इश्क़ की तालीम ग़ालिब!

मैं तुम्हें उतना ही चाहता हूँ जितना आम बसंत चाहता है, जितना पीलापन सरसों और देश की दही जनता जितनी शिद्दत से दो दफे भरपेट खाना चाहती है.
न शिद्दत से चाहा बसंत ही आता है भर के, न सरसों के फूल बच पाते हैं कीड़ों से, न दो दफे खाना मिलता है सबको... न तुम ही मुझे इतनी शिद्दत के बावजूद.
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'शोना' आज़ादी के बाद हमने 'हिंदुस्तानी' से 'उर्दू' के लफ्ज़ हटाने की कोशिश की थी, हिंदी को 'प्योर' बनाने. जो हिंदी बनी न तो हमें समझ आई और न हिंदी के ज्ञानी छात्रों को. मुझे निकाल तुम्हें 'प्योर' करने की कोशिशों में तुम कितनो को कितनी समझ आ रही होगी?
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तीसरे शहर के दुसरे किनारे पे जो तुम्हारा ठिकाना है, न सुना है वहां कभी ग़ालिब की माशूका रहा करती थी. जिससे एक दफे ग़ालिब मिलने गए और लौट के बेग़म की मार खाये. इश्क़ हमेशा चोट देता है... मिल जाये तो बीवी की मार न मिले तो दिल के दर्द.
मेरी होने वाली बेग़म तुमसे उतनी ही नफ़रत करती हैं जितना मैं तुमसे इश्क़ करता था... लेकिन उससे कहीं ज्यादा प्यार, जितना तुम मुझसे करती थीं.
इश्क़ में कितने सवाल हैं ग़ालिब... औ' इश्क़ कितनों जवाब है.
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बल्लीमारां के पते पे ख़त लिखा है... उम्मीद है जवाब आएगा. तेरे निशां बचे हैं, कुछ कुछ ठिठुर गए हैं ठण्ड से दिल्ली की... फिर भी ज़िंदा हैं कुछ कुछ...ग़ालिब
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'उफ़! तुम इश्क़ पे नहीं लिखते... तुम्हें नहीं पता की क्या है मरना जीना किसी पे और रातों को खोना यादों में किसी की? तुम लिखने से पहले इश्क़ की तालीम लो शायर! नज़्म इश्क़ पे न हों तो क्या खाक नज़्म हुई?'
'अगर मैं देश पे नहीं लिखूंगा तो देश के बारे मैं कौन सोचेगा?'
'तुम्हारा बाप. गधे!' मेरेअंदर ग़ालिब की आत्मा घुस आई. बल्लीमारान से लौटे थे कल ही. 

honest mistake

8) Is an ‘honest mistake’ unethical yet forgiveable? Illustrate with suitable examples. (150 Words)

The Hindu

“An honest mistake” is a mistake committed unintentionally without the intent to hurt anyone or oneself. An ‘Honest Mistake’ may or may not be unethical – it depends on the degree of pain caused, violation of rules and laws, and the degree of guilt felt.

Some may emphasise on an Individual’s character (Virtue Ethics) and to the fact that no Human Being is infallible; others may see the consequences or the rules being defied (Deontological/Teleological Ethics) to decide whether the mistake is ethical or unethical.

If a 6 year old child playfully shoots at his younger sibling using a loaded gun and kills her, it is neither unethical nor unforgivable. The child is ignorant and innocent. It is an honest mistake of whose consequences the child is unaware of.

An honest mistake can be forgiven if the person who has committed mistake immediately realizes, sincerely apologises and bears responsibility to the consequences. Even if the act is unethical, such as killing someone’s pet dog to save a small child on the road if situation demands so.

Forgiveness is the virtue which depends on the value system of the victim. In the example, if the person, who owns the dog, forgives the driver, it’s an example of ethical behaviour as it lessens the guilt of the driver and also makes the forgiver magnanimous. Even though killing the dog is unethical here, the act can be forgiven thanks to the life of child saved as a consequence of this act.

If a surgeon commits a mistake that’s unintentional and results in loss of a life, the act might be considered unethical and unforgivable by the kith and kin of the diseased. Even though the doctor might have wanted to save the patient, he is unsuccessful due to a mistake – intentional or unintentional. Because it’s is his profession, he cannot justify on the grounds of honest mistake. If the death was cause even after following correct procedures, the act is both ethical and forgiveable.

In the recent case of Sharapova’s confession about consuming the banned drug meldonium for past ten years, the act is not an honest mistake as the drug is already a banned drug by USFDA in USA where she is living for past many years. It is unforgivable as it’s a breach of trust of fans, and non-compliance of rules governing the sport. It is unethical as her act has violated equality and fairness in competition.

Thus, an honest mistake can both be ethical and unethical, or forgiveable and non-forgiveable: it depends of circumstances, value system of individuals and society, intent of the act and on the degree of consequences.

Conscience

Conscience help us to restrict ourselves from any wrongful doing. It help us to distinguish between right and wrong, just and unjust.
But conscience is not the inner knowledge of right and wrong. It is based on our life experience, social norms which defines right and wrong rather than our logic and reason.
For examples. we can take female genital mutation, child marriages, polygamy etc which are prevalent in many societies therefor these are not considered as unjust or wrong in these societies, and hardy put any pressure on conciseness of people from these societies before committing these actions.
Many times conscience compels us to justify our actions.. even if reasons and ethics indicate otherwise. At individual and social level it can be improved through evolution and moral education. But many times it remains underdeveloped. Conscience based decision can seems right and just but if thee decisions are not accompanied with reason and ethics, these can adversely affect one and others.
But it is a necessary devices to maintain the basic level ethics of human being, if we can not come with reasons in some instances, where taking immediate decision is necessary, Conscience can at east stop one to take any action which is considered wrong.

Greenness of Recent Budget

Greenness of Recent Budget,

1. 150 crore allotted to national afforestation program

(But, 150 crore is not sufficient to carry out Afforestation programme to desired extent)

2. Efforts to meet the target of 175 GW energy from renewable sources by 2022

            (But, funding reduced for Renewable energy projects and MoEF)

3. Increasing carbon cess on Coal by 200 rupees per tonne to 400 rupees.

            (Effort must be made to replace coal with renewable source, not increased imposition of cess)

4. Promote organic  farming  through  ‘Parmparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana’

(Carbon sequestration, Sustainable agriculture, Reduced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, Protection of biodiversity, Reduced dependence on Fertilizers, pesticides – Prevents Eutrophication, nitrate pollution of water sources, biomagnifications etc.)

5. Facility of cooking gas connection for BPL families

   (Indoor air pollution checked, use of firewood eliminated)

6. Programme for  sustainable  management  of  ground  water  resources

5 lakh farm ponds and dug wells in rain fed areas and 10 lakh compost pits for production of organic manure will be taken up under MGNREGA

(Resource recycling, Compost – Carbon sequestration, Farm pond – Water use efficiency, Ground water conservation)

7. Soil Health Card scheme will cover all 14 crore farm holdings by March2017.

  (Prevention of soil pollution, Reduced fertilizer consumption)

8. Green Highways to grow avenue trees along National Highways

But, the budget failed to look into deeper following issues related to green economy

No funds for biodiversity protection: forests,lakes,ponds,wetlands and other biological diversity.

2.No efforts to reduce carbon footprints: Efforts to shift to a low carbon economy are non existent. A    low carbon footprint ensures a healthier economy.
Wildlife habitats:No measures to set up national parks and WLS
No dedicated funds:A separate Green Protection Fund should be set up for environmental protection.
R&D:Increase in funds for R&D in environment are lacking. R&D would have led to better Waste Disposal methods, reducing air pollution, increased efficiency of renewable sources of energy
No polluter pays principle – A tax on pollution by industries,cars,etc could have been imposed to foster a greener country.

safeguard against fascism is to establish social justice

“The best safeguard against fascism is to establish social justice to the maximum extent possible.” Critically comment. 

Establishing social justice can potentially act as a preventive measure against fascism (form of radical authoritarian nationalism). Social justice bind people with rights and duties in the society where they can share the opportunities, resources, wealth and privileges along with the burden of cooperation. In contrast structural discrimination is ill for society and pro-fascism.

But only social justice cannot prevent fascism alone, economic justice (rise of fascism in Europe was outcome of social and economic injustice) is also needed. We need liberties of a person to be compatible with liberties of other (freedom of speech does not mean hatred speech which breaches right of dignified life of others) so that feeling of insecurity, inferiority does not arise, at the same time equality (social, civil, political, economic, legal) too has a big role to play since fascism opposes liberalism. Ruling authority must emphasise on equality, liberty and justice in its policies and actions, in letter and spirit.

G-20

G-20 is an international forum that came up after the financial crisis of 1999 in order to facilitate economic cooperation at international level. Though G-20 leaders have made coalitions making it difficult to agree to a common point and there is an absence of enforcement mechanism, the G-20 can't be labeled as a failure. The 'success' of G-20 is evident by its role played during the economic crisis of 2008 and the recent volatile environment in global economy-
* Increased the lending from IMF institutions to help countries in 'economic reconstruction'
* Collected information on shadow banking system that remain outside the regulatory framework
* Endorsing India's stand on black money that can otherwise make the economic system even more fragile
* Discussing measures to widen the financial safety net to contain and avoid propagation of financial crisis

However, there are certain issues that have raised doubts over its role in this time of financial crisis-
* Pledge to raise group GDP by 2% by 2018 remain a distant dream in the wake of current trends
* Competitive devaluation has not come to halt despite repeated persuasion by the G-20 leaders

Thus, it can be said that G-20 though successful faces some roadblock in realizing its full potential. Persuading the members to avoid indulgence in currency wars that have the potential to impact the financial security of nations should be the way forward.

Chitto jetha Bhayashunyo - Where the mind is without fear

One of the charismatic poem by Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur from his Geetanjali. On the eve of 64th independence day of India, I convey my regards and wishes to fellow Indians.

Original Bengali version:

চিত্ত যেথা ভয়শূন্য উচ্চ যেথা শির,
জ্ঞান যেথা মুক্ত, যেথা গৃহের প্রাচীর
আপন প্রাংগণতলে দিবস-শর্বরী
বসুধারে রাখে নাই খণড ক্ষুদ্র করি,

যেথা বাক্য হৃদযের উতসমুখ হতে
উচ্ছসিয়যা উঠে, যেথা নির্বারিত স্রোতে,
দেশে দেশে দিশে দিশে কর্মধারা ধায়
অজস্র সহস্রবিধ চরিতার্থতায়,

যেথা তুচ্ছ আচারের মরু-বালু-রাশি
বিচারের স্রোতঃপথ ফেলে নাই গ্রাসি -
পৌরুষেরে করেনি শতধা, নিত্য যেথা
তুমি সর্ব কর্ম-চিংতা-আনংদের নেতা,

নিজ হস্তে নির্দয় আঘাত করি পিতঃ,
ভারতেরে সেই স্বর্গে করো জাগরিত ||

Devanaagari transliteration

चित्त जेथा भयशून्य ,उच्च जेथा शिर ,
ज्ञान जेथा मुक्त जेथा गृहेर प्राचीर
आपन प्रांगणतले दिवसशर्वरी
बसुधारे राखे नाइ खण्ड खण्ड क्षुद्रकरि,

जेथा वाकय हृदयेर उत् समुखहते
उच्छ्वसिया उठे , जेथा निर्वारित स्रोते
दशे देशे दिशे दिशे कर्मधारा धाय
अजस्र सहसबिध चरितार्थताय-

जेथा तुच्छ आचारेर मरुबालुराशि
बिचारेर स्रोतःपथे फेले नाइ ग्रासि,
पौरुषेरे करे नि शतधा-नित्य जेथा
तुमि सर्व कर्म चिन्ता आनंदेर नेता-

निज हस्ते निर्दय आधात करि पितः,
भारतेर सेइ स्वर्गे करो जागरित।

Hindi Translation - कवि शिवमंगल सिंह "सुमन" द्वारा

जहां चित्त भय से शून्य हो
जहां हम गर्व से माथा ऊंचा करके चल सकें
जहां ज्ञान मुक्त हो
जहां दिन रात विशाल वसुधा को खंडों में विभाजित कर
छोटे और छोटे आंगन न बनाए जाते हों

जहां हर वाक्य हृदय की गहराई से निकलता हो
जहां हर दिशा में कर्म के अजस्त्र नदी के स्रोत फूटते हों
और निरंतर अबाधित बहते हों
जहां विचारों की सरिता
तुच्‍छ आचारों की मरू भूमि में न खोती हो
जहां पुरूषार्थ सौ सौ टुकड़ों में बंटा हुआ न हो
जहां पर सभी कर्म, भावनाएं, आनंदानुभुतियाँ तुम्हारे अनुगत हों

हे पिता, अपने हाथों से निर्दयता पूर्ण प्रहार कर
उसी स्वातंत्र्य स्वर्ग में इस सोते हुए भारत को जगाओ

English Translation

Where the mind is without fear
and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been
broken up into fragments by the tireless efforts of men;

Where words come out from
the depth of truth;
Where the currents of tireless striving originate
and flow without hindrance all over;

Where the clear stream of reason and thoughts has not lost its way into the dreary
desert sand of lowly habits and deeds;
Where the valour is not divided in 100 different streams;
Where all the deeds, emotions are blissfully given by you

My father, strike the sleeping India without mercy,
so that she may awaken into such a heaven.

RTE: NDP and CCE

Right to education mandates no detention provision (NDP) and CCE at the elementary school stage. They aim to address the problems of high drop out rates, inequality,educational load etc.

Why such provisions were added..
NDP provision is made as compelling a child to repeat a class is demotivating and discouraging whereas CCE is a procedure that will be non threatening, releases the child from fear and trauma of failure etc.

Why NDP and CCE has become controversial..

A. This policy has led to lackadaisical attitude with there no risk of failing 
B.. No distinction between good or bad students.
C.. Sharp fall in learning outcomes and academic level. 
D.. The CCE has failed to take off in most schools owing to lack of basic capacity and awareness.

What can be done..
A.. counselling to ascertain the reasons why a child is failing constantly. 
B.. Learning capacity,achievements and progress of a student should be measured from time to time by conducting tests.
C.. Additional classes or special coaching for children who are weak in studies. 
D.. Teacher training programmes must be revised in line with the requirements of CCE.

To conclude.. measuring the learning level outcomes of all children on catalyzing a performance and rewarding high performers at every level, changing stakeholders mindset and preparing them for new provisions in which parents are made accountable for full attendance of their children..

आत्महत्या

क्यूंकि पत्थर भी आवाज़ करते हैं एक दिन 
क्यूंकि आदमी भी सहते सहते चुक जाता है 
क्यूंकि उम्मीद आँखों से निकल बाजुओं तक पहुँच जाती है 
क्यूंकि लड़ने के लिए शब्द कम पड़ जाते हैं 
क्यूंकि मरना-मारना आखिरी उपाय रह जाता है 
इसलिए आदमी कर लेता है आत्महत्या या कर देता है हत्या
आत्महत्यायें हत्या के पहले की आहट बस होती हैं
आहट कि लोग सहते सहते चुक चुके हैं
आहट कि लोग पत्थर उठाने के लिए झुके हैं
आहट कि अब तुम्हारा सिर बचाने का वक़्त आ गया है.

हक़

नाहक ही हक़ की बातें हैं

नाहक ही हक़ का किस्सा है

जिनके घर में लाठी है

सब उनका ही हिस्सा है.

डूब मरे जो कहने पहुंचे

कुछ हमको भी मिलना है

लोकतंत्र में 'लोक' है हम

हमसे देश चलना है.

देश चलाने वालों ने 

बदला अपना नाम

बदली अपनी कदकाठी

न बदला काला काम.

कई किस्सों की आज़ादी

दो हिस्सों में बंट गई

एक हिस्से में रोटी है

एक की आंते कट गईं.

मैं कहता हूँ बंद करो

ये लड़ना-भिड़ना, मरना-मिटना

बारूद उठाओ ख़त्म करो

जो नाहक हक़ का किस्सा है.

लाठियां तोड़ छीन लो सारा,

जो तुम्हारा हिस्सा है.

राख उठाओ अपनी खुद ही

खुद का जीवन अंत करो.

युद्ध करो, छीनो, ले लो

या युद्ध में ही अंत हो.