R.I.P Balasaheb Thackaray

Balasahab Thackaray shares his surname with a famous English novelist (William M Thackeray) who in turn shares his first name with the world’s most famous playwright (William Shakespeare). I firmly believe that Balasaheb’s life is an interesting mixture of half a dozen Shakespearan plays and “Vanity Fair” written by the original Thackaray. He commanded a following that shames the twitter following of Dalai Lama or the facebook friends of Mark Zuckerberg and definitely commands more silent followership than the likes of Puttaparthi Sai Baba or any film celebrity. He has achieved a cult status that’s colossal and unassailable in many many years for now - because of his nationalistic fervor, unrivalled outspokenness and a Zionist love for India that’s at once messianic and heart-warming. Balasaheb was the final authority when it comes to anything that concerns Indian pride and self-respect and carefully used pulse-points that created euphoric waves of opprobrium whenever India’s masses were vulnerable to mass hysteria to do his bidding – whether it was playing a cricket series with Pakistan, Sania marrying a Pakistani, Sanjay Dutt’bail or Salman Khan’s behavior, Amitabh’s exit from politics after Bofors, or whether national security laws kept a vigil on terrorists. What Balasaheb bade was final, and woe betide anybody who went against. Balasaheb had achieved all this with a hysterical mass following outside the reaches of Sadgurus and Superstars and led an interesting life that had enough contradictions that can trigger a few hundred Bollywood films (infact many were inspired by him). There will be lot of questions that intrigued biographers and journalists always – Was he really a catnip? Were all the finest femme fatales deflowered at his bidding? Why did he favor Telugus over Tamils in the famous tirade against non-Marathas? Why was he such a mad fan of Hitler and how much of Zionism influenced his “anti-immigration policy”? What led to the parting of his nephew and the death of his son? If he was so strong, how did so many Satraps shoot up even at the peak of Shiv Sena’s meteoric rise like Sharad Pawar and Pramod Mahajan? Has Mumbai moved on during the last five years or so because of anachronistic anti-immigration stance adopted by the Shivsena? All said and done, it was a life more colorful than the most larger-than-life figures seldom seen in world history. Bal Thackeray commanded a premium right till his end and had he stuck to his calling of a caricaturist like RK Laxman who shared his desk at Free Press Journal or confined to writing “Burning Words” like Babu Rao Patel, Bal Thackaray wouldn’t have been a phenomenon as the world knows him today. We all aspire to live interesting lives. Bal Thackaray had a cracker of a life from the time he was out of the womb. Balasaheb has been the only voice outside of Congress who lent credence and vitality to every world view that mattered on foreign affairs, diginitaries visiting India across the fields, whether we should encourage multi-culturalism and what is good for our security. We should be thankful for Balasaheb that but for him and Sushma Swaraj, we would have had a foreign citizen Sonia Gandhi as a Prime Minister. History always had a place of honor for fierce patriots like Savarkar and Shivaji, Rana Pratap and Prithviraj Chauhan – Balasaheb built a business and political empire out of nationalist fervor and zeal that sometime bordered on the theatre of the absurd. May his soul R.I.P.

"Turning Points" by APJ Abdul Kalam: Glimpses of a People's President (Book Review)

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was India's eleventh President of India and also recepient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and also Bharat Ratna. Like Abraham Lincoln of the United States, he was famous even before he ascended to the Presidency, first as a rocket-missile man and later as an upright President - probably, the best the country has ever known. It was also one of the rockiest tenures for any President with the exception of probably Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and Babu Rajendra Prasad.  Now, after serving as one of India's best-loved Presidents, APJ Abdul Kalaam has released a highly-readable memoir of his journey through the greatest challenges of his life and career - "Turning Points". Its a worthy sequel to "Wings of Fire"  - the first book that created publishing history. The royalties that acccue from the time the book was released can make it one of the best-selling books by a public figure in India - reaching the commanding heights of success.

"Turning Points" is a sparkling and stimulating read from APJ. In less than two hundred pages, the books covers all the milestones of his remarkable career without repeating much of what he said in earlier books - some of which are million-dollar best-sellers. He covers in fourteen chapters all that he wanted to say with a simplicity that marks his personality that now bears his writing out. Eight turning points, seen before Presidency and one after demitting his office, are covered in one chapter with a childlike innocence. Most of the facets that are covered only go to highlight and extend his astonishing ability to connect to the masses - especially middle-class, elites and children of India. He toured 21 states during his Presidency with the exception of only Lakshadweep, has brought Rashtrapathi Bhavan into the e-governance framework that he had grander designs to revitalise and recast for bringing greater accountability.

Its meant to be a tell-all, threadbare account of some of his most controversial decision - the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly, the returning of the bill relating to Office of Profit, the capital punishment decisions of Afzal Guru (on which he was silent), the decision to invite Dr.Singh in 2004 when it could have swung in favor of a foreign citizen Sonia Gandhi. Again, APJ is stoically brief in his analysis of those days that set the country's opposition on fire against Sonia's nomination to the Prime Ministership. Some of these chapters are weakest - in the sense that the ex-President tries to put a non-controversial treatment, choosing to be concise rather than be elaborate and hence, controversial.

History will always remember Presidents and Public figures who are courageous and sterling torch-bearers of integrity, honesty and competence. On that count, APJ scores the finest in recent memory of how a President has conducted himself in public life. Whether it is in meeting more Parliamentarians, State Ministers and Governors, or returning every gift, every single gift he ever received. Talking about why he is reluctant to receive gifts from anyone, he recalls the lasting influence in this matter was his father.  Quoting extensively from Manu Smrithi and holy works of Musllim saints, he quotes that, "When the Almighty appoints a person to a position, He takes care of his provision. If a person takes anything beyond that, it is an illegal gain." He paraphrases Manu again on why one must not accept gifts: No individual must accept gifts for the reason that it places the acceptor under an obligation to the giver and ultimately results in making a person commit immoral or illegal acts. Thats an exceptional value system for any Public figure and APJ has inspired a generation with his behaviour at Rasthrapathi Bhavan.

"Turning Points" is sure to climb the top-seller list because of a very balanced and yet erudite rendition of a productive and inspirational life. APJ has been engagingly fluent in many aspects that are seldom discussed by one public figure - be it education, technology, scientific pursuits, religious tolerance, raising standards of governance and accountability for Parliamentarians and Ministers, Anna Hazare movement, world peace and disarmament. He has a view on most aspects that are bordering on world citizenship and egalatarianism and altruism. All this, with a sense of humility and positivity thats infectious. Even if he hasn't been re-considered for the post of Presidency this time around, APJ's words of wisdom and his vision for making India a Developed Superpower by 2020 resonate well with India's public. I only wish his books get widely translated and read in all languages of the country. The books is not perfect to a fault, but it will not disappoint you, dear reader, whatever be your age or qualification. More power to you, APJ.

Turning Points: A Journey through Challenges by A.P.J Abdul Kalam. Pub: Harper Collins, pp.182, price Rs.199.00

Advice from China, in lighter vein!

Advice to Sonia from China on handling Jagan:


1. To catch the tiger's cub, one must enter the tiger's den.

2. Do not use firewood to put out a fire.

3. Going too far is as wrong as falling short.

4. One tree does not make a forest.

5. When fortune flees even gold loses its luster. When fortune returns, even iron shines bright.

6. An idol-maker does not worship the gods: he knows what stuff they are made of.

7. A hundred men scrambling to fetch a gourd by cart will accomplish less than one man holding it in his hand.

8. An arrogant and complacent leader is sure to meet with defeat.

9. It is foolish to anger the majority, nor is it wise to do simply as you please. If your deeds displease the people, then disaster will surely follow.

10. A tyrannical government is worse than a man-eating tiger.



Advice to Jagan that never came from China:

1. Even oceans may at last run dry.

2. When you have wealth, why should you strive for more?

3. All questions have two sides.

4. Much property is a trap for the stupid.

5. Those whose ways are different cannot lay plans for one another.

6. When you see a straight piece of wood, you do not want to make it into a wheel.

7. Misfortunes never come alone.

8. Do not expose money to eyes.

9. In good times, the wise man works for the state. In bad times, he looks after himself.

10. Take care of the small things.



Advice from Sonia and Jagan to China:

1. Heroes are made by the times. (Jagan)

2. Though brothers may have private feud they fight as one against the alien foe. (Jagan)

3. To give peace to the Empire and suppress rebellion, a large sword and a long spear are necessary. What use is a pen? (Sonia)

4. The views of men of wise counsel are much the same. (Both).

5. Although I am thin in appearance, the Empire is fat. (Jagan).

6. It is harder to deal with the weeds once they have spread. (Jagan)

7. There is no victory in winning a hundred battles. There is a victory in subduing your enemy without fighting at all. (Jagan).

8. When the first indications of error begin to appear in the state, Heaven sends forth ominous portents and calamities to warn men and announce the fact. (Sonia)

9. Having a son is unlucky indeed. These days it is better to have a daughter. Your daughter can be married to your neighbour. Your son will be buried under the weeds. (Sonia)

10. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, but its the common people who suffer. (Both)

- Compiled from the Little Book of Chinese proverbs. With malice towards none.