I received some reactions to my article on Honour Killings (http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100620/edit.htm#3 ) While I am withholding the names of the friends who were candid in their assessment but I am reproducing here their views on the issue. About three-score reactions though included single word statements like, Good, Excellent, Timely, Debatable, Well-written, and so on. I thank you all. People who conveyed wholesomely wrote the following stuff:
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Thankyou for your mail. Your article on honour killings published in Tribune makes an interesting reading.
it is very sad that not just these crimes are committed but the criminals seems to derive a huge sense of pride from them and no remorse at all. It is a unique solution you are suggesting of involving media persons and I hope the pros and cons of the same are discussed in detail. It is indeed high time a stern action was taken in this regard to send the right message across.
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One of your good pieces, but not among the best ones. Honour killing is not right and if the media footages and recordings start acting as evidences, media would enjoy another power. They are already enjoying the freedom in form of sting operations and it has deteriorated the quality of journalism in India.
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Well, frankly speaking we journalists have lost the respect that we used to have almost a two decade ago. Power and money is now spinning our work and I have been a witness how things are blown out of proportion and hyped, apart from being planted. Please don't try to give us more power. If the judiciary starts taking print statements and TV footages as evidences, it would ruin this profession completely.
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In a nutshell, I disagree with your views and request you not to favour for any more powers to the journalists.
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Thank you for sending me this piece on "honour killings". I always knew that you were an enlightened and thinking member of the Haryana Jats, and of the Deswal clan in particular. With this one article you have indeed confirmed that view. Your views in this matter are almost exactly what I have thought all these days.
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I am happy too to have read this very good piece from an old friend and compatriot of the Haryana Police which, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the recent past. This article from a serving Inspector General will surely act [in some measure] to balance off and rectify the adverse views that have weighed down the image of the Haryana Police in particular and of all lawmen in general. Doubly thankful to you - is what I am, and so too should be all right thinking policemen.
Keep up the good work.
Well written and very timely.
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Last week, two more killed in Delhi. I believe Police can play a vital role by not showing any mercy while dealing with this 'khap group', because you dont need any vote.
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This subject needs more attention in social ,religious and administrative circles. you rightly brought out the point of honor killings at the behest of families who are in turn under pressure from so called socio- regional organisation. however we have to understand the changing nature of settlements in villages and towns so that brotherhood and old values are maintained in new formats.
I read your article in The Tribune, Murder for 'Honour". It presents an intersting perspective on the issues of punishing the culprits of 'honour' killings. I believe your suggestion that the statements made by culprits in front of media and public places be counted in the wake of lack of direct evidences should be welcomed and law should be amended accordingly as we are expecting new law on the 'honour' killings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hoping to see you more of your contributions on social issues.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sir your artcle is an exellent one,thanks
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it is really an issue which the police has got to do something. the youth has also to rise to the ocasion and must not feel shy of rising aainst the tide of honour killing. I fear there will be a stronng revolt against this type of old and outdated traditions of honour. The parents and elders in the hap are losing their honour by killing their own kids. I appreciate your views.
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Your article on Honour Killing is very timely to the point and underlined the legal discrepancies as well as the feudal and medieval mindset behind these heinous crimes. It is so sad that many innocent boys and girls are mercilessly killed at the hands of their own without scruples and with impunity in this 21st century. I have been reading articles by different enlightened persons including those by you. I hope u ll keep writing on these social issues and all such efforts need to be co ordinateed Pl accept my compliments. I am sure some of the lacunae will be taken care of in the proposed legislation against this ghastly criminal act.
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You have made a very convincing point to cite media person as witness to proveextra-judicial confession. They are professional and they have no axe to grind and their testimony will be very trustworthy like forensic evidence especially supported by media recording.
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I enjoyed reading your piece on khaps and scribe's testimony. I tend to agree with your interpretation of law. What worries me is growing tendency among politicians as a class to rationalize khaps' conduct.
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I will down load ‘Murder for Honour’ and revert.
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i read your article in yesterday's Tribune :"Murder for Honour". Argued it very well and have made a very valid point that their statement in media should be used as evidence .
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Further, u have rightly pointed out that this does amount to extra-judicial confession (Section 21 of the Evidence Act). TV footage and print media reports should help courts examine so far as proof, presumption, assumption, inference are concerned, particularly in the absence of any direct evidence.
My congratulations again. It is heartening to see Haryana Officers writing on social issues. It does give an insight of officers working towards taking the state in desired direction.
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Hope to read u more on various social issues in Haryana.
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It is time to change evidence act in the light of changing pattern of society. I definitely agree with you.
All the best -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yes, it is matter of concern for all of us and it is our fiduciary duty to curb such incidents. you are doing wonderful job by bringing such issues in public eye....great...keep it up
a balanced piece but the ending could have been better, may be explaining (I wonder if it was for the word count limit) how petty subjects can be made less judgmental on matter sociological.
Good stuff from a great man.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Right Article on Right Time... Ho sake t HINDI News Paper me bhi print karwaa do in Hindi...as most of ppl who do all this. rarely read English paper
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Article by u ...is thought provoking and shows a mirror to society . It is so apt that you are in a position to bring about changes in society and show a new path to those who have shunned the path of mutual co-existence and harmony in the face of this horrendous crime . The crime which is not only being perpetuated by growing insanity and intolerance but the absence of remorse is more alarming .
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Very good , well articulated and result oriented write up.
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Thanks for your information about the article. A person like you who hails from the same region (Haryana) likely more concerned for the social taboo. I appreciate your views and approach towards this heinous crime .I'm still afresh of your emotional article on your late father .Since long I have been an ardent fan of your creative writing especially your high vocabulary and sentence formation which is always inspiring as well as ever imbibing.
I'm proud of you for writing this. What of the stats that most opposed supposedly same gotra marriages in Haryana have not been from the same gotra.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hope to see more articles like this. Maybe a good one on the khaps.
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Original article in The Tribune is here:
OPED
Murder for ‘honour’Scribes’ testimony enough to punish culpritsby Rajbir Deswal
THE Tribune editorial, “Killings in Delhi: Hang culprits to root out the malady” (June 17) on the murder of Asha Rani and Yogesh Kumar allegedly by the girl’s father Suresh Kumar Saini and uncle Om Parkash could not be less harsh. The gruesome lynching of lovebirds in the name of protecting honour reported frequently from various parts of the country need to be checked.
Honour, reputation, status, dignity, prestige, ranking, all make stuff for motive to do away with the lives of the violators of the above kind, when they are perceived to be transgressors of these attributes, particularly by people who still live in medieval times.
When perpetrators of crimes like honour killing defend and justify their act, they cannot be brought to justice in the normal laid down (due) process of law but a more stringent one. What else we should do with criminals who flaunt victory signs and tell the media for the record, “Yes, we did it and we feel we are justified in doing it?” Surprisingly, Suresh Kumar and Om Parkash admitted before media persons, including beaming TV cameras that what they perceived was not a crime but an act to defend their “honour and prestige”.
The killers in Delhi admitted their guilt with no regret, no compunction, no mellowed disposition of character and conviction, but with an audacious, fairly overt and expressive body language, in justifying their criminal act, in an unabashed and shameful manner, as if to claim a trophy or a citation, for upholding the so-called honour.
During the trial, these criminals will defend themselves pleading not guilty, employing various alibis, arguments and subterfuges of having been suddenly provoked, abetted, and thus having become victims of a temporary loss of sense, acting with no mens-rea but as a reflex action propelled by dyed-in-the-wool societal dire straits, blah blah blah!
In the case of honour killings as a sequel to the diktats of khap panchayats in Haryana, where the entire village community spares no witness to prosecute the perpetrators of such crime, their silent support allows no other direct, oral, forensic or circumstantial evidence to be gathered.
Where is the remedy? How can the legal process be reformed to bring such culprits to justice? How to cumulatively rely on (unavailable!) direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, oral testimony and forensic evidence to help prosecute such criminals? The time has come to reform the judicial process by incorporating some resilient but effective tools to bring such criminals to book.
The increasing trend of electronic and print media covering such incidents promptly should come handy in leading evidence. This does amount to extra-judicial confession (Section 21 of the Evidence Act). Such TV footage and print media reports should help courts examine so far as proof, presumption, assumption, inference are concerned, particularly in the absence of any direct evidence.
An extra-judicial confession, bearing on various attendant circumstances, would help courts infer the occurrence of the fact in dispute, if it is made by someone not before a magistrate or in a court, which can be proved by the witnesses who had heard the speaker’s words, constituting the confession.
In Sahoo vs. State of UP (1966), when a father-in-law killed his daughter-in-law, he said to himself, “I have finished her and with her the daily quarrels,”. This statement was held to be a valid confession because it is not necessary for the relevance of a confession that it should communicate to some other person.
Thus, the statements by accused persons like Suresh Saini and Om Prakash which are transparent confessions in their most naked, audacious and shameful form, can be proved in the court of law by citing media persons as witnesses. This writer is convinced that there is an imperative need for enacting a law for witness protection.
Clearly, media persons’ testimony is admissible as extra-judicial confession under Section 21 of the Evidence Act. If these are insulated against any onslaught and also not likely to be won over, they will generally not turn hostile and will dispose in the court of law as independent witnesses.
Not that in all cases such media persons should be cited as witnesses but certainly for cases like honour killing, when no other circumstance is obtaining, there is no harm in resorting to this alternative.
As media persons recorded the first-hand account of the conduct of the culprits, they are responsible professionals and would not be counted as interested witnesses against defence or prosecution. Their testimony with their recordings, etc. can be treated as scientific evidence and this should be deemed adequate enough for purposes of bringing the guilty to book, in a manner as if an independent third party has heard the accused admitting his guilt.
Some North-Eastern states have done this in some cases to prove insurgency and separatist inclination of certain very active and articulate advocates of ‘separatism’ intending carving out ethnic and political chunks out of India by waging war against it.
In the case of Suresh Kumar Saini and Om Parkash, even much after the crime was committed, they were on a ‘high’. It was as if they were drugged with an acquired sense of superior sensibilities in seeking to maintain and restoring their so-called honour and to appear as heroes in the perception of their relatives, caste community and social group.
The writer is the Inspector-General of Police, Haryana, Chandigarh
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Courtroom Humour! Hammer humouring;Gown giggling!
Courtroom humour /Book Review by
Rajbir Deswal
Tales from the Bench and the BarBy Vicaji J. TaraporevalaPenguin Books. Pages 168. Rs 350.
THE present compilation by octogenarian advocate of Bombay High Court Vicaji J. Taraporevala is a treasure house of wit, humour and repartee, tickling funny bone material, sizzling satire and naughty commentary on the otherwise perceived dull ambience in the courts of law. The drabness of the transactions in courts has in this handy volume been projected as enlivened, to be experienced with a punch of honest to the core quibbling; sometimes by the judges and at others, the lawyers; sometimes by the litigants and at others, the accused.
Humour emanating from professional and situational scenarios is always something unique in its character and form, for it unwittingly endeavours to spruce and spice up, the serious business of the mundane and monotonous transactions, involved in the task of carrying out business. We hear jokes about Army, police, politicians, races, castes, eccentricities in man and incongruities of life. Even in the court’s business, wit and humour abound in ample measures.
Invariably, the characters that play the humorous, satirical, ironical and witty roles become very lively and lovable enough to bring a smile on the dullest, wooden faces around. Of course, the basic requirement of being fun-loving and liking humour is to enjoy situations in their most gross-free forms, even if it devolves to laughing at oneself. Taraporevala gives us copious theatrics involved not only in the court work but the basic business of administration of justice, with the protagonists involved in all the legal spheres.
The book has a unique blend of references to very high ranking historical luminaries in the business of seeking and delivering justice. Taraporevala has a wide variety and range of speaking about humour in courts, in chambers, in judges’ bunglaows, in opportunities missed, in the game of chance and destiny, in the art of cross examination, in the love-hate characteristics of colleagues and peers, in the paying capacity of the litigants, and so forth.
Soli J. Sorabjee, former Attorney-General of India, while writing the foreword of the book says, "Taraporevala deserves full marks for his tremendous research and industriousness in comprehensively collecting incidents and events—ancient and contemporary—in a single volume which one can dip into in a relaxed mood and savour its delights." This reviewer couldn’t agree more with Sorabjee. He cites an instance from the book when Lord Denning who slouched in his chair during the proceedings and missed a book thrown at him saying, "Thank God, I am not an upright judge."
Some samples should be relevant to recall here: To a pious judge’s mannerism in repeating, "I ask myself this question," the losing lawyer muttered, "Could not have asked of a greater fool."
A lawyer who was addressing for long, showed a watch as an exhibit, saying, "About this clock, I must tell Your Lordship`85" When the judge quipped, "No, no just tell me what time is it!"
Hone Banaji used to prepare his brief in two columns, "What we say" for his clients, and "What do they say" for opponents. He was repeatedly interrupted by a raw lady junior when he said, "Boys, add a third column, ‘What does she say!’"
Sir Dinshaw Mulla, when told by a junior that he could not prepare the brief since there was no cause of action, shouted, "What? This young solicitor has to live, I have to live, the judges have to live `85 and you can find no cause of action?"
"How long have you been a widower?" Justice Darling once told a witness who insisted, "I have always been wedded to truth."
Purcell, widely known for defending the pickpockets, had his pocket picked once, when one of his clients who knew the culprit told him, that the latter should have known their governor.
The heroes of Taraporevala’s tales include veterans like C. K. Daphtari, Moti Lal Setalvad, Rustam Kolah, Kannayha Lal Munshi, Justice Chhagla, Jamshed Kanga, Justice Tendolkar, Hotchand Advani, Chimanlal Setalvad, Natwar Gandhi, Bhulabhai Desai, Nusserwani, Palkhiwala et al, besides the English judges and lawyers like Lord Macmillan, Justice Cockburn, Justice Darling, Scarlett, Purcell, E.T. Candy, Antesy, and so on. Some of the Parsee and English judges and lawyers add charm to reading for their funny sounding names.
Taraporevala talks abundantly of nostalgic indulgences by government and court lawyers and some of the fearless and courageous legal luminaries like Feroze Shah Mehta, besides a hoard others including the Britishers who have been historically known to have carved niches for themselves in the world of administration of justice with aplomb.
Tales from the Bench and the BarBy Vicaji J. TaraporevalaPenguin Books. Pages 168. Rs 350.
THE present compilation by octogenarian advocate of Bombay High Court Vicaji J. Taraporevala is a treasure house of wit, humour and repartee, tickling funny bone material, sizzling satire and naughty commentary on the otherwise perceived dull ambience in the courts of law. The drabness of the transactions in courts has in this handy volume been projected as enlivened, to be experienced with a punch of honest to the core quibbling; sometimes by the judges and at others, the lawyers; sometimes by the litigants and at others, the accused.
Humour emanating from professional and situational scenarios is always something unique in its character and form, for it unwittingly endeavours to spruce and spice up, the serious business of the mundane and monotonous transactions, involved in the task of carrying out business. We hear jokes about Army, police, politicians, races, castes, eccentricities in man and incongruities of life. Even in the court’s business, wit and humour abound in ample measures.
Invariably, the characters that play the humorous, satirical, ironical and witty roles become very lively and lovable enough to bring a smile on the dullest, wooden faces around. Of course, the basic requirement of being fun-loving and liking humour is to enjoy situations in their most gross-free forms, even if it devolves to laughing at oneself. Taraporevala gives us copious theatrics involved not only in the court work but the basic business of administration of justice, with the protagonists involved in all the legal spheres.
The book has a unique blend of references to very high ranking historical luminaries in the business of seeking and delivering justice. Taraporevala has a wide variety and range of speaking about humour in courts, in chambers, in judges’ bunglaows, in opportunities missed, in the game of chance and destiny, in the art of cross examination, in the love-hate characteristics of colleagues and peers, in the paying capacity of the litigants, and so forth.
Soli J. Sorabjee, former Attorney-General of India, while writing the foreword of the book says, "Taraporevala deserves full marks for his tremendous research and industriousness in comprehensively collecting incidents and events—ancient and contemporary—in a single volume which one can dip into in a relaxed mood and savour its delights." This reviewer couldn’t agree more with Sorabjee. He cites an instance from the book when Lord Denning who slouched in his chair during the proceedings and missed a book thrown at him saying, "Thank God, I am not an upright judge."
Some samples should be relevant to recall here: To a pious judge’s mannerism in repeating, "I ask myself this question," the losing lawyer muttered, "Could not have asked of a greater fool."
A lawyer who was addressing for long, showed a watch as an exhibit, saying, "About this clock, I must tell Your Lordship`85" When the judge quipped, "No, no just tell me what time is it!"
Hone Banaji used to prepare his brief in two columns, "What we say" for his clients, and "What do they say" for opponents. He was repeatedly interrupted by a raw lady junior when he said, "Boys, add a third column, ‘What does she say!’"
Sir Dinshaw Mulla, when told by a junior that he could not prepare the brief since there was no cause of action, shouted, "What? This young solicitor has to live, I have to live, the judges have to live `85 and you can find no cause of action?"
"How long have you been a widower?" Justice Darling once told a witness who insisted, "I have always been wedded to truth."
Purcell, widely known for defending the pickpockets, had his pocket picked once, when one of his clients who knew the culprit told him, that the latter should have known their governor.
The heroes of Taraporevala’s tales include veterans like C. K. Daphtari, Moti Lal Setalvad, Rustam Kolah, Kannayha Lal Munshi, Justice Chhagla, Jamshed Kanga, Justice Tendolkar, Hotchand Advani, Chimanlal Setalvad, Natwar Gandhi, Bhulabhai Desai, Nusserwani, Palkhiwala et al, besides the English judges and lawyers like Lord Macmillan, Justice Cockburn, Justice Darling, Scarlett, Purcell, E.T. Candy, Antesy, and so on. Some of the Parsee and English judges and lawyers add charm to reading for their funny sounding names.
Taraporevala talks abundantly of nostalgic indulgences by government and court lawyers and some of the fearless and courageous legal luminaries like Feroze Shah Mehta, besides a hoard others including the Britishers who have been historically known to have carved niches for themselves in the world of administration of justice with aplomb.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
SWAR SANGAM
SD Sharma
The 13th edition of Swar Sangam, a musical bonanza mainly featuring doctors, will be held at the Indradhush auditorium at Panchkula on June 26 from 7.30 pm onwards. Disclosing the details, Sangam director Dr Pradeep Bhardwaj said 18 artistes, including six doctors, selected after rounds of audition will present melodies immortalised by Bollywood maestros.
Many of the participating singers have also performed in reality shows. Rajbir Deswal, an IPS officer, will be the star attraction and will also dole out some songs. The musical score is arranged by Dr Arun Kant and his team of 12 musicians. Haryana finance minister Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav be the chief guest.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Media persons' witness will help killers for honour hang
Murder for ‘honour’ (The Tribune, June 20,2010)
Scribes’ testimony enough to punish culprits
by Rajbir Deswal
THE Tribune editorial, “Killings in Delhi: Hang culprits to root out the malady” (June 17) on the murder of Asha Rani and Yogesh Kumar allegedly by the girl’s father Suresh Kumar Saini and uncle Om Parkash could not be less harsh. The gruesome lynching of lovebirds in the name of protecting honour reported frequently from various parts of the country need to be checked.
Honour, reputation, status, dignity, prestige, ranking, all make stuff for motive to do away with the lives of the violators of the above kind, when they are perceived to be transgressors of these attributes, particularly by people who still live in medieval times.
When perpetrators of crimes like honour killing defend and justify their act, they cannot be brought to justice in the normal laid down (due) process of law but a more stringent one. What else we should do with criminals who flaunt victory signs and tell the media for the record, “Yes, we did it and we feel we are justified in doing it?” Surprisingly, Suresh Kumar and Om Parkash admitted before media persons, including beaming TV cameras that what they perceived was not a crime but an act to defend their “honour and prestige”.
The killers in Delhi admitted their guilt with no regret, no compunction, no mellowed disposition of character and conviction, but with an audacious, fairly overt and expressive body language, in justifying their criminal act, in an unabashed and shameful manner, as if to claim a trophy or a citation, for upholding the so-called honour.
During the trial, these criminals will defend themselves pleading not guilty, employing various alibis, arguments and subterfuges of having been suddenly provoked, abetted, and thus having become victims of a temporary loss of sense, acting with no mens-rea but as a reflex action propelled by dyed-in-the-wool societal dire straits, blah blah blah!
In the case of honour killings as a sequel to the diktats of khap panchayats in Haryana, where the entire village community spares no witness to prosecute the perpetrators of such crime, their silent support allows no other direct, oral, forensic or circumstantial evidence to be gathered.
Where is the remedy? How can the legal process be reformed to bring such culprits to justice? How to cumulatively rely on (unavailable!) direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, oral testimony and forensic evidence to help prosecute such criminals? The time has come to reform the judicial process by incorporating some resilient but effective tools to bring such criminals to book.
The increasing trend of electronic and print media covering such incidents promptly should come handy in leading evidence. This does amount to extra-judicial confession (Section 21 of the Evidence Act). Such TV footage and print media reports should help courts examine so far as proof, presumption, assumption, inference are concerned, particularly in the absence of any direct evidence.
An extra-judicial confession, bearing on various attendant circumstances, would help courts infer the occurrence of the fact in dispute, if it is made by someone not before a magistrate or in a court, which can be proved by the witnesses who had heard the speaker’s words, constituting the confession.
In Sahoo vs. State of UP (1966), when a father-in-law killed his daughter-in-law, he said to himself, “I have finished her and with her the daily quarrels,”. This statement was held to be a valid confession because it is not necessary for the relevance of a confession that it should communicate to some other person.
Thus, the statements by accused persons like Suresh Saini and Om Prakash which are transparent confessions in their most naked, audacious and shameful form, can be proved in the court of law by citing media persons as witnesses. This writer is convinced that there is an imperative need for enacting a law for witness protection.
Clearly, media persons’ testimony is admissible as extra-judicial confession under Section 21 of the Evidence Act. If these are insulated against any onslaught and also not likely to be won over, they will generally not turn hostile and will dispose in the court of law as independent witnesses.
Not that in all cases such media persons should be cited as witnesses but certainly for cases like honour killing, when no other circumstance is obtaining, there is no harm in resorting to this alternative.
As media persons recorded the first-hand account of the conduct of the culprits, they are responsible professionals and would not be counted as interested witnesses against defence or prosecution. Their testimony with their recordings, etc. can be treated as scientific evidence and this should be deemed adequate enough for purposes of bringing the guilty to book, in a manner as if an independent third party has heard the accused admitting his guilt.
Some North-Eastern states have done this in some cases to prove insurgency and separatist inclination of certain very active and articulate advocates of ‘separatism’ intending carving out ethnic and political chunks out of India by waging war against it.
In the case of Suresh Kumar Saini and Om Parkash, even much after the crime was committed, they were on a ‘high’. It was as if they were drugged with an acquired sense of superior sensibilities in seeking to maintain and restoring their so-called honour and to appear as heroes in the perception of their relatives, caste community and social group.
The writer is the Inspector-General of Police, Haryana, Chandigarh
THE Tribune editorial, “Killings in Delhi: Hang culprits to root out the malady” (June 17) on the murder of Asha Rani and Yogesh Kumar allegedly by the girl’s father Suresh Kumar Saini and uncle Om Parkash could not be less harsh. The gruesome lynching of lovebirds in the name of protecting honour reported frequently from various parts of the country need to be checked.
Honour, reputation, status, dignity, prestige, ranking, all make stuff for motive to do away with the lives of the violators of the above kind, when they are perceived to be transgressors of these attributes, particularly by people who still live in medieval times.
When perpetrators of crimes like honour killing defend and justify their act, they cannot be brought to justice in the normal laid down (due) process of law but a more stringent one. What else we should do with criminals who flaunt victory signs and tell the media for the record, “Yes, we did it and we feel we are justified in doing it?” Surprisingly, Suresh Kumar and Om Parkash admitted before media persons, including beaming TV cameras that what they perceived was not a crime but an act to defend their “honour and prestige”.
The killers in Delhi admitted their guilt with no regret, no compunction, no mellowed disposition of character and conviction, but with an audacious, fairly overt and expressive body language, in justifying their criminal act, in an unabashed and shameful manner, as if to claim a trophy or a citation, for upholding the so-called honour.
During the trial, these criminals will defend themselves pleading not guilty, employing various alibis, arguments and subterfuges of having been suddenly provoked, abetted, and thus having become victims of a temporary loss of sense, acting with no mens-rea but as a reflex action propelled by dyed-in-the-wool societal dire straits, blah blah blah!
In the case of honour killings as a sequel to the diktats of khap panchayats in Haryana, where the entire village community spares no witness to prosecute the perpetrators of such crime, their silent support allows no other direct, oral, forensic or circumstantial evidence to be gathered.
Where is the remedy? How can the legal process be reformed to bring such culprits to justice? How to cumulatively rely on (unavailable!) direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, oral testimony and forensic evidence to help prosecute such criminals? The time has come to reform the judicial process by incorporating some resilient but effective tools to bring such criminals to book.
The increasing trend of electronic and print media covering such incidents promptly should come handy in leading evidence. This does amount to extra-judicial confession (Section 21 of the Evidence Act). Such TV footage and print media reports should help courts examine so far as proof, presumption, assumption, inference are concerned, particularly in the absence of any direct evidence.
An extra-judicial confession, bearing on various attendant circumstances, would help courts infer the occurrence of the fact in dispute, if it is made by someone not before a magistrate or in a court, which can be proved by the witnesses who had heard the speaker’s words, constituting the confession.
In Sahoo vs. State of UP (1966), when a father-in-law killed his daughter-in-law, he said to himself, “I have finished her and with her the daily quarrels,”. This statement was held to be a valid confession because it is not necessary for the relevance of a confession that it should communicate to some other person.
Thus, the statements by accused persons like Suresh Saini and Om Prakash which are transparent confessions in their most naked, audacious and shameful form, can be proved in the court of law by citing media persons as witnesses. This writer is convinced that there is an imperative need for enacting a law for witness protection.
Clearly, media persons’ testimony is admissible as extra-judicial confession under Section 21 of the Evidence Act. If these are insulated against any onslaught and also not likely to be won over, they will generally not turn hostile and will dispose in the court of law as independent witnesses.
Not that in all cases such media persons should be cited as witnesses but certainly for cases like honour killing, when no other circumstance is obtaining, there is no harm in resorting to this alternative.
As media persons recorded the first-hand account of the conduct of the culprits, they are responsible professionals and would not be counted as interested witnesses against defence or prosecution. Their testimony with their recordings, etc. can be treated as scientific evidence and this should be deemed adequate enough for purposes of bringing the guilty to book, in a manner as if an independent third party has heard the accused admitting his guilt.
Some North-Eastern states have done this in some cases to prove insurgency and separatist inclination of certain very active and articulate advocates of ‘separatism’ intending carving out ethnic and political chunks out of India by waging war against it.
In the case of Suresh Kumar Saini and Om Parkash, even much after the crime was committed, they were on a ‘high’. It was as if they were drugged with an acquired sense of superior sensibilities in seeking to maintain and restoring their so-called honour and to appear as heroes in the perception of their relatives, caste community and social group.
The writer is the Inspector-General of Police, Haryana, Chandigarh
Saturday, June 19, 2010
I Met Dilip Kumar this day 12 years back
A date with tragedy king (I met him on June 19 in 1998)
By Rajbir Deswal
During my school days I saw Dilip Kumar’s “Paigham”, a Gemini production, thrice and he became my beau ideal for the rest of my life. I would not let go a Dilip Kumar movie without being seen anywhere around till my college and university days. All my life I have remained a great fan to him. In 1979, when I was a sub-editor in a weekly in Delhi, I was finally able to grab an opportunity of talking to him.
I met him at his bungalow in Mumbai and spent about a couple of hours with him. The discussion took off with the mention of “Musafir”. In London, way back in 1992, I was able to procure a video cassette of “Musafir”.
Dilip Kumar, also called reverentially by his original name Yusuf Bhai by his intimate friends and admirers, evinced keen interest in me, looking at me with his deep, probing eyes. I moved on to “Paigham” and Dilip Kumar’s pairing with Raj Kumar as also that the movie, seen thrice in my childhood, was still fresh in my mind.
And when I, purposely though to open up the maestro, recalled his “Insaniyat” with Dev Anand and “Andaaz” with Raj Kapoor, Dilip Sahib instantaneously manoeuvred an expression of compassion and gratitude in his observing eyes and said, “I never knew I had admirers in a state like Haryana too.”
The rest of one and a half hours with Dilip Kumar was virtually a treat.
“Yes, those were the days....!” In Musafir” Bimal and Rishi counselled and desired it, to be a happy ending plot with Dilip Kumar dying...!” He laughed with a jerk when I intervened. “But the perfection with which your fingers dance d on the violin chords was superb”.
Acknowledging the compliment, Dilip Sahib reverted back to “Musafir” and his “dying”, “I don’t know in how many ways I have died in the Hindi films. Now it occurs to me that I have exhausted all modes to die in a film.” He again laughed and added, “it was in a light comedy, ‘Azad’, in which I didn’t die. People in the film industry started talking about then that Dilip Kumar had had his funeral’ obviously they thought if I would not die I would do a comedy film and I would be ‘finished’.”
Here entered Captain Baig, a pilot-friend of Dilip Kumar, “He has the rarest distinction of flying a plane even after having a bypass surgery,” he turned to a blend of the mundane and the philosophical undercurrents of modern life.
“Look how poorer have we been rendered in time. You start with supersonic speed from London to meet your son in New York and then you are in so much of a hurry to rush back. Your being with your son, at such a speed, does not afford you enough time to sit and chat with him.”
Here Dilip Sahib was all praise for a train journey of yesteryear when he produced the sound and imitated, “Those slow-moving trains had much solace to offer with their kha-rang-tang-kharang-tang, and if a tunnel would approach it, he would add a shatak-shatak note. If the train was going over a bridge then trong-tong-trong-tong would resonate, making the train journey an enjoyable experience. But Captain Baig...!” Dilip Kumar laughed, and we laughed at his imitating the train.
Raj Kiran, a film star, joined at this juncture and Dilip Sahib introduced him and asked him to be seated. He would only bow to him and keep standing with a file in hand. They exchanged some notes quietly and Dilip Sahib joined us back. I reminded him of his interviewing Noorjahan on television some years back. With a strange flash of smile on his lips and almost being nostalgic he recollected the melodies of olden days.
First he hummed and then started singing. “Uthaye ja unke sitam aur jiyeja; yuhin muskurayeja, aansu piyeja.” And prolonging and accentuating the notation wherever needed to render it very sweetly, Dilip Sahib did so and said “You know these days they have those Tara-Rara’s and Na-na-na-na-na-re, na-re only. The other day Lata Behan was telling me—Aaj kal hum koi gane gate those hain, ugaltey hain,”.
Suddenly, he rose and took us to his nicely maintained green backyard. But he was disappointed because the buildings near his bungalow were coming up, “blowing to winds all norms”. Here we had a brief photo-session with Dilip Sahib guiding us as to what would be the most suitable angle for natural sunlight available on the face.
During my school days I saw Dilip Kumar’s “Paigham”, a Gemini production, thrice and he became my beau ideal for the rest of my life. I would not let go a Dilip Kumar movie without being seen anywhere around till my college and university days. All my life I have remained a great fan to him. In 1979, when I was a sub-editor in a weekly in Delhi, I was finally able to grab an opportunity of talking to him.
I met him at his bungalow in Mumbai and spent about a couple of hours with him. The discussion took off with the mention of “Musafir”. In London, way back in 1992, I was able to procure a video cassette of “Musafir”.
Dilip Kumar, also called reverentially by his original name Yusuf Bhai by his intimate friends and admirers, evinced keen interest in me, looking at me with his deep, probing eyes. I moved on to “Paigham” and Dilip Kumar’s pairing with Raj Kumar as also that the movie, seen thrice in my childhood, was still fresh in my mind.
And when I, purposely though to open up the maestro, recalled his “Insaniyat” with Dev Anand and “Andaaz” with Raj Kapoor, Dilip Sahib instantaneously manoeuvred an expression of compassion and gratitude in his observing eyes and said, “I never knew I had admirers in a state like Haryana too.”
The rest of one and a half hours with Dilip Kumar was virtually a treat.
“Yes, those were the days....!” In Musafir” Bimal and Rishi counselled and desired it, to be a happy ending plot with Dilip Kumar dying...!” He laughed with a jerk when I intervened. “But the perfection with which your fingers dance d on the violin chords was superb”.
Acknowledging the compliment, Dilip Sahib reverted back to “Musafir” and his “dying”, “I don’t know in how many ways I have died in the Hindi films. Now it occurs to me that I have exhausted all modes to die in a film.” He again laughed and added, “it was in a light comedy, ‘Azad’, in which I didn’t die. People in the film industry started talking about then that Dilip Kumar had had his funeral’ obviously they thought if I would not die I would do a comedy film and I would be ‘finished’.”
Here entered Captain Baig, a pilot-friend of Dilip Kumar, “He has the rarest distinction of flying a plane even after having a bypass surgery,” he turned to a blend of the mundane and the philosophical undercurrents of modern life.
“Look how poorer have we been rendered in time. You start with supersonic speed from London to meet your son in New York and then you are in so much of a hurry to rush back. Your being with your son, at such a speed, does not afford you enough time to sit and chat with him.”
Here Dilip Sahib was all praise for a train journey of yesteryear when he produced the sound and imitated, “Those slow-moving trains had much solace to offer with their kha-rang-tang-kharang-tang, and if a tunnel would approach it, he would add a shatak-shatak note. If the train was going over a bridge then trong-tong-trong-tong would resonate, making the train journey an enjoyable experience. But Captain Baig...!” Dilip Kumar laughed, and we laughed at his imitating the train.
Raj Kiran, a film star, joined at this juncture and Dilip Sahib introduced him and asked him to be seated. He would only bow to him and keep standing with a file in hand. They exchanged some notes quietly and Dilip Sahib joined us back. I reminded him of his interviewing Noorjahan on television some years back. With a strange flash of smile on his lips and almost being nostalgic he recollected the melodies of olden days.
First he hummed and then started singing. “Uthaye ja unke sitam aur jiyeja; yuhin muskurayeja, aansu piyeja.” And prolonging and accentuating the notation wherever needed to render it very sweetly, Dilip Sahib did so and said “You know these days they have those Tara-Rara’s and Na-na-na-na-na-re, na-re only. The other day Lata Behan was telling me—Aaj kal hum koi gane gate those hain, ugaltey hain,”.
Suddenly, he rose and took us to his nicely maintained green backyard. But he was disappointed because the buildings near his bungalow were coming up, “blowing to winds all norms”. Here we had a brief photo-session with Dilip Sahib guiding us as to what would be the most suitable angle for natural sunlight available on the face.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
भूले बिसरे गीत हो गए हैं माँ-बाप भी !
भूले बिसरे गीत हो गए हैं माँ-बाप भी ! गुनगुनाओ तो अच्छा ही लगता है, गाने क़ि फुर्सत कहाँ !
We are just people!
We shall hear you ere you are put to silence...we are just people you see(re-thinking on 'just people'!) Yes, just people. But do you not breathe in a little too much to munch your Tynamin treatment seeking tonsillitis and swallow them smooth ? And should it not be a nobler crime that we do not punish you to set ig-jam-phall before the rest of the Dera,Dhani,Village(re-thinking with honour killings at the back of my mind) yes we are no less tribal in our spitting process atleast,(taking the cue...!Kahaan ho Bhatia Ji?) Also for letting you speak your mind and so fearlessly as that? But we are just people you see! We will not let you die without being heard. Natural justice you see. We are just people!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Aaya Basant
BY has been sighted somewhere in the jungles of FB But I have a problem taking him on board once again...on Dhobi's advice...he advised me hearing this from me ," Aao Maharathi...aao..abh aaye ho...jab jettisoning ho rhi hai...flotsam-jetsam ki chaffing ho rhi hai...achhe bure ki pehchan ho rhi hai...blue beards and fifth columnists pala badal rahe hain...tumhara khoon khoon hai hamara pani ke sawal uthne lage hain...Caesar's wife is being suspected...Antony bullied and cuckolded...Sudama ke peele kuntal zehar nazar aane lage hain...Hindi-Chini ka sawal Amreeka wale uthane lage hain..jao pehle HB, SS aur JB ke sign le kar aao...mujhe koi dhobi keh rha tha Basant banwas main reh kar aaya hai agni preeksha le lena Sir jee!!! Main majboor hoon BY...Bye you...Bi you...by you...boy you...bouy you...atak gya!!!
Mi Kots ev d di !!!
Click photo, tasveer utaro, photo nikalo, fotu banao, photo kheencho; how much stretching we do with taking pictures! Click click click!!!
Facing the camera Satan becomes a saint.
Give a name to your own indecent behaviour and get away with criticism, slightly though.
When my brain sleeps, my pet puts words in my mouth. Then I simply write my quotes. My ghost writer just edits them. And look those who read my quotes think me the culprit.
People don’t question killing but honour! Killing doesn’t honour people but questions them. Honour doesn’t question people but kill them. What a rigmarole of paradoxes which appear to be paranormal? Negative romance has all the three in it, people, killing and honour! Culture-Cops stay away please!
An idea strikes your head even before you realise it. That is why you exclaim ‘what an idea SAR ji’!
Mother Nature has a way to oblique the shine of moon to save it from evil eye like one does to one’s children; a clothing of clouds and haze is not there just for a naught!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Saraswati—Myth and Reality
Saraswati—Myth and Reality
By Rajbir Deswal
Saraswati—the consort of Brahma, worshipped as the mythological river has baffled the seekers, in particular with regard to its appearance and disappearance, at innumerable places in India. The land of Haryana has traces, nothing short of confirmation about Saraswati.
An old, all pink, wrinkled hermit came to Prachi, hardly any distance from the mythological town of Kurukshetra, some years back. The place is within the town Pehowa, and here is the famous temple of Vashistheswra Mahadev. The old hermit having reached this place called the pujari and the mahant of the temple and told them that this was the place where he “once took his holy bath in Saraswati”.
All those present were astonished for there was no trace of water around. The hermit asked them to dig up the ground there. To their surprise, they all found bricks laid in a pattern. They looked for the hermit but he was no where to be found. This has been stated so by the pujari.
There were fields all over but when the ground was dug a little more, a bathing ghat exposed itself. The newfound-ghats did not come as a surprise for the local people for the prevalent belief that the mythological river Saraswati flowed here, as mentioned in the Vamana Puran and other Hindu scriptures. Yet, it was a discovery in flesh and blood.
The scriptures confirm a one time existence of five ghats namely Shiva Prachi, Vishnu Prachi, Vashist Prachi, Viswamitra Prachi and Brahma Prachi at this site. Till date after a digging of about a couple of years, two ghats have been exhumed, although the people say that a ban has been imposed.
Some of the finds in the form of idols etc. were reportedly taken away by the authorities and with the resident’s protest they were credited to them, although they are said to be lying in a preservatory at Ambala these days. Besides the ghats and other constructions, idols of Lord Vishnu, a Shiv-Ling, Jalehari-a seat for Shiv-Ling, broken mukuts in fine shapes, and a good number of idols of meditating pose of Rishi Vashist, were found.
“There is a rich treasure buried here, says Ram Murti Shastri (69) who is looking after the installation work at this site. Himself being a contemporary and friend of the famous saangi of Haryana, Mange Ram, Ram Murti organises saangs etc. to raise funds for the renovation of the temple.
There is a common belief that who ever dies in Kurukshetra (within the boundaries described in the scriptures) attains mukti or salvation and his mortal remains need not be consigned to the Ganga. Some people believe that this fact gained currency after the epic war of Mahabharta. It was believed that after a lot of bloodshed this bhoomi was blessed with divine recognition.
But this fact is contested in the Vamana Puran where it is said that Saraswati had sprouted from the Pilkhan tree with the blessings of Lord Vishnu and pleased by the meditation of Rishi Markandeya. Thus there had been a ritual of not consigning the mortal remains of the dead in Haridwar but any where in Kurukshetra where Saraswati was said to be flowing always, although invisible at certain places, even during Pre-Mahabharta period.
Vamana Purana says that Saraswati appeared in Kurukshetra, Prithudak or Pehowa, Sannihit Sarovar, Prachi, Papantak, Madhushrva, Avkiran, Brahamyoni etc. and then flowed towards the West. This fact is also substantiated by a modern belief, again corroborated by the geographical evidence that Saraswati at one time flowed past Sirsa town (the name was probably taken from Saraswati) of Haryana and weaving her route via Rajasthan reached Allahabad to join Ganga and Jamuna. At the Sangam site in Allahabad, even today it is believed that the “Invisible Saraswati” flows.
While Rama is said to have performed the shradha of his father Dashratha at the Rishi kund at Rishikesh where it is believed that 88,000 rishis had performed a Yajna; Yudhishthir had prayed for his pitras (deceased ancestors) at Prachi Saraswati, on Krishna’s advice. Even at the Rishi Kund at Rishikesh, Saraswati and Jamuna are believed to be uniting with Ganga with the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
Saraswati has been described superior to Ganga in the sense that “once in a year Ganga comes to Prachi Saraswati, to lighten her burden of the sins committed by the human beings, as the former owns them all”. The occasion is Mekh-Baisakhi. And the people in the area welcome Ganga, by organising a mela on this day. In the scripture Bharta, it is said that Lord Krishna asks Yudhishthir “to go to Prachi Saraswati instead of Ganga, Prayag and Pushkar” to pray for his ancestors by pind-daan. Harit-Samriti also emphasises the importance of Prachi Saraswati.
Mantra Shashtra says that drinking the water of Saraswati for one full year in itself inculcates the poetic sensibilities in a person. The effect of this is felt in the extempore rendering of poetry in the casual conversation. It should not be forgotten here that Saraswati is basically believed to be the Goddess of all that is beautiful, artful, musical, intellectual; so to say, a symbolic expression of the finest in the human beings. Vamana Purana says that poetic talent was imbibed by Brahspati at Prithudak (Pehowa) with the blessings of Saraswati.
There are interesting ancedotes about Saraswati in Yog Vashist. Lord Rama, once asks his Guru Vashist about his (Rama’s) identity and the Rishi replies that “Tawam adi dev asi”, (You are the Adi Dev). In simpler words it means that Rama was the Avtar or the Lord incarnate.
Vashistha and Vishwamitra were both the Gurus of Ram, but they had bitter enemity between them. Vishwamitra, when he was refused Nandini (Kamdhenu’s daughter—a cow in Hindu mythology) killed one hundred sons of Vashistha. Even this did not satisfy him. Then Vishvamitra ordered Saraswati to bring Vashistha from Sthaneshwar to Prithudak, and so did she.
Having reached the Prachi site, Vashistha was attacked by Vishwarmitra but he was saved by Shiva, And this justifies the name given to the temple at Prachi i.e., Vashistheswara Mahadev. Saraswati, however, had apologised to Vashistha for she was obeying Vishwamitra’s order “under compulsion”. The Shiv-Ling in the temple at Prachi is said to have been found from Saraswati and one can still feel a “sandytouch”. There is still a site about a mile from Prachi where a huge maund is known as the Vishwamitra ka Tila.
There is yet another theory why this teerath is called Vashisthapawah Prachi. When an infuriated Vishwamitra attacked Vashistha, immediately Saraswati reversed her route in the opposite direction i.e., the East. Since Saraswati had herself brought Vashistha from Sathanu Ashram, she feared the sin of brahman-hatya and was duty bound to save Vashistha. Thus the arrow shot by Vishwamitra could not hit its target because of the change in the flow of Saraswati. Rishi Vashistha thereafter decided to live at Prachi-Prithudak. This again finds mention in the Vamana Purana, Chapter 40.
Adjacent to the temple is the gufa (cave) where Vashistha is said to have meditated. The scriptures confirm how the enemity between Vashistha and Vishwamitra ended. Both appeared before Lord Vishnu to know as to who was superior and the test the lord ordered was that whoever would be able to bear the weight of the Earth would be superior. Well, Vishwamitra opted out while Vashistha went through the ordeal. Hence Vashistha was declared Braham Rishi while Vishwamitra was contended with his being ordained the Raj Rishi. The gufa of Vashistha too has been dug out from the bed, where Saraswati is believed to have flowed besides the ghats.
Another site just near the ghats is the Sidh Peeth Sthan. It is in ruins now, Baba Sidh Gir, believed to be a contemporary of the Moughal King Akbar, lived here. Later, Rameshwar Puri Sidh did tap (meditation) here. It is really surprising that all the three sites, the temple, the gufa and the sthan are located just on the banks of Saraswati although the appearance of the ghats is a recent discovery.
A little more mention of Jalheri here would be more appropriate for this find is a unique example of the ancient art of stone carving. This seat for the idol of Lord Shiva is a one-piece work of art. Every particle of the turmeric-yellow stone is very distinct. Having had been buried for quite an unknown length of time, its colour has not at all undergone even a slight change. The laharias (patterns) have been so beautifully carved keeping in view the dropping of the water droplets’ path, offered to Shiva.
Saraswati and Prithudak (Pehowa) supplement for each other’s mythological status. Lord Vishnu is said to have suggested Devgun to take all the Devtas and the Rishis for a pilgrimage to “Prithudak which is the unmatched Teerath on the Earth as Prachi Saraswati is also here”. There is an interesting story of Kartikeya, Shiva’s son, related to Prachi.
When a decision was being taken as to who out of Ganesha and Kartikeya should be a successor to their father Shiva’s Domain, a test was ordered for both the Sons that whoever would go around the Brahamand (universe) and return first would be the choice. It is said that Kartikeya had already left when Parwati, Shiva’s wife, gesticulated to Ganesha to do a parikarma around his parents for, they themselves were no less than the entire Brahamand, for the son. And Ganesha did the parikarma.
By this time Kartikeya had reached Sanhal Dweep, where he was intercepted by Narad, who told him that the decision had already been taken. Kartikeya is, then said to have cursed his mother and father.
As this defiant act was considered nothing short of severing the divine connection, and a penance was necessary, Kartikeya was advised by Vishnu to rush to Prithudak and take his holy bath in Saraswati.
Even today there is a unique temple of Kartikeya in Pehowa, where women are not allowed to enter the temple for the belief that they would become widows, as a result of the sharapa given by Kartikeya himself. Hence, sindoor and sarson oil is offered to Kartikeya. This is the only temple of kartikeya in the whole of North India.
According to yet another belief, the father of Hindi literature, Kalidasa, himself was blessed with the prolification of the poetic faculties, by drinking the water of Saraswati, “It is possible still?” I ask Ram Murti Shastri, and he replies “Ab to ghor kalyug hai jee!”
Umbala to Cawnpore!
The British called Kanpur as Cawnpore, Meruth as Meerut, Masuri as Mussoorie, Ambala as Umbala, Karnal as Kernal, Shimla as Simla and Otocomond as Ooty. I was happy to see in Italy all the English sounding names being related in local terms Roma for Rome, Firenze for Florence and Venizia for Venice. The English had learnt to do in Rome as the Romans did! Much early than they did in DEHLI...Ooops DELHI.
What is the Hindi word for HONESTY?
Forgive me friends for I too cannot think of any Hindi word for honesty. When I mulled it over with a lot of mental gymnastics I threw it open to the house finding myself cornered by a small bug called diglossia . And my explanation is that we Indians have never known dishonest means of deceit while cohabiting, socialising and carrying on business; hence we could not historically coin a usage that tantamounts to an expression which you all referred to by different callings be it SATYANISHTHA, SACHRITRATA,SACHHAEE,AKHANDTA,RITUJA,ARJAV,SATYATA,NAYAYIKTA,KHARAPAN,NISHKAPAT-TA,SATYVADITA,NISHKAAM,PROBITY,RIGHTEOUSNESS,FAIRNESS,FRANKNESS,CHASTITY,TRUTHFULNESS ,HONEST INTENT ETC ETC. We have never been dishonest and the concept of practising HONESTY was never a felt need. Thank you for your contribution and patience too. And all the more important—for confirming my faith in my belief. Now don’t you please say that in India you have nothing that is called HONESTY but that Indians never felt the need to phrase their dishonest disposition, for they had none! Is there any safe corner where I can hide(fearing your ire) till some really honest and ‘friend- indeed’ calls me back . Whooooossshhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, June 11, 2010
“सिफारिशी ....SIFARISHI...!!!”
“सिफारिशी ....SIFARISHI...!!!” You cannot have genuine respect for colleagues if they are dubbed as such. Recommendees! No that doesn't come near सिफारिशी --SIFARISHI : this has more vulgar connotations!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Many names of Rains!!!
I love the way rains got their callings; From drizzle, showers, down pour to torrents. Nothing to beat our Hindustani titles; रिम-झिम, किन-मिन, टापुर-टुपुर, तडा- तड (rim-jhim, kin-min, tapur-tupur, tada-tad.) Moosla-Dhar ( मूसलाधार )comes close to raining cats and dogs while pitter-patter to tapur- tupur टापुर-टुपुर,!!! It rains Meenh (मींह) in dialects. But Haryanvis also exclaim enquiring about rains if “Ram ji barsyaa!” (राम जी बरस्या!)!”
Rains, rains on their way. It rained the whole nigh like it pours sometimes. Tip tip tap tap tup tup tapak ...!!!
Rains, rains on their way. It rained the whole nigh like it pours sometimes. Tip tip tap tap tup tup tapak ...!!!
टिप टिप टुप टुप टप टप टपक टपक
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Tree Told Me Tales of His Woes!
The speaking tree
By: Rajbir Deswal
Having jogged a bit hard in the Town Park, I stopped under the lonely, holy and aged Peepal tree to stabilise my breathing. “Hey, you humans are strange creatures!” I heard from nowhere when I looked at a pattern of falling bark on the trunk of the Peepal. “Are you a speaking tree?” I asked and observed a smile flashing on the tree-face. You may call it wooden, but I will not, since it had emotions, expressions and was enormously animated.
“You all are here everyday and still do not greet one another. Rather, you brush past as if by the side of a log, on encountering someone, menacingly brisk-walking on his doctor’s advice. You seem to spare no winks and smiles for each other. You do not exchange even a kind of tokenism of your supplemental existence,” the speaking tree was quite candid in his observations and expression of disgust.
“And what else have you observed about us, the human beings,” I asked trying to restrict the curve of my smile when pat came the suggestion: “Now stand for a while and look at the one who is cutting corners literally and also the other one who does not go faithfully on the curved walking track and rather strays off tangent for a short cut. What for? To save some distance? To cheat oneself! Fools.” The speaking tree was full of contempt at the behavior of the ‘park pals’ — an expression he did not agree with since he had not seen any bonding between those who come daily to walk in the park.
I stood speechless when again the Peepal nitpicked, “Now look at them. They are three of them. A man and two women in tow. I can have a bet that they will never walk from under the wire mesh shed, loaded with green creepers, but will ‘bypass’ it. Is it not pleasurable walking in that airy, shadowy, green arcade purpose-made only for them to have a more idyllic feel!”
The speaking tree had hardly concluded when I saw exactly the same thing happening in front of me. I chuckled and kept mum with my breathing being restored slowly but my eyes becoming heavier with inability to face the tree-face due to some kind of guilt experienced.
“Tell me something good and heartwarming speaking tree since you know it is very rare that one hears such pithy stuff,” I tried to digress and seek a real philosophical intervention from the “Mighty Seer” for he might still go ahead with his banter against those who litter, spit and soil the parks, what the environmentalists call the lungs in urban habitations. “All I can recall are the stories of sweat and toil my dear!” speaking tree said with some lament laced in his comment.
“Sweat and toil? Sorry, I didn’t quite follow it.” I sought an elaboration. “All I wish to say is that once upon a time the farmer and tiller of this land used to sweat out here to earn his bread and spare a lot for others as well. But nowadays the likes of you sweat it out here but only seeking to maintain appropriate levels of your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol etc. But you are still better of the lot,” speaking tree said to me. “How come you are so kind to me?” I asked. “At least you are listening to me while all others pay no heed.”
I took leave of the speaking tree quite pampered. But aren’t great souls known to pamper and preach. Take heed O’ Homo sapiens.
The told me a tale,of woes!
The speaking tree
by: Rajbir Deswal
Having jogged a bit hard in the Town Park, I stopped under the lonely, holy and aged Peepal tree to stabilise my breathing. “Hey, you humans are strange creatures!” I heard from nowhere when I looked at a pattern of falling bark on the trunk of the Peepal. “Are you a speaking tree?” I asked and observed a smile flashing on the tree-face. You may call it wooden, but I will not, since it had emotions, expressions and was enormously animated.
“You all are here everyday and still do not greet one another. Rather, you brush past as if by the side of a log, on encountering someone, menacingly brisk-walking on his doctor’s advice. You seem to spare no winks and smiles for each other. You do not exchange even a kind of tokenism of your supplemental existence,” the speaking tree was quite candid in his observations and expression of disgust.
“And what else have you observed about us, the human beings,” I asked trying to restrict the curve of my smile when pat came the suggestion: “Now stand for a while and look at the one who is cutting corners literally and also the other one who does not go faithfully on the curved walking track and rather strays off tangent for a short cut. What for? To save some distance? To cheat oneself! Fools.” The speaking tree was full of contempt at the behavior of the ‘park pals’ — an expression he did not agree with since he had not seen any bonding between those who come daily to walk in the park.
I stood speechless when again the Peepal nitpicked, “Now look at them. They are three of them. A man and two women in tow. I can have a bet that they will never walk from under the wire mesh shed, loaded with green creepers, but will ‘bypass’ it. Is it not pleasurable walking in that airy, shadowy, green arcade purpose-made only for them to have a more idyllic feel!”
The speaking tree had hardly concluded when I saw exactly the same thing happening in front of me. I chuckled and kept mum with my breathing being restored slowly but my eyes becoming heavier with inability to face the tree-face due to some kind of guilt experienced.
“Tell me something good and heartwarming speaking tree since you know it is very rare that one hears such pithy stuff,” I tried to digress and seek a real philosophical intervention from the “Mighty Seer” for he might still go ahead with his banter against those who litter, spit and soil the parks, what the environmentalists call the lungs in urban habitations. “All I can recall are the stories of sweat and toil my dear!” speaking tree said with some lament laced in his comment.
“Sweat and toil? Sorry, I didn’t quite follow it.” I sought an elaboration. “All I wish to say is that once upon a time the farmer and tiller of this land used to sweat out here to earn his bread and spare a lot for others as well. But nowadays the likes of you sweat it out here but only seeking to maintain appropriate levels of your blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol etc. But you are still better of the lot,” speaking tree said to me. “How come you are so kind to me?” I asked. “At least you are listening to me while all others pay no heed.”
I took leave of the speaking tree quite pampered. But aren’t great souls known to pamper and preach. Take heed O’ Homo sapiens.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Felicitation ceremony of Haryana writers
Yours truly among others at the felicitation ceremony of Haryana writers who contributed to the bringing out of the State's only Encyclopaedia by Vani Prakashan.Seen also in the pic are,Dr.K K Khandelwal, HE the Governor Mr Jagannath Pahaida,Naresh Kaushal Editor Dainik Tribune and Mr Shiv Raman Gaur. Shamim Sharma is the Editor.
Some really exciting news about Sukhna
Hey some really exciting news here...the rickshaw races will be held on Sukhna Grounds...Dussehra Melas will be held here...and Pinjore being a lil faraway tucked under the Shvaliks, Tourism people will soon organise a Mango Mela here. Sky divers from Manki Point will have a smooth landing at Sukhna Air Fields while all the boats and shikaras and yachts will be on display in Sukhna Museum(to remind the lovey-dovey pairs of their nostalgic escapades on water) besides an Obelisk being erected with names etched there on of those who died either by drowning or plunging in --hold your tongue--once there was--WATER here! The walkers will miss their track for a hedge of cacti will grow there as a gruelling reminder of the suitability of conifer type variety more suited for people who do not feel or heed to the soft pinches of caution and advice and counsel but appreciate real thorns into the flesh. Give me a drop of water please!
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