my letter to the editor Deccan Herald

This was my letter to the editor Deccan Herald on 4May which was published subsequently on 5May 2012 morning in Bangalore  edition .

letters@deccanherald.co.in

Sir,

This is regarding the injunction by the veteran writer and columnist Kuldip Nayer- "Don't stifle the media" which appeared in Deccan Herald today.

I have great respect for Kuldip Nayar as the champion of freedom of Press but I was surprised to find him joining issue over the matter with the Supreme Court .What is the harm if the Hon'ble Supreme Court, in genuine interest, thought it fit to endeavor for the first time to lay down guidelines for the Press and media ? If the Founding fathers of the Indian Constitution could lay down guidelines for all successive Governments in the Indian democracy to pursue and follow the Directive Principles of State Policy in its governance then why should not the Supreme Court or the Indian Parliament can frame certain cardinal principles which should be practiced and followed by the Press ?. Many times we find that the television media and media as a whole have exceeded its limits of freedom of Press in highlighting a story completely based on their conjecture to sensationalize an issue in which a particular group of politicians, corporate group or a particular person is interested .In India media is owned by corporate groups and persons and they have their own policies and agendas and political leanings . It is therefore necessary that the Press should be open to healthy and constructive criticism in exercise of its right of freedom of expression or freedom of Press .

After all it is the Press in the last resort where ordinary citizen prefers to seek justice against the excesses of executive or poor performance by the legislature or miscarriage of justice by judiciary, but if the citizen finds that his "last resort" has also become corrupt with prejudices then the future of democracy is certainly in danger and freedom expression is in peril.

Regards,

GP Bahuguna

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Maya Angelou & eSa fQj Hkh mB [kM+h gw¡

¼vuqokn xksfoUnizlkn cgqxq.kk½

eSa fQj Hkh mB [kM+h gw¡

bfrgkl esa rqe eq>s Bqdjkdj udkj ldrs gks]

vius dM+qos] nwfÔr >wB ds lkFk]

rqe eq>s foYdqy feV~Vh esa dqpy ldrs gkss ]

ysfdu eSa fQj /kwy dh rjg mB [kM+h gw¡xh]

D;k rqEgsas esjk niZ fopfyr djrk gS\

rks fQj mnklh rqEgsa D;ksa ?ksj ysrh gSs\

D;ksafd eSa ,sls pyrh gw¡ tSls eSajs ikl rsyds dq,a gks

tks lh/ks esjs foLrjokys dejs ls ckgj [khaps tk ldrs gksaxs\

pkan vkSj lwjt esa tSls Tokj HkkVs fuf'pr vk;saxs gh]

mEehnksa dh ygjsa mij mBsaxh gh

mlh rjg eSa fQj mB [kM+h gw¡A

D;k rqe eq>s VwV pqdh ns[kuk pkgrs gks\

flj >qdk;s] vk¡[ksa uhps fd;s gq,

<yrs da/ks fy; gq,s Vidrs gq, vkalqvksa dh rjg]

viuh Hkkoqd ph[k iqdkj ls csgkyA

D;k rqEgsa esjk naHkh LoHkko pqHkrk gS\

D;k rqe bls dqN T;knk gh eglwl djrs gks

D;ksafd eSa ,sls [kqydj gal ysrh gw¡

tSls esjs ikl dbZ lksus dh [kkusa gksa

tks esjs ?kj ds fiNokM+s [kksnh tk ldrh gSaA

rqe eq>ij vius 'kCn nkx ldrs gks]

eq>s viuh utjksa ls phjdj j[k ldrs gks

viuh uQjr ls eq>s ekj ldrs gks

ysfdu gok dh rjg eSa fQj mB ldrh gw¡A

D;k rqEgsa esjh dkeksÙkstdrk [kyrh gS\

D;k rqEgkjs fy;s ;g ,d >Vdk ugha gS\

D;ksafd eSa ,sls LoPNUn ukp ysrh gw¡

ekuksa esjh tka?kksa ds chp ghjs dh [kkus gksa

bfrgkl dh 'keZukd >ksiM& iV~Vh ls ckgj fudydj eSa mB [kM+h gw¡

ml vrhr ds xrZ ls mB [kM+h gw¡ tks nq[k nnZ ls Hkjk iM+k Fkk

eSa mB [kM+h gw¡

foLrh.kZ mQurs&mNyrs dkys lkxj dh rjg

vius vUnj Tokj vkSj rwQku fy;s gq,

vius ihNs vkrad vkSj Hk; dh dkyh jkras NksM+dj

ikS QVus ds fy;s eSa fQj mn; gks jgh gw¡

vk'p;Ztud:i ls Li"V

vius lkFk og lc lkSxkr fy;s gq, tks esjs iqj[kksa us eq>s nh gS

eSa mu nkl tuksa dk LoIu vkSj vk'kk gw¡

eSa vc mB [kM+h gw¡

mB [kM+h gw¡] mB [kM+h gw¡A

Deccan Herald published my following letter on 24 November.
Sir
 BG Verghese is a writer of integrity and values who understands the nerve of the ailment and have rightly underlined the need for urgent reform in Press by bringing in a suitable law to discipline the electronics media particularly which has gone reckless in its responsibility.
It  almost plays on your nerves when the news channels  go on harping on the same news throughout the day just to  settle their scores with an individual or party and serve as a tool to unleash vendetta .Justice Markandeya Katju has very rightly pointed out this malady and advocated for the need of a legislation to root out this evil which is rapidly sapping the vitals of democracy.There should be some institution to curve the irresponsible behavior of the print and electronic media.No one should
have a right to prejudice any person or institution  I congratulate Deccan Herald to come forward to  support the cause of the freedom of press and maintaining the dignity of the Fourth Estate.
Yours Sincerely,
GPBahuguna

I wrote this letter to Deccan Herald yesterday in reference to Saeed Naqvi's article"Katju"s question" .  Indian public has general habit to relie upon foreign media to verify the veracity of any news item so much so that even late Rajeev Gandhi is learn to have switched on BBC to verify the news of Mrs Indira Gandhi's murder.Who is responsible for this sorry plight of Indian media? Government is partly responsible for this kind of embarrassment because  it has reservations  about sharing important matters which are directly linked with public sentiments.It has selective approach to media who may favour Government or a particular political party.The aggression of foreign media is seen particular in the developing countries who cannot afford to have their independent agencies based in different countries or continents.It should be mandatory for Govt to share its views or stand it takes on important policy issues so that imaginary stories are not allowed to be cooked by the
mischief mongers or story hunters.The public has a right to information and the information should voluntarily flow from Govt without being pressed for it.Then only the press will function in its given domain and not exceed its limit.

WOMAN'S COURAGE

WOMAN'S COURAGE

¼L=h izR;; & Ykhyk/kj txwM+h English translation by GPBahuguna½

A woman by herself wanted to cross an empty road

She calls back her husband gone ahead of her

Who turns back disgusted and angry.

The woman by herself even thirty years past her marriage

Sought consent

Whether she should cross the road by herself?

She puts the man forward to lead her

And follows him with long strides

As if she was crossing an age

She appears in her lost confidence.

Translation into English by Govind Prasad Bahuguna

THE FAMILY CARRIER

THE FAMILY CARRIER

¼ifjokjokgh yhyk/kj txwM+h English translation by GPBahuguna ½

The river is not same at its source

As it is found towards its end

It is a trickling drop in beginning

but swelling into ocean towards its end.

The sea has many beautiful spots

But the most beautiful are the seashores

You can enter the sea whichever side you choose

Or You may like to retreat in wilderness

Or into habitations.

The Sea is tucked like bouquet of flowers on the girdle of earth

Shifting its horizons here and there

The afternoon hills are filled with white bunches of foaming waves

A mirror filled with storms is vacillating in the sky

The ships are filled with restless dreams

The rickety boats over burdened with new catch

If a drop of water can reach to its end

Then anything can be made to float on it

I am a family carrier man

loaded with thousand problems.

Ah my drop! When you will turn into a river?

When will you swell into a ocean?

How much load you will be able to carry

I have to sail across like ship.

Translation into English by Govind Prasad Bahuguna

THE SPRING OF '82

THE SPRING OF '82

¼c;klh dk clUr English translation by GPBahuguna½

In what lightest shade of darkness

and luminous of light

Shall I write my impressions on Spring of 82

Which may be called a poem in few words

Shall I throw wreaths on selected spots

hit by bullets or

write odes on wounded feelings

Shall I describe kidnapped children whose faces were like tender flowers

Or say about lost people who were on pleasure trip somewhere?

I will not ask you to observe silence to remember them

Instead I will add-

Try to remember,which anniversary falls today for

those who had died or were lost

Some of them had gone barely a week before.

The delight of their gossip and odor of their bodies

The sound of their return follow in darkness

There are many apprehensions which startle in the light

they seem to appear in phantoms.

May be they were knowing the Spring shall arrive.

In their lifetime also the birds used to carry forest seed out of jungle

The earth hid them beneath surface when fell ripe

Seed do not get rot when lay buried in their home underground.

See, there are flowers in bloom everywhere!

But mark this also,

After all how much you can see through these flowers

If a long snowfall has arrived your doorsteps

Even then million of seeds every year

cross over many currents through unseen bridges,

Turn into green pastures of their own.

Some breathe their life to grow essential food for others

And reach in cooking houses unseen .

Much is wiped out perhaps due to arrival of Spring

After all, how much you can see through these flowers

Half right now, half later 

in family dreams which were left unseen.

Much thicker blood is flowing today than that of last one decade,

Even the latest fresh air feels dull

Like day on eclipse

A body is lying dead under all trees.

On the bank of silent river of dreams

Where dark forests are left behind

On a desolate sleepy spot

Coming out from the depth of rock

Some lonely plant is waiting death.

Worms are devouring it with glee

Round which a cold Spring night is wrapped like blanket

The flowering of his mixed experience of courage, wisdom and folly

Can be seen even in last moments of life.

But how much you can see with your rosy eyes.

Try to recall the smell of dead flowers before yourself

And think of the flowers born this year,

To which color, creed and species they belong

All before them you remembered the faces of children

The notorious devils also reflected the same color on their faces

Yet the Spring has arrived bringing New Year to its share

on anticipatory bail.

Translation into English by Govind Prasad Bahuguna

NOW AFTER SO MANY DAYS

NOW AFTER SO MANY DAYS

¼vc brus fnuksa ckn& yhyk/kj txwM+h English translation by GPBahuguna ½

One Goodness, One evil

The show highlighting victory of goodness over evil

has been going on for ages

Yet the sufferings continue to pileup

And the evil is on rise in the same fashion

As the goodness is declining to fall.

We lament profusely on decline of values and morals

We have been giving something or other to understand on values for thousand of years.

See! How strong is evil! And how weak is virtue!

The only ideal comes in mind,

Support the weak.

This motto will reveal the truth

How weak has become the case of the weaker.

The virtues of morality, celibacy, charity, and service

Tolerance, generosity and trust

Has been the burden of our song for thousand of years

Why cannot these virtues descend on us of their own after so many days now?

Translation into English by Govind Prasad Bahuguna

FAREWELL

FAREWELL

¼fonk & yhyk/kj txwM+h English translation by GPBahuguna½

I could not bring to retrieve myself

as I had wished on my return

Instead whatever you gave me back

Was not much as it was anticipated?

Your words are hovering around here

It is very hard to wish you goodbye

Receiving goodbye on saying bye-bye

If I quickened my steps quickly

And halted at that tiny plant laden with fruits and flowers where 100th year completes

The distance traveled up to that height unbroken

Retrieved in me on my return after saying adieu to you

Now I am a new soul completely

Fared goodbye in saying goodbye

Learning to be humble like tree with unripe fruits

Under the shadow of which children stand waiting

with raised sticks to begin hard hitting

When tree goes ripe with fruits

Translation into English by Govind Prasad Bahuguna

POEM OF DEPENDENCE

POEM OF DEPENDENCE

¼Hkjksls dh dfork- yhyk/kj txwM+h English translation by GPBahuguna ½

The heart depends on the care of body

The mill depends on the care of labor

The country depends on the care of Government

But in whose care should we depend to leave young girl

And in whose care shall we depend to leave a lonely women?

Can you depend on the prices of commodities

And the mood of hooligans?

A person who intends to lodge

a complaint longer than a sheet contain

will also think for one moment how to depend on a

witness?

A fear emerges time and again

We may leave family in the care of house

But in whose care should we depend to leave the house?

Translation into English by Govind Prasad Bahuguna