Smart Indian

I am pro automobile
… and my AAA membership doesn’t stop me from respecting
- stop signs
- traffic signals
- speed limits
- need for driver’s licenses
- respecting and saving lives

Say NO to reckless driving

Say NO to unregulated free-flow of guns!

The Idea

This short story is about the love of a man who lives far away from his home in India. The readers find him going on morning walk with his wife who came from India to see him. The story is told as chat between the two.

What Makes This Story ‘Real’ 

Life is really strange. A normal morning walk or a mundane discussion turns into an extraordinary revelation. The end of the story is as if the reader’s hands have accidentally touched a live electric wire. Something that sounds like normal discussion has never turned into something so shocking before.

Extract 

Man, “Your company fills my life with joy.” 

Woman, “I can travel distant lands just by meditation.”

Man, “What you call meditation is nothing but daydreaming. You can imagine anything just by closing your eyes.”

Woman, “No! Trust me, everything is possible with meditation. Look, I am here in front of you. At the same time I’m present in Haridwar Ashram at Swami Ji’s feet with help of spiritual practice.” 

Man, “That ugly grampa …. Why does he always come between you and me?” 

Woman, “you are jealous of him? Right?”

Man, “I love you but I’ve no reason to be jealous of anybody else …” 

Woman, “You are! Because you’re jealous by nature. Remember, there’s no cure for your problem.”

Man, “Why are you so upset? What did I say?”

Woman, “What didn’t you say. You keep saying so much all the time. You treat me like a brainless person. As if I can’t differentiate between right and wrong. As if my spirituality is fake. As if  yoga, meditation etc. has no value. Above all you call Swami ji a fraud.”

Man, “Of course! I always tell truth. You are not here because of meditation. You are here, because both of us went to US Embassy to secure visa for you. And, then I bought air tickets for you. And, then Air India plane brought you here. You’ll have to understand the difference between fantasy and reality.”

Woman: “You are talking as if you understand everything. Do you know that this world is just a dream?”

Man, “You have lost your mind completely.”

… [there is more to it beneath the surface] 

( °ʖ ͡°)

Over 50 villagers of Ghogal Aawan village in Khandwa district of the central state of Madhya Pradesh state are standing neck deep in waters of administrative apathy and inhuman policies of the government day and night for last 17 days.

The village is one of those which will be submerged due to a government decision of raising the height of the neighboring Omkareshwar dam on Narmada river. Unlike many violent protests common in India, these villagers have decided to protest quietly by standing in water.

Surprisingly, these villagers are not opposing the dam. They are even willing to sacrifice their land to help increasing the capacity of the dam which has already swallowed several villages. All they want is rehabilitation before the village is submerged. Too much to ask? It seems that the government administration and the politicians in India have alienated themselves so much from the people that even the most genuine requirements are not considered unless there are violent protests in streets.

There have been teams from the district administration, state government and even from the federal government but all in vein because no responsible authority at any level has yet responded in a manner to resolve the dispute by providing proper compensation and rehabilitation before sinking the houses, farms and other property. 

- जल सत्याग्रह - मध्य प्रदेश का घोगल ग्राम