The Great Fat Indian Wedding

What according to you is India's national passion? What's the thing that completely surrounds an Indian's life - Cricket, Cinema? No! It is 'MARRIAGE'. 

From the day a baby is born, be it a boy or a girl, the plans for a grand wedding commence. Parents start gathering money not for good education of their children but for a Great Fat Indian Wedding. Marriage an event of great cultural and social importance is now a mere a cycle of feasts and exchange of gifts in one’s own family as well as between bride’s and the groom’s family. Dowry, lots of food wastage, and oodles of showoff are some key features of Indian Wedding these days. Traditional customs witness a more modern form which is more or less a mere formality. 

The week long extravaganza, or rather 'marriages' involve lot of ceremonies and a hell lot of money. Lavish meals, Flowers, Lighting, Dresses, Jewellery- every detail thing makes marriage more of a marketplace in India. The growing stature of showoff in marriages has made it increasingly difficult for the middleclass to conduct this social gathering. Enormous amount of food is wasted in marriages. This only adds to my pain, because a lot of people die due to starvation the same night; but hey, who cares?

Audi, BMW, Mercedes are the key spotlights, which make marriages more of a business deal. More the number of brands involved in a marriage, more it will be talked about in the society. For the people getting married, it is union of the two souls and celebration of the moment. But for the others it is an occasion to dress-up , show off your jewellery, family get-together, feasting (dieting is a sin during marriages), and what not! For kids, it is an occasion to meet lots of other kids and play around when the elders are busy with the customs/rituals. For the event management companies, the mandap owners, the flower seller, even the pujari and the likes, it is a grand business opportunity. 

Bridal wear and Bridal jewellery collection is another story altogether. At times bride’s parents may end up spending all their life's savings trying to repay the loan taken for their darling daughter’s marriage. That is, obviously, when they can afford to get one. Else their daughters might end up being single, or worse, agree to anybody who is ready to marry them. On a long term this also leads to other social evils like 'female foeticide or infanticide' in rural areas. 

Moreover, the thing which bothers me to a great deal is the decreasing importance of the marital relationship. Divorce cases have risen significantly, and who else but the society is to be blamed for that. Beautiful and expensive jewellery can't really define the longevity of the relation, and hence, more emphasis should be laid on finding the right match based on character, not in terms of money.

I believed as people become more educated and progressive, they will begin to see the absurdity of spending somebody’s lifetime savings for a single dress and occasion. On the contrary, educated people prefer this all the more! The few weddings of wealthy Indians (who get all the media attention) seem to have masked the inability of the other lesser mortals to hold such spectacular weddings. Well, I just hope better sense prevails and the big fat Indian Wedding doesn’t actually become a hindrance for others. 

Marriage always must be the union of two souls who make a lifetime commitment, rather than a huge crowd applauding the great arrangements by the hosts.

I would end here, hoping that the next time I visit a marriage, the bride and groom will appeal more to me more than the mandap.

Pulkit Garg

Y15 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

PS: Selected as Winning Entry- October '15.

IS CORRUPTION ONLY BECAUSE OF POLITICIANS?

“My mother is in hospital and I really have  to go, this call is very urgent & this is the first time I am picking up the mobile while driving". These are the excuses which we use most of the times when caught by traffic police and after that and handing over some bribe, we are released. I want to ask, in these situations, where is the politician plating his role? Is only us who want to save time and get rid of our responsibilities as a citizen .

Not only this, what about our selfish motives and desires. Everybody wants to be an IAS officer, get admission into medical and engineering colleges. There is a never ending list of all evil things which happen in the stream of education, a very well known one is “paper leaking”. I want to ask whether our MLAs, MPs, CMs want to get admission into medical & engineering colleges. WE take the 'first step' and then politicians come into picture.

WAKE UP GUYS.WE are human resources. And do remember that INDIA is still a developing country, not yet developed. It is our responsibility to make it a developed country. Our freedom fighters fought against the Britishers. WE must continue their legacy and fight against the evil 'corruption' so that everyone enjoys the real freedom.

Sitting on the couch, with remote control in one hand, we simply comment on the politicians and their doings. Have WE ever asked ourselves that what are we doing for the country? Everybody is just waiting for a superhero to come and finish all this mess.

ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY. Just first look into yourself, then your family members, your relatives, your friends. Are they doing everything correct and legal in their life? Correct yourself. I am sure you will find many people around you who are corrupt. First speak to them, correct them. If you can’t make a change on your level then you have no right to say anything related to CORRUPTION.

Shriya Rai
Y14 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

Acid Attack

ACID ATTACK. There is no need to explain its meaning to anybody. It has become so common these days that it just looks like another slang. Are you angry? Do you want to take revenge? Do you just want an easy and effective weapon? Go for acid. Is it how you would describe it??

Many of us would explain that it’s a social evil, a curse on the society and some more of the well read and said phrases like these. But, seldom have we given it a deep thought. Acid is not just another liquid. It’s a fire. A fire that burns the body of the victim, the soul of the victim and the dreams of the person are turned into ashes. It spreads to the victim’s family and all the happiness goes into the state of oblivion.

I agree that the true beauty is of the mind and thoughts, and not physical. But none of us we can deny the fact that our personality contributes towards building our self confidence. We live in a society where our appearance matters a lot. Or else how would you justify people using plastic surgeries to either fix their slightly crooked nose or get a clearer skin. But the acid attack victims live with the pain and the humiliation they feel. Do we see the lucky surviving victims of acid attacks around us everyday living a normal life? The answer is no. Either they stop stepping outside into the open world due to fear of judgment or use a veil to cover themselves. They are just pushed into a life full of darkness. Don’t we all use a mirror at least once in a day to check if we look good? Of course, we do. This is normal human behavior. We all want to look beautiful. But for them, mirror is another medium to bring back the dark memories.

The fact is that that there are many people who help acid attacked victims monetarily and even give them moral support. The more important question here is, FOR HOW LONG. For how long will we keep ignoring the problem? It’s not about what we do later. WE HAVE TO STOP THIS. We need to grow as human beings. You, me and all of us. No sane reason can ever justify a sin like this.

Sonali Gupta

Y14 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

Indian Women And Army

Although India has adapted very fast in accordance with the changing trends, something which still lacks change is the condition of women. Women have been suffering from hard repression since centuries, and still in the modern world of 21st century they are facing more or less the same problem.

Take for example army. Although Indian women have been given place in the Indian army, but they are still viewed as incapable when compared to men, as they are still not under permanent commission.

I don't know what has happened to our thinking… What is the reason for all this?

Do we consider our women weak as if they can't do physical work? I would stress upon the fact that in some places they still carry a pot of 20 kg on their head and walk miles… Can't they carry a gun in their hands, just as they help the farmers in the farming work?

As for the denial of an Officer’s rank in the Indian Army, I can’t understand the logic. They, in fact, have great management skills, the live examples being our homes that are still managed by our mothers.

The main reason is that most of the JCO's and jawans who hail from the villages are still not able to accept women as their leaders in the combat situations. And some women officers are unwilling themselves due to family background and responsibilities.

So we all need a united effort to change the present situation, because then only it will give the women confidence that they are equal in all respects.

Women SHOULD be given their rights and we should all extend our encouragement and support to them.


Jai Hind!

Kushagra Sharma

Y13 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT, Jaipur

An Interview with Sachin's Bat

Sachin has retired. He won’t be playing cricket again.

Everyone is busy. Everyone wants to take an interview of Sachin and then add another drop to the blogosphere already flooded with Sachin. I am no different. I decided to take his interview as well. I left home, and came back dejected.

Sachin was busy, taking awards, collecting mementos, getting photos clicked, delivering thank you speeches and had no time for an interview with me.

So?

So then, in a corner of the room, away from all the hustle, I saw his bat, lying down. And decided, let me interview this little piece of wood, Sachin’s better half on the cricket pitch. Something he can’t be imagined without.

Made For Each Other 

Here are some excerpts from the same:

Me : Hello, Mr. Bat. Thanks for agreeing to talk to me.

Bat : Good Evening, Annanya. Nice to see you.

Me : How do you feel today, Mr. Bat?

Bat : Right now, I’m very nervous. This is my first interview. Should have learnt about this from Sachin, He has been doing this since he was 14. We have taught each other various things over the past 24 years, but He never gave me any interview tips.

Me : So, tell me about how it all began, did you always know that you would become Sachin’s Bat?

Bat : Good Question. I guess the tree I came from knew about it. It’s an interesting story. During my childhood in Kashmiri wilderness, a woodcutter came and almost chopped down the tree. The tree, still very young, did not want to cut down. It pleaded before the woodcutter, and asked him to leave him for God’s sake. And, he did leave me, for God’s sake.

Me : Nice story. And when did you first realize that you were in great hands?

Bat : It was in Perth, during the 91-92 series. Everyone knows how great that innings what. Most of the times, I was close to His chest, such was the bounce in that pitch. Still, I met most of the balls right at my center, that was enough indication that I was in no ordinary hands.

Me : May I ask you which bowler you liked to screw the balls of the most?

Bat : Come on, Annanya. I am Sachin’s bat, not Kohli’s.

Me : Err, sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.

Bat : Yeah, I know. I understand what you want to ask. I always liked hitting Australian bowlers. particularly Warne and McGrath. You can say I always had a ball of a time thrashing them out of the park. Also, Pakistan’s Shoiab Akhtar. He had such a long run-up that I used to get bored waiting for him to deliver. Hitting him was a delight, hope you all remember that six over point, when I met the ball at the bottom and still managed to send it over the fence. I always thank Sachin for that shot.

Me : Yes, that was an incredible shot. So, tell me about your equation with other bats in the dressing room.

Bat : The atmosphere in the dressing room was good. I was good friends with almost all the bats. It was only Azharuddin’s bat that I hated, that lean piece of timber. He was mean, always teasing me with fat jokes. I felt really bad sometimes, but then, later in my career, I got a new best friend, Dhoni’s bat. He was another fat one in the room, and we really enjoyed each other’s company.

Me : And how was your chemistry with Sachin?

Bat : Oh, it was awesome. We shared a beautiful relationship. He always took great care of me. Always made sure I was having the right amount of weight, the perfect grip, and was chiseled correctly. There was a tough time when He had that Tennis Elbow, and He asked me to reduce my weight. That was a tough call, because I had always been fat, and reducing weight didn’t just seem easy. But we managed to pull it off somehow. During His time in the middle, we talked a lot. About cricket, how His form is, what the match situation is, and when to hit Sehwag on the bum.

Me : Given the workaholic that Sachin is, you also would have had to work hard for the past 24 years.

Bat : Yeah, that was tough. He used to practice in the nets for hours at a stretch, I was almost drained out completely by the evening everyday. Before foreign tours, he used to have throw-downs with wet rubber balls to prepare for bouncy pitches. I just loved that wet soaky feeling. But in the nights before match-days, He used to shadow practice His shots in the hotel room. This always made me angry. How do you expect me to perform tomorrow when you don’t even let me sleep at night. But, the genius still somehow used to script masterpieces with me the next day. God-like characteristics!

Me : So, which was you favorite shot?

Bat : The straight drive. This was a shot when I could greet the ball with a bear-hug instead of just a handshake like during the leg glance or the square cut.

Me : And was there a shot you didn’t like?

Bat : Yes, unlike the rest of the world, I hated it when Sachin played the paddle sweep. My sides still hurt due to that grazing with the turf whenever He used to play that shot.

Me : Any other memories of Sachin you would like to share?

Bat : There are many memories, But I don’t think you have enough space.I may be heavy, but without Sachin, I am practically weightless. I was the Magician’s Wand. His weapon of mass destruction, and at the same time, His instrument of peace. It was using me that He brought schools, colleges, offices, and nations to a halt. It was using me that He gave people hope when all was lost. It was using me that He taught people what a fighting spirit is. It was using me that He spread joy. What more would a humble piece of Kashmir Willow want?

Me : And now that you are retiring, any future plans?

Bat : My future plans? Ummm, I guess I’ll occupy some corner in Tendulkars’ household. Those guys are like family to me. May be Arjun would like to use me sometime. Or maybe not. I’m happy with whatever Sachin decides to do with me. Thank God I’m not Afridi’s bat, otherwise I’d have had to start preparing for the next match even after retirement.

Me : Thank you very much, Mr. Bat. Was a pleasure talking to you.

Bat : Oh! Thank You too. Hope you have a great life ahead, Annanya.

Annanya Johari

Y12 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

The Indian police has long been criticized for its overweight police personnel. They have been battered time and again due to this serious issue that has been plaguing the police force for decades. Although the police and the government might have come up with many solutions, none of them actually worked. But, now is the time for them to bring to test an innovative idea, which might be bizarre, but will surely bear fruit.

We all know that many (almost all) police officers are fat and overweight (read pumpkins). But why not all? Well there is a reason behind that too…

The new recruits are the ones who stay slim for at least a year. Why? The simple reason is that they have to do all the running – running the Indian police! (pun intended). But, it’s true that the Indian police force follows a strict rule (another joke!). Once the new recruits join duty, they are assigned the job of doing all the running. When someone comes to the police station to file an FIR, it is these guys who do all the hard work, i.e. chasing -- not the accused, but the ones who come to file the report; they chase these guys out of the police station! Now that’s hard work! And, mind you, there is a well chalked out plan for chasing too, i.e. a rape victim is chased up to a mile out of the police station, a dacoit victim is chased half mile and so on... Repeated offenders (those who are stubborn, and come again to file a report) are chased twice the length they were chased earlier!

Now, an intelligent question: Why don't they do the chasing in a police jeep?

Well, police jeeps are usually unavailable, thanks to globalization. These days, so many antique car rallies are being organized in India, so police vehicles are shifted there -- not for patrolling, but for participation‼!

Again, the new recruits are the ones who chase the robbers (another joke!). Well, they don't chase all the robbers, but only those who slip by the police without giving them their commission‼!

Half of you might be thinking that why the policemen don't shoot all these guys, why chase them?

Because my friend, there are, again, two kinds of police personnel in India:

• First type - the one with danda.
• Second type - the one with gun? False. The one with a danda which has a barrel attached to it!

Kyonki police ki chalti to hai nai (bandook nahi chalti; waise police ki toh chalti hai), so bandook bhi dande ka hi kaam karti hai!

Then why the hell does the government not provide them with the guns?

Well, the reason is because it is a crime in India to provide any kind of gun to a criminal gang. So the government is bound by the law, you see‼! The guns actually meant for actual policemen on display in the museums, because these are antique items‼!

Now, back to the innovative idea which was mentioned in the beginning -- how to help the policemen shed their (baby) fat?

Here’s the solution: From now on, the policemen must be assigned duty in a different manner, such as each day must be assigned to an officer irrespective of the rank. They will be assigned a job of chasing the people who flock the police station for filing FIR, and same for the robbers… And I bet, you’ll see the results in six months‼!

You might be sarcastically criticizing the Indian police by now, but they are actually doing a better job than ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) by safeguarding historical monuments and items, i.e. their own police stations, guns and their jeeps; 'cause ‘robbers often carry away a police jeep’ (remember ‘carry’, and not ‘drive’)‼!.

Now, if we do a comparison between Indian police and American police, then in Bollywood terms (Vivacity just concluded!), if American police is Hrithik Roshan, then Indian police is John, (not John Abraham, dude) but apna John Prakasa Rao Janumala, popularly known as Jonny Lever‼!


Himanshu Rawat
Y12 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

Cricket @ 100

The inaugural match of the Champions League T20, between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians was held in Jaipur. I went to see that match with my friends. That was my rookie experience to watch a cricket match or any match in that respect, in the stadium. When you are not a fan of cricket, it becomes more special.

I never liked cricket. But I always tried to keep it to myself to avoid the scolding from my friends, cousins and significant others around me. Suddenly, we planned to go for a match and I thought what the hell, let’s just do it. And I consented in an impulse. As the day drew closer, I pondered upon it and thought to sell off the ticket. On the match day, there was a lot of drama. We tried to find a buyer and no one consented on our rates. So finally, I half heartedly boarded in the college bus to go. Then someone called for the tickets and I refused to sell it. I had changed my fickle mind again. Screw them; I am going to watch my first cricket match.

We reached at the stadium three hours prior to the entry time and it started raining. It’s very annoying when you have so much excitement in your heart and God literally starts pouring waters on it. Finally I entered the stadium and after the three levels of security checked an innocent boy, i.e.; me.

Wow!! I was dumbstruck. It was a feeling out if the world. As if I had entered another world. Why didn’t I come here sooner? Such vastness, such grandeur. I was mesmerized even by the empty stadium which was were gradually filling. Strangely enough, the rain felt complementing to our moods. As if it was also enjoying itself with us. The tiny raindrops looked like sparklings in the floodlights, so slow, so poised and so pure. All my perceptions had changed once I got in there.

The match was preceded by an energetic performance by Mika Singh. Finally the match started and I can’t believe that I actually enjoyed every ball of it. This was a special experience and day for me.

In my first experience, I had the best experience I could have. The rain had stopped and the breeze was soothing. It was Sachin and Dravid’s last CLT20 tournament. I saw LBW, bolds, catches, and a remarkably awesome run out. I screamed like hell, I danced like never before on every boundary and six. I had not felt this much charged up in a long time. I ended up with sour throat but I didn’t care. I was on fire.

I am glad I didn’t sell my ticket or else I would have missed the chance to feel the craziness for Sachin. No wonder he is the God of cricket. Legendary Dravid waved at us, I couldn’t miss that for the world.

I am glad I didn’t sell my ticket. 100 bugs but worth much more zeroes than that.

Mohit Joshi

Y12 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

The Bollywood Boon!

The last time I watched Chak de India, it was my count 9, but it induced that same feeling of chauvinism and sportsmanship that I felt when I watched it the previous 8 times. Today when the daily is flooded with news of Indian junior women hockey team's victory, I doubt the need of one of the cast of the movie being interviewed on such occasion. Should it mean that the movie could embolden hockey in India and that we can attribute such jointure and national unification to Indian cinema?

Movies are an artistic way of evoking emotions into us and to an audience that is so easily verklempt, had a dramatic political past and has a cultural endowment and rich heritage; Bollywood in many ways has influenced the society in its 100 years of existence. Some might agree on cinema as an act of social message, or to the rest, its a stroll down the memory lane, as though the reel of their past begins to flash in front of their eyes and if nothing at all, to watch it for the soul purpose of entertainment is a real delight.

They say movies are the reflection of society. The bold, contemporary movie Rang De Basanti, that wears a socio-political message has ironically related the post independent era with the pre independent ordeal, hence audaciously scoffing at the current political scenario. It encouraged people to dissent the laws of the country and prompted citizen's support for the non government organizations. Movies like Taare Zameen Par that gravitated people's concern towards their upbringing did more than just stinging tears into the public's eyes. Only ten days after its release, CBSE decided to provide a relaxed education system for the physically and visually challenged children. 

Directors were unflinching, when they took up scripts that spoke the shenanigans of the underworld, like in Ram Gopal Verma's Satya, or the scandalous expose of prostitution in India, like in Chandini Bar. Release of these movies demanded attention and the government bit its lips, to prevent ebullition of anger and shame, immediately resorting to some serious resolution.

I can't afford to be rude that I talk of Bollywood and not speak of romance. DDLJ, Silsiley, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Veer Zara, all of these are a insignia of profound immortal love. It is a cachet that has embalmed the industry for years without being cliched and directors will continue making more of it, only to excel. If you have been watching romantic Bollywood movies for years and still believe Barfi or Dev-D are the movies of different genre, then you are correctly acknowledging the director's dexterity. All such movies camouflage their tinge of love with unconventional and whimsical ways of movie making and this art is recognized and appreciated by all, confiding those who wish to take it up as a career option.

What more? Eulogy of Indian cinema is now a part of the CBSE hindi textbooks where the goodness of the legend Raj Kapoor and his laurels are discussed under the chapter named after his most applauded movie 'Teesri Kasam'. Hence it will be seen as one's nonchalant attitude, when he thinks watching movie is scornful as Bollywood has done wonders in the past 10 decades.

Mitali Bharali

Y12 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT

Why BJP Should Win the 2014 Elections

Time and again BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi has been criticized for his alleged role in the Gujarat riots, allegations only with no concrete proof and same is the case with his party which has been accused of seeking communal path to gain victory. It raises a serious question, If BJP by supporting hindus is seeking a communal path then what is Congress doing by granting 4.5 percent reservations to Muslims and what it has been doing for the past so many elections. 

BJP might be resorting to communalism in an attempt to win the upcoming election but at the moment it is our best bet if we are to get rid of the incumbent government which has brought disgrace to the country up till now in its second term and is hellbent to further push the country in an economic depression by its policies such as Food Security Bill. This proposed bill will put more pressure on the overstretched budget (costing Rs. 2 lakh crore). With Modi at the helm BJP has the power and intellect to pull the the country out of the precarious situation it has been embroiled in. 

I don't know much of economics but I know that at this delicate moment when India is staring at the financial depression (thanks to mismanagement and torrential raining of scams in UPA regime) the government, instead of addressing the problem of rising Current Account Deficit (5%OF GDP) is actually focussing on a last ditch attempt to lure the voters and win the election by dumping vast sum of money into the dustbin. If 4 rupees are spent by government in providing food to the destitute people, 1 actually reaches the targeted section and the rest 3 is absorbed in between by the corrupt officials and dealers. The proposed policy has so many loopholes and yet the government is spending more on food distribution system rather than addressing the present problems.

Tonnes and tonnes of food grains rot in the government godowns every year and yet nothing has been done to curb this, nothing has been done to rectify the problems in the public distribution system. At the moment the GDP growth rate has plunged to a decade low of 4.4 percent thanks to congress. Due to blatant corruption and the vested interests of the ruling party the growth is all time low in a decade, Rupee has plunged to 69 (all time low in the history of India), investors no longer want to invest in our country citing the volatile situation and fragile government of the center, inflation is near double digit and yet the government rather than trying to tackle all these issues is busy passing the Food Security Bill and Land Acquisition Bill which will further put more pressure on the overburdened financial structure of the country. 

Lets hope that the Financial System doesn't collapse and there is no further slip up in the current projection of the growth rate of the country till the upcoming election, as it has become an accepted fact that in the upcoming elections BJP will grab more seats thereby snatching the power from the hands of the deceitful congress. Lets hope that we can keep it together till the elections because once the elections are done it will be the BJP government steering the country back to the safe waters and spearheading all this will be the messiah of Gujarat the man of his word, the idol of many and the greatest leader to have born following the end of Nehru-Gandhi era.

Mr. Modi, the one who led Gujarat to the path of unprecedented growth, leading to windfall gains in every sector, his leadership credentials unquestionable and his gains and achievements unparalleled in the history of modern and independent India. Lets hope that this man whose name has become the synonym of development growth and success becomes the next prime minister of our burgeoning and at the moment faltering country and lead it to the same path of development as has been witnessed by his native state Gujarat under his reign. 

Lets hope that a new deserving economist is seated as the PM of this country rather than the incumbent one whose economic policies have failed because IF THE CURRENT ONE CONTINUES TO BE IN THE OFFICE THEN WE WILL VERY SOON BE ACQUAINTED WITH A NEW TERM OF MONEY MILLIONS, BILLIONS TRILLIONS AND ONIONS. These are the famous words of a leading economist of India. 

One of the best Prime Ministers to have served the country, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the lone BJP Prime Minister to have completed the term. We as a nation have brought the Congress to power so many times since independence, now in the face of all this corruption it is time to hand over the reign of the country to someone who has proved himself than handling it to another self proclaimed prodigy of Congress whose only claim to the post is because of his family roots and who had neither been tested nor proved to be deserving for the post of the PM. 

Himanshu Rawat

Y12 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT 

Assam Violence

In India it is well said, “AHINSA PARMA DHARMA”, but is this really so? Nowadays all is happening contrary to it. The violence eruption is the result of ethnic, political, communal or sometimes economic conflicts. India got independence on August 15, 1947 after dividing geographically and demographically into two parts- India and Pakistan. Some people acceded to India while some to Pakistan. Even today, after 65 years of independence, the violence continuously ruining the life of innocent people. Perhaps, it is not a cup of tea of both the nations to resolve these conflicts. These kind of conflicts are blot on the face of one’s country. As I think, the major reason behind these conflicts is “Religion”. Religion is the power that binds the people of particular community and encouraged the people to remain together. But what happens when this religion becomes the cause of conflicts?

Today, we are living in a secular country. But does secularism really prevail in our country? Even today, some of the castes are considered to be not fit to touch with a barge pole even after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who was considered “untouchable” proved himself as a legend.

Indo-Bangladesh conflict is a conflict in which two communities Bodos and Muslims conflicted with each other for their livelihood and somewhat due to demographics. Although this conflict is for the improper partitioning of land but the conflict of religion also prevail there. In Indo-Pakistan, 1971 war, after the creation of Bangladesh, the government of India (GOI) provides grasslands to the Muslim “illegal” immigrants to support them and send all the victims of East Pakistan or East Bengal to the relief camps. But based on what evidence the GOI provide them all these lands and make the local community deprive of their lands? Why the then district administrators allow Muslim immigrants to illegally grab their lands? There is no major evidence found regarding this. The Muslim illegal immigrants in collusion with the local authorities grabbed the lands. This engendered the major conflicts between Bodos and Muslim immigrants which India even today has to face. Not only Indian government, the Bangladesh Government is equally responsible for conflicts. The Bangladesh government now denies the existence of illegal migrants in India and describes them as “trafficked”. 

Nearly 3-4 million such people are living in India. But the question is that are all they “trafficked”? Bangladesh govt. is escaping from providing these people their revenue. During the formation of Bangladesh, if the East Bengalis belong to Pakistan, then why Pakistan govt. refused to provide them appropriate revenue? Now they are seeking help from India. It is not the matter of conflict between India and Bangladesh. It is a matter of conflict between East Pakistan and West Pakistan. India has no role to play in all these issues. But the fingers are also pointing towards Indian Government. If the government provided them land at that time then why didn’t the GOI make provisions for deporting them to their countries? Now the result of these conflicts is that total 11 out of 27 districts in Assam are

under the Muslim community which is illegal as considered by local communities. Why didn’t the government take necessary steps to resolve these conflicts at the time of their beginning ? Is this only because of the poor administration or any other reasons behind these questions prevail? Plethora of Questions,but nobody has answers.

Now, the necessary steps should be taken by government for Muslim illegal immigrants and Bodos so that these conflicts may not recur from time to time and place to place. Necessary negotiations should take place between Government of India and People’s Republic of Bangladesh. If the Government of Bangladesh still does not insist to accept their people back then only for the sake of humanity, Government of India should make different states and the land issues can be solved by providing necessary compensation to the victims. Nearly 4, 00,000 people got displaced during these conflicts and nearly 77 people were killed. The government is now providing shelters to these people under various schemes like Prime Minister National relief fund and Indra Awaas Yojana. One major culprit in this case is also the election commission of India. Why do the election commission not resolve the issue of default voters which are nearly 1.5 million? The problems of the doubtful voters should be tackled while preparing electoral polls of Assam. The armies should be deployed on time in case such conflicts occur. Even today, the Indo-Bangladesh borders are not properly guarded. So these borders should have proper boundaries and engineering techniques should be used to properly safeguard the borders as was done by Israel in the past. The need of the hour is that the government should take necessary steps to make deportation of the illegal migrants instead of becoming a “lame duck” as it was doing till now. If the government won’t resolve these conflicts then these will recur from time to time and place to place.

Prafull Kumar
B.Tech. (3rd year)