Jottings from Jashpur

When I last posted on this blog, little did I know that I would be so directly involved with this General Election. It was rather a call of duty to pack my bag with dry fruits __ honestly, I learned it from the Kasav & Co of Mumbai 26/11 that dry fruits are actually meant for not-so-ordinary circumstances__ and all necessary stuff including Odomus & water bottles for Jashpur, the naxal-prone district of Chhattisagarh bordering Ranchi. A born patriot I was happy to serve the nation even as a micro-observer as part of the 14th Lok Sabha election. (I wish I had a Voter I-card to vote this time!!) At the same time, I was mentally prepared to venture into the disturbed area with due respect to all my colleagues who had cautioned me several times. Prior to the day of my deparature, I received a loud appalause in the department meeting for my "lofty" thoughts of serving the nation as a poll observer.
I started early morning on 14th April keeping in mind we have to reach there before evening to avoid any untoward incident. Meanwhile, I was communicated by the district administration that I need not go all the way to Jashpur as I have to do my duty in a place called Patthalgaon, a sub-division from where Jashpur would be six hours journey.
I was relieved to some extent!!xxxx Got into a hotel costing Rs 140 per single room per day in Patthalgaon. Visited the Kilikileswari temple, 8 km from Patthalgaon bazar, in the afternoon as I reached my destination very early contrary to what I thought. The temple was standing cool far from the madding crowd, promising tranquility. Being not-so-religious but a spiritual person, I love this kind of places offering a perfect setting for research and reflection. I had a small chat with the Babas who happen to be outsourced from Puri, without giving them the slightest hint of my roots. It was a pleasant experience to see the Babas speaking Oindi (Oriya plus Hindi) and offering us a sip of Dhanwantari in place of the usual tea.
The polling had little thrill to offer except the aged villagers taking time to click the EVM button, ladies carrying their babies tied to a chadar around their waist much like the hill-side culture, and the entire backdrop confirming how it is oblivious to the serious spade work involved in the voting process. I was doubtful whether they were knowing their candidates they were voting for or even the parties they just voted!! But one thing for sure, they were simple and hard working and thus deserve the fruit of good governance.
On the return day, we drove our car towards the "2nd Biggest and the oldest Church of Asia", located near a place called Kunkuri, 45 kms from where we were staying. I joined the Friday prayer along with others and thanked the God for offering me all niceties. I missed my camera which I didn't carry, thinking I could end up having some difficulties during my tour. Luckily, one of my colleagues had a camera. It was Nikons and was purchased during 70s, no zoom etc. I clicked some snaps wondering only Jesus would be knowing when I would get back those photographs.
(Tail Piece : Let my rest of the life offer this natural glimpse of eternity!! Now on, I should feel rather good and stronger and not lonely and down.)

Politics Becomes Sexy

This is my personal opinion when I see the influx of Page 3 celebrities into politics in this election session. Chiru, Sanju baba, Nafisa Ali, Sekhar Suman and the list goes on. While the Perfect Khan is urging all of us to caste our votes through TV advertisements, there are rumours about SRK & bubbly Zinta being roped in by some political parties.

The trend started in 2004 by none other than late PM (Pramod Mahajon) of BJP who played a key role in roping in number of celebrities to the party fold, quite in sync with its India Shining campaign!!

But why the event is being sort of replayed in 2009!! Is there a change in the Celebrity Subconscious after Mumbai's 26/11. Who needs whom really? Celebrities need polics or Politics needs the celebrities!!

The C-Factor

Media coverage on my all-time infatuation among political circle Carla Bruni almost ruptured my consciousness today. While Guradian had hourly updates, video clips of fashion face-off between Mrs Sarkozy & Mrs Obama who met for the first time on the side lines of G20 summit, Straits Times had a nice observation about presidents greeting the opposite spouse.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_359388.html
Most interesting were the viewers' comments depicting the 'frock contest' as no more than intellectual recession.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/03/michelle-obama-carla-bruni-sarkozy-fashion?commentpage=2
But, end of the day, I have something exiciting stuff to read. I was hooked onto my laptop without even changing my dress & it was already 9 pm.
I cant understand how i developed so much of infatuation to ladies elder to me. Surely, it was even when I was in school!!

Some Stray Thoughts

01.04.2009 : 11 pm
i am more than tempted to say adieu to this enigma called PSU job. dont like to meet anybody here for the last time even. wud love to throw a personal mail _ kind of calling spade a spade _ to my boss. i see no interest in having a beautiful family either. i want to be jobless, do what i want to do. i wud love that misery. may be i sud leave everything and set out for the unknown. Man, i m not trying to manufacture a sort of fiction out of nowhere, but that's what i feel now while taking a long walk after dinner ......(long pause...somebody came to my room).......
ya, what i was to write!!!.......
ya, i want to just quit the job, family, & go to a place where nobody wud be knowing me. may be, i wud join some social service or teach or do something more connecting...& in return, if i can have enough to eat & wear and pursue what i want to without any sort of compromise, that wud be great. I just want to throw away all my assets and vanish.
XXXXX
oh...i was explaining this guy who came about the book...Farnz Kafka's Diary....let me have a look then.....i hate myself!!!!