Assam: The Inverted Homes!

After the unprecedented power crisis in Assam in May, 2012 things have limped back to normal by now. But that 'normal' is not quite normal thanks to the most frequent and prolonged power cuts still plaguing most small towns and rural areas. If you ask someone how many times the power goes in his/her locality/town you are likely to get the answer 'Power comes sometimes!' The gap between demand and supply is still huge due to some obscure reasons.

In the conditions of heat most humid almost all from the top to the lowest bracket or almost all who can afford or ill-afford have gone for the inverters. In the concrete mess of houses it is humanly impossible to survive in the roasting heat inside.

But even in the 'inverted' homes there is a problem. The inverter battery needs to be recharged for continuous electricity supply and with expansive power cuts that does not happen most often. Therefore, even the inverted home syndrome remains a 'heated' issue!

Cashless Monday!

Whenever I use my bank's ATM card on other-bank ATMs I get a message from my bank starting 'It would be a pleasure to serve you at (so many of) our ATMs...' and then confirming the transaction. So today, while heading for the vegetable market in the evening, I decided to try only my-bank ATMs as I needed to withdraw cash first.

Inside one I completed the procedure and waited for the cash. But the usual shuffling sound was not there and no cash ejected. I tried again with the same result. I now wanted to check my balance, but the machine failed to do even that. Other 'knowing' customers told me 'no cash'! True to my vow I found another my-bank ATM, and the same frustration there too. The attendant was also missing. Angry now, I asked the nearby shop about the attendant and eventually found him playing carom! I demanded, 'Why don't you at least put up a notice for the customers?' Refusing to look up from his striker he replied indifferently, 'I was told not to do that!'

When I had to break my vow finally withdrawing money from an other-bank ATM I still got the message 'It would be a pleasure...!'

Pleasure was the last thought in my mind though, I had a nagging doubt if those cashless transactions were debited from my account I would be literally cashless and stranded on my on-going home visit.

So difficult to find a cybercafe in our area that I never had a chance to do net-surfing so far so necessary for my existence notwithstanding! I walked up and down the lanes finally feeling ecstatic at finding a sign 'Cyber-Cafe-N-Joy'! But after striding up three flights of stairs I found another sign 'Cyber cafe is closed here'!

I decided my bagful of Monday blues was enough for the day. Therefore I now focused in having my bag full of vegetables that I came primarily for.

Anna Hazare And Baba Ramdev Partner Joint Fast Company!

The anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has finally decided to sit together with Baba Ramdev on a one-day fast in Delhi today. There had been a lot speculation and anticipation on this for quite some time. Why Anna had to do this?

After taking India by a hurricane wave with his two huge bouts of fasting in April and in August of 2011 Anna Hazare started facing the music from within his Team Anna as his members became too powerful and ambitious. The cascading trouble ranged from corruption charges against the members themselves and election politics to basic differences of views and opinions. To make matters worse Anna fell sick quite frequently and his 'strong' Lokpal Bill (anti-corruption Ombudsman Bill ) failed to make any headway in Parliament. Anna had to do something to carry on the anti-corruption movement.

So he launched a fast in Mumbai in December, 2011 purportedly to pressurise the upcoming Parliamentary debate on the Lokpal Bill. The masses did not turn up in large numbers this time and with Anna getting unwell again the program was a terrible flop. As differences grew within and out Anna decided to remain 'silent' for nearly a month afterwards. He desperately needed a strong partner now.

Baba Ramdev, basically a yoga guru earning millions through his camps and medicine outlets worldwide, saw Anna Hazare become a national leader in an instant and so he too set about amassing some political clout. He launched a similar fast in Delhi against a related cause of black money and all right-wing elements and forces of the country started descending on his fasting grounds, Ramleela. A concerned goverment swooped on the gathering at midnight and ousted the Baba unceremoniously. Instead of showing true leadership qualities in controlling his startled supporters the 'brave' Baba decided to flee dressed up as a woman. The consequent confusion led to the death of a woman. Anna and his team naturally opposed the goverment's ruthless action though Anna always defended his 'distance' from right-wing fundamentalists. Today is the first anniversary of the Baba ouster.

And, hopelessly running out of options Anna Hazare sits together with Ramdev on a fast today in Delhi. Voices of dissent continue though on the newly framed charges against the Prime Minister and on that the reportedly 'fraud' Baba himself is facing serious corruption charges.

The anti-corruption mocktail looks set to mock the very evil it is trying to erradicate.