North Star shoes in Dream

Early this morning I saw a dream of wearing a pair of North Star shoes, a popular sneaker and probably the only decent one available during my childhood days. I felt happy, waking up with a fulfilling feeling.

 

North Star shoes, with black and yellow stripes resembling a tiger's skin used to cost Rs99.99 a pair, a sizable amount in the year 1980, in the days of socialism and closed market economy, when jeans and sneakers were luxury items. This brand was available in Bata, a chain of stores apart from Carona which offered decent shoes in Bhubaneswar those days.

 

I requested my dad to get a pair for me. My father was always generous to me, fed me exotic, quality food, took me to good restaurants of those days, bought me my favorite books, comics, magazines and took me to watch cricket in Barabati Stadium. But he sneered at the idea of buying a pair of North Star shoes, firmly put down his foot on the my longing desire.

 

His logic - while teaching in BJB College, Bhubaneswar, he has seen the

 North Star shoes worn only by the CHATARAs (girl chasing vagabonds) and BAZAARIs (free roaming loafers). The hall mark of a BHALA PILA (a good guy) those days, a category an overwhelming majority of students fell into - to wear cheap Canvas shoes polishing it's dirt off using a white paste or CHAPPALs (sandals). My dad's convictions vetoed my desire.

 

Time and again, I would peep at the North Star shoes through the glass, displayed in front of the BATA Store located in Unit II (probably only one at that time), salivating at it, dreaming to wear it one day. But luck wasn't on my side, I could never wear them. The North Star was like that star I wished for , so near yet so far. Soon the brand went out of the selves and out of the market.

 

Eventually, I forgot about it. Never thought about it for a long time, until this morning when I found myself wearing a brand new pair of North Star shoes it in my dream. Childhood memories can be very stubborn, especially about the things we longed for, our feelings we craved about, fantasized or had a crush on, dwelling deep inside our subconscious mind.

 

The small smoldering sparkle has never vanished from the already extinguished inferno. The wish inside the child in me was never dead, it was lying dormant, ready it rise as Phenix from the ashes. The ever hidden subconscious desire recalled and manifested itself after decades in my dream. No wonder, I woke up with a wonderful sense of fulfillment .

Saga of a submerged Gurgaon and Bangalore

Do we remember how many times Delhi and Bangalore have been submerged due to seasons rains. Umpteenth time. The recent deluge followed by the sad saga of commotion and road rage witnessed in Gurgaon, a suburb of Delhi isn't something new and out of the blue.

 

Not that we had been hit by a typhoon or hurricane of a magnitude of category 5, which caught everyone by surprise, but hit by the expected annual monsoon rains at the peak of the monsoon season.

 

Yet I am not surprised, as I saw last year in Delhi, clogged drains with no natural outlet for water lying low in low lying areas. Come monsoon, the disaster was waiting to happen.

 

The inept and inefficient authorities as usual were caught napping, quite aware of the inadequate infrastructure but still without any contingency plan - exposing how unprepared we are for such an eventuality.

 

And it happened. Cars were stuck in a melee for hours on water logged roads. Commuters had to leave their cars and wade through the rivulets. Even there were reports of folks on boats fishing on the paved roads of Bangalore, arguably the most hightech city of India.

 

After being stuck for hours, what if one has this urgent need to pee. Guys can sneak into a corner and add more color to the yellow water beneath them, exposing their ugly underbelly as the same of Delhi gets exposed. Pity the ladies, for them it would have been a pitiable condition. For those with loose bowels, water isn't far away.

 

Sarcasm aside, this is a terse reminder of our lack of basic INFRASTRUCTURE,  which is the biggest bottleneck to our image and growth. To those who dream of Mumbai to be Shanghai and Delhi to be a Seoul or Singapore - Dream on.

Democratic Convention- 2016

Unlike the Republican Convention which was filled with fat, bald oldies with long, boring monologues, the Democratic Convention at Philadelphia was full of glamor.

In Hollywood, you have Democrats and more Democrats. You can feel its flavor at the venue of the Convention, where Movie Stars, feminist in person or by message conveyed from the tinsel town marked their presence.

Bill Clinton's speech at the Convention was cool, commanding and explainatory. He has this uncanny ability to tell a story, explain a policy, deeply connecting to the audience, who responded with a standing ovation. Love him or hate him, the telegenic ex Commander-in-Chief is a real charmer in chief. Like Kishore Kumar, he is very versatile, an excellent communicator in all kinds of podium or platforms, be it a stump speech at a public meeting or one to one tete a tete in a Town Hall format.

In contrast Hillary looked plastic, bit nervous too and stale, whereas her husband, a natural leader is still evergreen. She was savoring her Pyrrhic victory over Bernie Sanders, who would have easily defeated her, if he was 64 instead of 74 years old. Didn't here anything new from Hillary in her acceptance speech - policy or vision wise.

Time Kaine, Hillary's VP nominee, gave an outstanding speech. Sometimes I wonder, why he didn't run in Presidential Primaries, which he had a very good chance of winning.

But the best speech given in the entire cycle of Convention, both Republican and Democratic, was by President Obama. The body language of the usually cool and nonchalant Obama showed aggression, his electrifying speech drew thunderous applause.

Attacking Trump time and again, an unusual move by an outgoing President who usually though campaign for their own party nominee, usually don't go directly against the opponent nominee. Obama was virulent when he threw punches at Trump.

Bill and Barack, the two two-term Presidents were the most effective speakers on Podium of either conventions. Both are natural politicians, grew without the support of their respective biological fathers (Clinton's father died before he was born, Obama's Kenyan born dad hardly had any affinity towards his son, took to alcohol after returning to Kenya and crashed himself to death).

Both had turbulen, unsettling early life but worked hard to climb the ladders of success, ending up being 8 years in White House, arguably the most powerful position on surface of earth. Both have an inspiring life story. Wish Hillary Clinton, who isn't a natural politician, was half charismatic as both.

Now Hillary will bask for a few days with the conventional bump coming out of the Convention. As the dust settles down, next 3 months will see some hectic campaigning, interspersed with 3 Presidential debates, mano to wo(mano) this time. Watch out for more coverage of American Presidential election from this Citizen reporter on the Social media.

Teachers beating students in India

Stories abound in social media, about the peer pressure to excell in academics is driving both the parents and children nuts. It wasn't not so during our childhood days, but not so uncommon was our teachers mercilessly beating the students.

My memory goes back to the year 1978 when I was in class V. It was a fateful day, when the results of Science subject was declared after our Half yearly exam. I was fortunate to get the highest mark in that subject, but it was not enough to escape thrashing. I still got a few canes on my palm for my mistakes.

The rest were not so fortunate. Our teacher lashed them with his thin but effective cane closing his lips, yelling intermittently PITHI DEKHA (show your back) and alternating  between the backs and sides of the hapless students. The kids as young as 9-10 years old had no other option but to bear with closed eyes, some crying BAPALO MAALO MARIGALI (dad, mom, I am dying).

A couple of them wet their pants. There was this burly guy and a champion athlete from our class, but a poor student. We were in awe of him and his physique, because of that he used to bully us. Now we saw how vulnerable he was.

When his turn came stream of urine started flowing on his left thigh as he fainted in anticipation of the things to come. Water was sprinkled on his face till he came to his senses. Still he got some ear twitching, but was glad that his fainting saved him from further cane lashes.

Ironically it happened in Rama Krishna Mission School based on the name of a person who preached non-violence and compassion for all living beings. But cattle's would have been better treated compared to the way our Science teacher dealt with his primary school students. He strongly believed that thrashing makes the kids more obedient and keeps them better focused on studies. How silly.

I am sure many from my generation and above would have been through this ordeal. Sadly there was no cell phone, Internet, social or 24x7 media those days. This kind of treatment makes news these days Those were the days, those were those times.

Vagaries of monsoon in India

Reports abound from Odisha about the scarcity of Monsoon this year. Many are apprehensive about Global climate changes contributing to the erratic  monsoon.

Vagaries of monsoon is neither something new, nor unheard of. Its inherent tendency is to be bountiful one year, scanty the next. We see intermittent dry spells during the monsoon, shorter or longer in duration. A year of flood is followed by a year of drought, with repetitive precision.

My grandfather told me about the NA ANKA DUBHIKHYA (The Great Drought of 19th Century), which was told to him by his grandfather. NA ANKA in Odia refers to the years around 1885 - 1887 in the Gregorian Calendar. The monsoon rains, restricted to the summer months of June - September, failed spectacularly for a prolonged duration of at least three  consecutive years.

There is no reason to believe that it was then caused due to Deforestation or Green House effect. It was simply the Dust Bowl years of Odisha. Hundreds of thousands died in that time span, due to hunger and malnutrition, caused by their dependency on the rain fed crop, which failed to crop up due to miserable monsoon rains.

The High Himalayas, with its Mt. Everest at its highest point of 29,000 feet, run East to the West, acting as a natural barrier to India from the bitter cold winds coming from Siberia and Pamir plateau. The tallest mountain range in the world gives India a unique geographical identity, keeping it warmer compared the other places in the world along the similar latitude.

It explains why Calcutta is hotter than Canton, China and Jaipur is hotter than Jacksonville, Florida - though they are in identical latitudes. The gigantic mountain range also keeps the monsoon restricted to the Indian subcontinent, providing ample rains during the summer months, while rest of the season it is mostly dry.

In contrast, the Rocky Mountains of America aren't tall enough and run North to South, unable to prevent the cold wave from Canada blasting through the Prairies into the Southern Plains. It also helps the moisture from Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean reach out to the interiors of mainland America.

Himalayas has protected us from the likes of the marauding Mongol Chengiz Khan, who could have ravaged India. Only due to the limited access via Khybar pass we stayed better protected from many, if not all invaders, preserving our unique cultural identity.

Invariably every year, sooner or later, the monsoon arrives and leaves, with a highly inequitable distribution of rainfall - causing drought somewhere, flood else where. This Odia proverb aptly depicts  the vagaries of monsoon :

JALA BAHULE SRUSTI NAASA,
JALA BIHUNE SRUSTI NAASA, meaning

"Lack of water causes catastrophe,
 Excess of water causes catastrophe."

Trump can very well win in November

Per the latest CNN-ORC poll, Republican nominee Donald Trump has taken a 3 point lead over Hillary. Nothing unusual coming after the Convention, this is called Post Convention bounce. The Democratic Convention starts today in Philadelphia and come next week - Hillary Clinton is going to wipe off Trump's post conversation bounce.

Trough in a normal election under normal circumstance, Hillary would have been a shoo in against his opponent, who looks more buffoon than Presidential. But it's not normal time in US, when a whopping 2/3rd feel that the country on a wrong track. With the trust on politicians being a record low, Trump is seen as the Knight in Shining Armor to many. Come  November, there's is a distinct possibility of seeing a President - Elect Trimp.

At this stage, Michael Dukakis had similar lead over George Bush Sr. in 1988 and Al Gore over Bush Jr. in 2000. Both went on to lose to the national election, to the father and son respectively. So any lead now hardly holds good till November which is eons away - when a week is considered as a long time in politics.

Until now Hillary carried a slight lead over Trump overall, but is tied to her opponent in the crucial swing states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In American Presidential election someone doesn't get elected by winning the maximum number of popular votes, but by winning the highest Electoral College votes. So there is a chance that a person can get the higest popular votes, yet still lose the Election.

Al Gore exactly suffered that feat in year 2000, Bush won the White House in spite of the former winning the largest popular vote - a classic case of Electoral Dysfunction of America.

States like Texas and Georgia where I live will vote for Trump no matter what. States like California and New York will certainly go for Hillary. The final outcome depends on a few swing states, where Hillary is vulnerable. Read my lips, come November don't get surprised to see a President - Elect Trump. 

Social and political life of Indian Americans

As the US election campaign gains steam, it's time to analyze how the Indian American community is expected to vote.

Indian Americans (not to be confused with American Indians or Native - Red Indians who are the original inhabitants of the land) constitute 3 million - nearly 1% of the total population of USA. Demographically they are 51% Hindu, 18% Christian (many born Hindus are converted influenced by Evangelicals), 14% non-believers (I am veering towards that), 10% Muslims, 5% Sikhs and rest immaterial.

Only next to the Chinese immigrants, Indian Americans, are ubiquitous in larger cities and Metros. Nicknamed as DESIs, the NRI community have carved their niche. (Mostly Persons of Indian origin use this term Desi among themselves, often in a deregatory sense, the Mainstream Americans are mostly unaware of the term. Though I have this uncanny ability to laugh at myself, during my inititial days I was uncomfortable being called a Desi, a term generally  used to denote a pariah dog back home in Odisha).

Coming to Elections - Like most monorities, an overwhelming majority of Desis are Democrats, nearly 70% of them. Couple of decades back it was 90%, a decade back it was 80%. So, on an average, a mobility of an estimated 1% of Desis from the Democrat to the Republican camp takes place every year.

The reason - many during their initial days of immigration are in a state of insecurity, tilting towards Democratic party, which is considered as more immigrants friendly. As they start earning  money, making upward mobility, they are impressed by the Republican values of lower taxes (so that they can hoard more money).

Our upward mobile Desi Bhais, like Lord Shiva now have their 3rd eye opened, seeing values in the family values espoused by the Conservative Republicans, finding their own cultural roots brought back from home, aligned more to the Republicans. It's another matter, their idols and the so called votaries of family values are often found caught pants down with their concubines and gays.

So the neo immigrants who step into the Coke land as 100% Democrats, after getting their Green cards become 50% Republicans. 5 years later, with US Citizenship on hand, they are 100% Republicans - the complete metamorphosis of a DESI, from a democratic leaning Caterpillar to a Republican Butterfly is now complete.

For most of them, the journey starts with insecurity, with a perennial struggle from  Credit Card to the coveted Green Card (Without a Credit history it is difficult to get a credit card, as without a credit card you don't have a credit history). With a Green Card and subsequent Citizenship on hand, a roof of their own over their head - it's time to fulfill their SHOUK (hobby).

These hobbies perpetuated by the now settled Desi are myriads - but per my observation it's mostly couple of them. First, a tendency to be a NETA (a political  leader). Most are satisfied by playing roles of a KUJI NETA (small time leader) at the local Desi bodies. As MULLAH KI DAUD MASJID TAQ (A Mullah can't go beyond Mosque), their political ambitions mostly end up as a NETA in their national level cultural bodies. Very rare breeds of our Desi bros go into (or possess the ability to so) the Mainstream American politics.

Secondly, many get pets home, especially dogs and cats. Overwhelming majority of them are Dogs, as for many Desis seeing a cat waking up in the morning is considered as harbinger of bad luck for rest of the day.

The pets give company to their lonely kids at home, acting as a great stress relievers to them, filling the hiatus of lack of companionship in their life they so accustomed to in the land they left long ago.