Vivek Kumar Singh's Blog

So finally Anna Hazare has deferred his fast. Congress backed intellectuals tried their best to sabotage “Anti Corruption people’s movement” by calling it undemocratic and unconstitutional. I fail to understand why it was undemocratic – just because it was not led by MPs and Political parties. And was it unconstitutional because anti corruption leader have not take oath by keeping their hand on constitution.
Well, if that is the reason then 2G, 3G, CWG etc are all democratic and constitutional as they are led by Mps and political parties and their sponsors have taken oath under constitution. The power of democracy lies in people not in parliament. There are so many states in world which has constitution and parliament but run by dictators. Will we call them Democracy?
That is true Anna Hazare has not elected to any public post so was Mahatma Gandhi and JP (If I remember right. Students of history may correct me. ). Did British not listen to Gandhi? Did people not respond to JP’s total revolution?
People on street make democracy stronger not people in parliament. The beauty of democracy is, even the smallest minority should be and must be listened. Parliament is not isolated from the street views. Parliament should reflect what is happening on streets.
Oxford and Harvard educated MPs raised brouhaha over “ Lokpal Bill” Vs “Jan Lokpal Bill” calling the later impractical, misconceived and wishful. Didn’t this sound like the argument British put against Gandhi call for “Purna Swaraj”? The ruling elites always think they know the best but time and again history has proved them wrong.
A leisure drive on weekend in Bangalore shows the anger. Yes, these people might not understand the nuances of “Jan Lokepal Bill”. But tell me how many people during freedom struggle knew what was agenda of “Round Table Conference” which Gandhi ji left halfway to take care of his ailing goat or what was Gandhi-Irvin pact or what was “Khilafat Movement” ? When people trust their leader they leave the rest to his or her wisdom. For first 3 year of out nascent freedom there was only interim constitution. Does it mean there was anarchy those 3 years? Today’s leaders do not understand what trust means that is why they cannot see beyond nitty-gritty and procedural process.
Today everyone, getting your luxury car registered to get a BPL card is inflicted by corruption. But to divide the class, it was called a middle class movement. In my book, “The Reverse Journey” I have written “Indian Middle class is a economic entity not a political entity.” But this movement has brought middle class on streets. It is good for country.
It was the same class which chose to take his pet dog on morning walk rather than watch Independence Day parade. They would have watched a ‘C’ grade well endowed, scantily dressed starlet in a realty show rather than taking wisdom from out highly learned PM. They did not respond to neighbors’ call but they responded to Anna’s call. They reason is bigger than “Jan Lokpal Pal.” It is manifestation of their frustration of being marginalized and taken for a ride. It is their way of saying “enough is enough”, we do exist.
And what is wrong with it? Middle class is backbone of any country. If they become aware of their existence, why they are booed. ? Are they only entitled to pay taxes, pay bribes and pay cess and live in a cesspool of bribery? Is middle class a mulching cow which should never raise a moo?
The last argument was “Anti corruption movement was anti Dalit and anti Muslim”? I cannot really comment on this. In this country, anything that does not have congress blessing is Anti Dalit and Anti Muslim. Congress treats them at their private fiefdom. Do Dalits and Muslims not pay bribes?
About Author: Vivek Singh is author of “The Reverse Journey” which is the story of a middle class Indian professional’s journey from India to USA and back home. Google preview can be seen at
http://books.google.com/books?id=vMBy... Facebook like page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rev...

Recent blockbuster Delhi Belly has shown how the sanctity of Burqa has been compromised to execute a heist – albeit in a tit-for-tat move. And it is not the first of improper show of Burqa. Time and again, poor Burqa has been used as per convenience across the spectrum – from political impropriety to criminal connivance.


Some Islamic scholars opine that Burqa is not prescribed by Islam. It is distant cousin and poor imitation of Hizab which is more Islamic. Multitudes of theories explain the origin of Burqa – as an innovation to save female pulchritude from the scorching sun, a manifestation of medieval male chauvinism, a piece of distinguish Mughal nobles' pride from subject, a shield to save women from exploring males eyes and so on.. But like most historical theories, each theory raises more questions than answer.

Whatever may be the origin, Burqa is a reality today. As per prevailing doctrine, Burqa should be donned by Muslim females while going out; but more often the doctrine has been compromised to save personal identity and hide behind a religious veil. An unwritten law in India is – not to ask the person to show her identity if wearing Burqa. It is assumed to affront the religious dignity. It again has been worked in favor of anti-social.
With couple of European counties banning Burqa, there is a growing clamor in India also to ban Burqa. Though Europe has set precedents in many cases, India as a sovereign country should not import all European rules. Europe runs buy it own constitution and constituency. Even though largely Christian, many European countries have banned Cross also in schools as they expose religion identity. They have banned turban too. They think it might lead to religious profiling which is against constitution’s secular tenets. The growing uneasiness with Islam may have a undertone in this decision.

But India is a different story .Motley of religions has existed together for centuries here. And profiling is there at every corner. You tell your last name and you are profiled (South or North, East or West, Upper or Lower or Schedule, Hindu or Muslim). So will India ban the names also give us Unique Identity like “1020202AS”? Jokes apart, let’s critically analyze, what Burqa epitomizes
a.) It hides your personal identity
b.) It exposes your religious identity

You must have seen lissome girls, covered tip to toe riding Scooty to save their skin from inclement weather. You wish, they would have shown their beautiful face. Hunks zooming past you with helmet tell the same story. Celebrities in tinted glassed cars, newly wed with their long ‘Ghoongat’, page 3 people with big sunglasses (even in night ), farmers with big ‘Pagari’ with Safa hanging over their face - are will going to ban all ? Isn’t crazy? And if not why ‘Burqa’ is singled out?

At Indian public places, religious identities are galore. Tilak, Sindoor, Turban, Cross, Sticker on Car, Idols and Statues - professes your religious identity. Are will going to ban all? Isn’t crazy? And if not why ‘Burqa’ is singled out?

So, personally I feel, we are not doing justice to Burqa. There are so many items which will fit into this tribe. So ban all or none. Be fair! Religious profiling should not crescent our innate consciousness.

However, I have an ethical question. Which one is our greater identity – as a human being or as a religious creature? Does human carry religious identity or does religion carry human form? Should a person forsake his or her human identity for sake of religion?

Burqa is one of those contraptions which absolutely hide your personal identity and only exposes religion identity. It hides the beauty and very existence of human.

I personally feel, human identity is best identity. Even God has to come in human form now and then - as per anecdotes. We do not need to hide human identity behind anything, howsoever great it may be.

But it would be best to left for individual and not ask for government intervention.

About Author: Vivek Singh is author of fast selling book “The Reverse Journey”
Google preview can be seen at
http://books.google.com/books?id=vMBy...

शोषक भी मैं, शोषित भी मैं,
और दुःखहरनी का मुखौटा भी हूँ मैं |
किसानों का हल, मजदूरों की मशाल हूँ मैं,
वस्तुतः रईसों की जागीर, भ्रष्टचरिओं की मिसाल हूँ मैं |
आम आदमी का हाथ हूँ मैं,
लेकिन अमीरों के साथ हूँ मैं |

विदुरनीति के पीछे छिपे, शकुनी की जाल हूँ मैं,
पुत्रमोह में अंधे, धृतराष्ट्र की चाल हूँ मैं |
छद्मवेशी प्रजातंत्र का राजतान्त्रिक चेहरा हूँ मैं,
अन्तःपुर में बैठे युवराज-मंडली का मोहरा हूँ मैं |

नौकरशाहों की कलम, पत्रकारों का मुख ;
और दमन की ताकतों की स्वामिनी हूँ मैं |
सरस्वती की सौतन, अभ्याचरिओं का सुख;
और माँ लक्ष्मी की पथगामिनी हूँ मैं ||

मध्यमवर्गीय रामराज की कोरी कल्पना हूँ मैं,
छात्रों के बुलंद भारत की कठिन सपना हूँ मैं |
दुराग्रह-ग्रसित समाज में, कीर्ति हूँ में,
विस्मित न हो, भारतीए राजनीति हूँ मैं ||

आभार : Vivek Kumar Singh - Author "The Reverse Journey"