा हूं राजनीति करूं । कोई पार्टी जॉइन  कर लूं ।

-हां बिलकुल कर...किसने मना किया है । भारत एक लोकतान्त्रिक राष्ट्र है । इस देश में सड़क पर मूतने से लेकर केले का छिलका फेंकने तक सबकुछ करने का अधिकार है । 

-आजकल रोज नई पार्टिंया बनतीं हैं । विचारों को उम्मीदवार नहीं मिल रहे । वैसे किसी पार्टी में शामिल हो जा । नहीं तो खुद अपनी पार्टी बना ले । 

-वैसा नहीं हो सकता । किसी बड़ी पार्टी का नेता न होने पर कोई फायदा नहीं । 

-किसी बड़ी पार्टी का नेता बनने के लिए पहले से ही लम्बी कतारों में खड़े हैं लोग । 

-तो मैं क्या करूं...तू उन पार्टियों के नेताओं से मिल । आजकल किसी पार्टी में नीचले स्तर पर कुछ नहीं होता । जो होता है सभी अालाकमान करते हैं ।

-यह बात आजकल छोटे बच्चों को भी मालूम है । 

-सुन!  एेसा रास्ता  बता कि मुझे टिकट मिल जाए । 

नवघन का निराश चेहरा देखकर मैंने सोचा कि उसे कुछ सलाह देना मेरी जिम्मेदारी है । उससे मैंने कहा, एक रास्ता है ।

नवघन ने उत्साहित होकर पूछा , क्या ?

-अच्छा तू कभी टिवी-विभी पर नजर आया है ?

-नहीं ।

- ड्रामा या थिएटर में कुछ किया है ?

- हां-स्कूल में एक बार नाटक  किया था । उसके बाद मुझे किसीने मौका नहीं दिया । 

- एक बार किया है न...बस ! उसमें काम हो जाएगा । 

- तू जाकर आलाकमान से बोल कि मैं अभिनेता हूं । फिर देखना क्या होता है...

- सच कह रहा है...

-और क्या? तमिलनाडु और आन्ध्र प्रदेश में तो अभिनेता ही नेता है । उत्तर और पश्चिम भारत में भी यह ट्रेंड शुरू हो गया है । पश्चिम बंगाल में ममता दीदी ढूंढ-ढूंढ कर अभिनेताओं को अपनी पार्टी में शामिल कर रही हैं वहीं ओडिशा में भी आजकल अभिनेता नेता बनना चाहते हैं । 

-सही बोल रहा है। मैं भी जाकर कहूंगा कि मैं अभिनेता हूं । 

-देख, अभिनेता और नेता में  ज्यादा फर्क नहीं । दोनों में नाटक करना जरूरी है । असली चेहरा किसे दिखाना है । सभी मुखौटा लगाकर घूमते हैं ।

सबसे बड़ी बात, अभिनेताओं के मुकाबले नेता अच्छा अभिनय भी  कर लेते हैं । ...और एक बात भी है । लोग अब नेताओं के सड़े हुए चेहरे देख- देख कर थक चुके हैं । थोड़ा स्मार्ट चेहरा हो तो आंखों को आराम मिले । अभिनेताओं को देखने के लिए लोगों की भीड़ भी जमी रहेगी । 

तभी नवघन ने कहा कि लेकिन मैंने तो ज्यादा अभिनय नहीं किया । स्कूल में ड्रामा में एक बार हिस्सा लिया था । मैं क्या कर सकता हूं... ?

मैंने कहा तू कर सकता है । अरे ! हम सभी कभी न कभी अभिनय करते ही हैं । तूने शादी की है ।  तुझे क्या हर बात समझाना जरूरी है ! दुनिया में एेसा कौन शादीशूदा आदमी है जिसने कभी अपनी बीवी के सामने नाटक नहीं किया होगा ! तू कर सकता है । बढ़ता जा आगे । हम तेरे साथ हैं । आलाकमान से जाकर अपनी बात कर । नवघन के जाने के बाद मेरी बीवी ने मुझसे पूछा कि तुमने उन्हें चने के झाड़ पर क्यों चढ़ा दिया ? 

-ह्वाट डू यू मिन बाए चने के झाड़ पर चढ़ाना ?  अरे! राजनीति  में शामिल होना हर जिम्मेदार नागरिक का कर्त्तव्य है । 

-वह सब फालतू बातें बाद में कीजिएगा। आपका मतलब क्या है...?

-अरे ! तुम समझ नहीं रही । अगर बाइचान्स उसे किसी पार्टी ने टिकट दे दिया और उसके बाद वह जीत गया तो, भारत में कुछ भी हो सकता है न ! तुम्हें पता है अगर अपनी पहचान वाला कोई विधायक या सांसद बन जाए तो ...कितना फायदा है ...जानती हो, कुछ न हो तो न सही यह तो कह ही सकते हैं कि मेरा दोस्त सांसद या विधायक है...पूरे इलाके में हमारी धाक बढ़ेगी...

(मृणाल चटर्जी ओडिशा के जानेमाने लेखक और प्रसिद्ध व्यंगकार हैं । इनका उपन्यास 'यमराज नम्बर 5003' का अंग्रेजी अनुवाद शीघ्र ही प्रकाशित होने वाला है । )

http://www.hindikunj.com/2018/02/neta-abhineta.html?m=1