Do we really need a son to bequeath our legacy?

                                                      A story of three sisters

One early morning when me and my wife were preparing to leave for our routine morning walk in the Joggers Park near Chandrashekharpur Police Station; then all of a sudden we almost had an head on collision with a monstrous JCB--Road making machine of L&T ECC in the Lane-1 of Adarsha Vihar, that is near Big Bazar Patia; unannounced. As they would dig up the road to lay the new concrete road of JICA program of Government of Odisha; we had the choice of 10 seconds to decide either to remove the car from Portico or not use the car for next 30 days. In a state of shock and disbelief we approached a close friend of my wife for help to park the car in their unoccupied parking space in nearby Subhadra apartment. She also agreed to show us the place and introduce us to their apartment security staff. In this connection both of us visited the flat of Swati’s parents’ who are no more. I found their flat has been kept as a living organism just the way their parents left it--untouched by time and maintained as if some body is living their. The seating area was as speak and span as the curtains in blue and brown shade (now available in Amazon). Her parents photograph adorns the wall without any dust and now one garland added to the photo in mark of respect. The living deity Durga in all her cosmetics and jewellery looked majestic in the Puja room generously lit up just like a conventional Bengali family. Wall hangings and  paintings were gleaming from the corner to corner walls, wind chimes creating its own music while southern window was open to let in fresh air, Divan covered with an ethnic bed spread looked like freshly polished recently, kitchen with all equipments neatly covered and master bed room and guest room arranged impeccably as if some one was living their regularly not a crease on the bed covers and pillows neatly placed on its proper place exuding an aura of a fully living home. They also keep the refrigerator live to prevent any malfunctioning. At the end Swati surprised us by stepping out on some excuse to arrange some snacks and sweets for us and served us with indulgence as their parents would have done for a visiting daughter and son-in-law sealing those moments with love and affection for both of us which is exceptional in our times of living.

Three sisters Swati, Sweta and Sharmista have taken on themselves to keep their parents memory live and legacy uninterrupted despite their absence. Instead of sharing the booty, these sisters share the cost and labor of preserving their parent’s legacy as it is dear to them. It will not be inappropriate to ask how many so called sons (male child) manage to keep the legacy of their parents in such a beautiful manner. Eventually, truth prevails; and, this writer and his brothers can’t claim to have preserved their father’s rich legacy in a befitting manner as Swati and her sisters have done. Then, why so much craze and paranoia for a male child in our society even today? 

Bikash Choudhury

Author’s Bio: Freelance writer on Socio, Economic & Political issues and events; he also writes on art & culture apart from being a passionate activist. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com 

        

Gulab Gang—The New Political Party

Bikash Choudhury

Even today  in some parts of our country educated and professional women are murdered by their own parents for their choice of life partner; we have seen what happened to the lady doctor on the street of Hyderabad; and, the perpetrators of ‘Nirbhaya’ still living and countless ‘Nirbhayas’ happen each day and even in each hour. In contrast we see college going girls, university students and young professionals smoking cigarettes and spewing toxic fumes on our faces and they even visit pubs with their male classmates or colleagues to get ‘sozzled’ a little on the rocks. If boys have the gall to snuff out human lives at the call of testrones—can’t the girls have the liberty to get drunk a little at the call of free spirits? No, that is not the issue. May be a deeper social revolution is quietly taking shape to explode on the faces of “we the men folks” of our country sooner than later.  

Earlier lower casts and dalits could not dare to cross a higher cast people raising their heads on a village street. One fine day Behenji Mayabati’s mentor emerged from the shadows of trade union activities and cycled around the country to organize the dalits, scheduled casts and down trodden to convert them into a vote bank to capture political power in order to make a difference in the lives of its stake holders with brutal power play and some policy intervention which is irreversible now.

Can our top leaders among women from all walks of life get together to follow in the foot steps of late Kansi Ram? There are provocations before and there will be ample number of cruel and brutal incidents continue to happen with Indian women; but, their collective and studied response has been silence while swallowing their pride of being wooed as goddess Laxmi, Saraswati and Durga by men. It is about time they make up their minds about their status and what to do with the deeply ingrained “patriarchy” in our society. At the least the top leaders of the women wing of each political party in the country need to think if they were better off in the mainstream political parties or will it be better to have a single all women political party that garner nearly 50% votes and no Governments in the States or at the Center is possible or feasible without their blessings. A thought on these lines could send all political parties into a shivering. The “hullabaloos” about CAA, NPR and NRC would be a think of the past and quietly buried. And, a new Economic and Governance model would emerge from the ashes of mainstream politics--- and girl power would return to rule the street on their looks, their attire, their body language and of course with their free spirits--- humming silently; we actually need 1/2 you can’t console us with just 1/3.

[Author’s Bio: Freelance writer on Socio, Economic & Political issues and events; he also writes on art & culture apart from being a passionate activist. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com] 

KAMRAJ PLAN TWO- ODISHA

                                                   

Kamraj plan was orchestrated in 1960 to cut some very popular politicians in high positions in the State and Union Governments of those times and parcel them into Congress Party organizations to stave off any challenge to the then Prime Minister and his heir apparent. However, a lot of times have passed since then and currently a new Kamraj plan is needed in the context of Odisha. Naveen Patnaik has gone from strength to strength in past twenty years so much so that he has thrown some of his arch rivals or his contemporary into the dustbin of political history of Odisha. And, they are unlikely to pose any electoral challenges to Naveen or BJD. But, these Naveen challengers have Name, Fame, Political Skill and Organizational Abilities which can be better utilized for the betterment of Odisha and its 4.5 crore people.

Many political and economic commentators have written millions of pages about the necessity of a strong leader in the union government during UPA two consecutive tenures. In order to give a firm and decisive direction to the country and to resolve its socio-economic issues that stand as it is for very long time. But, after watching, observing and analyzing the performance of incumbent Prime Minister since 2014—those commentators are now hiding in the hibernation and begging for covers including this writer. The so called magic of a decisive and strong leader has all but evaporated keeping in view the current socio-economic conditions of the country. In the hind sight, we can’t blame the Governments for our current financial outcomes of our economy and its people. Sensitive Governments can only do that much to work as the catalyst; nothing more and nothing less. In the annals of human history and even of our undivided country the economic prowess was the natural outcome of “intensity of human activity” and our Nation was genuinely written as the ‘bird of gold’ (Sone Ki Chidia). This Nation under the sweat of its labor, output of its agriculture and agro forestry could corner over 27% of Global Trade just three centuries before and currently it holds the Hindu Rate of Growth very dearly. Next logical question would be what do we do?

My take is that henceforth let us concentrate our economic might where our mouth is—in other words we need to decentralize our economic policy making to the Districts along with devolution of resources as decided by a Finance Commission with a term of reference “faster overall economic growth” of the country. Further, it would be necessary to adopt the “Gandhian Economic Model” of Gramya Swarajya to add further muscular strength to economic activity from bottom-up (Village-District-State) eventually marking a double digit National Progression for a considerable period of time in a sustainable manner. But, this is neither enough nor sufficient conditions for elusive economic growth. The buyers of an air conditioner in India knows too well that a split AC is just show off but Window AC is best and more effective as its engine of cooling is direct unlike the split AC. Unless our people are aware about their own economic growth potential and steps needed to kick start the comatose economic activity; then, no amount of external governmental package could be able to do an inch.

Therefore, we now need a Kamraj Plan Two for Odisha. That will draft senior politicians like Tathagata Sathpathy, Bijoya Mohapatra, Srikanta Jena, Baijayanta Panda, Dilip Ray and Damodar Rout into Socio-Economic work for the State through an organization to be incubated as suitable for the purpose. The organization would have mandate to deal with the urgent and important socio-economic issues of our State that no amount of Government intervention could be able to deliver. The urgent and important issues are Water Conservation, Revival of Rivers, and Restoration of Green Covers; Need to return to our Traditional Agriculture, Revival of Micro Village Industry, Need of ODF Villages, Women Security and their empowerment, Education and Health Awareness. The politicians drafted for Kamraj Plan Two are very senior and competent players of politics with monumental administrative skills with an ambition to be the ‘Numero Uno’ of the State; not for the chair alone, but to contribute to the progress of the State in their own debonair ways. There is a need and there is an opportunity to make a difference to the socio-economic conditions of our State in a substantive manner. And, that would be their fitting tribute to Biju Babu; who in his inimitable style envisioned recapturing the glory of Kalinga in his life time.    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

  [Author’s Bio: Bikash Choudhury, Freelance writer on Socio, Economic & Political issues and events; he also writes on art & culture apart from being a passionate activist. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com] 

  

Creative Global Hub

BHUBANESWAR ART BAZAR

Bhubaneswar City become No-1 in the SMART CITY sweep stakes in the country. A great deal of brainstorming has gone inside Government and equally or more outside. You will be surprised even at an ordinary tea stall at Patia in C.S.Pur,  a few auto drivers and Ola Cab drivers and a few morning walkers were discussing seriously about SMART CITY; what should be done and how it should look like. If they had a specific opinion on such an intricate issue; then, it would be better if we, project Bhubaneswar SMART CITY as a “Creative Global Hub”. Apart from increasing job prospects for our Artist and Artisans; this would promote cultural tourism in Odisha through Word of Mouth Publicity.

What we should do? 

1-     Bhubaneswar Art Bazar: Artist and Artisan Community of Bhubaneswar City/Odisha could persuade State Government to facilitate an arrangement where “Bhubanswar Art Bazar” could operate once in a month initially for 2-3 days in a week end/ 7 days a month in peak tourist season. Bhubaneswar Art Bazar could be designed like “Puskar Festival” of Jaipur in Rajasthan. BAB could offer Artist Institutions and Individuals to participate free of cost to show case & sale their art work and provision for live art work on theme selected by art lovers and Art Buyers, Provision for Portrait making, Pictures of God and Goddesses, Statutes  and even installations. State Govt. and Artist Collectives should rope in private corporate and public sector organizations to source their annual purchase of gift items from the Bhubaneswar Art Bazar. If it receives appropriate public patronage; then, Artist and Art Galleries from the country and abroad would be keen to participate at a cost; while, attracting tourist and facilitating cultural tourism in which our State has distinct advantage. Ideally, this should be done at a place that naturally attracts public foot fall like IG PARK/BIJU PATNAIK PARK.

2-     Statues: on the eve of 22^nd AAC at Kalinga stadium Odisha Govt. taken initiative to inundate the city with “wall Art” which makes this city beautiful; to continue this creative Initiative forward for a larger cause; artist collectives & all organizations working in the creative arena should persuade the State Govt. and Private Corporate in the city to fund the plan to “Install Modern Statues” at important & near busy traffic junctions of Tourist Triangle—Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar. Let us do this in such a manner that it beats our legacy in public art and Kalinga Style of Temple Architecture. We can also provide Important Social Message through modern architectural pieces. Once again we should do this in such an austentious & a very loud manner that the World Community would sit down and take notice and even talk about this.

This activity eventually would make Bhubaneswar/Odisha an attractive Tourist destination; while, making other cities in the country and abroad competing to follow in the foot steps of our SMART CITY BHUBANESAWR and our Artist & Artisans would receive work from across the world making the city truly a Global Art Hub. #Can We? # Should We?

3-     Patho Ustavs: This novel concept enunciated in the SMART CITY BHUBANESWAR and executed impeccably; that has won the adulation of general public and fun loving children of our city. Can we extend this concept to other localities/street corners of Tourist Triangle----Puri-Konark-Bhubaneswar in collaboration with respective cultural association with some amount of both Government and Corporate patronage only in the Peak Tourist Season (October-January)?Our Ambition should be to design and execute this in a better manner than Puskar Festival of Jaipurin Rajasthan.

·       This will become a great Tourist Attraction as the Words Spread and International Media Highlight this Unique Concept of our Cultural Tourism.   

Bikash Choudhury Mobile: 9853426657 Email: streben.market@gmail.com

Twitter: @ideasofhope Adress:plot no:3309 Adarsha Vihar Lane-2 Patia Bhubaneswar-751024

CHANGING SOCIAL TRENDS

Bikash Choudhury

One humid Sunday morning my better half announced barely getting out of bed; today is the house cleaning Sunday and I have asked Laxmi our maid to thoroughly clean every nook and corner of our 2bhk rented home. I new already what is coming next; “park yourself outside and manage your breakfast outside of home”. No wonder, near Master Canteen Square, our Desi Jantarmantar of Delhi where protesters pitch their tents; you will find a tent for “Men’s Protection Commission” to protect men from abuse and domestic violence from their wives. As instructed after completing the morning chores; parked myself at a completely unoccupied corner of Idli Bhawan—a near by South Indian Restaurant in Patia; while fondly remembering my days in Chennai Besant Nagar Beach on Sunday Morning followed by steaming hot Sambar Idli at Maharaja Restaurant at Adyar. While rummaging through memories one call came and due to poor signal I had to troupe out to attend the call; by the time I returned to my seat, I found them occupied by two young IT working couple. I politely told them that since they have occupied my place; I have to occupy the vacant seat in front of them. They nodded in agreement; soon after my order of Onion Dosa was served and I fed my hungry stomach slowly taking the taste of very soft Idli with hot Sambar and Coconut Chutteny. After some time the couple was served with Dosa and Idli and without caring for a stranger sitting in a hitting distance; they started feeding each other alternatively. I felt little uncomfortable initially; gained composure later and as usual I ordered a Mini Coffee to seal my breakfast with the freshly brewed South Indian Coffee which I enjoyed in the company of this young couple; while, reasoning inside that the “Public Display of Affection” by young people of SMART PHONE ERA is too common to be even mentioned; if you have read “Half a Girl Friend” by Chetan Bhagat or any of his novels; then, you would have received a degree in romance in the annual convocation. I was actually romancing about the changing social trends happening in front of our eyes without being noticed or aware of. Because, I have seen my grand parents not addressing each other by their names in private; forget about even standing in one frame in public. However, they have sired 6 off springs in my father and his three brothers and two sisters. While, I have observed my father calling my mother by her maiden name “Lochan” and he was progressive enough to go to Rotary Club on weekends in Angul town accompanied by my mother in Copper Sulphate Ladies Coat with golden stripes and they used to interact like friends in private. After my marriage I gave my wife a new home name- “Suman” and privately call her “dear” which she reciprocates. Dress codes have changed drastically in three generation; my grand father used to wear only Dhoti & Kurta and Grand Mother adorned Saree with Pallus covering the head in contrast my father changed into trousers and shirts, in winter he puts on a Blazer; while my mother used Sarees only, however, the color scheme and textures of sarees were more flamboyant and Pallus stayed on the head, in front of elders only. Now a days my Bhavi window shops in Palazios with only one inch deep make up driving a big hole in my brother’s wallet, my wife slips into western attires making neighbor’s envy and owner’s pride palpable and my younger brother’s wife who is tall and beautiful as good as Hollywood Divas; some times, post her images in FB/what’s App in austentious western garments to say it loudly—hey, I have arrived in America making our desi women folk in town go red in little jealousy. Now, our nephew’s and nieces order designer dresses and dance for hours in Baratis without any eye bros being raised; while, family gives tacit consent for love marriages within and outside castes; which was strictly no-no a few years earlier. This can’t just be the story of my extended family alone; that’s pretty much the trend in our contemporary society of our class-middle one. So, public display of affection is a non-issue and a vital part of our changing social trend. What you say readers?     

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Women's Day would be worthwhile if we decide to give equal property rights to our Sisters, Daughter in our homes first; this Initiative would Stop/Control Dowry Related Violence. Further, it is a Economic Necessity to Bring 48% of our Population(Women) into Mainstream of Indian Economy to make Rapid Strides in Socio-Economic transformation that we so assiduously Pursue in Recent Times. 33% Reservation for Women in Parliament/State Assembly could be starting Point. If that does not Bring Necessary Change in the Status of Women in our Society then ALL WOMAN POLITICAL PARTY could be a Good Alternative.

New Year Greetings & Suggestions to Chief Minister of Odisha

31^st December 2016

Shri Naveen Patnaik,

Chief Minister of Odisha

Bhubaneswar

Esteemed Naveen Ji,

On the last day of year 2016 I wish to greet you for the New Year 2017 and also share some wish list which our popular Government under your leadership would consider to implement.

1-     I wish our Capital City Bhubaneswar become the Cleanest City in the country in 2017.

·       This will be easier to achieve if we assign the task to a group of Sr. IAS officer in the rank of Commissioner & Secretary; who would draw Government resources and Public Participation in this gigantic task.     

2-     I wish the Tourist Triangle of Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri become the most attractive Tourist destination for Foreign & Domestic Tourist.

·       We can decorate the sky line of tourist triangle with Hoarding Size Public Art/Sculpture that reflects the affluent tradition of our own culture with the help of International, National and our own State Artist of repute.

·       We can invite top creative persons for residency during the peak tourist season.

·       We can develop a Disney like amusement park near Nandankanan Zoological Park.

3-     We can develop our Chilika Lake like Macau in China dedicated to tourist.

• We can develop a new Metro City encircling the Chilika Lake to become the driver of economic progress of Odisha. 

Thanking you.

Yours Faithfully,

Bikash Choudhury

Mob:9853426657