piyush kaviraj

feelings and musings…

Category Archives: Social responsibilities


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वर्तमान समय और लोकनायक जे.पी. की प्रासंगिकता


वर्तमान समय में जेपी की प्रासंगिकता

45 वर्ष हुए जब सही मायने में एक सम्पूर्ण क्रांति का आह्वान हुआ जिससे सम्पूर्ण राष्ट्र, विशेषरूप से बिहार, के राजनीति का अद्भुत मंथन हुआ। बलवान चरित्र और गाँधीवादी शस्त्रों में निपुण लोकनायक जय प्रकाश नारायण जी ने जब बिहार में सुगबुगा रहे छात्र राजनीति को अपना प्रखर नेतृत्व दिया तो यह सुगबुगाहट सम्पूर्ण राष्ट्र में क्रांति का मशाल ले कर फैली और दिल्ली में स्थापित सरकार, जिसने जनतंत्र को विस्थापित करने में कोई कसर नहीं छोड़ी थी, को जड़ से हिल दिया। जेपी के लोकनेतृत्व के लहर में देश फिर से 1942 के जन-आंदोलन जैसा महसूस करने लगा था और उनके कहने पर छात्रों ने कालेज और युवाओं ने अपने नौकरी छोड़ दिए थे।

इस लोक-मंथन ने खास तौर पर बिहार राज्य में कई समाजवादी और जनवादी नेताओं को जन्म दिया और संवारा। हालांकि बहुत नेता परदे के पीछे काम करते रहे और बाद में गुमनामी में रहे किन्तु पिछले 50 वर्षों के राजनैतिक मैदान में जो योद्धा दिखे और ऊपर उठे वो जेपी आंदोलन के ही उपज हैं, चाहे वो पिछले 30 वर्षों से सत्ता संभाले लालू और नीतीश हों,  या सुशील मोदी, राम विलास पासवान, रवि शंकर प्रसाद, या राम जतन सिंहा।

आज ये सभी बड़े नाम-धारी समय के रथ पर सवार होकर काफी दूर आ चुके हैं। सभी रिटायर होने के करीब हैं या होने लगे हैं। पासवान जी अभी कुछ दिन पहले ही दिवंगत हो गए। ऊपर से इन नेताओं ने दो महत्वपूर्ण गलतियाँ की। पहला की ये नेता जेपी के सिद्धांतों से समय के साथ दूर होते चले गए, और कइयों ने अपने परिवार को ही आगे बढ़ाना शुरू कर दिया। बाकी समय तो ये धुरंधर नेता एक दूसरे के ही पर कुतरने में लगे रहते हैं। कभी स्वर्गीय पासवान जी की जिद ने सरकार बनने में बाधा डाल दिया, तो नीतीश जी सरकार बचाने के लिए भाजपा, राजद और काँग्रेस सब को आजमाते रहे हैं। लालू जी खुद जेल में हैं, लेकिन अपने परिवार को ही सत्ता का केंद्र बनाए रखने के लिए कभी पत्नी, कभी सालों और अब पुत्रों को आगे कर रहे हैं। सुशील मोदी जी नीतीश जी के छत्र छाया से बाहर ही नहीं आना चाहते हैं। भाजपा में और कोई नेता तो इतना बड़ा नहीं दिखता। शाहनवाज़ हुसैन और राजीव प्रताप रुडी राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर थोड़ा नाम रखते थे पर इनकी उम्र भी किसी से छिपी नहीं है। काँग्रेस में तो कोई दमदार नाम तक नहीं, आंतरिक कलह और घमासान से ही किसी को फुरसत नहीं वहाँ। जेपी ने तो देश के सर्वोच्च पदों को भी विनम्रता से ठुकरा दिया था और यहाँ हर छोटे पद के लिए  लोग क्या से क्या कर रहे हैं।

दूसरा और महत्वपूर्ण कि इन लोगों ने भविष्य के लिए प्रभावी नेता तैयार नहीं किए। इसलिए अब स्थिति यह है कि बिहार जैसे राज्य में कोई शक्तिशाली युवा चेहरा ही नहीं है। बिहार के कॉलेजों के छात्र नेताओं को ना तो कोई जानता है, ना ही कॉलेजों में ही उनका कोई वजूद नजर आता है। जो इक्के-दुक्के नाम सुनने को मिलते हैं वो इन नेताओं के परिवार से हैं। ले दे कर चिराग पासवान, तेजस्वी और तेज प्रताप के नाम मालूम हैं लोगों को। कन्हैया कुमार का नाम उछलता है कभी कभार पर वो सोशल मीडिया वाले नेता हैं। यही हाल एक दो नए नामों का भी है जो चुनावी मौसम में ट्विटर पर दिखाई दे रहे हैं।  प्रशांत किशोर का नाम काफी ऊपर आया किन्तु वो बाकी राज्यों के सरकार बनवाने में व्यस्त दिख रहे हैं। उन्होंने ‘बात बिहार की’ और बिहारी युवाओं को प्रशिक्षित करने का ऐलान किया है किन्तु इसका असर शायद अगले चुनावों के समय ही दिखे। बाकी कोई भी नेता भविष्य के लिए किसी को ‘मेन्टर’ करते तो नहीं दिख रहे। राजनीति में ऐसा होना अच्छा नहीं।  

ये कैसा नेतृत्व है जो आने वाले 10, 20 और 30 वर्षों के परिवेश के लिए लोगों और नेताओं को तैयार ही नहीं करना चाहता। शायद यही वजह है की ‘लोकनायक’ जैसा फिर कोई  दोबारा नहीं हुआ! जेपी ने उस उम्र में, अस्वस्थता के बीच, अपने शर्तों पर छात्रों का नेतृत्व किया, उन्हे मार्गदर्शन दिया और आने वाले 45-50 वर्षों के लिए राजनैतिक योद्धा तैयार किया। अगर जेपी नहीं होते तो छात्र आंदोलन असमय ही खत्म कर दिया जाता। ये जेपी का ही प्रताप था कि बिहार से शुरू हुए उस आंदोलन में पूरे देश के आम जन जुड़े और उनकी सम्पूर्ण क्रांति ने दिल्ली में इंदिरा सरकार का तख्त हिला दिया। और ये सब बिना किसी पद या गरिमा के लालच में किया उन्होंने। बहुत लोगों को मालूम ना हो लेकिन उन्हे प्रधानमंत्री और राष्ट्रपति जैसे पदों की भी कोई लालसा नहीं थी।

जेपी जैसे नेता हर युग में सदा प्रासंगिक रहेंगे। आज फिर से समाज और राजनीति को मंथन की जरूरत है ताकि आने वाले समय में जनतंत्र में विकल्पों का शून्य ना रहे। शायद फिर से एक और जेपी की जरूरत और तलाश है।

डा. पीयूष कुमार

Twitter: @piyushKAVIRAJ

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Further reading:

https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/views/the-idea-of-total-revolution/articleshow/49422574.cms

https://www.thequint.com/explainers/caa-protests-jp-movement-how-students-changed-protests-in-the-70s-jayaprakash-narayanan

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/jayaprakash-narayan-emergency-congress-jp-movement-emergency-in-india-indira-gandhi-sampoorna-kranti-4884241/

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2015/india/jps-sampoorn-kranti-revisited.html


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दिग्भ्रम का जाल निकाल कर, सही और सच को तोलिये


राजनीतिक पार्टियों की हवा यूँ चली, मानवता सड़ते देख रहा हूँ।

अपने ही दोस्तों, हमवतनों को आपस में लड़ते देख रहा हूँ।

पार्टियों को सत्ता से मतलब है, यही उनकी शक्ति है,

ये आपको क्या हुआ है, ये किस तरह की भक्ति है।

 

उनके घर चलते रहेंगे, उनके चापलूस इलेक्शन लड़ते रहेंगे,

आप मनमुटाव में जीकर, बस उनका घर भरते रहेंगे।

ये किस तरह का बचपना है, ये हरकतें कितनी बचकानी है,

आज नेता आपका सबकुछ है, ये किस तरह की नादानी है।

 

जो सक्षम है, अमरिका, कनाडा, सिडनी में बस जाएंगे,

आप तालियां ही बजाएंगे? क्या मरते मारते रह जाएंगे?

जिन आंखों को मूंद लिया है, उन आँखों को खोलिये,

दिग्भ्रम का जाल निकाल कर, सही और सच को तोलिये।

— पीयूष कविराज


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No one wants war, yet no one denies it


Given the first opportunity, states have jumped into the warzones on command of the so called administrators, having mandate of their citizens. In the name of the land and people, wars are summoned and brought to the shores of those very citizens’ home. We all know and understand who has to bear the brunt of wars, strives and conflicts. Insurgency across borders, quest to seize more land, desire to have new nations, fanaticism to propagate one’s religion, or the insatiable hunger to be the world power have lead to numerous expeditions throughout the history, be it Alexander the ‘great’ or Hitler; ISIS or Chechen; China or USA.

The recent photographs of a drowned Kurdish child have been doing the rounds across the internet. It is actually ironic that the selfish needs of few lead to horrific experience for millions of innocents. As the photographer, Nilufer herself has accepted how difficult it was to click those pictures. She claimed her reaction on seeing the corpse of the small toddler was “becoming petrified”. In her own words, “Three-year-old Aylan Kurdi was lying lifeless face down in the surf, in his red t-shirt and dark blue shorts folded to his waist. The only thing I could do was to make his outcry heard” She took the pictures to share her feeling and make an “outcry”

aylan

Let’s ask ourselves honestly. Who is responsible for Aylan’s death? Who is responsible for the death of Children in USA, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand our very own country? It’s all of US-every single person from each country who remains nothing but mute spectator while carrying out the daily chores for him/her and the immediate family members.

We will make hues and cries on the social media for a few days. Some of us are so damned that we do it mostly in hope of getting more likes and retweets. Oh yes, Candle light processions are not to be forgotten, for a few days and then…. who cares! Life moves on, so do we.

ay

Another crisis till I write another article, self-bashing. Let me enjoy till then.

Piyush Kaviraj

@piyushKAVIRAJ

(Photo Credits: Internet)


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Gandhi Bot and Respect to Gandhi


Gandhi Bot and Respect to Gandhi

We all pay homage to the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi every year on Gandhi Jayanti, celebrating it as a dry day. And one fool of a comapny in capitalist US used his name and picture on beer cans and bottles. How disgusting, disrespectful, idotic, irresponsible and shameful behavior! They have insulted Gandhi, India and the feeling of respect to our great hero, our national icon. How dare they!
To us Gandhi is as important as Goddess Lakshmi. To us, he is as important as our dignity in the society and to us, he is as important as our currency notes which give us that dignity. And they disrespected him. Thankfully, someone has filed a case against this fool of a company at Cyberabad, contending that Gandhi’s image on the alcohol cans  by the brewery is highly condemnable and punishable under Indian laws like Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and 124-A of IPC (related to use of inflammatory words, signs or visible representation).
TO this, the company replies, “We do apologize if the good people of India find our Gandhi-Bot label offensive. Our intent is not to offend anyone but rather pay homage and celebrate a great man who we respect greatly. They go on with blatant display of shame in saying “Aromatic and fully vegetarian, Gandhi-bolt is an ideal aid for self-purification and the seeking of truth and love”
And they dont stop here. They are adding punchlines- “We hope that not only our product is consumed responsibly with fine food and friends but that they are also inspired to learn more about Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent methods of civil disobedience. So many Indian people here in American love our tribute to the great man,”
They should learn how to respect Gandhi from us, Indians.  His statues keep on biting dust, for 363 days a year, sometimes, 365.25 as well! His principles long forgotten by all except a politically retarded old man in white caps and an ‘anarchist’ chief-minister. This year was even great. People were busy taking selfies and photographs with brooms, because Gandhi believed in cleanliness. Its really great that a PM helped his citizens remember Gandhi’s cleanliness freak 77 years after his death. Thousands of roads and streets have been named after Gandhi. Do we even think twice before spitting on the same roads! We stock alcohol on 1st October to celebrate the dry next day. That’s how we respect Gandhi! Who cares for Gandhi, except for the fact that his face appears on the notes. The notes which is circulated in so many hands in a day and finally kept in wallets, near the bums. Occasionally, to avoid breathing difficulties to Gandhi, people also have to fart. This is how we celebrate the cult called Gandhigiri
i.mg 1000
Who resorts to non-violence after drinking, except the Munna bhai saying Lage raho! Who cares to bow to any statue of him even for a second. And who walks without slippers on roads named after him!
I request Arnab Goswami, on behalf of our countrymen to raise this issue in his show so that Gandhi meets justice, as his shows have far-reaching effects.


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A safer place for women- How?


With reference to several articles on the recent ‘Uber’ incidence, don’t we think we have reached a stage where we just debate the consequences without doing some groundwork to prevent the unfortunate happenings. If our society is so dominated by male-chauvinism, with our full realisation, did we ever take any step to make it moderate and civilized!

Unfortunately, NO. Its not that we are suddenly realizing these evils. They were always there. It has been in recent decades that the media takes upon these topics and has been successful in creating some awareness. Woman commission has always been there, schools, teachers parents clergy, priests, bollywood and all the proponents of good and correct path were always there. Why didn’t then we teach our children the true values. One may argue that moral education classes in schools is a waste of time. How can it be if taken through correct discourse? Moral education as curriculum and inculcating moral values are two different things.
As we teach our children not to steal money or rob people of their belongings but help the blind cross the road, we have to teach them to respect women and their body and to understand that a woman’s no means NO. Here we have a general notion that there is a yes even in a girl’s no (Remember, Ladki ki naa me bhi haan hoti hai?). I myself have joked over this many times and i do feel sorry about this. We have to teach our children from an early age that women are not objects/commodities on which betting and ownership can be claimed. Parents, being the first teachers have to take up this responsibility so that the next generation is more civilized and learns to respect women.Jpeg
Charity begins at home. Let’s prevent future embarrassments by investing in today’s children. Empowerment won’t come through media debates but by doing our homeworks!
© 2014 Piyush Kaviraj


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Cheering up our cancer patients – I


Cancer, being a major killer, affects almost every family on this earth, directly or indirectly. The lack of enough awareness and proper cure often leads to poor response from patients, impacting their survival and the quality of life. Treatment, especially chemotherapy/radiotherapy have many side-effects, with hair loss being the most prominent. Other effects include changes in skin texture and coloration, and ulcers. Physical features, especially hairs,  are always a prized possession for all of us, and remains a matter of concern. Often, they are an indication of our health as well as well being- socially, culturally and financially.
Cancer treatment being a costly affair adds to the severe discomfort and side-effects faced by the patients. All these start affecting the patients psychologically and a feeling of guilt may develop. Guilt of being a family wrecker, guilt of being  a cause of nuisance to all, guilt of letting time and money go waste, without any hope of return. Each moment in front of the mirror reminds them of their situation and misery. Loss of hair, being the hallmark of cancer treatment, isn’t the bullet-mark of pride to a soldier. Loss of hair is the remnant scar which the cancer has afflicted upon the patients. Such scars may even lead to various negative thoughts. Being irritated all the time is a normal behavior. Frequent mood swings and emotional outbursts may be encountered. At times, one may loose temper and may be insulting as well.

Does this mean we, the relatives, the caretakers and the well-wishers should remain helpless? That getting irritated and sometimes yelling may be the natural reaction to their sufferings has to be understood. We can practice not getting agitated by such reactions, even though we may have to face it several times a week. We can imagine ourselves in their situation to understand their agony. We can always take the lead and initiatives to cheer up our unfortunate friends.
A smile on face is always a welcome step.  We can often compliment our patients about their inner beauty and the bravery with which they are facing the situation. How they are the inspiration to millions like us who start complaining at the drop of a hat. How the presence and absence of hair has no bearing on our liking them should be stressed. We being their first world are more important to them than other individuals, and vice versa is true should also be conveyed to them. We can always tell them how important and precious they are to us, irrespective of their hair; for its they who are important, and not their hair and physical features. We can also quote the religious scriptures, for they provide with the much needed spiritual guidance.

 

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