In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. About 3 minutes: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He...
( contineued from part ............II)
Today, on news paper I find a news stating that renowned activist Medha Patkar is organizing rally from Jammu Kashmir to Manipur in support of Iriom Sharmila for her unending fight against AFSPA or Armed Forces Special Power Acts; now in force in all the North Eastern States and J&K. What surprises me; has Medha been sleeping for this long period of 11 years, ever since Irom Sharmila was on fast to repeal AFSPA? Or it was other lucrative issues like ‘Narmada Banchao”, oust Tata’s Nano plant from West Bengal and many more were more alluring to her to steal the lime light or strike the headlines! The incredible India and Indians!
So when rest of the country is rallying after Anna for his ‘Jan Lokpal Bill” and anti corruption move and Anna’s fast raising massive support amongst the sensitive, educated middle class; now Sharmila gets a chance. So, Medha is on the move; this time with a ‘Sharmila’ banner. We wait and see how long she lasts
AFSPA was brought into force to suspend and arrest secessionist movements in the states where the law is imposed. On the very first place, no much thought was given; why such movement should get the momentum at all! Where the seed of the problem lies; not that few people without gross public support started it anywhere. Initially, in all these states such movements lay undergrounds; later they surfaced when commoners supported their cause. Lest they could never sustain so long. As a matter of fact; many believe the seed of the problem lies in our constitution; in its very eccentric nature. The power distributed between center and state governments are not balanced. Our constitution is basically eccentric, conferring ultimate power in the hands of ruling central government in every matter of revenue sharing, developments or natural resources tapping. The states in questions were never under British rule during Raj as the rest of our country. In fact those hilly states were not so lucrative for colonizing them and they found it tough to go on war against them. They brought them under little or partial control with various treaties. At the time of independence; the commoners there went grossly unaware of ‘power hand-over’. Later at a slow but steady pace this secessionist movement gathered momentum under the various local tribal leaderships and our eccentric constitution kept on adding fuel in the fire. For Jammu and Kashmir , article 370 failed to meet Kashmiri’s expectations ; for North Eastern States there is simply nothing to protect local interest or sentiments. So; AFSPA was primarily imposed to suppress the voice and movements. As a result the unrest is undercurrent, sometime with tumultuous force and on the surface the killings by Arm Forces or the rebels exist for ever.
(To be continued………..)
Today, on news paper I find a news stating that renowned activist Medha Patkar is organizing rally from Jammu Kashmir to Manipur in support of Iriom Sharmila for her unending fight against AFSPA or Armed Forces Special Power Acts; now in force in all the North Eastern States and J&K. What surprises me; has Medha been sleeping for this long period of 11 years, ever since Irom Sharmila was on fast to repeal AFSPA? Or it was other lucrative issues like ‘Narmada Banchao”, oust Tata’s Nano plant from West Bengal and many more were more alluring to her to steal the lime light or strike the headlines! The incredible India and Indians!
AFSPA was brought into force to suspend and arrest secessionist movements in the states where the law is imposed. On the very first place, no much thought was given; why such movement should get the momentum at all! Where the seed of the problem lies; not that few people without gross public support started it anywhere. Initially, in all these states such movements lay undergrounds; later they surfaced when commoners supported their cause. Lest they could never sustain so long. As a matter of fact; many believe the seed of the problem lies in our constitution; in its very eccentric nature. The power distributed between center and state governments are not balanced. Our constitution is basically eccentric, conferring ultimate power in the hands of ruling central government in every matter of revenue sharing, developments or natural resources tapping. The states in questions were never under British rule during Raj as the rest of our country. In fact those hilly states were not so lucrative for colonizing them and they found it tough to go on war against them. They brought them under little or partial control with various treaties. At the time of independence; the commoners there went grossly unaware of ‘power hand-over’. Later at a slow but steady pace this secessionist movement gathered momentum under the various local tribal leaderships and our eccentric constitution kept on adding fuel in the fire. For Jammu and Kashmir , article 370 failed to meet Kashmiri’s expectations ; for North Eastern States there is simply nothing to protect local interest or sentiments. So; AFSPA was primarily imposed to suppress the voice and movements. As a result the unrest is undercurrent, sometime with tumultuous force and on the surface the killings by Arm Forces or the rebels exist for ever.
(To be continued………..)
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