Ex-principal of REC, Rourkela and Naveen Patnaik

What is the secret sauce of survival of Naveen Patnaik, the Chief minister of Odisha ? Apart from his clean image, populism and being in the right place at the right time without any tangible opposition, there is lot more to it.

It's the hiatus he succintly nurtures and maintains from his fellow Odias, refusing to speak their language, except some perfunctory speaking in accented Odia to raise his ante. We Odias love outsiders who sound different from us by speaking in Hindi or English - he prefers to talk in both. 

This quality has endeared him enough to earn adulation of the obsequious minded Odias belonging to a state with a strong feudal past. If he ever spoke fluent Odia, mingled with the locals and became more accessible to them, I bet he wont have survived this long. 

But he is not the first person to use this cocktail of secret recipe to drive home advantage. As Naveen Patnaik stepped into Odisha politics in 1997, around the same time retired the principal of our days in REC (now NIT), Rourkela. For more than 2 decades the Harvard educated Professor ruled the College campus with a firm grip. He created an aura around him by staying aloof from most of his staff and students, speaking in an American accent which is cultivated during his stint in US - "My Dhear Renkholians (Rengocolians), we are now outta thyme (time)". A native of Puri who studied in Odisha till his graduation once went on to pronounce a last (Sur) name "Choudhury" as Cowdrey.

As Naveen Patnaik has entrusted the administration to his trusted and efficient aid for he trusts a few, our Princial outsourced the handling the internal affairs of the College campus to a Professor, a self proclaimed DADA (Boss) who was acted more like a local goon than an academics. Both kept a tab on their opponents and throttled their ambition if perceived them as threat.

Much before Naveen Patnaik came to political picture, our ex-Princy behaved like the royalty of the princely state of College campus. Both were smart enough to figure out that in a feudal state autocracy trumps democracy as rod works better than logic and persuasion. 

Odias in general are timid folks who love to be ruled and suckers for patronage. The principal threw some crumbs in the form of positions Superintendent, Wardens etc to enable the staff to supplement their income. Those savants responded magnificently by wagging their tails and behaving as vassals in front of the Principal who behaved no less than the Campus Crown. Our current CM does pretty much the same. 

If he mingled with them with impunity, he could not have lasted long. Both our ex Princy and Naveen P who were initially underestimated, but used their secret potion to perfection - the art of longevity. Behind the veneer of their outward simplicity lies a ruthless personality to cling on to their post at any cost. 

A successful person is one who converts his weakness to strength - both perceived as new and novice broke all the conventional wisdom to outsmart their detractors. One ruled his campus fiefdom with iron fist until he retired. The current Chief Minister is on similar ground breaking path - destined to rule Odisha until he retires or God decides to retire him.

Left and Right - Who is right, who is wrong

On thing I learnt the hard way, on social media or otherwise it is utterly foolish to argue with a person with an extreme left Liberal or right Conservative points of view. If I am trying to convince the person otherwise to see through logic and commonsense, I am most likely wasting precious time. Because the thing about common sense is it is not so common.

For the Liberals (often ascribed as Libtaards by their detractors in a derogatory way) - Left is right, right is wrong. On the other side of the spectrum, the Right Winger nuts are convinced they are right and left should not be left alone, rather confronted. A balanced view is often frowned upon, such a person is branded an interloper.

A la Sardarjee jokes, one is considered naive and insane if he stands at 12 O'Clock noon. Those on the Right at 3 O'Clock or on the Left at 9 O'Clock are considered saner. (In Clock analogy scale, the hour hand at 12 denotes center, 9 as extreme left and 3 the extreme right).

Reminds me of a story from the great PANCHATANTRA (Five Treatise), a series of meaningful short stories compiled by our ancient story teller Vishnu Sharma. In once such stories, a bird tried to preach prudence to a monkey trying to make the later see sense. But the monkey laughed it off, grabbed the bird by its neck and chocked it to death. You may be the bird amidst multiple monkeys in myriad troll sites, both Left and Right.

Since the year 2000 when George W Bush narrowly won the Presidency, America is a divided nation. Off late, India is fast catching up. Most of the upper caste Hindus are blind supporters of Modi and BJP, aptly ascribed as BHAKT (devotee). Similarly, I haven't come across a single friend of mine from Muslim and Christian community in India no less patriots that others, who support Modi's BJP. Some are extrovert in expressing their anathema to Modi and the current leadership the Hindu Nationalist Party. Some are not so overt, but have privately express their concern and insecurity in the current state of affairs.

We have a slang in Odia called MUNDA, which can be transliterated as stubbornly moron. MUNDAs galore in both India and US. In India we have mostly illiterate, poor MUNDAs. In USA we have their literate, more affluent SUV driving counterparts. The stubbornness of the both and their close mindset is amazing and alarming.

I prefer to argue with people in the middle who I find reasonable, talk sense and see through logic- specially those who have an open mind with the ability to think. Sad such folks fall into a very narrow spectrum and are an endangered species these days like Royal Bengal Tigers.

As far as I am concerned, I see myself a right of the center person, yet on many matters, I am progressive with the bottom line that humanity is trumps all. I always give credence to the person who takes the opposite stance to my stand with an open ears and mind.

What I detest to the core is hypocrisy, harboring a staunch anathema to hypocrites, often taking pleasure in exposing and bustling their bubble using sarcasm as weapon. While Liberals discuss poverty and famine over Scotch and Kabaab (Kabob) in 5 Star Hotels, Conservatives are often caught pants down with Concubines and as Rapists while preaching chastity and family values. They are epitomes of hypocrisy and double standards - listing all is beyond the scope of this blog.

Hope henceforth sanity prevail and logic rules over emotions. Unfortunately, love (same as hatred) is blind and is strongest when unreasonable. Demagogues thrive on this, as long as their BHAKTs give them a free pass. God bless my JANMA BHUMI (Birthplace) and KARMA BHUMI (Land of profession) out of these doldrums.

Conspiracy theory of current Syrian Imbroglio

Feel free to call me a Conspiracy theorist, here is my theory about the  current Syrian Imbroglio. After multiple women and children suffered casualty due to the use of chemical weapons alleged by Assad, the Americans along with their poodle dogs Britain (as usual) and France (surprisingly) have bombed selected locations in Syria. But the Syrian strongman who has more than 9 lives of a cat is likely to survive yet again.

Let's take a peek at the players in the global political arena and their stakes :

RUSSIA - It has prodded his proxy Assad to create some mischief in the already messy Syria so that it pushes the gas price further up. Not withstanding the bravado shown by Putin, Russian economy is in shambles, any increase in the crude oil price will help its ailing economy. 

With its puppet Trump in White House it can pull some strings by forcing US to do some Arial bombings (Iraq taught a tough lesson to the Americans not to commit ground troups) and create further case to push Brent crude price upwards. After all Putin must be feeling it's high time the US President he helped to win must pay back in kind - fully knowing the orange headed crazy man heading America may not last his full first term. I am sure Trump must have informed Putin before hand that these Air strikes are not on any Russian assets in Syria. He knows very well what Putin got enough material on him to make him a half term President.

AMERICA - A la the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zaffer, US is acting like an impotent Superpower. Trump seems to be blackmailed by Putin to the hilt, either unwilling or incapable to act against the Russian strong man who is thumbing under his nose. Never I thought that in my life time I will see an American President bullied by a Russian dictator and act like his stooge. Already burdened by a $20 debt and lessons from Iraq fiasco, US won't put boots on the ground.

It is also payback time for Trump as a "thank you" for the support he got from Oil lobby led by the Billionaires like Koch brothers - his BEPARI JATI BHAI (businessmen bros). Remember that BEPARIs or Businessmen are rarely great Statemen, for them profit Trumps all. High oil price suits many Oligarchs with vested interest who rule the world, includes our own Ambanis of India.

SAUDI ARAB and ISRAEL - Enemy's enemy is my friend. Iran, the better noire of both is going to be checkmated as Trump is all set to scrap the Iran deal inked during the Obama administration. Ever since the deal has glutted the world market with surplus of black gold pushing the gas price down for the Saudis chagrin. The white GAMUCHA (cloth) covered, nomadic Saudis want the crude price more than $80 barrell to keep their economy from slumping further. A scrapped Iran deal is double whammy for them, a stronger oil income and weaker Iran who is getting stronger and bolder ever since US removed Saddam - the man who kept Iran under check.

Israel hates Iran to the core (also Assad of Syria) as the later duo finance and supply arms to its sworn enemy Hezbollah. It won't mind a weakened Iran, at the same time the powerful Jewish lobby taking good care of Uncle Sam, with the current occupant of the White House is friendlier to the Jewish state than his predecessor Obama.

CHINA, JAPAN and INDIA - Where do these 3 Asian economic giants stand ? All are energy hungry countries in that order, overwhelmingly dependent on Crude oil import. The economies of the first two, China and Japan are robust enough to take the counter punch as long as the voracious westerners led by the Americans keep buying their stuff.

What about the third of these Asian triumvirates, India ? As we call in Odia, AME MAI NUHE KI GAI NUHE, transliterated "neither female, nor cow" - it means No one cares a hoot for India . We are strategically unimportant to the world. Economically, we are there but not yet there. Modi's government has been extremely lucky for the last 4 years due to low oil price and bountiful monsoon. But if oil prices goes up and mosoon proves to be truant - then Modi's luck runs out, so also India's nascent spectacular GDP growth. So be afraid, be very afraid. 

The Facebook like button

 The LIKE button on Facebook is so handy. it can be any of the following.

An acknowledgement to some one's response to your post or response.

A thank you note.

A "you are welcome" to "thank you".

"I actually read".

"Don't cares, but it could be good due to the reputation of the person. Like it anyway".

"I didn't read, but liked it as I don't want to dishearten or piss you off"

And of course I really Like.

Been there, done all the above. It is important to note that more than anything else it is the Like button which keeps facebook going. Frankly, I love all the likes I get on my posts though I don't dwell a whole lot on them. Some of my decent writings hardly get any likes, but most of my junks do. Often I get fodder for my blogs while sitting on the toilet seat, that's why I write so much shit.

Facebook "Likes" have become similar to the usage of the word "Great" in US. Americans make a lot of fuss about small stuff. Any small stuff can be branded as great - Great day, Great food, Great sight and so on, which all may not be so great at all. As anything called great in US, any dumb and dumber post can be liked on Facebook. 

Interestingly, Facebook considered Star (*), Plus (+) signs of before they settled for their iconic Blue "thumbs up" as their "Like" symbol. They have stuck to it as it has created wonders for them. They haven't looked back ever since.

Wish there was a "Dislike" button, with the Thumb replaced by Middle finger. But Facebook is prudent enough to avoid any negative imagery. Another pragmatism is not to notify if you unfriend or block someone or exit from a group. However, it never fails to alert you in case some accepts your friend request and vice versa.

Facebook is smart and charming, same as its 33 year old young founder Zuckerberg who seduced his way to hoodwink the Congressmen (women) who were out to grill and make a mince meat. Kudos the Marc Z who has come up with this super idea. I (really) LIKE him. 

Rotary and the Lions Club

During our growing up days in Odisha there was a charity oriented entity called Rotary Club. More of a conglomerate of the elitist of the time, it had less to do with social work, more to do with photo ups and cultivating networks. Lions Club was another such den of deal makers and favor seekers in the guise of social service.

Social networking was not always the soul attraction to seek a coveted membership, especially for the youngsters. A friend of mine in college was frank enough to admit his desire to join the local edition of Lions club - SETHI TOKI MILIBE LINE MARIBAKU, MU SAMASTA KU PATEIBI (I will have a fair chance of meeting some fair sex, will capture their hearts. Toki in Odia slang depicts a nubile girl and Line mariba is another slang for lasciviously chasing them). 

I loved his frankness and lack of hypocrisy in spelling out his priorities. Not sure how far he succeeded in his mission, he ended of taking a few pictures of Who's and Who's of the city and boasting about baking breads with them. On the TOKI front, his nascent attempt ended up being threatened to be thrashed by one the girl's brother.

Rarely those working for Rotary or Lion's Club rarely extend their service beyond the comforts of the state capital, except some perfunctory eye camps, blood donationcamps in the peripheral vicinity. Their mostly salliow service stands in contrast with the Christian missionaries who were doing a commendable role in the remote districts of Odisha.

Most of those district were inaccessible, evenly infested with Maoists and Mosquitoes who can lift you for miles. The administration was (is today too) virtually non existence. Only folks who tread inside and tend to the tribals were Missionaries. Though with an intent to convert, they provided them with food, shelter, education and healthcare - where our inefficient and corrupt government who is supposed to do all these, fails spectacularly to provide the basic governance.

Bottomline - clubbing these Clubs to the Christian charities is at best fallacious, as rather than giving the missionaries a run for money, these Clubs make a poor caricature of themselves. Their counterparts have done enough charitable work to earn the respect of the locals, which their dictrators grudgingly admit. 

On the other hand, the Rotary and Lion folks take rotations in between organizing Eye and Blood camps, rarely walk the extra yards venturing above and beyond their comfort zone. Respect needs to be commandeded, can never be thrust upon. Photo ups, networking with BADA BADIAs (big shots) can only take you so far, but keeps one a long way from commanding kudos.

 

BJP in Odisha needs a game changer

BJP in Odisha is too fragmented, unfocused and lacks proper leadership or agenda to challenge the hegemony of the currently well ensconced Naveen Patnaik led BJD government. The status quo is likely to continue for at least a decade, unless something drastic happens on the political front.

So BJP needs a game changer and change in its strategy as far as Odisha goes. They have to think something out of box. If I were their think thank, I would suggest them to take the cause of a separate state of KOSHALA consisting of districts in Western Odisha.

Here are the 5 reasons why it is likely to succeed, yielding some much needed Lok Sabha seats. If a state of KOSHALA is eventually formed, a guaranteed Assembly victory in the newly formed state for BJP. 

1. A separate state consisting of Weststern districts of Odisha is a very emotive issue and will put the BJD's local leaders and their leadership in Bhubaneswar in a spot. They will be confused like a fox caught in flashlight pondering how to react and handle an emotive issue.

2. BJP has a strong base in Western part of Odisha unlike the coastal areas where they are barely a force. So they have nothing to lose, as majority of coastal Odisha folks don't vote for the saffron party anyway. 

3. Whatever little population of Muslims, the biggest minorities of the state are there, they are mostly concentrated in coastal Odisha in the districts of Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jajpur. They will never vote for BJP with or without demand of Koshala state.

4. This is not unprecedented in the history of India as states like Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh have been carved out of larger states. Quite recently Andhra Pradesh has been bifurcated into Telengana and Seemandhra.

5. Nothing wrong if this happens as smaller states are better to govern. I am no fan of Mayawati, but her suggestion of splitting the state of UP into Harith Pradesh (Western part), Awadh (central UP), Bundelkhand (South UP adjacent to MP) and Purvachal (Eastern UP) needs some introspection.

So with Parliament election about an year away from now, it is time for BJP Central leadership to give it a serious thought. Otherwise, making a serious dent into BJD's citadel of Odisha will be a pipedream.

50th Death Anniversary of Dr Martin Luther king Jr

Exactly 50 years ago on this day of 4th April, 1968 Dr. Martin Luther king Jr, the American leader and minority civil rights crusader was shot dead as he stepped into the balcony of his Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

And little more than 50 years back on a Southern summer day of June 1963, not far from where I live, then Governor of Alabama George Wallace tried to block two black students from integrating into the University of Alabama. Only a month before in May he famously proclaimed - "Segregation then, Segregation now and Segregation forever".

George Wallace died unsung, not many remember him. But Martin Luther King the young African American carved his niche in world history. The Civil Rights movement picked the gauntlet since George Wallace's fallacy, gaining further steam. Can't stop admiring the man's charisma and leadership. It's said that those who teach leadership at Harvard's Business School often allude "Leaders are born, can rarely ever be made".

Dr. King was a born leader. His protests peaked followed by his iconic speech "I have a Dream, when a man will be judged not by the color of his skin, but by content of his character." Clips of his speech on YouTube still raises goose bumps. He went on further - "I have a dream, when on the Red Hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and former slave owners will be able to seat down together in tables of brotherhood". I am sure those who will be reading this feel their body hair charged and nerves shrugged off, such is the power in that speech.

The rest we know is history. Martin Luther King never saw his dream come true during his life time, as his life was cut short on that early Spring day exactly 50 years back. But a few decades down the road, his dream was realized. Not that racism has completely vanished from American soil, but it has come a long way since then, reinforced by Barack Obama getting elected the first African-American President followed by another term - something unimaginable not so long ago.

Newton's 3rd Law says - "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction". Same is applicable to human emotions. Every violent action would naturally follow with an equal or more violent reaction, often leading to a continuous, never ending cycle of revenge. 

But Dr. King took a cue from India's Mahatma Gandhi (both incidentally were fell by Assassin's bullets) and decided to fight violence in an exactly opposite manner, something different and out of box called "Non-violence". The visuals of peacefully protesting unarmed Blacks being browbeaten, often bitten by police dogs brought into the American living rooms by live TV had its own impact, accentuated the Civil Rights Act. 

America is known to think out of box, to cradle, nurture and rewards talent. It has been blessed by able leaderships, at crucial junctures in history. George Washington gathered a bunch of rag tag peasants to defeat the powerful British Army (incidentally America is the only country in history to have ever defeated the mighty British. General Cornwallis who led the English in the battle and later came to India as Lord Cornwallis was prudent enough to beat the retreat against the wishes of his ego soaked advisors who weren't so used to defeats, hurt by the ignominy of the reverses they suffered. But as a pragmatic leader upon seeing the tide turning against them he decided to relinquish the New Land as America was alluded to then).

Post independence, Abraham Lincoln kept the United States united after fighting a bloody Civil War. From Roosevelt who rescued America from the great recession to thrive in World War II, to the charismatic Kennedy who inspired NASA to launch man to moon and the dream continued along with the Dream of Dr. King.

My tribute to MLK - though you died tragically young at the age of 39, you vindicated that age is just a number. A short, productive life of services to mankind is far better than a long mundane, uneventful one. You are the source of inspiration to many beyond the boundaries of the land you were born. History will remember you as a harbinger of cataclysmic changes in a world beyond borders.