thebengali.com

… apparently, the Congress has finally booted the Chief Minister of Maharashtra … damn! who will take Bollywood around the terror sites now?

I see a sea of faces
of People died and gone
And from their pyres is rising
A new nation fighting strong

I see a sea of faces
of People chosen to lead
And from their girth is rising
A stench of rotten impotency

I see a sea of carcasses
Of every right exercised
And all the ignored duties are building
A death toll of innocent lives

I see a sea of faces
of People outraged and angry
And we will take the fight to the enemy
If our leaders can’t go into battle

I see a sea of faces
of People died and gone
And from their pyres is rising
A new nation fighting strong

The Times of India, in its editorial today (December 4, 2008), writes that our politicans require a lesson in how to tackle the media. And keep this in mind: this is the main editorial. It talks about the insensitive remarks and lack of public poise among our politicans and suggests -quite apologetically - that our politicians should get training to handle television (which it dubs as ‘the dominant media platform today’) so that they can ‘appear’ convincing and calm people in time of crises.   

Such is the state of our nation: a leading national newspaper is hoping for leaders that appear convincing instead of leaders that are convincing. 

Maybe, we should also begin our search for newspapers that are convinced and convincing about their beliefs … 

Am in Delhi right now – got here yesterday afternoon.

Apart from the dust that seems to hang around the air 24/7, there’s an air of expectation all around. Expectation that our politicians in general and government in particular will do something about the terror attacks.

I hear authorities are already scheduling meetings to draw up plans to tighten security in ports, airports, and sundry important places across various states. I find that very exciting. Imagine: a whole week after the Mumbai terror attacks, our bureacracy and politicans are thinking about making plans to tighten security.

And here I was under the silly impression that the security would already have been tightened the day after the attacks…

I heard there was another bomb today
Another womb sullied,
Another soul lost.

I heard they blew up my old hotel
Many people died,
Many people hurt.

I heard people say I’m bleeding
Too many attacks,
Too much fatigue.

I heard they might come back again.
No fear, there’s enough food,
Enough water.

I heard there was another bomb today.
I heard there was another bomb today.
 

Ooooh! The Home Minister is gone! The Home Minister has been fired! I feel so safe now!