Jailhouse Rock to rock the Parliament!!

Friends, 

Looks like the Government is adamant and disinterested in the common man's cause. They are behaving like cruel British Generals and think they can get away with it. This is neither Britain nor Italy and we are a free nation. We will not give up this fight against corruption. Even if it means going to the jails. We promise that we will, we will rock them. 

Get set for a jailhouse rock!

IAC LETTER
Venue

IAC volunteers were hopeful that the Chief Minister would give an exemption to AnnaJi and Mumbai’s citizens to hold a peaceful protest at MMRDA. However, we have been denied our right to protest and we have shifted the Venue to Azad Maidan.

We will hold the protest at Azad Maidan will look forward to Mumbai Police’s  support in providing security to AnnaJi and support to the visitors. 

Writ Petition

IAC Mumbai has filed a writ petition in Mumbai High court on the evening of 22nd December. The petition is against MMRDA and the State Government and the prayers are that citizens have a constitutional right to protest in a venue which is free of cost and has adequate infrastructure and this is being denied in Mumbai.

It will be heard at 11am in court number 49 by Justice Mazmudar and Justice Bhatkar.

Jail Bharo

On 30th we will begin the Jail Bharo Andolan. Registration for people who wish to join the Jail Bharo across India will begin on 23/12/2011. People can register via sms, phone or online. 

Sms to 575758 <JAIL>space<CITY/ZILLA>

Phone 07303150500

Register online on www.jailchalo.com

This will be a momentous new year for India as it will be brought in by desh bhakts in the jails of the country. Volunteers across the nation our charged and willing to overcome every hurdle that the vested interests may place in our way. 

Will you get screwed and suffer in silence?

Hey Friends,

As you all are aware, the Government is hell bent upon sheltering the corrupt practices. A weak Lokpal Bil is a proof enough that politicians will keep putting spokes in getting a fair system. The people of India are not satisfied and are wanting to protest the weak Lokpal bill presented by the govt in the parliament, Just as they did at Jantar Mantar and Azad Maidan earlier. The govt in Maharashtra, which is also the Congress Govt, is acting on the behest of central govt and trying to ensure that people are not able to protest, in other words the government is resorting to all corrupt practices to stop the people of this nation to protest against them. One is refusing to grant permission to carry out peaceful protest at all popular public places such as Jantar Mantar and now Azad Maidan. WHY?? Everyone must question that. Is it because the  people's power has shaken the pillars of democracy..(read autocracy?) Is it because ANNA has supported a very strong cause of anti-corruption and it is the cause every Indian wants to support? Is it because the Government knows that its days are numbered just as Gaddafi's, before he got killed? 

Govt today, is like a mad dog. They bite in every possible way: by attacking those who protest, by stopping sanction to a peaceful protest at popular places, by planning to censor people's social media sites, by charging unprecedented exorbitant fee for staging a protest so that it becomes extremely difficult to gather resources for protesting against all those who have filled their coffers by the tax payers money and the budgets of poor people.

I have a copy of the letter of IAC>Indian Against Corruption pasted below for your reference and let me tell you that "NOTHING CAN STOP A PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT". If your heart beats for your nation, if you feel its time for correction, if you feel WE CAN CHANGE things for good, if you think we OWE this to our motherland, if you dream of a New India without the viruses in the government...please support this movement whole-heartedly. Wear an ANNA CAP where ever you are and show this Government that we want a strong JAN LOKPAL. 

Are we a democracy?? Why are we lumping shit dished out to us? Why can't we protest at public places without a fee? The politicians are enjoying freebees at our expense because we are letting it. Question them. We are not bonded slaves to anyone. ANNA has exemplary courage at this age. We the young and the younger have to make the best of his leadership and come out in large numbers and express solidarity. Those in the government have to be shown their place.

यह सरकार जुल्म ढाह रही है और गीता में लिखा है की जुल्म सहने वाला जुल्म करने वाले से भी बड़ा गुनाहगार है.

SPREAD THIS MESSAGE WHERE EVER YOU ARE. WHICH EVER CITY. TELL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, STRANGERS, WORKERS. 

SHARE IT AS MANY TIMES AS POSSIBLE.  I WON'T HAVE COPYRIGHT ISSUES..:)

IAC LETTER  Mumbai Andolan

The government has failed to provide a strong Lokpal Bill. Hence Shri Anna Hazare and IAC have decided to go on Andolan from the 27th across India. 

AnnaJi will fast for 3 days in Mumbai, 27th, 28th and 29th December. On 30th He has announced a Jail Bharo for 3 days.

Venue

IAC Mumbai has received permission from MMRDA for securing a 30,000 square meter ground. Our team is fully ready to secure all permissions and make all preparations required for the andolan

The cost of using the ground for 3 days of the andolan, and for one day each before and after for the arrangements, comes to Rs1,026,000. With service tax it is Rs.1,131,678. Over and above all this is a deposit of Rs.769,500. All this is immediately payable. MMRDA policy does not allow for any concession. 

AnnaJi has said that he is not ready to be party to this cost since it is a public andolan for and by the citizens, irrespective of who offers to pay it.

(A number of supporters have come forth to bear this cost.) He says it is our constitutional right to protest and the government must accommodate us.

IAC has appealed to the Chief Minister Shri Prithviraj Chavan to waive off or reduce the charges at MMRDA. For example, Azad Maidan is provided free of cost, Ram Lila Maidan has a token charge of Rs.5000 a day. We will wait for a few days for the CM’s response.

Meanwhile are also being advised to move the court to secure our right to protest and will take a decision on that in a few days. 

As of now, we have decided to go back to the Mumbai Police and secure Azad Maidan for the coming Andolan. 

Jail Bharo

On 30th we will begin the Jail Bharo Andolan. Registration for people who wish to join the Jail Bharo across India will begin on 22ndDecember. People can register via sms, phone or online. 

Sms to 575758 <JAIL> <CITY/ZILLA>

Phone 073393159599

Register online on www.jailchalo.com

This will be a momentous new year for India as it will be brought in by desh bhakts in the jails of the country.

This movement has reached a national stature thanks to India’s vigilant and active media. Once again we citizens look to the media to help support this final assault against corruption.

Indian Navy Fleet Review...Pictorial

Panoramic view of "Illumination of Naval Ships in Mumbai Harbour"

 For the last few days Navy has been illuminating its fleet of ships at sunset till midnight. It was an amazing sight everyday.

Every day the sea came alive at night as if for the biggest party ever. And I was always there till midnight.

 These are pics taken from my balcony with my very ordinary camera. An SLR would have satiated my creative hunger. Nonetheless these pictures are taken by my lovely daughters and me. Delightful!!

 The tripod was kept handy for all these days and three of us were taking pictures as and when we felt.

 President of India reviewed the Anchorage in Mumbai Harbour, next to Gateway of India. I reviewed it almost daily for the last five days and how....:) Here's it.

TThe twilight and the half moon added charm to the already enchanting story on the sea. A wonderful experience. For me it was there right there, from all rooms and balconies of my house. Almost a part of my existence. Here are some pictures I wish to share with all of you. Enjoy!!

"Khadi Kadhi" >There is PUN in Punjabi!

People often tease me that Punjabis know of only one type of culture, 'Agriculture'. Well, Pun is a part of 'Pun'jabis with large heart and large-tummies (read foodies). So, I am proud of my agriculture. I have no reason to mind that because we Punjabis are the best at it anywhere in the world. We can even make rocks fertile enough to grow something worth while. All because we love eating. We dream food, we grow food, we love food, we talk food and we offer food without asking and what more..we force people to have some more for our love's sake. Well, that is our culture.

Our telephone conversations begin with a hello, hi and 'khana kha liya' (had food?) or Ki chadiya..(what's cooked today?) Oh, our lives revolve around food so much that no matter what part of the world we live in we still give into the temptation of somebody bringing Saunth Gur (Jaggery with dry ginger and dry fuits), Shakkar (brown sugar) and Pinnies (ladoos loaded with Pure Ghee) all the way from our pinds...from Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Chandigarh, Amritsar or Batala or any other place in Punjab.

Recently a friend went to her home town and came back with red carrots, peas, shalgam (turnips), sugarcane, shakkar, gur, cooked sarson da saag and other regulars all the way to Mumbai and made me taste quite a few. OMG, just writing about these is teasing my taste buds. Why not? There is no place in the world where you can get sarson da saag like you do in Punjab. Not many people would know that in Punjab we use the 'gandlan', tender stems and not the leaves of sarson (Mustard) to cook the most delicious recipe. That too cooked on a slow flame and tempered with chillies and garlic with dollops of white butter on it. Mummmy.!!!!!!!!!

My mother is the ultimate cook and host. She never forgets to call me to tell what was 'chaadiya' (read cooked) every day. Even her phrases are laced with delicious Punjabi dishes. 'Khaadi Kadhi' is one such phrase she uses for "so be it". Now how it came into being is another blog. But here's a funny tale about her PUNjab travels. Once on arrival at Hyderabad she was caught for excess bagage on the railway station. Yes! Excess baggage on rail ticket. She was taken aback too and so was the young checker when he came to see a sack full of neatly cut sugarcane, fresh radish and some more. "Don't you get it here?", he asked bemused.

"No, this is from our fields, the farm in Punjab and it is special", she answered cutely. She paid half the fine...."Ganne mahnge pae gaye"..sugarcane proved costly. (LOL)

(Hey guys, think I can go on and on but then I promised to deliver quirkies...so next time!)

"FMG"-the deepest cruel cut on womanhood...

Female circumcision is NOT islamic - it is African ritual which only the Bohris follow in the subcontinent. It is cruel, inhuman and undemocratic. A girl's clitoris hood is cut off -without anesthesia in most cases. So her sexual desires are subdued . It is terribly unfair and painful and reinforces the stereotype that Islam does not give equal rights to women. Such a barbaric ritual has no place in a progressive community like the Bohras. So we pray to His Highness to ban this ritual.

http://www.change.org/petitions/hh-dr-syedna-ban-female-circumcision-ladkiyon-par-khatna#

Well, I too have just signed the petition to extend my support to my Bohra sisters and more importantly to a whole new generation of our daughters who could be saved from this cruel practice.  

Refer to this article for more info on FMG...the images could disturb you so beware
http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com/2011/11/uproar-over-female-genital-mutilation.html
IMO EXCLUSIVE: Uproar over Female Genital Mutilation: Bohra Muslim woman activist launches campaign...

http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com/2011..

I personally believe in the goodness of religious rituals and practices but any practice that traumatises a fellow human being has to be reviewed and dropped. 

So, my dear friends please support this cause and sign the petition and add a smile to the lips of millions of young Bohra girls who just might be dreading an ordeal of FMG.

Dutty Mama!!

"My mom is 'dutty'"...this is what my little one wrote on a page of her school diary when she began joining letters into words, many years ago. Though now in her class six and graduated from sentences to writing her own poems, yet for her I am forever a dutty mother, barring few exceptions when she is at peace with me. No matter what I do or not do, I have quite a reputation among both my brats. Hitler, cruel mom is what they call me behind my back for waking them up from their sleep, dragging them to Golf, sending them Taekwondo classes. They wake up and do what I 'state' albeit with some noise.

But my worst nightmare is trying to teach my younger daughter some maths. I become the most 'dutty' because I try to force the 'duttiest' things on her. Every time I ask her to bring her Maths notebook she laments," Oh, I knew it,  you will spoil my day and my plan."

So today was again one such day when 'Dutty' mama spoilt her day and dashed her plans. The house seemed like a battlefield and I truly behaved like Hitler. I may not have won any territories but I made her calculate the area of few plots. :)

So, friends if I am off my blog or FB it is clear that I am playing a Dutty role at home. As it is when my daughters have a holiday, I have a double shift, working overtime.

Too tired...off to sleep..Sayonara!!!

(will post that scribble also soon, right here...in her little words...let me dig it out in a day or two)

Are you free on 11 December?? Lets meet up.

FINAL ASSAULT - THE CALL FOR THE LARGEST PEACEFUL AGITATION IN INDIA

IAC Mumbai has begun its Satyagraha again, to demand a strong, comprehensive and effective Lokpal bill.

On 11th December 2011 all Mumbai volunteers will observe a one day fast to support Anna Hazare’s anshan. 

Mumbaikars have decided to have their support to the Jan Lokpal Bill being promoted by their leader Anna Hazare heard in a resounding way. Volunteers and various citizen’s groups are planning India’s largest Car-Bike rally from Shivaji Park at 10.30 am on 11/12/2011.

Cyclists, bikers, private cars owners, taxis, buses, and transport vehicles will join this rally in large numbers to show their solidarity for a corruption free India. The rally will progress from Shivaji park via Worli, Opera House to Azad Maidan. This never before event will showcase the ordinary citizen’s resolve to change the nation.

At Azad Maidan, volunteers and citizens will present speeches, street plays and other novel ways to register their support throughout the day.