Different Strokes

The thought process that follows an event is usually riddled with instinctive reactions from the heart and not from the head.
Although what you react at the spur of the moment may not always be politically correct but more often than not it is the voice within you that surfaces and is the true face of your character.
The beating up of some Hindu children in Pakistan for drinking water from a mosque is what led me to think.

Instinctively because I am an urban,open minded and fairly well travelled Indian it seemed petty. It is the work of illiterate and small minded people who till today see differences on the basis of religion or for that matter caste colour or creed.

Once the initial reaction wanes and the mind takes over you realize that it's not that petty.
The event has not happened because a few villagers thought that others were unclean or unsuitable. It is in fact a culmination of a collective thought process of a society/mankind that thrives on discrimination.

Politics all over the world divides people in more ways than medically possible. Whether it is through religion or demographics, the better you carve ensures the length of your survival. And it all boils down to survival of the fittest by trying to create an illusion of superiority for those carved.
Now opening the field further and not making this a political issue, I seek to substitute the word politics with "Power Junkies".
Now if you see objectively you can fit in any of the following "America", "Al Qaeda", "Taliban", "Mayawati", "Congress","BJP", "Maoists", "Somali Pirates" ,"Khap" and a thousand others yet the meaning never changes.

I am better than you because my power junkie says so..

Think about it. It applies in every situation where there is power. An office, a factory, ministries, cricket, anywhere where there is a possibility of one showing superiority over the other. Divide and you shall prevail.

It is the ego satisfaction need of humans to seek to achieve power and dominance over other humans. It is when dementia and megalomania takes over that the need to manipulate minds in destructive fashion and to get power through fear dictates the state of our living. Sad but true.

The Unwanted Indian Politician

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction as politicians do not go to Heaven. Straight, plain, simple and true.

Once upon a time (since it is a fairy tale) the angel Gabriel came up to the Lord and said "I have a serious problem. We've got some Indians up here in Heaven and they have created havoc. They have put up traffic barriers and are wearing Armani kurtas instead of their simple white robes. They are also riding BMW's and Mercedes', instead of the chariots and are insisting on registration numbers between 1 and 10. "

"They refuse to keep the stairway to Heaven clear and are forever missing sermons for what they call Working Committee meetings. They have put up party flags and hand symbols all over Heaven and are even challenging your election as being undemocratic.They have given out contracts to the holy food providers to supply samosas and tea to their meetings. The others are being very inconvenienced and they need to be disciplined. Oh Lord please help me!"

The Lord as usual listens patiently, then holds his head "Who is this Amar Singh guy?" He asks.

Gabriel shakes his head and says "All I know is that I got an SMS from him saying that he supports my election from the minority community....whatever that means."

"Well" says the Lord "He's set up a hotline between Heaven and Hell and Satan is on the line now and i just have to say the word 'Mayawati' to disconnect"

Satan on line 1 Sir . "Yes ...this is the Lord what can I do for you".

"Lord , Hi, i was wondering if you have been facing the same problem as us down here?" says Satan. " We have got a bunch of Indians who have practically taken over the place. They blend in with their saffron robes and have started planting Lotuses all over Hell." "They have practically destroyed the character of this place and have started installing air conditioning and have imposed what they call as a Uniform Civil Code."

"I am quite fed up and have decided once and for all that my people are not going to take in anyone with the Keywords "Indian" "Politician" involved with them. You can have them all if you want."

"Nooooooo...." says the Lord "Not over my dead body (sic)." "Lets just keep sending them back and let them fight it out amongst themselves."

In the absence of consensus the onus of broking a deal fell back on who else but 'Amar Singh' (The Immortal Lion).

Finally after much persuasion and reservation of few administrative seats for secular parties and minorities in both Heaven and Hell it has been decided to create a Buffer Zone where all the Indian Politicians will be kept and their memories erased so that they cannot have any 'Raaz Pichle Janam Ka'. Signing out..... 'Mayawati'!!!!!