WHEN WATER IGNITES FIRE (Sino-Indian relationship)

Sino-Indian relationship again hit the headlines; With the Indian Remote sensing agency (IRSA), a government of India body, reporting the construction of dam on the Chinese side of the river Brahmaputra. In its report to the cabinet secretary, the agency said that the construction activities are going on the river Brahmaputra called Tsangpo in China. Just after the report came, Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said in a press conference that China has denied any such activity. She said that the issue was raised on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The issue was also discussed during the foreign secretary level talk in Bengaluru last month. China openly said that it is a responsible country and it has no intention to stop the flow of the river Brahmaputra.

India is concerned about the construction of dam on the river Brahmaputra as it receives 30% of its total water resources from this river. If the flow of the river is stopped once, a large portion of arable land will come under the threat of draught. Apart from irrigation, this river plays a significant contribution in the electricity production of the country. According to a senior officer in the ministry of water resources, the proposed hydel power projects will produce around 99,256 MW electricity.

When I talk to a senior journalist Mr. sayeed Naqvi on this issue, he said that it’s an issue more hyped by the media. The ground reality is not as the media is trying to portray. He said that we should listen to what is the official version of the two countries.

A daily had earlier expressed the fear that China is trying to control the flow of the river Brahmaputra by constructing a dam over the river Brahmaputra.
Now, the question is, should we ignore the report of IRSA,just because China says otherwise. Replying to this question, Minister for water resources, Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal said that there is no bilateral water treaty between India and China. So india can’t oppose if China carries out any construction activity on its side of the river. We can express concern only if it tries to divert the 7.9 billion cubic meter water that flows into India.

When it was asked to Professor Qamar Agha that how appropriate is this official stand, he said that India has changed and there is no chance of both the countries going for aggressive posturing. The need is to avoid sensationalisation of the issue. He also said that such reports come due to the foreign powers who do not want the relations between the two countries to normalize.

China is developing fast. Be it Tibbet, Taiwan, Aksai Chin or Arunanchal, China has firmly crushed all the barriers that came in between development. Despite, India’s foreign ministry saying that Sino-Indian relations are normal; India can’t accept assurances of a bloody 1962 war. Anyway, there have been predictions that if there will be a third world war, it will be for water.

Sanjeev Srivastava

The story of Doordarshan

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Television service was started in India by the Government of India on 15th September 1959. It was called Doordarshan. Being started by the government for developmental purpose, it was called public service broadcaster. In its fifty years of journey, Doodarshan has witnessed many ups and downs.

In its early years Doodarshan was a part of All India Radio. It was only in 1976 that it was separated from All India Radio and became a National Broadcaster. It soon became a favourite platform of entertainment for common man. Apart from film industry it was the only platform that provided ‘on the screen entertainment’ to the common people. Since it was the first TV channel, it started most of the multiplicity of programs that we see on most of the private channels, be it soap- opera, mythological dramas and commercials as well. Eighties was the era when Doordarshan glued millions with soaps such as Humlog(1984),Buniyaad(1986-87),Ramayan(1987-1988) and Mahabharat(1988-89) .

In nineties, Private television channels infiltrated into the Indian boundaries and entertain the viewers as much as possible. These channels gave tough competition to Doodarshan.
Why Doodarshan has became less effective than private channels?

Still, Doodarshan has reach to the 98% of our population, but does it really play the role that is expected from a public service broadcaster?

This and many more other queries are to be explored in this radio package.

Sanjeev Srivastava

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Why don’t they make public?

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Bar Council of India chairman N P Sinha said recently that judges should declare their assets voluntarily without waiting for a legislation in this regard,

“Why are the judges shy? They should lead by example.” Sinha said.

Two hundred years of British exploitation extracted all our national resources. What came later has been just more than 60 years and our greatest achievement post-independence has been our democratic system.

In a country where population is increasing at a fast pace and resources are limited, it becomes very difficult to ensure enough and fair share for everybody. Demand-supply imbalance tends to fuel corruption. In such a situation the responsibility of those whom we call public servants becomes extremely important.

It is expected on the part of those in public service that they do not compromise their responsibilities and do not fall in self-indulgence. To bring transparency in public life a bill was brought in the parliament in 2004, making it mandatory for People’s Representative to declare their assets before asking for votes. In continuation of the same spirit the government recently brought an act, for the judges to declare their assets. But the act didn’t ask for public declaration. This was something that fuelled discussions around the country with heated arguments on both the sides.

This radio package intends to present the different aspects of the same issue, because, we are a democratic country after all.

Sanjeev Srivastava

पुस्तक समीक्षा

Two States: the story of my marriage.

लेखक : चेतन भगत
प्रकाशक : रूपा एंड कम्पनी
प्रकाशन वर्ष : २००९
पृष्ठ : २६९
मूल्य : ९५ रूपये ।

कहतें हैं कि रियल लाइफ और रील लाइफ मे सबसे बड़ा अन्तर ये होता है कि रियल लाइफ में कोई रिटेक नही होता। जबकि सच्चाई ये है कि रील लाइफ में सबकुछ डायरेक्टर के मनमुताबिक होता है, लेकिन रियल लाइफ में शायद ही कभी ऐसा होता है।चेतन भगत कि इस नई किताब में सबकुछ वैसा ही घटता है जैसा कि उपन्यास के नायक और नायिका चाहतें है।

अनन्या और कृष आईआईएम अहमदाबाद में पढ़ाई करते हैं । दोनों में प्यार हो जाता है, दो साल तक प्यार की क्लासेस चलती हैं , जब एग्जाम यानि शादी की बारी आती है तो उन्हें अपने घर वालों की याद आती है। अनन्या दक्षिण भारती ब्राहमण है, जबकि कृष उत्तर भारतीय पंजाबी।

अनन्या के माँ-बाप उत्तर भारतीयों से घृणा करतें हैं और उसकी शादी किसी दक्षिण भारती ब्राहमण से ही करना चाहतें हैं । दूसरी ओर कृष की माँ अपने बेटे की शादी एक रईस पंजाबी घर में करना चाहती है, क्यूंकि लड़की के बाप के पास ६ पेट्रोल पम्प हैं और उनकी सिर्फ़ दो लड़किया ही हैं ।

इसके बाद की पूरी कहानी इस बात को बय्याँ करती है की कैसे एक पंजाबी लड़का अपने तमिल ब्राहमण ससुराल वालोँ को और एक तमिल लड़की अपने पंजाबी सास- ससुर को शादी के लिए राजी करती है ।

सबकुछ ऐसे घटता है जैसे किसी बी ग्रेड हिंदी फिल्मो में होता है। पहले लड़का अपने होने वाले सास-ससुर को मनाने के लिए फिल्मी तरीके से प्लान बनाता है और उसके सारे तीर निशाने पर लगते हैं। फिर लड़की कोशिश करती है। बेचारी ख़ुद को नाकाम समझ कर वापस चली जाती है कि तभी एक चमत्कार होता है और ...।


कहते हैं साहित्य समाज का दर्पण होता है , साहित्यकार और आम आदमी में यही अन्तर होता है कि साहित्यकार समाज में घटने वाली घटनाओं को कलमबद्ध करने की काबिलियत रखता है, लेकिन आज के समय की सबसे बड़ी विडंबना है कि ये बाज़ारवाद के शिकंजे में बुरी तरह फँस चुका है । केवल फिल्में ही नही आज का साहित्य... ,बल्कि साहित्यकार भी इससे बच नही पाया है।

आज सफल वही है जो अपने उत्पाद को बाज़ार में बेच सकने की काबिलियत रखता है। कार से लेकर वाशिंग पाउडर तक के विज्ञापन में बच्चों का इस्तेमाल किया जा रहा है, क्यूंकि भावनाएं भी बिकती हैं। मुंशी प्रेमचंद की रचना में शायद वो तत्व नही था जो वेद प्रकाश की जासूसी भरी उत्तेजक कहानियों में है। लेकिन क्या दोनों को एक ही श्रेणी में रखा जा सकता है। अन्तर सिर्फ़ उद्देश्य का है। चेतन भगत की पिछली रचनाएँ बेस्ट सेलर रही हैं। अब ये साहित्यकार के ऊपर है कि वो अपनी रचना किसे समर्पित करना चाहता है ...बाज़ार को या समाज को। क्यूंकि बाज़ार समाज को आइना दिखाने में नही बल्कि बेस्ट सेलर हो़ने में यकीन रखता है.... । लेकिन वेद प्रकाश और मुंशी प्रेमचंद के बीच अन्तर तो हमेशा ही रहेगा, बाज़ार कितना ही शक्तिशाली क्यूँ न हो जाए वो इस अन्तर को मिटा नही सकता ।


संजीव श्रीवास्तव

उफ़ ये भिखारी ! ! !

दिल्ली हाई कोर्ट ने एक जनहित याचिका की सुनवाई करते हुए कहा कि अगर दिल्ली से भिखारियों को सिर्फ़ इस आघार पर निकाला जाता है कि इससे कॉमन वे़ल्थ गेम्स के दौरान आए लोगों के सामने भारत कि ग़लत छवि बनेगी तो ये अन्यायपूर्ण है। कोर्ट ने कहा कि दिल्ली में अपराधी तो रह सकते है लेकिन भिकारी नही, ये कैसी विडम्बना है।

गरीबी एक अभिश्राप है, मुन्सी प्रेम चंद ने इस सच को अपने लगभग हर उपन्यास में दिखाने की कोशिश की है। पूस की रात उपन्यास का वो मंजर कौन भूल सकता है जब हल्कू अपने बेटे के साथ चौखट पर बैठ कर अपने बहू के मरने का इंतजार करता है। उसके मरने पर अन्तिम संस्कार के नाम पर वो दोनों गाँव भर से चंदा जुटाते है और फिर मिलकर उसी पैसे से स्वादिस्ट खाने और शराब का मजा लूटते हैं।

ये कथानक इस बात का संकेत है कि गरीबी इंसान को किस कदर बेबस और बेगैरत बना देती है। गरीब जहा भी होगा वो उस समाज के लिए अभिश्राप ही बना रहेगा। शायद, कोर्ट भी यही कहना चाहती है कि गरीब को हटाना कोई समाधान नही है। अगर हटाना ही है तो गरीबी हटाओ।

संजीव श्रीवास्तव

Delhi in Cricket Fever after Deewali

Deewali is back in Delhi, but with the fever of Cricket this time। The next cricket match between India and Australia is to be held in the historical Fierozeshah Kotla ground on 31st of October।

When I went to purchase ticket for the match last Wednesday, there were long queues of ticket seekers on counter no. 4, the only counter. They were standing there from early morning. The cheapest ticket for the students was worth Rs. 250. Still, even they were unhappy as to avail this they had to take ticket from Union Bank.

It’s 11o'clock. The ticket counter is still closed.

Cricket is a religion for many in India and this person standing since 9 in the morning is an example। When I asked this person, why he is so desperate for this match despite India's disappointing performance in T-20 and Champions League, a group of young men from Noida quips, “we lost 1st match because of Dhoni's defensive game and because Irfan Pathan is not playing. God knows why they are not calling Irfan".

When I asked about what will happen on Saturday? They all replied in one chorus, "India will win convincingly"।"How?", and the answer was," Yuvraj is back!!!"

The next match is in Delhi, the home ground of firebrand Virendra Sehwag. Only a couple of month's back Sehwag had raised objection about the selection process and had threatened to quit playing from Delhi. The statement of Sehwag had sent shock waves in the cricket and political circles of Delhi. This match would be special as, after that incident Sehwag is playing for the first time in Delhi.I wanted to know from the cricket fan around me if the incident might affect Sehwag's performance, and Arjun Singh from Tagore Garden, West Delhi says," We were sad that we might lose Sehwag, but this will not affect his game.

When T-20 finals were being played, the stands were empty. It's simple. The people here are not interested in how India performed in last matches. They are more excited about their star cricketers playing in their town and that they will be able to watch them playing in front of them. One can easily guess, cricket resides in the heart of this country and that only Indian cricketers are their all time favorites.

Ferozeshah Kotla ground of Delhi has seen many historical moments in its lifetime. Sachin hit his 35th century here. But this ground created real history in 1999, when Anil Kumble took all the ten wickets of Pakistan. This ground has been lucky for India, with India being the most successful team on this ground.

Will India repeat history?

In the game of cricket, the jury remains out till the last ball is bowled…

Sanjeev Srivastava

BOOK REVIEW

NOVEL

THE 3 MISTAKES OF MY LIFE


AUTHER : CHETAN BHAGAT
PUBLISHED : IN 2008
PAGES : 257
COVER : SOFT BOUND
PUBLISHER : RUPA COMPANY,
7/16 Ansari Road, Daryaganj,
New Delhi 11002


Every person wants to be successful but one, who works with full dedication and confidence, gets the taste of success. These are the key ingredients to get success. Mistakes play vital role in the life of any successful. Mistakes are the part of life and it is also true to a full extent that to err is human. To make a fault is not bad, but repetition is not good because it hampers sense of humor and self- perseverance.

When a person sets his goal and makes first attempt, at that time he may be fail if he commits mistakes. But if next time, he concentrates on his previous mistakes and improves them he could get success. So in this way, we could see that mistakes which cause failures can be stepping stone to success. They are not our enemy but our true friends who show our real face and realize us how much in depth we are. It keep us motivated and conscious towards our aim which inculcate enthusiasm and boost our confidence. On the other hand, it also teaches a lesson that one should not be tensed and frustrated when any unexpected thing happens. It happens in the novel that Govind is disturb and faces many obstacles. After all he tries to commit suicide as a final option. So, it provides a lesson that one should not take such a coward step and confronts the problems boldly.

The novel also deals with the subject matter of mistakes committed by a young and talented person who never expects, that due to little mistakes he would have to face grave consequences. And it would cause him to not to speak his friend. He does not commit errors deliberately, but circumstances lead him to do those nonsense. He faces many hardships and makes each and every possible effort to establish his business with two friends whom he considers to be the best in the world. The author has tried approvingly to represent his character in best possible manner and made him the central character of the novel. The entire story revolves around him.

Govind Patel, Ishaan and Omi are good friends and live in Ahemdabad. They all are young and enjoy the life in full swing. They wish to be successful businessmen. So they open a cricket shop to meet their requirements and want to be successful as quickly as it is possible. Things go on well with all of them. But after a passage of time, they find themselves in dilemma and realize that life has played a destructive game with them. They come to know the actuality of life and circumstances which make them apart from one other. Thereafter, life turns to be a misery for them. Govind is much frustrated at the outcome of his inputs and gets shocked. Finally, he takes some unnecessary steps to commit suicide so that he could get rid of all the problems.

In this novel, the author has used simple and lucid language. It is easy to be understood but at the same time he uses slangs more often which does not leave good impression on young readers. He has pointed out some realities of life which is really a remarkable task. For instance- when he writes that parents gets too much involved in their children life. And he or she does not have as much liberty as he requires doing the things freely. It sometimes leads a cause that child does not want to share his feelings or emotions with his parents. And it may turn to be a blunder of his or her life. He has expressed obscene feelings as he writes about massacre which takes place in Ahemdabad and reveals the facts one after one like the railway compartment was set on fire, it instigated Hindus to kill Muslims. And as a result many Muslim’s houses were set on fire. It could thrill the minds of readers with communal feelings which may probably give the way to communal riots.

The author has also intervened to show the repercussions of some steps which could be hazardous for a person and it could ruin him badly. Like, when Govind invests all money to buy a shop, after that an earthquake rocks the city and his new shop turns to a heap of rubbles. Thus, his all the aspirations comes to an end due to that menace which was totally unexpected.

Most of the time, the tone used by author is humorous like when he writes that “I could not speak as she was advancing her steps towards me like a bold lady”. It ensures pleasure and entertainment while going through the line. Sometimes, he has also used sarcastic tone. Like, when he writes that “I do not need your money earned with cheating and other’s blood and move out with money before I throw it on your mouth”. It reveals the harshness of character’s voice. Thus, he has artistic quality to use the blend mixture of both the tone in a graceful manner. His articulation style lies in the systematic representation of thoughts and feelings which follow gradually after each other.

Sanjeev Srivastava