काळेवाडी आघाडी - 3

My Group during this year Study...

Arpit - Aarav - Sanika

What if Osama had been found in India!?

At first the question may sound appalling. A second look may even make such a scenario seem impossible. And yet, the global terror infrastructure, as we understand it today, has not been spreading discreetly- but has been seeping across borders behind veils. What is more, with the accelerated advances in IT and its indiscriminate diffusion across the globe, terror syndicates have become ever more dangerous. They are intelligent, they are stealthy, they are efficient and they are driven by mystical spiritual forces. Their attacks have more often then naught been successful surprises, they have hoodwinked the best of security agencies, they have laid cells in the least expected regions, they have been eluding multinational search operations for years. Given this rapid rise and broad spread of terrorism globally, nothing can be preemptively discarded. In light of all this, one may be forced to give an outside thought to that small yet unsettling question- what if Osama had been found (and killed) in India!?

After the historic declaration was made last week, we witnessed a flurry of activity - discussions, debates, allegations, counter-allegations, clarifications... Several questions were asked of the U.S, several of Afghanistan. And the one nation caught right in the center was Pakistan. That much for the actual events. Now let’s delve slightly into fiction (though, for the above stated reasons, how thin a line divides it from a real possibility is anyone's guess).

Imagine, the US had started that intelligence gathering operation about the possibility of finding a high level target in a compound somewhere in India. In Pakistan's case, as of the facts in hand at the moment, the local intelligence was never informed about the depth of the operation. There is no reason to believe that the US would have supplied the IB with any more intelligence if India had been under the scanner. Indeed, there is every possibility that since there has apparently been very less co-ordination with Indian intelligence agencies than the Pakistani ones (thanks to the Af-Pak strategy), the US would have preferred to keep India totally in the dark. And let us say on May 1, under the particular operation, the Navy SEALs would have killed Osama bin Laden on Indian soil.

The immediate level of world-wide activity that would follow would perhaps make last week's flurry of events look like a tiny ripple! The repercussions of this incredible event would be mammoth. The US would seek the first chance to convince the world of the need to take its security 'assistance' inside India. (For those that believe that the US has been pressing its presence in Iraq and Afghanistan mainly for energy and strategic reasons, the possibility is accentuated by the fact that the entire Indian Ocean-with the largest chunk of world trade- lies at the feet of the sub-continent!) Given the gravity of the situation there might even be a UN pressure for some sort of outside presence in India. And we could be well served not to expect any help from Russia, France or the UK- all of whom have been victims of fundamentalist extremism in the past. For China, it would be an unexpected gift- with its so called competitor caught off balance, its own credibility in terms of its strategic presence in the region strengthened and the geopolitical reality of the Asian region strongly favoring its strong emergence in the near future. For Pakistan, it would be a bonanza! It would literally signal a game change! Its weak arguments of trying to dismantle the inner terror infrastructure would suddenly start carrying water! Its claims to a strategic partnership with the U.S as well as China would suddenly be vindicated! Most importantly, the whole process of India constantly pointing to Pakistan for its terror infrastructure would be reversed and India would be the target for the conveyor belt hacks, perhaps, with a danger of losing out on its long term conflicts with Pakistan!!

While all this seems probable on the external front, the internal front would be nothing better. Of course a committee would be quickly constituted to inquire into the intelligence failure and of course statements would be issued rapidly clarifying our position. But with immense pressure pushing in, the serenity and stockiness of the Indian establishment would not last long. Things would be made worse by our natural tendencies of political finger-pointing and the passionate portrayal of 'how the Indian establishment is more a culprit than is apparent' by sections of the local media!

In a nut-shell, the rapidly rising economic powerhouse vying for a developed status would plunge into politico-strategic depression by just one such significant event!

Fact, they say, is stranger than fiction. In this case, thankfully it is also more soothing. And the factual reality is that India is much more a secure and stable state than its terror affected neighbors. In fact, our establishment is secure enough not to enable terrorist groups find loopholes in it big enough to squeeze in and find a stronghold, again, quite unlike our neighbors. Our intelligence capabilities are too secure to let a sudden intrusion (official or insurgent, overt or covert) go undetected. The fact is, India, with the sheer strength of its politico-strategic and security fundamentals, has the least chance of having to face a situation as is painted above.

Yet, for the sake of the argument of the global spread of terror, it is worthwhile to consider the worst-case scenario, not just for India but for any nation on the globe. For, Osama could then have been found in any part of the world. Stretching our imagination, had he been found in any country in West Asia, a complex flux between the resurgent nations in the area and the extended remnants of the War on Terror would have precipitated in an extremely worrisome manner; had he been found in a country in Africa, the entire geopolitical setup of the continent would have become set to undergo a major change; stretching further, had he been found in Russia (or for that matter, in any member nation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)), extreme traditional frictions would have re-emerged. Given the level at which nations interact today, these conditions would perhaps not emerge immediately- but over a slightly longer span of time, they seem to be the most possible long term repercussions.

Being an event such international significance, it calls for introspection by all nations. When the Fukushima disaster loomed large over Japan, several national magazines came out with cover stories that went “What if this was_ _ _ _ (India/ South Korea/ Pakistan/ Russia...)?”

It is apt that we ask similar questions about our preparedness post the Abbottabad Operation. It would be wise if we sat down to chalk out corrections to whatever shortcomings we have and in whatever remote way they might lead to a terror link-up. The scenario painted in this article was fearsome. Yet that is the very reality in our neighborhood. India needs to take this opportunity to reinforce its strategies and revamp its strategic resources in wake of this unstable neighborhood. Any legislation that relates to extremist operations should be acted on with haste and without political opportunism. Corruption is one vice that will take some time to be dislodged from our offices. Yet, in face of the larger evil of the possibility of terror taking roots in the country, stricter vigilance and co-operation at all levels of financial, defense, civil services needs to be ensured. But then again, this would be a broad based call. Every branch, stream, hierarchical level and office will have to formulate and immediately implement measures in these directions.

For, we live and work in a secure nation- with the knowledge that terrorists will always find it extremely difficult to set camp in India. We need to work to live in an India where that knowledge in itself is perpetually secure.

Text is outcome of discussions among 'Kalewadi Aaghadi' members ...

MEMOIRS OF A FRESHER

Following article is written by Maitrey, he expressed true feelings of the every UPSC (Civil Service Aspirant)….. it made me nostalgic….

Aniket

MEMOIRS OF A FRESHER

Maitrey Kulkarni, IFS(P)

Exactly a year ago, on the day before yesterday, I fell out of a most amazing yet enigmatic process that is held annually in our country. The nostalgia still holds. And so, this memoir...

Looking back, it took long getting here. Looking at the present, how big a deal was it?

The conveyor belt started hacking in Decembers. They must be making a killing out of selling 'Employment News' on those Friday evenings. Those not bothered about the process might feel getting hold of an early copy counts for a bonus in the examination! Post-Offices across the country would then begin buzzing with unusual activity. The first govt. functionary (usually a postal clerk) with whom one interacted in the process of becoming an 'Officer' treated you as dirt. The anxiety of whether or not the CRF was properly stamped remained right until you received the hall-ticket. Those who toiled a bit hard and queued in front of a Facilitation (!?) Counter on Shahjahan Road were at least assured of an acknowledgment!

The steeple-chases to book-stores continued for 'India Year-Books', 'Economic Surveys', 'Vaji's Notes' and what not. In whatever little time remained, lakhs across the country gorged on tomes, scribbled on tables, gazed funnily at world maps and repeatedly engaged in mockery- for that is what they are literally called: 'Mock Tests'. The whirlwind of activity suddenly calmed on the day previous to the day of execution. Never was a wait so intimidating.

It is an unsolved mystery in the study of logic as to why the human mind chooses those particular four hours to play all available tricks in its repertoire. And yet it is an ode to human stoicism that none admitted of a bad performance in the sadistically torturous three hour break – the confessions poured out late in the afternoon, once the fete' was over. Then, as the day slowly faded, thousands of likely cases of OCD checked their answers compulsively- not just against one key, but every available one! Exuberance, delight, satisfaction, diffidence, disbelief, doom..all slowly ebbed into a lull...

Eventually, the wagon started creaking again. This journey was to be much more exhaustive. Whether or not the itinerary was new, the obstacles of additional subjects, long answers, essays were always startlingly fresh. Three Hundred Thousand journeys began in Three Hundred Thousand ways, with Three Hundred Thousand strong beliefs – that they were treading the wrong path! Around August 15^th a big, lucky chunk celebrated independence from this enigmatic race. Those left behind engaged in a unique ritual of filling a ½ kg form according to a 3 kg instruction set. Anxiety hung in the air about hobbies and achievements to be filled in the blank spaces, until the last date of posting the forms cut creativity short.

Then, the dark ages began. Those two months belonged not to bare necessities of life like food, drink, movies, cell-phones, but to newspaper cuttings, 'Yojana's, 'Kurukshetra's, underlined notes, class specific esoteric success mantras, previous years' (decades'? centuries'??) papers and innumerable other miserable means of sustenance. In the last few days one suddenly started pondering upon the questions of life. No wonder 'Philosophy' has been doing so well as an optional!

Of course, after all the pains, what you had studied and what you were questioned in the Mains were two mutually exclusive concepts. Yet, everyone utilized the whole three hours for each paper. But again, however much one may have scribbled under the punched letters in that examination, one always felt a lot more could still have been scribbled.

And it is in this mode of 'juda hoke bhi, tu muzme kahi baaki hai...' that four gloomy months passed. In the backdrop ran ideas of alternate career options, the love bug (for what an age to write an examination!), financial concerns, life- and other such trivial matters. Then, in the midst of all the 'confirmed' speculations, the result was declared at the most unexpected moment - interestingly, plunging all into disbelief regardless of the outcome.

Those more fortunate to have gotten a chance to quit the slush unfailingly failed to take advantage of the situation. With a brave face on heavy hearts, they went back to the Yearbooks, the Surveys- another year- newer facts...It's true that fools rush where angels fear to tread- ask us.

Meanwhile, those who found themselves trapped proceeded to 'prepare their personalities' (never mind the oxymoron) and plunged into Mockery 2.0 (The Next Level- Oral!). Eventually the day arrived, the previous night of which no one sleeps well. As one entered that eerie room, one seriously doubted the existence of one's knees. Of course, the atmosphere was cordial; Of course, simple questions were asked; Of course, the wise old men on the other side were very encouraging (these are no fairy tales to be narrated to aspirants so that they may sleep happily ever after – things actually happen that way). Yet one infallibly came out of the room amazed – amazed at one's enormous capacity of bungling things up!

In that last month, one just held books in front of one's eyes and convinced oneself that he/she was preparing for the next round of the conveyor belt – until that one message from a friend said “ rslt out”! In the haze of things that followed, those who found their names missing (sinful though it sounds after that ordeal) had every right to take pride in the way they accepted it as part of the game and, haltingly, went back to the drawing boards. But the question that was posed at the beginning of this memoir was for those stunned few, who asked nearby absolute strangers to confirm if it really was their name that the screen was flashing:

Looking back, it took long getting here. Looking at the present, how big a deal was it?

Still shaken by the nightmare, as we rub our eyes to the bright career ahead of us, one fact does wonders to our self-beliefs. In our early days in the service, as we meet seniors at every level of the hierarchy, a realization repeatedly keeps striking us- at some point in their lives, they too went through this! And yet, the sheer magnitude of the their achievements makes one feel that maybe the entrance exam was just net-practice, or better still, padding-up!

And so, to finally answer that question of 'looking back' and 'looking at the present', - as we try to follow the huge footsteps of those ahead of us and dare to dream of adding our little contribution, we suddenly realize that what the morrow heralds for us is the opportunity of channelizing better avenues to our fellow citizens; what it heralds is the privilege of sitting with a small tricolor in front of us at the negotiating tables of the world, presenting the views of our country; what it heralds is the honor of representing our motherland!

- Looking ahead, it was this big a deal!

काळेवाडी आघाडीचा निरंतर विजय !!!

'काळेवाडी' काय आहे हो काळेवाडी मध्ये म्हणाल तर पुणे शहराच्या अस्ताव्यस्त वाढी मधील एक कोणतेही खात पाणी न घालता रस्त्याशेजारचे अशोकाचे झाड जसे वाढते तसे वाढलेला भाग ....त्या अशोकाच्या झाडाला तरी सम्राट अशोकाची महती आहे ( इतिहासवाला बरका , नाहीतर 'शारुकाचा' समजाल अर्थात तो चित्रपट देखील इतिहास जमाच झालाय म्हणा, करीना सोडून , थांबा आठवण करा त्या गाण्याची आता चला पुढे) इतिहासकार 'जहापान्हा' उर्फ अभिजित (सदस्य) यावर आणखी प्रकाश टाकतील . तर असला कुठलाही आगा पिछा नसलेल्या ह्या भागात 'आघाडी' , तुम्ही म्हणाल येड लागला का राव ? सदाशिव वगैरे पेठा सोडून हे काय मांडलाय पण मित्रानो आणि मैत्रिनिनो ही तर खरी मजा हाये ! अर्थात काळेवाडी आघाडी हे नाव प्राप्त झाले ते मात्र आमची हितचिंतक (बरोबर न ग ! ) नेहा देशपांडे यांच्यामुळे ....तर असो या भागात 'आघाडी' स्थापन झाली ...ती कशी हे पाहण्यासाठी या ठिकाणी टिचकी मारा ............

अश्या या काळेवाडी आघाडी चे किस्से तुम्ही या ब्लोग वर वाचले असतीलच जसे की, ते मध्यरात्री खिंडीत पकडून झुरळांचे केलेले शिरकाण , नवशिक्या disputed चा nanotechnology वरून केलेला 'राज्याशास्त्रीय ' फालुदा ,'सौंदर्याचा' कोलाज , धिंगाणा घालणारे वॉशिंग मशीन इत्यादि इत्यादी.. त्यावर मी जास्त काल विपर्यास करत नाही तर नमनाला एवढे घडाभर तेल लावल्यावर मुल मुद्द्याकडे येतो .....आज 'काळेवाडी आघाडीच्या' खऱ्या मालक-मालकिणीच्या ' आगमनाची नांदी होवू घातली आहे , त्यामुळे आघाडी सदस्यांना दुसरीकडे स्थलांतरित व्हावे लागत आहे त्यामुळे काळेवाडी आघाडी बंद पडणार की काय ? असे प्रश्न उपस्थित होत आहेत, या पार्श्वभूमीवर येवू घातलेल्या भविष्यावर मी एक सिद्धांत मांडू इच्छित आहे... याला नित्या,अभ्या (दोन्ही), disputed , हडपसरचा हबशी , उत्साही शिवा आणि मन्यादेखील पाठींबा देईल.

तर मुद्दा असा आहे की काळेवाडी आघाडी बंद पडणार नाही ....हा काळेवाडी आघाडीचा अंत नाही...it is not an 'end of kalewadi aaghdi rather it is triumph of kalewadi aaghdi ' हा काळेवाडी आघाडीचा विजय आहे तुम्ही विचारलं कसे? अहो तोच तर सिद्धांत आहे....स्थान महात्म्य मान्य करून देखील मी असे सांगू इच्छितो की काळेवाडी आघाडी चेअस्तित्व तिच्या सदस्यामध्ये , त्यांच्या विचारांमध्ये आहे , काळेवाडी आघाडी मध्ये आम्ही राहिलेल्या दिवसांच्या आठवणी , तिथे निर्माण झालेल्या काही कल्पना आजही आम्ही सर्व जन बाळगून आहोत , ज्या गोष्टीसाठी आम्ही एकत्र आलो होतो त्यामागचे विचार चालू ठेवणे , त्याचा पाठपुरावा करणे यातच काळेवाडी आघाडीचा विजय सामावलेला आहे....कोणी सांगावे आज पासून एक ५ ते १० वर्षांनी भारताचे परराष्ट्र धोरणांच्या काही महत्वपूर्ण निर्णयामागे काळेवाडी आघाडीतील महामहीम सदस्य नितीन, मैत्रेय यांनी sandwich खाताना केलेली खलबते देखील असतील , येत्या काळात अभिषेक , अभिजित , निखील, शिवा कोणत्या क्षेत्रात असतील हे आताच सांगता येणार नाही मात्र जिथे कुठे ते असतील त्या त्या ठिकाणी अत्युच्च पातळीवर जाण्याचा ध्यास घेवून या आघाडीच्या विचारांचा वारसा निश्चितच त्यांचाकडे असेल. थोडक्यात काय थेसिस आहे काळेवाडीची समाप्ती त्याला anti -thesis आहे काळेवाडी चा विजय यातून जे synthesis येते आहे ते म्हणजे केवळ आज , आता नवे तर निरंतर काळेवाडीचा विजय म्हणजेच 'sustainable triumph ' ऑफ काळेवाडी आघाडी.

आता काहीना येथे मार्क्सवाद दिसेल कारण dilectical process येथे मांडली आहे पण मित्रानो त्यात हेगेल पण होता आणि मांडलेला सिद्धांत हा procedural पद्धतीचा आहे त्यामुळे त्यात उदारमतवाद ( liberalism ) पण आहे , तो sustainable असल्याने आणि अहिंसेवर आधारित असल्याने गांधीवाद देखील आहे त्यामुळे त्याला कोणत्या 'वादात' टाकायचे या वादात मी पडणार नाही पण जगन्मान्य या तीन वादांना एकत्रित आणणारा हा सिद्धांत आहे. यात केवळ राज्यशास्त्र किंवा सोशोलोजी नाही 'काळेवाडी' हे स्थान असल्याने त्यात भूगोल आहे , इतिहासच उल्लेख तर वर आलेलाच आहे . आघाडी ही प्रशासनिक नियमांनी चालत असल्याने आणि ती व्यवस्था सार्वत्रिक असल्याने 'लोकप्रशासन' आहे . येथे वाशिंग मशीन, टोस्टर , वेगवेगळ्या गाड्या असल्याने मेकॅनिकल पण समाविष्ट आहे , आणि मराठीत ब्लोग वगैरे लिहित असल्याने ललित का होईना पण मराठी साहित्य आहे. त्यामुळे सर्वाना कोळून पिणाऱ्या काळेवाडी आघाडीच्या 'निरंतर विजयाच्या' सिद्धांतावर शिक्कामोर्तब होतो. थोडक्यात सदस्य असे पर्यंत आघाडी ला मरण नाही .


आता या सिद्धांतावर चर्चेसाठी नोम चोम्स्की , फुको आणि इतर विचारवंत मंडळीना रान मोकळे आहे......करा चर्चा पण आफ्टर all its sustainable triumph of kalewadi aaghadi ...... !!!!!!!!!

मौका सभिको मिलता है!!!

राज ठाकरेंनी परवा औरंगाबादच्या सभेत आर. आर. पाटलांना उद्देशून 'सत्या'चा डायलॉग ऐकवला "मौका सभिको मिलता है!" वस्तुत : आम्हाला असे वाटते की हा रजनीकांतला देखील जैन बनवणाऱ्या कांद्याचा असावा, राज ठाकरे हे नाशिकमार्गे औरंगाबादेस गेले असावे आणि त्यावेळी लासालगावातील एरवी उपेक्षिलेली 'कांदे मंडळी' उच्चारवाने उपरोल्लेखित डायलॉग रस्त्यावरील आम आदमी पासून देशाच्या नामांकित अर्थतज्ञ राजकारणी आणि 'पावर'बाज जाणत्या राजाला ऐकवत असलेली त्यांना दिसली असावीत.

एरवी अतिपरिचयामुळे दुर्लक्षिलेला आपला हो नेहमीचा कांदा या विशिष्ठ क्षणी इंगा दाखवून जातोय ... एकेकाची वेळ असते अर्थात याच कांद्याने मागे एकदा सुषमा स्वराजांच्या केवळ डोळ्यातून पाण्यासोबत लाल दिव्याची गाडी काढून घेतल्याचा इतिहास फार जुना नाही . भाजप भारतीय संस्कृतीचा उदोउदो करत असला तरी ' कांदेनवमी'च्या रूपाने आपल्या संस्कृतीचा अविभाज्य घटक असलेला कांदा त्यावेळी दुर्लक्ष केल्यामुळे सुषमाजींना निश्चित म्हणाला असेल मौका सभिको मिलता है!

मनमोहनजी हा इशारा ध्यानात घ्या उगाच " बडे बडे शहरो मै ऐसी छोटी छोटी बाते होती है !" असे म्हणून कांद्याकडे कानाडोळा करत असाल तर तुम्हाला देखील " अब दिल्ली बहोत दूर चली गयी " याचा अनुभव घ्यावा लागेल. आधीच युवराजांनी कांद्यावरून आलेल्या महागाईमुळे केलेल्या आघाडी बाबतच्या वक्तव्याने UPA ची बिघाडी होत आहे , आम्हाला वाटते आहे की कांद्याला मात्र आघाडीचे महत्व पटले असावे कारण त्याने टोमेटोशी संधान बांधले आहे आणि टोमेटोची लाली आम आदमीच्या भडकलेल्या चेहऱ्यावरून दिसू लागली आहे. इतर भाज्यांनी देखील भाजी आघाडीच्या या दोन नेत्यांना बाहेरून पाठींबा देवू केला आहे. डाळी, तेल, मोकळ्या जागा या समविचारी पक्षांनी देखील आघाडीशी संपर्क साधला असल्याचे आमच्या विश्वासू प्रतिनिधींनी आम्हाला देशभरातून कळवले आहे. त्वरेने पाऊले उचला अन्यथा ही महागाईची आघाडीमुळे 'आम आदमी का हाथ कॉंग्रेस के साथ ' म्हणण्याऐवजी कॉंग्रेस ला स्वत: चे हात चोळत बसावे लागेल.
आदर्श , २ G , राडिया, CWG यांनी खमंग फोडणी तयार केलीच आहे मतदार त्यावर कांदा- टोमेटोसहित UPA ला कढईत परतवत म्हणेल
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आखिर मौका सभिको मिलता है !!!!!