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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

स्वामी विवेकानंद आणि त्यांची (आम्ही पूर्ण करावयाची) मोहिमेची योजना

स्वामी विवेकानान्द्नांनी १८९७ साली मद्रास येथील व्हिक्टोरिया सभागृहात " माझ्या मोहिमेची योजना " हे शतकातील सर्वोत्तमापैकी एक व्याख्यान दिले. भारताचा तरुण,त्याकडून देशाच्या अपेक्षा आणि त्या अपेक्षापूर्तीसाठी तरुण पिढीबद्दल स्वामीजींच्या अपेक्षा असा सुंदर मिलाफ या भाषणात आहे.सहस्त्रकातील, जगातील सर्वोत्तम प्रेरणादायी भाषनांपैकी ते एक आहे. अध्यात्मिक, सामाजिक आणि राष्ट्रीय उन्नतीसाठी कोणते रचनात्मक बदल आवश्यक आहेत आणि भारतीयांचे पुनरुत्थान होण्यासाठी कोणत्या कार्यप्रणालीची गरज आहे याचे उद्बोधन स्वामीजींनी केले आहे. हे भाषण नवभारतासाठी आहे.

मात्र फक्त इथेच त्याचे महात्म्य संपत नाही. आज शतक बदलले, संदर्भ बदलले,
स्वातंत्र्याला पासष्ट वर्षे उलटली तरी हे भाषण स्वामीजींच्या स्वप्नातील तरुण, त्याची आवश्यकता तसेच आहे. त्यामुळे स्वामीजींची मोहीम आजही अपूर्ण आहे . आणि ती पूर्ण करण्याची जबाबदारी आजच्या तरुणाची आहे विशेषतः महाराष्ट्राने त्यात पुढाकार घ्यावा.

विवेकानंदांचे विचार स्वप्न, ज्याला ते त्यांची मोहीम म्हणतात सगळ आज आम्ही पुन्हा आमच्या हृदयात कोरून ठेवाव अस आहे.

वेदांताचा प्रसार पाश्चात्य देशात केल्यानंतर स्वामीजी भारतात आले आणि भारतभूमीच्या या सुपुत्राने तरुण बांधवांना झोपेतून जाग करायला सुरुवात केली. त्यामुळे या विषयाला हात घालण्यापूर्वी स्वामीजींच्या वैचारिक जाणीवेचा थोडा परामर्श घेऊया.

उगाच देव देव करून लोकांना ढोंगी अध्यात्म शिकवणारा तो बुवाबाबा नव्हता. स्वामीजींनी देवत्वावर अविश्वास दाखवला नाही.नास्तिक नरेंद्राचा देवीशी संवाद साधणारा विवेकानंद झाला हे जितक सत्य तितक हे सुद्धा कि स्वामीजींनी राष्ट्रीयवाद आणि तरुण भारताची राजकीय गरजेबद्दल सुंदर विधाने केली आहेत. त्यांनी देव आहे कि नाही हि यावर स्वतःची समजूत घातली आणि देशाला त्यांनी राष्टवाद शिकवला आणि त्यांनी तरुणांना राष्ट्रप्रेमाची दिक्षा दिली. म्हणून त्यांना "योद्धा संन्यासी " म्हणतात.

धर्म
स्वामीजींनी राजकारण आणि अध्यात्म दोन्ही विषयांवर प्रबोधन केल. त्यांनी अध्यात्माच कधी राजकारण केल नाही पण राजकारणासाठी "धर्म " हा अवघ्या भारतीयांना एक दुवा आहे हे त्यांचे ठाम मत होते. ते म्हणतात प्रत्येक देशाचा काही स्वभाव असतो. लोकांना गोष्ट पटवून देण्यासाठी ते तत्व महत्वाचे असते. अमेरिकेत प्रत्येक गोष्ट मानवी समान मुल्यांवर तोलली जाते, इंग्लंड मध्ये राजकारण राष्ट्रीयत्व गोष्टीभोवती पिंगा घालते तसेच अवघ्या भारताला एकसंघ करण्याची ताकद धर्मकारणात आहे. त्यामुळे स्वामीजींनी आपल्या लोकांना राजकारण अध्यात्माच्या मार्गाने समजावून सांगितले. हीच गोष्ट रामदास स्वमिन्निसुद्धा केली होती.

हिंदुधर्म
नि:संशय विवेकानन्न्दांनी वैश्विक धर्माची संकल्पना मांडली. मात्र तो धर्म हिंदुधर्मातील उदात्त तत्वज्ञानावर आधारलेला आहे. हिंदुधर्माची थोरवी गाताना स्वामीजी म्हणतात कि "मी अशा धर्माचा प्रतिनिधी म्हणून आपल्यासमोर आलो आहे जो अतिशय प्राचीनतम आहे आणि तो सर्व धर्माची सूत्रे आपल्या कवेत सामावून घेतो". हिंदू धर्माचे मर्म वेद आणि वेदांतात आहे हे स्वामीजींनी जाणले. ते म्हणतात ज्याला वेद ठाऊक नाहीत त्याला हिंदू म्हणवून घेण्याचा अधिकार नाही. वेदांताच्या म्हणजे उपनिषदांच्या तत्वज्ञानावर त्यांनी भर दिला. अमेरिकेत वेदांताचा प्रसार केला. हा आपला आजचा विषय नाही. वेदांताच्या विशेषतः अद्वैतवादाच्या तत्वज्ञानावर स्वामीजींनी आपले अवघे हिंदू धर्माच्या विवेचनाचे फलित सांगितले. स्वामीजींच्या अमेरिकेतील कार्याचे फलित हे कि जेव्हा स्वामीजींनी हिंदू धर्माचे तत्वज्ञान अमेरिकेत गायले तेंव्हा पाश्चात्य जगातला कळले कि भारतात धर्मज्ञानाची अजिबात कमतरता नाही आणि मिशनरी सांगतात तसे अज्ञान तर अजिबात नाही. विवेकानान्द्नामुळे मिशनर्यांचे भारतात येणे आणि हिंदुधार्मियांना बाटवणे कमी झाले.

त्यामुळे स्वतः हिंदू संन्यासी म्हणवून वेद वेदांताचे अमृत स्वतः पिउन पाश्चात्य जगताला त्याची चव पाजणारा हा प्रकांडपंडीत जेंव्हा भारतात येतो तेंव्हा तो तरुण पिढीला शिकवत नाही, राष्ट्रवाद शिकवतो . कारण अज्ञान दैन्य आणि भुकेने कळवळनार्या देशाला वेदांताची नाही कर्मवादाची गरज आहे हे तो द्रष्टा जाणतो. बुडणार्याला वेदमंत्रांचा नाही तर काठीचा आधार देतो. म्हणूनच तो संन्यासी आहे पण योद्धा आहे. तो आपल्या लोकांना देव सुद्धा शिकवत नाही म्हणतो ,"पुढील पन्नास वर्षांसाठी वर्षांसाठी राष्ट्र आणि केवळ राष्ट्र हेच तुमचे एकमेव दैवत असले पाहिजे"


माझ्या मोहिमेची योजना
राष्ट्रनिर्माण आणि भूमिका
अवघ्या विश्वाला भारताची नवी ओळख करून देणारा हा क्रांतिकारक स्वतःला खारीचा वाटा समजतो . स्वामीजी म्हणतात ," स्वतः ईश्वराची जागा घेऊन समाजाला हे करा हे करू नका असे आदेश मला द्यायचे नाहीत. रामाच्या सेतूवर अल्पशी वाळू आणून टाकणाऱ्या खारीप्रमाणे व्हावयाचे आहे. या अद्भुत राष्ट्रयंत्राने अनेक युगे कार्य केले आहे."
"राष्ट्र जीवनाची अद्भुत सरिता आपणासमोर आहे


इतिहास आणि भारतीय राष्ट्रजीवन
तरुणांना उद्दीपित करण्याच्या कार्यात विवेकानन्न्दांच्या मते आपल्या राष्ट्राचा दैदिप्यमान इतिहास आणि संस्कृती महत्वाची भूमिका बजावतील. आपल्या भारत यात्रेत स्वामीजी ,दक्षिण टोकाला गेले तेंव्हा कन्याकुमारी च्या पुढील बेटावरून (विवेकानंद शिळा ) त्यांना भारताचे दर्शन घडले त्याने त्यांचे मन उचंबळून आले कि मी किती सुदैवी आहे जो मी या सुंदर भारतभूमीत जन्माला आलो …स्वामीजी आपल्या तरुण भारत पुत्रांना हीच अनुभूती देऊ इच्छितात .

खरच आपण सुदैवी आहोत कि आपण इतक्या प्राचीनतम धर्माचा अंश आहोत , इतक्या सृजनशील संस्कृतीचा भाग आहोत आणि वीरत्व आणि ज्ञान जिच्या ठायी ठायी आहे अशा मातीत आम्ही जन्म घेतला आहे . एक राष्ट्र म्हणून आपल्या जडण घडणीचा जो सुंदर आणि श्रीमंत असा प्राचीन इतिहास लाभला आहे तसा खचितचकुणास लाभला नाही … रोमची संस्कृती प्राचीन मात्र लौकिकार्थाने एक राष्ट्र म्हणून ते आज जिवंत नाही … तीच बाब ग्रीकच्या राष्ट्राची … भारतात मात्र दोन हजार वर्षांपासून एकच अखंड प्रवाह चालू आहे … त्यात अनेक स्थित्यंतर झाली मात्र या बदलांमध्ये सुसूत्रतेचा जो धागा आहे तो तुटला नाही . यालाच स्वामीजी राष्ट्र सरिता म्हणतात . " हि जी राष्ट्र सरिता आपणासमोर वाहत आहे नव्या जुन्या हजारो प्रकारच्या घटनांनी तिला गती मिळत आली आहे. राष्ट्र जीवनाच्या विकासासाठी ज्या गोष्टी आवश्यक त्या त्याला द्या…."


समाजातील दोष दूर कसे कराल ?

स्वामीजी सकारात्मक दृष्टीने म्हणतात, "कि दोष प्रत्येक समाजात असतात. जसे आपल्यात आहेत तसे पाश्चीमात्यांमध्येही आहेत. आपल्याडे दैन्य आहे तर तिकडे अतिरेक आहे. दु:ख हे सर्वत्र आहे. ते अंगी मुरलेल्या संधीवाताप्रमाणे पायातून घालवले तर मस्तकाकडे जाते. त्यामुळे दु:खावर वरवरचे उपाय शोधून उपयोग नाही. आपले तत्वज्ञान सांगते कि चांगले आणि वाईट यांची युती नित्याचीच सून त्या एकाच नाण्याच्या दोन बाजू आहेत . हे ध्यानात घेऊन समाजातील दोष दूर करण्यासाठी हे कार्य प्रत्यक्ष न करता लोकांस शिक्षण देऊन अप्रत्यक्षरीत्या केले पाहिजे .


सामाजिक सुधारणा

स्वामीजी म्हणतात , "अगोदर सामाजिक सुधारणा हवी असणारे लोक तयार करा। दोषांची जाणीव मुठभर लोकांनाच झाल्याने सर्व राष्ट्र क्रियाशील होणार नाही. प्रथम राष्ट्र सुशिक्षित करा , नंतर कायदे निर्माण करू शकतील असे लोक निर्माण करा , कायदे आपोआप निर्माण होतील . म्हणून सामाजिक सुधार्नेस्तव लोकांना शिक्षण देणे आवश्यक आहे …"

अविचारी सुधारणा करू नका
स्वामीजी म्हणतात "रक्तातील अविचारीपणा घालवा आणि शांत व्हा. इतिहास साक्षी आहे कि अविचारी सुधारणा करण्याचा यत्न झाला तेथे तेथे त्यांचा हेतू पूर्णपणे निष्फळ झाला. केवळ निंदा करून काय साध्य होणार ? लोक म्हणत आहेत व्याख्याने खूप ऐकली, पुष्कळ संस्था पहिल्या वृत्त्पत्रे हवी तेवढी चाळली, पण आम्हास वर काढू शकेल असा हात कुठे आहे? खरे खरे प्रेम असणारी व्यक्ती कुठे आहे? "

स्वामीजींनी सुधारणा वरवरच्या नकोत, मुळापासून हव्यात याचा आग्रह धरला आहे. ते म्हणतात "अनेक सुधारणावादी चळवळी शोभेच्या ठरल्या . सर्व चळवळी पहिल्या दोन वर्णांशीच संबंधित ठेवल्या आहेत . म्हणून स्वामीजी सांगतात सुधारणा मुळापासून येउद्या प्रज्वलित करा आणि त्याला पसरू द्या, म्हणजे भारतीय राष्ट्र निर्माण होइल…

निर्भय व्हा
स्वामीजी तरुणांना सांगतात 'सिंहाप्रमाणे व्हा . निर्भय व्हा . ते म्हणतात भारताचा काही एक संदेश निर्भयपणे पाश्चिमात्य देशांना दिला . तुम्ही निडरपणे तुमचे कार्य पुढे न्या.
ते पुढे सांगतात , "तुम्हाला आर्थिक , शारीरिक अध्यात्मिक दृष्ट्या दुर्बल करणारे जे काही आहे त्याचा विषाप्रमाणे त्याग करा."
स्वामीजींच्या स्वप्नातील तरुण असा आहे ज्याच शरीर काम्बिप्रमाणे असेल आणि मन वज्राप्रमाणे असेल. ते म्हणतात, तुमचे मज्जातंतू शक्तीसंपन्न करा . आपल्याला लोखंडा प्रमाणे स्नायू हवे आहेत. आता रडणे पुरे . आता आपल्या पायावर राहा .


देशाविषयी तळमळ
देशभक्त होण्याची पहिली म्हणजे देशाविषयी प्रचंड तळमळ, दुखाविषयी कळकळ.
"तुमच्या देशवासीयांचे दैन्य पाहून तुमच्या हृदयाला पीळ पडतो काय?देशाच्या दुर्दशेच्या चितेने तुम्हाला ग्रासून टाकले आहे काय?आणि या चिंतेने ग्रासल्यामुळे तुम्हाला तुमचे कुटुंब , घर , संपत्ती तुमचे शरीर याचाही विसर पडला काय? देशभक्त होण्याची हि पहिली पायरी आहे .
लोकांना शिव्याशाप देण्याऐवजी त्यांना खरच मरणोन्मुख अवस्थेतून बाहेर काढू शकता का? देशभक्त होण्याची हि दुसरी पायरी आहे .
आणि सर्व जग खड्ग घेऊन उभे राहले तरी तुम्हाला वाटते ते करण्याचे धैर्य तुमच्यात आहे काय?
तुमच्याकडे या तीन पायर्या असतील तर तुमच्यापैकी प्रत्येकजण अचाट काम करून दाखवेल ."

विवेकानंदांनी एका सक्षम समर्थ देशाचे स्वप्न पाहिले . तो काळ इंग्रजांचा सुर्य भारतावर पूर्ण भारत तळपण्याचा होता . त्यामुळे विवेकानंदांना त्यांच्या भारत भ्रमणात हृदयद्रावक दृश्य दिसले असेल . मात्र दुर्दैवा,ने काही ठराविक उल्लेख गाळला तरी विवेकानंदांनी सांगितलेली परिस्थिती बदलली नहिय. मात्र स्वमिजींनीच सांगितल्याप्रमाणे शिव्याशाप आणि निंदा करण्याचे स्वभाव टाकून अवघ्या लोकास शिक्षित करून काम केले पाहिजे .

विवेकानंदांचे स्वप्न आजच्या काळातही तितकेच समर्पक आहे म्हणजेच अपूर्णही राहिले आहे. हे स्वप्न पूर्ण करण्याची जबाबदारी आपली - आजच्या तरुणांची आहे .


विवेकानंदांच्याच शब्दात सांगू गेलो तर -
"माझ्या संतानांनो, आपले हे राष्ट्र्रूपी जहाज लाखो जीवांना भवसागरातून पार करण्याचे कार्य करीत आले आहे ।पण आज कदाचित आपल्या प्रमादामुळे हे जहाज थोडे नादुरुस्त झाले आहे ,त्यात काही छिद्रे पडली आहेत, म्हणून काय त्याला शिव्याशाप देणार आहात?जर या राष्ट्र्रूपी जहाजाला काही छिद्रे पडली असतील तर ती आपण -संतान्नानी बुजवून टाकली पाहिजेत । हे कार्य आपण हृदयाचे रक्त देऊन आनंदाने करूयात आणि जर जमले नाही तर मरण पत्करुयात. "
हर्षद माने
प्रबोधक
९९६७७०६१५०

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Street Dogs

Indian Culture is love and sympathy towards living creatures. We have always given love to animals. They form respectful place in our culture, tradition, belives, History and worships.

However, few problems we have to look from very practical angel.

Street Dogs is one of the important topics. Man is animal who has always lived with other animals even cruel and dangerous. But living with dogs has become untolerable these days. Street dogs carry unlimited nuisance of their barking and also a great threat to the residents specially kids of dog biting. There have been few instances of loosing lives due to attacks by dogs.

Now we all well know, that Supreme court on one writ gave judgement not to kill dogs, respecting their right to life. We accept and respect both, their right and Supreme court's decision. We also respect the sentiments of the petitioner. but then what about our right to life?

The problem has really arising serious issue in urban lives. There have been many street dogs on each road. They quarral with themselves, or while you walk you dont know who and when they will start barking at you and then immediately everyone looks at you like his/her enemy.

Their approach is right but person is wrong. But who will tell them? Now what can be the answer to this question! BMC cant kill them. But we can ofcourse raise voice with BMC. This is of course something our right to live with fredom, without fear or fear of life or injury. Secondly, I could see many dog lovers offering biscuits or other food to these dogs. I can understand their love. But roads are not meant to be homes of dogs. They are meant to walk, stand right?

I request all such lovers, please if you can adopt any of those, or create a solution, which will allow them to live with dignity and also the residents around the streets. We understand dogs are important, but human beings too...right?

Sunday, March 20, 2011

I have the right…

From last few days I have been working on developing a curriculum of ‘Human Rights and Law’ for one institute in Thane. When I spoke with the Chairman of Institute he explained. The syllabus should be such to cover points that people come across daily in normal life & people aren’t aware about it or don’t exercise the rights…

It was really good brainstorming job…its easy to write on WHO, UN and Women and Children. I had to think, what are the areas where we can say we have the rights? What are the related laws? While doing LLB, we lean 57 laws. It’s important to select few provisions in each covering all the facets in all the areas. Thanks to my intelligent friends I could develop the curriculum, and while developing it I realised we don’t exercise even 10% of available rights.

Let’s start with Constitutional Rights. The fundamental rights which we can enforce in courts. Right to profess, right to travel, right to speak. We are democratic nation with rule of law. The Indian judiciary is well developed and fundamentally a different body than our executives. This has been really a beauty of our constitution. This is why today Supreme Court can raise questions to PM for Raja and Thomas. In India, law and order is very fine if not the perfect. We Indians can enjoy the fundamental rights generally. However, as compared to US, we people are not so up to the mark about our rights. We are not so demanding. We don’t raise voices and make the government bend down. Yesterday, I met Pradeep Lokhande, founder of Rural Relations. He was telling about neutral nature of people in villages…” they don’t get water for three days, they can’t take a bath but no one raises voice…” No need to justify they are illiterate. We so called literate people accept injustice in the name of “Chalta he yar…”, “yahape time kisko he…”…Its really been so ridiculous, we fight in train if someone puts leg on our feet…we fight for fourth seat, we feel insulted when people rush to catch train and we don’t say anything when politicians ruin our lives, when a girl in next door been raped, when someone is killed on corner in India…or even when people seek bribe to give you a domicile certificate, when for hours we suffer load shading….

What kind of literate we people are?

It was when Raj Thackeray spoke against outsiders coming in Mumbai and ruining the culture, there was voice from Sanjay Nirupam and etc. regarding Article 19 and right to travel, reside and profess anywhere in India…Yes right. Constitution gives you right to go anywhere and reside, profess but not to interfere and spoil the local culture. No one, even constitution gives you right to make political statements. This is what Constitution called “REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS”. It was amazing that neither government spoke anything on it neither the people fighting took any stand based on this provision.

When they referred constitution, we people had to accept even though we might be agreeing to point raised by Raj Thackeray, we might think yes Constitution gives right and talking against it is breaching fundamental rights.( I used the word ‘we’ because there has been same degree of hatred in Delhi, South and Goa on same fact) But actually, this is not the case. Even Constitution provides circumstances when Judiciary and Government can put some restrictions based on justifiable grounds which I think was available had it been rightly advocated.

Constitution gives us right of environment and living with liberty. I am not talking big things like preventive detention. When a person spits on road, doesn't he spread pollution? Is this not against my right of environment? Why I should be compelled to walk on road full of red spots? Isn't it against right to live with dignity? People throw garbage on road, Street dogs and pigs sheets on road, there is bad smell in muhallas, lack of cleanliness around my house, people shamelessly sit on train tracks in morning and we people don’t complain. We have been suffering this for ages and we don’t ask anyone to stop this. Count in your daily life when we get annoyed by such events, which actually breach our rights. But we have accepted it without any reason. We expect Municipality, and government to do something, when we are not aware of our rights, how we expect them to be aware of their duties?

Today women are surely not living a great life. Not in villages but not in urban too. Her wishes and mind were never respected by male dominated society. But coward practices of abusing and harassing women sexually, physically and mentally are still continued in today’s India. RAPE…the most ridiculous offence on the earth still continues. News of kidnapping, raping and killing of girls of15 and below are found once in two days. Each girl in this nation faces ugly eyes of males, postures and even unwarranted, undesired touches every day thousands of times. Molestation is not new to them while traveling, working, with friends, at strange places everywhere. Family tortures are big things found in almost 90% homes yes even white collared well mannered homes even in urban, even from most educated people. …in different forms and intensities…

Has it become part of our life? Are we living in any unmannered society? Our culture is to respect women, not abusing them. Why women don’t raise voice against all these things? Why still everyday they ignore molestations? Can’t they just slap a person who tries to touch them? I have my few friends did it & I m very proud of them. Can’t women raise voice and compel the government, society, judiciary to take serious steps to stop rape Crimes? I mean this is so shameful to be in nation where every woman lives fear for her dignity and person? Why the hell still women couldn't live a safe, fearless life in this nation?

Today too white coloured people harass women in offices and in at home. Women too bear everything that comes into their life in the name of destiny. Though now there has been increasing voices, we also know they are not sufficient. What’s ridiculous, the tolerance is not from the illiterate women, they are the urban, most educated and from self mannered homes and societies. Still they don’t feel its injustice with their dignity and liberty. If someone feels deprived, you can help them, the frustrating thing is today women don’t feel being insulted or deprived by the ill behavior of society with them. Things have to be first changed from their side…

There have been basic laws that been breached to disallow us our rights. Traffic! Today in Mumbai rickshaw and Taxi Drivers roam like kings. They deny us to come somewhere where they don’t want to come. This is their discretion. This is ridiculous, why we have been tolerating this for years? If meter is FOR HIRE, they are obliged to come where we tell them. Today you go to any place, we ask them..”Bhaisahab chaloge kya?” Why the polite question? Why don’t we directly sit and say, “Chalo…”We should learn to respect our rights.

ts when we go to any office, government, judiciary…we tend to give him bribe. Isn't it anything against our right to live with liberty? But we assume that without this no work is possible. Corruption has become part of our life. Who’s fault is this? Politicians. We know they are our representatives. Its their duty to serve this nation. To serve us. But for over Sixty years we are seeing, there has been decreasing morals of politics and no one is exception. But why cant we fight for our Right for good governance? For years we know that they are corrupted, they are selfish, they are liars and they tend to use everything for their own benefit. They did make us fight, they set fire in Hindu Muslims, they did corruption to provide inferior infrastructure to us, they supplied inferior defense material to cause tolls of innocent army men. They used our lacks of crores Rupees to give favors to telecom companies, to builders…and everyone is involved. Today we expect that all scams should come in picture and open, Swiss bank money should come in India, we expect those people to take actions who have committed wrong. Is it possible in next 7000 years to come? Why we people don’t become demanding and pressuring those inactive bullshits? Why don’t we take things into our hand like what happened in Libya and Saudi. Isn't it our right that we shall get good food, water and power? 80 % of Indians have been denied. What have we got in last 60 years? But importantly why we even those who are not direct victims, raise voice?

While voting we have right to caste vote, “no one is eligible…”. Imagine today elections fetch 40 % voting. Means 60% people don’t like the candidates or they don’t find it interesting to even bother to vote. IS it what democracy works? Everyone then blames voter about not voting. Why to vote? Then cant we exercise the option that no one is eligible. Imaging what will happen if in election results it has been declared that voting is 90% and 60 % voted no one is eligible. Will not be the right slap to politicians and perfect reflection of our anger for last 60 years?

What is very important is we should be demanding and even stubborn for our rights. If we don’t respect them, why others will? I used this word so many times but this is so ridiculous that these are basic things, if we start using them, without any special steps from government, our life will become easy and more beautiful!

It’s YOU who should now act, not they!

-HARSHAD MANE

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I have a dream...

When I could see no tear...

when no one will live in fear..

When life will be a heavenly trip..
When no one’ll’ve empty sleep...

When forms will not have columns for creed and race...
when Sex difference’ll not found after lengthy trace...

When Guns will be used only in fair...
and terror will be only in witch's hair...

When beggars could wear caps of feathers..
When prayers will be sung for wellbeing of others..

When equality and Law will flow in blood..
When Love and compassion will fall like flood....

When Farmers will smile like harvest season...
when social help will require no special reason...

When capitalists will urge for profitable Marxism...
when workers will speak about happy capitalism..

When politics will not be synonym for mud...
and Social work’ll not become page 3 curd..

When busy cities’ll breath fresh healthy air...
and villagers’ll also drink 'mocha 'with creamy layer...

When history will be learned to solve futures' mystery
and present is lived to create another history..

I dream a day…
When I could see my nation and say...

This is what I dreamt....!!!
-Harshad Mane

Monday, February 28, 2011

Beta maine Paan Khaya he...Kaha thuke?

“Jogeshwari?”

I took rickshaw from my clients office to home. Very rarely rickshawalas ready to come without any question or disguised face.

He didn’t ask and said "baitho…"

It was just few seconds, he ‘delivered’ a great spit of Pan on road…

It was enough big to cover substantial radius…

I said... (as I usual) “kyu raste pe thukte ho uncle…kyu rasta ganda karte ho…”

He didn’t respond…neither looked back…so rude!

Surprisingly after few minutes he did it again…

Without linking to previous one and taking on my ego…I asked him

same question…”Uncle aise raste pet thunkna acchi bat he kya?”

Now he turned back…generally people make ugly face to convey sorry…

I was expecting either same or an arrogant answer…

He asked interesting question… “beta maine pan khya he ..kaha thunku…?”

Question was rational!…obvious question came into my mind..phir pan kyu

khate ho…? I didn’t want to attack on Article 21 of Constitution…

So I asked..”pan khao..lekin kone me thuko...aise road kyu gande karte ho…”

He turned back and said…”waise aap ka kahna sahi he….!!! This was height…!

No rickshawala take me so seriously… (feel good)..lekin kya he na beta aadat

pad gayi he…

I realised this is one in blue moon…its really a great experience to talk

to rickshawalas during your journey…they are practical guys…they don’t live

on white colored philosophies and apparent show offs of cultures…

They live actual life…I could sense a great listening experience for next

30 minutes…its necessary, because if I want to do something for people, I

ought to listen grass root thoughts of these real people…

I thanked for being seated in this rickshaw…

“waise aapka kehna sahi he..lekin aadat pad gayi he…raste pe thukna apne

aap ho jata he…”

“Aapki jo generation he na beta..wo agar sudhar leti he to agle 10-15 salome

jo he ….. (he also had to see front..he was driving)…log pan khana band

kar denge..aur phir raste pe nahi thukenge…lekin hamari jo pidhi he na

use badalna muskil he…sadiyose kuch cheej karte ate he..wo badalna

mushkil he…”

He made a well point.

“Abhi aapne kaha …hame sahi laga…apni galti lagi..do teen din jo he hum

galti nahi karenge…lekin uske bad fires raste pe thukenge…”

Confession!They are real people with no show off…they speak what is real…

I chose not to comment. Every thing need not be opposed.

“Ab hamare gao me he na beta…pan khana accha mana jata he…”

I guessed his gaon…” daru pina ashuddh mana jata he…to log daru

nahi pite….lekin pan khate he…ab ye aadat lag gayi he…to yaha aake bhi

chalu he…”

I said after letting him completing sentence…” lekin aap hi bolo uncle…aapke

gao me daru pina accha nahi samjha jata…ab jaise kisi samaj me daru pina

bura nahi he…lekin agar koi aadmi daru pike rastepe leta rahe to accha he

kya?... he though and said…”aapki bat sahi he…”

It was an acceptance without any counter statement…

“jo karma he aapke ghar me karo na…raste me kyu?...”

Rickshaw took highway and he came on point...

“ye sirf ek hi karan band ho sakta he…agar …….. me raste pe thuku aur char

log mujhe dekhe…aur unke saamne mujhe thukne ko sharam ati he..mera

man bolta he nahi inke samne nahi thukna he…jaise aapke liye mujhe laga…

(he actually didn’t spit thereafter..though he had great liquid treasure in

his mouth…I appreciate it!) tohi…ye adapt badal sakti he…


This is a great theory…really…and I shall keep in mind…

So true…I don’t commit any wrong, if I fear to do it in front of those whom

I respect…and think..wo kya sochenge…!!!”

We should create culture where people will start respecting each other

and scaring to commit any wrong thinking, if they feel what will they think

for me….!

“lekin ye Mumbai me nahi hota….” Yaha pe sabhi aisa karte he…koi kisi ko

kuch nahi bolta…” he was damn right.We people have assumed many things

and stop complaining…everyone knows what wrong he is doing but doesn’t feel

so because he knows its not regarded as wrong by others.

“gaon me sandas nahi hote…log dur jate he..kyu? kyonki wo darte he..gaon

ke kisine dekh liya to?.... Mumbai me aap mujhe jaha chahe bolo…me

peshab karunga…yaha bolo waha bolo…kyunki koi kuch nahi bolta…”

He pointed right solution…

Saint Dnyaneshwar while describing ideal society in pasaydan says…

Ishwarnishthanchi mandiyali betatu bhuta||

Chala kalptarunche arav | chetana chintamaninche gav | bolate je

arnav piyushanche.||

There should be groups of wise people be roaming on earth…and they

should meet people…not single wise person but groups of wise people…

We really need to build groups of wise and gentle people in society…to

whom people will respect and scare of doing any wrong thing…to whom

people will regard their behavior responsible to…who would keep check

on behavior of society.

We discussed then on difference between UP and Bihari…Biharis destroyed

the culture he said…”wo sab ganda karte he…” lekin log kahte he

“ Bhaiyane ganda kiya…”

“hum pandit he…hamare gav me hum panditi karte he…mere pardada

kahte he…….Jab koyle ka engine tha tab hum gadi se utarte the to log

hamare pav padte the…Pundit aya… diesel ka engine aaya to logone dekhna

band kiya…ab electric engine aya to kehte he “Sala bhaiya aaya…!” (he used

three types of engines to denote changes in time…)

Logonki galti nahi he…unke liye sab ek jaisehi dikhte he…lekin dekho to

bolneki tone me farak he…

35 minutes of conversation…I think was more important for me, that I felt

to reduce in writing and share it with you …sometimes I feel myself fortunate

to be somewhere, I experience something very unique never before and

which lasts with me or make my thinking process…

That conversation was such…

When I gave him money we both pranam each other…milke accha laga!!!

He really gave me a new way of solution to work upon the old problem.

-Harshad Mane

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Attitude….

We, are looking forward for becoming Superpower by 2020. We are looking for financial and economic strength that the world should recognize this nation as the power house.

When we speak of superpower, it doesn't mean only economic strength but also political and international recognition.

This is not just the battle of growth rates and wealth creation, but who can project it as boss to the world and world will feel respectful fear for the country.

Now the question if we think for becoming superpower, are we considering ourselves as superpower? If we want the world to consider us as the strongest nation, do we are considering ourselves as strong? If we want the world to recognize us, we should recognize our self first.

“If you want world to consider as king, you first should start behaving like king.”

This is a well known and accepted phenomenon. Unless we start behaving and showing the world that we are the boss, the world will never recognize. This is the matter of attitude. Attitude doesn't mean overconfidence. I am not talking of showing off your abilities. But there is a fine line of what you have and what you can project. If you can’t tell the world that you have something, your finest ability might be underestimated. Or people might not recognize you as the best, even though they are aware about your strengths. This is not showing off your ego, but yes believing on yourself and that belief reflects in you behavior. You should therefore first start behaving like a king; the world eventually accepts your superiority.

The question of our attitude came forward in few instances.

It was when Michael Jackson came in India. We got crazy. It has been really point of research that what exactly we are crazy about them. Its fine about their excellence, but don’t we sometime have blind faith? Do we still get away with white skin? This has been always the case, even today, there are people, who blindly believe what white people do is right. They are carried away by their words, even sometimes their presence. I have seen it in Corporates, in dramas where I have been in contact with such people and could see the reactions of other Indians. We still get hypnotized though, thankfully, the proportion has been lowered.

People went crazy; I remember there was one dinner organized by some organizer. People had to pay 1Lakh to have dinner with MJ. I heard that he just came had one spoon and went away…this is the attitude they have about us. And we still feeling blessed when they smile at us! We are still leaving in psychological slavery.

The recent instance was Mr. and Mrs. Obama visit. The visit was good. It carries importance. But it was really shocking the weight age that Indian media gave to every move of Mr. Obama. He came, he sat in car, now he left for Taj…It was a important event and you should give it due prominence. But why so undue importance?

Actually the purpose of visit of Mr. Obama was begging. He knows how strategically and economically important is India. He knows India has ability to lend helping hand and that’s for he was here. He has meeting with businessmen; meeting with Mr. PM. This is what he was for. But look at the attitude with which he was living in India. It was attitude of being first person of superpower of the world. Today even though US is living in all time of Economic crisis, with lowering growth rate and increasing unemployment. Even people of US are not satisfied with working of Obama. But we are mad for him. He had a chat with youngsters in Mumbai. It was definitely an attempt of creating soft corner for him. I liked the attitude with which these young people asked questions. You might be anyone, but there are certain questions we have about your and your nation’s behavior. We are the citizens of tomorrow’s superpower. And what was India’s current politicians. He was speaking with such a confidence. Our PM was looked lacking of it. We somewhere were down on knee before him. We should have behaved with him in a way that please forget all your US ego…and treat India on equity. We are of your status and please don’t forget you came here because it was your need. While he went with 50,000 employment and million $ agreements, its really a question what India gained out of it.

Now, we are becoming stronger financially day by day. We should understand our own strengths and the attitude now should reflect in our behavior. We should now start putting our demand more aggressively. Now the world knows that India is becoming superpower. We have big market with us. This is no longer our liability which others will exploit like east India Company. We are not a poor nation like in 17th Century. Now, world knows we should treat India with utmost respect.

But we should look ourselves beyond what world is looking. We should gain the position of US. It’s not only financially strong but it has tremendous say in International politics, World Bank, UN. US attacked Afghanistan in the name of fighting against terrorism and world could say nothing even understanding the dadagiri of US. What if India today attacks Pakistan? We tomorrow have to reach the position where, world had to lift their head up to see India. And if we want to create such a respect in the mind of world, we should have recognition of our powers and behave with attitude…!!!

- Harshad Mane

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Something interesting about SWISS BANKS …

Rudolf Elmer is a former employee of Swiss bank Julius Bär. He worked for the bank for close to two decades, the last position being overseeing the Caribbean operations of the bank for eight years until his dismissal in 2002.He came to prominence as whistleblower in 2008 when he gave secret documents to WikiLeaks detailing the activities of Julius Bär in the Cayman Islands and alleged tax. Before that, he was arrested in 2005 for 30 days. He was convicted in Switzerland in January 2011 and rearrested immediately after for having distributed illegally obtained data to WikiLeaks early in January 2011. Julius Bär alleges that Elmer has doctored evidence to suggest the tax evasion.

The question of black money after evading tax landed in Swiss bank is very old and has been discussed not only in India but also in US, UK and Germany. This money includes the money of politicians in India, Mafias, smuggling, even money of various Hollywood actor and actresses.

The actual number of Account holder and money dumped is only available with SWISS Banks (Which Elmer and WikiLeaks claim to have).

To provide such information to foreigner is offence in SWISS. Hence, Elmer might be arrested and trialed or even killed.

There is huge money coming from India and Pak to there. Indians have deposits of $1789 trillion in SWISS Banks as per report of Swiss Banking association (India Aboard magazine).

As per Global Financial Integrity (association), every year 51 Lacs Crores of Tax evasion takes place in India and Pak.

SWISS Banks have all the protection of SWISS Government. Banks provide 15% of GDP. Hence, Government doesn’t interfere into business of Banks. They are secured by the Swiss Bank Secrecy Laws which actually provides that Banks are under no obligation to any one even the government to disclose the information regarding bank Accounts or account holders.

However, if someone has any complaint, it can be made to Banks ombudsman. India however has not made any complaint (or not felt till!).

USA however has made some serious check on this uncontrolled system. US citizen requires clearance from US revenue department to open Account in SWISS BANK.(Indians don’t require it).US has even forced SWISS Banks to freeze the Accounts of Al-Quida and other extremist groups in Iraq.All such information was provided to US government.

Indian Government however, did not feel necessary to have such check on Banks even though there is such a huge amount of Black money involved. Infact, SWISS Banks to don’t give any value to India even though India is their biggest customer.

Interesting facts of SWISS Bank Account

· Swiss Banks don’t look at credibility of the person to open account. With 5000-25000 Swiss francs any one can open the account, even an insolvent. Some Banks however don’t allow normal person to open account. Only person with good reputed name can open an account.

· There are three types of Bank Accounts:

1. Classic 2. Premium 3. Corporate and 4. Numbered

Of course forth account is used for dumping Black money. For forth account, the account holder is known by that number (code) only. No one even Banks don’t know the name of that person. Even that number is known to very few of the Bank officers. All the transactions take place by the account number only.

· Once open an account, you can do transactions through net banking. You can withdraw money through international Debit and Credit card anywhere in the world.

· In some banks however, opening of Account is not easy. Some banks enquire huge minimum Balance. These banks provide portfolio Management services as well.

· UBS and Credit Suisse are two biggest Swiss banks having almost 50% of total deposits in SWISS BANKS.

- Harshad Mane