Man Buried Alive - Exclusive Video Never Before

In December 2006 what prompted me to start this blog indiavikalp was a news story of a dalit man Ram Prasad Das being buried alive in Bihar, while the Bihar government watched. Two days later when Aaj Tak Reporter Kumar Abhishek visited the village Karhaiya in Supaul he was brutally attacked by the villagers. So even now many years later no reporter has yet dared to go back to the Supaul village.

Indiavikalp releases an exclusive video of the man being buried alive (Caution: this is not for the faint-hearted).



BLIND FAITH & BLIND GOVERNMENT

By Manuwant Kumar Choudhary

In a shocking incident a dalit man Ram Prasad Das claiming to be a sadhu...is buried alive in village Karhaiya in Supaul, Bihar, India, on November 28. Fifteen days earlier its alleged he announced he would be taking a samadhi (an ancient Hindu way of taking one's own life)...and true to his claim he was buried alive with all festivities by his followers and for the first time ever the 'SAMADHI' is on video CD.

Shockingly, everyone including the Bihar government is aware of this social practice in Bihar's villages but do nothing to stop this man from ending his life or even prevent the villagers of committing murder.

All night the dalit man gives blessings to his bhaktas (followers) and by morning he is lifted and placed in a wooden box, the lid covered, and the box lowered into the open grave in full public view with followers seeking his personal blessings as he departs on his heavenly journey...

The video CD is taken by one of his followers and by some chance it falls into the hands of local stringers of TV news channels. Aaaj Tak carries the story...but two days later when their reporter Kumar Abhishek visits the Supaul village....angry villagers attack him and his crew including a CNN - IBN representative with bamboo sticks. The TV crew just about manage to escape.

What is shocking that a man buried alive does not make headline news in Bihar's newspapers or even national newspapers and such is the media competition these days that even other TV channels don't think its a story. Sahara TV a few days later carry the footage on the samadhi followed by footage on attacks on journalists.

Its said that after the first media leak of the samadhi the local police on orders from higher ups went to the village and threatened the villagers that if they did not give a signed undertaking that the dalit man died before he was buried they would all be charged with murder. So all the villagers did as the police asked them to....and when the media team visited to make full inquiries they were attacked in full presence of the police.

Later the District Magistrate of Supaul Mr. Shareef Alam instead of arresting the villagers..threatens the mediamen. Even the Bihar Home Commissioner Mr. Afzal Amanullah tells Aaj Tak that they would naturally be attacked if they do such stories.
And in Bihar most say journalists who do stories against the sentiments of villagers will naturally be attacked.

So far there is no condemnation of the samadhi from any political party and no word from Bihar's Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar who perhaps only believes in image make-overs for Bihar.

A sad story for `samajik nyay' or social justice that when a dalit man is buried alive there are no protests. But when miscreants damage a B.R. Ambedkar statue in Uttar Pradesh....the Dalits burn the Deccan Queen train in Maharashtra.

Meira Kumar As Speaker To Silence Bihar!

By Manuwant Choudhary

In politics everything is a political move...even appointments of Speakers...but in the case of Meira Kumar's appointment..it has little to do with her being a woman or a dalit....she has been appointed only to silence Bihar.

Just like Somnath Chatterjee was appointed Speaker to keep the 60 Communist MPs in place.

Meira Kumar was only a few days ago made a minister for water resources - Bihar's lone minister.

And with all Bihar's MPs being in the opposition Bihar's issues like floods and Special Status was expected to be raised `noisily'.

Now Bihar's MPs will have to sit quietly for the next five years.

Forget jumping into the well of the house and forget fighting for Bihar.

Breaking News: Flood Waters Enter Villages in Madhubani

By Manuwant Choudhary

News just coming in is that flood waters have entered a few villages in Phoolparas in Madhubani district after seapage in the embankments of the Bhuthee Balan river.

Water has entered the homes of people and local villagers are rescuing the women and children trapped.

So far there is no sign for the state government, which had only two days ago claimed that there would be no floods in Bihar and all embankments were safe.

Its still not known about the extent of the floods right now.

Floods are an annual affair in these parts but this time its been early and sudden and at night which has caught people unaware.

Teens Kidnap, Kill 8-year-old Satyam in Patna

By Manuwant Choudhary

In Bihar its back to business..yes you got that right - the business of kidnapping but this latest incident has shocked even kidnappers in Bihar...teens Avinash and Monu kidnap their eight year old neighbour Satyam, demand ransom of 5 lakh rupees and when its not paid Satyam is sodomised and killed.

A plot perhaps even film director Prakash Jha could not have imagined.

The Bihar police like always came in late.

And now the arrested teens say they were influenced by Prakash Jha's film Apharan.

The latest case is not one-off...Bihar's crime scene is bleak at best..calling off the media's bluff about Nitish Kumar's turnaround of Bihar.

Newspapers receive so much government ads that they are simply not newspapers anymore - they have become an arm of the government and political parties.

Even national editors are on government appointed panels in Bihar and so Bihar's issues are off the national news.

But just look at the other news coming out of Bihar that you will not see on national TV at all:

1) Businessman robbed of 30 lakh rupees.

2) Gypsies Kill one person and angry villagers burn an entire gypsie village in revenge.

3) A mother can't yet find her son kidnapped 6 months ago even after paying 1.5 lakh rupees.

4) Two more kidnapped victims killed in Bettiah.

5) In Samastipur a local businessman Rajendra Sah killed and angry villagers burn four police vehicles.

This is to name just a few.

And its an irony that Bihar gets just one minister in the union cabinet and for the next five years all of Bihar's politicians will be sitting in the opposition.

But there is some good news... both Prakash Jha and Sadhu Yadav lost in these elections.

Both tried their best to win - caste combinations and even appeals to criminals in prison for support.

And all criminals lost in these elections, even the two fielded by Nitish Kumar. Even the criminals wives lost.

Bihar's politicians, yet, do not see the writing on the wall.

They are simply illiterate.

Disgraced Former Chief Minister In India's Union Cabinet

By Manuwant Choudhary

In India everyone is promoted even the disgraced...like only six months after being forced to step down as chief minister of Maharashtra for his failure in the aftermath of the terror attack on Bombay, Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is now in India's union cabinet as minister for heavy industries.

As chief minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh failed in protecting Bombay but not just that he had taken Hindi film director Ram Gopal Verma on a tour of the Taj Mahal Hotel perhaps to see the sets first hand so that he could make a blockbuster.

This led to an outcry and his ouster but there is always a return in Indian politics.

And unlike South Korea no Indian politician has ever felt guilty or even thought of jumping off a cliff.

We are shameless.

But I just wonder when the minister for heavy industries would take Ramu on a tour of India's parliament...from Taj Mein Aag to Sansad Par Humla!

Everyone Wants US Dollars, Even Communist Kim Jong!

Pakistan Is A Terror Factory

By Manuwant Choudhary

The full-scale fighting in Swat and the resultant human displacement only prove the fact that Pakistan had over the years become a terror factory...brainwashing, training and arming terrorists to threaten the world.

Yesterday's attack in Lahore, very close to the ISI building, shows the Taliban can attack anyone, anywhere, even their former masters.

I was reading a BBC article published in 2000 on `Who Are The Taliban'? The report says the world came to know of the Taliban only in 1994 when Pakistan used them to provide cover to a convoy which was meant to open up a trade-route to central asia.

These Taliban men, mainly of Pashtun origin, had been trained in religious schools in Pakistan, and proved to be effective `bodyguards' against attacks on the convoy by other mujahideens.

The same religious training centres were used by Pakistn to train other mujahideens to fight in Kashmir and elsewhere.

But the Taliban had their own plans and they soon fought other war lords to gain control over 90 per cent of Afghan territory, except a small part in the north which was controlled by Ahmed Shah Masood, a tajek leader.

Soon Kabul came under the Taliban and they even wanted international recognition but the UN seat still remained with former President Burhanuddin Rabbani.

And when the US embassies were bombed in Kenya and the UN asked the Taliban to hand over Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban refused saying Osama Bin Laden was their `guest'.

Even during General Musharraf's rule the world saw what happend at Lal Masjid.

Pakistan's war within is going to be its toughest and success will come if they decide to shut their terror factories and remove corruption from their political lives thereby win the hearts and minds of ordinary Pakistanis.

Pakistan must shun `My criminals versus your criminals' mindset, if democracy is ever to become meaningful and order restored.

But with the billions in US dollars being poured into Pakistan by the United States and with President Zardari at the helm, things do not look positive - at least for now.

United States Demands Unconditional Release of Aung San Suu Kyi

The United States has demanded an unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and President Barack Obama has called the military junta to end `this show trial', if they want to be a respectable part of the international community.

Aung San has pleaded `Not Guilty' before the trial court and she says she committed no offence in allowing a man who swam to hear heavily protected home.

Aung San Suu Kyi Faces Trial today

By Manuwant Choudhary

Aung San Suu Kyi, the brave Burmese democracy leader, faces trial today and the charge being an American John Yettaw breaking into her heavily protected home, which is also her prison.

The European Union has called for the immediate release of Aung San, while foriegn ministers of ASEAN at Hanoi have also called for her release but Burma's military junta issued warnings against Thailand saying they will not tolerate interference in their `internal' affairs.

Surely, if you imprison an entire people, lock-up democracy itself and rule by brute force you have no soverignty left - the Burmese people need to be set free.

Not just sanctions the worlds powers must swim across the oceans just like John Yettaw did and set an example.

Burma must be freed.

Communist North Korea Joins Nuclear Club

North Korea has conducted successfully an underground nuclear test in defiance of international opinion, becoming the ninth country in the world to have nuclear weapons.

The others being....the US, Russia, France, China, Britain, India, Pakistan and Israel.

The explosion marked 4.7 on the Richter Scale in the asian region.

BBC reports that a short-range missile was also fired soon thereafter.

Its however not clear whether north Korea has the capability to mount nuclear war-heads onto missiles yet.

This test has heightened tensions in the region with South Korea and Japan particularly vulnerable but even the United States west coast can be targetted.

This is the second time North Korea has conducted nuclear tests, the first being in 2006. It just shows that South Korea's `Sunshine' policy is simply not working.

This nuclear test marks the complete failure of United States policy of nuclear non-proliferation.

The Bush regime had struck North Korea off its `terrorist state' list after North Korea promised it would abandon its nuclear program in exchange for fuel and dollars.

The world becomes more dangerous and can Iran now be far behind?

Wonder what `unclenched fist' President Barack Obama expected from his enemies.

LTTE Accepts Their Leader Is Dead

BBC News reports the LTTE now officially accepting the death of their `incomparable' leader whom they say attained `martyrdom' in the final battle.

The statement was signed by the defeated group's head of international relations, Selvarasa Pathmanathan.

" We have already announced that we have given up violence and agreed to enter a democratic process to achieve the rights for the Tamil (self) determination of our people " says Selvarasa Pathmanathan

It said that the LTTE had declared a week of mourning for their dead leader, starting on 25 May.

The statement called on Tamils all over the world to "restrain from harmful acts to themselves or anyone else in this hour of extreme grief".

Nepal's New Prime Minister?

Carla Bruni For Free Aung San Suu Kyi

By Manuwant Choudhary

One man who swam against the tide is John Yettaw - the American who risked everything to reach Aung San Suu Kyi - he says he was concerned about Aung San and wanted to see for himself if she was all right.

Some call Yettaw a mad man, while even supporters of Aung San say people like Yettaw only complicate matters because Aung San's house-imprionment term was set to expire by this month-end and now for the folly of one man she may get another 5 years in prison.

I would not buy the argument. Aung San was not released last year and not before that either.

If not for Yettaw the army would have put her in prison for another cooked-up plot.

Yettaw risked his own life for the people of Burma. He could easily have been shot dead by the military.

Yettaw did what the American government should be doing, what all governments in the free world should be doing, what the United Nations should be doing.

Aung San needs to be rescued and the people of Burma must be freed...democracy must be re-introduced and the military sent to the barracks.

But there is no word from American President Obama.

And no word from the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Governments would rather do business with military regimes..even arm them to attack their own people.

So its refreshing that Aung San gets some support in France where the First Lady Carla Bruni has written to the Burmese government to free Aung San Suu Kyi..if not for anything because her health is poor..for the sake of humanity.

But are the General's listening?

Aung San pleads `Not Guilty'.

American Yettaw is a hero. He must also be set free.

Burma VJ - Reporting From A Closed Country

A Burmese Video Journalist records a General taking a salute and the VJ has this to say, "This is my country and it has been this way for 40 years...so I decided to become a video journalist."

Expected to release globally on May 20 Burma VJ is a must see film even in these recession days.

It's Anders Østergaardʼs award-winning documentary and shows a rare inside look into the 2007 uprising in Myanmar through the cameras of the independent journalist group, Democratic Voice of Burma.

While 100,000 people (including 1,000s of Buddhist monks) took to the streets to protest the countryʼs repressive regime that has held them hostage for over 40 years, foreign news crews were banned to enter and the Internet was shut down.

The Democratic Voice of Burma, a collective of 30 anonymous and underground video journalists (VJs) recorded these historic and dramatic events on handycams and smuggled the footage out of the country, where it was broadcast worldwide via satellite.

Risking torture and life imprisonment, the VJs vividly document the brutal clashes with the military and undercover police – even after they themselves become targets of the authorities.

The film is well-timed as the media has been shut out from the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi - being tried after an intruder broke into her home that is also her prison.

A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD

Congratulations to Team Dave Hahn and his mountaineering team who scaled the Mount Everest and for sharing their amazing journey on their blog.

blog.firstascent.com

And you can see his report on Youtube that I have posted alongside, mountaineer Peter Whittaker sends his dispatch from the top of the world. He calls base camp, "We Are On The Top Of The World."

What a view!!!

Congrats.

This return to Everest was to pay respects to Eddie Bauer, the first American mountaineer to scale Everest.

And great reports..you put journalists to shame.

A Ticket to Delhi Please!

By Manuwant Choudhary

I visited the Patna Railway station yesterday and guess who was in queue - India's former railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav.

Lalooji: Dilli ka ek ticket dena (get me a ticket to delhi).

Ticket Clerk: Pehle aap line mein lagiye (First you get in line).

Lalooji: Don't you know who I am?

Ticket Clerk: No.

Lalooji: I am Shri Laloo Prasad Yadav...two days ago I was your railway minister.

Ticket Clerk: I do not know any railway minister.

Lalooji: Arre jaldee kar...train choot jayegee..

Ticket Clerk: Kaun See Train? (Which train?)

Lalooji: UPA train..nayee walee.

Ticket Clerk: Ab Bihar se koi nayee train nahin hai...sab UP se khultee hai..(Sorry no new trains from UP sabhee naye train UP se khulte hain..)

Lalooji: Tumko hum coolie se clerk banaye aur too itna kaam bhee nahin karta mere liye (I made you a clerk from a coolie and you cant do even that much for me.)

Ticket Clerk: Hum bhee to mantri se jantree bana diye aapko. Do you have a reservation on UPA train to Delhi?

Lalooji: Are kya reservation? Tumko pata nahin Mandal Reservation ke log hain hum.

Ticket Clerk: Wo nahin..train ka reservation.

Lalooji: Dekho uuu sab humko nahin pata hai..Arree sadhua ko bulao to isko dekh lega.

Lalooji ka aadmee, "Sadhuji ka to jamanat japt hai..aur unke paas to Patna aane ka bhara bhee nahin hai. Aur uuu to aapse naraaj hain."

Lalooji To Ticket Clerk: Arre bhai..reservation kya ..humko to tatkaal chahiye..paisa jo lena hai lo..."

Ticket Clerk ka phone baja..."Main Congress Adhyakhs Anil Sharma bol raha hoon...agar tatkal diya Lalooji ko to naukri gaya."

Ticket Clerk: Dekhiye Khirkee chodiye...aap helicopter waale train se kyon jaana chahte hain?

Lalooji: Are helicopter crash ho gaya isliye.

Tabhee pichee se...."Arre jaldee kar..hum bhee poorva railway mantri hain...

Ram Vilas Paswan apna samaan khud uthaye hue...."Aaj mujhe yeh din dekna par raha hai..na gendaa ka phool...na lal battee..aur yeh sab sirf dharmnirpeksh takat ke liye."

Lalooji: "Aiye, aiye Ram Vilas jee...mere paas to ticket hai..phir bhee yeh birth nahin deta....

Ram Vilas: Eee Jo hai ki jo...mere paas to ticket bhee nahin hai...seat bhee milega ki nahin...

Lalooji: Arre chaliye naaa..Soniya madam hain naa.

Ram Vilasji: Soniaji kya dengeen...mera to ghar jal gaya.

Lalooji: Tatkal nahin mila tab bhee dilli jana hai.

Ram Vilas: Maurya Lok mein ek baithtaa hai ticket waala...

Lalooji: Arre wo nahin..wo to apne baap ko ticket nahin dila sakta hai..

Ram Vilas: Tab kya..?

Lalooji: Bihar mein rahenge to Nitishwaa jail bhijwaa dega...

Ram Vilas: Chaliye humlog general compartment mein baitha jaye.

Lalooji: Usmein to pair rakhne ka jagah nahin hai...

Ram Vilas: Tab kya AC se chalna hai...

Lalooji: Student days mein hum chalte the AC se..train ke chhatt par baitke...

Ram Vilas: Chaliye, chaliye humlong Punjab hee cahala jaye..mazdooree karne.

Tabhee peeche se: Main bhee poorva rail mantri hoon..Pradhan mantri ka ticket milega kya? Rahulji mujhe pasand karte hain..aur main Advaniji ko pasand karta hoon aur Advaniji...Narendra bhai ko pasand karte hain...main to Ulta-Pulta Alliance ka PM banna chahta hoon.

LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran's Body Found

CNN's correspondent Sarah Snider reports Sri Lankan State TV showing photographs of the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran killed and she says the photos do resemble that of Prabhakaran unless he has a trwin.

Earlier, an Elam spokesman had denied their leader was dead.

Is LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran Killed?

BBC Reports a Sri Lankan State TV broadcast quoted military officials as saying Prabhakaran was killed along with two of his deputies.

It said Prabhakaran, his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Soosai, the head of the rebels' naval wing, were shot dead in an ambush in the Mullivaikal district while trying to escape the war zone in an ambulance.

Earlier, at least three senior rebel leaders were killed, including Prabhakaran's eldest son, Charles Anthony, the military said.

However, an Elam spokesperson on a Tamil website claimed `their beloved' leader was well and alive and would continue to work for the Tamil cause.

But if what the Sri Lankan government says is true it would mean an end to a 26 year old conflict but at what cost.

A huge humanitarian effort is needed to help the displaced Tamils get back home. 80,000 people are said to have been killed in the conflict.

Meg Ryan For Free Aun San Suu Kyi

Free Aung San Suu Kyi

Burmese freedom fighter and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been under government-sponsored house arrest for 13 of the past 19 years. As Suu Kyi awaits an upcoming trial on May 18 on charges meant to extend her imprisonment, Not On Our Watch has organized an international statement calling for her release. Luminaries from across the cultural, political, and social spheres, including Not On Our Watch founders George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, as well as Bono, Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Nobel Laureates Professor Elie Wiesel and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Senator John McCain, among others, have united to demand that the Burmese military regime free Aung San Suu Kyi now.

The statement and full list of signatories follow below.

FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Nineteen years ago, the Burmese people chose Aung San Suu Kyi to be their next leader. And for most of those 19 years she has been kept under house arrest by the military junta that now runs the country. She is the world’s only incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

Yesterday Suu Kyi was taken to Burma’s Insein prison to face criminal charges as part of a concerted plan to deny her freedom.

We must not stand by as she is silenced once again. Now is the time for the United Nations and the entire international community to speak clearly, and with one voice: Free Aung San Suu Kyi.

In support,

George Clooney
Sec. Madeleine Albright
Wes Anderson
Bono
Matthew Broderick
Sandra Bullock
James Carville
Daniel Craig
John Cusack
Matt Damon
Robert De Niro
Jake Gyllenhaal
Václav Havel
Helen Hunt
Anjelica Huston
Scarlett Johansson
Nicole Kidman
Ashton Kutcher
Norman Lear
Madonna
Mary Matalin
Sen. John & Cindy McCain
Rose McGowan
Orhan Pamuk
Sarah Jessica Parker
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro
Brad Pitt
Julia Roberts
Robert Rodriguez
Salman Rushdie
Meg Ryan
George Soros
Steven Spielberg
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Prof. Elie Wiesel
Owen Wilson

9 Vote Verdicts In 2009

By Manuwant Choudhary

1) India says no to L.K. Advani for Prime Minister...and a No to Mandir-Masjid communal politics.

I have had the opportunity to cover several of Mr. Advani's pressers in the past and while I never agreed with his communal agenda he was always ready to take questions from a trainee reporter and answer them patiently although never wavering in his opinions. And when he wavered he praised the founder of Pakistan M.A. Jinnah out of context from the image he built and cultivated for himself over the years. Yet, I would say he is a democratic leader, more democratic than the Nehru-Gandhi family.
At leat he is not foisting his daughter Pratibha on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the people of India.

2) That 50 per cent voters did not vote. I did not.

3) That the Congress Party still could not get a majority on its own.

4) The Left Parties lost So Left Is Out.

5) Mamata Banerjee and her dedicated struggle against SEZs in Singur and Nandigram plus an alliance with Congress helped her defeat the Communists.

6) That you cannot aspire to be PM when your alliance partners keep attacking Muslims, Biharis...everyone....

7) South India is also changing from its clean sweep politics, just regional parties are not enough to form a government at the centre.

8) That voters in Bihar vote for criminals, not for the wives of criminals.

9) That just as I pay my electricity bills although I get no electricity, we have another Congress government at the centre while we remain a dark democracy, I promise you nuclear energy will not light up my home in even the next five years.

The Shoe Market Reacts to Indian Elections!

By Manuwant Choudhary

Everyone reacts to the Indian elections…from politicians themselves, to pollsters in their khadi kurtas, to journalists, to the stock markets...to even bookies.

Like the Bombay Stock Market shows an upward trend after it becomes clear the Communist parties will get lesser seats than they got in the last elections.

And bookies with covered faces and 5,000 cellphones buzzing on Live TV predict show they are the real experts.

Still others like my friend (who did not vote) has switched-off his favourite undie TV news channel for today and tomorrow.

While `I Be PM’ TV News is gloating that for once in 20 years their pollsters have got it right! (Was that due to the Laws of Probability)

And G (Ganja) TV for once is not glorifying lesser criminals but rather focusing only on those criminals whom the voters will be sending to parliament.

But my source from Punjab called me up with something unique….and all the TV channels missed it..busy as they were with their `talking heads’.

My Source from Amritsar, “Sir, I have this BIG story for you.”

Me, “Tell Me. But I am only a blogger.”

My Source, “All the shoes in Punjab have been sold out.”

Me, “Why? Is it some religious custom to buy shoes this time of the year.”

Source, “No, sir. Everything is not religion. You see after India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh made that speech that Sikhs must forget about getting any justice for their kins killed in the 1984 Sikh riots, the Sikhs have decided to protest.”

Me, “But Dr. Manmohan Singh is on his way out..Isn’t he??”

Source, “Arre Sir, you do not understand. Punjab is barometer for rest of India. If shoes have sold out then Congress is winning.”

Me, “But its still not on TV.”

Source, “Sir, which TV…Yesterday News?”

Me, “Not even on Times When??”

Source, “Arre Sir, Forget TV..just break it on indiavikalp. You will thank me.”

So that’s what I did.

But it did not stop there. My cellphone has not stopped ringing since...

I’m getting calls from all across India.

Soon I realized that the country’s shoe market had reacted to the Indian elections.

So, since I am not an arm-chair journalist. I decided to check out shoe bazaars.

In Patna I visited the Bata showroom at Frazer road and saw senior journalist M.J. Akbar checking out shoes.

I said to myself look at this even senior journalists want to throw shoes.

But isn’t M.J. Akbar with the Congress Party? So why does he want to throw shoes at the Congress?

My friend, “Ah, you forget, he’s now with the BJP.”

As I was about to ask Mr. Akbar about it, Yesterday News on the showroom wall showed a panel discussion. And guess who was on air. It was M.J.Akbar.

Then who was this gentleman in the Bata? A store employee said, “Sir, he is M.J. Akbar’s brother.”

What a goof-up. Im sorry, I said.

Just then I get a call from Ayodhya.

Another source, “Sir I have this BIG story for u…”

Me, “What?”

Source, “All the shoes outside the temple gates have disappeared..hindus say it’s a `miracle’ just like Lord Ganesh drinking milk but I have investigated and found out that there is a secular leader who is collecting shoes just in case L.K. Advani becomes Prime Minister.”

Tringg…tring….another call…aah it looks like from disant Tamil Nadu.

Source, “Sir, its BIG story here..bigger than Punjab.”

I said now what?

Source, “There has been a clash..violence..9 people killed.?

Me, “Now that’s a story…tell me. Is it some terror strike?”

Source, “No, Sir. Madam Jayalalitha’s supporters were buying up all the shoes in Tamil Nadu.”

Me, “For whom for Jayalalitha. Ive heard she has 50,000 shoes already. She doesn’t need shoes.”

Source, “No Saar, not like dat..watta I tellinga you do natta understanda.”

Source, “No one can say who will win in Tamil Nadu so both sides are collecting shoes. And its actually an international story. I hear Vaiko is sending shoes by fishing vessels to Sri Lanka.”

Call from Mumbai, “Sir. One independent candidate has taken 54 crore rupees from a political party ..price for not contesting.”

Me, “54 crore rupees is a lot of money. Does the independent candidate plan to buy a house in Malabar Hill.”

Source, “No sir, he already has house in Malabar Hill.”

Then what?

Source, “He would have lost anyway but he decided to take the money because he can better serve democracy if he buys shoes worth 54 crores.”

Me, “But all that money may just go to that Samajwadi leader Abu Asim Azmi. He has a shoe shop at Colaba Causeway.”

Source, “Business is Business. Mumbai is about business. Even politics is business here.”

Again a call from Uttar Pradesh. Now what?

Source, “Sir, some Congressmen wanted to buy shoes to throw at Mayawati but in all of Uttar Pradesh they could not find shoes.”

Me, “Strange. Uttar Pradesh is a big state..bigger than United Kingdom..and no shoes.”

Source, “Sir, not that way. You see caste is so important here. All shoes are made by one caste chaamar and since Mayawati belongs to their caste they have decided to protect their leader.”

So Congressmen even went to the Bata factory at Faridabad to discover that Bata factory is closed but they did find shoes at the Bata outlet…the salesperson informed the shoes have been outsourced from China.

Congressman, “It’s okay ..at least we will get Comrade Karat’s support now…a Chinese shoe for Mayawati!”

My source in Madhya Pradesh, “Sir, our great leader Arjun Singhji’s supporters are buying shoes in MP.”

Me, “But why is everyone buying new shoes? Remember, the journalist who threw shoes at President Bush. He threw his own shoe. Even the one thrown by the journalist on P. Chidambaram was an old one.”

Source, “Arjun Singhji is a broken man after his daughter was denied a party ticket. We all built the party for Rahulji to become PM and Arjun Singhji’s daughter to become CM.”

So Arjun Singhji finally told his supporters today, “I now fully understand that the Gandhi family does not wear old shoes.”

My friend and colleague journalist (expert on Bofors) in Switzerland called up, "I'm on a flight to Italy. Because Italian shoes are best in the world. Id spend my months salary to buy a pair just for the Gandhi family!."

A call from the Patna railway station, “Sir, even coolies are buying shoes.”

For whom?

“For Lalooji of course, Coolies are angry despite the budget promise Lalooji never promoted them to gangmen.”

But I also hear there is a flood of support for Nitish Kumar and he might just win all seats….even become Prime Minister.

Just then I get a call from the Kosi belt in Madhepura, “Sir, I had to call you. It is my life’s wish to throw a shoe on Nitish Kumar. But I do not have even that. It all got washed away in last years Kosi floods.”

Conscience-Keepers In Prison

By Manuwant Choudhary

Among the worlds conscience-keepers are two compassionate individuals His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Burma's leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Dalai Lama for the past 50 years has been exiled from his home in Tibet and while he globe-trots giving peace lectures and winning the hearts and minds of the world and even acquiring a celebrity status..he has often said that he really does not care for all this if he and his people can return home.

The other, Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned within her country..put under house arrest by the military rulers..although she won a landslide victory in the elections.

The military would rather have Aung San leave Burma but this resolute woman refused to leave her impoverished people to a ruthless and corrupt military.

And everytime, every year, her house-arrest term is to expire the military extends it, except this year when an American man John William Yettaw swam across a lake and sneaked into her home.

For this intrusion in a heavily guarded house - Aung San is being put to trial.

If there is anyone who needs to be put on trial they are generals of the military junta.

Aung San is frail from her years under house arrest and now she has been sent to prison.

The world must protest and protest strongly.

If you are in London do show your solidarity oustde the Burmese embassy on May 18.

Time:
12:00 - 13:00
Location:
Burmese Embassy
Street:
19A Charles Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 5DX
Town/City:
London, United Kingdom

And write to your governments to stop doing business with such governments who do not have any morality because ultimately morals will save this world, not might.

India's Poor Maharaja's

By Manuwant Choudhary

The Swatantra Party in the sixties was unfairly called `A Party Of Maharajas' by India's Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi who wanted to nationalise banks and confiscate the gold of the goldsmiths across India.

Even then one of the founders of Swatantra Party Minoo Masani would point out that for every Maharaja that the Swatantra had ...the Congress had nine Maharaja's.

But the Swatantra Party does not exist anymore so where are India's erstwhile rulers?

They are where they always were..with the Congress Party.

And some with the Bhartiya Janata Party.

So its interesting to note a survey on the assets owned by former royals contesting these elections in India Today.

Ijyaraj Singh, a scion of the Kota Royal family, declares his current assets as Rs.18.01 crores.

While Rao Rajendra Singh, scion of Shahpur royal family, contests from Jaipur Rural, owns Rs.18.65 crores.

I would say they are very poor Maharaja's! Definitely, not the Maharaja's who would import a Rolls Royce from England specially designed for hunting expeditions. How many Rolls can u own with 18 crores?

I also call them poor because a farmer Suraj Bhan contesting from Delhi from the Rashtriya Janadhikar Party has assets of Rs.50.12 crores.

But even a carpenter working at my home said he will not work for him as this 50 crore Mr. Suraj Bhan has only a thousand rupees as cash in his bank account!

Mr. Suraj Bhan is just a reflection of the plight of farmers in independent India.

In India today there are no Maharajas, just a Maharani Sonia Gandhi and her scion Rahul Gandhi.

Broadcasting From The Top Of The World

A pioneering mountain expedition - The First Ascent - climbs the worlds highest mountain Mount Everest and broadcasts their climb through the internet and a blog.

Go to blog.firstascent.com

Its quite amazing how the mountaineers have taken a Mac Book Pro which they keep at basecamp and every leg of their journey is recorded by a camera on a disc which is then carried by a porter to basecamp, edited and uplinked via satellite phone onto the internet and You Tube.

So every day there is blog from Team Dave Hahn, the avalanche - the death of a sherpa - plus how the most high-tech weather forecasts can be proven wrong at the Everest.

Dave writes, "Plus there is a lot of traffic at the Everest and it would be a nightmare to get stuck on a long rope with climbers behind you still trying to understand their selves."

Dr. Manmohan Singh Does Not Believe In Justice

By Manuwant Choudhary

India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh says that for how long can the Sikhs keep alive the issue of the killings of their kin in 1984 Sikh massacres, rather they should forget about it and move on.

Remarks such as these coming from a man of the stature of Dr. Singh is shocking.

He does not deserve to be India's Prime Minister.

Prime Minister's should know that closure comes from justice and the Sikhs have got no justice in 25 years.
Not a single person behind the riots have been punished.

Like Rahul Gandhi says Bofors, the multi-crore gun deal, is a dead issue.

Why does the Congress Party want us to forget about all the issues when it still asks for sympathy votes reminding people how Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were killed serving the nation?

Shouldn't this party be forotten instead?

Even the Maoists of Nepal are better who keep quotes of Rabindranath Tagore along with Lenin and Marx. Tagore says, "Don't shut your door to hide your mistakes. Or else you may shut truth also."

I would say `bye-bye' Dr. Singh.

Pope As A Pilgrim of Peace In Israel-Palestine

France 24 International reports that the Pope is to visit Israel and the West Bank as a Pilgrim of Peace where he will visit not just christian holy sites but also Jewish and Moslem holy sites to pray for peace in the region and world.

Besides, the visit is significant since the Pope, himself a German, will visit a memorial for holocaust victims.

One palestinian said, "The pope must have a dove in one hand and an olive branch in the other."

The real question is can the Pope succeed in silencing the bombs and build bridges of peace in world torn apart by religious strife?

Yet, its a refreshing attempt at peace and symbolically maybe one day this visit will be remembered as a turning point in the history of the world.

But ultimately, Israel and Palestine must decide for themselves that when they destroy the other they destroy themselves.

Like Kashmir, since my college days the Arab-Israel conflict has challenged me.

But having seen the years go by I feel not enough is being done, hence the world becomes a more dangerous place.

I was reading an interview recently of Queen Rania of Jordan given to the Indian edition of Vogue, she talks about building bridges between the east and the west.

She is originally from West Bank from where her father, a padeatrician, moved to Kuwait and they suffered tremendously when Saddam invaded Kuwait and had to flee.

Queen Rania would easily be among the most beautiful women in the world but what makes her truly special is her attempt at peace.

The world needs to make a list of the messengers of peace and promote them to end conflicts forever.

Blessed are those who seek peace.

Crown Reopening for Statue of Liberty

Sky News reports that this July 4 America's independence day the crown of the Statue of Liberty will be re-opened to the public, the crown was shut to the public since 9/11 attacks.

But only 30 persons picked by lottery will be allowed every hour. So only 50,000 visitors can get up there in a year.

It will reopen for only two years following which more security measures will be undertaken.

The Statue of Liberty was gifted to America by the people of France and depicts the values America stands for.

Freedom and Liberty.

Understanding Capitalism Through Radio China International

By Manuwant Choudhary

In an Indian village there is no electricity and with no electricity you cannot watch TV or work on a computer so apart from tending one's garden and walking your dog ...all one can do is listen to the radio.

But in India the airwaves are mostly silent.

News is banned.

Only music is allowed on FM but on a hot summer how long can you tolerate a repeat of `Radio Mirchi' (Radio Chilli).

And there are no english songs.

So the next best option is to tune in to Nepal where independent FM chanels play great English love songs and even Hindi songs.

The radio jockeys are much better than ours and the listeners who call even better.

A girl sang impromtu a Hindi song on air and her voice was sweeter than Lata Mangeshkar.

Who says Nepal hates India? (maybe only prachanda and his warriors hate India)

Occasionally, you must smile at the callers and what names they have....one called up and gave his name as `Bandook Prasad' (Gun Prasad)

While another said his name was Adidas.

The jockey said, "By the way is your younger brother called Puma?"

Names in our region are either after Gods like Ram and Shyam or they are capitalist.

Like a labourer who worked on my farm died and left behind orhphans. One girl was called Amrika!!!

Prachanda himself is actually Pusp Kamal (a lotus flower).

Like the BJPs election symbol.

So when he blames India for all the mess in Nepal and that he wants to have a non-aligned Nepal, one wonders what he's talking about.

Nepal has lost its way thanks to its socialist and communist leaders.

Only an unknown Nepali bureucrat understood who is Nepal's biggest enemy.

A customs officer from Raxaul was told by this gentleman, "You know who is Nepal's biggest enemy? It is Dr. Manomohan Singh!)

Indian officer, "Why Manmohan Singh? He can't kill a fly."

Nepali officer, "Not that way. He killed us by liberalising India."

Remember those closed economy days when half of Bihar and lotts of Indian's would be in Nepal to shop for sarees `Made in Japan',

Or at Pashupatinath near Darjeeling...hundreds of people crossing the border with rubber slippers and umbrella's in their hands because thats what they allowed to smuggle legally.

And Nepal prospored.

While India became poor.

And finally India went bankrupt so Manmohan Singh was forced to liberalise India. (something the Swatantra Party championed)

One senior officer told me, "I remember those days when we would get a packet of pilot pens for our bosses and they would thank us profusely by slapping our backs."

Now nobody visits Nepal. Everything and more is available in India.

Nepal is poor and democratically communist.

And Prachanda prefers China to India although China prefers Gyanendra to the communists.

So subconsciously I tuned in to Radio China International.

And to my surprise an American economist Dr, John (former economic advisor to US presidents) was being interviewed.

And his explanation of the `Meltdown' was something I had not heard on BBC or CNN.

He said, "The US government got it all wrong when the Federal Reserves pumped in billions into Freddie Mac..the first bank that failed. It was a Tsunami of funds being given to one company."

"And when other better banks needed liquidity the Federal Reserves denied it to them leading to all of them failing. A Tsunami of failing banks... and this led to a Tsunami of failing corporates who could not get the money from the banks."

"Who is to blame for market failure? Well, markets are a network, just like electricty is a network. If electricity fails even if you try you may not be able to find the one culprit and one thing leads to another. Markets are governed by prices. Its a value that the seller wants to sell for and a buyer is willing to pay. But in this case the price was something the buyers were not willing to pay for. So with no buyers there cannot be a seller and hence no market."

The Dr. goes on, "Its not a failure of capitalism but a failure of governnance, a failure of the Federal Reserve who did not see the real problem and pumped in money into Freddie Mac in order to reduce inflation."

"What should have been done is ignore Freddie Mac and other failed big banks and support fully the good smaller banks."

"And now there is a Tsunami of funds. They call it `stimulus'. But the funds are again going to failed banks and not into infrastructure development. So I give China 8 on 10 and The USA only 6 on 10 on how they are helping save the economy."

Forget Obama, anyone who understands basic economics will know that jobs need to be created, not just saved.

America Is Just Saving Jobs. (Or trying to)