To my college after 37 years!

At RKSD College Kaithal...Celebrating Harivansh Rai Bachhan's birth anniversary. I once studied here. Visiting the college after 37 years was a trip down the memory lane. Met Mr Garg, the Principal, Dr Praduman Bhalla,Mr Mittal President Management, Mr Khurania,Mr Chaturbhuj, Mr Raghubir Anaam, and a host of other local poets.

Mall Watch and other books for Mauritius President

Presenting a copy of Mall Watch to H।E. Sir Aneerudh Jagunath, Hon'ble President of Mauritius on his visit to Rohtak. Two years back also I presented a set of my books to him when he visited Karnal with the First Lady of Mauritius. My young friend Preet Pal Pannu has excellent relations with the couple and has been garnering their support for social causes taken up by NIFA

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I and Anaysa going for a ride

Khushwant Singh and Raj Chaterjee sign my copy of Mall Watch.

Moon can do with lesser stars who are on Earth today.

The all bright full Moon has lesser stars around it on Guru-Poorab today. HE sent them to earth to add shine to the lights and candles put up on their houses by the believers. Happy Guru-Poorab to them all and those too who bask in the reflected shining glory. Moon can do with lesser stars who are on Earth today. And little Anaysa says, “Thank you Baba Ji!”

Clouds you are too much!

Dabs appear,

on fresh stillness,

to stir it to life.

But the day dawns.

Patchless.

Morning clouds,

you are too much.

To bear with,

in just one sky.

Fade out you will,

for sure.

Or change into,

hopes; or despair.

You are too cloudy too.

But still keep obtaining.

Here. There. Anywhere.

Morning clouds.

Rajbir Deswal Nov 21,2010

Ana gets her Jingle

Cajoled, cuddled, caressed!

The green belt,

plush with,

plants and bushes,

has the Sun,

with its morning rays,

creeping in,

not surreptitiously,

but dauntingly,

tickling the lazy darkness,

slouching there for all night,

into a kind of—Good Morning.

How nice to feel,

enlightenment,

in a wild-wilderness,

howsoever orderly!

How nice to be,

woken up,

cajoled, cuddled, caressed!

Rajbir Deswal Nov 20,2010

Witty take on grim issues!

Vivek Gupta's report in HT Panchkula Live
IPS Rajbir Deswal's latest book is a witty take on grim issues like corruption, babudom...

Call it a wit or sarcasm, Mall Watch, IPS Rajbir Deswal's new book has it all. A compilation of about forty short anecdotes, the book narrates many incidents that stir humour as well as human farce while touching many grim issues like corruption, babudom, and police highhandedness besides different shades of human affairs and ostentatious maneuverings.
The interesting short stories in the book include one on former US President Bill Clinton's rendezvous with Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal on the subject of true love, Thanedar's elbow pressure due to countless Diwali gifts, interesting episodes from the entertainment industry, taxing on `quilt' for propounding work culture, a woman Shakespeare, and all that is `phoren' being great.
Joking seriously and seriously joking are two different things. Ask Deswal, and he says both matter when cooked with human miseries. “It is general tendency among juniors to salute their senior officers but what if it is done out of compulsion? They may be chiding in their heart while saluting. In one of my stories, I have projected it differently and given it humour,“ says Deswal.
In another story, he shows how a police officer's decision to horse ride at 5 in the morning results in a lot of hullabaloo at midnight.
Deswal is at the best of his wits as well as satire when he narrates a story of a police officer who pointlessly harasses a barber who later is called by his servant to give him a shave. The story talks about the police officer's fear when he realises the same and how it lands him in trouble.
He also touches many serious issues. He questions changing role of editors who remain silent on burning issues. According to Deswal, Mall Watch, is the story of confusions, frustration, tongue-in-cheek attitudes as well vanities in one's life.What makes the book worth reading is the way he has treated the social issues.
Deswal has over six books to his credit, besides over 1,000 articles including middles and book reviews.
Few of his books on Haryanvi culture, including Wit and Humour of Haryana, Culture-Bright and Dark, Latke Jhatke, have been a hit in the literary circles. His last book, Hoor Menaka, is a translation of Haryanvi songs by Pandit Lakhmi Chand.

Mind & heart! Near & far!

That which yonder,

Looks so fonder,

Has my heearty heart in it.

This so closer,

With a poser,

Is my mind, 'lways at it.

Rajbir Deswal

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Cloud cluttered Chandigarh sky

Kill him for his bad verses!--Tackling Mobs

Train cops to tackle mob violenceHow to check mob violence with minimum force and without causing injuries or deaths has always been a big challenge for the police. The law enforcement authorities face an acid test when the situation goes out of control. Suitable training on the standard operating procedures and psychological techniques of empathy and commitment will go a long way in addressing the problem.

Says Rajbir Deswal
MOB violence has been occurring too frequently in the country. It can result after a pre-meditated programme after a call is given for some agitation. There are mobs that form into one, taking up some specifically perceived denial of rights or justice or committed atrocity. A local issue erupting suddenly may also trigger mob violence.

A mob is largely made up of sympathisers being around and available, not even directly connected with the issue. But they join hands in resorting to means that are violent, to question the perceived impropriety, exploitation, insinuation, accusation, insult, aberration, oppression, persecution, atrocity and so on.

Vigilante is yet another form of resorting to violent acts when the agitators perceive it as the only alternative left with them, since the authorities 'choose to turn a blind eye' to their grievances. Such actions give no time to law enforcement agencies to contain them since the violent plans are executed with an element of surprise.
Unforeseen situations that develop, i.e. after assassination of popular leaders, stir up violence with large-scale mobbing of protesters in a wide demographic chunk. Then, even the paramilitary forces or the police may be equally empathising themselves with the agitators; hence the loose rope.
These uncontrollable scenarios result in total chaos and anarchy. Recent instances in Mayyar and Mirchpur in Haryana confirm the disgust the agitators and arsonists had towards the authorities' ‘failure’ to come to their rescue and assuage their feelings. Caste-related mob violence is still worse. In such scenarios, peace committees and moderate elements on either side should invariably be addressed.
The Indian Penal Code Sections 147, 148, 149 (Rioting); 332, 353 (Assaulting public servant performing duties); 124 A (Sedition); 120 B (Criminal Conspiracy); 107 (Abetment); 144 (Joining unlawful assembly with deadly weapons); 153 A (Promoting enmity); 426 (Mischief); 436 (Mischief by a fire); 295-298 (Relating to Religion) etc., clearly spell out the judicial process of prosecuting persons who indulge in crimes as these are in a way related to mob violence.
Though the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984 takes care of mischief causing damage to public property (Section 3), by fire or explosive substance (Section 4) and special provisions like bail (Section 5) etc., are available, there is a grey area: how to attribute the damage caused by an individual, qua his individual conduct as the criminal liability to be shared is equal for all.
Mob violence warrants newer trends in tackling keeping in view the human rights and internationally accepted norms. There are areas where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is in vogue. The Army, for crowd dispersal and containing mob violence, resorts to stringent ways and means. The Army 'shoots to kill' but in situations at peace stations, 'shoot to kill' orders are generally not given.
The law enforcement agencies should contain violence using minimum possible force. This is ticklish though since "how much of the force to be used" may not be instantaneously gauged to assess the quantum of violence indulged in by an unruly mob.
The standard drill of containment is to assess and declare a mob as "unlawful assembly" (Sec 141 IPC) which indulges in picketing, arson, rioting, murderous assault, road blocking, stopping trains, stopping supply of essential goods and services, and assaulting public servants etc. A magistrate has to be present on the spot to warn and issue orders and method of dealing.
If sterner measures are required to contain violence, it is mandatory to announce the use of water cannons, teargas, lathi etc. To resort to firing again, a warning has to be issued by either sign language, gestures or word of mouth. If that too fails, firing in air is done, followed by, if necessary, use of rubber bullets. With the killer-bullet-firing, caution needs to be exercised in injuring the agitators in a way that only the lower extremities below the groins are targeted.
Standardised drills in a surcharged atmosphere take a back seat and invite magisterial or judicial inquiries which generally bring down the morale of the police and paramilitary forces since the latter perceive their act in the "larger public interest" protected as part of their duty (Sec 132 Cr PC).
A magistrate's 'written order' asking the police to use force is generally the big issue. Police insists on the written order while the magistrate hesitates. Sometimes, the police reportedly make the magistrate sign it even forcibly. Magistrates also sometimes flee from the scene.
A violent mob containment scenario may be grim. Yet, hope is not lost. While mobs do not listen to reasoning, they do react in a favourable manner, if the handler indulges in some kind of gimmickry, histrionics, drama, popular appeal, and by partly conceding to the agitators' viewpoint as a tactical ploy to buy time. Commitments should register themselves instantaneously. As rhetoric may or may not work, use it with caution.
Showing the fear of law to the mob will always be counter-productive. An "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" approach in a democratic set up is not the answer. Human rights will be thrown to the wind and more sober means of reconciliation, meditation, moderation, rehabilitation and reconstruction available with the state are discarded.
Policemen need to be trained in lawful dispersal of unlawful assemblies involving psychological techniques of empathy and commitment besides having an unbiased and unequivocal stance on group rivalries.

FACT FILE
A mob represents a large group of people that is difficult to control. It has no mind; doesn't listen to reasoning and has self-acquired immunity from violent acts.
It takes advantage of unforeseen situations to trigger violence. It resorts to gimmickry, histrionics, drama, popular appeal, etc.
It questions perceived impropriety, exploitation, insinuation, accusation, insult, aberration, oppression, persecution and atrocities, etc.
Rioting, assaulting, abetment, unlawful assembly promoting enmity, mischief are all covered under the Indian Penal Code.
The Army 'shoots to kill' but the police, if required, 'shoot to injure'. The police should use "as much force as is required."
For any method of violence containment, standard drills should be followed. For mob dispersal or containment, the Magistrate should issue written orders.
Inquiries into alleged police high-handedness bring down the morale of the police.
The writer is Inspector-General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Haryana

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Bombay bounced back for Abdulla & Me

Dada Abdulla
Rajbir Deswal
Fazal Hussein came from Panipat. He was my grandfather's bosom friend. More than friendship, they had family interactions without any typical reservations against each other, of Hindu and Muslim households, much prevalent in those days. Hussein was a railway contractor, and his cousin Abdulla from Lahore was a regular visitor to our home in Anta village. My father addressed both of them as Taya ji.

We accorded to Abdulla the same status as was reserved for our grandfather and called him Dada Abdulla. Those were pre-Partition days. After Partition, he stayed back in India despite the fact that Hussein had migrated to Pakistan and Dada Abdulla knew none else except my grandfather here. Even back in Pakistan, Abdulla had none to count on as his kith and kin since having become and orphan at an early age, it was only Fazal Hussein who had brought him up He, remained a bachelor all his life. His opting to stay in India surprised many but not all in our family.Dada Abdulla was a favourite of the children in particular. He knew how to conduct himself when in company of elders, women and children. Yes, he had access to the kitchen in our house and even my orthodox grandmother did not object to a Muslim's presence, though she would cover her face behind the veil when Abdulla was around and the latter too wouldn't eschew from a mock-cough to announce his arrival to the women in the house.Not at all to justify his two meals a day did Abdulla work in the fields, particularly catering to the herd, but like every other member of the family he enjoined upon himself the task of contributing his bit. We would often enjoy the hitchhike and rattle of the bullock cart driven by Dada Abdulla to and from the fodder fields. For playing truant, we were chided by mother, almost hissing her protest. Dada Abdulla's taking sides with us settled the matter with her.He knew the sensibilities of each and every member of our family. While presiding over the village boys' wrestling bouts he never allowed me to take on anybody realising that I was then having my schooling in a town and wasn't tough enough to face the village boys. He would often forecast my future saying: "He'll become a company commander one day." And, yes, I command a score companies today.Dada Abdulla had a very strange habit of going away for weeks altogether without informing anybody in the house. But he would often come back, giving us all a feeling that he would surely return, whenever he went away. But one day the unusual happened. My father received a missive from Fazal Hussein's son in Pakistan. I remember father reading out the letter written in Urdu. "Ek buri khabar, Chacha Abdulla faut ho gaye!" He explained with damp eyes to us that Abdulla was no more.

I can still recall the tiny frame in loose kurta-pyjama and the aroma of the attar he applied on his temple. No wonder Bombay bounced back, and so soon at that.

pic courtesy:http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/27/2702/2HDND00Z.jpg

Parting tips some twenty years back!

खिड़की से बहार हाथ मत निकलना। कोई कुछ खाने को दे तो मत लेना। गलत अड्डे पे मत उतर जाना। टाइम से गोली ले लेना।रिक्क्षा वाले का नाम पूछ लेना। पहुँचते ही एक पोस्ट कार्ड लिख देना। और। चलो बस चल पड़ी है!

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The middle path

Mall watch
SD Sharma in The Tribune
Very few of us, even those blessed with a rational, ethical, aesthetic mind and sensibility, have their intellect, spirit and impulses in harmony to create wonders in their chosen realm of art or profession. But all these traits meet in Rajbir Deswal, an IPS officer and author of six books,” said DR Choudhury, writer and columnist, while releasing his seventh book “Mall Watch” at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan-27 on Saturday.
Mall Watch is a compilation of the middles he had publishged in various newspapers. “You need to a have an inquisitive and imaginative mind, a larger vision and a literary flair contextual to the times. Being in the police department, I come across situations that reflected the sordid realities of life which I try to recapture in words,” said Deswal.

Mall Watch on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ierhewBIiPs&feature=share

बंदूक और डंडा उठाने वाले खाखी हाथों ने थामी कलम

कोई भी परिस्थिति मेरे लिए प्रेरणा होती है: राजबीर देसवाल लाठी और बंदूक उठाने वाले हाथों में कलम से शब्दों की जंग निश्चित रूप से एक अलग सा अहसास देता है। अपनी अनंत कल्पनाओं को सहेजकर साहित्य सृजन करने वाले इस वर्दी वाले साहित्यकार का नाम है राजबीर देसवाल। हरियाणा पुलिस के आईजी सीआईडी देसवाल एक उत्कृष्ट साहित्यकार ही नहीं एक शायर, कवि, गायक और एक छायाकार भी हैं। अंग्रेजी साहित्य में एमए, एलएलबी आईपीएस राजबीर देसवाल ने अंग्रेजी, हिंदी की अब तक आधा दर्जन से ज्यादा कृतियों का सृजन किया है।शनिवार को चंडीगढ़ सेक्टर-27 के भवन विद्यालय के सभागार में उन्होंने अपनी अंग्रेजी की नवीन कृति "मॉल वाच" का लोकार्पण किया। लोकार्पण की रस्म विधिवत रूप से निभाई हरियाणा एडमिनिस्ट्रेटिव रिफॉर्म कमीशन के सदस्य वरिष्ठ पत्रकार डीआर चौधरी ने।"मॉल वाच" पिछले लगभग तीन दशक में विभिन्न अंग्रेजी समाचार पत्रों में प्रकाशित देसवाल के सैकड़ों मिडल्स का एक संकलन है। देसवाल ने बताया कि ये सभी मिडल्स संस्मरण, यात्रा, रोमांच, हल्के-फुल्के क्षणों व सांस्कृतिक गतिविधियों जैसे विभिन्न विषयों पर आधारित हैं और प्रत्येक मिडल विशुद्ध साहित्यिक रचना का उदाहरण है। इसमें अमेरिका के पूर्व राष्ट्रपति बिल क्लिंटन की ताजमहल में शाहजहां से बातचीत काफी रोचक मिडल है। मॉल वाच दस खंडों की श्रृंखलाओं में दूसरा खंड है। इससे पहले उन्होंने "होलीपोल" नाम से भी एक पुस्तक प्रकाशित की है।मिडल्स के अतिरिक्त देसवाल अंग्रेजी समाचार पत्रों के लिए पुस्तकों की समीक्षा नियमित रूप से करते हैं। उन्होंने हरियाणा की रागनियों को अंग्रेजी में अपनी पुस्तक हूर मेनका के रूप में लिखकर हरियाणवी साहित्य को अंतरराष्ट्रीय पहचान दिलवाने का सराहनीय प्रयास किया है। पुलिस अधिकारी पर जिम्मेदारियों का बोझ और साहित्य सृजन। कैसे स्थापित कर पाते हैं यह सामंजस्य? इस पर आईजी देसवाल का कहना है कि हालांकि दोनों अलग-अलग क्षेत्र हैं, लेकिन जब वह पुलिस अधिकारी होते हैं तो केवल पुलिस अधिकारी होते हैं और जब साहित्य सृजन करते हैं तो केवल साहित्यकार होते हैं। दोनों ही क्षेत्रों में इतना अंतर है कि पुलिस की नौकरी में दबाव भी होता है काम का दायरा सीमित भी होता है, लेकिन लेखन में कोई बंधन नहीं, कोई दायरा नहीं। कल्पनाओं की एक अंतहीन उड़ान है। फिक्शन यानी काल्पनिक और व्यंग्य लेखन के प्रश्न पर उन्होंने कहा कि अपने आप पर हंसना सबसे बड़ा व्यंग्यकार होता है। जहां तक फिक्शन का सवाल है इसके लिए बहुत समय की आवश्यकता होती है। अपनी लेखन की प्रेरणा के बारे में देसवाल ने कहा कि कोई भी परिस्थिति उनके लिए प्रेरणा होती है।

हरियाणा साहित्य अकादमी पंडित लख्मी चंद अवार्ड विजेता देसवाल ने अपनी इस पुस्तक को सुप्रसिद्ध लेखक व अपने मित्र खुशवंत सिंह को समर्पित किया।

Mall Watch luanch pics by Anup and shiv Gautam

Mall Watch Launch

Dedicated to Mr Khushwant Singh and under the ageis of CMA, 'Mall Watch' by Rajbir Deswal was released by Mr D R Chaudhary. Dr Maj Gulshan Sharma, Col PK Vasudeva, Mr J N Vohra, Mrs Chander Koumdi and Adv Sagar Deswal are seen among other dignitaries. The event was preceded by Rajbir Deswal's interactive seesion with Management students on 'Value framework on Administration & Management:In perspective & in sight.Mr Raj Chatterjee has written the foreword and preface is written by Mr Ranjiv Dalal DGP Haryana.
web album at: http://picasaweb.google.com/103720184000741081772/MallWatchLaunch?authkey=Gv1sRgCPWvo-bJ9IyxVA#

Trun your eyes and looking still!

When you turn your eyes, and your back,
You don't stop seeing, and going away!
It’s only the mind that somersaults does,
But your feet are there a little more to stay!

Rajbir Deswal

Nov 13,2010

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Avoidable bores!

by Rajbir Deswal
(Middle in The Tribune Nov 10)
IF you have an acquaintance who has recently built a house; or has married off a son or daughter; or has returned after a foreign trip; better avoid his company because he will bore you to death.
“Look, I made all the rooms big and airy. 40 X 36. Roof at 16 feet. I can’t stand low ceiling. Sun has direct access to every corner in the room. Everything Vastu vetted. You will not see the shit-pot from your bed. And no stairs from over your head,” the house-maker will brag.
If he reads some expression of disinterestedness in you, he will immediately accost you saying: “Come, have a look inside the bathroom. We selected the tiles’ colour from a range of nearly a thousand. Zara wo darjano shade cards dikhana ji,” he will call out for his wife.
“Also show the kitchen to Bhai Sahab,” he will tell her. It will now be her turn to worsen your ordeal. “Modular is too costly. We made it similar but in just half the price. And have a look here,” She will make you crane your neck like a flamingo to go under the chimney: “All fumes and smoke sucked in it. And see the sink. It has two levels. You can dry your washed dishes and utensils here on the upper shelf. And this is the latest with an inbuilt draining that doesn’t require grouting with fibre pipes”.
From balcony to backyard, from terrace to rooftop, from stairs to parapets, from railings to boundary walls, from washroom to poojaroom, from taps to curtain rods, from sanitary hardware to paints and their shades — oh my God, you are shaken out of your craving for a house of your own.
Next type of persons to be on your ‘Avoid them’ list should be those who have married off their son or daughter. “All catering arrangements were from the top bracket available. Log ungliyan hi chate chale gaye. And decoration? It was superb. The florists had also done a wonderful job in turning the entire pandaal into a rose-garden. We had a unique theme to select for the tent. Six ministers, two High Court judges, local DC, SP. Who else would you want? Humne to ladke walon ko keh diya tha to be either on time or eat stale food. Ha ha ha!”
The third category is of those who just returned from a foreign land. You will have details of the practices and norms followed ‘there’—and ‘they do this’ and ‘they do that’ sort. These people will behave as if they were born and brought up ‘there’. Even the slang and pronunciation would be different. More of ‘yups’ of affirmation and ‘khups’ of ‘thea’. ‘Nyo’ for negation, and ‘O-Boy’ for exclamation!

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