Pak knows it all, yet 'not being sincere' on 26/11, says India

New Delhi: Taking cognizance of media reports about Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) releasing an updated ‘book on Most Wanted / High Profile Terrorists', India on Thursday (Nov 12) said the list makes it clear that Islamabad "possesses all the necessary information and evidence" on the conspirators and facilitators of the Mumbai terror attack based in that country. 

"It is a fact that the 26/11 terror attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan’s  territory," MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava told reporters here.

He said: "We have seen media reports in Pakistan about FIA releasing an updated ‘book on Most Wanted / High Profile Terrorists’ listing several Pakistani nationals involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. While the list includes a select few members of the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, a UN designated terror entity based in Pakistan, including the crew members of the boats used to execute the 26/11 attack, it glaringly omits the mastermind and key conspirators of the heinous terror attack".

The MEA spokesman said, "The Government of India has repeatedly called on the Government of Pakistan to give up its obfuscation and dilatory tactics in discharging its international obligations in the Mumbai terror attacks trial". 

"Several other countries have also called upon Pakistan to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the dastardly terror attacks to justice. It is a matter of serious concern that, despite its own public acknowledgement as well as the availability of all necessary evidence, including that shared by India, Pakistan is yet to show sincerity in delivering justice to the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe, even as we near the 12th anniversary of 26/11 attacks," he said.

The dastardly terror siege of Mumbai city had taken place on November 26 in 2008.

Media reports said that Pakistan's top investigative authority, the FIA has identified Muhammad Amjad Khan of Multan who was involved in the purchase of the boat Al Fouz involved in the 2008 terror attack. Muhammad Amjad Khan has been listed in the over 880-page long list. 

Amjad, according to reports, also purchased a Yamaha Motor boat engine, life jackets, inflatable boats from ARZ water sport, Karachi, later used in the attacks on India's financial centre. 

The list also mentions 9 crew members of the boats used in the Mumbai terror attack. They are Muhammad Usman from Sahiwal district, Ateeq-Ur-Rehman from Lahore district, Riaz Ahmad from Hafizabad,  Muhammad Mushtaq from Gujranwala district, Muhammad Naeem from Dera Ghazi Khan district, Abdul Shakoor from Sargodha district, Muhammad Sabir from Multan, Muhammad Usman from Lodhran district,  Shakil Ahmad from Rahim Yar Khan district. All are members of the UN listed terror group Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, reports said.

Meanwhile, answering a question, MEA spokesman expressed concern on the conditions of minorities in Pakistan. 

"We have seen media reports of an 82-year-old Ahmadi man believed to have been shot and killed by some gunmen, apparently because of his faith, in Peshawar. This is, unfortunately, a sad reflection of the state of minorities in Pakistan," Srivastava said. 

He also said: "Over a period of time, we have seen the space for people from the minority community to practise their religion shrink continuously. Besides, their condition remains deplorable". India has been consistently raising the issue of the safety, security and well-being of minority communities with the Government of Pakistan, he said.

ends 

Moditva shines, Tejashwi fights it out: Congress singing "EVM bewafa ho gaya"

New Delhi: The big picture message from the just concluded series of by-polls across states and the crucial Bihar elections suggest in electoral management that there is no major competitor to the BJP and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity remains intact. 

"These election results show the dynamic presence of Prime Minister Modi at the national level across states," rightly remarked BJP national vice president Baijayant Jay Panda. In the first mass electoral fray after Covid19, more than once referred to as a referendum on the performance of the central government in handling the pandemic-related challenges, the BJP has thrived.

"Tejashwi calls Rahul Gandhi & says: MGB = Mar Gaye Bhai !! and I am saying it very seriously, yes all puns are very much intended," tweeted Union Minister Babul Supriyo from West Bengal. Of course, next round of fierce electoral battle will be in Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal itself.

Besides retaining Bihar along with its alliance partner Janata Dal (United), the BJP won in UP, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh and other states including Telangana and Manipur.

In Mr Modi's native state of Gujarat, the saffron party won all the eight Assembly seats for which by-elections were held. It also won six out of seven seats in Uttar Pradesh and 19 out of 28 seats in Madhya Pradesh, where the adverse by-polls outcome could have brought down the Shivraj Singh Chouhan ministry. It won four out of five seats in Manipur - a state where there is presence of significant number of Christian voters. Moreover, winning Bihar was not easy as Nitish Kumar faced a strong anti incumbency wave of 15 years (three terms) and the state was hit with recent floods, the Covid19 pandemic and was one of the worst hit Indian state by the woes of migrant workers during national lockdown enforced to combat coronavirus pandemic.

In contrast, let us shift the gear to the opposition camp, the nail-biting finish shows the BJP did put up a winning and commendable performance while the Congress chiefly suffered a major setback.

The RJD - of course - seems to retain its grip and picked up 75 seats to become single largest party. The Congress could win only 19 seats out of 70 seats it contested finally impacting the opposition alliance figures. As usually happens with the Congress leaders, they did not show humility in accepting the mandate and started blaming the EVMs and tried to look for other excuses for rejection by voters across India including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.

Many also think the Congress did not have solid ground to contest 70 seats as the party does not have much of organisational presence nor good candidates. Some of the blame for RJD-Congress poorer show also goes to the arrogance of Tejashwi Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav - cooling heels behind bars.

The smaller parties could have easily added to the strength of the Grand Alliance. The Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) parted ways at the last moment giving strategic and significant advantage to the NDA.

One notable factor in this year's polls has been LJP - now led by Late Ram Vilas Paswan's son Chirag - which has directly damaged JD(U) prospects in as many as 23-25 seats.

AIMIM of Asaduddin Owaisi was another major player which damaged opposition parties. The Hyderabad-based party picked up five seats and showed that it has made sizeable penetration in Kochadhaman, Kishanganj, Amour, Bahadurganj, Thakurganj and Jokihat areas in Seemanchal region.

During the campaign also, Owaisi's party chiefly attacked the RJD-Congress combine for neglecting Muslims' interest and the Seemanchal region. 

In terms of statistics, the BJP won 74 seats with over 60 per cent strike rate out of 110 seats it contested while Janata Dal-United won 43 seats. Two other smaller partners VIP and HAM contributed eight seats more for the alliance.

The opposition alliance formed by RJD and the Congress could manage only 110 seats though in a spirited fight RJD emerged the single largest party with 75 seats in its tally. RJD had contested 144 seats.

Rahul Gandhi visited Bihar during campaign trail four days and addressed a number of rallies. But the key factor in winning seats remains a far cry now for many years. The Congress joining hands with Akhilesh Yadav-ruled Samajwadi Party in 2017 in Uttar Pradesh too had not gone well with the voters.

As for the Left parties, CPI-M was given four seats, the CPI six and the CPI (ML), 19. The left parties put up a good strike rate winning 16 seats altogether with CPI(ML) showing its strong hold over the electorate in development starved Bihar. 

Wrap up:

India's next round of election battle will shift to communists-ruled Kerala, another southern state of Tamil Nadu and two other eastern state of Assam and West Bengal. These states go to the polls by April-May 2021. UP and Gujarat will go to the polls in March and November 2022 respectively.

The opposition parties need new ideas and one or two new faces. If RJD led by a youngster Tejashwi Yadav can win 75 seats and provide a challenge to the NDA, the opposition parties can certainly sweat it out more in other states. 

At the national level, the onus is on Congress to rediscover its vote winning capacities.

A dissent group of 23 leaders within the Congress had recently written to interim Congress chief  Sonia Gandhi pressing for sweeping reforms in the party. "If Congress is reconciled to the fact that it wants to live divorced from reality, it is for the Congress to decide," mocked Jyotiraditya Scindia, a former Congress leader who joined BJP last year.  

The opposition parties including the Left and the Congress have been extremely critical of the Modi government’s handling of the corona virus pandemic and steps taken to stall economic crisis, but the BJP is proving to be much more efficient in politics of electoral management and winning people's confidence.

Congress leader Udit Raj said : "The EVMs should go even if Congress wins. If one can control satellite on Moon and Mars from ground,then what is EVM in front of them? During recent Haryana polls, few boys were caught hacking EVMs through bluetooth. I am saying it for all polls, not just Bihar".

But another Congress leader and lawmaker Karti Chidambaram contradicted him. "I stand by it. There have been doubters of the EVM from across political parties, particularly when the results don’t go in their favour. Till now no has demonstrated scientifically their claims,” he said.

The BJP leaders too as expected dismissed these charges against abuse of EVM as a defeatists' saga and losers blaming the machines. "I have heard, EVMs are now the face of betrayal in love tale," tweeted BJP youth leader Amit Kumar Pandey in Hindi -- "Suna hae EVM bewafa ho gaya".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP and its alliance partner Janata Dal (United), a socialist-backed outfit, won 125 seats, three more than the simple majority needed to form a government in the 223-seat legislative house in Bihar.

The opposition alliance formed by state-based Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress could manage only 110 seats when results were declared on Nov. 11

Official records show that over 41 million voters decided 3,755 candidates' fate in a state that was hit with recent floods and the Covid-19 pandemic. Bihar was one of the worst-hit Indian states by the woes of migrant workers during a national lockdown enforced to combat Covid-19. Observers say the poll outcome showed the BJP's tact and ability to manage elections, especially in a state like Bihar that reflects India's religious diversity and ethnic and caste divisions.

Ends 

Modi takes a jibe at Pak & China: "Men of wisdom ride trends", says Xi Jinping

We should firmly support countries concerned in their law-based efforts to steadily advance major domestic political agenda, firmly support countries in safeguarding political security and social stability, and firmly oppose interference by external forces in the domestic affairs of SCO members under whatever pretexts. 

- Xi Jinping

New Delhi: It was a firm message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) virtual Summit on November 10.

“India has strong cultural and historical ties with Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries. Respecting one another’s sovereignty, territorial integrity should be a basic principle while enhancing connectivity,” Modi said in presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

For his part, Xi Jinping resorted to rhetoric trying to camouflage the real communist leadership intent vis-a-vis international politics. At one point, he even said - "Men of insight see the trend, while men of wisdom ride it" -- whatever that means. Even with regard the pandemic Covid19, which could have been easily called WuhanVirus, the Chinese President was at his oratorical best. "...we should step up anti-epidemic cooperation and build a community of health for us all. Right now, COVID-19 is still presenting an ongoing threat. To fight the virus that respects no borders, we must take up the most powerful weapon of solidarity and cooperation".

At the first virtual stage sharing between Modi and Xi Jinping since the Galwan crisis in June, Indian Prime Minister took a dig at China and said all member nations of the SCO should respect each others' territorial integrity. "Yeh ayeshak hae ki ek dusre ki samp-prabhuta aur territorial integrity ke mul sidhanto ke saath agey bara jae".

Mr Modi did not miss the opportunity to direct his tirade against Pakistani counterpart, Imran Khan, and said it is 'unfortunate' that there are unnecessary and repeated attempts to bring bilateral issues in the SCO agenda, which is in violation of the SCO Charter. 

In September, India had lambated Pakistan for abusing the SCO forum. India had staged a walkout of a virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) NSA meet on September 15 after Pakistan projected a ‘fictitious’ map claiming Junagadh and Kashmir as part of it's territory.

"Russia does not support what Pakistan has done and hopes that Pakistan’s provocative act will not affect India’s participation in the SCO....," a key government source had said. MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said responding to media queries that as expected, Pakistan subsequently "went on to present a misleading view of this meeting".

In his address on Nov 10, Prime Minister Modi stated that transition is a permanent feature in this world.

He called for adequate reforms at the UN and pointed out that the world body is still plagued with certain limitations. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin who presided the proceedings as the chair was seen noting down the points in the most part of Mr Modi's address. He was also seen giving a patient hearing to the Prime Minister's rotation basis 10-minutes speech.

Prime Minister Modi and President Xi of China will again be seen together at the BRICS virtual summit on November 17 and then in the G20 virtual summit on November 21. Calling for a “reformed multilateralism” that reflects today’s global realities, Modi suggested that countries also discuss topics such as “expectations of all stakeholders, contemporary challenges, and human welfare”.

“We expect full support from SCO member nations in this endeavour,” he said.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit sets the agenda and main directions for the next year. 

The virtual meeting on Tuesday was attended by the eight SCO members: Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

In his address, Russian President Putin said his country supports the idea of giving countries in need access to drugs and necessary goods. "We have two registered vaccines in Russia, and the trials have already confirmed that the vaccines are safe, there are no side effects, and they are efficient. A third vaccine is in the pipeline," he said.

"They are effective, the people who have been vaccinated and who have then had contact with people who have contracted the coronavirus have not contracted the coronavirus themselves, or they only have mild symptoms," Sputnik News quoted Putin as saying. Russia became the first country In August this year to register a vaccine against the coronavirus, called Sputnik V.

However, there have been some concerns over the Russian vaccine.

"We are ready for cooperation ... and we propose abstaining from politicisation, being guided by the fact that people across the planet need vaccines today. We are ready to work with any country in the world," Putin stressed.  

ends 

Finally Joe Biden elected US President, Kamala Harris will be first Black and Indian/South Asian vice president

Contrary to what is suggested in many anti-Narendra Modi quarters, Joe Biden has been a strong advocate of deepening US ties with India, even before and during his stint as Vice President in the Obama administration.

Congratulations

@JoeBiden

on your spectacular victory! As the VP, your contribution to strengthening Indo-US relations was critical and invaluable. I look forward to working closely together once again to take India-US relations to greater heights.

Joe Biden will announce a 12-person coronavirus-task force on Monday, two sources with knowledge tell CNN. The announcement is meant to signify how seriously the president-elect plans to focus on a pandemic that has reached a record number of daily infections in world's most powerful nation.

The task force will be headed by three co chairs: former surgeon general Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler and Yale University's Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith. The additional members are due to be announced on Monday.

The priority of the task force announcement underscores the urgency of the pandemic and Biden's intention to try and return the nation's attention to the virus. The group, along with Biden and Harris, plan to hold frequent televised briefings on the crisis, aides say.

(CNN reports say) 

On Friday, there were 126,480 daily new cases, per Johns Hopkins University data, the third straight day where the nation has surpassed 100,000 new cases and the highest day of reporting since the pandemic began.

Notably, Donald Trump had diminished the importance of the virus and often complained that it was taking up too much focus on the campaign trail -- even after he contracted it himself.

Despite Trump's comments that the virus would go away quickly and that the country was "rounding the corner," the pandemic has escalated.

Former US President Barack Obama said:

“We’re fortunate that Joe’s got what it takes to be President and already carries himself that way," former President Barack Obama said in a statement congratulating Joe Biden.

"When he walks into the White House in January, he’ll face a series of extraordinary challenges no incoming President ever has – a raging pandemic, an unequal economy and justice system, a democracy at risk, and a climate in peril,”  Obama said in a statement also seen making a veiled attack on the outgoing President Trump.

Few questions and issues at stake!

 What do US election results signify globally?

- How much difference Asians made in the US polls 2020 and how the final outcome would impact

  their fate?

-- How would US relations figure out with 'neo US rivals' China and countries like India and also

how would the US handle diplomatic tussle like trade with China or matters concerning Indo Pacific

and even US handling of Taliban/Afghanistan and Russia and the region?

“With #Trump’s fall, the wave of hate and intolerance will end not only in #America but also across the world. USA is moving towards ending one of the fiercest waves of hate in modern history,” civil rights activist and Nobel laureate Tawakkol Karman tweeted long before the results came in.

Modi woos Democrats - after his 'Trump sarkar' sloganeering at Houston!!

In a post congratulating Kamala Harris, the Prime Minister said: “Your success is pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for your chittis, but also for all Indian-Americans. I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership.”

On Sept 22, 2019, Modi had given a tactical but 'controversial' support to the candidature of Trump by his utterance - 'Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar'.

The slogan 'Abki Baar Trump Sarkar' was coined in 2016 by the Republican Hindu Coalition, which supported Trump and campaigned for him among the Indian-Americans.

Howdy Modi: And Trump Sept 2019

Will the Biden administration 'return' to the World Health Organization ???

Joe Biden says he's prepared to rejoin another international accord abandoned by President Trump - the deal that gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for scaling down its nuclear programme. 

The Trump administration withdrew in 2018, saying the arms control agreement was too narrow to cope with the threats posed by Iran, and too weak in its limits on nuclear activity, which expire over time.  It re-imposed sanctions and continues to pile on economic pressure, recently blacklisting almost all of Iran's financial sector. In response Iran has stopped observing some of the restrictions on its nuclear activity. (BBC) 

Kamala Harris factor ?

Some sections of the media said before the polls that the nomination of Kamala Harris, whose mother is a migrant Indian, as the Democrats' vice president candidate could sway substantial votes of Asian Americans against Republican President Donald Trump. Of course, social media discussion presented Harris' nomination as Joe Biden's running mate as the "blossoming of the American lotus," giving it a pro-Hindu tint.

The name Kamala in Sanskrit means lotus. Paradoxically, the lotus is also the electoral symbol of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Does discussion on the 'blossoming' of the American lotus really make much sense? Does it only show the eagerness of a politically motivated section in India to connect every success in the world with their party ?

Highlights of remarks from President elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Vice President elect

"Spread the faith...."says president elect Joe Biden.

I can define America in one word - 'possibilities': says #JOEBIDEN2020 

I am a proud Democrat but I will work as an American President: #JoeBiden

Let's give other a chance, says Joe Biden, quotes Bible and says this is the "time to heal".

We will make America respected again: Joe Biden

The work ahead will not be easy but America is ready.....: Kamala Harris

While I may be the first woman in the office of Vice President ...but I will not be the last: #KamalaHarris

#KamalaHarris remembers her mom in victory speech...The great #Indian connection

India summons Pak CDA to lodge ‘strong protest’ on Kartarpur Gurdwara row

 New Delhi: Pakistan is back to its old games. All its towering claims on pluralism and minorities rights are just hogwash.

Close on the heels of Pakistan government's decision to hand over management of Durbar Sahib Gurdwara in Kartarpur to a body without any Sikh representative, India on Friday (Nov 6) summoned Pakistan’s 

chargé d’affaires Aftlab Hussain Khan to lodge a protest against Islamabad’s decision.

"The CDA of the Pakistan High Commission was summoned and our strong protest was conveyed.  

It was also conveyed to him that this unilateral decision by Pakistan is highly condemnable and runs against the spirit of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor as also the religious sentiments of the Sikh community at large," MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava told reporters here.

"We have received representations from the Sikh community expressing grave concern at this decision by 

Pakistan targeting the rights of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan. Pakistan is called upon to reverse 

its arbitrary decision," he said adding it is obvious that the Sikh minority community cannot be "deprived" of the 

right to manage affairs of the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib.

“Such actions only expose the reality of the Pakistani government and its leadership’s tall claims of preserving and 

protecting the rights and welfare of the religious minority communities,” a statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said.

In a statement released shortly after, the Pakistan foreign office said - "The Project Management Unit (PMU), under the 

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), has simply been created to facilitate the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak 

Committee (PSGPC)".

Earlier media reports said, the Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) on November 3 officially took 

the full control of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Punjab's Narowal District from Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee and gave it to Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), a Muslim body. The ETPB manages religious properties and shrines of Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Sikh community became a powerful political force, with
Sikh leader Ranjit Singh founding the first Sikh empire, which had its capital in Lahore, the second-largest
city in present day Pakistan.

In 1947 during partition, more than two million Sikhs lived in Pakistan and significant populations of Sikhs
inhabited the large cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.

ends 

Kejriwal Govt, Union MHA nod prosecution of Umar Khalid for Feb 2020 riots

New Delhi: Keeping aside its so called pro-minority image, the Arvind Kejriwal government gave its nod for prosecution against Umar Khalid, a former JNU student leader, in connection with a case related to the February communal violence in northeast Delhi,

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also given the green signal to probe the former JNU student leader under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA.

As per law, sanction from MHA needs to be taken before an individual can be prosecuted under UAPA.

Umar Khalid was arrested in September under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a case related to a larger 

conspiracy in the northeast Delhi riots in February 2020.

Delhi Police have filed a 17,500-page long chargesheet against 15 people for “propagating violence” during the 

Delhi riots in February this year coinciding with the visit of US President Donald Trump. 

"We have given prosecution sanction in all the Delhi riots related cases registered by the police. Now, it is up 

to the courts to see who are the accused," a senior Delhi government functionary said. 

The Delhi Police can now 'name' Khalid in their supplementary charge sheet.

"To prosecute one under section 13 of the UAPA, we need sanction from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which we 

have already received. For prosecution under section -- 16,17 and 18 of the UAPA, we have received sanction from 

the Delhi government," sources said.  

On September 13, Khalid was arrested under the UAPA act in a case related to communal violence. 

Cops have earlier claimed that they have 'attached WhatsApp chats from February 24' when the riots were 

underway to substantiate their charge.

Umar Khalid was also allegedly involved in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) sedition row for protesting 

against the capital punishment meted out to convicted Kashimiri separatists Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat.

The criminal proceedings on the same case of 2016 are also on.

It may be mentioned that on February 28, 2020, the Delhi government gave their approval for a trial in the 2016 case. 

Four days after the JNU protest in February 2016, the Delhi Police had arrested JNU Student Union president Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy, under section 124 of the Indian Penal Code.

Five others including Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya, Rama Naga, Anant Prakash and Ashutosh Kumar, went into hiding after the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar and returned 10 days later. 

Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were taken to custody after they had surrendered to the police.

A JNU administrative panel after probe had meted out varying punishments to a number of students. 

Kanhaiya Kumar was fined Rs 10,000 and Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya were later rusticated from the university for one semester.

ends 

Updated: Tributes to a 'VIP father' from a commoner and a struggling journo !!

                          Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (1 Dec, 1933 to 29 Oct, 2020)

(do not get confused with surnames 'Deb' and 'Dev' --- Meghalaya Board of School Education had called me 'Dev')

Anecdotes:

My dad served with Assam Rifles, the paramilitary force that is governed by Home Ministry norms but has army command for all anti-insurgency operations.

So well-knit was the cultural affinity in Assam Rifles camps that even in the 1980s, in Mizoram’s border town of Lunglei where the 18 Assam Rifles camp was situated, Christian Lushai soldiers greeted their officers with “Ram Ram sahib” salutation. Hence, for my younger brother, “breakfast” meant “aloo-puri sabzi” from the langar (soldiers’ mess) and “Ram Ram sahib” was the Hindi version of “Good morning, sir”. And Baba always loved these small "reminiscences". 

*****

Around this time of the year even last year if someone had asked me who the people are - I love most but fear as well. My answer would have been an easy one - my parents.

Daughter and the 'bitter wife' could also fall in this category of course. But with the 'bitter half' - a product of communists'family and yet God fearing lady' - the tagging of 'fear' and disagreement would be more.

But the big message for me is - time can be ruthless boss; "you are orphan within a year" ! No more those taunting words, those caring one-liners. Those descriptions -  "Don't bring your journalism logic in family matters" or "You always think like a Naga"!!

But my father has been a unique personality in more ways than one. A man who not only believed in honesty but believed firmly in implementing that. I still remember a time when from Nagaland I had sent him some money and his response was in the form of a 'Question' : "Hope this money is not from any unfair means, how could you manage extra income as a freelancer?" Of course, my mom was no different. Later I came to know, it was my mother who had put this idea to him and cajoled him to ensure that their eldest son does not fall into 'wrong hands'.This is one small anecdote. 

Another small story is related to dad's death and cremation. My father on Oct 29, 2020 around 2 am like my mother (on Nov 10 late night - 2019) collapsed and simply walked into death within a short spell of ten minutes. 

No much hardship and no much time for us to do any tricks, doing miracles with medical science and running around with medicos and in hospitals. In hindsight, I feel happy and he did not suffer as a paralysed man in bed or so. More so at this time of Covid19 restrictions and supposedly bad conditions in hospitals. 

Covid-induced Evening walk

second part 

Tribute Link

If death should come, it should come like this. Now, comes my father's affinity towards 'style' and 'status' affairs. As a former Assam Rifles man, he was always conscious about 'proper respect' and so on; and thus when we cremated him at Dayanand Muktidham Crematorium, Lodhi Road little did we realise that he was given the farewell at a premier crematorium wherein several Delhi VIPs and commoners are given the last rites.

Frankly, it was not planned. I was in a shock and did not know how to go about especially given the Corona restrictions. Thanks to my Mayur Vihar neighbours at Manas Apartment and they came forward to provide all kinds of assistance notwithstanding the fear of Covid19.

And as someone suggested and he volunteered to call up the Crematorium staffers and did the booking. Baba, as I know, must be happy about all these, and should bless all. 

At the crematorium there is a sign board over a shaded portion where we performed the last rites before taking the body to the place where it was bid farewell.

It reads - • Jo hua achcha hua, jo ho raha hain, achcha ho raha hain, jo honga, wah bhi achcha hi hoga. Tum bhut ka shok na karo, bhavishya ka dar na karo. Vartman chal raha hain.

Meaning - 

"Whatever happened, it happened for good.  Whatever is happening, is happening for good.  Whatever that will happen, it will be for good.  What have you lost for which you cry?  
What did you bring with you, which you have lost? What did you produce, which has destroyed?  You need not lament the past, do not fear the future....The present is passing as it should"

 

Personal notes:

Of course, to be orphan within a year is a real shocker !!

A 'gentleman' among lawmakers of India - Bhartruhari Mahtab of Biju Janata Dal sent in a very touching whatsapp message.
"So sorry to learn that your father has passed away before completion of one year of your mother’s demise. I pray God give you strength in this time of grief."

Mr Mahtab: Cuttack MP 

Very encouraging words certainly !!

There was a similar touching message from S S Ahluwalia, BJP MP representing Bardhaman-Durgapur parliamentary constituency in West Bengal when my mother had expired on Nov 11, 2019 and he had said:

"Dear Niren, Sorry to hear about your mother's departure to the heavenly abode. Everything can be substituted but not father/mothers. Father/Mothers are like a banyan tree in the courtyard under whose cool shade children,grandchildren & great-grandchildren find love, care & prosperity. Me & my family extend our deepest condolences & share your grief. May WaheGuru give your family & you the strength to bear this loss. Yours in grief,Monica & Surendrajeet

‌(SS Ahluwalia ) MP Bardhaman-Durgapur

There would be many tales and anecdotes about my dad and his mannerism, conduct with relatives and his friends.

The most striking part since he breathed his last and we are interacting with his old and new acquaintances perhaps his simplicity and his care for fellow friends and relatives. He would keep contacts with several of his colleagues and many of them were surprised to hear about his death.

Precisely many of them said - only the other day or even on October 28 till evening, he had advised some people to keep records/papers of their banking transactions religiously. He also informed an aunt of mine that her pension would increase by this and that percentage by year end or so.

Tanvi with Dadu: Birthday bash Dec 1, 2019 

 

And many of my Facebook friends said - arey only the other day, you put some snaps of his and he looks all right. That's true. He was okay till the very last moment.

A cricket fanatic; he even saw the October 28 encounter between Mumbai 11 and Bengaluru team. At the end of the match, he told his Bahu (Swati Deb) - "Virat Kohli is unable to play well these days".

Just a few hours back, he relished 'Pabda-fish' and shared his appreciation --- a rare one - saying "Bah"!

Few more anecdotes:

Of course, I keep saying and writing that he never approved my decision to join journalism. He described out profession with a Bengali saying: "Boner mosh boney pathano (Sending wild animals to the wilds). - Meaning - a big zero in terms of results.

Of course, I do not agree to his typical conservative sentimental dialogue. But there were some merits as far as his concern for his eldest son goes! Journalism is now the most unstable profession!

Tripura: playing 'eldest Bahu' hunter

But dad did a few things - unthinkable at one point in my life. He started keeping newspaper clippings, especially my articles in newspapers like 'The Statesman'. I served with 'The Statesman' between 2008 and February 2016.

In one of his telephone directories, he even noted - how and why I missed 'birthday' of 2017 as I had to go to Ahmedabad to cover Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's visit. 

(Sept 12/13...Abe was in Ahmedabad to announce Bullet Train)  

"Pronam Dadamoni, "May his departed soul rest in eternal Peace. Jekhani achhen bhalo thakben proti muhurtey Dadamoni aponake Mis Kori" - Pranab (Babla) Roy, Dimapur

(Most of you might have been bored...but these lines come sincerely and I would appreciate comments from all the patrons of my blog. Your words would give me strength at this time of crisis and of course would be appreciated by that conservative gentleman called my father) 

(This piece will be certainly edited and added with more stuff as I recall some stories or will be narrated some old stories by his friends, former colleagues and relatives) 

Dad, AR officers and colleagues: Jairampur, 1960s

(warm regards to all) 

 

Biden and Trump: Some old snaps and anecdotes

 

Joe Biden 'remarried' to schoolteacher Jill Jacobs, with whom he had a child, Ashley.
Biden established himself on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and began to build a national profile. In 1987, he launched his first go at the US presidency, but withdrew after he was accused of plagiarising a speech by the then leader of the British Labour Party, Neil Kinnock. (BBC)

Trump moved into the entertainment sector, snapping up a clutch of beauty pageants in 1996: Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA. In his personal life, after splitting with Ivana he married actress Marla Maples in 1993.

In 2003, Mr Trump fronted a new reality TV show that played to his reputations as both a businessman and a media personality. Called The Apprentice, the programme featured contestants competing for a shot at a management job in Mr Trump's commercial empire.

He hosted the show for 14 seasons, and claimed in a financial disclosure form that he had been paid a total of $213m by the network during the show's run.

Meanwhile, in 2005, he married his current wife, Melania Knauss, a Yugoslavian-born model.

(BBC)